Daivajnya Brahmins (sonar’s or goldsmith’s), from the Sanskrit suvarnakar worker in gold .They are found all over the Deccan ,Konkan ,Karnataka and Kanara .It is a small community of not more than 10 lakh souls, spread all over the nation ,though sparsely.It is a ‘jaati’ within a much larger Konkani speaking Daivajnya community ,running into lakh’s and lakh’s ,still they proudly claim a galaxy of note worthy individuals who have contributed richly to the betterment of the global community.According to the modern researchers, they claim that Brahmins aroused from the sacred region between the river Saraswati and Drishdavati which came to be known as ‘BRAMHAVARTHA’ (2450 B.C to 1900 B.C), where the great thinkers of the time came to be classified as Brahmins. Thus among the Brahmin class the Daivajnya Brahmins uphold a unique culture and heritage which aims at enlightening the future.The daivajnya migration appears to have taken place some time at the end of 3rd century B.C from Punjab(Pancha Gouda Pradesh region).
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Religion ,Customs ,Traditions:
Daivajnya Brahmins are claimed as “SURYA VANSHI ARYA BRAHMAN’S”, as Lord Surya is one of the forms of Lord Vishnu, it is rightly said that Daivajnya Brahmins belong to the Vaishnav cult.
With regard to the Gokarna case, fought in 1927 .The Smarth Brahmin’s of Gokarna with a view that the Daivajnya Brahmins would take over the Puja authority at Gokarna ,filed a case against the Daivajnya Brahmins at Kumta court (22.10.1927).The case from Kumta court reached Karwar ,Bombay high court and has proved that Daivajnya Brahmins belong to the Vaishnava Brahmin cult . The then Bombay census chief Mr. Drew has recorded the Daivajnya Brahmins as top class Brahmins.
In the book “VISHWA BRAHMANA KULOTHSAHA” or “VISHWA BRAHMANARA ITHIHASA” has recorded thus,
“7. The order of census department of 1981:3. Mr. drew, superintend of the census of Bombay has ordered that the Daivajnya should wrote as Daivajnya Brahmins in the census, return accordingly, they are reported in the Brahmin class in 1891.”
In the statement at the Gokarna case, the 33rd pontiff Shri Vishwadeesha Theertha of Sri Sode Vadiraja Mutt has described Daivajnya Brahmins as Mukhamasita Surya Vanshi Brahmins.At Hosakeri village near Gokarna, the pontiff of Sode Mutt use to halt at the residence of Burde who was the village Patel (chieftain) of Hosakeri.
With refrence, the proof of the letter written by the pontiff is as follows:
Shree Swasthi Srimad Udupi Sri Sonde Mutt Sri Vadiraja Guru Peetharoodha Srimad Vishwadheesha Thirtha Padangalauru .Warm wishes to the Midaje Sime Gokarna shetgar Sanu,Mahabal shetti, Budhiwantha Subraya shetti ,Adigona shettigar ,Ram shetti, Durga shetti ,Shamanna shetti , Hosakeri Sham Appu shetti, Krishna Subraya shetti. We are at the Admanandana Samvatsara Vaishaka Shudha and under penance, deeply busy with the Puja of Srimad Vadiraja, Shri Krishna, Sri Boovaraha ,Sri Hayagreeva and at the residence of shri Burde at Hosakeri. In respect, this is to inform you that you are Mukhamasitha Daivajnya Suvarnakar Surya Brahmin, and attain the right of performing Yajna Karma and Shatkarma rituals . We may able to make you satisfy by giving records of your existence in the Rigveda Purusha sukta ,Agni purana ,Skanda Purana, Manu Smrithi ,and Dharma Shastra etc.-Daivajna vedamurthi Narayana Shanker BhattaGuddekagal taluk ,Kumta.
The above letter of proof is recorded in the historic book “vishwa brahmanara kulothsaha” authored by Brahmasri. B.R. Kshirasagara –edition 6, page 139.
- In the book “CASTES AND TRIBES OF SOUTHERN INDIA” authored by Edgar Thrustan has recorded as:“SONAR:The Sonar or Sonegar’s of south as a gold smith caste, who speak Konkani, which is a dialect of Marathi, and are believed to have come from Goa, the community at each station has one or two Mukhtesars or headmen, who enquire into, and settle the caste affairs. Serious offences are reported to the Swamy of Sonde, who has authority to excommunicate or to inflict heavy fines. They wear the sacred thread. Marriages within the same Gothras are strictly prohibited .Most of them are Vaishnavities, but a few follow Shiva.”
- In the book namely “UTTAR KANNADA DISTRICT GAZETTER” edited by Suryanath Kamath record thus:“SONAR: the Sonar or Sonegar’s are originally from Goa . They call themselves as Daivajnya brahmin’s or Suvarnakar’s. They worship Hayagreeva of Sonda and belong to Madhwa Sampradaya. They are followers of vadiraja matha of sonda”.
- In the book “GAZETEER OF THE BOMBAY PRESIDENCY”-KANARA DISTRICT, 1883, volume 15, part 1 records thus:“SONAR or GOLDSMITH’S: Numbering 10,158, of whom 5020 are males and 5138 females, are found in small numbers in almost all towns and large villages. They are said to have come from Goa on its conquest by the Portuguese in 1510.They call themselves Daivajnya Brahmins or astrologers from the Sanskrit ‘Daiv’ fate and ‘Jnya’ to know . They are said to belong to the Vatsa ,Kaundanya , Vishwamitra ,Bharadhwaj ,and Kaushik Gotras or family stocks. They are middle-sized, fair and delicate, and speak a some what peculiar Konkani, using ‘z’ instead of ‘j’. Both men and women dress like ‘Konkanasth Brahmans’. Their family gods and goddess are Mahalsa ,Shantadurga of Kavle, whose original temple is at Madadol ,they also worship the ordinary Brahman and village deities and keep local holidays . They are Vaishnavas and have as their teacher Sri Vadiraj Swami, the head of the Vaishnav Monastry of Udupi in South Kanara. They pay him large sums which are Gurukanike or presents to the teacher, and in return have their breasts and shoulders marked with hot metal seals bearing Vishnus the Shankha or conch, the Chakra or disc, the Gada or mace and Padma or lotus. Their boys are gift with the sacred thread between eight and twelve and their girls are married before ten. In Goa and Karwar they have family priests or Purohits of their own caste, in other places they employ Havik or Karhada Brahmins and show them much reverence”
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In the book “TRIBES AND CASTE OF BOMBAY” volume 3, page 338-344, edited by R.E. Enthoven:“SONAR’S:Religion: Sonar’s are followers both of the Vaishnava and Smartha sects. Those in Kanara are exclusively Vaishnavas of the Madhwa School. They worship all the ordinary gods and goddesses. Those who claim Brahmin rank observe the Brahmin Sanskars. In some places, notably in Bombay, they have priests of their own caste, but many employ local Brahmans also the Kanara Sonars have three temples of their own at which Sunkeri and Kadwad , ministrants at which are Sonars . The spiritual head of the Kanara Sonars is the Swamy of Sonda, one of the eight Mathas of Udupi”.
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In the book entitled “SRI VADIRAJA CHARITRE” more details are given which conclusively established that at no time the Daivajnya Brahmins had any mutt of their own nor a Mathadipathi of Swamier of Sode Mutt, Udupi and none else had any authority either to guide the members of Daivajnya Brahmin community in spiritual and religious matters, the principal idol of worship of His Holiness Sode mutt Swamier was given by a member of Daivajnya Brahmins, centuries back.
- Even today the Daivajnya Brahmins follow the Vaishnav Sampradaya in their Sandhyavandana. At Goa, there are the principal deities of Daivajnya Brahmins which are of Shiva and Shakti cult, truly Shiva is one of the different forms of Vishnu and the Vishnu Purusha Roopa is in the form of a Linga, which is a historic fact in the Purana’s (Epic’s) .
- Daivajnya Brahmins follow the “Saptha Rishi” (seven sages) Gotras as follows: Atri, Kashyap, Gauthama , jamadagni, bharadwaj, vashishta, and vishwamitra along with agastya gotra are in use.
- DAIVAJNYA BRAHMINS ARE FOLLOWERS OF SODE MUTT :
More than 500 years ago ,a devotee from the Daivajnya Brahmin community was casting an idol of Lord Ganapathi ,surprisingly it shaped itself in the image of Lord Hayagreeva .Sarvabhowma Sri Vadiraja Guru Swamiji had a dream about this legand which inspired him to approach that devotee and take the idol from him in reverence . He then installed it in Shri Sode Vadiraja Mutt. Since then it is being worshipped there as the god of origin of Daivajnya Brahmin community.To this day, the members of the community who were instructed in Dwaitha philosophy and received into the fold as special Shishyas by Sri Vadiraja Teertha continue to make offerings to the mutt and Lord Hayagriva. They continue to be recipients of the blessings, love and affection of Sri Vadiraja Teertha.Thus Daivajnya Brahmins follow Vaishnav Sampradaya in Sandyavandana and Shodash Sanskar by applying the sacred Gopichandana with great divine authority and also the shankha, Chakra , Gadha, Padma and Narayana Mudra of Madhwa’s Dwaitha fold..jpg)
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