Pancha-Gauda

Pancha-Gauda and Pancha-Dravida are two chief divisions of Brahmins, as per the śloka from Rājatarangini of Kalhaṇa / Kalhana:

कर्णाटकाश्च तैलंगा द्राविडा महाराष्ट्रकाः , गुर्जराश्चेति पञ्चैव द्राविडा विन्ध्यदक्षिणे ||

सारस्वताः कान्यकुब्जा गौडा उत्कलमैथिलाः, पञ्चगौडा इति ख्याता विन्ध्स्योत्तरवासिनः ||

Meaning :(The-) Karnātakas, Tailangas, Dravidas, Mahārāshtrakās and Gurjaras; these five(-types who-) live south of Vindhya (- mountains) are (called-) "five Dravidas" (- brahmins); (whereas-) Sārasvatas, Kanyakubja Brahmins, Gauḍa brahmins, Utkala Brahmins, and Maithil Brahmins, who live north of Vindhya (- mountains) are known as "five Gaudas" (-brahmins)[1].[2][3].

The differentiation of brahmin community is mentioned in a Sanskrit text Brāhmaṇotpatti-mārtaṇḍa [4] :

सृष्टियारम्भे ब्राह्मणस्य जातिरेका प्रकीर्तिता ।
एवम् पूर्व जातिरेका देशभेदादद्विधाऽभवत् ॥
गौड़द्रविड़ भेदेन तयोर्भेदाददश स्मृताः ...

Meaning : There was one caste of Brahmin in the beginning of Creation, but due to difference in country (of residence) it got bifurfated into two, namely Gauda and Dravida (i.e., Panch-Gauda and Panch-Dravida), which was again differentiated into ten (five Panchgaudas and five Panchdravida sub-castes).

Panch-Gauda still include a major portion of all Brahmin communities in North India [5], barring a few migrant Brahmin communities like Shakadvipi [6]. Panch-Gauda includes many branches all of which come under Brahmin communities.

Notes

  1. ^ cf. Kalhana's Rajatarangini in reference for English version.
  2. ^ cf. Brāhmaṇotpatti-mārtaṇḍa, p.2, ŝloka 8
  3. ^ cf. A History of Brahmin Clans, p.40-42
  4. ^ cf. Harikṛṣṇa Śāstri, chapter-1, sloka 8
  5. ^ cf. A History of Brahmin Clans, Introduction
  6. ^ cf. A History of Brahmin Clans, p.279

References

See also