Padye

Padhye Brahmin community hails from Goa, commonly known as "Bhatt", they speak a unique dialect of Konkani known as "Bhati Bhasha".

Padhye people
पद्ये किंवा भट

Total population
(Few thousands (approx))
Regions with significant populations
Primary populations in: Goa Karnataka Kerala Populations in: United Kingdom United States Arab States
Languages
Konkani , Marathi
Religion
Hinduism
Related ethnic groups
Karhade Bhatt Prabhu Chitpavan Goud Saraswat Brahmin Daivajna

Early history

According to Goan historians(Ananta Ramakrishna Sinai Dhume,B.D Satoskar) Padyes have descended from Sumerian priests who had settled Goa 2000 BC.They were not followers of Brahminic religion and were animist priests who had a high status in Sumerian society and also performed human sacrifices.Traces of Sumerian worship have been found in Savoi Verem and other places where Padyes inhabit.They also trace origin of many surnames of the Padyes(e.g.:Kale,Aiyangal,Nigalye) to Sumerian titles and some of the customs followed by Padyes now to the Sumerian customs.Many deities are also supposed to have Sumerian origin (See: Anant of Savai verem and Anu of the Sumerians).

Origin of the word Padye

The name Padye is supposed to have its origin in the Sumerian word Patesi. But it can be also concluded that 'Padhye'or 'Padye' is a corrupted form of the Sanskrit word 'Upadhayay' which means a 'teacher'.

Later history

With due course of time,they seem to have undergone thorough Sanskritisation and have been included into Brahminic fourfold system and attained status that of a Brahmin.(i.e.:during the rule of Yadavas and Kadambas in Goa when they were given lands by the monarchs and the title of Deshapati(now corrupted as Dessai)was bestowed upon many of them).

The Padyes from Goa and are believed to have migrated to Maharashtra, then returned to Goa a few centuries later. It is believed that the name Karhade comes from the place Karhatak ( present day Karhad ) in Maharashtra, where they lived. The Shiledars of Kolhapur conquered south Konkan and got these priests with them back to Goa.

Mythological origins

Skanda Purana (Sahyadri Khanda) as well as Brahmand Puran are very harsh towards these Brahmins and it is mentioned that they descended from the bones of camel and hence designated as Karhades.

Later Brahminic classification

Padhyes later were included in to the Panch Dravida group of Brahmins and are now commonly considered a sub-caste of the Karhade Brahmin community,though not historically. They are essentially Rigvedi Brahmins and follow the Ashwalayana Sutra. Padhyes belong to 13 Gotras and are predominantly Smarthas and worship different aspects of Shakti and Shiva.

Demographics

The majority of Padhye people are found in Goa, but due to many socio-economic reasons they have also settled in the neighboring states of Maharashtra, Karnataka and some parts of Kerala.

The Padhye speak 'Bhati Bhasha', a creole of Marathi and Konkani.

Kuldevatas

Padhyes worship following deities as their Kuldevta

• Navadurga
• Vijayadurga
• Aryadurga
• Mahalasa
• Kamakshi
• Mahalakshmi
• Santeri

Common surnames of Padhye Brahmins

• Alavani
• Abhisheki
• Bhandankar
• Borkar
• Desai
• Dhawlikar
• Gaonkar
• Nigalye
• Chafadkar
• Kathane
• Sawaikar
• Sahakari
• Shikerkar
• Bhatt
• Padhye
• Navathe
• Jaan
• Upadhye
• Umarye
• Korde
• Bakhale
• Shilkar

Notable Padhye individuals

• Jitendra Abhisheki
• Prabhakar Panshikar
• Shounak Abhisheki
• Ramakrishna Dhawlikar
• Deepak Dhawlikar

References

• "People of India: Goa" - Page 107 by Kumar Suresh Singh, Prakashchandra P. Shirodkar, Pra. Pā Śiroḍakara, Anthropological Survey of India, H. K. Mandal - Social Science - 1993 - 283 pages

See also

• Bhati Bhasha
• Bhatt Prabhu