Ganak

Ganak (Assamese: গণক) is a title given to Surya Vipras, a division of Assamese Brahmins in Assam, India. In India there are many divisions of Brahmins in different places, But in Assam there are only two divisions : (1) Surya Vipras and (2)Chandra Vipras. The Surya Vipras are usually known as Ganak or Daivagya Brahman .These Brahmans were strictly Vedic and used to follow the Sukla Yajurved, Kanwa Sakha and they undergo Dasha Sanskaras in their life-time viz.- i) Garbhadhan ii) Pungsavan iii) Simonto-nayan, iv) Jatakarma v) Namakarana vi) Annaprashana vii) Chura-karan viii) Upanayana ix) Sama-bartan x) Marriages. On each case the Nandi mukh Sraddha is performed.The Surjya Vipras are Vedic Brahmans with full authority to perform all religious functions including worshipping of God/gods/goddesses with the exception of the performing last rites(Adyashraddha, Burning of Physical bodies of dead persons of the Khatrias, Baishyas, Sudras etc.) which are entrusted to other class of Brahmans knows as Chandra Vipras/Paitrik Brahmanas. Suryavipras practise astrology and ayurved. In some parts of Assam, Surya-Vipras also perform the role of a Pujari in Various temples. Such as : Navagraha Mandir, Kamakhya Mandir, Surya Mandir etc.

Some of them claim to be the descendants of Sakaldwipiya Brahmins. The 21 titles awarded to the Surjya Vipras/Swakadwipi Brahmanas as found in Brahma Sidhanta are as follows : 1) Sambatsari, 2) Jyotishi, 3) Daivajna, 4) Ganak, 5) Graha Vipra, 6) Dwija Srestha, 7) Sarba Sastra Visarada, 8) Acharya, 9) Brahmanendra, 10) Ghatak, 11) Sarba Vedika, 12) Sukhi, 13) Sakhi, 14) Barenya, 15) Agni, 16) Sat-Karma, 17) Graha Bhusura, 18) Mauhurtiki, 19) Mauhurtagyani, 20) Kartantiki, 21) Grahangsha Brahmana. The common surnames used by this group are Sarma / Sarmah / Sharma, Bordoloi, Doloi, Changkakoti, Borkakoti, Hatikakoti, Kakoti, Bhagawati, Baruah, Majindar Baruah etc.

Gotras of Ganak Brahmins are —

• Kashyap
• Garg
• Mihirayan
• Basistha
• Kaushik
• Bharadwaj

References

• Surya and Suryavipra, Gulukeshwar Boruah
• Surya, Nirmal Prabha Bordoloi
• Assam Buranji, Harakanta Boruah