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Tag: Brahmin Community

  • Chaurasia Brahmins 84 Or 84,000 Families

    In Hindu system of community classification of ancient times,the communities were grouped together based on the their location,number of families in a group,the chosen profession ,or the deeds done by them.

    Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia.Image.jpg
    Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia.

    Also if some groups performed some specific Yagnyas, among Brahmins, they were designated as such, for example, Vajpayee, those who have preformed and specialists in performing the Vajapeya Yaga.

    Among the Brahmins in the South, there are Asta Sahasram, (Eight Thousand families), Vadama(those who lived on the north bank of River Kaveri), Vaathima, who speialised in Purohitham.

    In the North we have many communities of Brahmins on similar lines.

    The Chaurasia Community is one which is based on the number of families belonging to this clan.

    They are reported to be 84,000 in number.

    HAURASIA word originated from ancient INDIAN Vedas which basically refers a Brahmin community in INDIA, CHAURASIA word inherits from a vedic word ‘chaturashiitah’ which refers eighty four in sansakrita . Since ancient INDIA, according to the Hindu mythology it is believed there are eighty four thousands Yonis(breeds, Types) of Gods existing in this universe. Every species which exist on Earth belong to a particular Yoni . At later stage and for easy pronunciation it transformed as ‘Chaurasia’ (A Hindi equivalent also refers eighty four).

    • Yoni is a term for female Genital Organ in Sanskrit.

    The Puranas state that, while describing the evolution of beings on the Earth, there are 84 Lakhs different Yonis and their derivatives among the Humans.(Yoni Beda)

    Hence I am of the opinion  that 84,000 families of Chaurasias may be off the mark, considering the limited Brahmin families in ancient India(this is so even today)

    This could be 84 or at the most 8000.

    Readers may send in their views.

    Chaurasia community belongs to the following Gotras

    • Kashyapa
    • Bharadwaj
    • Shandilya
    • Rishi
    • Brahmachari
    • Gaurhar
    • Chaurasia
    • Sharma
    • Barai
    • Tamoli
    • Bhatia
    • Bhagat
    • Chaurishi
    • Chaudhari
    • Modi
    • Rasela
    • Rajdheer

    Sub castes

    Following are the synonyms of Chaurasia surname by regional preferences:

    • Chaurasia (Belarampur, patti, pratapgarh) (U.P.)and Nepal.
    • Chaurasia (Throughout India)
    • Chourasia (Parts of North East India)
    • Chaurishi (Parts of North India)
    • Chaurasiya ( In Terai area of Nepal)
    • Sharma (Throughout India)
    • Jaiswal (North India)and Nepal too.
    • Bhardwaj (Throughout India)
    • Kashyap (North India)
    • Nag (North/East India)
    • Bhagat (North/east India) & in Nepal too.
    • Bari (Central/western India)
    • Barai (West Bihar/East UP)& in Nepal too.
    • Tamoli (West Bihar/East UP)
    • Rishi (Central India)
    • Brahmachari(North India)
    • Gaurhar (North India)
    • Modi (North India)
    • Raut (Bihar Madhubani)and Nepal too
    • Rai (Bihar Madhubani)
    • Munshi (Dhanbad Jharkhand)
    • Rasela (Central India)
    • Tiwari (Bihar Begusarai area)

    Reference and Citation.

    https://m.facebook.com/notes/chaurasia-brahmin/a-to-z-of-chaurasias-complete-history/225156294165011/

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  • Brahmin Gotra List

    Brahmin Gotra List

    I published a Post on the Surnames of Brahmin Community.

    I had in my mind to publish a complete list of Brahmin Gotras.

    I promptly forgot about it.

    Couple of Days ago when I received an alliance proposal for my brother’s Grandson, I was unable to check the Gotra, whether it belongs to the Brahmin Community.

    Later I checked it out and it was a Gotra of Brahmin Community.

    I am posting a list from the available resources and people may also contribute with authentication to make this List a Comprehensive one.

    Each gotra takes the name of a famous Rishi or sage.

    Gotra is a concept of patrilineal classification, which identifies the families of a caste.

    The original rishis after whom the gotras were named were just Seven in number .

    Gotras were further subdivided into ganas and sub ganas.

    Another concept is that of Pravara of Rishis who were a few of the most learned and capable sages belonging to that gotra.

    Each Brahmin was thus known by his gotra, pravar, sutra and shakha.

    There are exceptions to the rule too. For example the descendents of Maharishis Bhrigu and Angirasa cannot marry, because of the same Pravara Rishis, which are common to the two individuals.

    The weddings in India are fixed as per the Gotra of the bride and groom.

    Gotra matching is one of the most important concerns in North indian Hindu matrimony.

    Wedding in similar Gotra is strictly prohibited.

    A Gotra has three Rishis.

    This indicates the fact some of the Rishis had more than one wife, at different times , for example Parasara.

    I that case the male offspring from each of the Wives are added and the third if there are any more differentiation.

    Readers may contribute in this area.

    Another instance is when a Rishi changes his Varna.

    Viswamitra was a Kshatriya and his original name was Kausika.

    Later he became a Brahmin after he reealized Brahma Gnana.

    Then he was called a Barhmin and his Gotra was changed from Kausika to Viswamitra.

    The List of Brahmin Gotras,

    Aamat

    Agastya

    Ainakula

    Audala

    Angirasa

    Atri

    Akshinthala

    Aatreya

    Bharadwaj

    Bhargava

    Bhrigu

    Brihadbala

    Chandratre

    Dhananjaya

    Dubey

    Garg

    Gautam

    Gaur

    Harinama

    Haritasya

    Jamadagni

    Jilakara

    Kadam

    Kashyapa

    Kaushal

    Kaplansh

    Kaundinya

    Kutsa

    Manu

    Mouthkalya

    Sabarniya

    Marichi

    Nanda

    Nageswar

    Parashar

    Sandilya

    Saroha Village Luhara

    Shiva(Shiv-adi)

    Siwal

    Srivatsa

    Tayal

    Upamanyu

    Upreti

    Uttam

    Vashista

    Vishnu

    Vishvamitra

    Vishrava

    Shringi

    Khilaivar

    Pachori

    Nandhi

    1. Kapisa: Angirasa,Bharadwaja,Matavacha,Bharhaspatya,Vaandana – it is pancha pravar
    2. Pautamarshi:Angirasa,Barhaspatya,Jamdagni,Apnuvat -it is pancha pravar
    3. Kundina Gowthama :Angirasa, Ayasya, Kundina Gowthama
    4. Bharadwaja: Angirasa, Barhaspatya, Bharadwaja
    5. Vadula,Savarni,& Yaska: Bhargava,Vaitahavya,Saavedasa(do not intermarry)
    6. Maitreya:Bhargava,Daivodasa,Vadhryasva
    7. Shaunaka:Shaunaka(ekarsheya)
    8. Gartsamada:Bhargava,Sunahotra,Gartsamada
    9. Vatsa/Srivatsa: Bhargava, Chyavana, Apnavana/Apnuvat, Aurava, Jamadagnya
    10. Aarshtisena: Bhargava, Chyavana, Apnavana,Aarshtisena,Anupa
    11. Bidasa:Bhargava, Chyavana, Apnavana/Apnuvat, Aurava,Baida
    12. Saavarni:Bhargava,Vaitahavya,Savedasa
    13. Shatamarshana: Angirasa, Powrukutsa,Traasatasya
    14. AAtreya/Krishnatreya: Atreya,Aarchanaasa,Syaavaasva
    15. Vadhbhutaka: Atreya,Aarchanaasa,Vadhbhutaka
    16. Gavisthiras:Atreya,Gavisthira,Purvatitha
    17. Koushika: Vaiswaamitra,Aghamarshana,Koushika
    18. Kalabodhana/Kalaboudha: Viswaamitra,AAgamarshana,Kalabodhana/Kalaboudha
    19. Bhargava:Bhargava, Tvashta,Vishvaroopa
    20. Viswamitra: Vaiswaamitra,Devaraata, Owtala
    21. Kowndinya: Vashista,Maitraavaruna, Bayan, Kowndinya
    22. Kapinjala:Vashista,Aindrapramada,Abharadvasavya
    23. Vashista:Vashista(ekarsheya)
    24. Harita/Haritasa:(2 Variations)
      1. Harita, Ambarisha,Yuvanasva
      2. Angirasa, Ambarisha,Yuvanasva
    25. Gautamasa: Angirasa,Aayasyasa,Gautama
    26. Dhanvantari: Angirasa,Barhaspatya,Avatsara,Naidhruba
    27. Mowdgalya(3 Variations)
      1. Angirasa,Bharmyasva,Mowdgalya
      2. Tarkshya,Bharmyasva,Mowdgalya
      3. Angirasa, Dhavya, Mowdgalya
    28. Sandilya (2 Variations)
      1. Kasyapa,Aavatsaara,Daivala
      2. Kasyapa,Aavatsaara,Sandilya
      3. Kasyapa, Daivala, Asitha
    29. Naitruvakaasyapa: Kasyapa,Aavatsara,Naitruva
    30. Kutsa/Kauchhsa: Aangirasa,Maandhatra,Koutsa
    31. Kapi: Angirasa, Aamahaiya,Orukshaya
    32. Kapila: Angirasa, Aamahaiya,Orukshaya
    33. Kanva (2 Variations)
      1. Angirasa,Ajameeda,Kaanva
      2. Angirasa,Kowra, Kaanva
    34. Paraasara: Vashista, Shaktri, Paarasarya, Paing
    35. Upamanyu: Vashista,Aindrapramada,Bhadravasavya
    36. Aagastya: Aagastya,Tardhachyuta,Sowmavaha
    37. Gargyasa (2 Variations)
      1. Angirasa,Bharhaspatya,Bharadwaja,Sainya,Gargya
      2. Angirasa, Sainya, Gaargya
    38. Bhadarayana: Angirasa,Paarshadaswa, Raatitara
    39. Kashyapa: Kasyapa, Aavatsaara, Daivala
    40. Sankriti (2 Variations)
      1. Angirasa,Kowravidha,Saankritya
      2. Sadhya,Kowravidha,Saankritya
    41. Suryadhwaja: Lakhi (Mehrishi), Soral, Binju
    42. Daivaratasa:Viswamitra,Daivaratasa,Avudhala
      1. chikitasa—viswamitra,Devarata,Aghamarshana
    43. Shaktri : Vashistha, Shaktri,Parashar
    44. Jaabaali/Jabali : Bhargava, Vaithahavya, Raivasa – Thrayarisheya
    45. Vishnuvridha/Vishnuvardhanu : Angirasa, Pourukutsa, Thraasadasya

    This is another List from a different source.

    Some Gotras have been left out in the List mentioned above, for example, Shadamarshana.

    In the following List you may find the left out gotras and you might find duplication of what has been posted above.

    They may be left out .

    1. Suryadhwaja: Lakhi (Mehrishi), Soral, Binju
    2. Bharadwaj: Angirasa, Baaryhaspatya (i.e. bRhaspati), Bharadwaja
    3. Rathitara: Angirasa, Baaryhaspatya, Rathitara
    4. Vadula: Bhargava,Vaitahavya,Saavedasa
    5. Srivatsa: Bhargava,Syaavana,AApnavaana,Owrva,Jaamadaghnya
    6. Salankayana: Viswaamitra, Aghamarshana, Devavrata
    7. Shatamarshana: Angirasa, Powrukutsa,Traasatasya
    8. Atreya: Atreya,Aarchanaasa,Syaavaasva
    9. Kowsika: Vishwamitra,Aghavarshana,Kowsika
    10. Kalabodhana/Kalaboudha: Viswaamitra,AAgamarshana,Kalabodhana/Kalaboudha
    11. Viswamitra: Vaiswaamitra,Devaraata, Owtala
    12. Kaundinya: Vaasishta,Maitraavaruna, Kaundinya
    13. Haritasa: Angirasa, Ambarisha,Yuvanasva
    14. Gautamasa: Angirasa,Aayasyasa,Gautama
    15. Mowdkalya(3 Variations)
      1. Angirasa,Bharmyasva,Mowdgalya
      2. Tarkshya,Bharmyasva,Mowdgalya
      3. Angirasa, Dhavya, Mowdgalya
    16. Sandilya (3 Variations)
      1. Kasyapa,Aavatsaara,Daivala
      2. Kasyapa,Aavatsaara,Sandilya
      3. Kasyapa, Daivala, Asitha
    17. Naitruvakaasyapa: Kasyapa,Aavatsara,Naitruva
    18. Kutsa: Angirasa,Maandhatra,Kowtsa
    19. Kanva (2 Variations)
      1. Angirasa,Ajameeda,Kaanva
      2. Angirasa,Kowra, Kaanva
    20. Paraasara: Vaasishta, Saaktya, Paarasarya
    21. Aagastya: Aagastya,Tardhachyuta,Sowmavaha
    22. Gargi (2 Variations)
      1. Angirasa,Bharhaspatya,Bharadwaja,upadhyay
      2. Angirasa, Sainya, Gaargya
    23. Bhadarayana: Angirasa,Paarshadaswa, Raatitara
    24. Kasyapa (3 Variations)
      1. Kasyapa, Aavatsaara, Daivala
      2. Kasyapa, Aavatsaara, Naidruva(Naitruva)
      3. Kasyapa, Aavatsaara, Naidruva(Naitruva), Rebha, Raibha , Sandila, Saandilya
    25. Sunkriti (2 Variations)
      1. Angirasa,Kowravidha,Saankritya
      2. Sadhya,Kowravidha,Saankritya
    26. Angirasa, Pourukutsya, Thraasadasya
    27. goutam/gowtamasa Aangeerasa, ayasya, gowtama
    28. Vadhoola: Bhargava, Vaitahavya, Savedasa
    29. AgniVaiwaswatha: Angirasa, Brahaspthayasa, Bharadwaja, Srukva, Agnivaiwaswathasa
      Vadhryashwa Gotra -Many Deshastha Brahmins near Nagpur Mahrashtra have this Gotra including me
      .Reference to Vadhryashwa Rishi is found in Rigveda

    Pravaras Citation.

    Check out the Following Link.

    http://shrigaurbrahmanmahasabhabikaner.blogspot.in/2010/12/list-of-brahmin-gotras.html

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  • Why Caste At All?

    People need some frame of reference to live.

    Sample of Spread of Communities India
    Sample of Spread of Communities India

    More the references better for the Society.

    I am using the term Reference, not laws, for reference is more by way of recommendation in nature while Law implies punishment .

    The reference points may include any or all of the following criteria.

    Money,

    Power,

    Geographical,

    Profession,

    Location.

    Language,

    Nation

    Day to-day activities of Life  like brushing the teeth bathing,eating, sleeping, working, marriage, parenting and Death.

    and a combination of all the above.

    In the absence of any frame of reference, the individual is rudderless and has a crisis of identity.

    You take away the identity of Nation from an individual, he becomes an immigrant , not knowing where he belongs to for he is an alien to boht the countries.

    Similarly if you peel of all references  to a group, you have an Identity crisis.

    People without strong bonding with communities become recluses, start hanging out in Facebook,Google Plus hangouts with people of whom they know nothing, except what they inform you of what you would like to hear.

    The chances of building a strong  personal community bonding are slim.

    In most of these artificially created communities,driven mostly by curiosity and a desire to share things which they can not share with whom they know.

    And herein lies the danger.

    Mostly people misuse it and exploit your weaknesses.

    Hinduism had tried,  organizing groups  under the principles mentioned above.

    They found that Money as the reference point is not stable as the yard stick of Money changes and money is not a permanent fixture with any one as fortune changes.

    You can observe how money as reference point has wreaked havoc with individual’s  Lifestyle when they lose money,stranded by people who evaluate them on the basis of Money alone.

    Talk to any one who lost a lucrative Job in IT industry, you would know what I am talking about.

    Money can not be the sole criterion

    Power, this also changes swiftly with the same disastrous results as with money.

    In both the cases of Money and Power, these reference points create more anti social , some in authority.

    Mere geographical identity will not do as   the location is dictated by the economic condition.

    So this can not be deciding factor.

    At best it can be a secondary denominator’ like the Mythili Brahmins, Vadama Brahmins of the Brahmin Community which indicate their location,but they remain in the main classification , Brahmins,

    If you take Profession,it can also remain as a secondary indicator as it is subject to change.

    Let us take the case of Brahmins.

    Their profession is to Study the Vedas, Teach the Vedas,Perform Yagnyas, have the Yagnyas performed,Seek alms for Food and pay for the welfare of the Society and the Society took care of all their needs,

    Both are missing to-day.

    There is no Brahmin I know of is a Brahmin by this definition, me included,

    All of us, Brahmins have become Vaisyas in Business, Kshtriyas in Politics, Army and in many cases Sudras by performing duties as ordered by the others-by the performance of Duties.

    The Society ceased supporting Brahmins as they did for we long ceased to be Brahmins.

    But which happened first, Our ceasing to Brahmins or the Society stooped supporting us and which triggered this chain, I do not know, nor there is information on this,

    Kanchi Maha Periyavar is of the Opinion is that it is because of Brahmins ceasing to be Brahmins, the Society stopped respecting them.

    I totally agree with him.

    Now I am digressing.

    Hinduism found that none of the criteria mentioned  individually here would help either the Individual or the Society in the long run.

    They tried a combination of all these factors and found that even if all of them are clubbed together as a Frame of reference, it would not do.

    So they went  to the root of the problem, Behavior.

    Behavior starts from Birth, in the form of dispositions.

    So they fixed Disposition as the yardstick.

    How?

    More to follow.

    http://ramanisblog.in/2013/06/29/caste-is-necessary-unavoidable-introduction/

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