Karnik is a Maharashtrian

 surname

Surname

A surname is a name added to a given name and is part of a personal name. In many cases, a surname is a family name. Many dictionaries define "surname" as a synonym of "family name"...

 from the Chandraseniya Kayastha Prabhu

Chandraseniya Kayastha Prabhu

Chandraseniya Kayastha Prabhu or , abbreviated CKP, is an ethno-religious community which is part of Kayastha. The mother tongue of this community is Marathi...

 ("CKP") community. Although you would find a few Germans

Germany

Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...

 sharing the same surname.

Origin of CKP Community and Karniks

Descendants of King Chandrasen, his son Kayastha and Kayastha's son Somraj ruled Kashmir

 and most of central India. For people these kings were next to god and hence were called Prabhu.

Chandrasen son of great King Sahastrararjun, was killed by Parshuram. Chandrasen's pregnant wife Ganga/Kamala took asylum with Dalabhya mooni. Parshuram demanded mooni to hand over Ganga, but the mooni very wisely asked him to spare the pregnant woman. Parshuram agreed to Mooni's request and blessed her that the child born from her "KAYA" would be called KAYASTHA.

Parshuram said as his father's kingdom has been destroyed; he and his ascendant would live with the help of sword and ink (Asijivi/Masijivi).

This is a mythological story but all agree in saying that it means the descendents of the King Chandrasen who was the Kshatriya (warrior by Profession) King, the son of Sahastrararjun of the Haiyaya family.

Another point is tribes of Kaya

 province are Kayastha. The word kaya means Ayodhaya. According to Mr. H.S.Wilson (1819) Kayastha means "the Supreme Being", and the words "Kayastha Prabhu" means "A Human not Less than a God".

In the 7th and 8th century, Kayasthas were in Kashmir and later they shifted from Kashmir to northern India

 and madhya bharat. The word Prabhu means supreme or powerful.

As we read the Origin of CKP's is from Kashmir and North India. The Pandavas, Kauravas, Gupt Vansh are all Chandravanshis. Sometime during the advent of Budhism, the last CKP kingdom was lost and the community moved to Mandugadh where they held important positions in the court of the Parmars.

After Mandugadh fell to Allaudin Khilji, the Prabhus fled from Mandu. They went into Gujarat and they via sea landed in the Konkan strip where they made their homes. Totally 42 families came to Maharashtra in 1305.

From Mawala Province 42 CKP families ( Bendre, Pradhan, Gupte, Dalvi, Chawale, Garude, Chitre, Jayvant, Nachane, Phanase, Mohile, Tamhane, Pratinidhi, Teware, Vakhare, Bhise, Likhite, Kamte, Satpute, Jawale, Tavkar, Vaidhya, Deopare, Bahire, Sule, Patne, Pangu, Korde, Tungari, Narkar, Dhighe, Randive, Raje, Kshipre, Skrukale, Durve, Khatik, Mokashi, Navhik, Mochil, Sabhasad, Karnik, Nagle ) migrated towards Maharashtra and Karnataka. From Maharashtra some families went and settled in Rajasthan.
Many of this families subsequently took name of the town they were residing as Gadkari, Karkhanis, Palkar, Taskar, Shruganpure, Mulherkar, Kharkar.
Bajiprabhu Deshpande, Murarbaji

 Deshpande,the brave warriors of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj belonged to the same caste.

About Karniks

Gothra : Bharghav

God they worship : Surya

Origin Man : Karnik.

Ceremonies / Festivals

1. Munja
2. Makar Sankrant
3. Maghi Ganpati Utsav
4. Gudi Padva
5. Holi / Ranga Panchami
6. Shravan Mahina
7. Ganpati Utsav
8. Navratra
9. Dassera
10. Diwali
11. Tulsicha Lagna
12. " Jiwati Pujan" in Sharavan Month

Foodie Karniks

Karniks are known as the "foodies" in the whole CKP community. Some of the awesome dishes are:

• Khemyache Kanavle
• Chinchecha Kalvan
• Bharli Andi (Stuffed Eggs)
• Shevlaachi Bhaaji
• Shevlaachi Kani
• Shevlaachi Vadi
• Kolambiche Lonche
• "Papletche Lonche"
• Ambat Tikhat assal CKP Kalvan
• Lipta Javla
• Ninaava
• Puran Poli(specifically Tel Poli)
• Kolambi/Sode/Mutton/Vaalachi Khichdi
• Khaajyache Kanovle
• Ukad Handi
• Meeryache Ambatvaran
• " Bharlela Paplet (Stuffed Pomfret"
• Suki Sukat / Kadi (with Onions)
• Bomblaache / Gholliche Bhujne
• Masuryaachi Amti with Tallalela Masala n Vade
• Liptya Teesrya
• Mundi/Paya
• Bhajaniche Thalipeeth
• Sode ghatleli Vangyaachi Bhaji
• Dirdha
• Vaatli Daal
• Daalimbya/Suka Birdha
• Valaache Birdhe
• "Mugache Birdhe"
• "Aartya (Type of round Shankarpalya at Jivatipujan"
• "Sandan (Sitala Saptami)"
• "Sode Ghatlela Upama"
• "Vadiche Sambar"