Savarna
Brahmins are believed to be the descendants of
sage Savarna Muni (or Savarni Muni), belonging to the family of
Bhrigu. Several ancient Indian literary works and inscriptions suggest that Savarna Brahmins have five
Pravaras -
Aurva,
Chyavana,
Bhargava,
Jamadagnya and Apnavana. Savarna Brahmins have historically been the followers of
Samaveda, with Gandharva Veda being their preferred Upa Veda (sub-
Veda). According to the
kulapanjikas, the genealogical chronicles of some Bengali Brahmin communities, Savarna gotra Brahmins were one of the five Brahmin
gotras (along with
Shandilya,
Bharadwaj,
Kashyap and Vatsya) that immigrated from
Uttar Pradesh and
Bihar to
Bengal in the
11th century. This branch of
Bengali Savarna Brahmins is known as
Kulin Brahmins, who are further classified in two sections based on their geographic characteristics -
Rarh Brahmins and
Varendra Brahmins. ==Present==