This blog attempts to keep track of progress we have made in getting information regarding Gore family kulavrutant. This is an effort to maintain the tradition which our community followed and also to solve the questions of what we (as a community) where doing prior to 16th century and from which place we came from (like all Aryans and Dravidians came to India).
Chitpavans/Konkanstha - Taken from Wikipedia
The Chitpavan, Chitpawan, or Konkanastha Brahmins (कोकणस्थ ब्राह्मण) are a Brahmin community of Konkan, the coastal belt of western Maharashtra. Sometimes they are affectionately referred to as Kobra (short for KO-nkanastha BRA-hmin). (Since Konkanastha is actually a general geographic label, meaning "Resident of Konkan" in Sanskrit, the name Chitpavan is preferable.
Kulavrutant
Kulavrutant is a tradition maintained by Konkanastha Brahmins of Maharashtra. In lay man's term it means maintaining family tree. As per "Adivare chi Mahakali" book by Limaye written published in 1930, vatsa gotra Gore family in Adivare had family tree details for past 28 generations written on Tamra Patra (copper plates). On our research, it turns out the author died in mid 1970's. Also he had always lived in Adivare village only and his own sister was given in marriage to the previously Gore family. So there are chances that the author must have actually seen the documents. We (the authors) are related to this Gore family from Adivare. The further details will be provided later. However, none amongst us neither have the family tree information nor any knowledge pertaining to existance of those documents.
How to tell a Chitpavan
Most typical account one gets regarding how to tell a chitpavan is when you spot a Maharashtrian with blue or green eyes and is fair in cool our ten to one he is a Chitpavan. A typical Chitpavan is usually fair of complexion, has a sharp nose and steel-grey eyes. He can be called handsome.
This description is true upto some extant. In maharasthra, in 18th century and early 19th century, this description must have been 95% correct. Chitpvans where generally know for their blue/green coloured eyes and fair skin. However this now not true in present day. Thanks to inter-community marriages, this trend has been broken. Now one can easily find chitpavans of dark skin light eyes, fair skin black eyes and dark/brown skin with black in Maharashtra. For example, author's grand father was tall, fair with crystal blue eyes. Author's dad is dark wheatish in colour with light grey brown eyes. The author is light wheatish to fair in colour with light grey brown eyes while author's brother is light wheatish with black eyes.
In Karnataka, chitpavan Brahmins migrated at the time of Balaji Vishwanath Bhat or before that. Also during Peshwa Bajirao I, there was divided amongst konkanstha Brahmins in Pune over the Mastani issue. It lead to more traditional Brahmins going south to north Karnataka. They are still very close knit and traditional community. Even now, one can find many konkanstha Brahmins here who have blue/green eyes and are fair to very fair. They still speak the traditional language called "Chitpavani", a variant of Konkani language at home. However for their daily day to day outside world affairs are done conducted in Kannada.
Origins
We will not come up our very own theories or anything, but rather just put forward things that we found during our search. Theories mentioned in following books, articles, news clips will be given
Chitpawan by Na. Go. Chapekar
"Adivare chi Mahakali" by Limaye (1930)
Greek origins of Konkanastha (Chitpavan) Brahmin community from Maharashtra’ by Pratap V.Joshi.
Chitpavanism by Jagannath Dixit
Amhi sare chitpawan by M.C. Dixit (2002)
Ratnagiri Gazeeteer
Linda Cox
By Ways of Bombay - Chapter XIV " A Konkan Legend" - By S M Edwardes
Shatpath kalp laitka - translation
Barbara or Berbers ?
Roopkund Skeletons DNA analysis
Geneology
Chitpavani
Information obtained about the language from the following books, articles and people actually using the Chitpavani language in North Karnataka
Grammer & Usage from book Chitpawan by Na. Go. Chapekar
Usage and word list from Linguistic Survey of India by Grierson
Aamchi Bhasha blogspot
Anyone who is konkanstha brahmin of Gore surname (any Gotra) willing to help us in creation of Gore family Kulavrutant can contribute by sending us your family tree with details like current location, place of origins and birth dates of the people mentioned in the family tree either by mail (address provided on request) or by emailing at
vatsagore@gmail.com
Chitpavans/Konkanstha - Taken from Wikipedia
The Chitpavan, Chitpawan, or Konkanastha Brahmins (कोकणस्थ ब्राह्मण) are a Brahmin community of Konkan, the coastal belt of western Maharashtra. Sometimes they are affectionately referred to as Kobra (short for KO-nkanastha BRA-hmin). (Since Konkanastha is actually a general geographic label, meaning "Resident of Konkan" in Sanskrit, the name Chitpavan is preferable.
Kulavrutant
Kulavrutant is a tradition maintained by Konkanastha Brahmins of Maharashtra. In lay man's term it means maintaining family tree. As per "Adivare chi Mahakali" book by Limaye written published in 1930, vatsa gotra Gore family in Adivare had family tree details for past 28 generations written on Tamra Patra (copper plates). On our research, it turns out the author died in mid 1970's. Also he had always lived in Adivare village only and his own sister was given in marriage to the previously Gore family. So there are chances that the author must have actually seen the documents. We (the authors) are related to this Gore family from Adivare. The further details will be provided later. However, none amongst us neither have the family tree information nor any knowledge pertaining to existance of those documents.
How to tell a Chitpavan
Most typical account one gets regarding how to tell a chitpavan is when you spot a Maharashtrian with blue or green eyes and is fair in cool our ten to one he is a Chitpavan. A typical Chitpavan is usually fair of complexion, has a sharp nose and steel-grey eyes. He can be called handsome.
This description is true upto some extant. In maharasthra, in 18th century and early 19th century, this description must have been 95% correct. Chitpvans where generally know for their blue/green coloured eyes and fair skin. However this now not true in present day. Thanks to inter-community marriages, this trend has been broken. Now one can easily find chitpavans of dark skin light eyes, fair skin black eyes and dark/brown skin with black in Maharashtra. For example, author's grand father was tall, fair with crystal blue eyes. Author's dad is dark wheatish in colour with light grey brown eyes. The author is light wheatish to fair in colour with light grey brown eyes while author's brother is light wheatish with black eyes.
In Karnataka, chitpavan Brahmins migrated at the time of Balaji Vishwanath Bhat or before that. Also during Peshwa Bajirao I, there was divided amongst konkanstha Brahmins in Pune over the Mastani issue. It lead to more traditional Brahmins going south to north Karnataka. They are still very close knit and traditional community. Even now, one can find many konkanstha Brahmins here who have blue/green eyes and are fair to very fair. They still speak the traditional language called "Chitpavani", a variant of Konkani language at home. However for their daily day to day outside world affairs are done conducted in Kannada.
Origins
We will not come up our very own theories or anything, but rather just put forward things that we found during our search. Theories mentioned in following books, articles, news clips will be given
Chitpawan by Na. Go. Chapekar
"Adivare chi Mahakali" by Limaye (1930)
Greek origins of Konkanastha (Chitpavan) Brahmin community from Maharashtra’ by Pratap V.Joshi.
Chitpavanism by Jagannath Dixit
Amhi sare chitpawan by M.C. Dixit (2002)
Ratnagiri Gazeeteer
Linda Cox
By Ways of Bombay - Chapter XIV " A Konkan Legend" - By S M Edwardes
Shatpath kalp laitka - translation
Barbara or Berbers ?
Roopkund Skeletons DNA analysis
Geneology
Chitpavani
Information obtained about the language from the following books, articles and people actually using the Chitpavani language in North Karnataka
Grammer & Usage from book Chitpawan by Na. Go. Chapekar
Usage and word list from Linguistic Survey of India by Grierson
Aamchi Bhasha blogspot
Anyone who is konkanstha brahmin of Gore surname (any Gotra) willing to help us in creation of Gore family Kulavrutant can contribute by sending us your family tree with details like current location, place of origins and birth dates of the people mentioned in the family tree either by mail (address provided on request) or by emailing at
vatsagore@gmail.com
