Telugu Brahmins
Encyclopedia
Telugu Brahmin is a sub-caste of the greater Brahmin
community whose native language is Telugu
. They hail from the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh
.However
you can find many Telugu
speaking Brahmin
families spread across South interior Karnataka
and some parts of Tamilnadu.
A Brahmin is a member of a caste of priests within Hindu society. The Brahmins constitute the community of scholars, priests and teachers and consider themselves responsible, broadly speaking, for society's spiritual progress.
The Brahmins constitute a small segment of Indian society. In 1931, Brahmins were 4.32% of the total population. Even in Uttar Pradesh, where they are most numerous, the Brahmins constitute just 10% of the total populace. In Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, they form less than 6% and 5% respectively of the population.
The earliest Brahmins who arrived in Andhra were most probably sage Viswamitra's students around 1200 BC. South Indian kings have patronized Brahmins and Hinduism since ancient times. The Satavahana dynasty, founded by Srimukha (221-198 BC), ruled for five centuries and extended over Andhra and central India supported Vedic religion and its traditions. The Satavahana dynasty granted land to the Brahmins. Sangam era Chera, Chola and Pandya kings in the deep south also gave land to Brahmins.
belong to the Smarta Brahmin
group, i.e., the followers of smritis and followers of Adi Sankaracharya. The Smarta Brahmins follow Apastamba
Smriti, not the Manusmriti. Āpastamba is from a family of Brahmins of the Taittirīya branch Vedic
school dedicated to the study of the Black Yajurveda
. and he was supposed to be living on the banks of River Godavari. Boudhayana, Parasara, Yajnvalkya sutras
and other laws were also important in the courts of Srikrishnadevaraya. Smartha Brahmins are worshippers of both Lord Narayana and Lord Shiva as also the various other Acharyas who have contributed to the spread of the faith. The Smaarta Brahmins in Andhra Pradesh
can be grouped into two major divisions: the Vaidiki Brahmins
- Learners of Vedas
and Niyogi
- those appointed to official positions by Kings. There are Vaikhanasas
, a tiny vaishnavite brahmin community of about 2,500 families widely dispersed in South India at Vaishnava temples in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and parts of Karnataka. Today, one can still find Telugu Brahmins practicing the ancient tradition of learning and teaching Vedas in most parts of Andhra Pradesh. There are many sub-sects of brahmins, including Dravidlu, Niyogi (Aru Vela Niyogulu), Vaidiki Velandalu, Telaganyulu, Kanvulu and others. Other important groups that eventually got absorbed into Telugu Brahmins from neighboring state Tamilnadu who are a followers of Sri Vaishnavism who follow Vishishtadvaita
espoused by the saint Ramanujacharya.(Reference: Shreeram Balijepalli's articles online)
There are other divisions in vaidiki brahmins. They are velanadu, veginadu, murikinadu, kasalanadu etc., The Brahmins who considered as purohits and who practice smartham as their profession are the well wishers of the society at large. The brahmin community which prophes the vedic rituals and the 'dos' and 'do nots' sacrifies everything for the sake of society.
Brahmin
Brahmin Brahman, Brahma and Brahmin.Brahman, Brahmin and Brahma have different meanings. Brahman refers to the Supreme Self...
community whose native language is Telugu
Telugu language
Telugu is a Central Dravidian language primarily spoken in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India, where it is an official language. It is also spoken in the neighbouring states of Chattisgarh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Orissa and Tamil Nadu...
. They hail from the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh , is one of the 28 states of India, situated on the southeastern coast of India. It is India's fourth largest state by area and fifth largest by population. Its capital and largest city by population is Hyderabad.The total GDP of Andhra Pradesh is $100 billion and is ranked third...
.However
you can find many Telugu
Telugu language
Telugu is a Central Dravidian language primarily spoken in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India, where it is an official language. It is also spoken in the neighbouring states of Chattisgarh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Orissa and Tamil Nadu...
speaking Brahmin
Brahmin
Brahmin Brahman, Brahma and Brahmin.Brahman, Brahmin and Brahma have different meanings. Brahman refers to the Supreme Self...
families spread across South interior Karnataka
Karnataka
Karnataka , the land of the Kannadigas, is a state in South West India. It was created on 1 November 1956, with the passing of the States Reorganisation Act and this day is annually celebrated as Karnataka Rajyotsava...
and some parts of Tamilnadu.
A Brahmin is a member of a caste of priests within Hindu society. The Brahmins constitute the community of scholars, priests and teachers and consider themselves responsible, broadly speaking, for society's spiritual progress.
The Brahmins constitute a small segment of Indian society. In 1931, Brahmins were 4.32% of the total population. Even in Uttar Pradesh, where they are most numerous, the Brahmins constitute just 10% of the total populace. In Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, they form less than 6% and 5% respectively of the population.
The earliest Brahmins who arrived in Andhra were most probably sage Viswamitra's students around 1200 BC. South Indian kings have patronized Brahmins and Hinduism since ancient times. The Satavahana dynasty, founded by Srimukha (221-198 BC), ruled for five centuries and extended over Andhra and central India supported Vedic religion and its traditions. The Satavahana dynasty granted land to the Brahmins. Sangam era Chera, Chola and Pandya kings in the deep south also gave land to Brahmins.
Groups
Most of the Brahmins in Andhra PradeshAndhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh , is one of the 28 states of India, situated on the southeastern coast of India. It is India's fourth largest state by area and fifth largest by population. Its capital and largest city by population is Hyderabad.The total GDP of Andhra Pradesh is $100 billion and is ranked third...
belong to the Smarta Brahmin
Brahmin
Brahmin Brahman, Brahma and Brahmin.Brahman, Brahmin and Brahma have different meanings. Brahman refers to the Supreme Self...
group, i.e., the followers of smritis and followers of Adi Sankaracharya. The Smarta Brahmins follow Apastamba
Apastamba
The Dharmasutra of Āpastamba forms a part of the larger Kalpasūtra of Āpastamba. It contains thirty praśnas, which literally means ‘questions’ or books. The subjects of this Dharmasūtra are well organized and preserved in good condition...
Smriti, not the Manusmriti. Āpastamba is from a family of Brahmins of the Taittirīya branch Vedic
Vedic
Vedic may refer to:* the Vedas, the oldest preserved Indic texts** Vedic Sanskrit, the language of these texts** Vedic period, during which these texts were produced** Vedic pantheon of gods mentioned in Vedas/vedic period...
school dedicated to the study of the Black Yajurveda
Yajurveda
The Yajurveda, a tatpurusha compound of "sacrificial formula', + ) is the third of the four canonical texts of Hinduism, the Vedas. By some, it is estimated to have been composed between 1400 and 1000 BC, the Yajurveda 'Samhita', or 'compilation', contains the liturgy needed to perform the...
. and he was supposed to be living on the banks of River Godavari. Boudhayana, Parasara, Yajnvalkya sutras
Sutra
Sūtra is an aphorism or a collection of such aphorisms in the form of a manual. Literally it means a thread or line that holds things together and is derived from the verbal root siv-, meaning to sew , as does the medical term...
and other laws were also important in the courts of Srikrishnadevaraya. Smartha Brahmins are worshippers of both Lord Narayana and Lord Shiva as also the various other Acharyas who have contributed to the spread of the faith. The Smaarta Brahmins in Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh , is one of the 28 states of India, situated on the southeastern coast of India. It is India's fourth largest state by area and fifth largest by population. Its capital and largest city by population is Hyderabad.The total GDP of Andhra Pradesh is $100 billion and is ranked third...
can be grouped into two major divisions: the Vaidiki Brahmins
Vaidiki Brahmins
Vaidiki Brahmins are a sect of Telugu speaking Smartha Brahmins. They are predominantly followers of Adi Shankaracharya. The term Vaidika derives itself from the term Vedas. Vaidikis are people who mastered Vedas, also called Ghanaapaathi...
- Learners of Vedas
Vedas
The Vedas are a large body of texts originating in ancient India. Composed in Vedic Sanskrit, the texts constitute the oldest layer of Sanskrit literature and the oldest scriptures of Hinduism....
and Niyogi
Niyogi
Niyogis are a sect of Hindu Brahmins who gave up priestly occupations and are predominantly Telugu language speakers, from Andhra Pradesh, India.-Theories of origin:...
- those appointed to official positions by Kings. There are Vaikhanasas
Vaikhanasas
Vaikhānasa is one of the principal traditions of Hinduism and primarily worships Vishnu as the Supreme God.The followers are mainly brahmins of Krishna Yajurveda Taittiriya Shakha and Vaikhanasa Kalpasutra. The name Vaikhānasa stands for both the followers as well as the fundamental philosophy...
, a tiny vaishnavite brahmin community of about 2,500 families widely dispersed in South India at Vaishnava temples in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and parts of Karnataka. Today, one can still find Telugu Brahmins practicing the ancient tradition of learning and teaching Vedas in most parts of Andhra Pradesh. There are many sub-sects of brahmins, including Dravidlu, Niyogi (Aru Vela Niyogulu), Vaidiki Velandalu, Telaganyulu, Kanvulu and others. Other important groups that eventually got absorbed into Telugu Brahmins from neighboring state Tamilnadu who are a followers of Sri Vaishnavism who follow Vishishtadvaita
Vishishtadvaita
Vishishtadvaita Vedanta is a sub-school of the Vedānta school of Hindu philosophy, the other major sub-schools of Vedānta being Advaita, Dvaita, and Achintya-Bheda-Abheda. VishishtAdvaita is a non-dualistic school of Vedanta philosophy...
espoused by the saint Ramanujacharya.(Reference: Shreeram Balijepalli's articles online)
There are other divisions in vaidiki brahmins. They are velanadu, veginadu, murikinadu, kasalanadu etc., The Brahmins who considered as purohits and who practice smartham as their profession are the well wishers of the society at large. The brahmin community which prophes the vedic rituals and the 'dos' and 'do nots' sacrifies everything for the sake of society.
See also
- Dravidlu
- Divili dravidlu
- NiyogiNiyogiNiyogis are a sect of Hindu Brahmins who gave up priestly occupations and are predominantly Telugu language speakers, from Andhra Pradesh, India.-Theories of origin:...
- Vaidiki BrahminsVaidiki BrahminsVaidiki Brahmins are a sect of Telugu speaking Smartha Brahmins. They are predominantly followers of Adi Shankaracharya. The term Vaidika derives itself from the term Vedas. Vaidikis are people who mastered Vedas, also called Ghanaapaathi...
- Aaraama DraviduluAaraama DraviduluAaraama Dravidulu is a sub-sect of Telugu Brahmins of Andhra Pradesh in South India. They primarily reside in East Godavari and West Godavari districts of Andhra Pradesh, though they can found all over Andhra Pradesh and other parts of India and world now...
- Mulukanadu BrahminsMulukanadu BrahminsMulukanadu Brahmins are a sub-sect of Telugu speaking Vaidiki Smartha Brahmins. Variations of the name of the community include Muluknadu, Mulukanadu, Mulakanadu, Moolakanadu and Mulikinadu...
- List of gotras
- Forward Castes
External links
- http://www.maganti.org/PDFdocs/brahmins.pdf
- Brahmins of Andhra Pradesh
- Andhra Kingdoms
- http://www.telugubrahmin.org