Chandraseniya Kayastha Prabhu (CKP)

Chandraseniya Kayastha Prabhu (CKP) (Marathi: चांद्रसेनीय कायस्थ प्रभू) is a Kshatriya/writer caste of India.It is one of the sub-type of Indian Kayastha community which prominently found in the areas of North and East India. They share many common rituals with the upper caste communities like Munja and the study of Vedas and Sanskrit. The Sword and the Pen symbolised the tools of this community for centuries.This community falls under an ethnic group of Indo-Aryans and members of this community are now found mostly in certain parts of the state of Maharashtra in India. They are said to be one of the designated "brave helpers of Maharashtra" as proclaimed by Shivaji, the founder of the Maratha empire in his "Mala Ek Swapna Ahe" speech.(मला एक स्वप्न आहे- हिंदवी स्वराज्याचे)
The origins of the CKP community lie in Indus Valley from Kashmir to Sindh-Thatta on Arabian sea coast but the downfall of various kingdoms which were ruled by the community's families or where they were settled in (7th-8th Century A.D.)[citation needed] accounts for their present location. The last known migration was in 1305 A.D. wherein 42 families finally arrived in Maharashtra.
There are only 42 original last names which derive from the last surviving families that migrated to Maharashtra in 1305 A.D that can be linked to the community. The remaining surnames are derived from the 42 original last names, and it is possible that there may have been other original last names but were lost as the families died out. Some of the original names are Bendre, Pradhan, Gupte, Dalvi, Chawale, Garude, Chitre, Jaywant, Nachane, Phanase, Mohile, Medhekar, Tamhane, Vaidya, Teware, Vakhare, Bhise, Likhite, Kamte, Satpute, Jawale, Tavkar, Vaidhya, Deopare, Bahire, Sule, Patne, Pangu, Korde, Tungare, Kulkarni, Karnik, Dighe, Khopkar, Randive, Raje, Kshipre, Skrukale, Durve, Khatik, Nabhik, Sabhasad) migrated towards Maharashtra and Karnataka. From Maharashtra some families went and settled all over the world. Migration is still continuing now mainly for professional aspirations or economical reasons.

The word "Chandraseniya," by some historians, is ascribed to the original home of the community in the valley of Chenab in Kashmir a river also known as Chandra in Sanskrit. It is said that the word "seniya" is corruption of Sanskrit word "shreni" meaning a group of people. Thus the term chandraseniya literally means the people of Chandra or Chenab.[citation needed] CKP as a community was more open to intermarriages with other communities than their counterparts such as Parsis, Kokanstha Brahmin of Konkan, Nagar Brahmins of Gujrat or Jains from Rajastan whose DNA mapping distinguishes them from other communities.CKP-GSB marriages are very common. CKPs also had marriage relationships with Pathare Prabhus,Daivajna,Deshastha or karhade Brahmins,Maratha and Vasihya Vanis