Deshastha Brahmins form a major sub-caste of Brahmins in states of Maharashtra and North Karnataka in India. They are also found in sizeable number in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu. The following is the list of notables from the community.
Religious figures
Nivruttinath (1273–1297) - older brother of Dynaneshwar; Varkari saint and philosopher Dnyaneshwar (1275–1296) - 13th-century Marathi Varkari saint, poet, philosopher and yogi of the Nath Vaishnava tradition Sopan (1277-1296) - saint of the Varkari sect; younger brother of saint Dnyaneshwar Muktabai (1279-1297) - younger sister of Saint Dynaneshwar; Varkari saint and philosopher Chakradhar Swami - 13th century Vaishnava saint; founder of the Mahanubhava sect. Padmanabha Tirtha (Shobhana Bhatta) (samadhi 1324 CE), a Hindu Dvaita philosopher, dialectician, the direct disciple of Madhvacharya and the acharya who is known for spreading Tattvavada outside the Tulunadu region. Jayatirtha (1345 – 1388) - a Hindu Dvaita philosopher, dialectician, polemicist and the 6th pontiff of Madhvacharya Peetha. Morya Gosavi - a prominent 14th century saint of the Hindu Ganapatya sect. Narasimha Saraswati - A prominent 14th Century Indian Guru of the Dattatreya Tradition (Sampradaya) . According to the Gurucharitra, he is considered as the 2nd Avatara of Dattatreya in this yuga. Damaji - Prominent Saint of the Varkari Sect of Hinduism. He was the Kamavisdar of Mangalvedha under the reign of the Bahmani kingdom of Bidar Bhanudasa (1448–1513) - a Hindu Varkari saint and devotee of Vithobha. Purandara Dasa (1484 - 1564) - a Haridasa, Dvaita philosopher and saint; Pitamaha of Carnatic Music. Janardan Swami (1504 -1575) - a prominent Marathi sant, a poet of Varkari sampradaya, a devotee of Dattatreya and the guru of Eknath. Vijayindra Tirtha (1514 - 1595) - a Dvaita philosopher, dialectician and prolific writer, who authored 104 works on Dvaita Vedanta. Raghuttama Tirtha (1548 - 1595) - a Dvaita philosopher, scholar, saint and mystic; 14th pontiff of Uttaradi Math Eknath (1533–1599) - Marathi saint, scholar, and religious poet of the Varkari Sampradaya Saraswati Gangadhar - 16th Century poet and author of Gurucharitra. Even though his mother tongue was Kannada, he was considered a prolific writer in Marathi. Dasopant (1551–1615) - Marathi poet-saint and prolific writer of Varkari sect.; also known as Daso Digambar Vaman Pandit (1608–1695) - a Marathi poet and scholar, who composed poems and kirthanas on Lord Krishna and gave a sound metaphysical foundation to the concept of Bhakti in Maharashtra. Raghunath Pandit - a 17th-century Marathi poet, scholar of Pant-Sahitya. Samarth Ramdas (1608–1681) - Hindu Vaishnava saint from Maharashtra Shridhar Pandit (Shridhar Swami Nazarekar) (1658–1729) - author of works of devotional literature in marathi: Harivijaya, RamVijaya, Shivlilamrut, PandavaPratap, and the AmbikaUdaya; his real name was Khadake Nazarekar Vijaya Dasa (1682–1755) - a prominent Hindu saint from the Haridasa tradition of Karnataka, India. Mahipati (1715–1790) - author of Bhaktavijaya, a Marathi language biography of Varkari and other Hindu saints Satyadharma Tirtha (1743-1830) - a Dvaita philosopher, scholar, saint and mystic; 28th pontiff of Uttaradi Math . Manik Prabhu (1817 - 1865) - An early 19th-century Hindu Vaishnava saint, philosopher, poet and mystic. Bhausaheb Maharaj (1843 - 1914) - a Hindu saint, philosopher and founder of Inchegeri Sampradaya. Brahmachaitanya (Gondavalekar Maharaj) (1845 - 1913) - a Hindu Saint, a spiritual Master, and a devotee of Lord Rama, who advocated Namajapa using the 13 letters Ramanamamantra " to attain enlightenment. Shri Madhavnath Maharaj (1857–1936) - Hindu saint, of Karvi, Chitrakoot, Madhya Pradesh, who continued the Nath Sampradaya of the famous Navnaths in India.Vaavde B.Y., E: Shree Madhavnath Sanjeevani, Shreenath Mandir Vishwast Mandal, 1922. Shreedhar Swami (1908-1973) - a prominent Kannada-Marathi saint and religious poet in the Hindu tradition. He was a devotee of Lord Rama and a disciple of shree Ramdas Swami. Shriramkrishna kshirsagar
Historical figures
Seuna dynasty (860–1317) Hemadpant (Hemadri Pandit) - prime minister from 1259 to 1274 C.E. in the regimes of Kings Mahādeva (1259–1271) and Ramachandra (1271–1309) of Seuna Yādava Dynasty of Devagiri, which ruled in the western and southern part of India and also the founder of Hemadpanti architecture.
Nizams of Hyderabad Deccan Prime Ministers Vitthal Sundar Parshurami (popularly known as Vitthal Sundar) - a diplomat and the Prime Minister of Hyderabad during the reign of Nizam Ali Khan (Asaf Jah II) from 8 July 1762 until his death on 10 August 1763. Renuka Das Bhalerao (popularly known as Sham Raj Rai Rayan) - a general, a member of noble Rai Rayan family and the Prime Minister of Hyderabad during the reign of Nizam Sikandar Jah from 1795 - 1797.
Maratha Empire (1674–1818)
Peshwas Moropant Trimbak Pingle (1657–1683) - the first Peshwa in Shivaji Maharaj's Asthapradhan mandalShivaji and the Maratha Art of War By Murlidhar Balkrishna Deopujari Nilakanth Moreshvar Pingale (1683-1689) - the second Peshwa of the Maratha Empire and elder son of Moropant Trimbak Pingle. Ramchandra Pant Amatya (1689-1708) - Amatya, Peshwa and Hukumat Panah of the Maratha Empire during the reign of Shivaji and Rajaram I. Bahiroji Pingale (1708–1711) - the fourth Peshwa of the Maratha Empire and the younger son of Moropant Trimbak Pingle. Parshuram Trimbak Kulkarni (1711–1713) - the fifth Peshwa of the Maratha Empire and also the founder of Aundh and Vishalgad Samsthanams.
Sachivs Annaji Datto Sacheev - was the Sachiv in the Ashta Pradhan mandal of Maratha Empire during the rule of Chhatrapathi Shivaji. Shankaraji Narayan Gandekar and his descendants were hereditary Sachiv's of Maratha Empire and the rulers of Bhor.
Pratinidhis Pralhad Niraji - was the Pratinidhi of the Maratha Empire during the reign of Chatrapathi Rajaram I. He was the first occupant of the position of Pratinidhi. Parshuram Pant Pratinidhi and his descendants were the hereditary Pratinidhi's of the Maratha Empire and also the rulers of Aundh and Vishalgad.Copland, I., 1973. The Maharaja of Kolhapur and the Non-Brahmin Movement 1902-10. Modern Asian Studies, 7(2), pp.209-225. Krishnarao Pant Pratinidhi- 17th Century Maratha General and was the pratinidhi of Tara Bai in Kolhapur, India. He was the son of the famous Parshuram Pant Pratinidhi
Other notable Maratha Empire people Dadoji Konddeo - administrator of Shahaji's fiefdom . The Vinchurkars - generals and nobles at the Peshwa courtKarve, I., 1940. KINSHIP TERMINOLOGY AND KINSHIP USAGES OF THE MARA̅ṬHA̅ COUNTRY: PART II. Bulletin of the Deccan College Research Institute, 2(1/2), pp.9-33. The Purandares - generals and nobles at the Peshwa court The Chandrachuds - generals and nobles at the Peshwa court Melgiri Pandit -Maratha Sardar who served under Sambhaji of the Maratha empire. A Brahmin from near Melgiri Karnataka-Maharashtra. He was known for successfully leading the Maratha army at Bijapur. Ramshastri Prabhune, was the Chief Justice (Mukhya Nyayadhish or "Pantnyayadhish") in the apex court of the Maratha Empire in the latter half of the 18th century, during the heyday of that empire. He is best remembered for having passed strictures against the sitting Peshwa of the time for instigating murder. Ram Shastri's integrity in public affairs is regarded as a model for all times. Sakharam Bapu Bokil - regent to Madhavrao II. Niranjan Madhav Parasnis - diplomat, who also worked as Parasnis under Peshwa Bajirao I. Anandarayar Sahib, Diwan of the Thanjavur Maratha kingdom during the reigns of Shahuji I, Serfoji I and Tukkoji.
British Empire (1858 to 1947)
Rulers Pant Pratinidhi Rajas of Aundh State and Vishalgad estate. Gandekar Rajas of Bhor State Rao Saheb Rajas of Arni estate. Vinchurkar rulers of Vinchur estate Bawadekar rulers of Bavda estate
Diwans and other higher officials During the rule of British Raj the most powerful Brahmin bureaucrats in the South India were Deshastha Brahmins. In 19th century, out of 305 high level administrative officials 174 were from Deshastha Brahmin community, while 83 were drawn from other Brahmin groups in South India.
T. Madhava Rao (1829–1891) - Diwan of Travancore, 1857–1872; Diwan of Indore, 1873–1875; Diwan of Baroda, 1875 – 1882.A National Biography for India, Volume 1 By Jyotis Chandra Das Gupta, Page 64 T. Ananda Rao (1852 – 1919)- 18th Diwan of Mysore. He was the eldest son of Sir T. Madhava Rao T. Rama Rao (1831 – 1895) - Diwan of Travancore from 1887 to 1892 R. Raghunatha Rao (1831 – 1912) - Dewan Bahadur of the princely state of Indore during British Raj from 1875 to 1888. T. Venkata Rao - Diwan of Travancore from 1821 to 1829. T. Subba Rao - Diwan of Travancore for two times from 1830 to 1837 and 1839 to 1842. V. P. Madhava Rao (1850 – 1934)- 17th Diwan of MysoreThe Indian Review, Volume 18 By G.A. Natesan, Page 863Indian Statesmen, Dewans and Prime Ministers of Native States By G.A. Natesan, Page 113 N. Madhava Rao (1887 – 1972) - 23rd Diwan of Mysore Venkata Rayar - Diwan of Cochin kingdom from 1856 to 1860. K. Krishnaswamy Rao (1845 – 1923) - Diwan of Travancore from 1898 to 1904. T. Ramachandra Rao (1825-1879) - Indian civil servant and first native Indian to serve as Deputy Commissioner of Police of Madras. R. Ramachandra Rao (1871 – 1936) - Indian civil servant and mathematician. Gurunath Venkatesh Bewoor (1888 – 1950) - Indian civil servant, the Viceroy's Executive Council during the World War II. His son Gopal Gurunath Bewoor was 9th Chief of Army Staff. Raja Shamraj (1898-1987) - a member of noble Rai Rayan family and P. W. D. Member of H. E. H Nizam's Executive Council. Purnaiah (1746 -1812), 1st Diwan of Mysore. P. N. Krishnamurti (1849 - 1911), 16th Diwan of Mysore, 5th Jagirdar of Yelandur estate and great grandson of Diwan Purnaiah. Srinivasa IV Rao Sahib (1904-1989)- Twelfth and last ruler of the Jagir of Arni during the British Raj. D. S. Joshi (1908-Unknown) - Indian Civil Service of 1933 Batch who also served as the 9th Cabinet Secretary of India from 27 June 1966 to 31 December 1968
Indian Independence Movement
Leaders of 1857 War of Independence Tantya Tope (Ramachandra Panduranga Yewalkar) (1814 - 1859) - one of the main military leaders of the Indian Rebellion of 1857
Revolutionaries Shivaram Hari Rajguru (1908–1931) - Indian revolutionary and associate of Bhagat Singh Vishnu Ganesh Pingle (1888-1915) - Indian revolutionary and member of the Ghadar Party who was one of those executed in 1915 following the Lahore conspiracy trial for his role in the Ghadar conspiracy. Pandurang Sadashiv Khankhoje (1884 – 1967) - Indian revolutionary, scholar, agricultural scientist and historian who was among the founding fathers of the Ghadar Party.
Others Balakrishna Shivram Moonje (1872–1948) - an Indian freedom fighter and early Hindu Nationalist leader Madhu Dandavate (1924 - 2005) - an Indian freedom fighter who participated in Quit India Movement and many other movements during Indian national movement. He was politician and worked as Union minister of Finance and Railways. Ganesh Shrikrishna Khaparde (1854 –1938) - an Indian lawyer, scholar, political activist and a founding member of Tilak's Indian Home Rule League. Shripad Amrit Dange (1899 – 1991) - a founding member of the Communist Party of India (CPI) and a stalwart of Indian trade union movement. Balkrishna Ganesh Khaparde (1882–1968) - Son of Ganesh Shrikrishna Khaparde, an Indian lawyer, a prominent leader in Swaraj Party and belonged to ‘Tilak School of Thought’. Madhav Shrihari Aney (1880 - 1968) (Loknayak Bapuji Aney) - educationist, freedom fighter, statesman, 2nd Governor of Bihar; follower of Lokmanya Tilak and recipient of Padma Vibhushan Award.