Mahishya Community

Also spelled as Mahisya, we are a caste found in West Bengal and Orissa. Traditionally an agricultural caste, we have taken up business and other modern day professions with success. Some of our common surnames include Biswas, Mondal, Santra and Samanta. Rani Rashmoni, a close confidante of Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansa and the founder of the Dakshineswar Kali Temple in Kolkata, belongs to our caste.