The Chitpavan or Chitpawan, part of the Konkanastha Brahmins (i.e. "Brahmins native to the Konkan"), are a Brahmin community of Konkan, the coastal region of western India. The community is predominantly Hindu, Until the 18th century, however, the Chitpavans were not esteemed in social ranking, and were indeed considered by other, older Brahmin tribes as being an inferior caste of Brahmins.