History
The origin of the Anavils is traced to the period of Lord Rama. According to the Skanda Purana, when Rama was returning from Lanka with Sita after killing Ravana, he came to the hermitage of Agastya which was situated in a dense forest on the southern slopes of the Vindhya hills. At a great rishi's bidding, Rama decided to perform a solemn act of expiation at Anadisidha, for the slaying of Ravana. But as there were no brahmins there, seven ajachak brahmins were summoned from Gangakulgiri in the Himalayas to complete a ritual of Ashwamegh Yagna.
The lineage of the summoned brahmins became known as 'Anavil' as they were turned to brahmins for Lord Rama. The word "Anavil" is a combination of two Sanskrit words: UN+AVIL; UN, a prefix, means NOT in Sanskrit and AVIL means "that which is dirty or impure." The combined word therefore means "free of impurity." It is believed that 'Anavil' is the only brahmin varna in India which received the teachings of brahminism directly from Parashurama and Lord Rama himself.
Read more about this topic: Anavil Brahmin
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