Chandraseniya Kayastha Prabhu (CKP) (Marathi: चांद्रसेनीय कायस्थ प्रभू) is a Kshatriya/writer caste of India. It is one of the sub-type of Indian Kayastha community which prominently found in the areas of North and East India. They share many common rituals with the upper caste communities like Munja and the study of Vedas and Sanskrit. The Sword and the Pen symbolized the tools of this community for centuries.This community falls under an ethnic group of Indo-Aryans and members of this community are now found mostly in certain parts of the state of Maharashtra in India. They are said to be one of the designated "brave helpers of Maharashtra" as proclaimed by Shivaji, the founder of the Maratha empire in his "Mala Ek Swapna Ahe" speech.(मला एक स्वप्न आहे- हिंदवी स्वराज्याचे)
Meaning of three words
Chandraseniya: Descendants of King Chandrasen
Kayastha: a vedic caste of writers and administartors
Prabhu: Supreme or Powerful people- these people are from, Royal Families (Some times we also called Prabhu Ramchandra or Prabhu Shivaji Raja as a honor of respect)
The origins of the CKP community lie in Indus Valley from Kashmir to Sindh-Thatta on Arabian sea coast but the downfall of various kingdoms which were ruled by the community's families or where they were settled in (7th-8th Century A.D.)[citation needed] accounts for their present location. The last known migration was in 1305 A.D. wherein 42 families finally arrived in Maharashtra.
There are only 42 original last names which derive from the last surviving families that migrated to Maharashtra in 1305 A.D that can be linked to the community. The remaining surnames are derived from the 42 original last names, and it is possible that there may have been other original last names but were lost as the families died out. Some of the original names are Bendre, Pradhan, Gupte, Dalvi, Chawale, Garude, Chitre, Jaywant, Nachane, Phanase, Mohile, Medhekar, Tamhane, Vaidya, Teware, Vakhare, Bhise, Likhite, Kamte, Satpute, Jawale, Tavkar, Vaidhya, Deopare, Bahire, Sule, Patne, Pangu, Korde, Tungare, Kulkarni, Karnik, Dighe, Khopkar, Randive, Raje, Kshipre, Skrukale, Durve, Khatik, Nabhik, Sabhasad migrated towards Maharashtra and Karnataka. From Maharashtra some families went and settled all over the world. Migration is still continuing now mainly for professional aspirations or economical reasons.
The word "Chandraseniya," by some historians, is ascribed to the original home of the community in the valley of Chenab in Kashmir a river also known as Chandra in Sanskrit. It is said that the word "seniya" is corruption of Sanskrit word "shreni" meaning a group of people. Thus the term chandraseniya literally means the people of Chandra or Chenab. CKP as a community was more open to intermarriages with other communities than their counterparts such as Parsis, Kokanstha Brahmin of Konkan, Nagar Brahmins of Gujrat or Jains from Rajastan whose DNA mapping distinguishes them from other communities. CKP-GSB marriages are very common. CKPs also had marriage relationships with Pathare Prabhus, Daivajna, Deshastha or Karhade Brahmins,Maratha and Vasihya Vanis
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Vedic origin
The Kayastha trace their genealogy from Adi Purush Shri Chitraguptaji Maharaj. It is said that after Lord Brahma had created the four Varnas (Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and Shudras), Yama (Dharamraj) requested Lord Brahma to help him record the deeds, both good and evil, of men, and administer justice.
Lord Brahma went into meditation for 11000 years and when he opened his eyes he saw a man holding a pen and ink-pot in his hands, as well as a sword girdled to his waist. Lord Brahma spoke: Thou hast been created from my body (Kaya), therefore shall thy progeny be known as the Kayasthas. Thou hast been conceived in my mind (Chitra) and in secrecy (gupta), thy name shall also be Chitragupta. Brahma then enjoined him to dispense justice and punish those who violated the dharma. Thus, the Kayasthas were accorded a dual caste, Brahmin/Kshatriya.SEE NOTES
In the legends of Shree Chitraguptaji Maharaj, he is referred to as the greatest King, while the rest are "Rajakas," or little kings.
चित्र इद राजा राजका इदन्यके यके सरस्वतीमनु ।
पर्जन्य इव ततनद धि वर्ष्ट्या सहस्रमयुता ददत ॥ RIG VEDA 8/21/18
In the Garud Puran, Chitragupta is hailed as the first man to give the script.
"Chitragupta namastubhyam vedaksaradatre"
(Obeisance to Chitragupta, the giver of letters)
The Rig Veda mentions an invocation to be made to Chitragupta before offering sacrifice. There is also a special invocation to Chitragupta as Dharmraj (Lord of Justice) to be made at the performance of shradh or other rituals.
"Om tat purushaya vidmahe Chitragupta dhimahi tena lekha prachodayata."
The priests also pay reverence to Shri Chitragupta :
"Yamam Dharmarajya Chitraguptaya vain namah."'
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The community is also one of the small number who can be considered at par with Brahmins as they have been given the right to perform of Vedic rituals as priests. Roots of this community lie in Kashmir wherein their current location is a result of downfall of various kingdoms which were ruled or were resided in by the community's families (7th-8th Century A.D.) The last known migration was in 1305 A.D. wherein 42 families finally arrived in Maharashtra.
The presence of the CKP community was coveted by kingdoms as citizens or immigrants within India.
Meaning of three words
Chandraseniya: Descendants of King Chandrasen
Kayastha: a vedic caste of writers and administartors
Prabhu: Supreme or Powerful people- these people are from, Royal Families (Some times we also called Prabhu Ramchandra or Prabhu Shivaji Raja as a honor of respect)
The origins of the CKP community lie in Indus Valley from Kashmir to Sindh-Thatta on Arabian sea coast but the downfall of various kingdoms which were ruled by the community's families or where they were settled in (7th-8th Century A.D.)[citation needed] accounts for their present location. The last known migration was in 1305 A.D. wherein 42 families finally arrived in Maharashtra.
There are only 42 original last names which derive from the last surviving families that migrated to Maharashtra in 1305 A.D that can be linked to the community. The remaining surnames are derived from the 42 original last names, and it is possible that there may have been other original last names but were lost as the families died out. Some of the original names are Bendre, Pradhan, Gupte, Dalvi, Chawale, Garude, Chitre, Jaywant, Nachane, Phanase, Mohile, Medhekar, Tamhane, Vaidya, Teware, Vakhare, Bhise, Likhite, Kamte, Satpute, Jawale, Tavkar, Vaidhya, Deopare, Bahire, Sule, Patne, Pangu, Korde, Tungare, Kulkarni, Karnik, Dighe, Khopkar, Randive, Raje, Kshipre, Skrukale, Durve, Khatik, Nabhik, Sabhasad migrated towards Maharashtra and Karnataka. From Maharashtra some families went and settled all over the world. Migration is still continuing now mainly for professional aspirations or economical reasons.
The word "Chandraseniya," by some historians, is ascribed to the original home of the community in the valley of Chenab in Kashmir a river also known as Chandra in Sanskrit. It is said that the word "seniya" is corruption of Sanskrit word "shreni" meaning a group of people. Thus the term chandraseniya literally means the people of Chandra or Chenab. CKP as a community was more open to intermarriages with other communities than their counterparts such as Parsis, Kokanstha Brahmin of Konkan, Nagar Brahmins of Gujrat or Jains from Rajastan whose DNA mapping distinguishes them from other communities. CKP-GSB marriages are very common. CKPs also had marriage relationships with Pathare Prabhus, Daivajna, Deshastha or Karhade Brahmins,Maratha and Vasihya Vanis
========================================================================================
Vedic origin
The Kayastha trace their genealogy from Adi Purush Shri Chitraguptaji Maharaj. It is said that after Lord Brahma had created the four Varnas (Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and Shudras), Yama (Dharamraj) requested Lord Brahma to help him record the deeds, both good and evil, of men, and administer justice.
Lord Brahma went into meditation for 11000 years and when he opened his eyes he saw a man holding a pen and ink-pot in his hands, as well as a sword girdled to his waist. Lord Brahma spoke: Thou hast been created from my body (Kaya), therefore shall thy progeny be known as the Kayasthas. Thou hast been conceived in my mind (Chitra) and in secrecy (gupta), thy name shall also be Chitragupta. Brahma then enjoined him to dispense justice and punish those who violated the dharma. Thus, the Kayasthas were accorded a dual caste, Brahmin/Kshatriya.SEE NOTES
In the legends of Shree Chitraguptaji Maharaj, he is referred to as the greatest King, while the rest are "Rajakas," or little kings.
चित्र इद राजा राजका इदन्यके यके सरस्वतीमनु ।
पर्जन्य इव ततनद धि वर्ष्ट्या सहस्रमयुता ददत ॥ RIG VEDA 8/21/18
In the Garud Puran, Chitragupta is hailed as the first man to give the script.
"Chitragupta namastubhyam vedaksaradatre"
(Obeisance to Chitragupta, the giver of letters)
The Rig Veda mentions an invocation to be made to Chitragupta before offering sacrifice. There is also a special invocation to Chitragupta as Dharmraj (Lord of Justice) to be made at the performance of shradh or other rituals.
"Om tat purushaya vidmahe Chitragupta dhimahi tena lekha prachodayata."
The priests also pay reverence to Shri Chitragupta :
"Yamam Dharmarajya Chitraguptaya vain namah."'
========================================================================================
The community is also one of the small number who can be considered at par with Brahmins as they have been given the right to perform of Vedic rituals as priests. Roots of this community lie in Kashmir wherein their current location is a result of downfall of various kingdoms which were ruled or were resided in by the community's families (7th-8th Century A.D.) The last known migration was in 1305 A.D. wherein 42 families finally arrived in Maharashtra.
The presence of the CKP community was coveted by kingdoms as citizens or immigrants within India.