The name Agri comes from Agar, a Salt-pan. The original name seems to be Agle.

The tradition common among them is that they originally dwelt at Mungi Paithan and were transported to the Konkan by Bimbaraja, and it is alleged that there are in existence sanads given by him to certain persons of the caste. They are not, however, forthcoming.

The following legend is given for what it is worth. Two son's Agla and Mangla, were born to the sage Agasti; the former the ancestor of the Agris, the latter of the Mangelas (Fishermen). The first was told to support himself by the manufacture of salt from the sea, the latter by fishing. The god Parashuram, intending to throw back the sea, was prevented by the intervention of the Agri and Mangela women. At their request he consented to throw it back only 27 miles and the strip thus formed become the Konkan.

There is another legend to the effect that they are the musicians of Ravan, the demon-king of South India, who in reward for good services settled them in the Konkan.

Agris claim to be Kahatriyas of Khatris. The late or Aryan element which they claim and which appear in some of their surnames, according to their story, was introduced into the Konkan from Paithan in the Deccan, when the Deccan was conquered by the Musalmans at the close of the thirteen century.

But the fact is Agris belonged to shudras category of the varna order, which is the lowest Varna as developed by Brahmins,. so they were destined to be poor. It does not mean Agris were untouchables, it means the non-untouchables who were considered lowly by the remaining castes but were still touchables. People come under Shudra category are farmers, fishermen , people working on others land for their lively hood etc. it means people other than Brahamins, Kshatriyas i.e. rulers having their own Sena. and Vaishya (Businessmen).

The caste system was such that the shudras were not allowed to own any property nor were they allowed to accumulate any wealth. In the past, many of the agris were not having land of their own, and used to cultivate on Jamindar’s land as “ Kul ” (Specially Brahmins). For that purpose these people have to give half of the harvested Paddy Crops (i.e. rice) to Brahamins. Because of educational, social and economic backwardness of Agri caste has been inducted in Other Backward Class (OBC). The famous Chirner Andolan made by Agris in 1930 served as force to invoking “Kul Kaida” by government . It means who who cultivate the land will be the real owner of the land and system of Jamindari was abolished. It benefited every Kul of Maharashtra .

On the other hand, states that agri are subdivision of the Kunbi and subgroup of the koli. At present they are distributed in Rajasthan, Delhi, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Gujarat and Maharashtra.

The Agri of Maharashtra are also know as Agle and Kharpatil, They are distributed in the Raigad and Thane Districts and in the suburban area of Bomby city. The population of Agri in Bombay Province, according to the 1931 census, was 265,285. They speak the Indo-Aryan language Marathi at home as well as outside and use the devanagri script.

Exogamous Divisions:

Their are no exogamous sub-division above families have the same surname and observing common mourning. The following is a list of such families, kuls or gortras.

Some of these names have apparently been borrowed from Rajputs and Marathas, some derived from occupations, some are the names of places and some family titles. It is to be noted that these may be distinct gotras bearing the same surnames, members of one of which may intermarry with members of another: eg:- the common names 'Bhoir', 'Jadhav,' , 'Mukadam' which occur all over the Thane District, are borne by families quite distinct one from another, who do not observe common mourning and may therefore intermarry.

There are two endogamous division of the caste:

A) Sudh-Agri (Pure-Agri) who are called:

1. Mith-Agri (Salt Maker),
2. Jas-Agri(Toddy-Drawers),
3. Dhol-Agri(Drummers),
4. Son-agle and Pan-agle.

B) Das-Agri : Probably from Dasi, a term applied by the Aryans to those of mixed descent or of a different race

SUDH AGRIS:

The exogamous sub-divisions of Sudh-Agris are the following:

There are no endogamous division of the caste.

There is no marriage within the limits of any one of the subdivision m mentioned above or similar kuls, members of which observe common mourning.

A man may not marry a cousin within five degrees of relationship. There is no distinct prohibition against marrying two sisters, but it is not the practice unless the first sister is dead. A man my marry two cousins

DAS-AGRIS:

Das garis differ little from the Sudh-Agris in matters of religion and custom. The exogamous sub-divisions of the caste are:

Das Agris, according to their own story the thrum or dashi- weaving Agris, but more probably the Agris of impure descent or Dasiputras , The local story is that they are the descedants of an Agri's mistress whose children died in infancy. She vowed to the Mahar's god that if her children lived to grow up she would walk from her house to the Mahar's house with a cow's bone on her head and a tag or thrum of wool in the lobes of her ears. Her children grew up and she carried out her vow and wa excommunicated.

Marriage with this group is prohibited on the ground that its members are ignorant of h the proper religious beliefs and practices. A Palshe or Golak Brahman is the priest of the caste. It is sated that the caste god is Vishnu.

URAP AGRIS:

Urap Agris, know also a Varap Agris, are found in several villages in Salssette and Bassein, and are saidl to be Christian Agris, who reverted to Hinduism in 1820 and othere in 1828. They are also know as Nave or New Marathas. Both in Salsette and in Bassein the Urap Agris are considered lower than eith Sudh or Das Agris, who neither marry or eat with them. They have separate priest and a separate headman. Their manners and customs are the same as those of other agris and they worship the Hindu gods.

The chief evidence of their having once been Christians is to be found in their surnames, which are Gomes, Soz, Fernan, and Minez. It is saild that the Bassein Agris who reverted in 1820 had to pay Rs 1200 The priest who purified and took them back wa Ramchandra Baba Joshi, a Palshe Brahman. His caste for a time excommunicated him, but he was allowed to rejoin when he ceased to act as priest to the Uraps, On e Bhai Mukund Joshi, also a Palshe, succeeded Ramchandra. Like the former he was put out of caste, but when he had a child to marry he did penance and was allowed to rejoin the caste. The name of the priest who admitted the Agris in 1828 (November 12) was Vithal Hari Naik Vaidya, a Palshe Brahman of Bassein