Talk:Deshastha Brahmin

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[edit] Is the description correct?

I think it is more of knowing by heart and reciting of the specific veda that defines the Deshastha Rigvedi or Yajurvedi. Since any single veda does not dictate all the religious ceremonies, it is probably not correct to say that following one of them for the ceremonies determines whether Rigvedi or Yajurvedi. This is just my personal opinion.

Bold text All Brahmins belong to a root started by a Rishi which is known as Gotra. These brahmins specialised in particular veda and sutra and sahkaha. The gotras though denote a particular origin from a Rishi, infact it is a group of Rishis Eg. Vasihtha, Koundinya etc. belong to one group and Vasishtha, Aindrapramada, Bharadvasu belong to another group. After identifying the root, the type of veda followership is also identified - Rigvedi, Yjurvedi, Samavedi etc. (No Atharva vedi). After the veda, the specialisation in Sutra and then Shakha are also identified. Thus, the family and the scholorship of a Brahmin was grouped. It may be noted that after Munja-Upanayana, a brahmin has to do Sandhyavandanam. After completing Sandhyavandanam the brahmin does a Shira Sashtanga Namaskara identifying himself, to the Gods and Teachers (Guru). Thus the identity does not stop at Veda but goes further too. It is called "PRAVARA". Eg: Vasihtha-Aindrapramada-Bharadvasu- Tripravaranvita-Vasishtha Gotrotpannah-RUGVEDAsya-ASHVALAYANA Sutra-SHAKALA SHAKHA Adhyayi-Tells his name and salutes Chatussagara Paryanta GO-BRAHMANAS also along with GOD. Hence, the Rigvedi is only a Major classification. Among Deshasthas we have only Rigvedis and Yajurvedis. Down south you find more Samavedis among other brahmins. This ios the speciality of Deshasthas.

I am a Kannada Deshastha Rigvedi migrated from Maharashtra to hold Jahagirs of Maratha rulers in north Karnataka - later, of Sultans of small provinces in north Karnataka. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Ragsvet (talk • contribs) 12:54, 28 December 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Family Names

This is a great start. I had a quick question - can someone point me to some references that will provide more information on family names?

[edit] Shriniwas Khale

Please check first. Reknown music composer Mr. Shriniwas Khale surely not belongs to Deshasthas. --Arvind Mukhedkar (Music Composer) wrote

Somebody has also put Jayaram Shiledar as Deshastha. I knew his sister and her last name was Jadhav. So again , check your facts before adding these names. It would be nice to have the talented Shiledar family under Deshastha. However, it is not possible to change facts.

[edit] Family name and kuldevata table

This is a good table. However, it is incomplete. I would suggest just giving a list of gotras, shakhas, kuldevatas and family names. Tkul 02:33, 19 November 2006 (UTC)tkul

[edit] Pictures

It would be good if someone can upload pictures of the following:

1. A deshastha woman clad in the nine yard sari. 2. Puran poli 3. Munja ceremony

[edit] Deshastha by Marriage

We have two non-maharashtrian ladies married to Deshstha men mentioned under "Prominent Deshastha". What do contributors think of that ? Are these ladies Deshastha or not ?

[edit] Famous Deshasthas

What happened to the list of Famous Deshastha Personalities ? --Sanjaydh 16:46, 4 October 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Satvahan. A Deshastha dynasty?

I read on this page before that Satvahanas were a Deshastha dynasty. Any proof of this claim? --Sanjaydh 16:46, 4 October 2007 (UTC) 10:29, 29 October 2007 (UTC)Jcavale

I'm again editing to include our ethnic community as being Indo Aryan. I really do not understand why that has been removed. No we are not related to kannada people. We are only related to other Indo Aryans. ````

Deshasthas are not Kannada Brahmins at all. They are from Maharashtra originally, migrated to different places where the Maratha empire expanded, starting from Tanjavur in Tamilnadu to Mysore to Andhra to whole of earstwhile Bombay Province of Britishers to Scindhia, Holkar, Gaekwad (Gwalior, Indore, Baroda, Ujjain etc). They were intelligent, learned, brave (were ready to take to sword at the time of need to face the enemy and to protect the Royalty), trustworthy loyal and multilingual. They were Managers, Cashiers, Village accountants in smaller entities. They were Khajanchis, Diwans, Kulapurohits, Chief astrologers, Accountants, Vaidyas and interpretors to the Royalties. There were quite a few warriors/senapatis as you can see else where in the wikipedia.

First they served the Maratha empire. After the fall of the empire, they served the local kings, Jahagirdars, Palegars and even the local small time Sultans. Some of our ancestors were quite proficient in Marathi, Kannada, Samskrita, Farsi, Urdu and even English.

Our ancestors were from Maharashtra who were Jahagirdars, settled at a place called Karjagi in present Haveri district of Karnataka. Generation after generation slowly lost touch of Marathi and later lost the Marathi Sir name too. Because of the large land holding and as our ancestors had a very huge Wade (Waa Day-dwelling) in the area, we were given a Sir name of Doddamani - a typical Kannada Sir name of north Karnataka not specifying any caste/sect. We have Doddamanis among Muslims, Lingayats, SCs, Shepherds etc., apart from Deshastha Brahmins. Similarly one will find Hulmani, Sannamani, and the the names of the villages they hail from as their Sir name. Our type of Deshasthas have completely lost Marathi touch and we call ourselves Smarta Deshastha Kannada (Rigvedi / Yajurvedi). We do have our Family lady Diety Tulajabhavani of Tulajapur and also Tirupati Laxmi Venkateshwara as male God. Our existance as Kannada smarta Deshastha is wide spread. We do have Gondhal which we call Gondla in Kannada.Smilarly you will find Deshasthas speaking Telugu, Hindi, Tamil, Tulu, Gujarathi too.

The Kannada Deshasthas mentioned in context above by Sanjaydh are the Deshasthas of Madhwa-Vaishnavas-followers of likes of Raghavendra swamy. They are not Shaivites but Vashnavites and have nothing to do with Smarta Kannada Deshasthas. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Ragsvet (talk • contribs) 12:03, 31 December 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Vikram Panidt: A Deshastha

Please check your source/reference. Looks like he is a Karhade Brahmin. The wiki page on Vikram Pandit has been updated. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 20.6.11.39 (talk) 16:14, 17 December 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Wakatak: A Deshastha Dynasty?

I read a Marathi article stating that Wakatak and Satvahan dynasties were Deshastha brahmins? Can someone verify this information. Please quote references to support this claim. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 20.6.11.39 (talk) 16:20, 17 December 2007 (UTC)