brahmins of andhra pradesh16

7/28/2019 Brahmins of Andhra Pradesh16

1/22

Brahmins of Andhra Pradesh16

Brahmins have been migrating from time immemorial. The Brahmin

families that migrated made an impact peacefully by example rather thanconverting people by any means.

The Brahmin migration to the South features in the legends of sageAgastya. The Vindhya mountain range in central India continued to grow

higher showing its might and obstructed cloud movement causing draught.

Sage Agastya decided to solve the problem and traveled south. TheVindhya mountain bowed to Agastya and the sage requested Vindhya to

stay prostrated until he returns. Vindhya complied with this request and

sage Agastya never returned to north.

The earliest Brahmins to arrive in Andhra were most probably sage

Viswamitra's students and progeny around 1200 BC. South Indian kings

showed respect and patronage for Brahmins and Brahminism since ancienttimes, e.g., Satavahana dynasty that ruled for five centuries and extended

over Andhra and central India, founded by Srimukha (221-198 BC),

supported Brahminism and Vedic tradition.16a One of the most importantfeatures of Satavahana dynasty was granting land to Brahmins.16b Sangam

era of Chera, Chola and Pandya kings in Deep South also used to grant

lands to Brahmins.16c Similarly there have been Brahmin migrations backand forth that continue even today. Due to these waves of Brahmin

migrations, perhaps, we see today various sub-castes and traditions among

Brahmins.

Most of the Brahmins in Andhra Pradesh belong tosmaarta Brahmingroup, i.e., the followers of smritis and followers of Adi Sankaracharya.

The smaarta Brahmins followApastambasmriti orApastambasutra (notManusmriti). Apasthamba (~600 BC) was one of the earliest lawmakers of

south India who lived on the banks of River Godavari. Boudhayana,

Parasara, Yajnvalkya sutras and other laws were also important in the past,e.g., in the courts of Srikrishnadevaraya.16d Pradhamasakha Niyogi

Brahmins (see below) follow Yajnavalkyasutras and Kanvasutras. The

smaarta Brahmins in Andhra Pradesh can be grouped into two major

divisions formed about a thousand to about 700 years ago (most probablyduring Kakatiya rule), Niyogi and Vaidiki. However, in addition to

smaarta Brahmins, there are other Brahmin groups such as Sri Vaishnavas,Madhavas and Aradhyas. I have grouped them in Vaidiki Brahmin groupbelow for convenience only. Today, many Brahmins don't know and don't

care about these distinctions. Intermarriages have been very common

among theses groups. As a matter of fact, Brahmins have been marryingnon-Brahmins also. The following is only of historical importance.

i) Niyogi Brahmins : Niyogi Brahmins are those Brahmins who took up
http://www.vedah.net/manasanskriti/Brahmins.html#16%2316http://www.vedah.net/manasanskriti/Brahmins.html#16%2316http://www.vedah.net/manasanskriti/Brahmins.html#16a_%2316a_http://www.vedah.net/manasanskriti/Brahmins.html#16a_%2316a_http://www.vedah.net/manasanskriti/Brahmins.html#16b_%2316b_http://www.vedah.net/manasanskriti/Brahmins.html#16c%2316chttp://www.vedah.net/manasanskriti/Brahmins.html#16c%2316chttp://www.vedah.net/manasanskriti/Brahmins.html#Yajnavalkya:%23Yajnavalkya:http://www.vedah.net/manasanskriti/Brahmins.html#16d_%2316d_http://www.vedah.net/manasanskriti/Brahmins.html#a_Pradhamasakha_Niyogi_Brahmins%23a_Pradhamasakha_Niyogi_Brahminshttp://www.vedah.net/manasanskriti/Brahmins.html#a_Pradhamasakha_Niyogi_Brahmins%23a_Pradhamasakha_Niyogi_Brahminshttp://www.vedah.net/manasanskriti/Brahmins.html#Yajnavalkya:%23Yajnavalkya:http://www.vedah.net/manasanskriti/Brahmins.html#16%2316http://www.vedah.net/manasanskriti/Brahmins.html#16a_%2316a_http://www.vedah.net/manasanskriti/Brahmins.html#16b_%2316b_http://www.vedah.net/manasanskriti/Brahmins.html#16c%2316chttp://www.vedah.net/manasanskriti/Brahmins.html#Yajnavalkya:%23Yajnavalkya:http://www.vedah.net/manasanskriti/Brahmins.html#16d_%2316d_http://www.vedah.net/manasanskriti/Brahmins.html#a_Pradhamasakha_Niyogi_Brahmins%23a_Pradhamasakha_Niyogi_Brahminshttp://www.vedah.net/manasanskriti/Brahmins.html#a_Pradhamasakha_Niyogi_Brahmins%23a_Pradhamasakha_Niyogi_Brahminshttp://www.vedah.net/manasanskriti/Brahmins.html#Yajnavalkya:%23Yajnavalkya:


2/22

various secular vocations including military activities and gave up religious

vocation, especially the priesthood. Niyogi Brahmins depend and

emphasize on modern education. They were ministers in the courts ofkings and feudatories. Many of them were village accountants/clerks,

karanams (Andhra) orpatwaris (Telangana), until recently. The Niyogis

are considered to be eligible for priestly service. But they will never eitheraccept a religious gift or partake ofSraaddha food (food given to Brahmins

duiring the death related rituals). According to Jogendranath

Bhattacharya16e, Niyogi name is derived from Yoga, which means religiouscontemplation or meditation, as opposed to Yaga, which means religious

sacrifice. Niyogin in Sanskrit also means "employed" or "appointed" and

accordingly, it is probable that they are so-called because they accept

secular employment.

They were very rich and influential. Legendary Rayamantri belongs to this

group. Niyogi Brahmins include eminent personalities like Veeresalingam

Kandukuri, Radhakrishnan Sarvepalli, Venkatgiri Varahagiri, KL Rao,Prakasam Tanguturi, Venkatanarasimharao Pamulaparti (PV), General K.

V. Krishnarao etc. PV was the only Brahmin Chief Minister (1971-72) ofAndhra Pradesh and also the only Telugu Brahmin Prime Minister (1991-

1996) from South India who ruled the modern Indian Union. Over the past

millennium the Niyogi Brahmins are divided further into various groups:

a) Pradhamasakha (First Branch) Niyogi Brahmins

b) Aruvela Niyogi

c) Nandavarika Niyogid) Karanakamma Niyogi

e) Velanati Niyogi

f) Telaganya Niyogig) 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)Yajurveda School12 , while majority of Brahmins in Andhra Pradesh

belong to krishna (black) Yajurveda School. In Maharashtra also there is agroup of Brahmins called Pradhamasakha Brahmins. The Pradhamasakha

Niyogi Brahmins16f are further divided into branches such as

Vajasaneyulu, Saivulu, Yajnavalkyulu and Kanvulu.

b) Aruvela Niyogi: Aruvela Niyogi group is the largest Niyogi group.

They belong to Krishna Yajurveda School. According to some, the word

"Aruvela" is derived from 6000 (Aruvelu) villages in velanadu area of
http://www.vedah.net/manasanskriti/Brahmins.html#16a%2316ahttp://www.vedah.net/manasanskriti/Brahmins.html#12%2312http://www.vedah.net/manasanskriti/Brahmins.html#12%2312http://www.vedah.net/manasanskriti/Brahmins.html#12%2312http://www.vedah.net/manasanskriti/Brahmins.html#12%2312http://www.vedah.net/manasanskriti/Brahmins.html#16b%2316bhttp://www.vedah.net/manasanskriti/Brahmins.html#16b%2316bhttp://www.vedah.net/manasanskriti/Brahmins.html#16b%2316bhttp://www.vedah.net/manasanskriti/Brahmins.html#16b%2316bhttp://www.vedah.net/manasanskriti/Brahmins.html#16a%2316ahttp://www.vedah.net/manasanskriti/Brahmins.html#12%2312http://www.vedah.net/manasanskriti/Brahmins.html#16b%2316bhttp://www.vedah.net/manasanskriti/Brahmins.html#16b%2316b


3/22

Andhra Pradesh. Some believe that Arvelanadu is an alternate name for

Velandu and hence the Niyogi Brahmins of that region are Arvela Niyogis.

Aruvela Nioyogi Brahmins are political, worldly-wise, and businessminded. They were ministers in the courts of kings and feudatories, and

clerks and accountants (Karanalu). Pamulaparti family belongs to Aruvela

Niyogi Brahmins.

c) Nandavarika Niyogi

d) Karanakamma Niyogi

e) Velanati Niyogi

f) Telaganya Niyogi

g) Dravida Niyogi

h) Karanalu

i) Sristikaranalu or Sistukaranalu or Sistakaranalu: These are teachers,

officials, village accountants (karanam). They are mostly located in

Ganjam and Visakha districts. Famous poet Krishnamurthy Sistu belongs

to this group of Brahmins.

j) Kasalanati Niyogi

k) Pakanati Niyogi

ii) Vaidikulu (Vaidiki Brahmins): Vaidiki Brahmins are those Brahminswho practice mainly religious vocation performing various religious

activities, in addition to other mainstream secular vocations like

agriculture, cooking, teaching, clerical, management, administration,

architecture, science etc. They perform various religious activitiesincluding performing rituals and prayers to please Gods, planets and stars

as priests for both Brahmins and non-Brahmins, at homes and in temples.

However, they are not the priests for many Hindu temples in which animalsacrifices are common. The priests in such Hindu temples are non-

Brahmins. Vaidikis also perform rituals for every occasion in life such as

birth, giving solid food to the infant for the first time (annapraasanamu),initiation into education (upanyanamu), female puberty, marriage,

consummation of marriage, several stages of pregnancy, death, carrying the

dead bodies, cremating the dead, etc. Many of these rituals are very

important and limited to Brahmins, except a few ceremonies like marriage.They also take up even begging as ascetics. This ascetic life of Brahmins

was the inspiration for the Buddhist ascetics.

The majority of Vaidikulu belongs 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 and Chaturvedi in 4 vedas and are known by those titles

as such. However, these titles became family names, even though the

family members may not know any Veda at all today. While Niyogis

embraced western education, Vaidikulu had shunned Western education


4/22

and as a consequence many Vaidikulu are poor and not well educated in

Western education, contrary to the notion that Brahmins are rich and well

educated.

According to Sri Sri Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswathi MahaSwamiji, the

Brahmins 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 coldwater, rain or shine, warm or cold. Then, without a break, he has to

perform one rite after another: sandhyavandana, Brahmayajna, aupasana,

puja, vaisvadeva and one of the 21 sacrifices. If you sit before sacrificial

fire for four days you will realise how difficult it is with all the heat andsmoke. How many are the vows and 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 Brahmincannot eat "cold rice"in the morning like a peasant - he has no "right" to

it. The dharmasastras are not created for his convenience or benefit, nor toensure that he has a comfortable life. He would not have otherwise

imposed on himself the performance of so many rites and a life of such

rigorous discipline. When he has his daytime meal it will be 1 or 2. (On the

day of a sraddha it will be three or four). This is the time the peasant willhave 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

no difference between the humble dwelling of the peasant and that of theBrahmin. Both alike wear cotton. The peasant may save money for the

future but not the Brahmin. He has no right either to borrow money or to

live in style. ...

In the "Yaksa-prasna" of the Mahabharata the simple life of Brahmin is

referred to:

pancame' hani saste va sakam pacati svegrhe

Anrni ca' pravasi ca sa varicara modate

If daytime is divided into eight parts, the Brahmin may have his food only

in the fifth or sixth part after performing all his rites. Before that he hasneither any breakfast nor any snacks. And what does he eat? Not any rich

food, no sweets like almonds crushed in sweetened milk. "Sakam pacati" -

the Brahmin eats leafy vegetables growing on the banks of rivers, suchareas being no one's property. Why is he asked to live by the river side? It

is for his frequent baths and for the leafy vegetables growing free there

and for which he does not have to beg. He should not borrow money: that

is the meaning of the word "anrni", because if he developed the habit ofborrowing he would be tempted to lead a life of luxury. Poverty and non-

acquisitiveness (aparigraha) are his ideals. A Brahmin ought not to keep
http://www.vepachedu.org/brahmana-tribe.htmlhttp://www.vepachedu.org/brahmana-tribe.htmlhttp://www.vepachedu.org/brahmana-tribe.htmlhttp://www.kamakoti.org/hindudharma/part20/chap11.htmhttp://www.vepachedu.org/brahmana-tribe.htmlhttp://www.vepachedu.org/brahmana-tribe.htmlhttp://www.kamakoti.org/hindudharma/part20/chap11.htm


5/22

even a blade of grass in excess of his needs. ...

The Brahmin must be conversant with the fourteen branches of the Vediclore. He must be proficient even in Gandharva-veda or music and must be

acquainted with agricultural science, construction of houses, etc. At the

same time he must give instructions in these subjects to pupils from theappropriate castes. His own vocation is the study 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 be able

to answer, "Yes, I know". If he is asked, "Do you know to draw and paint"

again he must (be able to) say, "Yes". But he cannot wield a knife or

become an artist to earn his livelihood. All he can do is to learn these artsand teach others the same according to their caste. He is permitted to

receive a daksina to maintain himself and he must be contented with it

however small the sum may be. The Brahmin's specialty is his true

vocation is Vedic learning.

... The goal of Vedic works is the happiness of all mankind, indeed thehappiness of all the worlds ("Lokah samastah sukino bhavanthu"). The

sound of the Vedas creates universal well-being, so too Vedic sacrifices.

Brahmins would be committing a sin if they gave up Vedic rituals and

earned money by doing other types of work.

However, it is important to realize that the successive secular governments

in the Indian Union are determined to destroy the Hindu religions, in favorof non-Hindu religions. The modern Indian democracy tends to support

Abrahamic religions to appease the rich and powerful global proselytizing

religions. The ancient tradition of rulers protecting Brahmins is an obsoletetradition. Accordingly, it is upon the individual citizens to step up to help

and protect Brahmins, temples and their traditions. As the times have

changed, even Vaidika Brahmins should earn money to protect theDharma, despite the traditional ban on earning money. That was one of the

main reasons for the existence of Niyogi Brahmins. However, many

Brahmins in India are Naxalites, communists and atheists. Thus, it is

incumbent on all Brahmins, who believe in their culture, to rise to thechallenge of protecting the Vedik culture. Otherwise, the extinction of

Hindu culture and Brahmin tradition is not far away. See a review of

Brahmin Poverty in Andhra Pradesh:http://www.vepachedu.org/brahmana-tribe.html.

There are many subcastes in Vaidiki Brahmins as well:

l) Vaishnava

m) Draavidulu

n) Madhvulu
http://www.vepachedu.com/prediction.htmlhttp://www.vepachedu.com/prediction.htmlhttp://www.vepachedu.org/brahmana-tribe.html#The_Mouths_that_Recited_Vedas_arehttp://www.vepachedu.org/brahmana-tribe.html#The_Mouths_that_Recited_Vedas_arehttp://www.vepachedu.com/prediction.htmlhttp://www.vepachedu.com/prediction.htmlhttp://www.vepachedu.org/brahmana-tribe.html#The_Mouths_that_Recited_Vedas_are


6/22

o) Velanati Vaidikulu

p) Telaganyulu or Telaganadu Vaidikis

q) Venginati Vaidikulur) Kasalnati Vaidikulu

s) Muraknati Vaidikulu

u) Adisaivuluv) Saivulu

l) Vaishnava: Pancharatra and Vaikhanasa Brahmanulu: Amongthe Vaishnavities, the strict vegetarians and highly educated people also are

given the approximate status of brahmins in Andhra Pradesh. They adhere

to either the medieval Tenkalai or Vadakalai and Agaama scriptures. One

section follows Vaikhanasa scriptures and other the Pancharaatra,dealing mainly with temple ritual. They run large temple establishments

very efficiently. They rose to prominence during Vijayanagar times. They

are followers ofpanchasanskara, ekayanayajussakha and katyayanasutra.

These Vaishnavite Brahmins are spread mainly in Karnataka and Andhra,and to some extent in Tamilnadu also. Vaikhanasa subcaste belongs to this

group. The great Vaishnavite reformers like Ramanujacharya, Ramananda(north India), Madhva (all over south India), Vallabhacharya (found among

velanadu, gujarat, rajasthan and UP), Nimbaarka, etc. Not all the followers

of these Vaishnavite reformers are Brahmins. Some of these Vaishnavitesinclude Acharis, Iyengars and velanadu vaideekulu. These Vaishnavas are

also known as Andhra Vaishnava.

They rely on the doctrines laid down in the medieval scriptures

(agamas). Many of the famous temple establishments like Tirupati and

Ahobilam are run per vaishnavite agamic canons. The big heartedRaamanuja fought against caste distinctions and gathered under his

doctrine, people from all walks of life and caste and religion and

occupation and said henceforth they shall be known as one community.Thus he created the Iyengar community, and told them to always work for

reform of society. Some of the earlier vaishnava and bhagaavata adherents

also merged into the iyengars. Later there was a large immigration ofRamaanandi vaishnavas from north India and another large migration

from Gujarat. While they too merged, slight differences arose.

The great Raamanuja specifically included among his followers sc's,

tribals, immigrant foreign soldiers, arabs and turks, destitutes women,jains, etc. Raamanuja's efforts are glossed over by modern pseudo-secular

writers.Ramanuja and his later disciples running the movement, certainly

saw to it that there was no more exclusivism of caste groups inside thecommunity. All the same it appears they made sure that the brightest were

selected as iyengars, evangelizers of vaishnavism, without any regard to

their former caste or other origins. It is however true, after some centuriesthis reformist movement became just another caste, not quite sure about its


7/22

place in the hierarchy.

The immense and lasting influence of Raamanuja is probably not realised

by many Indians. Here are some direct and indirect descendants of histhought: ---the entire actual live vaishnava tradition of today, and

including offshoots and modifications and the movements heavilyinfluenced like those of Raamananda Kabir Ravidas Nanak Tulsidas

Vallabhacharya Nimbaarka Madhvacharya Raghavendra ChaitanyaRamdas. ...even recent reformers like Phule and isckon and others

One characteristic method used by the gurus was community dinners,

where everybody sat together without distinction. This went a long way

towards reduction of old discriminations. As a consequence there areexpert cooks who easily handle very large scale cooking among them. Old

tribal cult spots and medieval pilgrimage centers like the Varaaha shrine

at Tirupati were modernised, along with the new scriptures and new

rituals invented by Ramanujacharya to foster a cooperative spirit. He alsokept in mind the weaning away of simple tribal people from blood

sacrifices. It seems many jains also merged with vaishnavites, just like inan earlier era buddhists shifted to various sects of saivism. His followers

also took up the spread of education, whose effect which lasts to this day.

The vaishnavite communities in Andhra Pradesh have a marked benttowards education, literature and performing arts like music and dance.

TheMadhvaas date from the recent reform activities ofMadhvacharya(somewhere in the 12th century) also of the vaishnava sampradaya , and

they were prominent in the last days of Vijayanagar (1500's) . A famous

guru of the line wasRaghavendraswami. (They are found all overkarnataka, south Maharashtra, Tamilnadu as well as Andhra). Their roots

include a strong marathi one, and a north Indian connection as well.

(http://netinfo.hypermart.net/reformist.htm)

m) Draavidulu: Draavids, who seem to be north Indian Brahmins who

arrived in coastal Andhra. Dravidas are further divided into subcastes like

Aaraamadravidulu, Perurudravidulu, Ryalidravidulu, Divili Brahmins,Pudurudravidulu, Tummagunta Brahmins etc based on the locations they

settled. Some of these Dravida Brahmins belong to Rigveda school and

some belong to Krishnayajurveda school. The Telangana Vaidiki Brahmin

caste to which Goutamiputra Satakarni beloged to is a Dravida Brahmincaste (?). This group belongs to Rigveda school. For more onDravida

Brahmins click here.

n) Madhvulu: Madhvas are the followers of Sri Madhvacharya, (a k. a.

srimad Anandateertha), the 13th century saint-philosopher of Karnataka,

India (see also http://www.madhva.org and http://www.madhva.net). Theywere prominent in the last days of Vijayanagar (1500's).
http://netinfo.hypermart.net/reformist.htmhttp://www.vepachedu.org/manasanskriti/aaraamadraavida.htmlhttp://www.vepachedu.org/manasanskriti/aaraamadraavida.htmlhttp://www.vepachedu.org/manasanskriti/aaraamadraavida.htmlhttp://www.madhva.org/http://www.madhva.net/http://netinfo.hypermart.net/reformist.htmhttp://www.vepachedu.org/manasanskriti/aaraamadraavida.htmlhttp://www.vepachedu.org/manasanskriti/aaraamadraavida.htmlhttp://www.madhva.org/http://www.madhva.net/


8/22

Raghavendraswami was a famous guru of this caste. They are found all

over Karnataka, south Maharashtra, Tamilnadu and Andhra and have very

strong roots in Maharashtra and the north.

o) Velanati Vaidikulu16e : The Velnadus are most numerous class of

Vaidiki Brahmins. Vallabhachari, who in the 15th century attained greatsuccess as prophet, and whose descendants are worshipped almost as gods

still Rajputana, Gujarat and Maharashtra was a member of this caste. The

Velnadus are most numerous in the Godavari and Krishna districts.Colonies of this caste are found in the erstwhile Mysore State (Karnataka),

except Kadur.

p) Telaganyulu or Telaganadu Vaidikis: The Telaganya Vaidikis are

as numerous as the Velnadus and found mostly in Telangana, chiefly inthe Northeaster part of erstwhile Hyderabad Kingdom.

q) Venginati Vaidikulu: The Venginadus are chiefly found in the

districts of Godavari and Vizianagaram, formerly known as the Vengi

Country. r) Kaasalnati Vaidikulu: The Kasalanadu derive their name from

Kosala, the ancient name of Oude, from where they migrated to KalingaCountry, where they are found now.

s) Muraknati Vaidikulu: Murakanati Vaidikis are found mostly in the

country sounth of the River Krishna. They are numerous in Karnataka. t) Gouda Brahmins are teachers and priests. They belong to Sukla

Yajurveda and Kanva madhyandina sakha and have the family names such

as Joshi, Ojjhulu etc.

u) Adisaivulu: They belong to Krishna Yajurveda school. These SaivaBrahmins are further devided into several castes such as Kanchisaivulu,

Antarvedisaivulu, Balajipetasaivulu, Tiruvalngadusivulu, Sakteya

Brahmins etc. v) Saivulu: The Saivite Brahmins follow the Saiva aagamas. However,

they study Vedas also and belong to Krishna Yajurveda school. One of the

sects of these saivite Brahmins is called Aradhyas, related toPanditaradhyas ofSivakaviyugamu (Era of Saiva poets) of 12th century.

They generally run Saiva and Shakti shrines, often very large, and famous

ones like Kalesvaram, Vemulavada, Srisailam, Kalahasti, etc. They have a

link to Kashmir Saivism, Varanasi and Jyotirlinga shrines all over Indialike Kedarnath. The rituals they follow are different from thesmaartas.

Aradhyas are in fact semiconverted Lingayats. They following Basava

and attach great importance to Linga worship. However, they adhere toBrahminism, recite Gayatri prayers and marry Smaarta Brahmins.

Although Lingayat Saiva religion attempted to dismatle the tribal

differences, the Lingayats adhere to their original castes naturally. ThusAradhyas remain designated to be Brahmins, just like other castes in

Lingayat religion (followers of Basava) today, e.g., various Jangamas.

2) Chitpavana Brahmins: Konkanastha Brahmins17
http://www.vedah.net/manasanskriti/Brahmins.html#16a%2316ahttp://www.vedah.net/manasanskriti/Brahmins.html#16a%2316ahttp://www.vedah.net/manasanskriti/Brahmins.html#16a%2316ahttp://www.vepachedu.org/Mallikarjuna.htmhttp://www.vepachedu.org/Mallikarjuna.htmhttp://www.vepachedu.org/Mallikarjuna.htmhttp://www.vepachedu.org/Mallikarjuna.htmhttp://www.vepachedu.org/Mallikarjuna.htmhttp://www.vepachedu.org/burrakatha.htmhttp://www.vedah.net/manasanskriti/Brahmins.html#17%2317http://www.vedah.net/manasanskriti/Brahmins.html#17%2317http://www.vedah.net/manasanskriti/Brahmins.html#16a%2316ahttp://www.vepachedu.org/Mallikarjuna.htmhttp://www.vepachedu.org/burrakatha.htmhttp://www.vedah.net/manasanskriti/Brahmins.html#17%2317


9/22

Chitpavan brahmins are basically from Konkan, the coastal belt of western

Maharashtra. Since they are from Konkan they are known as Konkanastha.

Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj appointed Balaji Vishwanath Bhatt as hisPeshwa or Prime Minister. It was the first time a person from Konkan

appointed to an important post in Deccan. Eventually, many people from

Konkan migrated to join the service of Marattha kingdom. ChitpavanBrahmin folks are easily recognised by the certain characteristics suc as

fair skin, light coloured eyes (blue, green or grey), sharp nose, distinct

jawline, and some have light or blonde hair.

3) Daivajna Brahmins

4) Deshastha Brahmins

5) Dhima Brahmins

The Brahmins of Haryana14 are divided into four main groups: Gaurs,

Saraswats, Khandelwals and Dhima. The Khandelwals and Dhima came

into this region after Saraswats and Gaurs, most probably from neighboringRajasthan. The Brahmins themselves had a ranking system between them

with the Gaurs being on the top followed by the Saraswats, theKhandelwals and the Dhima. The Gaurs used to consider themselves to be

superior to the other Brahmins and neither ate, drank nor intermarried with

them.

6) Gaur Brahmins

The Gaurs of Haryana claim that they come to Haryana originally from

Bengal. It is believed they came as Purohitas along with various immigrantfarming tribes. The Brahmins themselves had a ranking system between

them with the Gaurs being on the top followed by the Saraswats, the

Khandelwals and the Dhima. The Gaurs used to consider themselves to besuperior to the other Brahmins and neither ate, drank nor intermarried with

them.

7) Gouda Saraswat Brahmins

8) The Havyakas18

It is believed that the Kadamba kingdom had many Kshatriyas andHavyakas were brought in to perform the royal rituals and the related

functions of the empirical government. Thus the first few families were

settled in Banavasi, the beautiful capital of the Kadambas and the place soadored by Pampa. Since the very purpose of bringing these Brahmin

families was to perform Havana (Havya) and Homa (Gavya), they were

aptly named as Havyaga or Haveega, which has transcended to the presentday "Havika" or "Havyaka." This functionality of naming even extended to

the specific role played by families in the whole gamut of rituals. Thus

originated the seven family names given by Raja Mayooravarma. The

Havyakas are the only Brahmins who derive their surnames from the job
http://www.vedah.net/manasanskriti/manasanskriti/Brahmins.html#14http://www.vedah.net/manasanskriti/Brahmins.html#18%2318http://www.vedah.net/manasanskriti/Brahmins.html#18%2318http://www.vedah.net/manasanskriti/manasanskriti/Brahmins.html#14http://www.vedah.net/manasanskriti/Brahmins.html#18%2318


10/22

they perform rather than by their origin (e.g., Kota, Shivalli) or by the

preacher (e.g., Madhva) or by God worship (e.g., Shivite, Vaishnavite).

Thus came the names "Hegade (Hegde)" for the head of the village whosponsors the ritualistic activities, "Dixit" for one who is the head of the

Yajna, "Bhat", who actually performs the rituals and so on.

9) Hoysala Karnataka Brahmins

10) Iyer19 : The earliest group of Brahmins to come to Tamil Nadu islargely known as Gurukuls. They have been here from very ancient times

and were primarily invited to be temple priests in the early Chola period.

Many of them were great Vedic scholars. They conducted the coronation of

the kings and acted as their spiritual advisors and Gurus. They also acted asthe Gurus to the villages and the towns where the temples were located.

They advised people on various matters including fixing of auspicious time

for commencing important ventures. Many of them were the great

exponents of Vedic Astrology and Ayurvedic Medicine. They are supposedto be followers of Baudhyanasutra and are divided as 'Kanchipuram',

'Tiruvalangadu' and 'Thirukazhakundram' Gurukuls. It is interesting that allthe three are the names of ancient towns and temples around Kanchipuram.

This clearly indicates that the earliest migration was to Kanchipuram.

Kanchipuram is one of the two most ancient cities of India, the other beingVaranasi (Kashi). The linkage between the Varanasi (Kashi) and Kanchi

has existed from earliest times and has been facilitating the migration of

priests between the North and the South. It is possible that Kanchipuram,

Tiruvangadu and Tirukalikundram were the first destinations for theGurukuls who arrived. They stayed and worked there till they were

redeployed to other interior temples and towns.

11) Kandavara Brahmins

12) Karade Brahmins

13) Karhada Brahmins

14) Kashmiri Saraswat Brahmins

15) Kayastha Brahmins

16) Khandelwal Brahmins

The Brahmins of Haryana14 are divided into four main groups: Gaurs,Saraswats, Khandelwals and Dhima. The Khandelwals came into this

region after Saraswats and Gaurs, most probably from neighboring

Rajasthan.

17) Konkanastha Brahmins

18) Kota Brahmins

19) Koteshwara Brahmins

20) Nagar Brahmins

21) Namboothiri Brahmins

22) Padia Brahmins
http://www.vedah.net/manasanskriti/Brahmins.html#19%2319http://www.vedah.net/manasanskriti/Brahmins.html#19%2319http://www.vedah.net/manasanskriti/Brahmins.html#19%2319


11/22

23) Rajapur Saraswat Brahmins

24) Saklapuri Brahmins

25) Sanketi Brahmins

26) Saraswat Brahmins

a) The Chitrapur Saraswat Brahmins20

The Chitrapur Saraswat Brahmins represent a relatively small group ofBrahmins who firmly established their identity as a unified group in the

year 1708. The history of migration of their ancestors from Kashmir to a

variety of places all over the country of India serves to demonstrate howtheir strong religious and cultural beliefs developed into the present

century. Today, members of this group are in Maharashtra, Goa,

Karnataka, and Tamilnadu.

b) Kashmiri Saraswat Brahmins or Kashmiri Pandits21

According to accepted traditions in the rest of the country, Kashmiri

Brahmins are believed to be a branch of the Saraswat Brahmins who were

so called because they were believed to have settled along the course of anancient river in the North-West Indian Continet (Indo-Pak region) called

Saraswati. When this river dried up, these Brahmins migrated. A largesection of this uprooted community was settled in the Western Konkan

coast of the present state of Maharashtra. Others moved further North into

the Valley of Kashmir. The first Prime Minister of the Indian Union, PanditJawaharlal Nehru, belongs to the Pandit community. The Nehru dynasty

ruled the Union for almost half a century. Yet, Kashmiri Pandits are

subjected to a genocide, which under UN resolution, means any of the

following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, anational, ethnical, racial or religious group, as such:

(a) Killing members of the group;

(b) Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group;

(c) Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bringabout its physical destruction in whole or in part;

(d) Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group;

(e) Forcibly transferring children of the group to another group. (Article 2ofConvention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, adopted

by Resolution 260 (III) A of the U.N. General Assembly on 9 December 1948. Entry into

force: 12 January 1951. U.N.T.S. No. 1021, vol. 78 (1951), p. 277)

Genocide in Kashmir22

400,000 Kashmiri Pandits, constituting 99% of the total population

of Hindus living in the Kashmir Valley, were forcibly pushed out of

the Valley by Muslim terrorists, trained in Pakistan, since the end of

1989. They have been forced to live the life of exiles in their owncountry, outside their homeland, by unleashing a systematic

campaign of terror, murder, loot and arson.

Genocide of Kashmiri Pandits has reached its climax with Muslim
http://www.vedah.net/manasanskriti/Brahmins.html#20%2320http://www.vedah.net/manasanskriti/Brahmins.html#20%2320http://www.vedah.net/manasanskriti/Brahmins.html#21%2321http://www.vedah.net/manasanskriti/Brahmins.html#21%2321http://www.preventgenocide.org/law/convention/text.htmhttp://www.kashmiri-pandit.org/sundry/genocide.htmlhttp://www.kashmiri-pandit.org/sundry/genocide.htmlhttp://www.kashmiri-pandit.org/sundry/genocide.htmlhttp://www.vedah.net/manasanskriti/Brahmins.html#20%2320http://www.vedah.net/manasanskriti/Brahmins.html#21%2321http://www.preventgenocide.org/law/convention/text.htmhttp://www.preventgenocide.org/law/convention/text.htmhttp://www.kashmiri-pandit.org/sundry/genocide.html


12/22

terrorism succeeding in 'CLEANSING' the valley of this ancient

ethno-religious community.

With the completion of 11th year of their forced exile, this peace

loving, culturally rich community with a history of more than 5000

years, is fighting a grim battle to save itself from becoming extinct

as a distinct race and culture.

Main Refugee Camp Sites in Jammu: Muthi Camp,TransportNagar, Purkhoo Camp, Stadium Camp, Jhiri Camp, Nagrota Camp,

Mishriwala Camp, and Battalbalian Camp, Udhampur

Main Camp Sites in Delhi: Nandnagri,Sultanpuri, Kailash Colony,Maviya Nagar,South Extension,Palika Dham,Lajpat Nagar,Aliganj,

Bapu Dham,Amar Colony,Mangol Puri,Patel Nagar,Sultanpuri,MotiNagar and Begampura.

(See also:http://www.kashmir-

information.com/Atrocities/index.html)

c) Rajapur/Balawalikar Saraswat Brahmanas22Rajapur/Balawalikar Saraswat Brahmanas,as they are known, belong to the

"Pancha (five) Gauda Brahmana" groups or "Gaudadi Panchakas". The

Saraswats of all subsects of today are said to have originated from theSaraswath region, from the banks of river Saraswati. In Rigveda, references

to river Saraswati has been frequently made in the shlokas praising the

river as the most mighty river and describe her as "limitless, undeviating,shining and swift moving". But the Saraswati vanished from the region.

d) Haryana Saraswat Brahmins

The Saraswats of Haryana are original settlers of this region, taking theirname from the Saraswati river.

27) Shivalli Brahmins

28) Smarta Brahmins

29) Sthanika Brahmins

30) Tuluva Brahmins23 : The ancient Tulu nadu extended from Gokarna in

the north, all along coastal Karnataka up to Kasargod in the south. This

included both coastal Uttara Kannada district as well as all of DakshinaKannada district. Over many centuries the principal language of Tulu nadu

was Tulu. Today Tulu is spoken only south of River Kalyanpur in Udupi

and Dakshina Kannada districts of Karnataka. This is the heartland of Tulu

nadu today. While Udupi is the religious center of Tulu nadu, Mangalore isthe commercial hub. Innumerable smaller towns and villages comprise of a

green landscape within the mountainous range of the Western Ghats as

well as along the coastal Karnataka with access to Arabian Sea. Here Tulu
http://www.kashmir-information.com/Atrocities/index.htmlhttp://www.kashmir-information.com/Atrocities/index.htmlhttp://www.kashmir-information.com/Atrocities/index.htmlhttp://www.vedah.net/manasanskriti/Brahmins.html#22%2322http://www.vedah.net/manasanskriti/Brahmins.html#22%2322http://www.vedah.net/manasanskriti/Brahmins.html#22%2322http://www.vedah.net/manasanskriti/Brahmins.html#23%2323http://www.vedah.net/manasanskriti/Brahmins.html#23%2323http://www.kashmir-information.com/Atrocities/index.htmlhttp://www.kashmir-information.com/Atrocities/index.htmlhttp://www.vedah.net/manasanskriti/Brahmins.html#22%2322http://www.vedah.net/manasanskriti/Brahmins.html#23%2323


13/22

language, one of the five main Dravidian languages of the South, with its

extinct script is spoken. For historical purposes the regions settled by

Brahmins are three in number. Haige or Haive (Uttara Kannada), Taulava(Dakshina Kannada) and Kerala.

31)Vaishnava Brahmins

(This page is under development and will be updated as and when more

information is available. If you have any suggestions or information pleaseemail it to the editor)

Notes and References

1Tribe (Lat., tribus: the tripartite division of Romans into Latins, Sabines,and Etruscans), a social group bound by common ancestry and ties of

consanguinity and affinity; a common language and territory; and

characterized by a political and economic organization intermediatebetween small, family-based bands, and larger chiefdoms. Someanthropologists believe that tribes developed when more stable and

increased economic productivity, brought on by the domestication of plants

and animals, allowed more people to live together in a smaller area. A tribemay consist of several villages, which may be crosscut by clans, age grade

associations, and secret societies; each of these crosscutting institutions

may, at different times and in different ways, perform economic, political,legal, and religious functions. Tribes are popularly believed to be close-knit

and parochial, but some anthropologists now argue that they are flexibly

defined communities of convenience.

1bJapan: Our Japanese friend tells that there are 4 castes (sections) in

Japanese society. It is called Shi - Nou - Kou - Chou system.

1. Byshi (Samurai) = Kings and Soldiers2. Noumin = Farmers etc. (large section)

3. Kou = Artisans and Workers

4. Choumin = Merchants

A Japanese Male can never change his caste. But, a woman can climb up

by marrying a man of upper caste. But, she can be only a 2nd wife of uppercaste. May be her children are considered as upper caste, but some

difference in minds will be there.

Those who work in Temples are not included in any of these. They arecalled Bouzu. The bouzus can not marry. They adopt people from other

castes (not Samurai in general) and train as Bouzus.

There are UNTOUCHABLES, called Era Hina. This community is called

BARAKU. These people are not considered as HUMAN BEINGS. They
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]


14/22

live far from the society. It seems about, nearly, 150-200 years back,

American army captain- Pierre went to Japan. At that time, Japan was

closed to outside world by the Emperor for the fear that others spoil theirsociety. But, when American captain went there, the Emperor was not

given any choice. He had to obey or fight. So, American army entered and

they forced the Emperor to make some system like in UK. King, hisfamily, some Lords as higher section, rest of the society as Lower section.

This existed till 2nd world war after which due to American pressure again,

the present system came into existence. Source: A friend from Japan..

2According to Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, a tribe is a

social group consisting of people of the same race who have the samebeliefs, customs, language etc. and usually live in one particular area ruled

by a chief. Illustrated Oxford Dictionary defines a tribe as a group of

(especially primitive) families or communities, linked by social, economic,

religious, or blood ties, and usually having a common culture and dialect,and a recognized leader. Websters dictionary defines a tribe as a system

of social organization comprising several local village bands, districts,lineages, or other groups and sharing a common ancestry, culture,

language, and name. It is also a group of persons sharing a common

occupation, interest, or habit. However, a tribe means, in general, a grouphaving marital social relationship within the group and wont allow any

matrimonial relationship outside the tribe, e.g. Marriage between a Yeruka

and a Lambada or other tribe is not common.

Caste (Fr, Pg, Sp, race, breed, lineage, chaste, stock etc.) is a closed

group whose members preferred a particular occupation and a degree of

social participation. Marriage outside the caste is prohibited. A specializedlabor group may operate as a caste within a society otherwise free of such

distinctions (e.g., the ironsmiths in parts of Africa).

According to Webster's unabridged dictionary a caste is a race, stock, or

breed of men or animals; one of the heriditary classes; a system of social

stratification more rigid than class and characterized by hereditary status,

endogamy, and social barriers rigidly sanctioned by custom, law orreligion; a form of polymorphic social insects that carries out a particular

function in the colony.

The Longman Dictionary defines a caste as one of the fixed and

unchangeable social classes into which people are born in India. Oxford

dictionary defines caste as any of the Hindu hereditary classes,distinguished by relative degree of purity and pollution (of blood), whose

members are socially equal with one another and often follow the same

occupation. A caste, according to Websters New Riverside University

Dictionary, is one of the four major hereditary classes of Hindu society,


15/22

each caste is distinctly separated from others by restrictions placed on

occupation and marriage. Apparently, the editors of these dictionaries have

no idea of how many thousands of castes are in the Indian continent.Further, one has to wonder why the same kind of group elsewhere in the

world is a tribe and in India is a caste. Whatever may be the reason, caste

and tribe are distinguished in India. The Sanskrit words like varna, kul, jatietc. are very much confused and as a result words like class, caste and tribe

are misinterpreted by the world.

There is another important aspect to this caste. Even though, castes or

tribes are not unique to India, caste was invented by Western indologists

and Western influenced Indian leftist intellectuals to define the bewildering

diversity of the ancient culture. During the colonial and Muslim period itserved the interests of foreign rulers to diminish Indian society by instilling

a sense of shame and inferiority. In fact, castes are found in the history of

every nation in this world. Even today, we find such divisions in the most

advanced countries like the United States of America. However, theWestern and leftist Indian intellectuals interpret Sanskrit scriptures to fit

their agendas and continue to cling on to those interpretations even whenthey don't make any sense.

The so-called caste system, a complex network of interdependent yetseparated, heriditary, endogamous, occupationally specialized, and

hierarchically ordered social groups is incomprehensible to leftists and

Westerners. Caste as an institution transcends the religion, just like various

tribes in Islam, e.g. Kurds, Arabs, Pashtoons, Mohajirs etc. Brahmins,Muslims, Jains, Buddhists, Parsis, Sikhs, Vaishnavites, Shaivites, Veera

Shaivites, Shaktites, Christians, Secular humanists, and others in India are

all subject to the overarching dictates of caste. Attempts to break the castesystem were made time and again from the days of Lord Buddha. Religions

like Buddhism, Veera Shaivism, Vaishnavism etc., succeeded

momentarily, but the caste always resurrected itself with vengeance,because it is a natural phnomenon. It happens in Christianity and Islam

also. Islam not only has tribes like Kurds, Arabs, Pashtoons, Mohajirs, but

also many so-called Hindu castes. Christinaity is no different either, e.g.,

Reddi Chrisitans, Kamma Christians, Mala Christians, Madiga Christians,Kuruma Christians etc.

There is no universal system of caste throughout India. The belief that the

Vedic varnashrama dharma was the caste system in embryo, is flawed. Ifnot, the tribes of Afghanistan should also be considered originated from

this class system, because Afghanistan was Hindu/Buddhist and didn't

know Islam until 700 AD. For that matter, the Hutus and Tutsis of Burundi

should also be a result of Vedic hypothetical class system. The castesystem is different from the ideal vedik varna class system. Varna is

hypothetical and is a class, whereas caste is real and plays a major role.


16/22

Varna (the class) allows movement of people from one class to the other,

while tribe or caste does not. Thus, it is preposterous to say the vedic

hypothesis of class is same as caste.

According to Vedas, in any society in general, there are four underlyingvarnas (colors or divisions or groups), the four groups being, intellectuals

and priests (Brahmin varna), rulers and warriors (Kshatriya varna),

agriculturists and business persons (Vaishya varna), and other workers(Shudra varna). Without these four classes there is no society in this

world. Thus, if the society is the God, his/her head is the intellectuals and

priests, shoulders are the warriors and military, the trunk is the businessand agricultural community and finally the legs are the workers who fulfil

the basic needs of the society starting from the work in agricultural fields to

the temple construction, without which society cannot go forward.

"Giving a human form to the society, we may say priests and teachers areits expressive face, rulers and warriors its protective arms, traders and

farmers its supporting thighs and servants and labourers its transportingfeet. To conceive of the world in the image of man, we may say the sun and

moo are its eyes and mind, water and fire its mouth, air its breath, sky its

head, earth its feet, and the ethereal space its body. This world is itself acontinuing sacrifice, in which we see all matter and energy evolving into

new forms by consuming whatever existed before."Purusha Sukta: (The

Hymn of God); Rigveda.

Anybody can become aBrahmin varna (intellectual group), but one has to

be born intoBrahmin caste to be aBrahmin caste. If there is a confusion, itis because the wordBrahmin has several meanings including the ultimate

God, earthly God, intellectual, teacher, priest,Brahmin tribe/caste.

The castes in Andhra Pradesh can be divided into two distinct categories.Brahmin, Komati, Reddy, Kamma, Velama, Kapu, Nayudu, Relli, Mala,

Madiga, Yeraka, Yanadi etc., castes are based on their tribal, cultural and

religious differences, while the castes like Chakali (washerman),Kummari(potter),Kammari (smith),Kamsali (goldsmith),Mangali (barber) etc are

based on their duties in addition to the above differences. With a few

exceptions like theBrahmin caste, all these castes are uniquely localized in

Andhra Pradesh. Each caste has a deity and distinct social formalities. Theinteraction between various castes is difficult because of these religious,

cultural and tribal considerations. (Visit for more on caste:

http://www.vepachedu.org/caste.htm).

3Conversions and adoption are such mechanisms by which a tribal

identity of the offspring may be changed. However, one has to remember

that changing the labels cannot change genes. Only inter-caste marriage
http://www.vepachedu.org/caste.htmhttp://www.vepachedu.org/caste.htm


17/22

combined with conversion would result in genetic change as well. In the

past, inter-caste marriage had resulted in new castes, as conversion was not

an option. Indian castes, just like any other tribes, do not appreciateconversion to another tribe or caste, as most of them are non-proselytizing

and consider their customs superior to any other customs and caste

practices.

Brahmins are also non-proselytizing and do not appreciate tribal-caste

conversion in general. However, it may be inevitable when faced withproselytizing forces such as Christianity and Islam, and when there is a

need for increasing the numbers in a particular community. Also, in a

cosmopolitan civilized world, where there cannot be restrictions on ones

choice of the spouse, conversion is the best compromise. Muslims andChristians follow this method very strictly as a method of increasing their

fold. Usually, anyone who marries a Muslim must convert to Islam.

In the past, however, through rigorous courses and tests some non-Brahmins became Rishis, e.g., Kings like Viswamitra, Vishnuvardhana,

Radheerga, Veerahavya etc. became Rishis and established their ownVedik schools and new Brahmin branches. (Reference: "Andhra Viprula

Gotramulu, Indla Perlu, Sakhalu," by Emmesroy Sastri, Gollapudi

Veeraswami Son, Sri Seetarama Book Depot, Rajamandri).

4 "The Risilient Brahmin," The Week, November 10, 2002,

http://www.gnxp.com/MT2/archives/000760.html.

5 The Sanskrit is an ancient language that became irrelvant to Indians in

general, and Brahmins in particular. It is the language of Brahmins.

However, whenever, Brahmins migrated to lands, they adopted to the locallanguage and customs and adopted local Gods, yet maintained their

Sanskrit language, the Vedas, traditions and culture. Unfortunately, today's

Brahmin lost this ability to keep the Sanskrit language and the Vedas dueto various reasons.

6Many words in Sanskrit have many meanings, e.g., Hari means God,

Vishnu, Indra, Yama, the sun, the moon, a monkey, a lion, an eagle, ahorse, a frog, a parrot, air, wind, a ray of light, yellow color, the best, etc.

7With hidden agendas and/or without proper knowledge of Sanskrit, manyinterpreters distort the Sanskrit texts.

8Brahmanism is an ancient non-proselytizing religion and forms the basisfor many Indian religions such as Shaivism, Vaishnavism, Shaktism,

Buddhism, Jainism etc., to a large extent.

9A religion is a belief in and reverence for a supernatural power accepted as
http://www.gnxp.com/MT2/archives/000760.htmlhttp://www.gnxp.com/MT2/archives/000760.html


18/22

the creator and governor of the universe and having a certain organization

and tradition in worshipping such Supreme Being. Brahmins believe in

such Supreme Being and have a unique way of worshipping with certainrituals, which are different from that of the rest of the world. However,

Brahmins have embraced the local religions wherever they migrated and

yet maintained their identity and basic Vedic culture.

10 Hinduism is not a religion, but a way of life. It includes traditions,

culture, religions and othe practices of various peoples localised in theIndian Continent. Hinduism includes communists, atheists, capitalists and

numerous Indian religions. However, the so-called experts also tell us that

there is a religion called Hinduism. For example, the Longman Dictionary

says, Hinduism is the main religion of India, which includes belief indestiny and reincarnation, while the Oxford Dictionary says Hinduism is

the main religious and social system of India, including the belief in

reincarnation and the worship of several gods. However, there are many

non-Inidan religions in this world that believe in destiny and reincarnation.Some say that rather than a single doctrine or a single system of worship,

Hinduism is a broad confluence of ideas and attitudes. Well, of course,then one has to wonder why the ideas and attitudes from Middles East,

such as, Islam, Christianity and Judaism, are not included in it!

However, historically, there was never such a thing as Hinduism in the

Indian Continent. It is a recent creation by the outsiders to define the

myriad religions and cultures that exist in the Indian Continent. Whatever

may be the history, the fact is that now there is so-called Hinduism in theminds of people, who cannot comprehend the diversity of the Indian

Continent and have no intention of even attempting to understand it. So,

even the Brahmin Gurus and Pandits and other so-called Hindus have cometo accept the name-the Hinduism, given to them by the outsiders, while

denouncing and redefining it again and again.

In an attempt to define Hinduism that exists in India today, the Constitution

Bench inSastri Yajnapurushadasji and Others Vs. Muldas Bhudardas

Vaishya and Another, 1996 (3) SCR 242 held: "Then we think of the

Hindu religion, we find it difficult, if not impossible to define Hindureligion or even adequately describe it. Unlike other religions in the world,

the Hindu religion does not claim any one prophet; it does not worship any

one God: it does not subscribe to any one dogma: it does not believe in anyone philosophic concept: it does not follow any one set of religious rites or

performances; in fact, it does not appear to satisfy the narrow traditional

features of any religion or creed. It may broadly be described as a way of

life and nothing more." The Supreme Court further opined "Hinduism

had originally a territorial and not a cradle significance. It implied

residence in a well-defined geographical area. Aboriginal tribes, savage

and half-civilized people, the cultured Dravidians and the Vedic Aryans


19/22

were all Hindus as they were the sons of the same mother. The Hindu

thinkers reckoned with the striking fact that the men and women dwelling

in India belonged to different communities, worshipped different gods, andpractised different rites." Thus Hinduism is a group of religions.

A story from Panchatantra illustrates the present confusion perfectly. Oncethere was a Brahmin who used to live on alms provided by generous

villagers. One day he was offered a calf by a neighboring villager. The

Brahmin was happy and was carrying the calf home. Three cheats saw theBrahmin carrying the calf and thought that it would make a nice meal for

them, while it would be useless to the vegetarian Brahmin. They came up

with a plan to cheat the poor Brahmin. One after the other all three pass by

the Brahmin and tell him that he was carrying a goat, donkey and a deadpig, respectively. Although the Brahmin didnt believe initially, he came

to a conclusion that whatever he was carrying was certainly not a calf and

it must be demon because it was appearing to various people as various

things. So, he became scared and abandoned the calf. The three cheatshappily had a nice meal of the calf. This story tells us that persistent

misinterpretation gets credibility over a period of time. And so, now wehave Hinduism and everything in India is Hinduism and the tribes and

castes in India are due to the Hindu philosophy, contrary to the reality and

the interpretation of the Supreme Court. Life is simple that way, otherwisethe diversity in India is bewildering.

This Western and leftist definition of Hinduism resulted in attribution of

Brahmin customs, traditions, and culture to non-Brahmins. As a result,non-Brahmins like Iliah Kanche, a Kuruma Christian, who had developed a

bitter hatred against Brahmins declared themselves as non-Hindus. Many

other Hindu religions also declared themselves as separate from Hinduism,e.g., Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism etc.

This Western definition of Hinduism as a single religion, contrary to theabove Supreme Court definition, by the Western and leftist Indian

intellectuals has resulted, unfortunately, in another SC judgment of far-

reaching consequences for Brahmin religion. The Supreme Court has ruled

that Brahmins do not have monopoly over performing puja in a templewhere Brahmins have been priests for centuries and said a non-Brahmin,

properly trained and well-versed in the rituals, could be appointed as a

priest. In this decision, the SC has trampled on the freedom of religionenshrined in the constituion as applied to Brahmins. The Brahmins and

non-Brahmins are considered part of a single religion called Hinduism and,

thereby, a non-Brahmin can take over the temples of Brahmins. Thisdecision was delivered by a Bench comprising Justice S. Rajendra Babu

and Justice Doraiswamy Raju, while upholding the appointment of a non-

Brahmin as a priest in Kongoopilly Neerikode Siva Temple at Alangad

village in Ernakulam, Kerala. The government of India and the Judiciary


20/22

not only interfere in the religions of Hindus and Hindu institutions, but also

actively attempt to destroy the Hindu religions such as Brahminism, while

supporting and allowing the growth of Western religions such as Islam andChristianity and those religons that declared to be separate from Hinduism,

by all means. This kind of interference by the government would not be

tolerated anywhere in the world, including India. It is impossible to have aKurdish priest in a Turkish mosque or a Catholic priest in a Serbian church

or a Muslim in Christian Church; and even the most secular/communist

government in the world would not impose such an absurd decision, exceptin India and that too with regard to Brahmins only.

11Maynes Treatise on Hindu Law and Usage, 14th Edition, 14th edition,

pp. 1-45.

Pandurang Vaman Kane, History of Dharmasastra (ancient and

medival religious and civil law in India) -- 2d ed. -- Poona : Bhandarkar

Oriental Research Institute. -- (Government oriental series. Class B ; no.6.). -- Vol II, Part I. -- 1974. -- S. 483 -486.

12Once upon a time, an assembly of Brahmins was arranged in presence of

Lord Brahma. All the Brahmin teachers and professors were invited. It was

declared that who ever among the invited fails to attend the Brahminassembly would be considered to have committed the sin of murder of a

Brahmin (Brahmahatya). For some unavoidable circumstances, Professor

Vaisampayana could not attend this meeting and acquired the sin of

Brahmahatya. He assembled all his disciples and requested them to sharethe burden of the sin of murder. One of his disciples was Yajnavalkya. He

was a great intellectual and was very powerful due to his knowledge. He

came forward and suggested that he would take all the sin and manage itwith his powers and requested Vaisampayana to let go other disciples.

Vaisampayana was enraged at this request. He considered this request as

arrogance of Yagnavalkya and completely out of line. Consequently, heordered Yajnavalkya to give up all the learning that he learned from

Vaisampayana and leave his school immediately. Yajnavalkya followed the

orders of the professor and discarded all the learning, which immediately

evaporated into the solar dimension. And he became poorer in hisknowledge and hence in powers and luster.

Yajnavalkya went to the Sun God and requested the Sun to teach himYajurveda. The Sun God agreed to teach and asked him to follow him in

the form a horse during his continuous travel across the skies and learn.

Thus Yajnavlakya became a Vajasaneya, one who learned as a horse and abranch formed called Vajasaneya sakha. This Yajurveda learned by

Yajnavlkya as a horse from the Sun God is called SuklaYajurveda and the

earlier one that was learned from Vaismpayana was Krishna Yajurveda.


21/22

According to Vedas, when Yajnavalkya discarded the knowledge of

Vedas, other disciples absorbed it like Tittiri birds and hence the branch

that came from those disciples is called Tittiriya sakha.

Source: Vayaupuranamu in Ashtadasapuranamulu, by

Venkataramasastri Kompella, Rohini Publications, Rajamandri, pp. 308-309.

13In Sanskrit,gotram means family, race, lineage, a mountain, a cow-penand so on!

14http://www.haryana-online.com/People/brahmins.htm

15http://www.kamat.com/kalranga/people/brahmins/list.htm

16 "Andhra Viprula Gotramulu, Indla Perlu, Sakhalu," by Emmesroy Sastri,

Gollapudi Veeraswami Son, Sri Seetarama Book Depot, Rajamandri.16a History and Culture of Andhra Pradesh, Rao PR, pp.viii and 8-22

16b History of India, Herman Kulke and Dietmar Rothermund, p. 102

16c History of India, Herman Kulke and Dietmar Rothermund, p. 104

16d History and Culture of Andhra Pradesh, Rao PR, pp.viii and 8-22

16e "Hindu Castes and Sects," Jogendranath Bhattacharya, 1896.

16f The Pradhamasakha Niyogi Brahmins: Some family names that belongto Pradhamasakha Niyogi are: Adaalatu, Adukuri, Ainaparti, Ainamprolu,

Akhandam, Alapattu, Aleti, Alladi, Ambadasu , Ambarukhana,

Anantavarapu, Andukuru, Anipeddi, Annavarpu, Anumarlapudi, Attota,Ayinambrolu, Ayinpurapu, Challa, Chittem, Edlapalli, Eedupalli,

Errapatruni, , Gangaravula, Gampa, Gatraju, Gaddapalli, Ganapatiraju,

Gajulapalli, Gadicharla, Gorijavolu, Kanchikacharala,

Kanchugantala,Kathari, Kanakabhattula, Kavulu, Kavuluri, Kakarlapudi,Kakarlamudi, Kamaraju, Karinapati, Kuppila, Khandaladinne, Regadamilli,

Srikaram, Sridhara, Sandepudi, Sampatam, Sambaraju, Sattenapalli,

Satram, Sannikandlapadu, Samudram, Saripalli, Savidi, Somaasi,Sthaanam, Tammera, Udayagiri, Ullaganti, Uppala, Urakaranam, Uta,

Uttaralingamakuntla, Vaddiraju, Vadduri, Vadlamudi, Vaduri, Vahi,

Vallambhatla, Valluri, Vanam, Vangipurapu, Vankeswarapu, Varagani,Varahagiri, Vareswaram, Varkhola, Vasa, Velagapudi, Vepachedu,

Vissamraju, Vonkamamidi etc. Most of these families belong to "Kanva"

or "Kanveeya" branch of Pradhamasakha. Many of these family names are

unique to Pradhamasakha, and you may not find the same names in any
http://www.haryana-online.com/People/brahmins.htmhttp://www.kamat.com/kalranga/people/brahmins/list.htmhttp://www.haryana-online.com/People/brahmins.htmhttp://www.kamat.com/kalranga/people/brahmins/list.htm


22/22

other Brahmin caste, but some family names are found in various other

Brahmin groups as well. Also, some of these family names may be found

in non-Brahmin castes due to the fact that many of the family names arederived from the village names and/or due to inter-caste-mixing.

17

http://www.kokanastha.com/index.htm

18http://www.chembio.niu.edu/hosmane/roots.html

19http://www.chennaionline.com/columns/DownMemoryLane/diary169.asp

20http://culture.konkani.com/Historical/15_Chitrapur_Saraswa.htm

21http://www.hindunet.org/srh_home/1996_9/msg00393.html

22http://www.rsbnet.com/new/history.html

23http://www.boloji.com/places/0019.htm

Other sources on the web:Brahmins of Andhra Pradesh by V. Ramachandrarao

http://www.brahminworld.com/bw1.htm

http://www.gosai.com/dvaita/madhvacarya/Brahmana-Vaisnava.html
http://www.kokanastha.com/index.htmhttp://www.chembio.niu.edu/hosmane/roots.htmlhttp://www.chennaionline.com/columns/DownMemoryLane/diary169.asphttp://culture.konkani.com/Historical/15_Chitrapur_Saraswa.htmhttp://www.hindunet.org/srh_home/1996_9/msg00393.htmlhttp://www.rsbnet.com/new/history.htmlhttp://www.boloji.com/places/0019.htmhttp://netinfo.hypermart.net/brahmins.htmhttp://www.brahminworld.com/bw1.htmhttp://www.brahminworld.com/bw1.htmhttp://www.kokanastha.com/index.htmhttp://www.chembio.niu.edu/hosmane/roots.htmlhttp://www.chennaionline.com/columns/DownMemoryLane/diary169.asphttp://culture.konkani.com/Historical/15_Chitrapur_Saraswa.htmhttp://www.hindunet.org/srh_home/1996_9/msg00393.htmlhttp://www.rsbnet.com/new/history.htmlhttp://www.boloji.com/places/0019.htmhttp://netinfo.hypermart.net/brahmins.htmhttp://www.brahminworld.com/bw1.htmhttp://www.brahminworld.com/bw1.htmhttp://www.brahminworld.com/bw1.htmhttp://www.brahminworld.com/bw1.htm

brahmins of andhra pradesh16

Documents