There are various etymologies of the word Saraswat. One refers to "offspring of Saraswati", the goddess of learning, applied usually to learned and scholarly people. It may also denote the residents of the Saraswati river basin. The Brahmins of this region who are referred to as Saraswats in the Mahabharata and Puranas were learned in Vedic lore.
The origins of the Saraswat Brahmin community who now hail from the west coast of India, especially from the North and South Kanara Districts of Karnataka are not known. Various conjenctures include a connection with Kashmir and Bengal or Gaudpradesh.
Islamic intolerance and forced religious conversion in Kashmir, started following the devastation wrought by Zulju, a Mughal general from Turkmenistan, in 1320. The Sayyid Dynastyruled Kashmir from 1339 to 1561 CE and during this period Islam was firmly established in Kashmir. Persecution of Hindus, razing of Hindu Temples, and forced conversion was worst under the rule of Sikandar Butshikan, the second Sultan of the Sayyid Dynasty of Kashmir from 1389 to 1413 CE. This caused Saraswats to migrate from Kashmir. The religious freedom, lush vegetation, rich soil, and patronage of the rulers drew Saraswat Brahmins migrants to the west coast of India and especially to Goa.
The Saraswats worshipped the deities they brought with them from the North. These were 'Mahan Girish' or Mangueshi, Shakti or Shanta Durga,Vishnu, Ganesh and Surya. They form the 'Panchayatan', or five deities, sacred to all Saraswats.
Saraswats were in all the kingdoms of the western coast under different dynasties right from 6th century AD. Kadamba, Rashtrakuta, Hoysala,Chalukya Shilahara and Vijayanagara kings had given important posts to Saraswats. There were ministers, administrators, accountants, treasurers, ambassadors, and foreign language-interpreters among them. They adopted the spoken language of Goa — Konkani.
The Portuguese traders who arrived in the early 16th century were followed by Christian missionaries. This led to the Goa Inquisition between 1560 and 1812 CE. Religious persecution of Saraswat Brahmins in particular, and their forced conversion to Christianity took place in Goa with the patronage of Portuguese government. A few Saraswats were converted to Christianity by smearing beef on their lips or putting beef into their wells, resulting in their being foolishly ostracised by the rest of the community. Many other Saraswats converted to Christianity to avoid persecution and to prevent their lands being confiscated by the Portuguese. These are the origins of the "Brahmin Catholics" among the Goan Catholics today.
Saraswat families in large numbers, preferred to leave Goa with their family deities. These Saraswats settled down in the adjoining more tolerant principalities. New temples came up in the coastal districts of Karnataka for Saraswat deities. When conditions improved in Goa and forced religious conversion ceased, the deities were taken back to newly constructed temples in Goa in completely new sites as the original sites were occupied by Portuguese churches.
Saraswats held important posts under Keladi or Nagar rulers. Many families who emigrated from Goa settled down in smaller towns and villages in Shimoga, South and North Kanara Districts. Those who settled in North Kanara were known as 'Badags' and those who settled in South Kanara were known as 'Tanks'. Both have their own variations in dialect and culture. Saraswats were the first beneficiaries of English education introduced in 1840 AD.
The number of Chitrapur Saraswats stands at 22,498 according to Kanara Saraswat Association's 2001 census, up 7 per cent from 20,932 in 1971. The 0–19 age group has shrunk from 33 per cent to 18 per cent and the 20–44 age group has also gone down from 38 per cent to 34 per cent.