Pancha-Dravida

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Pancha Dravida is one of the two major groupings of Brahmins in Hinduism, of which the other was Pancha-Gauda.

In Rajatarangini[edit]

Kalhana, in his Rajatarangini (c. 12th century CE), classifies the following five Brahmin communities as Pancha Dravida, stating that they reside to the south of the Vindhyas:^[1]^[2]

Karnataka (Karnataka Brahmins)
Tailanga (Telugu Brahmins)
Dravida (Brahmins of Tamil Nadu and Kerala)
Maharashtraka (Maharashtrian Brahmins)
Gurjara (Gujarati, Marwari and Mewari Brahmins^[3])

In the kaifiyats[edit]

The Maratha-era kaifiyats (bureaucratic records) of Deccan, which give an account of the society in the southern Maratha country, mention the following Brahmin communities as Pancha Dravida:^[4]

Andhra-Purva Desastha
Dravida Desastha
Karnataka Brahmins
Desastha

The kafiyats classify the Gurjara Brahmins as Pancha Gauda. They also mention the following 16 sub-castes of the Pancha-Dravidas:^[4]

Smarta
Konkanastha
Karhade
Varkari
Madhyandin
Vanas
Karnatak
Shashtik
Nandavamshik
Srivaishnav Telang
Srivaishnava
Pratham-Shakhikanva
Kirvant
Sihavasai
Nurcher
Shenavi
Govalkonde

References[edit]

↑ James G. Lochtefeld (2002). The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism: N-Z. Rosen. pp. 490–491. ISBN 9780823931804.
↑ D. Shyam Babu and Ravindra S. Khare, ed. (2011). Caste in Life: Experiencing Inequalities. Pearson Education India. p. 168. ISBN 9788131754399.
↑ Pandya, A V (1952). Abu in Bombay State: A Scientific Study of the Problem. Charutar Vidya Mandal. p. 29. It is interesting to note here that the Brahmin groups of Marwar and Mewar belong to the Gurjara group of the Pancha Dravida division
↑ ^4.0 ^4.1 Krishnaji Nageshrao Chitnis (1994). Glimpses of Maratha Socio-economic History. Atlantic. pp. 95–96. ISBN 978-81-7156-347-0.

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[JGL_2002-1] James G. Lochtefeld (2002). The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism: N-Z. Rosen. pp. 490–491. ISBN 9780823931804.

[2] D. Shyam Babu and Ravindra S. Khare, ed. (2011). Caste in Life: Experiencing Inequalities. Pearson Education India. p. 168. ISBN 9788131754399.

[3] Pandya, A V (1952). Abu in Bombay State: A Scientific Study of the Problem. Charutar Vidya Mandal. p. 29. It is interesting to note here that the Brahmin groups of Marwar and Mewar belong to the Gurjara group of the Pancha Dravida division

[KNC_1994-4] 4.0 ^4.1 Krishnaji Nageshrao Chitnis (1994). Glimpses of Maratha Socio-economic History. Atlantic. pp. 95–96. ISBN 978-81-7156-347-0.

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