Saini (Hindi: सैनी pronunciation ( (Punjabi:ਸੈਣੀ) is a Rajput descent caste of India. Sainis, also known as Shoorsaini (Hindi: शूरसैनी) in Puranic literature, are now found by their original name only in Punjab and in the neighboring states of Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh.They trace their descent from Rajputs of the Yaduvanshi Surasena lineage, originating from Yadava King Sh
urasena, who was the grandfather of both Krishna and the legendary Pandava warriors. Sainis relocated to Punjab from Mathura and surrounding areas over different periods of time. Like most other Rajput origin tribes of Punjab,Sainis also took up farming during medieval period due to the Turko-Islamic political domination. As both a statutory agricultural tribe and a designated Martial Class during British era [25][26], Sainis had been chiefly engaged in both agriculture and military service since then until the recent times. However, since the independence of India, Sainis have diversified into different trades and professions other than military and agriculture. Sainis are now also seen in increasing numbers as businessmen, lawyers, professors, civil servants, engineers, doctors and research scientists, etc.[28]
Sainis profess in both Hinduism and Sikhism. Several Saini families profess in both the faiths simultaneuosly and inter-marry freely in keeping with the age-old composite Bhakti and Sikh spiritual traditions of Punjab.Until recent times Sainis were strictly an endogamous kshatriya group and inter-married only within select clans. They also have a national level organization called Saini Rajput Mahasabha located in Delhi which was established in 1920.
