Ganak

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This article is about the Ganak caste of Assam, India. For the Ganaka caste of South India (particularly Kerala), see Kaniyar.

Ganak is a caste of traditional astrologers from Assam, India.

They are also known as Ganak Brahmins, Acharya, and Graha Bipra.[1] They claim that they are descendants of Sakaldwipiya Brahmins, but other Brahmin clans consider them to be a lower rank. The common surnames used by this group are Sarma/Sarmah, Changkakoti, Bordoloi etc.[2]

Condemnation of Ganak people occurred around 400 BC, and was believed to be lost their supreme sacerdotal Brahminical status since that period.[3]

During 1509 – 1686 AD, 11 talented Brahmins came to Assam from Kanau, Uttar Pradesh. They were (i) Sathibar Pandey (1616 AD), (ii) Acharya Gopaldev Bhatta Chatruvedi (1586 AD), (iii) Umananda Chaturvedi (1671 AD), (iv) Keshavananda Pandey (1671 AD), (v) Acharya Gadadhara Pandey (1509 AD), (vi) Dharmmangada Trivedi (1681 AD), (vii) Gadadhara Upadhyay (1656 AD), (viii) Rangacharana Mishra (1661 AD), (ix) Bhisagacharya Ishwaragiri (1655 AD), (x) Kamalalochana Trivedi (1638 AD) and (xi) Swarupananda Dwivedi (1686 AD).Chaturvedi, Trivedi, Dwivedi, Pandey, Upadhayay and Mishra were the highest category Brahmin (under Yajurveda, Kandwa Branch and Mihirayan Gotra) in national level.During the rule of Ahom King, Shiva Singha, one Brahmin came from Simala Gaon, Nadiya District, Bengal name Krishnananda Bhattacharyya and got the royal support.The King divided the whole Brahmin community in two groups as Surya-vipra and Chandra-vipra. The above mentioned 11 families were given the status of Surya-vipra Brahmin or Ganak.(ref page no 70, Assam Buranji, Harakanta Baruah sadaramin)Thus Ganak Brahmin status was given by the local king in Assam.

References

  1. ↑ Bareh, Hmlet, ed. (2001). Encyclopaedia of North-East India: Tripura. p. 240. 
  2. ↑ Sharma, Suresh Kant; Sharma, Usha, eds. (2005). Discovery of North-East India: geography, history, culture, religion, politics, sociology, science, education and economy. North-East India 5. Mittal. p. 226. 
  3. ↑ Singh, N. K., ed. (1997). Encyclopaedia of Hinduism 1. Anmol. p. 87. 
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