Konkani Brahmins

Konkani Brahmins are Brahmins whose mother-tongue is Konkani; and in some cases, Marathi, two related languages spoken in western India. Konkani Brahmins hail mainly from the southern part of the Maharashtra coast, Goa and coastal Karnataka.

Most Konkani Brahmins belong to the Smartha sect, which adheres to the Advaita philosophy expounded by Adi Shankaracharya. Others belong to the Madhva sect, who follow the Dvaita philosophy expounded by Madhvacharya. A small minority are also Vaishnavas. Prominent communities among the Konkani brahmins include:

• Konkani Saraswat Brahmins, including:
  1. Goud Saraswat Brahmins—speak Konkani and Marathi.
  2. Chitrapur Saraswats Brahmins—speak Konkani.
  3. Rajapur Saraswat Brahmins—speak a dialect of Konkani mixed with Marathi called Malvani.
• Daivajna Brahmins known as Shet (Shreshtha) in coastal region.
• Chitpavan Brahmins, also known as "Konkanastha" Brahmins. They speak a dialect of Konkani called as Chitpavani and the standard Marathi.
• Karhade Brahmins
• Padye—speak a dialect of Konkani called Bhati Bhasha.
• Bhatt Prabhu—speak the standard Antruzi dialect of Konkani.
• The Bamonn caste among the Goan and Mangalorean Catholics, comprise present-day descendants of Konkani Brahmin converts to Roman Catholicism.

See also

• Konkan
• Konkani people
• Forward Castes

References

Bhatt, S. C.; Bhargava, Gopal K. (2006). Bhatt, S. C.; Bhargava, Gopal K.. eds. Land and people of Indian states and union territories: in 36 volumes, Volume 7. Gyan Publishing House. ISBN 9788178353630. http://books.google.com/?id=E7Qrc4Z-ZdAC&lpg=PP1&pg=PP1#v=onepage&q= 

• Silva, Severine; Fuchs, Stephan (1965). "The Marriage Customs of the Christians in South Canara, India" (PDF, 2.48 MB). Asian ethnology. 2 (Nanzan Institute for Religion and Culture, Nanzan University (Japan)) 24: 1–52. http://nirc.nanzan-u.ac.jp/publications/afs/pdf/a173.pdf. Retrieved 2008-07-08