09/03/2020
Gowda Saraswath Brahmins, Their Gotras and Kuladevatas
By: Vasanth Madhav Pai
Gowda Saraswath Brahmins were originally residents along the banks of Saraswathi river. There are references to these Brahmins in Veda, Ramayana, Mahabharata, Bhagavatam and Bhavishyothara Purana, as one among several Brahmins. In Vanaparva of Mahabharata when Pandavas were residing in Dwaitaranya and Kamyakhavana along the banks of Saraswati, Rishi Vakadalbhya while addressing Yudishtira, says “O King, you are indeed fortunate to have got the services of learned Brahmins belonging to the Gotras of Bhrugu, Angiras, Agastya, Kashyap, Atri to do the Agnihotra rituals. These are the Gotras of Saraswath Brahmins.
The original habitat of Saraswaths, land between the rivers Saraswathi and Drishadvati, is mentioned in Rigveda. This land is referred to as Brahmavarta in Manusmruti. Mention of this piece of land is also there in Varahamihira’s Bruhat Samhita, Markandeya Purana and Bhagavata.
Gowda Saraswath Brahmins have a long history and hoary past in respect of their affiliation and allegiance to Kuladevatas or family deities. They carried their Kuladevatas along with them from place to place as they migrated over the years.
According to Mahabharata, Lord Parushurama, an Avatar of Vishnu, was furious at the whole of Kshatriya race when his father Jamadagni was killed by King Kartaviryarjuna. To avenge this killing he exterminated the whole Kshatriya race in a bloody battle and took over all their territories. He was advised by his guru to do Prayaschita (Expiatory rituals) for this slaughter of kings, and as a parihara he donated all the conqured territories away. As he could not stay in a land donated by him, he went south of Vindhyas and obtained from Varuna the King of seas, a piece of land known as Sapta Konkana on the west coast of India. Konkana is the name of his mother. In order to tend this reclaimed land and settle down he went to Gowda desha, (Trihotrapura), near present day Bihar and West Bengal, and brought back with him Gowda Saraswath Brahmins of Ten Gotras along with their family deities. The ten Gotras of Gowda Saraswath Brahmins brought by him to Kushastali in Goa, which is the mid Sapta Konkana, are as follows 1. Bharadwaj 2.Kaushik 3. Vatsa 4. Koundinya 5. Kashyapa 6.Vasista 7. Jamadagni 8. Vishwamitra 9. Goutama 10. Atri.
Kula referres to a family of persons related by blood living together and dedicated to a common cause. The Kurma Purana says that a Kula has nine characteristic namely 1. Good conduct 2. Humility 3. Scholarship 4. Stature in Society 5. Prilimigrage in Holy places 6. Steadfastness to the common cause, 7. Noble actions 8. Studiousness and 9. Generosity in donating to good causes.
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Gowda Saraswath Brahmins, Their Gotras and Kuladevatas March 7, 2020MiscellaneousV.M.Pai Gowda Saraswath Brahmins were originally residents along the banks of Saraswathi river. There are references to these Brahmins in Veda, Ramayana, Mahabharata, Bhagavatam and Bhavishyothara Purana, as one among s...
