Pancha-Dravida

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Pancha Dravida is one of the two major groupings of Brahmins in Hinduism, of which the other was Pancha-Gauda.

In Rajatarangini[]

Kalhana, in his Rajatarangini (c. 12th century CE), classifies the following five Brahmin communities as Pancha Dravida, stating that they reside to the south of the Vindhyas:[1][2]

  • Karnataka (Karnataka Brahmins)
  • Tailanga (Telugu Brahmins)
  • Dravida (Brahmins of Tamil Nadu and Kerala)
  • Maharashtraka (Maharashtrian Brahmins)
  • Gurjara (Gujarati, Marwari and Mewari Brahmins[3])

In the kaifiyats[]

The Maratha-era kaifiyats (bureaucratic records) of Deccan, which give an account of the society in the southern Maratha country, mention the following Brahmin communities as Pancha Dravida:[4]

  • Andhra-Purva Desastha
  • Dravida Desastha
  • Karnataka Brahmins
  • Desastha

The kafiyats classify the Gurjara Brahmins as Pancha Gauda. They also mention the following 16 sub-castes of the Pancha-Dravidas:[4]

  • Smarta
  • Konkanastha
  • Karhade
  • Varkari
  • Madhyandin
  • Vanas
  • Karnatak
  • Shashtik
  • Nandavamshik
  • Srivaishnav Telang
  • Srivaishnava
  • Pratham-Shakhikanva
  • Kirvant
  • Sihavasai
  • Nurcher
  • Shenavi
  • Govalkonde

References[]

  1. ^ James G. Lochtefeld (2002). The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism: N-Z. Rosen. pp. 490–491. ISBN 9780823931804.
  2. ^ D. Shyam Babu and Ravindra S. Khare, ed. (2011). Caste in Life: Experiencing Inequalities. Pearson Education India. p. 168. ISBN 9788131754399.
  3. ^ Pandya, A V (1952). Abu in Bombay State: A Scientific Study of the Problem. Charutar Vidya Mandal. p. 29. It is interesting to note here that the Brahmin groups of Marwar and Mewar belong to the Gurjara group of the Pancha Dravida division
  4. ^ a b Krishnaji Nageshrao Chitnis (1994). Glimpses of Maratha Socio-economic History. Atlantic. pp. 95–96. ISBN 978-81-7156-347-0.


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