Chandraseniya Kayastha Prabhu
Encyclopedia
Chandraseniya Kayastha Prabhu or , abbreviated CKP, is an ethno-religious community which is part of Kayastha
. The mother tongue of this community is Marathi
. Though the exact geographical population distribution is not available, the community is concentrated primarily in western Maharashtra
and Madhya Pradesh, mostly Raigad
, Mumbai
, Thane
, Pune
, Kolhapur, Nashik, Nagpur
, Dhar
, Indore
and Gujarat.
', migrated to India. The best known king of this clan was Shastrarjun Kartivirya. During the cleansing of Kshatriyas by Bhargava Rama (Parshu Rama), the pregnant wife of 'Chandrasena', one of the sons of Kartivirya Arjun, survived. The present day CKP clan is the progeny of that son of 'Chandrasena'.
’ describing Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh. In the 7th and 8th century, Kayasthas ruled in Kashmir state but later shifted from Kashmir to northern and central India in the 10th century due to invading Islamic rulers. Sometime during the advent of Buddhism, the last CKP kingdom was lost and the community moved to Mandugadh where they held important positions in the court of the Parmars.
Period of Maratha Empire
During Shivaji Maharaj’s period, this was the only community, who along with Deshasthas, held higher administration positions and positions alongside the Kshatriya Marathas in the army of Maratha Empire during Shivaji Maharaj’s time and later during 1st Bajirao Peshwa’s period.
This was also the period of a Brahmanical revival in the Hindu religion when Brahmins ascended to the top of the Hindu caste hierarchy. CKPs, who as local administrators for the (Yavana) Muslim rulers prior to the Peshwa rule, had interaction socially with the Muslim and Buddhist rulers of the era and gradually adopted the social customs prevalent at that time, such as animal sacrifice, eating meat during religious functions, donation of money to bride as meher, worshipping fakirs or sufi saints and fasting, which was anathema to the Brahmins. Furthemore, the CKPs never had the sheer numbers to gain the favour of rulers. Chitpavan Kokanasta Brahmins who outnumbered CKPs, made several attempts to isolate the CKPs and suppress them further economically and politically, for example, by claiming that they did not have the right to perform the thread ceremony (munj).
CKPs found themselves always at loggerheads with peshwas starting from Balaji Vishvanath 1st Chitpavan peshwa who usurped powers from Tarabai faction with whom CKPs sided. The Prabhu community found themselves marginalized after Balaji Vishvanath became Peshwa. Aside from Sardar Gupte who was commander in chief of Raghunathrao and sworn enemy of Nana Phadanvis during his Attock operation no notable CKP ever served Peshwai & most joined rivals of Peshwas. This may have antagonised Peshwa administration further.
, Secretary of Empire (Chitnis), Chief Administrator (Deshpande), Chief of Army, Diplomats, other Administrative posts in the Maratha Empire
; a small number of people also practiced Ayurvedic medicine. During the period of British Raj, CKPs in general, found employment in white collar professions such as office clerks, administrators, soldiers and teachers. In modern times, CKP occupations range from factory workers, clerks to doctors, lawyers, teachers, administrators, soldiers, IT professionals, engineers and Event Managers. CKP women are also going into higher education and as a result can be found in high ranking professions.
, they follow the customs and practices of Kshatriya varna, such as following Upanayana
sanskaar like all 'Dwijas' (twice-borns). Brahmins, Kshatriyas and Vaishya varnas are all 'Dwijas'. They are Vedadhikaris, which gives them the right to study Vedas
. The right to teach Vedas is limited to Brahmins only. The sword and the pen symbolized the tools of this community for centuries.
Kayastha
Kayastha or Kayasth or Kayeth is a caste or community of Hindus originating in India. Kayastha means "scribe" in Sanskrit, and has traditionally denoted members of the writer caste....
. The mother tongue of this community is Marathi
Marathi language
Marathi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by the Marathi people of western and central India. It is the official language of the state of Maharashtra. There are over 68 million fluent speakers worldwide. Marathi has the fourth largest number of native speakers in India and is the fifteenth most...
. Though the exact geographical population distribution is not available, the community is concentrated primarily in western Maharashtra
Maharashtra
Maharashtra is a state located in India. It is the second most populous after Uttar Pradesh and third largest state by area in India...
and Madhya Pradesh, mostly Raigad
Raigad
Raigad is a hill fortress situated in the modern day Raigad district of Maharashtra, India. The Maratha king Shivaji Maharaj made the fort his capital in 1674 when he was crowned King of a Maratha Kingdom which later developed into the Maratha Empire eventually covering majority of modern day...
, Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
, Thane
Thane
Thane , is a city in Maharashtra, India, part of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, northeastern suburb of Mumbai at the head of the Thane Creek. It is the administrative headquarters of Thane district. On 16 April 1853, G.I.P...
, Pune
Pune
Pune , is the eighth largest metropolis in India, the second largest in the state of Maharashtra after Mumbai, and the largest city in the Western Ghats. Once the centre of power of the Maratha Empire, it is situated 560 metres above sea level on the Deccan plateau at the confluence of the Mula ...
, Kolhapur, Nashik, Nagpur
Nagpur
Nāgpur is a city and winter capital of the state of Maharashtra, the largest city in central India and third largest city in Maharashtra after Mumbai and Pune...
, Dhar
Dhar
Dhār is located in the Malwa region of western Madhya Pradesh state in central India. It is the administrative headquarters of Dhar District. The town is located west of Mhow, above sea level...
, Indore
Indore
Indore is one of the major city in India, the largest city and commercial center of the state of Madhya Pradesh in central India. Indore is located 190 km west of the state capital Bhopal. According to the 2011 Indian census, Indore city has a population of 1,960,631...
and Gujarat.
Origin
Kayastha is a caste community of Kshatriyas. The legend is that in ancient times some Kshatriya kings exploited their people. As a result, the Sage Parashurama waged war against them, decimating the group repeatedly. He instructed Kshatriya women who were pregnant at the time of his ultimate conquest to ensure their children concentrated on intellectual pursuits, and not on warfare. He said that since these children were residing ('sthit') in the 'Kaya' (body/womb) at the time of his conquest and thereby saved from his axe, they would be called 'Kayasthas' after birth. This story is mentioned in the 'Skanda-Purana'. It should be noted that according to the traditional Varnashram system, the Kshatriyas have two duties: to pursue knowledge and to serve as administrators. Parashuram guided the Kaysthas, a sub-caste of the Kshatriyas, to concentrate on intellectual pursuits rather than administration. The Kayasthas are defined by their motto, "Yuddh kale asi-jeevi, shanti-kale masi-jeevi" (To live by the sword during wars, and by ink during peace.) There are several sub-castes of Kayasthas.History
As the Maratha empire expanded in the 18th and 19th centuries, the community spread to the then Maratha states of Baroda, Indore, Gwalior and Nagpur. Though the current location of this community is in Maharashtra or ex-Maratha states, the CKPs are believed to have migrated, centuries ago, from the Kashmir region. Along with the Aryans, one clan, called 'HaihayasHaihayas
The Haihayas were an ancient confederacy of five ganas , who claimed their common ancestry from Yadu. According to the Harivamsha Purana...
', migrated to India. The best known king of this clan was Shastrarjun Kartivirya. During the cleansing of Kshatriyas by Bhargava Rama (Parshu Rama), the pregnant wife of 'Chandrasena', one of the sons of Kartivirya Arjun, survived. The present day CKP clan is the progeny of that son of 'Chandrasena'.
Ancient history
They migrated through the Khyber Pass from Sumer, where they belonged to cults devoted to Nanna, a lunar deity (like Chandra) associated with symbols of scholarship. It is generally agreed that the Kayasthas are the descendants of the king Chandrasen who was the Kshatriya king (warrior by profession), the son of Sahastrararjun of the Haiyaya family.Medieval history
Chinese travellers mention Shaiv-Kayastha kings in Kashmir in 5th century. These kings used to talk in Sanskrit and one such king even composed a poem, ‘RajataranginiRajatarangini
The Rājatarangiṇī is a metrical chronicle of North west of the Indian subcontinent particularly the kings of Kashmir from earliest time written in Sanskrit by Kalhaṇa. The Rājatarangiṇī often has been erroneously referred to as the River of the Kings. In reality what Kalhana means by Rājatarangiṇī...
’ describing Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh. In the 7th and 8th century, Kayasthas ruled in Kashmir state but later shifted from Kashmir to northern and central India in the 10th century due to invading Islamic rulers. Sometime during the advent of Buddhism, the last CKP kingdom was lost and the community moved to Mandugadh where they held important positions in the court of the Parmars.
Migration from Kashmir to Sindh
CKPs continued administrating Sind-Multan-Kashmir kingdoms until Mohammed of Gazani defeated independent Muslim kingdoms of Sind-Multan-Kashmir in year 1027. Earlier, due to climatic changes with decrease in agriculture outputs & reduction in trade related activities, migration of communities upwards in Indus basin from Thatta on Arabian sea coast of Sind-Baluchistan where Indus river meets Arabian sea started towards Multan - Kashmir.Migration from Sindh to West Narmada Valley
Mohammed of Gazani invaded the Indus valley in 1027, which caused the CKP community to emigrate eastward along the Indus river & embarked from Thatta in Sind-Baluchistan to eventually take up positions in Parmar’s court as it had CKPs already serving in his court.Arrival in Maharashtra
In 1298, Allaudin Khilji attacked Mandavgarh & destroyed Parmar kingdom. CKPs who had lost their occupational jobs migrated through Narmada river to Daman, Kalyan, Chowl, Dabhol,Goa, Karwar in Konkan to settle in Chalukya-Solanki-Yadav governed towns. Few among these settlers around Daman-Kalyan took farming related activities along with administrative jobs to develop in separate community known as Somvanshiya Kshatriya Prabhu. After fall of Vasai in 1739 most came settled in Mumbai.Period of Maratha Empire
During Shivaji Maharaj’s period, this was the only community, who along with Deshasthas, held higher administration positions and positions alongside the Kshatriya Marathas in the army of Maratha Empire during Shivaji Maharaj’s time and later during 1st Bajirao Peshwa’s period.
In Peshwai
Before 1713, all the Peshwes (Prime Ministers) during the reign of the Maratha Empire were Deshasthas but from 1713 to 1803 Chatrapati appointed Chitpavan Peshwes. Particularly during the period 1750-1790, CKPs and Deshasthas faced a multitude of problems because of the pro-Chitpavan(and anti-CKP,anti-debra) attitude of Nanasaheb Peshwa. CKPs who by the mid-18th century had established themselves as professional administrators for the Angres at Alibaug, the Suvarnadurg clan in Malabar-Konkan coast, the Gaekwads in Gujarat, Bhonsales in Berar province, Ghorpades in Karnataka as well as for other Maratha chieftains from Dewas, Dhar, Indore, Kolhapur, Satara and Akkalkot found themselves at loggerheads with the Koknastha Brahmins for political and economical reasons because both communities were competing for the same posts. CKPs, who were favoured by both Hindu and Muslim rulers, were suppressed by vested interests in the Peshwa's durbar at Pune, particularly during rule of Nanasaheb Peshwa, Madhavrao Peshwa and Nana Phadanavis.This was also the period of a Brahmanical revival in the Hindu religion when Brahmins ascended to the top of the Hindu caste hierarchy. CKPs, who as local administrators for the (Yavana) Muslim rulers prior to the Peshwa rule, had interaction socially with the Muslim and Buddhist rulers of the era and gradually adopted the social customs prevalent at that time, such as animal sacrifice, eating meat during religious functions, donation of money to bride as meher, worshipping fakirs or sufi saints and fasting, which was anathema to the Brahmins. Furthemore, the CKPs never had the sheer numbers to gain the favour of rulers. Chitpavan Kokanasta Brahmins who outnumbered CKPs, made several attempts to isolate the CKPs and suppress them further economically and politically, for example, by claiming that they did not have the right to perform the thread ceremony (munj).
CKPs found themselves always at loggerheads with peshwas starting from Balaji Vishvanath 1st Chitpavan peshwa who usurped powers from Tarabai faction with whom CKPs sided. The Prabhu community found themselves marginalized after Balaji Vishvanath became Peshwa. Aside from Sardar Gupte who was commander in chief of Raghunathrao and sworn enemy of Nana Phadanvis during his Attock operation no notable CKP ever served Peshwai & most joined rivals of Peshwas. This may have antagonised Peshwa administration further.
Occupations
The traditional occupations of CKPs were SardarSardar
Sardar is a title of Indo-Aryan origin that was originally used to denote feudal princes, noblemen, and other aristocrats. It was later applied to indicate a Head of State, a Commander-in-chief, and an Army military rank...
, Secretary of Empire (Chitnis), Chief Administrator (Deshpande), Chief of Army, Diplomats, other Administrative posts in the Maratha Empire
Maratha Empire
The Maratha Empire or the Maratha Confederacy was an Indian imperial power that existed from 1674 to 1818. At its peak, the empire covered much of South Asia, encompassing a territory of over 2.8 million km²....
; a small number of people also practiced Ayurvedic medicine. During the period of British Raj, CKPs in general, found employment in white collar professions such as office clerks, administrators, soldiers and teachers. In modern times, CKP occupations range from factory workers, clerks to doctors, lawyers, teachers, administrators, soldiers, IT professionals, engineers and Event Managers. CKP women are also going into higher education and as a result can be found in high ranking professions.
Social status
Being kayasthaKayastha
Kayastha or Kayasth or Kayeth is a caste or community of Hindus originating in India. Kayastha means "scribe" in Sanskrit, and has traditionally denoted members of the writer caste....
, they follow the customs and practices of Kshatriya varna, such as following Upanayana
Upanayana
Upanayana is the initiation ritual by which initiates are invested with a sacred thread, to symbolize the transference of spiritual knowledge .- Significance of the sacred thread :...
sanskaar like all 'Dwijas' (twice-borns). Brahmins, Kshatriyas and Vaishya varnas are all 'Dwijas'. They are Vedadhikaris, which gives them the right to study Vedas
Vedas
The Vedas are a large body of texts originating in ancient India. Composed in Vedic Sanskrit, the texts constitute the oldest layer of Sanskrit literature and the oldest scriptures of Hinduism....
. The right to teach Vedas is limited to Brahmins only. The sword and the pen symbolized the tools of this community for centuries.