[Reader-list] This clan helped preserve Indian literature

[Pawan Durani]

*This clan helped preserve Indian literature***

*S. D. Sharma*

A thorough study of literature reveals that *Bhat *is the Sanskritised form
of *Bhatta * -  a respectful term for a Brahaman and probably connect­ed
with *Bharti *i.e., bearer or master. H.A. Rose (1883) opines that the
Punjabi form of the word is Bhatt, but is commonly pronounced as Bhat in
hilly areas and foothills. Bhat Brahamans comprise various *gotras *like
Bhardwaj, Gautam, Kalia, Kapil, Lomas, Paulastya, Prashar, Agnihotri and
Vashist. Various legends are recounted to explain their origin. According to
one school of thought the Bhat Brahamans originated from Pushkarna and
Saraswat Brahamans. The second school says that when Janmeja celebrated a
sacrifice he summoned Gaur Brahmans and tricked one of them into accepting
an offering of a diamond by concealing it in a beetle leaf. Another legend
is that Lord Shiva was celebrating the marriage of his son, when a drop of
sweat falling from his brows to the ground, led to the incarnation of the
first Bhat Brahaman. Still another legend is that Brahama offered gifts to
Brahamans, but they all refused it, until one of their sister’s son accepted
it and he became a Bhat Brahaman.

Rose further states that marriage and birthday ceremonies throughout the
country were performed by the celebrated scholars of this clan for amounts
ranging from one taka to Re 1 around 1883. *Mahabharta *speaks of a band of
Bhat Brahamans and eulogists marching in front of Yudhistra as he made his
way from the field of Kurukshetra towards Hastinapur. According to Ibbetson
(1881) Bhat Brahamans in the Punjab are genealogists. Sherring (1879) says
that Bhat Brahamans cultivated the art of making up poetry on the spur of
the moment at marriage festivals and other such occasions. Elliot (1877) and
Saltor (1981) averred that Bhat is a title of honour given to a learned
Brahaman. They are also called Bandinah, Nandiputrah and Vaitalikah.

The profession of the Bhat Brahamans has an interesting story behind it. The
ancient literature of both Greece and India owes its preservation to the
singers who recited poems in the households of chiefs and doubtlessly
contributed, in some measures, to shape the masterpieces which they handed
down. Their place was one of distinction. In the days when writing was
unknown, the man who could remember many verses was held in high esteem by
the chief who depended upon the memory of the Bhat Brahamans for the record
of his ancestors and for the maintenance of the genealogy which established
the purity of his descent.

Banabhat was a celebrated Sanskrit scholar and poet who lived in the 7th
century. Kumarilla Bhat, a noted scholar and writer who lived in the 8th
century, composed *Umasvastis *and *Gandhahasti Mahabhasya *and
*Nanniah, **Errapragada
*and *Tikkanna, *the great trio or *Kavi Traya *of Telugu literature.
The *Dutangada
*of Subhat exhibits shadowplays of Mahanataka. Bhavadevabhat of the Savarna*
**gotra *of the* kauthuma *school of *Samaveda**, *born in Siddhalagrama in
Radha (Bengal) was the son of Govardhana and Samgoka and flourished in about
1100. He was a versatile genius and composed *Dharamsastra. *Vijnanessvara
of Bhardwaj *gotra *was the son of Padmanabha Bhat Brahaman and pupil of
Uttma. He wrote M*itakshara *when King Vikrmarke (Vikrmadiyta) was ruling
Kalayana. Mahima Bhat, Bhaskarbhat and Chintamanibhat were other renowned
and celebrated scholars of their times.

King Nagbhat ruled on Buchkal (Rajasthan) in 815; King Dhruvbhat on Mount
Abu in 1002; King Bhadarbhat on Gajaband (Malwa) in the 11th century and
King Shiv Nabh on Sangladeep from 1509-1521. Bhat Brahamans probably
belonged to Sangladeep. RC Temple (1962) identifies Sangladeep with
Sankladeep or Srinkhladeep in the undivided Punjab, somewhere near Sialkot.
This is the place where Guru Gorakhnath asked Puran Bhagat to go and get
alms from the young and beautiful Queen Sundran sometime in 7th century
(Rose, 1970).

Mrigind (1977) says Sangladeep is an island in Sri Lanka. PP Sinha (1980)
while writing on the life and times of Tansen (originally Tnna Nisra) for
his Ph.D degree established that he was a Bhat Brahaman. Kedar, Nal,
Gaddadhar, Shribhat, Kumarmani, Baisal, Padhkar, Dialdas Lachhiram, Haridas,
Gang and Narhari had been some poets of eminence belonging to this clan.
Royal poet Chand Bardai and Birbal were the Chief Ministers of King
Prithviraj Chauhan and Akbar the Great, respectively, and were Bhat
Brahamans.Guru Das Vashisht of Tibber (Gurdaspur) sacrificed his life in
1919 in the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, while Chhotelal in 1912, Janardan
Bakhatram in 1918, Ram Kali in 1918, Ram Krishan in 1930 and Shamrao in
1942, all Maharashtrian Bhat Bra­hamans, laid their lives for the freedom of
India . * - (Source: The Tribune)*


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