Gaud Saraswat Brahmin

Saraswat Brahmin

Saraswat Brahmins are descended from a Brahmin caste mentioned in ancient Hindu scriptures as inhabiting the Saraswati River valley, the geographic location of which is unknown. The actual origins of this community and the circumstances of its relocation to the areas that they now inhabit are shrouded in mystery. An ancient legend mentions that Parashuram, an avatar of Vishnu is said to have carved the community out of the five sons of Raja Ratten Sen.

Saraswat Brahmins are originally from north India but are also found in west and south-west India. Brahmins of Kashmir, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Haryana are mostly Saraswat Brahmins. Other Saraswat Brahmins such as those found along the western coast of India in states such as Goa, Maharashtra (Southern Part) and Northern Karnataka originally belong to Kashmir and through migration have settled in various parts of India.

History

Saraswat Brahmins are Brahmins who lived on the banks of the former river Saraswati that once flowed in northern India, joining the Ganga and Yamuna in Prayag. Saraswats are considered among the oldest and most widespread community in India, still preserving their own culture. There is a Shaivite (Smaarta)as well as a Vaishnavite sect in Saraswats.

Around 1000 BC, the river Saraswati started vanishing under ground and the people on its banks started migrating to other parts of India thus forming sub-communities. There are many sub-communities in Saraswats, including:

Goud Saraswat Brahmins(found in Majority in Goa,Maharashtra,Karnataka,Kerala)
Chitrapur Saraswats
Bhalavalikar/Rajapur Saraswat Brahmins
Kashimri Saraswats (Kashmiri Pandits)
Punjabi Saraswats/Punjabi Brahmins
Sind Saraswats
Kutch Saraswats
Rajasthan Saraswats
Saraswat's from Uttranchal(now Uttarakhand)

The story of the migration of this community can be traced from Sintashta-Petrovka and Arkaim regions of modern Lower Central Russia near the border of Kazakhistan. These migratory experiences were written and the scrolls can be found stored in the Partagali Mutt. These scrolls were studied by the Archaeological Survey of India for studying the theory of Aryan migration. The community which was called Saraswat, as in "Saraswati Teeraya yasya tey" (meaning the people residing by the River Saraswati), spread to parts of modern Afghanistan, Punjab and Kashmir. From here, they slowly migrated towards some place in Nepal. In fact, the Kula Devi (presiding deity for the clan) of the Kings of Nepal is the Goddess "Shree Mahalasa Narayani" (a female form of the divine lord Vishnu), whose temple is now located in Mhardol in Goa, India.

They then moved to modern Bengal, which was known as "Gauda Desha" in ancient times.

From this place, with the blessings of their Guru, a small community comprising of people from Seven-and-a-half (Saadi-Saat) Gothras moved into lower part of India, starting with Goa, and onwards into Karnataka and Kerala. These people were addressed as Gaud Saraswat Brahmins.

In accordance with the theory of the Aryan migration, this community comprises solely of Brahmins who practised various occupations, depending on which their surnames (which is a major source of identification and placement in the caste system in India) were attached, as has been noticed in the early Vedic period.

Communities

Several distinct groups of Saraswat Brahmins exist; Goud Saraswats, Rajapur Saraswats (Bhalavalikar Saraswats), Chitrapur Saraswats and Shenvis are all sub-groups of the Saraswat Brahmin community. The traditional religion of the Saraswats was evidently strict Shaivism, i.e. unique devotion to Shiva, with each sub-group being led by a different spiritual Guru. In the last few centuries, the religious tradition has become more eclectic, with some Saraswats having even adopted the Vaishnavite dvaita philosophy preached by Madhvacharya. Most Saraswats however, including those of the Chitrapur and the Gaud Saraswat communities, follow the liberal and non-partisan Smartha tradition. Punjabi Saraswat Brahmins mainly in area of Punjab, Haryana, HP, New Delhi, UP, Rajasthan, J&K, West Punjab (PAK), Sindh (PAK) and NWFP (PAK). Punjabi Saraswat Brahmins are one of the most influential communities in aforementioned areas. 'Mohyal' one of the sub-community within Punjabi Saraswat Brahmins were landlords, Dewans, Shahs, and Kings in Northern areas,Many of Brahmins in NWFP region were "mohyals". The "mohyals" were clans of brahmins who lived independent of law of the land and were warriors, educators, law-maker in NWFP. Even, the Pathans clans sought brahmin knowledge for tribal laws.

Most of the names are derived from their original location in Goa.

There are four key Mathas or religious sects in the Saraswat tradition - the Kashi, Gokarna, Kavle & Chitrapur Mutts. Of these, the Kashi Mutt is dominated by the Gowd Saraswats of the Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts of Karnataka, Mumbai, and Cochin region of Kerala. The Gowd Saraswats of Uttara Kannada, Goa, and southern coastal Maharashtra follow the Gokarn Mutt as well as the Kavle Mutt. The Chitrapur Mutt is the preserve of the Chitrapur Saraswats. The Rajapur Saraswat Brahmins follow the Kavle Mutt. Originally all Saraswats used to bear allegiance to the Kavale Mutt or Kaivalya Mutt. Each different Saraswat group is usually endogamous.

A number of Konkani Christians are of Saraswat descent. While a small percentage of all Indian Christians, they dominate the Catholic church hierarchy in the country. There was an ancient tradition among Saraswats of children being encouraged to embrace religious vows or sanyasa.

A distinct characteristic of this class of Brahmins is the inclusion of fish in their cuisine by some families.

Goud Saraswat Brahmins of Maharashtra

During Portuguese persecution in Goa, many GSBs fled from Goa with their kuldevs to nearby states (with sea coast)like Maharashtra, Kerala and Karnataka. GSBs who fled towards Maharashtra (Some of them are Shenvis,some Sashastikars,some Kudaldeshkars,some Bardeshkars & some Bhalavalikars)settled on coastal Konkan side of Maharashtra like Vengurla, Malwan, Redi, Ratnagiri, Devgadh and to interior of Konkan like Sawantwadi, Kankavli, Kudal, Rajapur & Bhalavali, and to other cities like Kolhapur, Satara, Sangli, Pune, Mumbai etc. later. These GSBs slowly forgot their original Konkani language of Goa & adopted the local language of Maharashtra i.e. Marathi. However, the culture of Maharashtrian GSBs is same as GSBs of Goa.Thus all sub-groups are found in Maharashtra. The GSBs of Maharashtra though speaking marathi now are very friendly & have great respect for other state GSBs. Banganga Tank and the surrounding Maths and the Walkeshwar Temple complex in Mumbai, hold a special significance to Goud Saraswat Brahmins of the areas .

People from Rajapur & Bhalavali call themselves RSB's(Rajapur Saraswat Brahmins)and not GSB's. Many RSBs later migrated to South India. All other GSB's from Vengurla, Malwan, Redi, Sawantwadi, Ratnagiri, Sangli, Satara are very much GSB's(Shenvi or Sashtikars). The Shenvi & Sashtikars follow the Partagali/Kavle/Kashi Mutts. GSB's from Kudal region call themselves Kuldaldeskar Brahmins rather than GSB's. They follow the Dabholi Mutt. There are many Chitrapur Saraswats who stay in Maharashtra at places like Mumbai & Pune and they follow the Chitrapur Mutt.

Chitrapur Saraswats of Shri Chitrapur Math

Chitrapur Saraswats belong to the Chitrapur Math, Shirali. The Chitrapur Saraswat community is widely scattered and the Math is a vital link that holds together the widely scattered units of the community. The community believes this Math to be the blessed seat of Lord Bhavanishankar, the patron deity of the Math.

Rajapur Saraswat Brahmins of Kavle/Kaivalya Math [RSB]

Rajapur/Balawalikar Gaud Saraswat Brahmans, as they are known, belong to the "Pancha (five) Gauda Brahmana" groups or "Gaudadi Panchakas". Rajapur Saraswath Brahmins got their name from their place of origin - Rajapur in Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra, India. Originally, they migrated to these Maharashtrian places from Goa, so they still speak Konkani Language mixed with Marathi words due to local influence of Marathi Language. Originally, the people of this community were GSBs, before they started calling themselves as Rajapur Saraswat Brahmins after migrating to coastal Karnataka,Kodagu district in Karnataka and Ksaragod in Kerala. The Konkani spoken by them is a mixture of kannada and Goan Konkani. They consider the Swamiji of Kavle Mutt of Goa as their spiritual Guru.

Other Saraswat Communities

Saraswat Brahmins form a great proportion of the Hindus in Kashmir, who are called the Kashmiri Pundits, These Kashmiri Brahmins are thought to be the descendants of the Aryans. However, these people differentiate themselves from the rest of the Saraswat Brahmins in that they identify their deity with the Goddess Saraswati, who has been mentioned in the Vedas as the goddess of learning. However, the Gaud Saraswat Brahmins residing on the western coast of India (primarily in Maharashtra, Goa, and Karnataka) are thought to have descended from these Kashmiri Brahmins. Substantial evidence has been set forth by several historians relating that the Kashmiri Brahmins migrated to Goa by the eleventh century AD.

To trace the Gaud Saraswat Brahmins ancestry from Kashmir to Goa, one must begin with the story of the famous seer, Saraswata. When there was a famine in northern India, he continued to recite the vedic texts by consuming the fish that the goddess Saraswati had given to him. The brahmins of later generations who accepted fish as a part of their diet were often known to have referred to this story to justify their full-fledged status as Brahmins despite their acceptance of fish. Since the acceptance of fish was also prevalent in the culture of many Bengali Brahmins and because of the apparent similarities between the languages of the two groups, many Gaud Saraswat Brahmin scholars suggested that their ancestors were from the same place, and they maintained some of their religious views while modifying others. In the year 1708, a small group of these migrants had established their own unique sect and initiated a guruparampara. The teachings of the gurus and their dedication to the devotees strengthened the unity of the sect members which has survived till the present day.

Gaud Saraswat Brahmins' fish eating habit finds mention even in Ramanyana. Before performing Rajasuya yagna, Shri Rama asked Lakshmana to invite all the Brahmins for the yagna. Lakshmana invited everybody, except Gaud Saraswat Brahmins. When asked, Lakshmana explained that he observed them eating fish, which was considered non-vegetarian and therefore, they could not be Brahmins. Shri Rama was puzzled and asked Lakshmana to elaborate what he saw. Lakshmana explained how the Brahmins would catch the fish, separate the head and tail from the fish, then using vedic mantras rejoined the head and tail. They would then release the fish in water. The fish would live again. The Brahmins ate the middle portion of the fish. Shri Rama was impressed. Since the Brahmins were not killing the fish, he felt that no sin was committed. Shri Rama instructed Lakshmana to invite Gaud Saraswat Brahmins to the Rajasuya Yagna.

Other name of Goddess Saraswati is Sharada

Sharada Peetha an age old School of learning like the Universities of Takshila, Vallabhi and Nalanda was located at Sharada Peetha now a few kilometers away from Muzzafarabad in Pakistan occupied Kashmir.

Prominent Saraswats

References

External links

Kuldevs/Temples of Saraswats/GSBs

Normally Saraswats have the concept of "Panchayatan" - i.e. worshipping 5 gods like form of Shiva, form of Vishnu, form of Durga, Surya(Sun God), & Ganpati.Some GSB Temples still have this concept, while many have a single deity instead of 5. Kuldev or kuldaivat are the deities which a set of families primarily worship.Their temples are built and maintained by these families, also called Mahajans (or Kulavis)of their respective temple.

Many Kuldevs/Kuldevatas are in Goa. However, during early Portuguese persecution, many GSBs and Saraswats fled from Goa along with their Kuldevs to nearby states like Karnataka, Maharashtra and Kerala. Hence, besides Goa, there are many GSB Temples in Karnataka (South & North Canara), in Maharashtra (Konkan side like Malwan, Vengurla, Savantwadi, Kudal, Ratnagiri, etc.), in Kerala (Purakkad, Cochi, etc.).

The Popular kuldev's (Temple locations)of Saraswats are(No specific order):

Shri Mangesh Maharudra (Priol,Goa)
Shri Shantadurga of Kavlem (and many more temples in Goa !)
Shri Navadurga (Redi,Vengurla)
Aryadurga (Ankola, Kankavli-Maharashtra)
Shri Mahalasa Narayani (Ponda,Goa and 8 more temples in India mainly in Karnataka)
Shri Nagesh Maharudra (Ponda,Goa)
Shri Sharvani Vetal (Asnora, Goa)
Shri Devaki Krishna ravalnath (Marcela,Ponda)
Khandole Ganapati(Khadole,Goa)
Shri Damodar (Zambaulim,Goa)
Shri Kaveri Kamakshi (at Shiroda,in Goa)
Shri Ramnath Shanteri Kamakshi (Ponda,Goa)
Shri Mahalakshmi (Goa -at Bandora)
Shri Vijayadurga (Kerim,Goa)
Shri Shankleswari Shantadurga (Velinga,Gothna,Ponda,Goa)
Shri Lakshmi-Narasimha (Velinga,Goa)
Shri Chamundeshwari Mahamaya Kudteri (Ankola, Karnataka and Ghudo Avadem,Ponda)
Shri Katyayani-Baneshwar (also known as Aversa Narayani (Aversa,Karwar,Karnataka)
Shri Navadurga (Madkai,Ponda)
Shri Lakshmi Narayan Mahamaya (Ankola,Karnataka)
Shri Ravalnath Ganapati (Asnoti, Karnataka)
Shri Shirali Ganapati Mahamaya (Shirali,Karnataka)
Shri Ravalnath,Maharashtra
Shri Navadurga,Kundai,Goa
Shri Navadurga,Pale,Goa
Shri Navadurga,Poingeinim, Goa
Shri Navadurga,Bori,Goa
Shri Navadurga, Bhalavali,Maharashtra
Shri Navadurga,Mavinkurve,Karnataka
Shri Mahalasa,Karnataka
Shri Vetal & Vetoba, Maharashtra (many Temples)
Shri Sateri (Shantadurga),Maharashtra [many temples]
Shri Rampurush,Redi,Maharashtra
Shri Kuladevatha Complex,Kerala
Shri Gosripuram,Kerala
Shri Navadurga,Adkolna,Goa
Shri Navadurga,Surla,Goa
Shri Shantadurga,Dhargal,Goa
Shri Aadinarayan(Sun),Parule,Maharashtra
Shri dev Ravalnath Mahalaxmi Panchayatan,Mulgaon,Goa.

Mutts of Saraswats

KASHI MATH The Kashi Math has its headquarters at Varanasi or Kashi. Kashi Math has an influx of followers from Kerala and South Kanara. The Math have been spreading and preaching the moral and spiritual values to the world. The swamijis have been preaching that to attain your wealth and wishes one should not forget their Dharma. The traditional values should not be eradicated one should uphold that the last goal in life is to get Mukti or Moksha. Kashi math has its roots spread wide across the Indian nation from Haridwar to Tirupathi. It has organizations and branches at Kashi, Basrur, Bantwal, Baroda, Banglore, Calicut, Goa, Haridwar, Karkal, Kerala, Prayag, Rameshwaram, and Tirupathi. The math undertakes the responsibility of nurturing sanskrit schools and training purohits. It is one of the Vaishnava maths of Saraswats. 1. Sri Ramdev, installed by Srimad Yadavendra Tirtha Swamiji, the First Guru 2. Sri Gopalkrishna Dev, installed by his third successor, Srimad Upendra Tirtha Swamiji 3. Sri Laxminarasimha Dev, installed by his fifth successor, Srimad Raghavendra Thirtha Swamiji 4. Sri Bindu Madhav Dev, installed by his seventh successor Srimad Madhavendra Tirtha Swamiji. www.kashimath.org

GOKARNA MATH/ JEEVOTTAM MATH The Gokarna math is also known as the Partagali math. Vaihnava saraswats started this math at Bhatkal in 1476. This math had a wide followers of Keladi rulers, vaishnava Saraswats and the undivided Kanara. This math has large network of its establishments in Bhatkal, Gokarna, Basrur, Dicholi, Rivona, Manglore , Ankola, Karwar, Varanasi, Manki , Vasco,Gangolli,Venkatapur,Honavar, Yellapur, Badrinath, Siddapur, Belgaum, Hubli, Madgaon and Wadala (Mumbai). The headquarters had been shifted from Bhatkal to Partagali Goa. This math was named after Swamy Jeevattam Tirtha. Now H.H. Shreemad Vidyadhiraj Teertha has succeeded to the Peetha. This Math has celebrated its Panch-Shatabadi (Quin-centenary). {no website so far }

CHITRAPUR MATH The first Guru of this math was Parijananashram Swamy. Shankarasrama Swamy followed to be the second Gurupeeta and took samadhi at Chtirapur near Shirali in Uttara Kanara which later became the center of this new math. H.H. Shreemad Sadyojat Shankarasharam succeeded as the eleventh Guru of Shri Chitrapur Math on February27, 1997. This math radiates many socio-cultural programmes and has a museum in the math lounge. www.chitrapurmath.org

DABHOLI MATH Dabholi Math is renowned known as the Kudaldeshkars Math mainly due to its Smartas followers. It is located near Vengurla in Sindhudurg, Maharastra. The followers of this math are fragmented around few areas of Sawantwadi, Ratnagiri, Belgaum, Hubli, Dharwas and Kolhapur. This math promotes its preaching skills and its religious culture.

== KAIVALYAPUR i. e. KAVAĻE MUTTH == Shrimad Gauddpàdàchàrya Vivarànanda Swàmy, the disciple of Shrimad Govind Bhagavarpàda founded Kaivalyapur i.e. KAVAĻEMutth at Kushasthali (Cortàlim-Sàlcete) in Goà. This Mutth came under attack from religious fanatics lead by the Catholics. It was clandestinely moved to the present place well known as 'Kavaļe' (Pondà Mahàl) in Goà during 1630s to protect the Smàrta Sect of Gaudd Sàraswat Bràhmins from extinction under the Catholic reign of terror during the tyrant Portuguese Rule in Goa. The Mutth has opened its branches all over India at Vàrànasi, Gokarn, Khànàpur, Sadàshivgad, Allàhabad, Nàsik, Mumbai and Goa. The Smaarta Gaud Sàraswats Brahmins(including Rajapur Saraswat Brahmins) are the followers of this Mutth.