Dear Mr Rajaram, I read with interest this forward. Especially about iyengar. Will you continue more about Iyengars in the next posting since what is covered in this forward appears incomplete?
Gopalakrishnan On Wednesday, 15 May, 2024 at 07:49:14 am IST, Rajaram Krishnamurthy <keyarinc...@gmail.com> wrote: ---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Rajaram Krishnamurthy <keyarinc...@gmail.com> Date: Tue, 14 May 2024 at 20:44 Subject: PITU GOTRA PART 15 KR IRS 14524 15524 to be contd To: Ranganathan <arranganathan.ba...@gmail.com>, Vanakkam Subbu <subs...@gmail.com>, Chittanandam V R <chittananda...@gmail.com>, YM <markandeya101...@gmail.com>, Dr Sundar <drsd...@gmail.com>, Venkat Raman <venkatp...@gmail.com>, Ravi mahajan <ravikantmaha...@gmail.com>, Mani APS <m...@manijpn.in>, Venkat Giri <venkat_...@yahoo.co.in>, SRIRAMAJAYAM <vabal...@gmail.com>, Rama <kaviran...@gmail.com>, Rangarajan T.N.C. <tncrangara...@yahoo.com>, Mathangi K. Kumar <mathangikku...@gmail.com>, Srinivasan Sridharan <sridhsriniva...@gmail.com>, Gopala Krishnan <gopa4...@yahoo.in>, Kerala Iyer <keralaiy...@googlegroups.com>, Sanathana group <sanathana-dharma-and-scie...@googlegroups.com>, thatha patty <thatha_patty@googlegroups.com>, Jambunathan Iyer <n.jambun...@gmail.com> PITU GOTRA PART 15 KR IRS 14524 15524 to be contd i) Niyogi Brahmins : Niyogi Brahmins are those Brahminswho took up various secular vocations including military activities and gave upreligious vocation, especially the priesthood. Niyogi Brahmins depend andemphasize on modern education. They were ministers in the courts of kingsand feudatories. Many of them were village accountants/clerks, karanams (Andhra)or patwaris (Telangana), until recently. The Niyogis areconsidered to be eligible for priestly service. But they will nevereither accept a religious gift or partake of Sraaddha food(food given to Brahmins duiring the death related rituals). According toJogendranath Bhattacharya16e,Niyogi name is derived from Yoga, which means religious contemplation ormeditation, as opposed to Yaga, which means religious sacrifice. Niyogin inSanskrit also means "employed" or "appointed" andaccordingly, it is probable that they are so-called because they accept secularemployment. They were very rich and influential. Legendary Rayamantri belongs to thisgroup. Niyogi Brahmins include eminent personalities like VeeresalingamKandukuri, Radhakrishnan Sarvepalli, Venkatgiri Varahagiri, KL Rao, PrakasamTanguturi, Venkatanarasimharao Pamulaparti (PV), General K. V. Krishnarao etc. PV was the only Brahmin Chief Minister (1971-72) of Andhra Pradesh andalso the only Telugu Brahmin Prime Minister (1991-1996) from South India whoruled the modern Indian Union. Over the past millennium the Niyogi Brahmins aredivided further into various groups: a) Pradhamasakha (First Branch) Niyogi Brahmins b) Aruvela Niyogi c) Nandavarika Niyogi d) Karanakamma Niyogi e) Velanati Niyogi f) Telaganya Niyogi g) Dravida Niyogi h) Karanalu i) Sristikaranalu or Sistukaranalu or Sistakaranalu. j) Kasalanati Niyogi k) Pakanati Niyogi. a)Pradhamasakha Niyogi Brahmins: This caste belongs to Sukla (white) YajurvedaSchool, while majority of Brahmins in Andhra Pradesh belongto krishna (black) Yajurveda School. In Maharashtra alsothere is a group of Brahmins called Pradhamasakha Brahmins. ThePradhamasakha Niyogi Brahmins are further divided intobranches such as Vajasaneyulu, Saivulu, Yajnavalkyulu and Kanvulu. b) Aruvela Niyogi: AruvelaNiyogi group is the largest Niyogi group. They belong to KrishnaYajurveda School. According to some, the word "Aruvela"is derived from 6000 (Aruvelu) villages in velanadu area of AndhraPradesh. Some believe that Arvelanadu is an alternate name for Velanduand hence the Niyogi Brahmins of that region are Arvela Niyogis. AruvelaNioyogi Brahmins are political, worldly-wise, and business minded. Theywere ministers in the courts of kings and feudatories, and clerks andaccountants (Karanalu). Pamulaparti family belongs to Aruvela NiyogiBrahmins. c) Nandavarika Niyogi d) Karanakamma Niyogi e) Velanati Niyogi f) Telaganya Niyogi g) Dravida Niyogi h) Karanalu i) Sristikaranalu orSistukaranalu or Sistakaranalu: These are teachers, officials, villageaccountants (karanam). They are mostly located in Ganjam and Visakhadistricts. Famous poet Krishnamurthy Sistu belongs to this group ofBrahmins. j) Kasalanati Niyogi k) Pakanati Niyogi ii) Vaidikulu (Vaidiki Brahmins): Vaidiki Brahmins are thoseBrahmins who practice mainly religious vocation performing various religiousactivities, in addition to other mainstream secular vocations like agriculture,cooking, teaching, clerical, management, administration, architecture, scienceetc. They perform various religious activities including performingrituals and prayers to please Gods, planets and stars as priests for bothBrahmins and non-Brahmins, at homes and in temples. However, they are notthe priests for many Hindu temples in which animal sacrifices are common. The priests in such Hindu temples are non-Brahmins. Vaidikis also performrituals for every occasion in life such as birth, giving solid food to theinfant for the first time (annapraasanamu), initiation into education (upanyanamu),female puberty, marriage, consummation of marriage, several stages ofpregnancy, death, carrying the dead bodies, cremating the dead, etc. Manyof these rituals are very important and limited to Brahmins, except a fewceremonies like marriage. They also take up even begging asascetics. This ascetic life of Brahmins was theinspiration for the Buddhist ascetics. The majority of Vaidikulubelongs to krishna Yajurveda school. However, there are Rigvedis, Samavedis etc.also. Some Brahmins had proficiency in several Vedas, e.g.,Dvivedi is one who has proficiency in 2 Vedas, Trivedi in 3 vedas andChaturvedi in 4 vedas and are known by those titles as such. However,these titles became family names, even though the family members may not knowany Veda at all today. While Niyogis embraced western education,Vaidikulu had shunned Western education and as a consequence many Vaidikulu arepoor and not well educated in Western education. According to SriSri Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswathi MahaSwamiji, theBrahmins who perform priestly duties and other religious activities shouldfollow certain rules: The Brahmin has to wake up at four in the morning and bathe in cold water,rain or shine, warm or cold. Then, without a break, he has to perform one riteafter another: sandhyavandana, Brahmayajna, aupasana, puja, vaisvadeva and oneof the 21 sacrifices. If you sit before sacrificial fire for four days you willrealise how difficult it is with all the heat and smoke. How many are the vowsand the fasts the Brahmin has to keep and how many are the ritual baths.... .... Other castes do not have to go through such hardships. A Brahmin cannoteat "cold rice"in the morning like a peasant - he has no"right" to it. The dharmasastras are not created for his convenienceor benefit, nor to ensure that he has a comfortable life. He would not haveotherwise imposed on himself the performance of so many rites and a life ofsuch rigorous discipline. When he has his daytime meal it will be 1 or 2. (Onthe day of a sraddha it will be three or four). This is the time the peasantwill have his rest after his meal under a tree out in the field where he works.And the Brahmin's meal, mind you, is as simple as the peasant's. There is nodifference between the humble dwelling of the peasant and that of the Brahmin.Both alike wear cotton. The peasant may save money for the future but not theBrahmin. He has no right either to borrow money or to live in style. ... In the "Yaksa-prasna" of the Mahabharata the simple life of Brahminis referred to: pancame' hani saste vasakam pacati svegrhe Anrni ca' pravasi ca sa varicara modate If daytime is divided into eight parts, the Brahmin may have his foodonly in the fifth or sixth part after performing all his rites. Before that hehas neither any breakfast nor any snacks. And what does he eat? Not any rich food, nosweets like almonds crushed in sweetened milk. "Sakam pacati" - theBrahmin eats leafy vegetables growing on the banks of rivers, such areas beingno one's property. Why is he asked to live by the river side? It is for hisfrequent baths and for the leafy vegetables growing free there and for which hedoes not have to beg. He should not borrow money: that is the meaning of theword "anrni", because if he developed the habit of borrowing he wouldbe tempted to lead a life of luxury. Poverty and non-acquisitiveness (aparigraha)are his ideals. A Brahmin ought not to keep even a blade of grass in excess ofhis needs. The Brahmin must be conversant with thefourteen branches of the Vedic lore. He must be proficient even inGandharva-veda or music and must be acquainted with agricultural science,construction of houses, etc. At the same time he must give instructions inthese subjects to pupils from the appropriate castes. His own vocation is thestudy of the Vedas and he must have no other source of income. ... If the Brahmin is asked, "Do you know to wield a knife? " he must beable to answer, "Yes, I know". If he is asked, "Do you know todraw and paint" again he must (be able to) say, "Yes". But hecannot wield a knife or become an artist to earn his livelihood. All he can dois to learn these arts and teach others the same according to their caste. Heis permitted to receive a daksina to maintain himself and he must be contentedwith it however small the sum may be. The Brahmin's specialty is his truevocation is Vedic learning. ... The goal of Vedic works is the happiness of all mankind, indeed thehappiness of all the worlds ("Lokah samastah sukino bhavanthu"). Thesound of the Vedas creates universal well-being, so too Vedic sacrifices. …Brahmins would be committing a sin if they gave up Vedic rituals and earnedmoney by doing other types of work. There are many subcastes in Vaidiki Brahmins as well: l) Vaishnava m) Draavidulu n) Madhvulu o) Velanati Vaidikulu p) Telaganyulu or Telaganadu Vaidikis q) Venginati Vaidikulu r) Kasalnati Vaidikulu s) Muraknati Vaidikulu u) Adisaivulu v) Saivulu l) Vaishnava: Pancharatraand Vaikhanasa Brahmanulu: Among the Vaishnavities, the strictvegetarians and highly educated people also are given the approximate status ofbrahmins in Andhra Pradesh. They adhere to either the medieval Tenkalai orVadakalai and Agaama scriptures. One section follows Vaikhanasa scripturesand other the Pancharaatra, dealing mainly with temple ritual. Theyrun large temple establishments very efficiently. They rose to prominenceduring Vijayanagar times. They are followers panchasamskara, ekayanayajus sakha and katyayana sutra. TheseVaishnavite Brahmins are spread mainly in Karnataka and Andhra, and to someextent in Tamil Nadu also. Vaikanasa subcaste belongs to this group. The great Vaishnavite reformers like Ramanujacharya, Ramananda (northIndia), Madhva (all over south India), Vallabh Acharya (found among vela Nadu, Gujarat,Rajasthan and UP), Nimbaarka, etc. Not all the followers of theseVaishnavite reformers are Brahmins. Some of these Vaishnavite includeAcharis, Iyengar and vela Nādu vaideekulu. These Vaishnavas are also knownas Andhra Vaishnava. Theyrely on the doctrines laid down in the medieval scriptures (agamas). Many ofthe famous temple establishments like Tirupati and Ahobilam are run pervaishnavite agamic canons. The big hearted Raamanuja fought against caste distinctionsand gathered under his doctrine, people from all walks of life and caste andreligion and occupation and said henceforth they shall be known as onecommunity. Thus he created the Iyengar community, and told them to always workfor reform of society. Some of the earlier vaishnava and bhagaavata adherentsalso merged into the iyengars. Later there was a large immigration ofRamaanandi vaishnavas from north India and another large migration fromGujarat. While they too merged, slight differences arose. The great Raamanujaspecifically included among his followers sc's, tribals, immigrant foreignsoldiers, arabs and turks, destitutes women, jains, etc. Raamanuja's effortsare glossed over bymodern pseudo-secular writers. Ramanuja and his laterdisciples running the movement, certainly saw to it that there was no moreexclusivism of caste groups inside the community. All the same it appears theymade sure that the brightest were selected as iyengars, evangelizers ofvaishnavism, without any regard to their former caste or other origins. It ishowever true, after some centuries this reformist movement became just anothercaste, not quite sure about its place in the hierarchy. The immense and lastinginfluence of Raamanuja is probably not realised by many Indians. Here are somedirect and indirect descendants of his thought: ---the entire actual livevaishnava tradition of today, and including offshoots and modifications and themovements heavily influenced like those of Raamananda Kabir Ravidas NanakTulsidas Vallabhacharya Nimbaarka Madhvacharya Raghavendra Chaitanya Ramdas....even recent reformers like Phule and isckon and others One characteristic method usedby the gurus was community dinners, where everybody sat together withoutdistinction. This went a long way towards reduction of old discriminations. Asa consequence there are expert cooks who easily handle very large scale cookingamong them. Old tribal cult spots and medieval pilgrimage centers like theVaraaha shrine at Tirupati were modernised, along with the new scriptures andnew rituals invented by Ramanujacharya to foster a cooperative spirit. He alsokept in mind the weaning away of simple tribal people from bloodsacrifices. It seems many jains also merged with vaishnavites, just like in anearlier era buddhists shifted to various sects of saivism. His followers alsotook up the spread of education, whose effect which lasts to this day. Thevaishnavite communities in Andhra Pradesh have a marked bent towards education,literature and performing arts like music and dance. PITU GOTRA PART 15 KR IRS 1452415524 to be contd -- On Facebook, please join https://www.facebook.com/groups/keralaiyerstrust We are now on Telegram Mobile App also, please join Pattars/Kerala Iyers Discussions: https://t.me/PattarsGroup Kerala Iyers Trust Decisions only posts : https://t.me/KeralaIyersTrust Kerala Iyers Trust Group for Discussions: https://t.me/KeralaIyersTrustGroup --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "KeralaIyers" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to keralaiyers+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/keralaiyers/CAL5XZoqKHVzYqcSn_qse2EbFEfL5yCOtFFTH00FX5XfX%3Dbu1Rg%40mail.gmail.com. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Thatha_Patty" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to thatha_patty+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/thatha_patty/1610006977.95477.1715750021291%40mail.yahoo.com.