Ganak

Ganak (Assamese: গণক) is a title given to Surya Vipras, a division of Assamese Brahmins in Assam, India. In India there are many divisions of Brahmins in different places, But in Assam there are only two divisions : (1) Surya Vipras and (2) Chandra Vipras. The Surya Vipras are usually known as Ganak or Daivagya Brahman. These Brahmans were strictly Vedic and mostly used to follow different sakhas & sutras of the Sukla Yajurved and used to undergo Dasha Sanskaras in their life-time viz.- i) Garbhadhan ii) Pungsavan iii) Simanta-nayan, iv) Jatakarma v) Namakarana vi) Annaprashana vii) Chura-karan viii) Upanayana ix) Sama-vartan x) Marriage. Now-a-days most of the Assamese Brahmins only follow atmost 5 to 6 of these 10 Sanskaras. On each case the Nandimukh Sraddha is performed, where they seek the blessings of their Ancestors. The Surjya Vipras are Vedic Brahmans with full authority to perform all religious functions including Pujas of God/Goddesses by having proper Diksha from Guru. Most of the Surya Vipras used to practice astrology and ayurved in the Ancient times, now the numbers of practitioners has become less. Surjya-Vipras are also in the roles of Pujaris/Priests in Various temples of Assam, Such as: Navagraha Mandir, Kamakhya Mandir, Surya Mandir etc. In Kamakhya & Navagraha Mandir these Brahmins are called as "Doloi".

The common Surnames of these Brahmins are Dev Sharma/Sarma/Sarmah/Sharma, Bordoloi, Doloi, Kondoli, Changkakoti, Borkakoti, Hatikakoti, Kakoti, Bhagawati, Baruah, Majindar Baruah, Borkotoky, Kotoky etc.

The common Gotras of Surjya-Vipras are: Kashyap, Bharadwaj, Mihirayan, Kaushik, Vashishtha, Gautam, Garg or Gargeya etc.

References

• Surya and Suryavipra, Gulukeshwar Boruah
• Surya, Nirmal Prabha Bordoloi
• Assam Buranji, Harakanta Boruah