Surnames of the Goswamis
The surnames of goswamis are same as categorized by Adi Shankaracharya:-
Saraswati
Tirtha
Aranya
Bharati
Ashrama
Giri
Parvata
Sagara
Vana
Puri
Dasanami's Math, Pada,Gotras,ect
Dakshina- Amnaya
(Southern)
Paschima- Amnaya
(Western)
Purva-amnaya
(Eastern)
Uttara-amanaya
(Northern)
Math -Monastery
Shringeri Dwaraka
JagannathPuri
Jyotirdham
Pada(Order)
Puri, Sarasvati, Bharati Tirth, Ashram Vana, Aranya Giri, Parvat. Sagar
Acharya Sureswar Hastamalaka Padmapada Totakacharya
Sampradaya(Sect)
Bhurivara
Keeravara
Bhagavara
Anandavara
Kshetra
Rameswar
Dwaraka
Purushottam
Badri-kshetra
God(Deva)
Adi-Varaha
Siddheswar
Jagannatha
Narayana
Upanishad
Brihadaranyaka
Chhandogya Taittiriya
Mandukya
Veda
Yajurveda
Samaveda
Rikveda
Atharva-Veda
Mahavakya
Aham-Brahmasmi
Tattvamasi Prajnanum Brahma
AyamAtma Brahma
Goddess
Kamakshi (Sarada) BhadraKali Vimala
PurnaaGiri
Tirtha(River)
Tungabhadra
GomatiTirtha
Mahonadhi Alakananda
Gotra
Bhaveswar
Adhigata
Kashyap Bhrigu
MADHI (Goswami's) :-
(1) Aparnath Madi (2) Bodhek Madi
(3) Rudra Madhi (4) Nagendra Madhi
(5) Kusmat Madhi (6) Man Madi
(7) Maindh Madhi (8) Premnadi Madi
(9) Madi Madhi(10) Sagar Madi
(11) Bodh Madi (12) Ratan Madi
(13) Sahaj Madi (14) Ramddhit Madi
1.Dashnam vaush vraksha(gujarathi)
Etymology
Goswamis are renounced teachers in the religious traditions of India. The title "goswami" comes from two words: "go," meaning senses, and "swami," meaning master. Thus goswamis are meant to be masters of the senses, those who have conquered the material world and can safely lead others to liberation. Those who can use the title "goswami" are usually those who have taken the sannyasa vows, belonging to the order of Hindu life in which they renounce all family, material and social ties, take a vow of celibacy and live only to teach the ways of God.
HistoryThe exact origin of the Goswamis is difficult to ascertain. The Goswami Brahmins are mentioned in the Vedas, the Ramayana, the Mahabharata, the Bhagavata and even the Bhavisyottara Purana by different names and titles. They might come from Central Asia and Eastern Europe to the Indian sub-continent. Most of the Indian Goswamis belong to Indo Aryan ethnicity.
Widespread buddhism saw a decline in the number of Hindu monks in India. With the decline of Buddhism, there was no organised structure that could provide an impetus for the resurgence of the vedic dharma. One of the major achievements of Adi shankara was to organize a section of the Ekadandi monks under an umbrella grouping of ten names, to provide an organized base for the growth of hinduism. Several other Hindu monastic and Ekadandi traditions remained outside the organization of the Dasanamis.[1]
Population and Distribution
The Goswamis population is estimated to be around 8 millions[citation needed].
The Goswamis, in the course of their migration settled on a northern, eastern and peninsula parts of India in the present day covered by several indian states. This is evident with many of the temples and matha of goswami's sub-sects being located in almost all four geographical corners of India. Over time, they moved to all over india and present bangladesh. They are found all over the Ganges-plain, eastern and southern part of India ranging from Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, West Bengal, Assam, Maharashtra, Gujrat and Karnataka, most of them having their deities in four dham. They are all linked together by the common vedic rituals.[2]
Dasnami Sampradaya
One of the major achievements of Acharya Shankaracharya was to organize the Hindu monasticism. He divided the Hindu monks into ten sects called "Dasnami" and organized them under four heads with the Headquarters at Dwarka in the West, Jagannatha Puri in the East, Rameswaram in the South and Badrikashrama in the North. These became the four sacred "Dhams" (Supreme Holy Places) of the Hindus. He also enumerated other details of the order of Hindu monks grouped under these heads for their identity. Although there are today a number of Hindu monastic sects, the most authentic are the ten established by Acharya Shankaracharya.[3]
Brahmin goswami
Brahmin goswami is a typically a title bestowed on people who choose the path of Sannyasa. The sanyasins or disciples of Adi Shankaracharya are also called "Dash Nam" as the Title Goswami is further divided into ten groups viz. Giri, Puri, Bharti, Ban, Aranya, Sagar, Aashram, Saraswati, Tirth, Yogi and Parwat. These all dashnam Goswamis are associated with four Math in four corners of India, established by Adi Shankaracharya. Initially all the disciples were Sanyasins who embraced sanyas either after marriage or without getting married. Since, sanyasins are considered as Brahmin therefore during the course of time, those who embraced married life on the order of their guru and their decedents are considered Brahmins with the surname Goswami. Being a Goswami Sanyasin includes a vow of celibacy. Some religious traditions use the title Swami for those who had never married, and Goswami for those who had been married in that life and vow not to marry again. This is also the source of the surname Gosain. Goswami can also refer to an individual from the Brahmin caste of the Hindu religion.[4]
Gossain
Badrinath temple, one of the four char dham
Gossain is an another term used to call goswamis in some parts of India. Generally it describes practical sanyasis.
Gosains can further be classified into two:-
The Dandis
The Dandis are a special group of ascetics belonging to several of the ten orders. According to one account a novice who desires to become a Sanniasi must serve a period of probation for twelve years as a Dandi. Others say that only Brahman can be a Dandi while members of other castes may become Sanyasis, and Brahman can only become one if he is without father, mother, wife or child. The Dandi is so called because he has dand or bamboo staff like the ancient Vedic students. He must always carry this and never lay it down but when sleeping plant it in the ground. Some times a piece of red cloth is tied round the staff.
The Dandi should live in the forest, and only come once a day to beg at Brahman’s house for part of such food as the family may have any one else, even a dog is waiting for it. He must not accept money, or touch fire or any metal. As a matter of fact there rules are disregarded, and the Dandi frequents towns and is accompanied by companions, who will accept all kinds of alms on his behalf. Dandis and Sanyasi do not worship idols, as they are themselves considered to have become part of the daily. They repeat the Phrase “ So ham ” which signifies I am Shiva.[5]
The Rawanvansis
Another curious class of Gosains are the Rawanvansis who go about in the character of Rawan. The demon king of Sri Lanka. The Rawanvansis Gosains wear rings of hair all up their arms and a rope of hair round the waist, and the hair of their head hanging down. It would appeal that they are intended to represent some animal. They smear vermilion on the forehead and beg only at twilight and never at any begging they will never move backwards, so that when they have passed a house they cannot take alms from it unless the house holder brings the gift to them.[6]
Notable Goswamis
Tulsidas, author of Ramcharitmanas
Amit Goswami, Indian physicist
Arnab Goswami, Indian television journalist
Bindiya Goswami, actress
Debabrata Goswami, scientist
Gautam Goswami, civil servant
Chuni Goswami , a footballer from Calcutta.
Jhulan Goswami, ICC Women's Player of the Year 2007
Joy Goswami, a Bengali poet
Indira Raisom Goswami, Jnanapeetha award winner
Manoj Kumar, Bollywood actor
Mohini Giri, Former Chairperson of National Commission for Women
Rajiv Goswami, student leader
Udita Goswami, Bollywood actress
Shahana Goswami, entertainment industry worker
Bhairavi Goswami, model
Agehananda Bharati, professor at Syracuse University and hindu monk
Sahajanand Saraswati, prominent Polymath
Swami Dayananda Saraswati, founder of Arya Samaj
Ramakant Goswami, Politician (Congress Party)
Dakshina- Amnaya
(Southern)
Paschima- Amnaya
(Western)
Purva-amnaya
(Eastern)
Uttara-amanaya
(Northern)
Math -Monastery
Shringeri Dwaraka
JagannathPuri
Jyotirdham
Pada(Order)
Puri, Sarasvati, Bharati Tirth, Ashram Vana, Aranya Giri, Parvat. Sagar
Acharya Sureswar Hastamalaka Padmapada Totakacharya
Sampradaya(Sect)
Bhurivara
Keeravara
Bhagavara
Anandavara
Kshetra
Rameswar
Dwaraka
Purushottam
Badri-kshetra
God(Deva)
Adi-Varaha
Siddheswar
Jagannatha
Narayana
Upanishad
Brihadaranyaka
Chhandogya Taittiriya
Mandukya
Veda
Yajurveda
Samaveda
Rikveda
Atharva-Veda
Mahavakya
Aham-Brahmasmi
Tattvamasi Prajnanum Brahma
AyamAtma Brahma
Goddess
Kamakshi (Sarada) BhadraKali Vimala
PurnaaGiri
Tirtha(River)
Tungabhadra
GomatiTirtha
Mahonadhi Alakananda
Gotra
Bhaveswar
Adhigata
Kashyap Bhrigu
MADHI (Goswami's) :-
(1) Aparnath Madi (2) Bodhek Madi
(3) Rudra Madhi (4) Nagendra Madhi
(5) Kusmat Madhi (6) Man Madi
(7) Maindh Madhi (8) Premnadi Madi
(9) Madi Madhi(10) Sagar Madi
(11) Bodh Madi (12) Ratan Madi
(13) Sahaj Madi (14) Ramddhit Madi
1.Dashnam vaush vraksha(gujarathi)
Etymology
Goswamis are renounced teachers in the religious traditions of India. The title "goswami" comes from two words: "go," meaning senses, and "swami," meaning master. Thus goswamis are meant to be masters of the senses, those who have conquered the material world and can safely lead others to liberation. Those who can use the title "goswami" are usually those who have taken the sannyasa vows, belonging to the order of Hindu life in which they renounce all family, material and social ties, take a vow of celibacy and live only to teach the ways of God.
HistoryThe exact origin of the Goswamis is difficult to ascertain. The Goswami Brahmins are mentioned in the Vedas, the Ramayana, the Mahabharata, the Bhagavata and even the Bhavisyottara Purana by different names and titles. They might come from Central Asia and Eastern Europe to the Indian sub-continent. Most of the Indian Goswamis belong to Indo Aryan ethnicity.
Widespread buddhism saw a decline in the number of Hindu monks in India. With the decline of Buddhism, there was no organised structure that could provide an impetus for the resurgence of the vedic dharma. One of the major achievements of Adi shankara was to organize a section of the Ekadandi monks under an umbrella grouping of ten names, to provide an organized base for the growth of hinduism. Several other Hindu monastic and Ekadandi traditions remained outside the organization of the Dasanamis.[1]
Population and Distribution
The Goswamis population is estimated to be around 8 millions[citation needed].
The Goswamis, in the course of their migration settled on a northern, eastern and peninsula parts of India in the present day covered by several indian states. This is evident with many of the temples and matha of goswami's sub-sects being located in almost all four geographical corners of India. Over time, they moved to all over india and present bangladesh. They are found all over the Ganges-plain, eastern and southern part of India ranging from Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, West Bengal, Assam, Maharashtra, Gujrat and Karnataka, most of them having their deities in four dham. They are all linked together by the common vedic rituals.[2]
Dasnami Sampradaya
One of the major achievements of Acharya Shankaracharya was to organize the Hindu monasticism. He divided the Hindu monks into ten sects called "Dasnami" and organized them under four heads with the Headquarters at Dwarka in the West, Jagannatha Puri in the East, Rameswaram in the South and Badrikashrama in the North. These became the four sacred "Dhams" (Supreme Holy Places) of the Hindus. He also enumerated other details of the order of Hindu monks grouped under these heads for their identity. Although there are today a number of Hindu monastic sects, the most authentic are the ten established by Acharya Shankaracharya.[3]
Brahmin goswami
Brahmin goswami is a typically a title bestowed on people who choose the path of Sannyasa. The sanyasins or disciples of Adi Shankaracharya are also called "Dash Nam" as the Title Goswami is further divided into ten groups viz. Giri, Puri, Bharti, Ban, Aranya, Sagar, Aashram, Saraswati, Tirth, Yogi and Parwat. These all dashnam Goswamis are associated with four Math in four corners of India, established by Adi Shankaracharya. Initially all the disciples were Sanyasins who embraced sanyas either after marriage or without getting married. Since, sanyasins are considered as Brahmin therefore during the course of time, those who embraced married life on the order of their guru and their decedents are considered Brahmins with the surname Goswami. Being a Goswami Sanyasin includes a vow of celibacy. Some religious traditions use the title Swami for those who had never married, and Goswami for those who had been married in that life and vow not to marry again. This is also the source of the surname Gosain. Goswami can also refer to an individual from the Brahmin caste of the Hindu religion.[4]
Gossain
Badrinath temple, one of the four char dham
Gossain is an another term used to call goswamis in some parts of India. Generally it describes practical sanyasis.
Gosains can further be classified into two:-
The Dandis
The Dandis are a special group of ascetics belonging to several of the ten orders. According to one account a novice who desires to become a Sanniasi must serve a period of probation for twelve years as a Dandi. Others say that only Brahman can be a Dandi while members of other castes may become Sanyasis, and Brahman can only become one if he is without father, mother, wife or child. The Dandi is so called because he has dand or bamboo staff like the ancient Vedic students. He must always carry this and never lay it down but when sleeping plant it in the ground. Some times a piece of red cloth is tied round the staff.
The Dandi should live in the forest, and only come once a day to beg at Brahman’s house for part of such food as the family may have any one else, even a dog is waiting for it. He must not accept money, or touch fire or any metal. As a matter of fact there rules are disregarded, and the Dandi frequents towns and is accompanied by companions, who will accept all kinds of alms on his behalf. Dandis and Sanyasi do not worship idols, as they are themselves considered to have become part of the daily. They repeat the Phrase “ So ham ” which signifies I am Shiva.[5]
The Rawanvansis
Another curious class of Gosains are the Rawanvansis who go about in the character of Rawan. The demon king of Sri Lanka. The Rawanvansis Gosains wear rings of hair all up their arms and a rope of hair round the waist, and the hair of their head hanging down. It would appeal that they are intended to represent some animal. They smear vermilion on the forehead and beg only at twilight and never at any begging they will never move backwards, so that when they have passed a house they cannot take alms from it unless the house holder brings the gift to them.[6]
Notable Goswamis
Tulsidas, author of Ramcharitmanas
Amit Goswami, Indian physicist
Arnab Goswami, Indian television journalist
Bindiya Goswami, actress
Debabrata Goswami, scientist
Gautam Goswami, civil servant
Chuni Goswami , a footballer from Calcutta.
Jhulan Goswami, ICC Women's Player of the Year 2007
Joy Goswami, a Bengali poet
Indira Raisom Goswami, Jnanapeetha award winner
Manoj Kumar, Bollywood actor
Mohini Giri, Former Chairperson of National Commission for Women
Rajiv Goswami, student leader
Udita Goswami, Bollywood actress
Shahana Goswami, entertainment industry worker
Bhairavi Goswami, model
Agehananda Bharati, professor at Syracuse University and hindu monk
Sahajanand Saraswati, prominent Polymath
Swami Dayananda Saraswati, founder of Arya Samaj
Ramakant Goswami, Politician (Congress Party)
