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History of Sarswat Brahmins 

The Sarswat Brahmin community has a rich and ancient history, tracing its roots to the Vedic period in India. The Sarswats are one of the oldest Brahmin communities and are associated with the region around the mythical Saraswati River, which is mentioned in the Rigveda. Below is a detailed account of their history

 CLASSIFICATION

Sarswat Brahmins are classified under the Pancha Gauda Brahmin classification of the Brahmin community in India.

In Western and South India, along with the Chitpavan, Karhades (including Padhyes, Bhatt Prabhus), and Konkani-speaking Sarswat Brahmins are referred to as Konkani Brahmins, which denotes those Brahmin sub-castes of the Konkan coast which have a regional significance in Maharashtra and Goa.

Based on Veda and Vedanta

In Karnataka and Kerala, Majority of Gaud Sarswat Brahmins are followers of Madhvacharya, while the Chitrapur Sarswat Brahmins are Smarthas, followers of Adi Shankara.Writer Chandrakant Keni and former I.C.S officer V. N. Kudva says, "The majority of the Sarswats, including those in Goa, are now Vaishnavas".

 ORIGIN

The Sarswat Brahmins originating in Balochistan were called sindhur and were considered a low caste. They have a legend of origin related to Lord Ramachandra (not the same as Parashurama), who could not find a priest in Balochistan and applied a Tilaka on the head of some . Jürgen Schaflechner cites the historian Rowe who states that such "low ranking Brahmins" formed a symbiotic relationship with Vaishya castes such as Khatris, Lohanas, etc. who were trying to raise their varna status - which in turn would benefit the Sarswats as well. For this purpose, certain religious texts were written during the British Raj era.Mleccha

Sarswats of western India claim to be part of the Sarswat brahmin community of the north based on the Sahyadri Khanda of Skanda Purana. As per the Purana, Parshurama brought Sarswats to Konkan.However, Sanskrit scholar Madhav Deshpande, Indologist and Sanskrit Scholar Stephan Hillyer Levitt and historian O'Hanlon consider the portion of the Sahyādrikhaṇḍa that describes Sarswats to be corrupted and recently interpolated by Sarswats themselves in order to improve their status.

The southward migration of Sarswat Brahmins is explained in the Skanda Purana. The Sayhadrikhand of Skandapurana narrates the founding myths of various Brahmin communities.In the text, Shiva narrates the following founding myths to Skanda: Parshurama brought Sarasvatas from Tirhut to Konkan, settling them in the villages of Kelosi and Kusasthal. These settlers were "attractive, well-behaved, and skilled in every rite". The deities Shantadurga, Mangesh, Mhalsa, Nagesh and Mahalakshmi accompanied them to Konkan.

  • The name "Sarswat" is derived from the Saraswati River, which was considered sacred and a cradle of early Indian civilization.
  • The community is believed to have been custodians of Vedic knowledge, scriptures, and rituals, thriving along the banks of the Saraswati River.
  • They were highly learned in the Vedas and were primarily engaged in scholarly and priestly activities.

 DECLINE OF THE SARASWATI RIVER

  • The drying up of the Saraswati River, which is estimated to have occurred around 1900 BCE, led to the migration of Sarswat Brahmins to other parts of India.
  • This migration dispersed them to regions like Kashmir, Punjab, Sindh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, and Karnataka.

 GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION

Sarswat Brahmins are broadly divided into several sub-groups based on the regions they settled in:

  • Kashmiri Sarswats: Found in the Kashmir Valley and northern India.
  • Punjabi Sarswats: Settled in Punjab and nearby areas.
  • Dakshin Sarswats (Konkanis): Migrated to the Konkan region (Goa, Karnataka, and Maharashtra).
  • Sindhi Sarswats: Found in Sindh (now in Pakistan) and nearby areas.

 ROLE IN SOCIETY

  • Historically, Sarswat Brahmins have played a significant role as priests, scholars, and teachers, contributing to the preservation and propagation of Hindu philosophy and traditions.
  • They also adapted to various professions over time, including agriculture, administration, and trade, especially in regions where priestly opportunities were limited.

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