Prabhu

Prabhu means master or prince in Sanskrit and many of the Indian languages; it is a name sometimes applied to God.

As as caste name

Prabhu has been the name of 2 endogamous communities of Kshatriyas from Mumbai and surrounding districts, named Chandraseniya Kayastha Prabhu and Pathare Prabhu. These two communities further had subdivisions called Davane Prabhu and Kanchole Prabhu, which have ceased to exist now as they have merged back into their parent communities. They have historically been large feudal lords, statesmen, administrators, soldiers & commanders, revenue collectors & accountants, and held other bureaucratic positions.

Along with the Saraswat, Deshastha and Chitpawan Brahmin communities they have been considered as "advanced castes" due to equal ritual status, even as Kshatriyas, and similarities in education and occupational status.

The Chandraseniya Kayastha Prabhus descended from ancient Haihaya Yadavas who settled in the western Himalayas claiming Lunar descent, and the Pathare Prabhus (earlier known as Dhruv Prabhus) descended from Raghuvanshi Kshatriyas claiming Solar descent as well as Paurava Kshatriyas of the Gangetic plains claiming Lunar descent as well, before arriving down towards coastal Maharashtra during the late medieval era.

As a title/surname

Prabhu is a surname among Gaud saraswat Brahmins, saraswat Brahmins and other Brahmins across the Konkan Coast in India, from Karnataka and Maharashtra to Goa.

"Prabhu" as a title is mainly found among Gaud saraswat Brahmins, Saraswat Brahmins, Karhade Brahmins and other Brahmins in Maharashtra, Karnataka and Goa, based on the similarity of occupations to the Chandraseniya Kayastha Prabhu community present to the North of Ratnagiri and the Maval region. Prabhu was a title accorded to the governor or mayor of the main village/town of the taluka (district). The Prabhus may have also occupied official posts in the central administration, without prejudice to their original posts which were hereditary. Traditionally, a Prabhu was a village chief, Ministers, Zamindars, administrators, landlord and as such a master to the many agricultural labourers that were needed to cultivate his lands.

Notable people

See also

References

  1. ↑ Frank Davis. "BABA WORDS, The Master's Glossary, N-P". Retrieved 29 July 2016.
  2. ↑ Enthoven, R. E. (1922). The Tribes and Castes of Bombay, Vol. III. Government Central Press, Bombay.
  3. ↑ "Prabhu Family History". Dictionary of American Family Names ©2013, Oxford University Press. Dictionary of American Family Names ©2013, Oxford University Press. 2013. Retrieved 29 July 2016.
  4. ↑ Alan Machado (1999). Sarasvati's Children: A History of the Mangalorean Christians - Google Books. I.J.A. Publications, 1999. p. 264. ISBN 9788186778258.
  5. ↑ The Illustrated Weekly of India, Volume 91, Part 3. Bennett, Coleman & Company, Limited, at the Times of India Press. 1970. p. 8. Prabhu is a title found amongst Saraswats, Karhade and other brahmins.
  6. ↑ Bernardo Elvino de Sousa (2011). The Last Prabhu: A Hunt for Roots : DNA, Ancient Documents and Migration in Goa - Google Books. Goa 1556, 2011. p. 163. ISBN 9789380739151.
This page lists people with the surname Prabhu.
If an internal link intending to refer to a specific person led you to this page, you may wish to change that link by adding the person's given name(s) to the link.