Kanyakubja Brahmin
| Regions with significant populations | |
|---|---|
| Uttar Pradesh • Madhya Pradesh • West Bengal • Chhattisgarh • Jharkhand • Bihar • Assam • Tripura | |
| Languages | |
| Hindi • Kannauji • Awadhi • Bhojpuri • Bengali[1] • other Indo-Aryan languages | |
| Religion | |
| Hinduism | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Saraswat Brahmins • Gauda Brahmins • Maithil Brahmins • Bengali Brahmins • Utkala Brahmins |
Kanyakubja Brahmins are a Brahmin community mainly found in northern India. They are classified as one of the Pancha Gauda Brahmin communities, and are considered the highest class of Brahmins in North India.[2][3]
Origins
The majority of the interviewees assert that the designation of the caste originates from the city of Kannauj, emphasizing that this name signifies a geographical association. The etymology of this caste is solely preserved through genealogies, oral traditions, mythical narratives, and proverbial accounts.[4][5]
Occupation
Some of the Kanyakubja Brahmins were priests, astronomers, astrologers, or teachers, while others chose the career of soldier. They formed the best fighting element in Awadh next only to Rajputs.[6]
Social status
In Uttar Pradesh, they are considered the highest class of Brahmins.[2]
Notable people
- Ravishankar Shukla, first chief minister of Madhya Pradesh[7]
- Shyama Charan Shukla, former chief minister of Madhya Pradesh[7]
- Suryakant Tripathi, Indian poet and novelist.[8]
- Atal Bihari Vajpayee, former Prime Minister of India[9]
References
- ^ Sengupta, Nitish K. (2001). History of the Bengali-Speaking People. UBS Publishers' Distributors. p. 25. ISBN 81-7476-355-4.
- ^ a b Angela S. Burger (2022). Uttar Pradesh : General Background Opposition in a Dominant Party System A Study of the Jan Sangh, the Praja Socialist Party, and the Socialist Party in Uttar Pradesh, India. University of California Press. p. 27. ISBN 9780520365568.
- ^ Upinder Singh (2008). A History of Ancient and Early Medieval India. Pearson Education India. p. 575. ISBN 9788131711200.
- ^ Khare, R. S. (1960). "The Kānya-Kubja Brahmins and Their Caste Organization". Southwestern Journal of Anthropology. 16 (3): 348–367. doi:10.1086/soutjanth.16.3.3629037. ISSN 0038-4801.
- ^ Kumar, Pratyush (2025), "Appendix III: Marriage Relations among Bhumihar Brahmins and Kanyakubja Brahmins as recorded in Brahmarshi Vansha Vistar (Raghav S. Sharma 2003a:325-329)", Homo Connubialis Brahmanicus, Ergon – ein Verlag in der Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft, pp. 97–104, ISBN 978-3-98740-190-9, retrieved 5 May 2025
- ^ Singh, Surya Narayan (2003). The Kingdom of Awadh. Mittal Publications. p. 9. ISBN 978-81-7099-908-9.
- ^ a b Journal of the Society for Study of State Governments. 1972. p. 131.
- ^ Mehrotra, Arvind Krishna (12 December 2006). Last Bungalow: Writings on Allahabad. Penguin Books Limited. p. 197. ISBN 978-93-5214-094-7.
- ^ Singh, N. K (31 May 1996). "Atal Bihari Vajpayee: A private person with strong dislikes and few close friends". India Today. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
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