Gowda Saraswata Brahmins
Gowda Saraswats or Konkani’s are Brahmins of Aryan Origin. Gowda Saraswaths were Brahmins who lived on the bank of Vedic river Saraswati. The word ‘Gowd’ refers to group of Brahmins of northern sect. Gowda Saraswats at present consists of to sects-Shaivates and Vaisnavaites. Gowda Saraswaths in Kerala follow ‘Dwaitha Philosophy’ and they look upon Vishnu as their highest deity. The Gowda Saraswat Brahmins are a professional group, expected to engage themselves in shat karmas or six-fold duties. The shat or six karmas enjoined on them are
- Yajnya or performing sacrifices by officiating as priests.
- Yaajana or causing the performance of the sacrifice by being the financier or the yajaman (These sacrifices were performed for the spiritual benefit of the whole human society).
- Adhyayana or engaging oneself in academic pursuits.
- Adhyapana or teaching.
- Daana or giving gifts.
- Prateegraha or accepting gifts. The gift given, however small, must be accepted with all humility.
Gowda Saraswata Brahmins(locally known as Konkanis) are Brahmins of Aryan Origin. Gowda Saraswaths were Brahmins who lived on the banks of Vedic now-extinct river Saraswati in the northern Punjab or Kashmir. About 10,000 years ago, the saraswat community used to live in Saraswat Desh.Years later river saraswati drained, and these Saraswat groups migrated to the south. Some of them came to Goa and gradually Konkani became their mother toungue.Then after years these saraswats migrated from Goa during the 13th, 14th and 15th centuries,and mostly after the entry of the Portuguese from the 16th century.After the establishment of Portuguese rule, the portuguese rulers started coverting Hindus into Christians, Temples into Churches etc. and thus many families migrated from goa to southern states like Karnataka and Kerala. They are Known as Gowda Saraswata Brahmins