The Brahmin community, which traditionally occupies the highest position in the Hindu Varna system, is deeply fragmented into numerous regional, linguistic, and philosophical sub-castes (Jatis or communities).
The most traditional and widely cited classification divides all Brahmins into two major geographical groups, separated by the Vindhya mountain range: the Pancha Gauda (North of Vindhyas) and the Pancha Dravida (South of Vindhyas).
1. Pancha Gauda (Five Gauda Groups – North India)
These communities are primarily found in North, East, and Central India.
| Group Name | Primary Region / Sub-Groups | Key Features |
| Saraswat | Kashmir (Kashmiri Pandits), Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Sindh, Konkan/Goa (Gaud Saraswat Brahmins) | Associated with the mythical Saraswati River. Gaud Saraswat Brahmins are a major group along the Western coast. |
| Kanyakubja | Uttar Pradesh (Kannauj region), Bihar, Madhya Pradesh | Includes prominent sub-groups like Saryupareen, Sanadhya, Jijhotia, and some Bengali Brahmins. |
| Gauda | Haryana, Rajasthan, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh | The term ‘Gauda’ is used both for this specific sub-group and the broader Northern classification. |
| Maithil | Mithila region (Bihar and Nepal) | Traditionally known for their scholarship and adherence to Maithili culture. |
| Utkala | Odisha | The Brahmins native to the state of Odisha. |
2. Pancha Dravida (Five Dravida Groups – South India)
These communities are primarily found in South and West India.
| Group Name | Primary Region / Sub-Groups | Key Features |
| Maharashtraka | Maharashtra, parts of Karnataka | Major communities include Chitpavan (Konkanastha), Deshastha (Rigvedi, Yajurvedi), and Karhade. |
| Tailanga | Andhra Pradesh, Telangana | Major communities include Vaidiki (priestly/scholarly) and Niyogi (secular/administrative). |
| Dravida | Tamil Nadu, Kerala | Major communities include: Iyer (Smarta/Shaiva tradition) and Iyengar (Sri Vaishnava tradition, followers of Ramanuja). |
| Karnataka | Karnataka, parts of Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh | Numerous sub-groups like Hoysala Karnataka, Badaganadu, Shivalli, and various Madhva Brahmin sects. |
| Gurjara | Gujarat, Rajasthan | Major communities include Nagar Brahmins, Anavil, and Modh Brahmins. |
3. Key Sub-Castes by Region (Further Breakdown)
The Pancha Gauda and Pancha Dravida are broad regional groupings. Within them, there are hundreds of smaller, endogamous (marrying within the group) Jatis.
| Region | Prominent Sub-Castes / Communities |
| Maharashtra | Chitpavan (Konkanastha), Deshastha, Karhade, Devrukhe, Gaud Saraswat. |
| Tamil Nadu | Iyer (e.g., Brahacharanam, Vadama), Iyengar (e.g., Vadagalai, Thenkalai). |
| Kerala | Namboothiri (traditionally the highest ritual status), Embranthiri, Pushpaka. |
| Karnataka | Madhva Brahmins (Tuluva, Deshastha), Smartha Brahmins (Hoysala, Shivalli). |
| Uttar Pradesh | Saryupareen (Tiwari, Pandey, Tripathi, Dubey), Kanyakubja, Sanadhya. |
| West Bengal | Rarhi and Barendra Brahmins, including the famous Kulin Brahmins (e.g., Chatterjee/Chattopadhyay, Mukherjee/Mukhopadhyay, Banerjee/Bandyopadhyay, Ganguly/Gangopadhyay). |
| Kashmir | Kashmiri Pandits (Saraswat Brahmins). |
| Bihar | Maithil Brahmins, Bhumihar Brahmins (historically associated with landholding/warrior roles). |
These distinctions are generally based on:
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Region (Desha): The area they originally hail from.
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Vedic School (Shakha): The branch of the Veda they follow (e.g., Rigvedi, Yajurvedi, Samavedi).
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Philosophical Tradition: Whether they are Smarta (worshipping five deities), Vaishnava (worshipping Vishnu/Krishna), or Shaiva (worshipping Shiva).
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Traditional Occupation: While traditionally priestly, some groups historically focused on administration, landowning, or other professions.