Today is #ParshuramJayanti so thought of writing a small tweet thread on Parshuram and his connection with my community - #GowdSaraswatBrahmin or the GSB community as they are known today predominantly settled between Goa and Mangalore.

1/15

Prashuram is the 6th incarnation/Avatar or Lord Vishnu.

The name "Parshu-Ram literally means "Axe-bearing Rama"

#ParshuramJayanti

2/15

The GSBs trace their ancestors to Rigvedic Brahmins settled on the banks of the Saraswati river. When the river went underground/disappeared, these Brahmins started searching for new lands and a few clams reached Goud region - Bengal-Odisha and settled there.

3/15

We know Parushram's story - after king Karthavirya tried to steal #Kamdhenu cow from his father sage Jamadagni, #Parshuram was outraged and swore to kill all corrupt kings which he did.

#ParshuramJayanti

4/15

After conquering all the land, he decided to donate it to Sage Kashyap. Parshuram realised now that he had donated all the land to the sage, Parshuram felt it won't be appropriate to continue staying on the land he donated.

5/15

After having the blood of the Kshatriyas on his hands, Parshuram decided to perform penance at Gokarna.

During this time he encountered Varun dev (lord of the oceans and seas) who offered him as much as land he wanted because Parshuram had already donated all land he had.

6/15

Parshuram threw his axe across and the sea went back and the Konkan strip (including Goa) was created.

Parshuram invited 96 families of Gawd Saraswat Brahmins to settle down with him on this new land.

And that is how the GSB community settled down in Goa.

7/15

Eventually the Portuguese invaded Goa unleashed a pogrom on the community - covert or perish. To escape persecution/conversion my ancestors migrated to Mangalore (whereas some in Kerala and parts of South Maharashtra)

#Conversion #GowdSaraswatBrahmin

8/15

Finally in 1961 Goa was liberated and became a part of Republic of India. Regardless of where the GSBs settled down - Kerala, Maharashtra, or Karnataka they have their kuladevs at Goa or around Goa. Most of the original temples been destroyed by the Portuguese.

9/15

The GSBs continued to thrive esp in the the financial sector and the South Canara region (Dakshin Kannada) which can be called as craddle of Indian banking as it is the birth place of 4 major banks including Corporation Bank

10/15

If theres 1 community which contributed immensely to Indian banking sector its the #GSBcommunity

These following major banks were started by the GSBs

@canarabank (1906)
@MySVCBank - Shamrao Vitthal Bank (1906)
NK GSB Bank(1917)
@SaraswatBank (1918)
@syndicatebank (1925)

11/15

Some famous GSBs you might be knowing

@TVMohandasPai
@ShefVaidya
@sureshpprabhu
@deepikapadukone
Vasudeo Kamath
KV Kamath

Former Defence Minister and Goa Chief Minister @manoharparrikar was also a GSB.

12/15

The most famous GSBa is Tonse Madhav Ananth Pai or TMA Pai - founder of Manipal University and @syndicatebank

He was a Philanthropist and was awarded the Padma Shri

He is started India's 1st pvt medical college and also estd most no of Edu institutes by any1 on the world

13/15

Today, the two #Ganeshotsav Mandals in Mumbai hosted by the GSB community draw the biggest of the crowds.

(Photos clicked by yours only)

14/15

Some common #GawdSaraswatBrahmin GSB surnames are

Pai, Shenoy, Kamath, Shanbagh, Baliga, Kamath, Bhat, Joshi, Mangeshi, Mallya, Nayak, Hegde, Rao, Prabhu, Kini

Some famous GSB temples in Goa include

Ramnathi
Shantadurga
Mhalsa
Damodar
Nageshi
Mangeshi

*Fin.

15/15