Dwivedi

Dwivedi is a Hindu surname. Dwivedi's belong to the brahmin caste, and belong to the Pancha Gauda classification of brahmins (i.e. north India brahmins). Dwivedi's can belong to any of the five gaud's: (1) Saraswat, (2) Kanyakubja, (3) Maithil, (4) Gauda, and (5)Utkala Brahmins, but mainly tend to be Kanyakubja.

Meaning

The most commonly accepted interpretation is Dwivedi means a person who has the knowledge of two Vedas. This interpretation is based on breaking the term down into its two main components, Dwivedi: dwi = two (also second) + vedi = one who has learned the Vedas. For example, a person might have the knowledge of Rigveda and Yajurveda, and hence be called a Dwivedi. Similarly for three Vedas the surname Trivedi (tri=three), and all four vedas the surname Chaturvedi (chatur=four). Also, Samvedi surname exists (sam=one or singular), where the person is said to have the knowledge of one Veda but saints discard this belief.

The surnames Dwivedi, Trivedi and Chaturvedi are also open to different interpretations.

A variation of the interpretation is that the holder's forbears were proficient in the second out of the four Vedas (including the vedic branch one is born into).

Yet another interpretation is that Dwivedi: DAIV + VEDI Daiv: Spiritual, related to the GOD Vedi: One who knows about. Thus DWIVEDI means a person who knows about GOD. Similarly: Trivedi never means one who has learnt three Vedas. According to Hinduism, a Brahmin must read all the four Vedas. Tri: All the three Vedi: Who knows Thus Trivedi means one who knows about all the three (Past, Present & Future). In that time a "Jyotishi" was called Trivedi.

Similar Names

Another commonly used surname, Dubey is also used for and is believed to have the same meaning as Dwivedi.

Regionality

Dwivedi's are mostly found in, or originate from the northern Indian states of Uttar Pradesh (U. P.), Madhya Pradesh (M.P.), Bihar, and Punjab. People of the surname Dwivedi are usually found in district Gorakhpur, Azamgarh, Lucknow, Kanpur, Fatehpur, Varanasi, Faizabad, Mathura, Agra of Uttar Pradesh; Bhopal, Jabalpur of Madhya Pradesh; and Darbhanga, Samastipur of Bihar. In Hoshiarpur of Punjab there are some villages (e.g. Budhi Pind) where brahmins are predominantly of surname Dwivedi/Dubey. Notable individuals with the surname Dwivedi can now be found throughout India, many holding key political, business and arts positions in New Delhi and Mumbai. Outside of India, many Dwivedi's can be found in Canada, New Zealand(Auckland) and the U.S.A.

Individuals with the surname Dube can also found in the countries of Fiji, Guyana (as Doobay), Trinidad and Tobago and Suriname.

Notable people with the surname Dwivedi

• Sant Tulsidas Dwivedi - Creator of Ramcharitmanas
• Mahavir Prasad Dwivedi - Noted Indian writer
• Nikhil Dwivedi - Bollywood actor
• Chandraprakash Dwivedi - Indian film director and script writer
• Hazari Prasad Dwivedi - Hindi novelist
• Sharada Dwivedi - Mumbai-based historian and researcher
• Ashwant Dwivedi - Canadian businessman and former diplomat
• Bal Govind Dwivedi - Hindi poet
• Janardan Dwivedi - Politician from Indian National Congress party
• O.P. Dwivedi - Prolific professor emiritus, Order of Canada, Royal Society of Canada
• Ragini Dwivedi - Bollywood actress and model
• Divya Dwivedi - Bollywood actress
• Twinkle Dwivedi - A girl from Lucknow, U.P., gained worldwide attention for bleeding eyes
• S.P. Dwivedi - Hindi poet, hindu community activist in Western Canada
• Rahul Dwivedi - Mumbai based male model
• Rewa Prasad Dwivedi - Sanskrit scholar and poet
• Ram Chandra Dwivedi - Renowned poet and songwriter
• Sohan Lal Dwivedi - Rashtra-kavi, national poet, see Bindki
• Dewan Chand Dwivedi - Rai Sahib, renowned Physician
• O P Dwivedi - Freedom fighter and social worker
• Naveen Dwivedi - Famous Cardiologist in Brisbane (Australia)
• G G Dwivedi-Major General
• Kapil Deva Dvivedi-Sanskrit Scholar Padma Shri

See also

See also: Dube Brahmins , Hindi literature , Brahmin , Brahmin communities , and Brahminism

The Dwivedi Yug ("Age of Dwivedi") in Hindi literature lasted from 1900 to 1918. It is named after Mahavir Prasad Dwivedi, who played a major role in establishing modern Hindi language in poetry and broadening the acceptable subjects of Hindi poetry from the traditional ones of religion and romantic love.

References

• M.A. Sherring, Hindu Tribes and Castes as Reproduced in Benaras, Asian Educational Services, New Delhi, First edition 1872, new edition 2008.
• A History of Brahmin Clans (Brāhmaṇa Vaṃshõ kā Itihāsa) in Hindi, by Dorilāl Śarmā,published by Rāśtriya Brāhamana Mahāsabhā, Vimal Building, Jamirābād, Mitranagar, Masūdābād,Aligarh-1, 2nd ed-1998. (This Hindi book contains the most exhaustive list of Brahmana gotras and pravaras together their real and mythological histories).
• The Tribes and Castes of Central Provinces of India, by R. V. Russel,I.C.S,(assisted by R. B. Hira Lal),4 Vols,Macmillan and Co; New Ed edition (2 Aug 1995) : Asian Educational Services,India; Language English, ISBN 812060833X ISBN 978-8120608337
• Hindu Castes and Sects Jogendranath Bhattacharya; First Editions :Calcutta,1896); New Ed:New Delhi: Munshiram Manoharlal Publications, 1995.
• Dr Dewan Chand Dwivedi http://www.geni.com/people/Rai-Sahib-Dr-Dewan-Chand-Dwivedi/6000000006181177258