Karhade Brahmin
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| Classification: | Ethnic group/ Caste/Community of West Coast India | |
| Significant populations in: | Maharashtra, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh,Goa,Kasargode regions of northern Kerala | |
| Language | Marathi, Kannada, Tulu, Hindi, Konkani, Malayalam-Malabari | |
| Religion | Advaita Hinduism Aszwelajene'sutri Ryg'wedi Brahmen | |
| Related Communities | ||
Karhade Brahmins (Karhádé Bráhmeņ) form one of the three major sub-castes of Maharashtrian Brahmins, the other two being Deshastha Brahmins, and Konkanastha Brahmins. The word Karhade is perhaps derived from Karhatak, an ancient region in India that included present day south Maharashtra and northern Karnataka.
Karada Brahmins from Tulu Nadu and regions around Kasargod in present day Kerala share customs and traditions with Kerala Brahmins, however speak a form of old Marathi heavily influenced by local Dravidian languages.
Most Karhade Brahmins live in Maharashtra and Karnataka, though a significant population exists in Madhya Pradesh. A southern branch of the Karhade Brahmins settled around the Kasargod region of the Malabar coast and they are called the Karada Brahmins and share their traditions with Kerala Brahmins and the Brahmins of Dakshina Kannada.
In Goa Karhade Brahmins have two subcastes viz. Padyes( speak a unique dialect of Konkani/ Bhati Bhasha ) and Bhatt Prabhus ( speak standard Konkani ).
Like a majority of Brahmins, Karhades are Smartists and followers of the Advaita school of philosophy. They are essentially Rigvedi Brahmins and follow the Ashwalayana Sutra.
Famous Karhade Brahmins include Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi, a prominent figure in India's first war of independence, Vasudevanand Saraswati also called Tembe Maharaj, a Hindu seer, and Balshastri Jambhekar, who started Darpan, the country's first bilingual newspaper.
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[edit] Population
In 1931, the population of Karhades in Ratnagiri, Mumbai, Thane, Pune, Satara, Solapur, Ahmednagar, Nasik, Khandesh was 22,997. This is the only concrete data available from the book "Karhade Brahmanancha itihas" by Late V. V. Athalye (Page 37).
In 1931, the population of India was 278,977,238. In 2001 it was 1,028,737,436. Proportionately, Karhades work out to 84,802.
Karhades are present in Maharashtra, MP, Gujarat, UP, Karnataka, Kerala and other cities also.
[edit] Notable surnames
- Purohit
- Athale
- Bhatt (βatt)
- Joshi
- Mishra (Mišre)
- Pandit (Mirashi)
- Pendharkar
- Sarpotdar
- Sharma (Šermá)
- Gujjar
- Kirloskar
[edit] Notable Karhade Brahmin
- Hemadpant, Prime Minister of Yadavas in 13th Century
- Moropant, One of the highly respected Marathi poets
- Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi (Born to Moropanth Tambe)
- Padmabhushan 'Riyasatkar' Govind Sakharam Sardesai
- Padmabhushan Datto Vaman Potdar, Historian & Vice Chancellor of University of Pune
- Tryambak Shankar Shejwalkar, historian
- Vishnu Sakharam Khandekar, Jnyanpeeth Award winning writer
- Jitendra Abhisheki, classical and Natya-sangeet singer
- Durga Bhagwat, scholar and critic of Indological studies
- Jayant Narlikar, astronomer, astrophysicist
- Arati Ankalikar-Tikekar, classical singer
- Vasant Kanetkar, Marathi playwright
- Nikhil Kanetkar, badminton player
- Prabhakar Panshikar, Marathi stage actor
- Rima Lagoo, Hindi & Marathi actress
- Ashutosh Gowariker, film director and producer
