Daivadnya

Daivajna (also known as Daivadnya ) community hails from west coast of India predominantly from Goa, coastal Karnataka, coastal Maharashtra and some parts of Kerala. Daivajnas speak sanskritised dialects of Konkani and Marathi. It is mentioned in Rigveda that Daivajnas had a unique position in Vedic Yajna institution. It is said that "Takshak" married sage "Jaimini's" daughter "Chandrika". Thus Daivajna community was believed to originate from their confluence.

"Aryavarta" (Sanskrit: आर्यावर्त, "abode of the Aryans") (today's Punjab and Haryana states) is believed to be the origin of this community. It is believed that Daivajans later migrated to "Gouda" Desha in ancient times and then to south (Goa). Later in 12th and 14th centuries these people migrated from Goa to other parts of India because of Islamic and Portuguese invasions in Goa.

Religion

Daivajnas are predominantly Devi worshippers. Panchayatana puja is an important aspect of Devi worship.

Shree Mahamaya Kalika,Goa

File:Kalika.jpgThey worship different aspects of Devi such as:

                   *Shantadurga;

• Kālī;
• Mahamaya;
• Chamundeshwari;
• Gajantlakshmi;
• Kamakshi;
• Mahalasa;
• Bhagvati;
• Mahalakshmi;
• Santeri;
• Navdurga;

as well as Shiva in the forms of:

• Nagesh;
• Ravalnath;
• Vimaleshwer;
• Someshwar;
• Vetal

Daivajnas do not worship any form of Vishnu as their Kuldevta because they are Smarthas (they mainly follow the Advaita Vedanta philosophy of Adi Shankara. [[1]]

Etymology

The word Daivajna means one who knows the future.

"Deva sambandheem Jaanaatheethi Daivagnyaha"

A person who knows about god is “Daivagnya” . A person who knows all the details of god and can craft an idol of god is called a “Daivagnya”.

“Asthadi KaaRaan Jaguhu Daivagnyaha para Meshti Suryayavanaaha Khe Medh Maalaa Jaguhu ||”

A person mastering the following eight fields is termed as a Daivagnya

• Bhugola sthiti (Geographical conditions)
• GaNitha Sidhantha (Mathematical Philosophies)
• Hora Shashtra
• Shakuna (Fortune)
• Samhitha
• Swara Shastra
• Saamudrika
• Shilpakaushalya Shastra

Daivajna people are commaly known as "shett" in coastal region. The word “Shet” is a corrupt form of the word “Shreshta” meaning superior. As the time progressed the word was transformed from “Shreshta” to “Shet”.

Daivajna Gotras

'Gotra' may be defined as a concept of patrilineal classification and identification of various families of a caste. Gotra could be one of the ancient 'Aryanized' Indian traditions. The gotra classification came into existence probably sometime during the Vedic period. The gotra system might have started originally among Brahmins as a system of classification and identification of various families and indicating common descent from a 'rishi'. Rishi means a sage.

The ten Gotras of the Daivajnas and their respective Pravaras:

Gotra	Pravara	Shakha
Bharadwaj	Angirasa, Bhaarhaspathya, Bharadwaaja	Rigveda
Kousika	Viswaamithra, Akhamarshana, Kousika	Rigveda
Vatsa	Bhaargava, Chyavana, Aapthavaana, Ourva, Jaamadagnya	Rigveda
Koundinya	Vaasishta, Maithraavaruna, Koundinya	Rigveda
Kashyapa	Kaasyapa, Aavatsaara, Naidruva	Rigveda
Vasishta	Vaasishta Indrapradama, Aabharaswath	Rigveda
Jamadagni	Bhaargava, Chyavana, Aapthavaanam, Ourva, Jaamadagnya	Rigveda
Vishwamithra	Viswaamithra, Devaraatha, Oudala	Rigveda
Gautama	Amgirasa, Aayasya, Gouthama	Rigveda
Atri	Aathreya, Archanaanasa, Syavaaswa	Rigveda

Gotravali of Daivajnas and their Kuldevtas

Surname	Gotra	Kuldevta
Karekar	Bharadwaj,Kashyap,Koushik	Shree Gajantlakshmi Ravalnath,Marcela Goa
Chodankar	Bharadwaj	Shree Lakshmi Ravalnath,Marcela Goa
Verlekar	Jamdagni	Shree Shantadurga Verlekarin Panchayatan Marcela,Goa
Revankar	Koushik,Vatsa	Shree Vimaleshwer ,Rivona Goa
Raikar	Koushik	Shree Kamakshi Rayeshwar,Shiroda Goa
Pednekar	Vasishtha	Shree Ravalnath Bhagvati Pernem Goa
Haldonkar	Atri	Shree Bhagvati Halodnkarin,Khnadola Goa
Lotlikar	Koundinya	Shree Vetal Ramnath ,Ramnathi Goa
Vernekar	Atri	Shree Santeri Mahalasa,Mardol/Verna Goa
Nagveker	Bharadwaj	Shree Lakshminarayan Nagesh Mahamaya,Ankola Karnatak
Bandodkar	Vatsa,Atri	Shree Nagesh ,bandivade Goa
Sangodkar	Vatsa,Atri	Shree Shantadurga Sangodkarin Panchyata,Sangolda Goa
Shirodkar	Koushik	Shree Vetal ,Mulgaon Goa
Kudtarkar	Vatsa	Shree Shantadurga Chamundeshwari Kudtari Mahamaya Goa
Salkar	Bharadwaj	Shree Gajantlakshmi ,Marcela Goa
Anvekar	Kashyap	Shree Ravalnath Shivnath Mahamaya,Shiroda Goa
Khandeparkar	Atri	Shree Shantadurga Khandekarin,Khandepar Goa
Kurdikar	Vishwamitra	Shree Somnath, Rivona Goa /Gokarna Karnataka
Madkaikar	Bharadwaj	Shree Navdurga Mahalakshmi Goa

Upasya Devatas of Gomantak Daivajna Community

Shri Kalika ( Kasarpali ( in konkani )Goa ,Kasar = lake,Pallika = Village or abode, abode of lakes in sanskrit) is worshipped as Upasyasa Devata by Gomantak Daivajns all over the world.Not even a single daivajna family has Kalika as their Kuldevta.

This temple is around one century old and is located at a distance of around 14 kilometers from Mapusa at Kasarpal. It has 4 pillars of seven rows and the inner structure as well as the outer one makes it a unique temple among the all temples of Goa. “Roudra” meaning fierce, this image may always frighten the visitors who are atheists! Shri Kalika Temple of Goa also has the arrangement for the distant Mahajans and Bhaktas for the fooding and lodging.

There is gigantic gold Kalash on the top of the dome of the Shri Kalika Temple. It also features the unique blend of the architectural designs and elegance. Shri Kalika Temple of Goa is one of the most important temples in the northern part of Goa

Shri Kalika Temple, Goa offers "Agrashalas" for the devotees from all over the country and world as well. The main festivals celebrated in this temple are Shishirotsav,Navratri,Ratha Saptami,Avali Bhojan,Vasant Puja etc.

Other Upasya Devtas of Daivajnas are Shree Rama (temples at Margao Panjim and many other places in goa and Maharashtra and Karnataka),Shree Dattatreya (Temples at Mapusa,Chinchinim in Goa),Shree Hanumanta,Shree Panduranga,Shree Mahalakshmi,Shree Radha Krishna,Shree Gayatri.

Daivajna Math Tradition

Daivajnas in Goa ,Maharashtra and Some parts of Karnataka belong to "smartha" sect. On the other hand Daivajnas in South Canara , Udupi and Kerala were highly influenced by Shree Madhwacharya's "Dvait Siddhant" and adopted Vaishnavism leaded by "Shreemad Vadiraj Theertha Swami" the pontiff of shree Sonde math.

Due to some unavoidable conflicts between the two sects in the community a new math was established in Honnavar , in North Canara district.The Math is called as "shree Jnaneshwari Peetha" and his headed by "Shree Shreemad Dakshinamanya Bharathi Theertha Swamiji's(Shringeri Shree Sharada Peetha) disciple (sheeshya) " Shree Shreemat Sacchidananda Jnaneshwar Bharati Mahaswami" for spiritual and religious betterment of the community.

The presiding deity at the math is "shree Jnaneshwari Devi" (a form of Tripura Sundari) and is also worshipped in the form of "Shree Yantra".Other deities are Devi Panchaytana,Ganapati and Navagrahas.

Every year in "Maagh" month of the hindu calendar "Maha Rathotsava " is celebrated with great zeal. Navaratri Turiyashram Sweekar anniversry of His Holiness Swamiji are other main festivals.

The math offers free lodging and boarding facilities to its devotees and it has a big marriage hall, with a capacity to accommodate about 600 people. This math is in Honnavar which is on the Kanyakumari - Mumbai National Highway 17. The nearest railhead, Honnavar Railway Station is on the Konkan Railways.

Daivajna food habits

Daivajna people are fisheterian people like bengali brahmins.Fish is considered as very auspicious and is offered to Devi by some families during "Malini Pournima" in "pousha " month of hindu lunar calender. Their daily diet consists of rice and "human" (fish curry) accompanied by diffent varaities of vegetable curries , pickles and sweets ( payasa,mangane,kheer,puranpoli,soji,patholi etc).On contrast most of the vaishnavite people in the community and those who are "Purohits"(priests) are strictly vegetarian.

Notable Daivadnya Individuals

• Gana Chattim (Interpretter in Porgugal King’s court.14th centuary)
• Narayan Shastri Kshirsagar (author of “Vishwabrahmakulotsah”)
• Nath Madhav Pitale (Marathi writer)
• Chandrakala A. Hate
• Jagannath Shankarshet. (Architect of modern Mumbai)
• Pandit Prabhakar Karekar ( Indian Classical Vocalist)
• Sachin khedekar ( film /Drama actor )
• Jagannath Sadashiva Hate, principal engineer for Ajwa lake near Vadodara
• Anjali Vedpathak/Bhagwat (Olympics level Shooter)
• Aishwarya Narkar ( film /Drama actor )
• Dr Subodh Kerkar ( Indian Classical Vocalist)
• Pandit Suresh Haldonkar ( Indian Classical Vocalist)
• S. L Haldonkar ( Indian Classical Vocalist)
• Swapnil Bandodkar (singer)
• Milind Raikar (Violinist)
• Dr Pandurang Purushottam Shirodkar (Freedom Fighter,First Speakar of Goa assembly)
• Pandit Babanrao Haldonkar( Indian Classical Vocalist)
• Pandit Vasantrao Kadnekar( Indian Classical Vocalist)
• Anuradha Poudwal (singer)
• Dr prakashchandra Shirodkar (Archeologist)
• Ad Pandurang Nagvenkar
• Dr Harischandra Nagvenkar

External Links

• Community homepage
• Daivajna Community
• Shri Mahalasa Narayani Devastan-Mudgeri
• Temple of Shri Mahalasa
• Shantadurga Sangodkarin Temple homepage
• Shodasa Samskaras of Daivajnas and thier rituals
• Learn Konkani Online