Savarna (Sanskrit: सावर्ण, IAST: sāvarṇa) or Savarni/Shavarna is a Brahmin gotra[1] that comprises Kanyakubja Brahmins and Saryupareen Brahmins who are the descendants of sage Savarna Muni.[2][3] The origins of Savarna gotra can be traced back to the origins of Kanyakubja Brahmins in Kannauj, Uttar Pradesh.[4]
Among Bengalis, the common surname for Savarna gotra is Ganguly or Gangopadhyay.
History and beliefs
editSavarna Brahmins are believed to be the descendants of sage Savarna Muni (or Savarni Muni), belonging to the family of Bhrigu.[5] Several ancient Indian literary works and inscriptions suggest that Savarna Brahmins have five Pravaras - Aurva, Chyavana, Bhargava, Jamadagnya and Apnavana.[6]
Savarna Brahmins have historically been the followers of Samaveda, with Gandharva Veda being their preferred Upa Veda (sub-Veda).[7]
According to the kulapanjikas, the genealogical chronicles of some Bengali Brahmin communities, Savarna gotra Brahmins were one of the five Brahmin gotras (along with Shandilya, Bharadwaj, Kashyap and Vatsya) that immigrated from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar to Bengal in the 11th century.[8] This branch of Bengali Savarna Brahmins is known as Kulin Brahmins, who are further classified in two sections based on their geographic characteristics - Rarh Brahmins and Varendra Brahmins.[9]
Present
editToday, Brahmins of Savarna gotra can be found across India and Nepal. However, their surnames vary from region to region.[10]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Tagore, Sourindra Mohun (1884). The Caste System of the Hindus. Catholic orphan Press, Oxford University. p. 16.
- ^ "Vedamal". Raja Ravi Sekhar. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
- ^ Bhattacharya, Tanmoy. "Traditional genealogy of bengali brahmins: gaGgopAdhyAYa and other families of sAvarNa gotra". Tripod. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
- ^ Williams, Raymond Brady (4 January 2011). An introduction to Swaminarayan Hinduism. Cambridge University Press. p. 13. ISBN 978-0521654227. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
- ^ Brough, John (2013). The Early Brahmanical System of Gotra and Pravara: A Translation of the Gotra-Pravara-Manjari of Purusottama-Pandita. Cambridge University Press. p. 82. ISBN 978-1107623989. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
- ^ Sharma, R.K. (1965). "A Study of the Gotras and Pravaras in the Kalachuri Inscriptions". Proceedings of the Indian History Congress. 27. Indian History Congress: 92–98. JSTOR 44140596.
- ^ Crooke, William (1999). The Tribes and Castes of the North-Western Provinces and Oudh. Asian Educational Services. p. 146. ISBN 8120612108. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
- ^ Bhattacharya, Amit. "Indian roots and shoots: Five Brahmins and a migration myth". The Times of India. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
- ^ "Kulin Brahmins". Rediff.com. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
- ^ Witzel, M. (1989). "Swati Datta (nee Sen Gupta), Migrant Br ! hma " as in Northern India. Their Settlement and General Impact c. A.D. 475-1030". XV.
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help)