Hinduism: Details about 'Karhade Brahmin'
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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. An alternate theory suggests that the Karhade Brahmins are probably the descendants of a powerful group of Kanyakubj (Kanauji - Kenjekubze) Brahmins from northern India, who under royal patronage from Chhatrapati Shivaji and his son Sambhajiraje Bhosale, migrated to the Deccan plains and Konkan from their erstwhile homelands in the Gangetic plains. Later with the rise of the Peshwas (local Konkanastha Brahmins) their influence diminished and they assimilated into the broader Maharasthrian Brahmin community. Most of the Karhade Brahmins live in Maharashtra and Karnataka, though a significant population exists in Madhya Pradesh. Like a majority of Brahmins, Karhades are Smartists and followers of 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, and Vasudevanand Saraswati (Tembe Maharaj), a Hindu seer.Marathi business families like the Kirloskars, Shembekars, Talwalkars, Navres belong to this Brahmin subgroup. Do visit the website for more information. Karhade Surnames
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