Kudal deshastha adya gaud Brahmins is a community hailing from the western coast of India and residing in the Konkan division of Maharashtra, Goa. They immigrated to mid Konkan coastal area of Kudal due to invasion of Mohammedans. These Adya Gaud Brahmans ruled Kudal region more than 700 years from the 11th century to the end of 17th century. They had built up several temples in Kudal Prant in about 18 villages and installed the deities there according to the Gothras. Kudaldeshkar Brahmans follow Shankaracharya’s Advait School of philosophy, and have their own three century’s old Math in Dabholi village in Maharashtra. Their Own Shankaracharyanvayi “Guru Peetha” came into existence at Sonavade at the end of 13th century. Later they established Chinder & Golwan Mutt. Now the Dabholi Mutt is the only MUTT functioning since 1745.
The first pontiff of the Shreemat Purnanand Swamiji was initiated into Sanyasa by Vishwananda Swamiji. The present 20th pontiff of the Math is Pradyumnanand Swamiji.They abide by all the Shodasha Samskaras and other Brahminical rituals, but are not so orthodox, and are highly educated, cultured, and flexible.
The original language of Kudaldeshkars is Malwani dialect. The Malwani dialects of Konkani. Today Malwani is more significantly identified as the principal language of Kudaldeshkars and also of the natives of the Sindhudurg district. There are no special script or text characters for Malwani and it is generally written in Marathi. They also speak Marathi in Maharashtra, and Konkani in Goa and Karnataka. Malwani is also called Kudali, originally known as Kudwali. Kudwal is the ancient name for Kudal.
