History of Rajapur Saraswat Brahmins may be divided into 3 main parts

Early Vedic history refers to sage Saraswath, Saraswati River and goddess Saraswati. Though Saraswati River is invisible today, there are mentions of this sacred river in Rigveda, Mahabharta and other books. It is mentioned that Saraswati flows from Himalayas to Western Sea (now Arabian Sea). Some scholars also think that Indus Valley Civilization could have been on the banks of river Saraswati and river Indus. SAPTASINDHU or BRAHMAVARTA was in fact on the banks of Saraswati. From this place Saraswats got dispersed to various provinces. They went to KANYAKUBJA, GAUDA DESH, MAITHILA, UTKALA.

Sage Parashurama is given the credit for bringing Saraswats to the south of Vindhyas to Gomantaka, where he had asked Varuna to vacate part of the sea-land. It was the Parashurama Kshetra. Earlier he avenged the brutal killing of his father Sage Jamadagni, who had taken a vow that he won't become angry come what may. Parashurama had killed all the kshatriyas he could catch. Saraswats of 10 different gothras were brought to Gomantaka from Thrihotrapura (now in Bihar). Then more groups of Saraswats followed. All of these Saraswats are RIGVEDI ASUALAYANA SUTHRA-SHAKAL SHAKHA - ADHYAYEES (students). They follow the SHODASHA SAMSKARAS with SHROTHRA-SMARTHA CHATUR ASHRAMA KARMA.

Middle age:

Our Sages had simple huts in the jungle as Ashram. With the advent of Buddhism and Jainism, there came the need for mutt of middle ages. Gaudapadacharya was the founder of Kaivalya Mutt. He had 2 disciples: Govinda Yathi and the great Shankaracharya. Govinda Yathi had a disciple Vivrananda Saraswati. Kavale Mutt was established at Kushasthali (Goa) by Vivarananda Saraswathi Ji. This happened around 7 and 8 century A.D.

All Saraswats worshipped Shiva. They also began the worship of Durga as Shakti, Ganesha, Vishnu as Ravalnatha, Devaki Krishna and Narasimha.

Kavale (Kaivalya) was the earliest Gurupeetha for Saraswats. Kashi Mutt was established around 1541 A.D. by Saraswats of Cochin getting the Shishyatwa from Vijayendra Thirtha Swamiji of Kumbhakonam (Madhwa group). This started Vaishnav parampara in the Gauda Saraswats.

The initial Kaivalya Mutt was destroyed by the Portugese around 1560 A.D. The mutt was re-eshtablished in 1630 A.D. at Ponda in Goa. Shantadurga Temple was also built there.

Then there is a Chitrapur Mutt of Saraswats established in 1708 A.D. in the North Kanara district (Gokarna). Dhaboli Mutt was established near Vengurle in Kudal in 1745 A.D. Santharde Mutt was established by Padnekars in Goa who later joined Kashi Mutt. Chitrapur Mutt and Dhaboli Mutt are Shaiva Mutts. In 1560 A.D. another Vaishnav Saraswat Mutt was founded at Bhatkal by Ramachandra Theerth of Udupi Palamar Mutt. This is known as Gokarna Parthgali Mutt.

Saraswats in Gomantak prospered through hard work and of course the brain power. Some prospered in trade, others in agriculture. But in the 13 and 14 century A.D. came the destruction by Muslim rulers. There were forced conversions. Saraswats had to flee in all directions. They fled to Ratnagiri (Rajapur, Bhalavali Taluks), to Cochin and South Kanara. Then came the Portugese rule. In 1542 A.D. Frabcus Xavier came to goa. He destroyed Bardeskar and Sasasti temples and built churches. In that place all the Mutts were destroyed. Saraswats had to leave behind all the belongings and flee to Kudal, Savantvadi, Rajapur, Ratnagiri, Baroda, Cochin and South Kanara. Since the Saraswats were divided into Shaiva and Vaishnaavs, they became vulnerable. Those who could not flee were forcibly converted.They were forced to eat cow's meat, all the wells were descecreted with cow's meat….!!! King Jao of Portugal commanded that all Hindu Idols of worship be destroyed.

Those Saraswats who left Rajapur were called Rajapur Saraswats, those who who left Bhalavali taluk were called Bhalavalikars. They mostly reached South Kanara district in Karnataka. They became the tenants of the jamindars. Some immigrated to Maharashtra (Mumbai-Pune) in search of livelihood. In South Kanara they received education and got scattered in India (bank jobs, hotels, industries etc) and all over the world. They went back to Kavale Mutt around 1950-1955 A.D.

Rest is modern history known to every one.