Naramdiya Brahmins, also transliterated as ''Naramdev'' (देवनागरी : ''नार्मदीय ब्राह्मण''), are descendants of the priests of the
Somnath temple who were forced to migrate from
Gujarat
Gujarat (, ) is a state along the western coast of India. Its coastline of about is the longest in the country, most of which lies on the Kathiawar peninsula. Gujarat is the fifth-largest Indian state by area, covering some ; and the nin ...
to
Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh (, ; meaning 'central province') is a state in central India. Its capital city, capital is Bhopal, and the largest city is Indore, with Jabalpur, Ujjain, Gwalior, Sagar, Madhya Pradesh, Sagar, and Rewa, India, Rewa being the othe ...
are settled along the bank of the
Narmada River. Their migration owes to the forays and desecration of the Somnath temple by
Mahmud Ghazni
Yamīn-ud-Dawla Abul-Qāṣim Maḥmūd ibn Sebüktegīn ( fa, ; 2 November 971 – 30 April 1030), usually known as Mahmud of Ghazni or Mahmud Ghaznavi ( fa, ), was the founder of the Turkic Ghaznavid dynasty, ruling from 998 to 1030. At the ...
.
Narmadiya Brahmins Community
Naramdev brahmans regard themselves as Manasputra of river Narmada. Naramdevs are considered as
Panchdravida Brahmin. They belong to around 40 gotras and are followers of Shukla Yajurveda, of Madhyandini, a sub-branch, under Vajsaneyi branch. Most of them are concentrated in five districts of Madhya Pradesh i.e. Harda, Khandwa, Barwani, Dhar and Khargone.
On the basis of regional affiliation naramdevs are divided as
*Bhuvanaya based out of
Harda
Harda is a town and a municipality in Harda district in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. Harda is the administrative headquarters of Harda.
History Mughal period
During the Mughal period, Harda was a mahal in the Handia sarkar. In 1742 ...
,
Hoshangabad
Hoshangabad, officially known as Narmadapuram is a city and municipality in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. It serves as the headquarters of both Hoshangabad district and Narmadapuram division. It is located in central India, on the sout ...
*
Nimadi based out of
Khandwa
Khandwa is a city and a nagar nigam in the Nimar region of Madhya Pradesh, India. It is the administrative headquarters of the Khandwa district, formerly known as East Nimar District.
Khandwa is a major railway junction; the Malwa line co ...
,
Khargone
Khargone is a city and administrative headquarters of an Khargone district in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. The city is located on the bank of the Kunda river and is known for its cotton and chilly (chili pepper) production. It is also ...
,
Badwani
Barwani or Badwani ( hi, Baḍwāni) is a municipal town in Barwani district of Madhya Pradesh, India, that is situated near the left bank of the Narmada River. It is the administrative headquarters of Barwani district and has also served a ...
*
Malwi based out of
Dhar
Dhar is a city located in Dhar district of the Malwa region in the state of Madhya Pradesh, India. The city is the administrative headquarters of the Dhar district. Before Indian independence from Great Britain, it was the capital of the ...
Naramdev brahmins generally refrain themselves to establish any nuptial ties with peoples of other regions i.e. bhuvanya with nimadi or malwis or its vice-versa, although they are not endogamous. Statistics reveals few peoples transcends his regional limit.
Many narmadiya brahmins are closely associated to the baba balipur for spirituality.
Mythology
Before the lineage of Shri Ram, in this tradition, the Universal Chakravarti Emperor, he once performed a huge yagya at Omkareshwar on the north bank of the holy Narmada. The blessings of the given brahmins were taken, then the brahmins started leaving then Mandhata went to him and requested that you people should reside here, I will give you the means of livelihood. Jyotirlinga on the banks of Narmada are pleased with such a place, they accepted the request and the Brahmins started doing selfless austerity by staying there, their desire to see mother Narmada. Even after doing hard penance, when the mother was not seen, I thought in my mind that we would give up our lives in this water and all jumped, Mother Narmada thought in her miThese brahmins are sacrificing their lives because of not getting my darshan, the mother took out those brahmins, all had fainted, as soon as the mother touched herself, all of them became alive. The brahmins saw that Makar Vahini was standing in front, everyone saluted mother. Reva said that you had attained death, I have given you life, that's why from today you are Narmadeya) Narmada ji, given by Narmada, became intuitive, since then it was called Narmadeya, later the word Narmadeya was added.
References
http://naramdeo.com/
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Brahmin communities of Madhya Pradesh