The Saraswat Brahmins claim descent from a Brahmin caste mentioned in ancient Hindu scriptures as inhabiting the Saraswati River valley, the geographic location of which is not known. The actual origins of this community and the circumstances of its relocation to the areas that they now inhabit are shrouded in mystery. A Brahmin is a member of the Hindu priestly caste. ... Jump to: navigation, search A caste system is a rigid system of social stratification, which divides members of a society into different castes and sub-castes or Varnas and jatis. ... Jump to: navigation, search It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Hindu people. ... The Sarasvati River is an ancient river that is mentioned in Hindu texts. ...

While some Saraswat brahmins are found in the northern India especially Kashmiri Pandits, the overwhelming bulk of saraswat brahmins hail from the south-western coast, in particular from the Canara region of Karnataka and the Konkan region of Maharashtra. This article details the features of these southern saraswat brahmins. The Kanara or Canara (called Kannada in Karnataka) districts comprise three districts of Karnataka - North Kanara (Uttara Kannada) whose administrative headquarters is Karwar, Udupi, and South Kanara (Dakshina Kannada), whose administrative headquarters is Mangalore. ... Karnataka (ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ in Kannada) is one of the four southern states of India. ... The Konkan, also called the Konkan Coast or Karavali is the name given to a stretch of rugged and beautiful section of the western coastline of India from Ratnagiri to Mangalore. ... Maharashtra (महाराष्ट्र) is Indias third largest state in terms of area and second largest in terms of population after Uttar Pradesh. ...

Communities

Several distinct groups of Saraswat Brahmins exist; Goud Saraswats, Chitrapur Saraswats and Shenvis are all sub-groups of the Saraswat Brahmin community. The traditional religion of the Saraswats was evidently a strict Shaivism, i.e., Unique devotion to Shiva, with each sub-group being led by a different spiritual guru. In more recent 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. Åšaivism, also transliterated Shaivism and Saivism, is a branch of Hinduism that worships Siva as the Supreme God. ... Aghora redirects here. ... Dvaita, a school of Vedanta (the most widespread Hindu theology), made popular by Shri Madhvacharya, stresses strict distinction between God (expressed as Vishnu) and souls. ... Shri Madhvacharya,(1238-1317), was the chief propounder of the Dvaita or dualistic school of Hindu philosophy, one of the three influential Vedanta philosophies. ... Jump to: navigation, search It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Smartha Sect. ...

There are four key "Mathas" or religious sects in the Saraswat tradition - the Kashi, Gokarna, Kavle & Chitrapur Mathas. Of these, the Kashi Matha is dominated exclusively by the Gowd Saraswats of Kerala & of the Dakshina Kannada / Udupi districts of Karnataka. The Gowd Saraswats of Uttara Kannada, Goa, and Southern coastal Maharashtra follow the Gokarn Matha as well as the Kavle Matha. The Chitrapur Matha is the preserve of the Chitrapur Saraswats. Each different saraswat group are usually endogamous. List of famous Keralites Districts of Kerala Local Body Election in Kerala Government Websites Government of Kerala Chief Minister of Kerala Kerala Tourism Other Websites Business Information on Kerala Kerala Matrimonials Kerala movies Kerala web directory Online Newspaper kerala portal Kerala news Maps of Kerala Holidays in Kerala Keralam Ayurveda... Dakshina Kannada, also called South Kannada, South Kanara, or South Canara, is a district of Indias Karnataka state. ... Udupi is a district and temple town located in Karnataka state near the city of Mangalore on the south west coast of India. ... Karnataka (ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ in Kannada) is one of the four southern states of India. ... Uttara Kannada is a district in the southern Indian state of Karnataka. ... Goa (गोवा in Devanāgarī) is Indias smallest state in terms of area and the fourth smallest in terms of population after Sikkim, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh. ... Maharashtra (महाराष्ट्र) is Indias third largest state in terms of area and second largest in terms of population after Uttar Pradesh. ...

A number of Konkani Christians claim to be of Saraswat descent. While a small percentage of all Indian Christians, they dominate the Catholic Church hierarchy in the country. This perhaps reflects the importance of caste even outside Hinduism in India. Another factor could be the ancient tradition among Saraswats of children being encouraged to embrace religious vows or sanyasa. Jump to: navigation, search The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest church or organizational body of Christians, with a membership of over one billion people worldwide. ...

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

Chitrapur Saraswats of Shri Chitrapur Math

The Chitrapur Math, Shirali with its brilliant line of revered Gurus, is a vital link that holds together the widely scattered units of the Community. It is one of the oldest Religious Institution of the community. To those who have been there before, they evoke fond memories and nostalgia. To those who have not been there as yet, they evoke longing of anticipation. SHIRALI Shirali is located in the southern part of North Kanara (Uttar Kannada) district of Karnataka state. ...

Shri Chitrapur Math is the blessed seat of Lord Bhavanishankar, the patron deity of the Math and also the abode of our most revered Guru Parampara.

Lord Bhavanishankar

The Math had its beginnings at Gokarn in 1708 when the Community was blessed by its first Guru. Chitrapur became its headquarters in 1757 when the second Guru took his samadhi at that place. Image File history File links Bhavanishankar. ... Image File history File links Bhavanishankar. ...

The earlier records make it clear that the then representative of the Community desired the Guru not only to be the head of the Math but also to regulate the achar and vichar of the Community and further, that they undertook not only to obey his orders and be subject to his disciplinary control, but also to provide the finance required from time to time.

The beginning of the Math was very humble. The Community was then mostly in the Kanaras. The Guru used to go about visiting the houses of disciples and ministering to their spiritual needs. Buildings, permanent sevas, property and regular festivals were later accretions which grew in course of time.

GURUPARAMPARA

The line of Gurus who have ruled the Math and have presided over the spiritual destinies of the Community are as follows:

1. H.H. Shrimat Parijnanashrama Swamiji (I) Samadhi at Bhandikeri, Gokarn (North Kanara) 1708 - 1720 12 years

2. H.H. Shrimat Shankarashrama Swamiji (I) Samadhi at Shirali (North Kanara) 1720 - 1757 37 years

3. H.H. Shrimat Parijnanashrama Swamiji (II) Samadhi at Shirali (North Kanara) 1757 - 1770 13 years

4. H.H. Shrimat Shankarashrama Swamiji (II) Samadhi at Mallapur (North Kanara) 1770 - 1785 15 years

5. H.H. Shrimat Keshavashrama Swamiji Samadhi at Shirali (North Kanara) 1785 - 1823 38 years

6. H.H. Shrimat Vamanashrama Swamiji Samadhi at Mangalore (South Kanara) 1823 - 1839 16 years

7. H.H. Shrimat Krishnashrama Swamiji Samadhi at Shirali (North Kanara) 1839 - 1863 24 years

8. H.H. Shrimat Pandurangashrama Swamiji Samadhi at Shirali (North Kanara) 1863 - 1915 52 years

9. H.H. Shrimat Anandashrama Swamiji Samadhi at Shirali (North Kanara) 1915 - 1966 51 years

10. H.H. Shrimat Parijnanashrama Swamiji (III) Samadhi at Karla (Maharashtra) 1966 - 1991 25 years

11. H.H. Shrimat Sadyojat Shankarashrama Swamiji Ascended the throne on February 27, 1997.

Source: Kanara Saraswat

Formation of Chitrapur Saraswats

However, this distinction between the Gaud Saraswat Brahmins of Goa and the Chitrapur Saraswat Brahmins required sufficient time to solidify. During the reign of Basavappa Nayaka I (1696 -1714), some people of Kanara accused the Gaud Saraswat Brahmin Shenvis of not being pure brahmins. This accusation is said to have evolved in consequence to two factors: 1) the Gaud Saraswat Brahmin Shenvis had no guru, or spiritual leader, to represent their community and 2) since many of the Gaud Saraswat Brahmin Shenvis were holding impressive administration positions during this time period, the natives of Kanara were aroused with jealousy which stimulated them to form this accusation. SHIRALI Shirali is located in the southern part of North Kanara (Uttar Kannada) district of Karnataka state and is easily accessible to the Chitrapur Saraswat devotees settled in both South and North Kanara districts. ... The Kanara or Canara (called Kannada in Karnataka) districts comprise three districts of Karnataka - North Kanara (Uttara Kannada) whose administrative headquarters is Karwar, Udupi, and South Kanara (Dakshina Kannada), whose administrative headquarters is Mangalore. ... The Kanara or Canara (called Kannada in Karnataka) districts comprise three districts of Karnataka - North Kanara (Uttara Kannada) whose administrative headquarters is Karwar, Udupi, and South Kanara (Dakshina Kannada), whose administrative headquarters is Mangalore. ...

Since the Gaud Saraswat Brahmin Shenvis did not have a spiritual guide to represent their sub-group, the ruler of the region most probably would not recognize their brahminical caste status. Therefore, the Shenvis felt that it was necessary to seek a spiritual preceptor for their community. Soon after, the Shenvis prayed to two of their deities, Shri Bhavanishankar and to Shri Mahabaleshvara, in hope of finding a guru. Some time after their prayers had been addressed, a sanyassin (one who is in the final stage of life and completely renounces all worldly possessions) of north Indian Saraswat Brahmin descent came to Gokarn. At the request of the Shenvis, the sanyassin accepted the role to guide and represent their community in 1708. This commenced the development of a new sub-group known as the Chitrapur Saraswat Brahmins, who had now firmly differentiated themselves from the rest of the Gaud Saraswat Brahmins of Goa. Goa (गोवा in Devanāgarī) is Indias smallest state in terms of area and the fourth smallest in terms of population after Sikkim, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh. ...

In Summary

The history of the Chitrapur Saraswat Brahmins serves to demonstrate how their religious and cultural views developed into the present century. Starting from the valleys of Kashmir, the ancestors of the Bhanaps migrated to all parts of India. As they migrated to new kashmir.

Also included in the Saraswat Brahmins are a great proportion of the Hindus in Kashmir, called the Kashmiri Pundits. These Kashmiri Brahmins are thought to be the descendants of the Aryans who migrated into India from Central Asia or Eastern Europe. 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 ancesplaces, 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.

Footprints of a community

Faced with dwindling numbers the Chitrapur Saraswat community, which boasts of talent ranging from Guru Dutt to Nandan Nilekani, gets together to record its illustrious history-Harsh Kabra

"Although the number of Chitrapur Saraswats stands at 22,498 according to KSA's 2001 census, up 7 per cent from 20,932 in 1971, the disconcerting reality is that the 0-19 age group, its veritable future, has shrunk from 33 per cent to an alarming low of 18 per cent and the 20-44 age group has also gone down from 38 per cent to 34 per cent."

In recent years Chitrapur Saraswats have faced extreme pursecution by Christian missionaries operating from Goa and have come under extreme pressure of forced conversions.

Guru Dutt, Shyam Benegal, Bhaskar Chandawarkar, Kalpana Lajmi, Girish Karnad, Geeta Hattangdi, Raghuveer Nadkarni, Nandan Nilekani and Prakash Padukone, Air Chief Marshal L M Katre, to name a few. Other glowing names -B.N. Rao, who chaired the committee that drafted the country's Constitution in 1950, and B. Rama Rao, former governor of the Reserve Bank of India.What connects all these people is the fact that they hail from the community of Chitrapur Saraswat Brahmans. Guru Dutt (1925 - 1964) was a famous Indian film director, producer and actor. ... Shyam Benegal is a prolific Indian director, born 14 December 1934 in Aliwal, Hyderabad, British India (now Andhra Pradesh, India). ... Girish Karnad (born: May 19, 1938), is a contemporary Indian playwright in the Kannada language, in addition to being a movie actor and director. ... Born as the second and last son to Mohan R Nilekani, a manager in Minerva Mills, Nandan Nilekani spent his first 12 years in Bangalore, India. ... Prakash Padukone (born June 10, 1955) is a famous badminton player from India. ... The RBI headquarters in Mumbai The RBI office tower opposite the headquarters in Mumbai Entrance to the tower The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is the central bank of India, and was established on April 1, 1935 in accordance with the provisions of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934. ...

Hindu Businessline Article

Prominent Saraswats

Prominent Saraswat Brahmins of the south-western coast of India (sorted by last name):

• Shyam Benegal
• Bhaskar Chandawarkar
• Leena Chandavarkar, actress
• Kamaladevi Chattopadhyaya [1]
• Jayvant Dalvi, author
• Shobha Dé
• P.L.Deshpande
• Sunil Gavaskar
• U Srinivas Mallya
• Vijay Mallya
• Rambhau Moze
• Raghuveer Nadkarni
• Jawahar Lal Nehru - Kashmiri Pandit Saraswat
• M V Kamath - editor, Times of India
• K V Kamath
• Girish Karnad
• Anupam Kher -Kashmiri Pandit Saraswat
• Isha Koppikar
• V S Kudva
• Kalpana Lajmi, director
• Nandan Nilekani
• Gurudutt (Padukone)
• Prakash Padukone
• T A Pai of the Manipal institutions
• Sachin Tendulkar
• Amrita Rao
• Dilip Vengsarkar

Also, read this interesting review on Saraswat Brahmins: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:Saraswat_Brahmins [2] Shyam Benegal is a prolific Indian director, born 14 December 1934 in Aliwal, Hyderabad, British India (now Andhra Pradesh, India). ... Sunil Manohar Gavaskar (born July 10, 1949 at Bombay, Maharashtra), nicknamed Sunny, was a cricket player during the 1970s and 1980s for Bombay and India. ... U Srinivas Mallya 1902 to 1965 U. Srinivas Mallya who was also called Malliah in North India or Sheenappa Mallya in Dakshina Kannada is the architect of Modern Canara District or master planner and a true politician. ... Dr. Vijay Mallya is a successful businessman and member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha since 2002) from India. ... Girish Karnad (born: May 19, 1938), is a contemporary Indian playwright in the Kannada language, in addition to being a movie actor and director. ... Isha Koppikar Isha Koppikar (* 1976) is a Bollywood actress and a model. ... Jump to: navigation, search A Biographical Sketch of a Pioneer Mr. ... Born as the second and last son to Mohan R Nilekani, a manager in Minerva Mills, Nandan Nilekani spent his first 12 years in Bangalore, India. ... Guru Dutt (1925 - 1964) was a famous Indian film director, producer and actor. ... Prakash Padukone (born June 10, 1955) is a famous badminton player from India. ... Manipal is a small town in state of Karnataka, India. ... For more coverage of cricket, go to the Cricket portal. ... Amrita Rao (born 17 June 1981) is an Indian model and actress. ... Dilip Balwant Vengsarkar (born April 6, 1956 in Rajapur, Maharashtra) was an Indian cricketer. ...