Prabhu Explained

Prabhu means master or prince in Sanskrit and many of the Indian languages; it is a name sometimes applied to God.^[1]

Surname

Prabhu is a surname among Gaud saraswat Brahmins,saraswat Brahmins and other Brahmins across the Konkan Coast in India, from Karnataka and Maharashtra to Goa.^{[2] [3]}

As a title

"Prabhu" as a title is mainly found among Gaud saraswat Brahmins, Saraswat Brahmins, Karhade Brahmins and other Brahmins in Maharashtra,Karnataka and Goa.^[4] Prabhu was a title accorded to the representative of the main village of the taluka (district) committee. The Prabhus may have also occupied official posts in the central administration, without prejudice to their original posts which were hereditary. Traditionally, a Prabhu was a village chief, Ministers, Zamindars, administrators, landlord and as such a master to the many agricultural labourers that were needed to cultivate his lands.^[5]

Notable people

• Lakshman Prabhu, a minister in the court of the Silhara dynasty
• Manohar Prabhu Parrikar (1955–2019), Indian politician
• Suresh Prabhu (born 1953), Indian politician
• Bolanthur Krishna Prabhu (1882–?), wrote Chandrahas Natak
• Gayathri Prabhu (born 1974), Indian novelist
• Girish Prabhu, Indian musician
• (born 1954), Indian sprinter
• Jaideep Prabhu (born 1967), professor
• K. N. Prabhu (1923–2006)
• Mamta Prabhu (born 1983), table tennis player
• Manjiri Prabhu (born 1964), Indian author, TV producer and filmmaker
• N. U. Prabhu (1924–2022), Indian-American mathematician
• Neeraj Prabhu (born 1976), Indian-born former English cricketer
• R.S. Prabhu (born 1950), Indian film producer and film director
• Rakesh Prabhu, Indian cricketer
• S. R. Prabhu, Indian film producer
• Satyajit Prabhu, music arranger, composer, and multi-instrumentalist
• Seetharam Prabhu (born 1964), Indian cricket umpire
• Shashi Prabhu (born 1944), Indian architect
• Srinivas Prabhu, actor
• Sunil Prabhu (born 1969), Indian politician
• Vasant K. Prabhu, professor
• Vasant Prabhu (died 1968)

See also

• Prabhu Communities, a group of distinct Hindu castes found in Maharashtra, India
• Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (1486–1533)
• A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada (1896–1977), Indian spiritual teacher
• Rani, the Sanskrit word for "princess"
• Prabhu (film), a 1979 Indian Malayalam-language film
• Hey Prabhu!, a 2019 Indian web TV show

Notes and References

1. Web site: BABA WORDS, The Master's Glossary, N-P . 29 July 2016 . Frank Davis.
2. Web site: Prabhu Family History . Dictionary of American Family Names ©2013, Oxford University Press . Dictionary of American Family Names ©2013, Oxford University Press . 2013 . 29 July 2016.
3. Book: Sarasvati's Children: A History of the Mangalorean Christians - Google Books . I.J.A. Publications, 1999 . Alan Machado . 1999 . 264 . 9788186778258.
4. Book: The Illustrated Weekly of India, Volume 91, Part 3 . Bennett, Coleman & Company, Limited, at the Times of India Press . 1970 . 8 . Prabhu is a title found amongst Saraswats, Karhade and other brahmins..
5. Book: The Last Prabhu: A Hunt for Roots : DNA, Ancient Documents and Migration in Goa - Google Books . Goa 1556, 2011 . Bernardo Elvino de Sousa . 2011 . 163 . 9789380739151.