A History of the Mahrattas v1.c11.3

v1.c11.3

¹ [The Prabhūs (Purbhoo or Purvoe) are found in Bombay and the Central Provinces, and style themselves Chandraseniya Kāyasth Prabhūs, the first word alluding to their supposed descent from Chandra Sen, a Kshatriya King of Oudh, and the second to their professional occupation of clerks, writers and accountants. The name Prabhū signifies ‘lord,’ and apart from their claim to have held official positions under the Gupta kings (A.D. 320–490), stone inscriptions exist to prove that they were civil officials in the Konkan and Deccan from the eleventh century. A branch of the caste, known in Bombay as Pātāre Prabhūs, appears to have reached the Konkan from Gujarāt during the rule of the Silāhāras of Thāna (A.D. 810–1260), and played an important part in the early days of British dominion, being employed by the East India Company as clerks, secretaries, writers and rent-collectors. They are frequently referred to as ‘Purvoes’ or ‘Parus’ in the accounts and documents of that period. The surnames of some Prabhū families, e.g. Gupte, Rāje, Pradhān, Chaturbal or Chaubal, Rānadip or Rāndive, are held to denote their official importance in