Chitpavan Brahmins: History, Influence, and Legacy
Introduction
The Chitpavan Brahmins of Maharashtra are one of the most influential yet enigmatic communities in Indian history. Their origins remain obscure, with no mention of them before the 18th century. According to the Sahyadri Khand, a legend states that Parashurama, burdened by the sin of slaughtering Kshatriyas, purified fourteen shipwrecked foreigners and initiated them into Brahminhood. These newly consecrated priests settled in Ratnagiri, and their community came to be known as Chitpavans, meaning “purified by fire.”