Origin

Origin

Being the major city in the Barda Plains, Bardai Brahmins settled in the outlying villages migrated to this city in search of a better urban life and access to various amenities including education. Porbandar became the window to the world and then essentially it became the doorway to the outside world. It was from here that migrations not only to other cities of India or Asia occurred but being a sea port it was only matter of time before Bardai Brahmins traveled via sea routes to Africa initially (in the period 1910-1960) and subsequently (chiefly from 1965 onwards) to other continents (Europe and America). Indeed most of the Bardai Brahmins settled in the west have arrived in the west via this route. Therefore, for Bardai Brahmins who may not have set foot in India, having been born in Africa or here in the west, Porbandar is still considered as the ancestral home city.

Surnames and Kuldevis

Bardai Brahmins can be identified by surnames; Bapodra, Bambhanya, Bhogayata, Chhelavda, Dave, Jani, Joshi, Kinderkhadia, Modha, Pandit, Purohit, Rajyaguru, Sanathara, Sthanakiya, Thanki and Thankey.^[2]
Each Surname or group of surnames (gotra) is associated with a Kuldevi (Goddess)

Kuldevis

• Annapurna - Joshi
• Ashapura - Dave, Sthanakhya, Thanki and Pandit
• Harsidhima - Bhogayata
• Momaima - Rajyaguru
• Vindhyavasini - Bapodra, Chhelavda
• Gatradma - Sanathara
• Balvima - Modha