Pancha-Gauda

Pancha-Gauda and Pancha-Dravida are two chief divisions of Brahmins, as per the śloka from Rājatarangini of IAST|Kalhaṇa / Kalhana:

कर्णाटकाश्च तैलंगा द्राविडा महाराष्ट्रकाः ,गुर्जराश्चेति पञ्चैव द्राविडा विन्ध्यदक्षिणे |

सारस्वताः कान्यकुब्जा गौडा उत्कलमैथिलाः,पञ्चगौडा इति ख्याता विन्ध्स्योत्तरवासिनः |

Meaning :(The-) Karnātakas, Tailangas, Dravidas, Mahārāshtrakās and Gurjaras; these five(-types who-) live south of Vindhya (- mountains) are (called-) "five Dravidas" (- brahmins); (whereas-) Sārasvatas, Kānyakubjas, IAST|Gauḍa brahmins, Utkala Brahmins, and Maithil Brahmins, who live north of Vindhya (- mountains) are known as "five Gaudas" (-brahmins) [cf. Kalhana's Rajatarangini in reference for English version.] . [ cf. IAST|Brāhmaṇotpatti-mārtaṇḍa, p.2, ŝloka 8 ] [cf. A History of Brahmin Clans, p.40-42 ] .

The differentiation of brahmin community is mentioned in a Sanskrit text IAST|Brāhmaṇotpatti-mārtaṇḍa" [cf. IAST|Harikṛṣṇa Śāstri, chapter-1, sloka 8] : :सृष्टियारम्भे ब्राह्मणस्य जातिरेका प्रकीर्तिता ।:एवम् पूर्व जातिरेका देशभेदादद्विधाऽभवत् ॥:गौड़द्रविड़ भेदेन तयोर्भेदाददश स्मृताः ...

Meaning : There was one caste of Brahmin in the beginning of Creation, but due to difference in country (of residence) it got bifurfated into two, namely Gauda and Dravida (i.e., Panch-Gauda and Panch-Dravida), which was again differentiated into ten (five Panchgaudas and five Panchdravida sub-castes).

Panch-Gauda still include a major portion of all Brahmin communities in North India [cf. A History of Brahmin Clans, Introduction ] , barring a few migrant Brahmin communities like Shakadvipi [cf. A History of Brahmin Clans, p.279 ] . Panch-Gauda includes many branches all of which come under Brahmin communities.

Notes

References

*Kalhana's Rajatarangini: A Chronicle of the Kings of Kashmir; 3 Volumes > M.A.Stein (translator),(Introduction by Mohammad Ishaq Khan),published by Saujanya Books at Srinagar,2007,(First Edition pub. in 1900),ISBN 81-8339-043-9 / 8183390439.
*A History of Brahmin Clans (IAST|Brāhmaṇa Vaṃshõ kā Itihāsa) in Hindi, by Dorilāl Śarmā,published by Rāśtriya Brāhamana Mahāsabhā, Vimal Building, Jamirābād, Mitranagar, Masūdābād,Aligarh-1, 2nd ed-1998. (This Hindi book contains the most exhaustive list of Brahmana gotras and pravaras together their real and mythological histories).
*"IAST|Brāhmaṇotpatti-mārtaṇḍa" by Harikṛṣṇa Śāstri, (Sanskrit), 1871The origin of panch gour was bangal. 1444 gaur pandit came from bangal for the purpose of sarp yagya. After the compleat of sarp yagya raja janmejay ne daksina dene ki peshkash ki .gaur brahmin daksina nahi lete the prantu daksina raja janmejay ko deni aavasyak thi. prantu brahmin jidd par ade rhe. bad me inme se kuch brahmino ne dakshina leli. bad me jab anya brahmino ko pata chala un brhamino ko tyag diya. jo bad me calkar tyagi brahmin kahlaye maphi mangne par tyagi brahmino ko maf kar diya. tyagi brahmino ko daksina me gav ke gav mile the tatha ve yahi par rahe tatha ptathana karkar gaur brahmin bhi yahin par rok liye.

ee also

*Brahmin communities