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Iyer
Iyers () (also spelt as Ayyar, Aiyar, Ayer, or Aiyer) are an ethnoreligious community of Tamil-speaking Brahmins. Most Iyers are followers of the '' Advaita'' philosophy propounded by Adi Shankara and adhere to the Smarta tradition. This is in contrast to the Iyengar community, who are adherents of Sri Vaishnavism. The Iyers and the Iyengars are together referred to as Tamil Brahmins. The majority of Iyers reside in Tamil Nadu, India. Iyers are further divided into various denominations based on traditional and regional differences. Like all Brahmins, they are also classified based on their gotra, or patrilineal descent, and the Veda that they follow. They fall under the Pancha Dravida Brahmana classification of Brahmins in India. Apart from the prevalent practice of using the title "Iyer" as surname, Iyers also commonly use other surnames, such as Sāstri or Bhattar. Etymology Iyer (, ) has several meanings in Tamil and other Dravidian languages, often referring to a r ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sholiyar
Iyers () (also spelt as Ayyar, Aiyar, Ayer, or Aiyer) are an ethnoreligious community of Tamil-speaking Brahmins. Most Iyers are followers of the ''Advaita Vedanta, Advaita'' philosophy propounded by Adi Shankara and adhere to the Smarta tradition. This is in contrast to the Iyengar community, who are adherents of Sri Vaishnavism. The Iyers and the Iyengars are together referred to as Tamil Brahmins. The majority of Iyers reside in Tamil Nadu, India. Iyers are further divided into various denominations based on traditional and regional differences. Like all Brahmins, they are also classified based on their gotra, or patrilineal descent, and the Veda that they follow. They fall under the Pancha-Dravida, Pancha Dravida Brahmana classification of Brahmins in India. Apart from the prevalent practice of using the title "Iyer" as surname, Iyers also commonly use other surnames, such as Sāstri or Bhattar. Etymology Iyer (, ) has several meanings in Tamil language, Tamil and oth ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kerala Iyers
Kerala Iyers, Pattars or Bhattars are Hindu Brahmins of the Indian state of Kerala; people who were residents in the Kerala region. The word "Pattar" originated from the Sanskrit word " Bhat", which is a common surname of Northern Brahmin Clans. The community consists of two groups: the Palakkad Iyers and the Iyers of the Cochin and Travancore regions. Kerala Iyers, like the Iyers of Tamil Nadu and the Nambudiris of Kerala, belonged to the Pancha-Dravida classification of India's Brahmin community. They mostly belonged to the Vadama and Brahacharanam sub-sects. Iyers were usually not recruited as the priest (shanthi) in Kerala temples which followed Tantric rituals. So Iyers being Vedic scholars built their own temples in their Agraharams to conduct puja, since they followed different rituals and not the Tantric rituals of the Nambudiris. Brahmana Samooham Where ever they settled, the Kerala Iyers lived together in communities. The settlement consisting of array of hous ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Brahacharanam
Brahacharanam is a sub-sect of the Iyer community of Tamil Brahmins. The word "Brahacharanam" is a corruption of the Sanskrit word Brhatcharanam (). Many Brahacharanam follow the '' Advaita Vedanta'' philosophy propounded by Adi Shankara. Some Brahacharanam adhere to ''Shivadvaita''. The Brahacharanams, along with the Vadamas, form the major portion of the Kerala Iyer community. Sub-groups The Brahacharanam are divided into the following subgroups: Kandiramanickam(a village in Tiruvarur district,near Kodavasal,in Nachiyar kovil to Nannilam road) * Milaganur (a village in Sivagangai district) * Mangudi (a village in Tanjore district near Kumbakonam) * Manakkal (a village in Trichy) * Pazhamaneri (a village in Tanjore district) * Kolathur (a village in Kanchipuram district) * Marudancheri (a village in Sivagangai district) * Rajagambiram (a village in Sivagangai district near Manamadurai town ) * Ilanji (a village in Tirunelveli district) * Mazhavanattu * Sathyamangalam (E ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Vadama
Vadama, meaning "Northerners", are a sub-sect of the Iyer community of Tamil Brahmins. While some believe that their name is an indication of the fact that they were the most recent Brahmin migrants to the Tamil country others interpret the usage of the term "Vadama" as a reference to their strict adherence to the Sanskrit language and Vedic rituals which are of northerly origin. Etymology The term ''Vadama'' may have originated from the Tamil term ''Vadakku'' meaning North, indicating the Northern origin of the Vadama Brahmins. However, what is not certain is whether 'North' refers to northern Tamil Nadu/Southern Deccan, or regions farther north. Other scholars are of the opinion that rather than the superficial indication of a northern origin for the people, the term ''"vadama"'' would rather refer to proficiency in Sanskrit and Vedic ritual, generally associated with the north prior to the first millennium CE. Sub-categories Vadamas are further sub-divided into five categ ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Tamil Brahmin
Tamil Brahmins are an ethnoreligious community of Tamil-speaking Hindu Brahmins, predominantly living in Tamil Nadu, though they number significantly in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Telangana in addition to other regions of India. They can be broadly divided into two denominations: Iyengars, who are adherents of Sri Vaishnavism, and Iyers, who follow the Srauta and Smarta traditions. Although they form a tiny minority within their society, the Ceylonese Tamil Brahmins have been an integral part of the Sri Lankan Tamil community since the foundation of the Jaffna Kingdom by potentially a family of Tamil Brahmins, namely the Aryacakravarti dynasty. Their community was mainly strengthened by the more recent settlement of Tamil Brahmins from the Iyer caste in Sri Lanka, mostly from the second half of the 18th century. Denominations Tamil Brahmins are divided into two major denominations: Iyers, who follow the Smarta tradition, and Iyengars, who adhere to the tradit ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Iyengar
Iyengars (also spelt Ayyangar or Aiyengar, pronounced ) are an ethnoreligious community of Tamil-speaking Hindu Brahmins, whose members follow Sri Vaishnavism and the Visishtadvaita philosophy propounded by Ramanuja. Iyengars are divided into two denominations, the Vadakalai and the Tenkalai and live mostly in the Southern Indian states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh. The community belongs to the Pancha Dravida Brahmana classification of Brahmins in India. Etymology There are several opinions regarding the etymology of the term ''Iyengar'', which is the anglicized form of the Dravidian word ''Aiyaṅgār'' (, ). One is that it derives from the Proto-Dravidian word ''ayya-gāru'' ( 𑀅𑀬𑀕𑀭𑀼), which became ''Ayyangāru'' (), and later ''Ayengar''. The term ''ayya'' is the Tamil equivalent of the Sanskrit word ''ārya,'' ( 𑀆𑀭𑁆𑀬/ आर्य) which in Sanskrit means ''noble''. ''Gāru'' refers to a form of the Pali term ''gārava'' ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ashtasahasram
Ashtasahasram is a sub-sect of the Iyer community of Tamil Brahmins from the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Culture The Ashtasahasrams as Iyers belong to the Smarta tradition, along with the Vadamas, Brahacharanam Brahacharanam is a sub-sect of the Iyer community of Tamil Brahmins. The word "Brahacharanam" is a corruption of the Sanskrit word Brhatcharanam (). Many Brahacharanam follow the '' Advaita Vedanta'' philosophy propounded by Adi Shankara. Some ...s, Vadyamans/Madhyamans, and the Kanials/Kaniyalars. However, the Ashtasahasrams are smaller in numbers and are considered inferior to the first two Brahmin groups. The Ashtasahasrams follow the Taittirīya śākhā of the Kr̥ṣṇa Yajurveda. They are Aparaśikhā Brahmins, who wear their traditional hair tuft towards the back of their head. Divisions The Ashtasahasram community is further sub-divided into four groups: * Āttiyūr * Arivarpede * Nandivādi * Satkulam References {{Reflist Tamil Brahmins So ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Dikshitar
Dīkṣitars or Thillai Vazh Anthaanar are a Vedic Shaiva Brahmin servitor community of Tamil Nadu who are based mainly in the town of Chidambaram. Smartha (especially the Vadamas), Sri Vaishnava and other Brahmins in South India also carry the surname Dikshitars, but are different from the Chidambaram Dikshitar. They are an exclusive group of Brahmins learned in the Vedas and '' yagnas'' (sacrifices) who also serve as the hereditary trustees of the Nataraja temple in Chidambaram. They are also called ''Thillai Muvayiravar'' or the ''Three Thousand of Thillai''. Every Dikshitar once he is married becomes as of right a trustee and '' archaka'' of the Nataraja temple. A practice unique to the community is that the priests wear the tuft of hair in front of the head similar to the Nambuthiri Brahmans of Kerala. History The Dikshithars might be traced back to the first line of Brahmanas who migrated to South India from the north, this migration happened as the result of the incr ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Smarta Tradition
The ''Smarta'' tradition (, ) is a movement in Hinduism that developed and expanded with the Puranas genre of literature. It reflects a synthesis of four philosophical strands, namely Uttara Mīmāṃsā, Advaita, Yoga, and theism. The Smarta tradition rejects theistic sectarianism, and is notable for the domestic worship of five shrines with five deities, all treated as equal – Ganesha, Shiva, Shakti, Vishnu and Surya. The Smarta tradition contrasted with the older Shrauta tradition, which was based on elaborate rituals and rites. There has been a considerable overlap in the ideas and practices of the Smarta tradition with other significant historic movements within Hinduism, namely Shaivism, Brahmanism, Vaishnavism, and Shaktism.Sanderson, Alexis. "The Saiva Age: The Rise And Dominance Of Saivism During The Early Medieval Period". In ''Genesis And Development of Tantrism'', Edited By Shingo Einoo. Tokyo: Institute Of Oriental Culture, University Of Tokyo, 2009. Institute ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Adi Shankara
Adi Shankara (8th c. CE), also called Adi Shankaracharya (, ), was an Indian Vedanga, Vedic scholar, Hindu philosophy, philosopher and teacher (''acharya'') of Advaita Vedanta. Reliable information on Shankara's actual life is scant, and his true impact lies in his "iconic representation of Hinduism, Hindu religion and Hindu culture, culture," despite the fact that most Hindus do not adhere to Advaita Vedanta. Tradition also portrays him as the one who reconciled the various Hindu denominations, sects (Vaishnavism, Shaivism, and Shaktism) with the introduction of the form of Puja (Hinduism), worship, the simultaneous worship of five deities – Ganesha, Surya, Vishnu, Shiva and Devi, arguing that all deities were but different forms of the one Brahman, the invisible Supreme Being.Klaus Klostermaier (2007), A Survey of Hinduism, Third Edition, State University of New York Press, , p. 40 While he is often revered as the most important Indian philosophy, Indian philosoph ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ādi Śaṅkarā
Adi Shankara (8th c. CE), also called Adi Shankaracharya (, ), was an Indian Vedic scholar, philosopher and teacher (''acharya'') of Advaita Vedanta. Reliable information on Shankara's actual life is scant, and his true impact lies in his "iconic representation of Hindu religion and culture," despite the fact that most Hindus do not adhere to Advaita Vedanta. Tradition also portrays him as the one who reconciled the various sects (Vaishnavism, Shaivism, and Shaktism) with the introduction of the form of worship, the simultaneous worship of five deities – Ganesha, Surya, Vishnu, Shiva and Devi, arguing that all deities were but different forms of the one Brahman, the invisible Supreme Being.Klaus Klostermaier (2007), A Survey of Hinduism, Third Edition, State University of New York Press, , p. 40 While he is often revered as the most important Indian philosopher, the historical influence of his works on Hindu intellectual thought has been questioned. Until the 10th ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
