15 Facts About Deshastha Brahmin

Deshastha Brahmin is a Hindu Brahmin subcaste mainly from the Indian state of Maharashtra and northern area of the state of Karnataka.

The other two prominent mathas whome Deshastha Brahmin Madhvas follow are Raghavendra Math and Vyasaraja Math.

In South India Deshastha Brahmin Madhvas have traditionally been bilingual in Marathi and Kannada, Telugu or Tamil.

The Illustrated Weekly of India says, The exact percentage of population belonging to Deshastha Brahmin community is very difficult to find out since they are spread throughout the Deccan.

The great Sanskrit scholar Bhavabhuti was a Deshastha Brahmin who lived around 700 AD in the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra.

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Deshastha Brahmin is known for the Viveka-Siddhi and Parammrita which are metaphysical, pantheistic works connected with orthodox Vedantism.

In 1713, Balaji Vishwanath Bhat, a Kokanastha Deshastha Brahmin was appointed as the sixth Peshwa and the seat of Peshwa remained in Konkanastha hands until the fall of the Maratha Empire.

In early to mid 20th century, Deshastha Brahmin men used to wear a black cap to cover their head, with a turban or a pagadi being popular before that.

The court called the idea of Deshastha Brahmin families descending from an unbroken line of common ancestors as indicated by the names of their respective gotras impossible to accept.

Every Deshastha Brahmin family has their own family patron deity or the Kuladaivat.

The Khandoba of Jejuri is an example of a Kuladaivat of some Maharashtrian Deshastha families; he is a common Kuladaivat to several castes ranging from Brahmins to Dalits.

Traditionally the Deshastha Brahmin followed the sixteen bodily Sanskara from birth to death.

Deshastha Brahmin Yajurvedi do not allow cross cousin marriage, while the Deshastha Brahmin Rigvedi sub-group, allow cross cousin marriage, just like many other Marathi castes.

Until recent times, like other high castes of Maharashtra and India, Deshastha Brahmin followed the practice of segregation from other castes considered lower in the social hierarchy.

Deshastha Brahmin was time and again denied entry to the Vitthal temple in Pandharpur his mausoleum was built in front of the gate of the temple.