of the Shakta cult is Bhaktapur's Taleju Bhawani temple, the ista-devi of Malla kings, where they serve as the chief priests. In addition to their duties as purohits to Chatharīyās and Śresțhas, Rajopadhyayas also serve as hereditary pujāris of the following temples: Changu Narayan (a UNESCO World Heritage site) in Bhaktapur Pasupatinath (another UNESCO World Heritage Site: Rajopadhyayas were the chief priest of the temple in the past in Kathmandu Taleju temples in Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Lalitpur Dui Maju temple in Kathmandu and Bhaktapur Kumbheshwor Mahadev in Lalitpur Nyatapola (Siddhilaxmi) Temple in Bhaktapur Krishna Temple in Patan Durbar Square Sano Pashupati in Kathmandu Durbar Square Ichangu Narayan Temple in Halchowk Shesh Narayan in Farping Hanuman Agam temple in Kathmandu Durbar Square Laxmi Narayan temple in Changu Narayan complex Maithil Brahmins There also exist a group of separate Brahmin among the Newar community who are called Maithil Brahmins with Jha and Mishra surnames. Unlike the Rajopadhyayas, the Maithil Brahmins are not considered as Newars or part of the Newar society by themselves as well as by others. Maithil Brahmins are most prominently the temple priests of the Mahalaxmi Temple, Char Narayan Temple, Jaisidega Temple, Batuk Bhairav, among others. Rajopadhayayas, demonstrating their Kanyakubja heritage, avoid matrimonial ties with the Maithil Brahmins and maintain their 'superior' status over the Maithil Brahmins. Popular Rajopadhyaya Names Rajopadhyayas popularly use the following surnames: Rajopadhyaya, Sharma, Upadhyaya, Acharya, among others. Some popular Rajopadhyaya names from history and popular culture include: Sudarshan Brahman (a mythical Brahmin to slain Changu Narayan) Gaya Juju (Gayo Bājé) of Sulimha, Patan Vishvanath Upādhyāya of Valimha, Patan Sahasra Shivānanda of Indrachowk Pundit Vamshi Dharānanda Rajopadhyaya of Changu Narayan Newa Priest and scholar Basav Juju Rajopadhyay from Kathmandu who is working to preserve and promote newa culture, ritual tradition around United States of America. See also Bahun Nepalese caste system Newar caste system Shaivism Shakta Gotras References External links http://www.rajopadhyaya.info http://rajopadhyaya.blogspot.com https://books.google.com/books?ei=b5tCTs1ax9CtB8aDgdMH&ct=result&id=BHrXAAAAMAAJ&dq=rajopadhyaya+origin&q=rajopadhyaya#search_anchor https://books.google.com/books?id=lH0RAQAAIAAJ&q=rajopadhyaya+origin&dq=rajopadhyaya+origin&hl=en&ei=b5tCTs1ax9CtB8aDgdMH&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CDwQ6AEwAw Caste system in Nepal