Book Description

'History of Chitpavan Konkanastha Brahmins (Proto and Pre)'- An excellent book by Mr Vibhakar Lele, pieces together the most important story of who the Chitpavan Konkanastha Brahmins were, from where they came, their Kuldevatas, original habitats, customs and other important details. It categorically disproves the ancient hollow anecdotes based upon mere mythical propositions and conjectural guesswork. The author would like to share the story with Chitpavans and other well wishers and researchers. Dr Rosalind O'hanlon, Professor of Indian History and Culture, Oriental Institute, Oxford, who is researching Chitpavan Brahmins' history opined that the underlying work by the author is most interesting. She very much enjoyed and learned from it. The book comprises of the propositions about the pre-history of Chitpavan Brahmins. Most of important scatterred details have been put in place to stitch together their ancient and medieval history. At the same time the author delves into their proto-history from sage Agasti's times. Mr Lele has made several singular original contributions in this book. He has a novel approach to link up Chitpavans' ancient history with the Veda branches they follow. It is an attempt unheard of before. He has given lot of supporting data, maps, photographs, bibliography of great use to all the concerned.Another novelty is his analytic deduction of the Chitpavans' history from their Kuldevatas. The myth of Parshuram is seen by him in its true perspective. The other most important contribution by him is his new etymology of 'Chitpavan' word derived from 'Agnichit'. He shows that their Chitpavan Id is effectively linked to their Vedic duty of 'Agnihotra'. The present day genetic research into Chitpavans' ancestry has also been accounted for by the author to pronounce a proper verdict in simple terms on the subject. Another fact he uses is Chitpavans being Dwivedis which was never before accounted for. He cites epigraphs, scholarly research and documents in support of his analysis how Chitpavans came from Ahichhatra in UP to Ambejohai and Vanavasi, shifted to Kaveri river region and finally arrived in Konkan with the support of kings and emperors of their times. He has brought to the notice of researchers quite a few obscure historical facts, from Lele Kulvrittant, Mr N S Rajpurohit, an eminent archaeologist from Karnataka's research paper, Vyadeshwarodaya of Vishwanath, Pulkeshi and Kadamba reign Inscriptions in stone and Tamrapatas connected with Chitpavans'ancestry. Suffice it to say that Mr Lele has done something about Chitpavans' past which had never before been attempted on such a large scale. Perhaps after 'Chitpavan' by Mr Chapekar, this is a book which will serve as a written monument for Chitpavans'history.