Padhye Brahmin community hails from Goa, they speak a unique dialect of Konkani language known as "Bhati Bhasha".
Origin and early history
Skanda Purana (Sahyadri Khanda) as well as
Brahmanda Purana are very harsh towards Karhade Brahmins.
["A socio-cultural history of Goa from the Bhojas to the Vijayanagara" By Vithal Raghavendra Mitragotri Published by Institute Menezes Braganza, 1999, Original from the University of Michigan, Pages:50.] According to
Sahyadrikhanda, Karhades are fallen Brahmins from the polluted land of Karashtra, and made offerings to the wicked goddess Matrika. The text derives their name from the word Karashtra ("evil land"), as well as the words "donkey-bones" (khara-ashti), stating that they originated when some semen spilled on a heap of donkey bones.
["Shree Scanda Puran (Sayadri Khandha)" -Ed. Dr. Jarson D. Kunha, Marathi version Ed. By Gajanan Shastri Gaytonde. Published by Shree Katyani Publication, Mumbai.]
The reference to Padye Brahmins is found in the section of Karahastrabrahmanotpatti of Sahyadrikhanda. It is commonly believed that Padye Brahmins are not different from the Karhades and are a section of Karhade Brahmins. However, even now Padye Brahmins have retained their identity.
Origin of the word Padye
The name
Padye is supposed to have its origin in the Sumerian word
Patesi.
Comparing Padye with some Sumerian word patesi was a hypothetical theory by Mr. Dhume , that he forgot that Upadhyaya , Chattopadhyay exist similar is Padhye .
["Shree Scanda Puran (Sayadri Khandha)" -Ed. Dr. Jarson D. Kunha, Marathi version Ed. By Gajanan Shastri Gaytonde. Published by Shree Katyani Publication, Mumbai.]
With due course of time, they seem to have undergone thorough Sanskritisation and have been included into Brahminic fourfold system and attained status that of a Brahmin (i.e. during the rule of Yadavas and Kadambas in Goa when they were given lands by the monarchs and the title of
Deshapati (now corrupted as
Dessai) was bestowed upon many of them).
Later history and migration
The Padyes are from Goa and are believed to have migrated to Maharashtra, then returned to Goa a few centuries later. It is believed that the name Karhade comes from the place
Karhatak (present day
karad) in Maharashtra, where they lived. The
Shiledars of
Kolhapur conquered south
Konkan and got these priests with them back to Goa.
["Nivadak Loksangrah", Page-197, by Trayambak Shankar Shejwalkar, Mumbai]["shilahar rajvanshacha itihas" by Dr B.V Mirashi.1974]
Later Brahminic classification
Padhyes later were included in to the Pancha Dravida group of Brahmins and are now commonly considered a sub-caste of the
Karhade Brahmin community, though not historically. Padhyes belong to 13
and are predominantly
Smarthas and worship different aspects of
Shakti and
Shiva.
Intercaste dispute and ritual status
Karhade and
Chitpavan were regarded as inferior by Rigvedi
, who refrained from interdining with them due to their perceived lower ritual status.Karhades who settled in Desh considered
, a subsection of Karhades as inferior.Padhyes were farmers and Khots.Deshasthas considered Chitpavans as inferior due to their menial origin.
Kuldevatas
Padhyes worship following deities as their
Kuldevta
See also
Notes
-
"People of India: Goa" - Page 107 by Kumar Suresh Singh, Prakashchandra P. Shirodkar, Pra. Pā Śiroḍakara, Anthropological Survey of India, H. K. Mandal - Social Science - 1993 - 283 pages
-
Gomantak Prakruti ani sanskruti Part 01 to 03 By B. D. Satoskar.. Page 160,161,162.
Bibliography
