Chitrapur Saraswat Brahmin

Chitrapur Saraswat Brahmin
Total population
25,000[1] (est.)
Languages
Konkani
Religion
Hinduism

Chitrapur Saraswats are a small Konkani-speaking community of Hindu Brahmins in India. They are traditionally found along the Kanara coast and call themselves Bhanaps in the Konkani language.

Susan Bayly says that they were formed from communities engaged in scribal work and commerce and were of "unclear status" until almost the end of the 18th century when they were "Brahmanised" into a caste by some touring Brahmins or gurus.[2] Frank Conlon says they are originally from North India.

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  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference Bayly2001 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).