Classification of Brahmins

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The first classification of Brahmins might have been called for during the Vedic age itself. Consequently, the concept of Gotra came into existence. The gotra concept was probably propounded during the later Vedic period. It’s a system of classification and identification of various families and indicating common descent mainly from eight ‘root’ rishis.

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[edit] Gaur Brahmins and Dravida Brahmins

Then as the Aryanization and Sanskritization of the Indian subcontinent proceeded, it might have felt that the whole Brahmin community (by then spread almost over the whole subcontinent) should be further subdivided. Thus the Brahmins were divided into two main regional subgroups. Brahmins residing north of Vindhyachal-Satpura mountain range (this mountain range roughly divides the north-south expansion of Indian subcontinent) were called as Gaur Brahmins, whereas the inhabitants of south of the range were known as Dravida Brahmins. Sanskrit was still considered as the main language of literary and administrative activities during those times. It was the main language of the courts of the kings and the primary mode of communication among the literates throughout the subcontinent. Most of the literary works in astronomy, astrology, mathematics, economics, political science, literature and general used to be written in this language. However, a few other languages like Prakrit, Pali etc., in the north and Tamil (old) in the south existed side-by-side. Yet those languages seemed to be considered as the languages of masses.

[edit] 'Panch-Gaur' Brahmins and 'Panch-Dravida' Brahmins

As the development of languages (and / or dialects) in different regions of the sub-continent shaped, Sanskrit started being replaced as the language of courts and literary activities. That further prompted the classification of Brahmins. Thus another division among Brahmin communities on geographical and linguistic basis took place.

(1) Pancha-Gaur, i.e., five main subgroups of Brahmins stemming from the erstwhile Gaur subgroup. Considering west, north-west to east, these were:

The Gaur Brahmins group mentioned here appears to be the remnants after other groups parted away from the primary Gaur group. It is to be noted that 'Gaur' (some authors refer to as 'Gauda' due to various ways of transliterating a word written in Devnagari script to the Roman script) was the first parent subgroup of Brahmins in the north and still many Brahmin families continue to be identified as Gaur Brahmins.

(2) Pancha-Dravida, i.e., five main subgroups of Brahmins originating from the earlier mentioned Dravida subgroup. These subgroups seem to be reckon with regional languages.

[edit] Further classification

But the parting away of Brahmin families from their parent subgroup (i.e., subgroups under Pancha-Gaur and Panch-Dravida) continued and the process generated scores of sub-castes mainly on the possible grounds:

(1) Since Vedic age, most Brahmins had been leading simple and ascetic lives. Thus their sustenance of livelihood and intellectual pursuits depended mainly on contributions or help provided by the kings, big landlords etc. This 'search for support' often incited them to wander. But some Brahmin families remained confined to smaller geographical locations because they might have availed the financial means for generations at those places. In some cases, their locational existence even confined to a couple of districts. These families might have got used to local dialects, customs etc., in course of time. They, however, originally belonging to a particular parent subgroup, might have thought of identifying themselves separately from the other members of the subgroup.

(2) Some Brahmin families moved to totally different geographical area from the bounds of their parent subgroup and accordingly espoused local language, customs etc., in due course. This might have inspired them to classify themselves separately from the other subgroup's members.

(3) Many lines of descent from the root rishis were grouped separately. Accordingly, the root gotras were divided into ganas (subdivisions) and each gana was further divided into group of some families, known as sub-gana. Since then the term gotra have frequently been applied to the ganas and sub-ganas. Some Brahmin families, having ganas and sub-ganas as their gotras stemming only from one 'root' rishi, might have classified themselves separately from the other members of the parent subgroup.

(4) Some Brahmin families started paying adherence primarily to one God (say, Shiva or Vishnu) or started observing certain ritualistic order and might have thought of identifying themselves separately.

[edit] Brahmins' sub-castes

Some of the existing sub-castes from Panch-Gaur group of Brahmins are:

Some of the existing sub-castes from Panch-Dravida group of Brahmins are:

[edit] See Also

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