DESHASTIL Itlauft. A native country. Deshasthulu, natives. Deshasth is a term by which the Bralunans of Maharashtra are designated. They are described aa a class of sedentary habits, extremely fond of their native place, very fond of display, and fond of rich and splendid clothes. On occasions of marriage and other festival ceremonies, they are lavish. Deshastha Brahmans have acquired some literary celebrity, ancl have been largely employed under the several govern ments of India, chiefly in the revenue depart inents. The few Prakrit poets that have made' their appearance are Deshasth, such as Wamon, Moropant, and Jagnath. Deshasth 13ralunans are better-featured than the Konkanasths, but the Konkanasth Brahman is fairer.
The social and political life of the Konkanasth Brahmans has undergone a complete change since the beginning of the 18th century. Before that they were solely an agricultural class of people, visiting towns only on very unavoidable occasions. They possessed a good knowledge of the Vedas and Shastras, and were liberally rewarded on that account by the patrons of those branches of learning. They rarely held offices under Govern
ment, or in mercantile houses ; on the advent of the British, they were compelled to look out for employment, and they at once spread all over the extensive table-land of Syhadri, called the Desh. Every department of Government contains Konkanasth Brahmans, and they have shown them selves active, intelligent, liberal-minded men. The Deshastha from time out of mind have been in the possession of the rich table-land, and been Zamindars, Deshmukhs, Deslipandies, etc. They have never been distinguished for their know ledge of the Vedas or the Shastras. Once they were in sole possession of Government offices, but they have been greatly thrown into the back ground by the Konkanasth. All the lower class of offices, such as village acc,ountants, etc., are, however, still in their hands.