Pancha-Dravida
# Pancha-Dravida

Pancha Dravida is one of the two major groupings of Brahmins in Hinduism, of which the other was Pancha-Gauda.

## In Rajatarangini

Kalhana, in his Rajatarangini (c. 12th century CE), classifies the following five Brahmin communities as Pancha Dravida, stating that they reside to the south of the Vindhyas:

* Karnataka (Karnataka Brahmins)
* Tailanga (Telugu Brahmins)
* Dravida (Brahmins of Tamil Nadu and Kerala)
* Maharashtraka (Maharashtrian Brahmins)
* Gurjara (Gujarati, Marwari and Mewari Brahmins)

## In the kaifiyats

The Maratha-era kaifiyats (bureaucratic records) of Deccan, which give an account of the society in the southern Maratha country, mention the following Brahmin communities as Pancha Dravida:

* Andhra-Purva Desastha
* Dravida Desastha
* Karnataka Brahmins
* Desastha

The kafiyats classify the Gurjara Brahmins as Pancha Gauda. They also mention the following 16 sub-castes of the Pancha-Dravidas:

* Smarta
* Konkanastha
* Karhade
* Varkari
* Madhyandin
* Vanas
* Karnatak
* Shashtik
* Nandavamshik
* Srivaishnav Telang
* Srivaishnava
* Pratham-Shakhikanva
* Kirvant
* Sihavasai
* Nurcher
* Shenavi
* Govalkonde
