kerala brahmin surnames kerala brahmin surnames

It comes from the Sanskrit word Gayen, which means singer or the praiser. Gayen was likely an occupational surname for bards or those who sang hymns. Copyright 2011 - 2023 MomJunction Private Limited. The most valuable help extended in the most simple way. They were forced to flee their homeland following the growth of Islamic militancy in the valley. The actual benefits of prostrating . Agnihotri comes from Sanskrit and refers to the one who maintains the sacred fire during the fire rituals. The surname is found in many parts of North India. Namboothiri Brahmins. The surname, therefore, refers to a teacher or priest from the Bandoghat village.. It refers to a rishi (hermit or saint) from whom the eponymous clan has descended. Panda is derived from the Sanskrit word Pandita, meaning learned, wise, or a spiritual scholar. This title was bestowed to those who were pious, noble, and had immense knowledge. Parashuram, though a Brahmin who is not supposed to fight, kill or punish, did this deed of massacre when he was provoked by Kartha Veerarjunahs minister, who stole Jamadagnis cow. The Veda chanting method divides all words into Udatha (high pitch), Anudatha (low pitch) and Swarita. Presently Madamageri, Shivapur, Yarazarvi, Bailahongal (Dt: Mulatai in Betul district in M.P., Balaghat in MP, Nagpur, Bhandara, Akola. Bengali Brahmins are those who have origins in the West Bengal, Tripura, Bangladesh and parts of Jharkhand. Brahmins who were appointed in the Western Kootaka (or Kota) village came to be known as Kota Brahmins (Hande, Hebbara, Herala, Holla, Karantha, Nevada, Basri and Mayya are the eight renowned Kota Brahmin families). Being a postgraduate in Human Resources from Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, she Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, And Other North Indian Brahmin Surnames. Brahmins of Kerala were established in the state during the middle ages. Additionally, this paper contains a significant list of Telugu Brahmin surnames and last names that have been verified through research and consultation with the . Moosathu and Sivadvija are some of the other Malayali Brahmin surnames. 8. The oriya brahmins can be lacto or pesco vegetarians, lacto referring to the ones who do not touch garlic, onion, Masoor daal, some variety of gourd and non -vegetarian food while pesco vegetarians do not eat any kind of meat except fish. The Yajur Vedic Namboothiries follow the Krishna Yajur Veda (prose and poetry combined Yajur Veda) and not the Sukla Yajur Veda (Yajur Veda with metre-poetry). vaimpalli or vempalli. But today there are only about 200 Illams (families) in Perinchellur who are mostly Yajur Vedi, and about 30 families in Panniyur who are all Veda-less. Which is the second highest caste in Kerala? Image: Shutterstock. Jajware, Lakhlani, and Pingal are some other Bihari Brahmin surnames. Namboothiries belong to three different Vedic groups, those who follow Yajur Veda, those who follow Rg Veda, and those who follow the Sama Veda. Tantra Vidhi forbids the use of utensils made of iron or steel in temples. MBA in Marketing,P.G. All the castes can mix up and eat together however, only Jotish and Karkun castes can intermarry as per rules. Beingtheparent.com is the best thing that has happened to me as a mother. but if knowing who is brahmin is all about the surname then why bother . Marathi brahmins differ from other brahmans in terms of occupation. It means the head of the state or head of the region in Marathi. Nambeesan = Lower class brahmin who performs temple duties in Kerala; Namboothiri = Particular class of Brahmins in Kerala; Negi = Surname in Uttrakhand, Rajput warriors; Nehru = One who lives on the bank of a Nehr or canal. They are from the upper level of the Hindu Caste system. Some popular brahmin titles are missing, like- Mishra, Pandey, Bharadwaj, Deshmukh, Desai, Patil, Jothi, Kaul, Trivedi, Chaturvedi, Agnihotri, Mukherjee, Chatterjee, Banerjee, Goswami, Desai, Bhat, Rao, Hegde, Sharma, Shastri, Tiwari, Shukla, Namboothiri, Panda, Upadhyaya etc. From a survey of this material the author had concluded that the Chitpavans and not the other Brahmin groups were most closely connected with the The word has been in use since ancient times to denote different things, and over the course of time it has shrunk itself to denote the caste / a priest in general. It means a caterpillar in Kashmiri. Namboothiri is a Vaishnavite Brahmin community native to the state of Kerala. Most Brahmin surnames are influenced by profession, beliefs, community, place of birth or proficiency in a subject. Yarakaraju. The name may have originated as a title and later evolved into a surname. List Of Common Bengali Surnames With Meanings. And lastly, though there have been many Namboothiri scholars of Sanskrit, there has not been a tendency to bring existing practice inline with the norms established in the past. The Shrauta Brahmins can read and teach Veda and perform Yajnas, the Sevayita can read and teach Vedas but cannot perform Yajnas or take Daan, while the Halua are the leaders and administrators of the brahmin ancestry who later started taking vocational jobs as well. - BY Crissy Jane Devrukhe brahmins on the other hand, are from Devrukh near Ratnagiri. Brahmins were known to be priests and preachers in ancient India, and their names and surnames had strong ancestral and familial roots. It is said Agni is the worship able . According to the Namboothiries, Parashuraaman used his Parashu (Axe), to create new land for the Brahmins. This works out to a little under three per cent of UP's 1,07,036 villages, while the other 11 states' 6,017 villages . Poojas are performed in a very satvik way consisting of Jala, Gandhah, Pushpa, Deepa, and Dhoopa traditions. Chaturvedi comes from Sanskrit and means a person who knows the four Vedas. It is related to the surname Chaubey and originally referred to the families of saints or rishis. Kulkarni is a surname found in both Maharashtra and Karnataka. Bachloo, Draboo, Kher, Mattoo, Tikoo, and Wanchoo are other common Kashmiri Pandit surnames. Joardar, Kanjilal, and Patitunda are other common surnames among Bengali Brahmins. snoopy happy dance emoji 8959 norma pl west hollywood ca 90069 8959 norma pl west hollywood ca 90069 Five other SCs namely, Kuravan, Paraiyan . The Marathi surname Deshpande is a combination of the words Desh, meaning country and Pande, meaning accountant. It originally referred to the district accountant or the head of finances for a region or a kingdom. The head of all Tambrakkals of all Gramas (villages) is the Kurumathur Naickar (the Tambrakkal of Perinchellur (Taliparamba) village. There are Vedic and Non-Vedic Brahmins and Vedic Brahmins are further classified as Gaudiya and Dravida. It is a surname used by the Deshastha Brahmin group that belongs to Maharashtra and northern Karnataka. Brahmins were mainly associated with priestly duties and were highly regarded by all the sections of society. Likewise, most brahmin surnames are inspired by beliefs, birthplace, community, or profession. From Vedic times on, the Kings acted in close relationship with Brahmins and relied on them as their advisors, the Brahmins had become a powerful and influential group in India, and were known for discriminating against 'lower' castes. Dravida brahmins are followers of one of trio of acharyas Shankara, Madva or Ramanuja and are known as Smartha Brahmins, Madhva Brahmins and Sri Vaishnava Brahmins. Betawad, Dhule, Maharashtra. At one time North Indian Brahmins were famous for their scholarship and erudition and the central Gangetic basin was considered the seat of Vedic learning. Bhattacharya. Like many other cultures, many Indian last names are derived from an ancestor's occupation. In other temples Bhagya Sooktam, Purusha Sooktam, and Narayana Sooktam are chanted. Maharashtrian Brahmins, Deshasthas, Chitpavans and Karhades have primarily been pure vegetarian while Saraswats are seen eating fish, mutton and even egg. Alternative spellings of the name are Nambudiri, Namboodiri, and Namputiri. Vetukuri. It was originally an honorific title for those who held important positions, such as a village chieftain, a warlord, or the head accountant. It is a variant of the surname Das, which comes from the Sanskrit word Das, meaning a devotee, servant, or worshipper., It is the combination of the Sanskrit words Deva, meaning God and Sharma, meaning prosperity or joy.. The Brahmins of Assam are less rigid than Brahmins from other parts of the country. Where is SHARMA Surname ?? BRAHMINS LIKE MAITHILI AND BHUMIHARS USE SINGH, THAKUR, SINHA AND CHAUDHRY SURNAMES, EVEN RAI AND TYAGI IS MISSING. Besides there are Oykkan families who are well versed in the Vedas and teach Vedas to Brahmacharis and Smartha (Smarthan) families who play a role in excommunicating fellow Namboothiries who have violated the Dharma-sutra rules. In 1931 (the last Indian census to record caste), Brahmins accounted for 4.32% of the total population. There is a tradition in these parts of Brahmins being brought from north India. It is believed that Brahmins as well as Kayastha came to Assam from Kannauj and Mithila. Home. 3. [4] The Pidarar community are Brahmins that follow . In every Grama he established a Temple which the people of that Grama considered as Grama Kshetra (the village temple). Below is presented, by state/ geographic region detailed Hindu Brahmin surnames list. During the medieval era, between the 8th and 11th centuries, the Namboodiri Brahmins established cultural dominance in Kerala. In Kerala, Nambudiri Brahmins make up 0.7% of the population. The surname may have been of a toponymic origin, referring to those who lived near the herd of Hangul. Parashurama. Carnatic music vocalist TM Krishna had said that "Carnatic music is a Brahmin-dominated world . Bhagavati comes from Sanskrit and means fortunate or prosperity. It is also another name of Goddess Durga. It comes from the Sanskrit word Shatapati, meaning the lord of hundred doctrines. The Brahmin surname originally referred to someone who had mastered several books, such as the Vedas. Today the Namboothiri Gramams with a tradition of Vedic Sacrifices (yajna-Yaaga) are Perumanam, Perinchellur, Sukapuram and Irinjalakuda Namboothiri Gramam of Thrissur District. The Sardar (head) of all Vydikans is the Azhvanchery Tambrakkal , the Tambrakkal of Alathur Grama. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Tamil Brahmins are Tamil speaking Brahmins who belong to Tamil Nadu with many settled in different parts of South India like Kerala, Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and some live in Sri Lanka as well. Thanks for your interest in working on our research projects. Sign up for free and get a reading plan and resources thats personalised for your exact parenting stage. Tulja Bhavani(Tuljapur) Khandoba(Mailhar)Dist-Bidar. 34. Tiwari: A Hindu Brahmin name meaning "versed in three Vedas . Namboothiris, who are entitled to recite Vedams, have evolved a rich and diversified culture of Vedam recitation. Nambudiri, also spelled Nambdiri or Namptiri, one of the dominant Brahman castes of the Indian state of Kerala. 34. Vegiraju. Reply Delete. Solapur) Maharashtra. This group belongs to the Shakadweepi Brahmins/ Maga Brahmins. The former are Sivans advice to Parvathy, while Nigamams are spoken by Parvathy to Siva. UP has 2,865 villages named after castes, clans and sub-castes of Brahmins, Thakurs, Banias, Kayasthas, Yadavs, Jats, Gurjjars, Kurmis, Lodhas, Dalits and others, with names such as Babhanpur, Shuklaganj, Thakurai and Harijanpur. Gangopadhyay / Ganguly. Kannada Brahmins have surnames like Rao, Murthy, Poojari, Bhat. Brahmin surnames have a touch of heritage and cultural history attached to them. A list of common Bengali Brahmin surnames is given below. Their worship is an amalgamatio known as Sankaranarayanan, a combination of Shaivism and Vaishnavism. They are mainly vegetarians as they follow Vaishnavism traditions which is one amongst the four major Hindu traditions that stick to vegetarianism. Hatagararu are those who gave up lingayitism and started wearing sacred thread. Last edited on 31 December 2022, at 11:18, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Malayali_Brahmin&oldid=1130675753, This page was last edited on 31 December 2022, at 11:18. Utkala Brahmins even referred as Utkal Brahmins are from a Brahmin community from Odisha. . Potti means deep respect for someone in Tulu, and is used as a surname by a community of Malayali Brahmins. 2. Thatri, they called her, not out of love for she was born when the stars spelled doom but for reasons of convenience. Ths surname means the land of the sun. The people holding this surname were once sun worshippers and built sun temples. Get high-quality PDF version by clicking below. The Kashmiri Pandits are among the top-ranked Brahman castes. Choudhary is adapted from the Sanskrit element chaturdhara, meaning holder of four, which denotes a measure of land. Killiyur Waterfalls is one of the most attractive waterfalls in Tamil Nadu. Gujrati Brahmins come under the classification of Pancha Dravida as the customs and traditions are like those of Dravida Brahmins. Some think that the name Namboothiri is derived from Nambu meaning sacred (in Prakruta Tenugu) and Thiri, which is a suffix added to the names of certain upper castes in Kerala. Vuyyuri or Uyyuri. Also, the abusive people are not being reprimanded. ; Menon-Menon is a surname of the Nair community of Kerala, India, and is an honorific hereditary title, often used as an affix to one's name, bestowed by the various kings of Kerala (including the Zamorin) to the members of Nair subcastes. We hope you think that is sweet. The alternative spelling of the name is Sriram. The Christian Tradition of Kerala also confirms this as Syrian Catholics consider themselves descendants of those Namboothiries who were banished from Namboothiri community when they gave food and shelter to St. Thomas (who was considered a Mlechcha by the orthodox Namboothiri community), the apostle of Christianity who came to India in AD 52. It is a surname mostly found among Barendra Brahmins of the Sandilya Gotra. Desai is a combination of the Sanskrit words Desa, meaning country and Swami, meaning lord. It was an honorary title given to a leader of a village in Maharashtra. The majority of them are now living in the diaspora outside the Kashmir Valley. It may have been a colloquial occupational surname of those who grew or sold leafy vegetables. Posted by The Editor | Feb 19, 2012 | Articles on Hinduism|8,689views. Altogether these divisions constitute the members of different gotras which are Deshastha, Konkanastha, Saraswat, Karhade, and Devrukhe. Bildi, Tal.Pachora, Dist. ), and they settled in 32 gramams (villages) throughout the state. It is seen that under the varna system Brahmins are majorly priests, but a temple priest is a low position, and no Gujrati Brahmin family wants their sons to achieve that, rather the focus is on good education in engineering and computer science. engrosamiento mucoso etmoidal. 1. 3. Kannada Brahmins are Kannada-speaking Brahmins, who belong to Karnataka, some of them have even moved to Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana. Originally, priests are referred to as Bamun or Brahman in their society. Brahmins are known for their long ancestry of traditional priests (known as pujaris, purohits, or pandits) or teachers (called gurus or acharyas). The surname refers to Lord Rama or Lord Vishnu and is of Sanskrit origin. The spelling variants are Shastri and Sastri. Brahmins even in Uttar Pradesh, where they were most numerous, constituted just 12% of the recorded population. They look different and speak a different dialect than the regular Telugu people, yet all are Brahmins. However it is the Vydikan who is the final authority in matters of Shodasa rituals, daily rituals and other Brahminic and Vedic rituals. It has its origin in the Sanskrit word Acharya, which refers to a teacher or an instructor.. The surname Nath comes from Sanskrit and means lord, master, or protector.. Earlier Odias were called Kalingas or Odra and then known as Utkals. Vedic Sacrifices need Ritviks from all the three Vedas and only in Perinchellur, Panniyur and Perumanam were there all the three Vedic people. This proves that Vedic religion pre-dates Dravidian culture, Buddhism, Jainism and Communism in Kerala. Among all the other types, these lines of brahmins are those who haven't been associated in . Sri Narsimha Swamy of Narsingpur, Maharashtra, Tarapur,Tal-Pandharpur,Dist-Solapur Maharashtra, Narsimh from Nira Narsingpur and Tulajabhavani from Tuljapur, Jagadamba of Tahakari, Khandoba of Jejuri. Less important ones are Irinjalakuda (Thrissur Dt) and Karikatt (Malappuram Dt). Sastry refers to a scholar and means "one who is proficient in the Sastras" in Sanskrit. The place got its name from the name of the Brahmins. All rights reserved. The Hindu Brahmin surname is derived from the Sanskrit title Upadhyaya, meaning teacher of the Vedas or the chief priest.. In Kerala, to the south, Parashurama occured in frequent association with persons, populations and occurrences. An Important feature is nasalization, a feature of Malayalam in general which seems to be relatively ancient. Brahmins from Karnataka, (Andhra)Telugu, Dravida (Tamil and Kerala), Maharashtra and Gujarat belong to the Panch Dravida while Saraswata, Kanyakubja, Gauda, Utkala, Maithili belong to the Panch gauda. Kurukkal is a surname referring to a group of Brahmins from the Ambalavasi community, a large Hindu community from Kerala. These are further divided into five sub-sects depending on the place of origin-Karad, Desh and Konkan. Most of the Tamil Brahmin population comprises of Iyers and are Smarthas, while Iyengars are Vaishnavas and Gurukkals are Saivas. Fortunately, a few of its students are being taught at home. The surname likely originates from the Sanskrit word Diksha, meaning to prepare a ceremony or to initiate devotional worship.. The name refers to a head or chief in Marathi. Known for scenic beauty, the waterfall is frequented by a number of tourists. The word Iyer () definitely has various meanings in Tamil, and has its roots in Tamil. I am hoping this will be well-known to everyone so that it could help a lot.NICE WORK ABDELLI ABDELKADER, Casino games, bonuses and free spins: all the - FilmFileEurope.comCasino games, bonuses and free spins: all the casino games, bonuses and free spins: all the casino games, bonuses and free spins: all the casino games, bonuses and free spins: all the casino. Offerings to the deities are mostly payasams, rice, puffed rice, coconut and Kadali Banana fruit. Beingtheparent.com , you guys Rock !!! Vairag, Tal. And dont worry, you can always change this later. Brahmin surnames have meanings that reflect India's rich and ancient cultural heritage. adding a driver to insurance geico; fine line tattoo sleeve; scott forbes unc baseball +201205179999. The Six Vedangas (literally Veda-body parts) are Seeksha (which describes the Sandhi and other rules in Sanskrit and also tells how to chant Vedas), Chandas (metre in poetry ChandoManjari), Meemamsa (philosophy), Nirukta (etymology of Sanskrit language), Vyakarana (grammer) and Jyotisha (astrology). The Thrissur school recently started admitting children of families which originally followed Yajur Thirunaavaaya style. Home As it is certain that Sanskrit coexisted with Aryan/Brahmin societies, it can be considered that Sri Lanka was a Hindu land with Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaisyas and Sudras along with outcastes (Chandalas). This Brahmin surname comes from the Sanskrit word Nanda, meaning happiness, delight, or prosperity. It is a surname also found in parts of North and West India, and among Sikhs. Achyuta=death-less), who is Ajita (Invincible), who is both microcosm and macrocosm, who is dear to the Brahmins, who is present everywhere (omnipresent, omnipotent and omniscient) fully, He who is present in all the infinite divisions of space of even a minute object as if all objects are made of him, He who appears as the Trimurthis, Lord Vishnu, Lord Shiva and Lord Bramha, He who is Ananta (infinite), He who is the body, the mind and the feeling of I or the self which is unique to living things known as the Atman soul) of all beings, He who assumes numerous forms using Maya, yet fully aware of His nature of Self, He who is the creator of all sounds and so though cannot be heard or associated to a sound, assumes a form using Maya and speaks to devotees, He who cannot be associated to a name, yet assumes the divine form and assumes infinite names, He who cannot be seen, yet assumes many forms from human to animal (like a boar) to a huge ball of fire and light; that Divine Achyuta was born as Parashurama (Rama of the Axe) to sage Jamadagni to protect the brahmanas interests. These Brahmin subcastes also hold that they are those Brahmins who were the followers of Bhagwan Parashuram (or Parashuraaman), and they were created by him. Bagchi is a common surname among the Barendra Brahmins of the Sandilya Gotra. The surname is a combination of the Sanskrit words Mukhya, meaning chief or head and Jee, a short form of Upadhyaya, a Sanskrit word that means priest or teacher. he name thus referred initially to a chief priest or headteacher. You must enable Javascript on your browser for the site to work optimally and display sections completely. The Utkala Brahmins are of three types: Shrauta/ Vaidika, Sevayita/ Purohita and Halua Brahmin. The Kashmiri Pandits are divided into three main sub-castes: Guru/ Bachabat or the priests, Jotish(astrologers) and Karkun (the ones who are employed in government service). Zacharia: Zacharia is a popular Christina Hebrew surname in the state of Kerala. Ths surname means "the land of the sun.". Hey mothers out there, sign up now and thank me later :) - BY Priya Rathore, The best thing that happened to me as a mother is me signing up with them for my two sweet little munchkin's needs. In the Yajurvedam there are also two traditions that differ slightly in style of recitation, the Peruvanam School tradition and the Irinjalakuda School tradition. Samavedic Namboothiries form a minority and are located in pockets of Kottayam District and in Panjaal near Wadakkancherry division of Thrissur District. This article about an Indian ethnicity or social group is a stub. The majority of Namboothiries are Rig Vedic and are spread throughout Kerala. Deekshitulu Our site uses cookies to make your experience on this site even better. In Andhra Pradesh, they formed less than 6%,Tamil Nadu they formed less than 3% and in Karnataka, less than 2%. Baruah was a title given to Buruk clan members, who held significant military positions in the historic Chutia kingdom of the Assam region. Brahmins are known as teachers, priests, and protectors of sacred learning. The surname is said to symbolize proactivity and self-discipline. The surname comes from the Sanskrit word Siddhanta, meaning axiom or principle. The name may have originally referred to teachers and priests. Namboothiries divides the Black (Krishna) Yajur Veda into Samhita and Sakha (Bramhana and Aranyaka parts). Most of the priestly activities are performed by Namboothiris while others by Pushpaka. The alternative spelling of the surname is Gain, and it is also popular in West Bengal. rabbit sneeze attack; liberty finance equalisation fee; harris teeter covid booster shots. The Namboothiris own tradition holds that Parashuram, the Visnu avatar, recovered the land of Kerala from the sea and bestowed it upon them. The terms Malayali Brahmins (also known as Malayala Brahmanar) and Kerala Brahmins apply to the group of Brahmins from the Indian state of Kerala. Bardalai,Khound, Shrutikar, and Tamuli are some other common Assamese Brahmin surnames. About Us; Staff; Camps; Scuba. Browse through this post to explore a comprehensive list of common Brahmin surnames from around the Indian subcontinent. , Nous avions tout ce que nous voulions en tant que famille, sauf une bonne sant.http://virtuelcampus.univ-msila.dz/factech/, these are good examples of game but i think u can explain more by adding examples on academic topic. The titles are given to certain individual of families in Kerala. The spelling variants are Shastri and Sastri. PASUPATI 2. Vanapala. If you find these articles useful please consider helping the ashram by becoming a sponsor. The Iyer Brahmins are a prominent community in Tamil Nadu. Chittoor Family has Samudayam rights in Perinchellur and Panniyur Temples too. Sanyal likely has a toponymic origin and referred to Brahmins originally from the Sen Lal village. It is the surname of a group of Shaivite Brahmins who are priests and administrators of the historic Nataraja temple. A list of Brahmin Telugu surnames and gotras are given below and only used by the Telugu Brahmins. Answer (1 of 3): Yes. Copyright 2014-2023 Mykids Ventures Private Limited. The Thrissur school (Brahmaswam Madhom) has a few students even now, while the Thirunaavaaya school is not fully functioning. Barshi, Dist. Except for a handful of noted scholars especially in places like Varanasi, Allahabad - majority of these north Indian brahmins lack shastra knowledge and academic rigor. At one time Bihari Brahmins were famous for their scholarship and erudition and Mithila. Use of meat and alcohol is strictly forbidden. The Brahmins who first landed in Shivalli and then spread across 31 villages came to be known as Shivalli Brahmins or Tulu Brahmins. Rath, Ratha, or Rathasharma are Utkala Brahmins and descendants of Sage Atreya. Now in Jalgaon, Maharashtra, Nazare (Near Sangola, Dist. Solapur. Bengali Brahmins are those who have origins in the West Bengal, Tripura, Bangladesh and parts of Jharkhand. This explains the racial difference between south Indian Brahmins and non Brahmins , where Brahmins tend to be of lighter skin similar to that of North indian upper castes. The name originally referred to those who worked as priests at temples and performed puja, a Hindu devotional ritual. This process of deity installation is divided into three categories Aagamams (Saivam), Samhithas (Vaishnavam), and Thanthrams (Saaktheyam). There are multiple variants of this surname, such as Dheekshithulu, Dekshithulu, Deekshuthulu, and Dikishitulu. Brahmins of Kerala were established in the state during the middle ages. Similarly, there are distinct surnames like 'Mathur', 'Srivastava', 'Nair', 'Menon . Its meaning is not listed. A Brahmin (also Brahman; Brhmaa) (Sanskrit: ) [Note 1] is a member of the priestly class in the Indian subcontinent and belongs to the upper caste society. The Sanskrit meaning of Sharma is joy or prosperity. It is one of the common surnames among Indian Brahmins. 8. Ojha or Jha surname is a diminutive of the Sanskrit word Upadhyaya, meaning teacher or Vedic priest., Shandilya is a Brahmin clan with Rishi Shandilya as their progenitor.