The Pullūr plates and Taṇṭantōṭṭam plates of Pallava king Nandivarman II of 8^th century CE mention a few Brāhmins belonging to Ṣāvarṇi gotra and Chandoga sutra. The Kahla plate of Soḍhadeva of 1077 CE mentions a Brahmin belonging to Sāvarṇa gotra and Chandoga śākhā. A stone inscription from Ārpākkam of Cōḻa Rājādhirāja II of the second half of the 12^th century CE mentions a Śaiva teacher with the name Umāpatideva alias Jñānaśivadeva who belonged to the Dakṣiṇarāḍha of Gauḍadeśa and Gaṃgoḷi Sāvaṛṇa gotra. Do Sāvarṇi and Sāvarṇa refer to the same gotra? Given the -deva part of the dīkṣā name of the Śaiva teacher, could he still be a Brahmin?

Thank you in advance for any clarifications.

Regards,

Palaniappan