Chitpavan Brahmins

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Chitpavan / Kokanastha Brahmins
ClassificationBrahmin
ReligionsHinduism
LanguagesMarathi, Chitpavani Konkani
Populated statesMaharashtra, Goa, Karnataka,Andhra Pradesh,Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh in India and New York, New Jersy and San Francisco Bay Area in the United States of America[citation needed]
Subdivisions-

The Chitpavan, Chitpawan, or Konkanastha Brahmins (कोकणस्थ ब्राम्हण) are a Brahmin community of Konkan, the coastal belt of western Maharashtra. (Since Konkanastha is actually a general geographic label, meaning "Resident of Konkan" in Sanskrit, the name Chitpavan is preferable. In this text, however, the names Chitpavan and Konkanastha are used interchangeably. Chitpavan Brahmins' origins are unknown, though many theories exist to explain the same. Many chitpavan brahmins show a mixture of Caucasian characteristics like fair skin and light coloured eyes, which are peculiar if not uncommon in the Indian Subcontinent.

The Chitpavans gained prominence during the reign of Shahu in the 18th century and since have established themselves firmly in the Indian social hierarchy. In 1713, the fourth Chattrapati Shahu appointed a Chitpanvan Brahmin from Kokan, Balaji Vishwanath Bhat, as Peshwa or prime minister. After the death of Shahu from 1749 to 1761, the Peshwas enjoyed de facto status till battle of Panipat. Afterwards, with exception of Madhavrao, all other peshwas remained ceremonial head of Maratha confederacy like their master Chattrapati.

History

Origins and Genetics

Well known for their 'European-like' features of light skin and grayish to green eyes, results of recent studies [4,5,6,7] on the genetics of Chitpavans have been quite interesting. It appears that the Chitpavans are a group of people with diverse genetic origins ranging from Europe through central Asia and Iran.

On the paternal side (Y-DNA), R1a1 is the most frequently found haplogroup. Incidentally this haplogroup is commonly found amongst many Indians [4,7], Central Asians, and a large number of East Europeans. Researchers believe a deep common ancestry to have existed between these regions. Some [8] have cited this as evidence for the controversial Aryan migration theory. J2a is another commonly found haplogroup in Chitpavans, and found across populations from Europe to India, with highest occurrence in the Mediterranean region. There is also a some presence of Haplogroups R2, L, and H1 believed to be of Indian origin and dominantly found in Western Indians [4,7].

On the maternal side (mt-DNA), studies of Chitpavan genetic samples [6,7] reveal a significant presence of various Eurasian mt-DNA haplogroups, in particular, the U, H, HV, X, R*, and N1 haplgroups. Furthermore, unlike most other groups of Indians, the presence of the indigenous M haplogroup appears lower.

Some [6] have suggested maternal gene flow to have been responsible for some of the unique racial characteristics found in the individuals of this caste. That such a gene flow might have occurred through a group of people arriving through the coastal route remains a popular theory with Chitpavan researchers. Unfortunately so far no concrete historical record has been found to back such an event.

There is no mention of Chitpavans in Indian history prior to the reign of the Peshwas because they did not hold any powerful position in the political structure and were content more or less in performing clerical jobs unlike their counterpart of desh who were performing religious duties.

The earliest reference to the Chitpavans in Indian literature can be found in the Sahyadri Khand, a section of the Skandha Purana. Considering that the version of Skandha in south India does not carry any reference to Chitpavans; It may have been later on composed sometime during 14-15th century by a scholar from a rival group and included as the Sahyadri Khand possibly in an attempt to explain / justify a sudden rise of chitpavans. (rival group, because firstly, most references and myth like story depicted in it does not speak very kindly of this community and secondly, the Skandh Purana with the Sahyadri khand inclusion traditionally would be a part of the rival group's literary collections.)

The following is the summary of the legend from Sahyadri Khand. Parashurama, the sixth avatara of Vishnu was so defiled by the slaughter of the Kshatriyas that Brahmins refused to perform any ceremonies for him. At that time the bodies of fourteen persons happened to be cast ashore by the sea which then washed the foot of the Sahyadri hills. These "corpses" Parashurama purified, by burning them on a funeral pyre or chita, and restored them to life. He taught them the Brahmin rituals, and made them perform ceremonies to free them from guilt. Parashurama wished to give these new Brahmins some land; and since the Deccan had already been given to other Brahmins, he prayed to the God of the sea to spare him some of his domain. Initially the sea god did not agree to reite. Hence, Parshurama decided to throw a Bramhastra (missile) on the sea to render it dry. Then the scared sea god agreed to retire as far west as the Bramhastra would hit the waters from the crest of the Sahyadris. The arrow was shot and reclaimed a belt of land about thirty miles broad. The banks of the Vashishthi, about forty miles north of Ratnagiri, were set apart for the new Brahmins, and in memory of the process by which they had been purified they were called Chitpavans ('chita - pavan', meaning 'pyre purified' in Sanskrit (it could also mean a 'pious mind' 'chit - mind,pavan - pious) and their settlement Chitpolan. After establishing this settlement, Parashurama retired to Gokarna in North Kanara.

Rise to power

Until the rise of Balaji Vishvanath Peshwa, who belonged to Chitpavan Brahmin sub-caste, they held a low position and were known chiefly as clerks in the Deccan. Even after several generations of living in the Deccan, with strict attention to Brahmin rituals and austere life, other classes of Brahmins refused to eat with them. One story is that when Bajirao II, the last of the Chitpavan Brahmin Peshwas (1796-1818), was in Nasik he was not allowed to go down to the Godavari river using the same flight of steps as the priests from the local Trimbakeshwar temple.

They were relatively unknown outside Konkan until the 16th century. Later the ruler of Maratha empire Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj appointed a Chitpavan Brahmin, Balaji Vishwanath Bhatt as his Peshwa or Prime Minister in , aroung 18th century. It was the first time a Brahmin of Konkan origin held an important position in Deccani politics in Maharashtra. Eventually, many Chitpavan Brahmins joined the service of Marattha kingdom and in due course called the plateau of Deccan their home.

Before the Peshwas, the community was predominantly found in the Konkan coastal belt of Maharashtra state of India but afterwards migrated to various parts of India. Today the community is found mainly in the state of Maharashtra particularly the Konkan coastal belt and the Deccan Plateau. They are also scattered in small pockets in the states of Punjab, Haryana, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu in a tiny percentage. Many of these DNAs' are also found among the Coorgis (a warrior caste in south india). Many of this community members have migrated to the Middle East Gulf States -particularly U.A.E. and also to U.K, Australia and U.S.A. Together, they form less than 1% of Total Indian population. It is known that the Konkanastha Brahmins are a homogeneous community. It was only after the late 18th century, that they began to form sub DNA groups.

06:55, 2 January 2007 (UTC)24.21.135.10 "A typical Chitpavan has a fair of complexion, a sharp nose and hazel eyes. Baring these physical features, they are highly educated and are visible in almost all professions. Nanasaheb Peshwa (18th century), from a portrait that is available may be called the best specimen of a Chitpavan individual. Many historians and anthropologists are of the view that the Chitpavans came to India from Egypt, while others say they came from Greece. Many Chitpavans have sacrificed their lives for India which is why the Chitpavan community has produced a number of fiery patriots. Chitpavans are very proud of their heritage. Typical Chitpavan surnames are Ranade, Tilak, Gokhale, Kelkar, Paranjape, Karve and Chitale."

See also

Eminent/Famous Konkanastha Brahmins

Literature/Scholars

Gujarat.

Administrators

Politics/Social Reform

Industry

Sport

Medicine

Information Technology

Cinema/Theatre

Music

Typical Last Names

The List of Chitpavan last names enumerates all the last names found in the Chitpavan community.

Typical First Names

Male names

  • Atul
  • Abhijit/Abhijeet
  • Ajit
  • Amit
  • Aamod
  • Amol
  • Aditya
  • Amay/Amey/Ameya
  • Anand
  • Anant
  • Ashok
  • Chandrashekhar
  • Chintamani
  • Deepak
  • Gajanan
  • Gopal
  • Hrishikesh
  • Kedar
  • Madhav
  • Madhukar
  • Mandar
  • Omkar/Onkar
  • Parshuram
  • Prashant
  • Rahul
  • Ranjan
  • Rohan
  • Ronak/Rounak/Raunak
  • Ronit
  • Sanjeet
  • Satish
  • Shreyash
  • Shrikant
  • Shrirang
  • Sourabh
  • Tushar
  • Shridhar
  • Shripad
  • Shantanu
  • Saurabh
  • Umesh
  • Vaman/Waman
  • Vasant
  • Vasudev
  • Vinay
  • Vinayak
  • Ballal

Female names

  • Anaya
  • Aparna
  • Anagha
  • Jayashri
  • Pranjali
  • Sanuja
  • Anita
  • Ashwini
  • Gauri
  • Ketaki
  • Manjiri
  • Namrata
  • Prajakta
  • Purnima
  • Rasika
  • Shreeya
  • Shruti
  • shraddha
  • Vidya
  • Janhavi
  • Medha
  • Vanita / Wanita
  • Nirmala

Trivia

  • Sir Raghunathrao P. Paranjpe, grandfather of noted Hindi and Marathi film director Sai Paranjpe, was the first Indian Wrangler (Wrangler-Mathematics topper at Cambridge University, England). Sai, daughter of Sir R.P.P.'s daughter and a Russian father is a noted Hindi and Marathi movie and drama director, having given major hits like Chashme Baddoor, Katha, Sparsh, etc.

References

  1. Chitpawan - by Na. Go. Chapekar (1940, reprinted 1968)
  2. Amhi sare chitpawan - by M.C. Dixit (2002)
  3. Chitpavanism - by Jagannath Dixit
  4. A prehistory of Indian Y chromosome: Evaluating demic diffusion scenarios - Sahoo et al. (2006)
  5. Polarity and Temporality of High-Resolution Y-Chromosome Distributions in India Identify Both Indigenous and Exogenous Expansions and Reveal Minor Genetic Influence of Central Asian Pastoralists - Sengupta et al. (2006)
  6. Molecular insight into the genesis of ranked caste populations of Western India - Gaikwad, Kashyap (2005)
  7. The Genetic Heritage of the Earliest Settlers persists Both in Indian Tribal and Caste Populations - Kivisild et al. (2003)
  8. Journey of man - Spencer Wells (2002)

External links

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