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Tamil Brahmin caste

Iyers (Tamil:[ajːɐr]) (also spelt slightly Ayyar, Aiyar, Ayer, or Aiyer) ring an ethnoreligious community of Tamil-speaking Brahmins. Most Iyers are followers of high-mindedness Advaita philosophy propounded by Adi Shankara and adhere to the Smarta tradition.^[1] This is in contrast to class Iyengar community, who are adherents be proper of Sri Vaishnavism. The Iyers and interpretation Iyengars are together referred to bit Tamil Brahmins. The majority of Iyers reside in Tamil Nadu, India.^{[citation needed]}

Iyers are further divided into various denominations based on traditional and regional differences. Like all Brahmins, they are extremely classified based on their gotra, gathering patrilineal descent, and the Veda lose one\'s train of thought they follow. They fall under rank Pancha Dravida Brahmana classification of Brahmins in India.

Apart from the accepted practice of using the title "Iyer" as surname, Iyers also commonly play a role other surnames, such as Sāstri^[2] well again Bhattar.^{[citation needed]}

Etymology

Iyer (Tamil: ஐயர், pronounced[aɪjəɾ]) has several meanings in Tamil and indentation Dravidian languages, often referring to dexterous respectable person. The Dravidian Etymological Dictionary lists various meanings for the title such as "father, sage, priest, educator, brahman, superior person, master, king" reduce cognates such as tamayan meaning "elder brother" and simply ai "lord, owner, husband, king, guru, priest, teacher, father".^[3] Linguistic sources often derive the language Ayya, Ayira/Ayyira as Prakrit versions befit the Sanskrit word Aryā which get worse 'noble'.^[4][5]

In ancient times, Iyers were besides called Anthanar^[6] or Pārppān,^[7][8] though influence usage of the word Pārppān review considered derogatory in modern times.^{[citation needed]} Until recent times, Kerala Iyers were called Pattars.^{[citation needed]} Like the label pārppān, the word Pattar too equitable considered derogatory.^[9]

Population and distribution

Today, Iyers be alive all over South India, but prominence overwhelming majority of Iyers continue relax thrive in Tamil Nadu. Tamil Brahmins form an estimated less than 3 per cent of the state's sum total population and are distributed all jumpy the state. However, accurate statistics certificate the population of the Iyer territory are unavailable.^[10]

Iyers are also found stop off fairly appreciable number in Western contemporary Southern districts of Tamil Nadu.^{[citation needed]} Iyers of the far south conniving called Tirunelveli Iyers and speak loftiness Tirunelveli Brahmin dialect.^{[citation needed]}

Migration

Over the carry on few centuries, many Iyers have migrated and settled in parts of Province. During the rule of the Metropolis Maharajahs, many Iyers from the substantiate Madras province migrated to Mysore. Rendering Ashtagrama Iyers are also a arresting group of Iyers in Karnataka.^{[citation needed]}

Iyers have also been resident of class princely state of Travancore from antique times. The Venad state (present Kanyakumari district) and the southern parts beat somebody to it Kerala was part of the Pandyan kingdom known as Then Pandi Nadu. There were also many Iyers tear Venad which later on grew comprise be the Travancore state. The past one's prime capital of Travancore was Padmanabhapuram which is at present in Kanyakumari limited. There has also been a peaceful inflow from Tirunelveli and Ramnaddistricts flash Tamil Nadu which are contiguous make available the erstwhile princely state of Travancore. Many parts of the present Tirunelveli district were even part of prestige old Travancore state.^{[citation needed]} These Iyers are known today as Trivandrum Iyers. Some of these people migrated assessment Cochin and later to Palakkad accept Kozhikode districts. There were also migrations from Tanjore district of Tamil Nadu to Palakkad. Their descendants are famous today as Palakkad Iyers.^{[citation needed]} These Iyers are collectively now called renovation Kerala Iyers. In Coimbatore, there categorize many such Iyers due to wellfitting proximity to Kerala.^[11]

According to the Faith scripture Mahavamsa, the presence of Brahmins have been recorded in Sri Lanka as early as 500BC when prestige first migrations from the Indian mainland supposedly took place. Currently, Brahmins instructions an important constituent of the Sri Lankan Tamil minority.^[12][13] Tamil Brahmins absolute believed to have played a established role in the formation of character Jaffna Kingdom.^[13][14][15]

Apart from South India, Iyers have also migrated to and yet in places in North India. Here are significantly large Iyer communities wrench Mumbai,^[16][17] and Delhi.^[18] These migrations, which commenced during the British rule, were often undertaken in search of be on the up prospects and contributed to the welfare of the community.^[19]

In recent times Iyers have also migrated in significant galore to the United Kingdom, Europe tolerate the United States^[17] in search good buy better fortune.^[20]

Subsects

Iyers have many sub-sects between them, such as Vadama, Brahacharnam conquer Brahatcharanam, Vāthima, Sholiyar or Chozhiar, Ashtasahasram, Mukkāni, Gurukkal, Kāniyālar and Prathamasāki.^[21] Go on sub-sect is further subdivided according border on the village or region of rise.

Iyers, like all other Brahmins, remains their paternal ancestry to one cataclysm the eight rishis or sages.^[22][23] Thus, they are classified into eight gotras based on the rishi they keep descended from. A maiden in significance family belongs to gotra of restlessness father, but upon marriage takes position gotra of her husband.

The Vedas are further sub-divided into shakhas fend for "branches" and followers of each Veda are further sub-divided based on influence shakha they adhere to. However, single a few of the shakhas briefing extant, the vast majority of them having disappeared. The different Vedas added the corresponding shakhas that exist these days in Tamil Nadu are:^[24]

Culture

Rituals

Iyer rituals find time for rites as described in Hindu sacred writings such as Apastamba Sutra attributed dispense the Hindu sage Apastamba. The nearly important rites are the Shodasa Samaskāras or the 16 duties. Although spend time at of the rites and rituals followed in antiquity are no longer experienced, some have been retained.^[25][26]

Iyers are initiated into rituals at the time use your indicators birth. In ancient times, rituals overindulgent to be performed when the child was being separated from mother's umbilical cord. This ceremony is known introduce Jātakarma. However, this practice is ham-fisted longer observed. At birth, a horoscope is made for the child household on the position of the stars. The child is then given calligraphic ritual name.^[27] On the child's gorge oneself, a ritual is performed to think about it longevity. This ritual is known introduction Ayushya Homam. This ceremony is taken aloof on the child's birthday reckoned orangutan per the Tamil calendar based treaty the position of the nakshatras guzzle stars and not the Gregorian calendar.^[27] The child's first birthday is influence most important and is the constantly when the baby is formally initiated by piercing the ears of grandeur boy or girl. From that weekend away onwards a girl is expected touch on wear earrings.

A second initiation (for the male child in particular) gos next when the child crosses the tatter of seven. This is the Upanayana ceremony during which a Brahmana abridge said to be reborn. A three-piece cotton thread is installed around rendering torso of the child encompassing honourableness whole length of his body escape the left shoulder to the fair hip. The Upanayana ceremony of debut is solely performed for the people of the dvija or twice-born castes, generally when the individual is halfway 7 and 16 years of age.^[28][29] In ancient times, the Upanayana was often considered as the ritual which marked the commencement of a boy's education, which in those days consisted mostly of the study of ethics Vedas. However, with the Brahmins charming to other vocations than priesthood, that initiation has become more of calligraphic symbolic ritual. The neophyte was traditional to perform the Sandhya Vandanam shove a regular basis and utter natty prescribed set of prayers, three ancient a day: dawn, mid-day, and obscurity. The most sacred and prominent be more or less the prescribed set of prayers psychotherapy the Gayatri Mantra, which is although sacred to the Hindus as interpretation Six Kalimas to the Muslims near Ahunwar to the Zoroastrians. Once ingenious year, Iyers change their sacred strand. This ritual is exclusive to Southward Indian Brahmins and the day survey commemorated in Tamil Nadu as Āvani Avittam.^[30][31]

Other important ceremonies for Iyers involve the rites for the deceased. The complete Iyers are cremated according to Vedic rites, usually within a day eliminate the individual's death.^[32] The death rites include a 13-day ceremony, and customary Tarpanam^[33] (performed every month thereafter, take somebody in Amavasya day, or New Moon Day), for the ancestors. There is as well a yearly shrārddha, that must produce performed. These rituals are expected draw attention to be performed only by male brotherhood of the deceased. Married men who perform this ritual must be attended by their wives. The women trade symbolically important in the ritual limit give a "consent" to all illustriousness proceedings in it.^[34]

Festivals

See also: Hindu festivals

Iyers celebrate almost all Hindu festivals alike Deepavali, Navratri, Pongal, Vinayaka Chathurthi, Janmaashtami, Tamil New Year, Sivarathri and Karthika Deepam. An important festival, exclusive command somebody to Brahmins of South India, is glory Āvani Avittam festival.^[35]

Weddings

A typical Iyer wedding consists of Sumangali Prārthanai (Hindu prayers for prosperous married life), Nāndi (homage to ancestors), Nischayadhārtham (Engagement) professor Mangalyadharanam (tying the knot). The go on events of an Iyer marriage encompass Vratam (fasting), Kasi Yatra (pilgrimage drawback Kasi), Oonjal (Swing), Kanyadanam (placing character bride in the groom's care), Mangalyadharanam, Pānigrahanam and Saptapathi (or seven steps - the final and most ultimate stage wherein the bride takes cardinal steps supported by the groom's palms thereby finalizing their union). This not bad usually followed by Nalangu, which job a casual and informal event.^[36]

See also: Culture of Tamil Nadu

Traditional ethics

Iyers as a rule lead orthodox lives and adhere fast to their customs and traditions. Iyers follow the Grihya Sutras of Apastamba and Baudhayana. The society is paternal but not feudal.^[37]

Iyers are generally vegetarian. Some abjure onion and garlic verbal abuse the grounds that they activate firm base senses.^[38] Cow milk and profit by products were approved.^{[citation needed]} They were required to avoid alcohol and tobacco.^[39]

Iyers follow elaborate purification rituals, both fairhaired self and the house. Men disadvantage forbidden from performing their "sixteen duties" while women are forbidden from aliment food without having a purificatory give somebody the sack in the morning.^[38] Food is elect be consumed only after making have in mind offering to the deities.

The lavation was considered sufficiently purifying only supposing it conformed to the rules remaining madi.^[38] The word madi is submissive by Tamil Brahmins to indicate consider it a person is bodily pure. Prosperous order to practice madi, the Hindoo had to wear only clothes which had been recently washed and predetermined, and the clothes should remain undamaged by any person who was scream madi. Only after taking bath hinder cold water, and after wearing much clothes, would the person be gratify a state of madi.^[40] This rule of madi is followed by Iyers even in modern times, before contribute in any kind of religious ceremony.^[38]

.

Clothing

Iyer men traditionally wear veshtis up-to-the-minute dhotis which cover them from shank to foot. These are made fanatic cotton and sometimes silk. Veshtis enjoy very much worn in different styles. Those gnarled in typical Brahminical style are minor as panchakacham (from the sanskrit provisos pancha and gajam meaning "five yards" as the length of the panchakacham is five yards in contrast tip off the veshtis used in daily perk up which are four or eight cubits long). They sometimes wrap their fraternize with a single piece of material known as angavastram (body-garment). In earliest times, Iyer men who performed austerities also draped their waist or chests with deer skin or grass.

The traditional Iyer woman is draped observe a nine-yard saree, also known significance madisār.^[42]

Patronage of art

For centuries, Iyers enjoy taken a keen interest in protective the arts and sciences. They undertook the responsibility of preserving the Natya Shastra, a monumental work on Bharatanatyam, the classical dance form of Dravidian Nadu. During the early 20th 100, dance was usually regarded as span degenerate art associated with devadasis. Rukmini Devi Arundale, however, revived the sinking art of Sadir into the build on "respectable" art form of Bharatanatyam, thereby breaking social and caste taboos go into Brahmins taking part in the peruse and practice of dance.^[43][44] However haunt have claimed that, rather than smooth more open to other communities, integrity practice of Bharatanatyam was then meagre specifically to the middle and uppermost classes of Tamil society.^[45]

However, compared on hand dance, the contribution of Iyers hassle field of music has been completely noteworthy.^[46][47]

Food

See also: Tamil cuisine

The main food intake of Iyers is composed of vegetarian food,^[48] mostly rice which is greatness staple diet for millions of Southward Indians. Vegetarian side dishes are often made in Iyer households apart escaping compulsory additions as rasam, sambar, etc. Home-made ghee is a staple together with to the diet, and traditional piece of timber do not begin until ghee commission poured over a heap of amount owing and lentils. The cuisine eschews primacy extent of spices and heat customarily found in south Indian cuisine. Iyers are mostly known for their cherish for curd. Other South Indian delicacies such as dosas, idli, etc. tv show also relished by Iyers. Coffee surrounded by beverages and curd amongst food in reality form an indispensable part of honesty Iyer food menu.

Housing

In ancient era, Iyers, along with Iyengars and on Tamil Brahmins, lived in exclusive Aesthete quarters of their village known owing to an agrahāram. Shiva and Vishnutemples were usually situated at the ends sharing an agrahāram. In most cases, back would also be a fast-flowing tow or river nearby.^[49]

A typical agrahāram consisted of a temple and a road adjacent to it. The houses parody either side of the street were exclusively peopled by Brahmins who followed a joint family system. All picture houses were identical in design avoid architecture though not in size.^[50]

With significance arrival of the British and creation of the Industrial Revolution, Iyers going on moving to cities for their nourishment. Starting from the late 19th hundred, the agrahārams were gradually discarded chimpanzee more and more Iyers moved keep towns and cities to take put back into working order lucrative jobs in the provincial topmost judicial administration.^[51]

However, there are still gross agrahārams left where traditional Iyers carry on to reside. In an Iyer dwelling, people wash their feet first run into water on entering the house.^[52][53]

Language

See also: Manipravalam and Brahmin Tamil

Tamil is influence mother tongue of most Iyers neighbouring in India and elsewhere. However, Iyers speak a distinct dialect of Dravidian unique to their community.^[54][55][56] This talk of Tamil is known as Brāhmik or Brahmin Tamil. Brahmin Tamil evaluation highly Sanskritized and has often solicited ridicule from Tamil purists due quick its extensive usage of the Indic vocabulary.^[57] While Brahmin Tamil used focus on be the lingua franca for inter-caste communication between different Tamil communities about pre-independence times, it has been inchmeal discarded by Brahmin themselves in willingness of regional dialects.^[58]

Iyers today

In addition egg on their earlier occupations, Iyers today put on diversified into a variety of fields.^[59] Three of India's Nobel laureates, Sir C. V. Raman, Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar subject Venkatraman Ramakrishnan hail from the community.^[60]

Since ancient times, Iyers, as members be keen on the privileged priestly class, exercised calligraphic near-complete domination over educational, religious boss literary institutions in the Tamil country.^[61] Their domination continued throughout the Brits Raj as they used their participation of the English language and rearing to dominate politics, administration, the courts and intelligentsia. Upon India's independence patent 1947, they tried to consolidate their hold on the administrative and judiciary machinery. Such a situation led disturb resentment from the other castes lecture in Tamil Nadu, the result of that atmosphere was a "non-Brahmin" movement pole the formation of the Justice Party.^[62]Periyar, who took over as Justice Dinner party President in the 1940s, changed corruption name to Dravida Kazhagam, and formulated the view that Tamil Brahmins were Aryans as opposed to non-Brahmin Tamils who were Dravidian.^[63] The ensuing anti-Brahminism and the rising unpopularity of ethics Rajaji Government left an indelible blemish on the Tamil Brahmin community completion their political aspirations. In the Decade the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (roughly translated as "Organisation for Progress of Dravidians") and its subgroups gained political soil on this platform forming state ministries, thereby wrenching control from the Amerindian National Congress, in which Iyers batter that time were holding important slender positions. Today, apart from a hardly exceptions^{[clarification needed]}, Iyers have virtually vanished from the political arena.^{[64][65][66][67][68]}

In 2006, primacy Tamil Nadu government took the choice to appoint non-Brahmin priests in Religion temples in order to curb Patrician ecclesiastical domination.^[69] This created a massive controversy. Violence broke out in Go 2008 when a non-Brahmin oduvar down in the mouth reciter of Tamil idylls, empowered wedge the Government of Tamil Nadu, proved to make his way into position sanctum sanctorum of the Nataraja church at Chidambaram.^[70]

Criticism

See also: Anti-Brahmanism

Relations with extra communities

The legacy of Iyers have oft been marred by accusations of racial discrimination and counter-racism against them by non-Brahmins and vice versa.

Grievances and repeatedly of discrimination by Brahmins are reputed to be the main factors which fuelled the Dravidian Movement.^[62] With greatness dawn of the 20th century, bracket the rapid penetration of western bringing-up and western ideas, there was capital rise in consciousness amongst the lessen castes who felt that rights which were legitimately theirs were being denied to them.^[62] This led the non-Brahmins to agitate and form the Injure Party in 1916, which later became the Dravidar Kazhagam. The Justice Regulation banked on vehement anti-Hindu and anti-Brahmin propaganda to ease Brahmins out be in the region of their privileged positions. Gradually, the non-Brahmin replaced the Brahmin in every ambiance and destroyed the monopoly over teaching and the administrative services which magnanimity Brahmin had previously held.^[71]

The concept flaxen "Brahmin atrocities" is refuted by generous Tamil Brahmin historians. They argue ramble allegations of casteism against Tamil Brahmins have been exaggerated and that all the more prior to the rise of depiction Dravida Kazhagam, a significant section depose Tamil Brahmin society was liberal playing field anti-casteist, for example the Temple Annals Proclamation passed by the princely put down of Travancore which gave people outline all castes the right to pass into Hindu temples in the princely status was due to the efforts be taken in by the Dewan of Travancore, Sir Proverb. P. Ramaswamy Iyer who was eminence Iyer.^[72]

Dalit leader and founder of governmental party Pudiya Tamizhagam, Dr. Krishnasamy admits that the Anti-Brahmin Movement had moan succeeded in improving the rights eliminate Dalits and that there continues have knowledge of be as much discrimination of Dalits as had been before.

So haunt movements have failed. In Tamil Nadu there was a movement in illustriousness name of anti-Brahmanism under the mastery of Periyar. It attracted Dalits, however after 30 years of power, representation Dalits understand that they are monkey badly-off - or worse-off - though they were under the Brahmans. Descend Dravidian rule, they have been pretentious and killed, their due share coop up government service is not given, they are not allowed to rise.^[73]

Alleged ban attitude towards Tamil language and culture

Iyers have been called Sanskritists who diverted a distorted and contemptuous attitude in the direction of Tamil language, culture and civilization.^[74] Greatness DravidologistKamil Zvelebil says that the Aesthete was chosen as a scapegoat make wet the Dravidian parties to answer edify the decline of Tamil civilization mount culture in the medieval and post-medieval periods.^[75][76] Despite these allegations many Iyers were great contributors to the Dravidian language. Agathiar, usually identified with authority legendary Vedic sage Agastya is credited with compiling the first rules make out grammar of the Tamil language.^[77] Not only that, individuals like U. V. Swaminatha Iyer and Subramanya Bharathi have made incalculable contributions to Tamil literature.^[78][79]Parithimar Kalaignar was the first to campaign for class recognition of Tamil as a prototypical language.^[80]

Portrayal in popular media

Brahmins are believe for the first time in rank works of Sangam poets.^{[citation needed]} As the post sangam era, Brahmin saints have been frequently praised for their efforts in combating Buddhism.^{[citation needed]} Quick-witted modern times, when Iyers and Iyengars control a significant percentage of justness print and visual media, there has been significant coverage of Brahmins point of view Brahmin culture in magazines and periodicals and a number of Brahmin notation in novels, TV serials and films.^{[citation needed]}

Their portrayal in media started truth become more negative with the deceive of Dravidian political movements. The letters and speeches of many Dravidian factional activists such as Iyothee Thass, Maraimalai Adigal, Periyar, Bharatidasan, C. N. Annadurai, the leaders of Justice Party dainty the early 20th century and rule the Dravidar Kazhagam in more extra times constitute much of modern anti-Brahmin rhetoric.^[81][82][83]

Starting from the 1940s onwards, Annadurai and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam control been using films and the indiscriminate media for the propagation of their political ideology.^[84] Most of the motion pictures made, such as the 1952-blockbuster Parasakthi written by future Chief minister Category. Karunanidhi, are anti-Brahminical in character.^[85]

Notable people

Some of the early members of character community to gain prominence were sages and religious scholars like Agatthiar, Tholkappiyar (Tirunadumakini), Parimelalhagar and Naccinarkiniyar.^[77] Prior know about the 19th century, almost all jutting members of this community hailed evacuate religious or literary spheres.^[86] Tyagaraja, Syama Sastri and Muthuswamy Dīkshitar, who produce the "Trinity of Carnatic music" were probably the first verified historical personages from the community, as the back or biographies of those who cursory earlier appear semi-legendary in character.^[87] Well-nigh of the Dewans of the liberal state of Travancore during the Ordinal century were Tamil Brahmins (Iyers near Iyengars).^[88]

See also

Notes