Sri Gurubhyo Namaha Sri Bhavani Shankarabhyam Namaha
We are proud and delighted
for having the first world Saraswath convention organized by All India
Saraswath Cultural Organization at Mangalore in the Month of Dec 1999. We the
Saraswaths getting together for the success of the convention and it is an
effort to bring the community members together all over the world. We, the Bhalavalikar GSBs are the Smartha
Brahmins, are the followers and disciples of Sri Kavale Goudapadacharya Matt,
We are practicing the ‘Shat Karmas’ and ‘Shodasha Samskaras.
According to the
Sahyadrikhanda of Skandapurana, Lord Parashurama had brought the Saraswath Brahmins
from Thrihotra of north India to Gomanthak. At about 16th century
A.D. the Portuguese attacked Gomanthak, converted a large number of Hindus to
their religion, demolished temples, looted money and Jewels, totally the Saraswaths
were insecure. So, they migrated towards Rathnagiri and Mumbai in North, Karwar
to Malabar in south. Those who migrated towards north settled in the Rajapura,
Bhalavali regions of Rathnagiri district in Maharashtra, so this community were
named after Bhalavalikar Gouda Saraswath Brahmins.
Bhalavalikar in Maharashtra
Nearly
10,000’s of Bhalavalikars were residing at Rajapura, Bhalavali, Pune, Alibhagh,
Kudala, Sawanthavadi, Khollapura, Thane and Mumbai in Maharashtra. Even through
it is a microscopic community, it has produced notable persons who had served
the country as I.A.S and I.C.S officials, High court judges, District
Collectors, C.A’s, Lawyers, Engineers
and Doctors etc. But, we hardly find anyone
in the Political field.
In Maharashtra
Bhalavalikars have tried to form an association since 1881. Later Saraswath Hithavardhaka Samaj,
Saraswath Samajika Samooha, Saraswath Athmonnathi Samaj, Sarswath Association
and Dadar Union merged together on 7-10-1924, and established, “Saraswath Hithavardhaka
Mandal” at Bhalavali. In 1964 the office
of the Association has been shifted to Mumbai.
It had nearly Rs. 17 lakhs of different funds to promote education and
social prosperity.
The Bhalavalikars
in Maharashtra are having the temples and Mandirs of their own, such as Shri Gajanana
Mandir, Shri Navadurga Mandir, Shri Bhagavathi Mandir, Shri Ravalnath Mandir,
Anadi Shri Lakshmi Madhava Mandir at Bhalavali.
The Bhalavalikars
in Maharashtra produced eminent persons like World’s No.1 cricketer Shri Sachin
Ramesh Tendulkar, Cancer and First Indian kidney transplanting specialist Shri
Muralidhara Kamath (Source: “GowdaSaraswath Samaj Parichay Granth” by Ravindra
Patkar)
Bhalavalikars in
south
Prof. D. P. Nayak M.A (Columbia) mentioned in part 3rd
of his book “Kudala Deshakara Pustaka”, the Saraswaths suffered a lot during
1749-50 when Angare Thulaji attacked Kudala province. Then the Rajapurkars, Bhalavalikars, and
Kudaludeshkars migrated towards south.
The Bhalavalikars settled at Mangalore, Manjeshwar and nearby places and
took shelter under several kings. The
main occupation of the community is agriculture, and later on they showed
interest in other fields like, Astrology, Medicine etc. Now, these Bhalavalikars were found in
Kumble, Kasargod, Bantwal, Sullia, Puttur, Kodagu.
Bhalavalikars Temples in South
At about 1800 Shri
Durga Parameshwari Temple was built at Khandige in Kasargod. It was rebuilt with renovated form at Mogeru
in Katukukke Village in 1884. The trust
of the Temple consists members from
Bantwal , Kasargod, Sullia , Puttur , Mangalore and Kodagu. Monthimaru Shri Durga Paramehwari Temple was
built by 16 Families. According to Dr.
Gururaj Bhat, the archeologist, the idols of the temples were carved before 800
years. Besides these two at Mandekolu,
Bolugallu and Kodiyalbail Sullia. There
are two Durga Parameshwari Temples (Own family temple).
Bhalavalikars Associations in South
In the History of
Bhalavalikars in South, we have “Bhalavalikar Saraswath Brahman Adhyapak
Sangha” the first association established in the year 1923 at Monthimaru under
the leadership of Kodange Pandith Narayana Nayak. The aim and objective of the association was
social and educational uplift of the community.
This association was reorganized and named as”Bhalavalikar Gouda
Saraswath Brahmana Seva Sangha” at Darbe Puttur. The association is having an independent
office and a seva sadan. This
association held the first Bhalavalikar convention at Monthimaru on April 15th
&16th of 1929, under the President ship of Sullia Shri Krishna
Nayak, District Agricultural Officer. In
1985 the convention of Bhalavalikar representatives of Karnataka and Kerala was
held and presided by Shri Shankara Rao Kilangody.
In Sullia Thaluk,
during 1979 Bhalavalikars formed an Association “Bhalavalikars Saraswath
Brahmana Samaj (R) Sullia”. It is having
0.30 Acre of Land and Kalamandir.
The Bhalavalikars
in Kodagu formed a Co-operative society
“Kodagu Bhalavalikar Uttama Jeevana Sahakara Sangha Betoli” headed by Shri
Betoli Govindaih Shastri in 1936. The Society is having 30 acres of land and
independent office. They grow coffee, paddy, cardamom etc. We also find
Bhalavalikars of this region in Military Services.
At Bantwal
and Vittala there are associations and performing various activities.
Evidences
The Bhalavalikars
are having the surname of Nhavelkar, Bandivadekar, Lotalikar, Madkeikar,
Borkar, etc,. And they are originally Goa GSB’s. Bhalavalikars worshiping Gods
like Mangesh, Ravalanath, Shanthadurga, Ganapathi, Negesh, etc. As their
Kuladevathas. They belong to the Gothras like Vasista, Athri, Bharadwaj,
Koundinya, Vatsa, Dhananjaya, Kashyapa etc.
According to the
Rayasa pathra of Shri Kashi Mattadhish Shri Upendra Theertha written in 1657
and a statement given by Shri Gokarna Mattadish Shri Indirakanth Swamiji, the
Bhalavalikars Bardeshkars, Pednekars, Sasastikars and shenvipaikies are
G.S.B’s.
The judgment of
H.L Nage Gowda (District Commissioner) in 1968, shows that Monthimaru Temple is
of Bhalavalikar’s. The Bombay High court
judgment of 17th Jan.1898 and Mumbai Gazetteer dtd.12th
July 1910 clearly shows that the Bhalavalikars are G.S.B’s. The book “Saraswath Bhushan” published by
Ramachandra Ganesh Sharma in 1950 and the book G.S.B Parichaya Grantha by
Ravindra Patkar in 1994 gives a hint that the Bhalavalikars are G.S.Bs. Apart from this the government records and
documents of South from1860 A.D onwards mentions our community as Bhalavalikars.
For providing
Vaidik Shikshan for the Bhalavalikars in South, the first Patashala was started
in 1926 by Bellippady Wagle Ramanna Nayak.
Later on in 1961 by the efforts of Shri K.R. Nayak, Puttur, it had
contacts with Kavale Matt with regards to this kind of religious
education. At present many Vedik
students are studying at the Patashala of Kavale Matt.
In South there
were 10,000’s of Bhalavalikars who are serving as Doctors, Lawyer, Forest Officials,
Police Officers, Teachers etc. Shri
Vinayachandra Kilangodi, M.L.C and Shri Balakrishna Borker Kodimbady,
Ex-President of D.K.Z.P are notable politicians and Shri S.R. Rangamoorthi is
an eminent figure in the co-operative field (President of Campco).
Special Features of Bhalavalikar G.S.B’s
During Marriage
and Upanayanas, rituals the Bhalavalikars G.S.Bs are having the practice of
“Kelvan” (Managala Snana) and “Kare Ilenche”(Thaila Haridraropana). Besides, at the time of Anna Santharpana
(ritual meals) we have the practice of “Hastodaka” and “Brahmarpana”.
The G.S.B leaders
of Puttur like Kodange Shri Narayana Nayak, V.T. Borker, and K.R. Nayak,
visited the Bhalavalikars of Maharashtra and the Rajapura Saraswaths of
south. They made efforts to bring them
together, to have good relation and to establish matrimonial alliances with
R.S.Bs. At present the B.G.S.Bs of
Puttur have a good relationship with G.S.Bs of Puttur. They are in the Committee of Chaturmasa
Vratha of Kavale Matt. Swamiji in the
year 2000 A.D. at Shri Lakshmi Venkatramana tempe Puttur.
Even though the Bhalavalikars are not as
forward as the other Saraswath Brothers on Social Political and literary field,
they are trying to come forward with their own efforts. Hence, our plea is to forget the regional
differences and work together for the betterment and bright future of the
community as well as for the grand success of the Saraswath world convention.
“SHUBHAM”
Prepared by Purushotham Bhat Derkaje
On behalf of Bhalavalikar
Saraswath Brahmana Samaj Sullia, Bhalavalikar
G.S.B Seva Sangha Puttur,
Bhalavalikar Uttama Jeevana Sahakara Sngha Betoli kodagu.
