Iyer
Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar, a prominent Iyer vocalist
Total population
1901:415,931[1] 2004:< 2,400,000 (Estimated)[2][3]
Regions with significant populations
Indian states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh
Languages
Mother tongue is Tamil with unique Iyer dialects. Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar ( Malayalam ചെമ്പൈ വൈദ്യനാഥ ഭാഗവതര്‍‍ was an Indian Year 1901 ( MCMI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " Tamil Nadu ( Tamil:, Country of the Tamils, t̪ɐmɨɻ n̪aːɽɯ is one of the 28 states of India. Kerala ( Malayalam: {{Kerala in Malayalam}}; A first language (also mother tongue, native language, arterial language, or L1) is the language a human being learns from birth Brahmin Tamil or Braahmik is the name for a number of closely related Tamil dialects used by the Tamil Brahmin communities ( Iyers and Iyengars Knowledge of Sanskrit for religious reasons. Sanskrit (sa संस्कृता वाक् saṃskṛtā vāk, for short sa संस्कृतम् saṃskṛtam) is a historical
Religions
Hinduism
Related ethnic groups
Pancha-Dravida Brahmins, Tamil people

Iyers (Tamil : அய்யர் Malayalam:അയ്യര) also called Sastri^[4], Sarma or Bhattar is the name given to Hindu Brahmins of Tamil or Telugu origin who are followers of the Advaita philosophy propounded by Adi Shankara^[5]. Hinduism is a religious tradition that originated in the Indian subcontinent. Brahmin communities in India are traditionally divided into two regional groups Pancha-Gauda Brahmins and Pancha-Dravida Brahmins according Tamil people (also called Tamils or Tamilians) ( are an Ethnic group native to Tamil Nadu, a state in India, and the north-eastern Tamil (ta தமிழ்; t̪əmɨɻ is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. Not to be confused with the Malay language. Malayalam (മലയാളം malayāḷaṁ) is a Dravidian language used A Hindu ( Devanagari: हिन्दू is an adherent of the philosophies and scriptures of Hinduism, a set of religious, Philosophical Brahmin ( Brāhmaṇa, sa ब्राह्मणः is the class of educators scholars and preachers in Brahminical Hinduism. Tamil people (also called Tamils or Tamilians) ( are an Ethnic group native to Tamil Nadu, a state in India, and the north-eastern Telugu people refer to the group of peoples who natively speak the Telugu language. Advaita Vedanta ( IAST Advaita Vedānta; Sanskrit अद्वैत वेदान्त əd̪vait̪ə veːd̪ɑːnt̪ə is a sub-school of the Adi Shankara ( Malayalam: ആദി ശങ്കരന്‍ Devanāgarī: आदि शङ्कर Ādi Śaṅkara, aːd̪i ɕaŋkərə (see below They are found mostly in Tamil Nadu as they are generally native to the Tamil country. But they are also found in significant numbers in Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Karnataka.

The name 'Iyer' originated in the medieval period when different sects of Brahmins residing in the then Tamil country organized themselves as a single community. A breakaway sect of Sri Vaishnavas later formed a new community called "Iyengars".

Iyers fall under the Pancha Dravida Brahmin sub-classification of India's Brahmin community and follow the same customs and traditions as other Brahmins. Brahmin communities in India are traditionally divided into two regional groups Pancha-Gauda Brahmins and Pancha-Dravida Brahmins according In recent times, they have been affected by reservation policies ^[6] and the Self-Respect Movement in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Reservation in Indian law is a form of Affirmative action whereby a percentage of seats are reserved in the public sector units union and state civil services The Self-Respect Movement was founded in 1925 by EV Ramasami Naicker (also known as Periyar in Tamil Nadu, India. Tamil Nadu ( Tamil:, Country of the Tamils, t̪ɐmɨɻ n̪aːɽɯ is one of the 28 states of India.

Origins

Iyers are South Indian Brahmins who reside in the states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. South India is the area encompassing India 's states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu as well as the union Tamil Nadu ( Tamil:, Country of the Tamils, t̪ɐmɨɻ n̪aːɽɯ is one of the 28 states of India. Kerala ( Malayalam: {{Kerala in Malayalam}}; Karnataka (ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ pronounced) is a state in the southern part of India Iyers are predominantly Smarthas or followers of the Smriti texts^[7][8]. Smartism (or Smarta Sampradaya, Smarta Tradition, as termed in Sanskrit) is a denomination of the Hindu Smriti (Sanskrit स्मृति " that which is remembered " refers to a specific body of Hindu religious Scripture

The term Iyer is derived from the term Ayya which is often used by Tamils to designate respectable people. The word Ayya is a Prakrit version of the Sanskrit word 'Arya' which means 'noble'. Prakrit (also transliterated as Pracrit) ( Sanskrit: prākṛta प्राकृत (from pra-kṛti प्रकृति according to one Ārya ( Sanskrit: (आर्य, ( Old Persian Ariya and Avestan Airya) is an ancient Sanskrit term for Hindus, ^[9][10][11]The word Ayya is also independantly derived from the Proto-Dravidian term denoting an elder brother. Proto-Dravidian is the Proto-language of the Dravidian languages. ^[12]

The origin of Iyers, like other South-Indian Brahmin communities, is shrouded in mystery. There have been evidences of Brahmin presence in the southern states even prior to the Sangam Age. The Sangam period refers to the age between 300 BCE - 300 CE when the earliest extant works of Tamil literature were created However, it is generally believed that they were few in number and that most Iyers migrated from other parts of India at a later stage. According to some sources, these early inhabitants comprised mostly of priests who ministered in temples known as "Gurukkals". A priest or priestess is a person having the authority or power to administer religious rites in particular rites of sacrifice to and propitiation of a deity or deities Large scale migrations are generally believed to have occurred between 200 and 1600 AD and most Iyers are believed to have descended from these migrants. ^{[13][14][15][16]}. However, this theory has come under attack in recent times from historians and anthropologists who question the validity of this theory due to lack of evidence. ^{[17][18][19][20][21][22]}

During the early medieval period, when Ramanuja founded Vaishnavism many Iyers adopted the new philosophical affiliation and were called Iyengars. Ramanuja ( traditionally 1017&ndash1137 also known as Ramanujacharya, was a Theologian, Philosopher, and Scriptural Exegete. Vaishnavism is a tradition of Hinduism, distinguished from other schools by its worship of Vishnu or its associated avatars principally as Rama and Iyengar or Ayyangar ( Tamil:அய்யங்கார் Kannada:ಐಯಂಗಾರ್ is the name given to Hindu Brahmins of Tamil ^[23][24]

Iyers and the Aryan Invasion Theory

See also: Indo-Aryan Migration

Iyer men and women are generally fairer in complexion to the average Tamilian ^[25][26] and this, along with the meaning of the word "Iyer" itself are regarded as sufficient evidences of an "Aryan origin" for Tamil Brahmins. Models of the Indo-Aryan migration discuss scenarios of Prehistoric migrations of the early Indo-Aryans to their historically attested areas of settlement ( North ^[27] Moreover, some Iyer communities pay homage to the river Narmada instead of the South Indian river Cauvery in their rituals ^[28] and revere legends proposing a northern origin for their community. This issue is still being debated and researched by anthropologists, linguists and archaeologists alike. However, regardless of whether the "Aryan theory" of origin for Iyers is true or not, still it has often been a burning political issue in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.

Recent genetic studies amongst Iyers of Madurai reveal close proximity to populations from Eurasian steppes of Central Asia. Madurai For the superstate in George Orwell 's novel see Nations of Nineteen Eighty-Four. In physical Geography, a steppe ( German, from степь - "a flat and arid land" степ - /stɛp/ тал - tal дала - /dɑlɑ/ pronounced Central Asia is a region of Asia from the Caspian Sea in the west to central China in the east and from southern Russia in the north to northern Pakistan in the south ^[29][30] However, the sharing of some haplotypes between the Iyers and some Southeast Asian populations suggests a migration through Southeast Asia to India. ^[31] When genetic analysis of South Asians was performed while discarding caste-based ramifications, it was observed that South Indians, in general had lesser genetic affinity with Central Asian people than the inhabitants of North India overall and the mitochondrial DNA (maternal) of Indian caste and tribal populations all emerged from the same source. Mitochondrial DNA ( mtDNA) is the DNA located in Organelles called mitochondria. "Mom" "Mum" and "Mommy" redirect here A tribe, viewed historically or developmentally consists of a Social group existing before the development of or outside of States Many anthropologists use ^[32][19][33]

Population and distribution

Today, Iyers live all over South India, but an overwhelming majority of Iyers continue to thrive in Tamil Nadu. South India is the area encompassing India 's states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu as well as the union Tamil Nadu ( Tamil:, Country of the Tamils, t̪ɐmɨɻ n̪aːɽɯ is one of the 28 states of India. Tamil Brahmins form an estimated 3% of the state's total population and are distributed all over the state^[2]. However, accurate statistics on the population of the Iyer community is unavailable^[2].

They are concentrated mainly along the Cauvery Delta districts of Mayiladuthurai, Thanjavur and Tiruchirapalli where they form almost 10% of the total population^[1]. The Kaveri River ( Kannada: ಕಾವೇರಿ ನದಿ Tamil: காவிரி ஆறு also spelled Cauvery in English Districts are a type of Administrative division, in some countries managed by a Local government. Mayiladuthurai ( Tamil:மயிலாடுதுறை formerly Mayuram or Mayavaram) is a city and a Municipality in Nagapattinam district Thanjavur District is one of the 30 districts of the state of Tamil Nadu, in southeastern India. Tiruchirapalli District (also known as Tiruchchirapalli District / Trichy District is located along the Kaveri River in Tamil Nadu India In Northern Tamil Nadu they are found in the urban areas of Chennai, Kanchipuram, Chengalpattu, Sriperumbudur and Vellore. Kanchipuram, Kanchi, or Kancheepuram is a city and a Municipality in Kanchipuram district in the Indian state of WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Chingleput or Chengalpattu is a and a Municipality in Kancheepuram district in the WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Sriperumpudur is a Panchayat town in Kancheepuram district in the Indian Vellore ( Tamil: வேலூர் pronounced Veluur) is a city and headquarters of Vellore district in the Indian state of They are almost non-existent in rural parts. Rural areas can be large and isolated (also referred to as "the country" and/or "the countryside over the course of time

Iyers are also found in fairly appreciable number in Western and Southern districts of Tamil Nadu. Iyers of the far south are called Tirunelveli Iyers and speak the Tirunelveli Brahmin dialect. Tirunelveli (திருநெல்வேலி is a city in Tamil Nadu and was formed into a Municipal corporation in 1999 by merging three municipalities viz The most prominent Tirunelveli Iyer was Subramanya Bharathy, often regarded as the "national poet of Tamil Nadu". Subramania Bharati (சுப்ரமணிய பாரதி ( December 11, 1882 - September 11, 1921) was a Tamil poet from Tamil Nadu A national poet or national bard is a Poet held by tradition and popular acclaim to represent the identity beliefs and principles of a particular national In Coimbatore, there are a large number of Kerala Iyers from Palakkad. Coimbatore (கோயம்புத்தூர் also known as Kovai (கோவை is a major industrial city in India and the second largest city in the

Telugu-speaking Smartha Brahmins, especially of the Mulukanadu sect, often identify themselves as Iyers in Tamil Nadu. Smartism (or Smarta Sampradaya, Smarta Tradition, as termed in Sanskrit) is a denomination of the Hindu Mulukanadu Brahmins ( Telugu:మూలకారణం బ్రహ్మానందం are a sub-sect of Telugu speaking Vaidiki Smartha Brahmins They are found all along coastal Andhra Pradesh and North Tamil Nadu. The fall of the Vijayanagar Empire in 1565 prompted large scale migrations from Vijayanagar as thousands of Telugu Brahmins moved southwards and settled in the districts of Tamil Nadu. The Vijayanagara Empire ( Kannada: ವಿಜಯನಗರ ಸಾಮ್ರಾಜ್ಯ Telugu: విజయనగర సామ్రాజ్యము was a South ^[34] There were also periodic migrations from the southern districts of Andhra Pradesh during the 19th and early 20th centuries when Southern and Eastern districts of Andhra Pradesh were parts of Madras province. Savant Tyagaraja, the Paramacharya of the Kanchi mutt and singer S.P.Balasubramanyam are prominent Iyers of Telugu origin. Thyāgarāja (శ్రీ త్యాగరాజ స్వామి May 4, 1767 - January 6, 1847) was a composer of Carnatic music His Holiness Jagadguru Shankaracharya Shri Chandrashekarendra Saraswati Swamigal ( May 20, 1894 &ndash Sripathi Panditaradhyula Balasubrahmanyam, ( Telugu: శ్రీపతి పండితారధ్య్యుల బాల సుబ్రమణ్యం Kannada

Subsects

Iyers have many sub-sects among them, such as Vadama, Brahacharanam, Vathima, Sholiyar or Chozhiar , Ashtasahasram, Mukkani and Gurukkal. Vadama ( Tamil "Northerners" are a sub-section of the Iyer group of Tamil Brahmins Etymology of the term The term Vadama ^[35][36] Each sub-sect is further subdivided according to the village or region of origin.

Iyers are also divided into different sects based on the Veda they follow. "Veda" redirects here For other uses see Veda (disambiguation. Iyers belonging to the Yajur Veda sect usually follow the teachings of the Krishna Yajur Veda. The Yajurveda ( Sanskrit यजुर्वेदः, a Tatpurusha compound of yajus "sacrificial formula' + veda ^[37]

The sect of Sivacharya or Gurukkal form the hereditary priesthood or in the Siva and Sakthi temples in Tamil Nadu^[13][38]. They are Saivites and adhere to the philosophy of Shaiva Siddhanta. See also Shaivism Shaiva (or Saiva Siddhanta is a Shaivaite Hindu school that encompasses tens of millions of adherents predominantly in They are well versed in Agama Sasthras and follow the Agamic rituals of these temples.

The Mukkani sub-sect of Iyers are traditionally helpers to the priests in the temples of Thiruchendur. WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> This article about the town of Thiruchendur Legend has it that the Mukkanis were the bhoothaganas, the demon bodyguards of Lord Siva and that they were given the responsibility for guarding Subrahmanya's shrines by Siva. Shiva:(pronunciation; Sanskrit: शिव Śiva, lit "Auspicious one" One of the Trimurtis Shiva is the supreme God in the Shaiva ^[39]. The Mukkanis predominantly subscribe to the Rig Veda. The Rigveda ( Sanskrit sa ऋग्वेद ṛgveda, a compound of ṛc "praise verse" and veda "knowledge"

Gotra or Lineage

See Also: Brahmin gotra system

Iyers, like all other Brahmins, trace their paternal ancestors to one of the eight rishis or sages. The word " gotra " means "lineage" in the Sanskrit language A rishi (ṛṣi denotes a Vedic poet by whom Vedic hymns were composed or according to post-Vedic tradition a "sage" to whom they were "originally revealed" (Ṛṣis ^[40][41] Accordingly they are classified into eight gotras based on the rishi they have descended from. For the Wasp Genus, see Gotra (wasp A Gotra is the Lineage A maiden in the family belongs to gotra of her father, but upon marriage takes the gotra of her husband.

Migrations

Migration to West Bengal

The oldest recorded migration of Tamil Brahmins is to West Bengal. West Bengal ( Bengali: পশ্চিমবঙ্গ Poshchim Bônggo poʃtʃim bɔŋgo is a state in eastern India. They are known as Dākṣiṇātyas amongst Vaidika Brahmins. See Bengali Brahmins. Bengali Brahmins are those Brahmins who traditionally reside in the Bengal region of the Indian subcontinent, currently comprising the Indian

Though the date of migration is being debated, the general opinion is that they migrated during the period of the Senas. The Sena dynasty ( Bengali সেন Shen) ruled Bengal through the 11th and 12th centuries. ^[42] It is also possible that they arrived in the train of the Chola armies during Rajendra Chola's invasion which took place between 1021 and 1024 C. "Rajendra Chola" redirects here For Rajendra Chola II see Rajendra Chola II. E. See Mahipala. Mahipala I (c 995 - 1043 CE is considered the second founder of the Pala dynasty Some historians have reported that the Adi Sura (Vira sena) who is supposed to have brought the five Brahmin families to Bengal was himself a Tamil Brahmin.

Migration to Karanataka

Over the last few centuries, a large number of Iyers have also migrated and settled in parts of Karnataka. Karnataka (ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ pronounced) is a state in the southern part of India The erstwhile Mysore state had been home to a significantly large Mulukanadu community. The Kingdom of Mysore was one of the three largest Princely states within the erstwhile British Empire of India. During the rule of the Mysore Maharajahs, a large number of Iyers from the then Madras province migrated to Mysore. Madras Presidency, also known as Madras Province and known officially as Presidency of Fort St The Ashtagrama Iyers are also a prominent group of Iyers in Karnataka^[43]. The Ashtagrama Iyers(Margasahayam are a group of Vadama Iyers or South Indian Karnataka Brahmins with their roots in the Ashtagrama situated in the Kolar

Migrations to Kerala

A series of large-scale migrations of Iyers from the Tamil country into Kerala over the past few centuries has created a 'Kerala Iyer' community^[44][45]. According to anthropologists, two streams of migration actually took place:

• A wave of migrations from Tirunelveli and Ramnad districts of Tamil Nadu first to the erstwhile princely states of Travancore and Cochin and later to Palakkad and Kozhikode districts have resulted in the origin of an Iyer community in the Travancore and Cochin regions. Tirunelveli (திருநெல்வேலி is a city in Tamil Nadu and was formed into a Municipal corporation in 1999 by merging three municipalities viz WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Ramanathapuram, also known as Ramnad, is a city and a Municipality in Ramanathapuram district Districts are a type of Administrative division, in some countries managed by a Local government. For other uses see Principality, Other princely states A Princely State (also called Native State or Indian State) was a Travancore or Thiruvithaamkoor ( Malayalam: തിരുവിതാങ്കൂര്‍ "Thiru" (respectful prefix which suggests either royal or For the district with the same name see Palakkad District. Palakkad, also known as Palghat (anglicized is a town and a Municipality WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> For the district with the same name see Kozhikode District.
• There were also migrations rom Tanjore district of Tamil Nadu to Palakkad. Thanjavur ( Tamil: தஞ்சாவூர் also known by its Anglicised name Tanjore, and it is the Eleventh largest city in Tamil Nadu (after Their descendants are known today as Palakkad Iyers. Palakkad Iyers also known as Kerala Iyers are Brahmin who have migrated to Palakkad from Tanjore district in the State of Tamil Nadu a few centuries ago

Iyers in Travancore and Cochin regions

A majority of the Iyers living in the historic Travancore and Cochin regions of Kerala are the descendents of 18th century migrants from the former Pandya kingdom and the Madras Presidency^[44][46]. Travancore or Thiruvithaamkoor ( Malayalam: തിരുവിതാങ്കൂര്‍ "Thiru" (respectful prefix which suggests either royal or Origin The origin of the word “Pandya” has been a subject of much speculation However, Iyers were neither considered eligible nor allowed to officiate as priests in the temples of Kerala as the priests in these parts practised 'Tantra Vidhi'- a very complex system of Tantric rites monopolized by the Namboothris^[10]. Kerala ( Malayalam: {{Kerala in Malayalam}}; The Nambudiri Brahmins ( Malayalam: ml നമ്പൂതിരി ml-Latn nambũdiri, also transliterated Namputiri, Namboothiri) are the The only exception is the district of Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu which was formerly a part of Travancore state. Kanyakumari District ( Tamil: கன்னியாகுமரி மாவட்டம்(also spelt 'Kanniyakumari' or 'Kanniakumari District') is Travancore or Thiruvithaamkoor ( Malayalam: തിരുവിതാങ്കൂര്‍ "Thiru" (respectful prefix which suggests either royal or

Due to their skill in culinary art, Iyers were initially employed mostly as cooks. Culinary art is the Art of Cooking. The word "culinary" is defined as something related to or connected with cooking or Kitchens A culinarian They are generally credited with having introduced Tamil delicacies as idli, sambhar, dosa and vadai in Kerala. History Although the precise history of the modern idli is unknown it is a very old food in southern Indian cuisine Preparation Regular dosa batter is made from Rice and split skinned Urad bean (black lentil blended with water and left to ferment overnight A vadai - Tamil வடை- Malayalam വട - (also vada, wada, vade) pronounced 'vah-daa' 'vah-dey' or 'vah-die' is a savoury snack from South However, with the passage of time, Iyers entered administrative and commercial professions as well. The first prominent member of the Iyer community in Kerala was Ramayyan Dalawa, who was the Prime Minister (Dewan or Dalawa) of Travancore State during the reign of Raja Marthanda Varma. Ramayyan (Tamil ராமய்யன் Malayalam രാമയ്യന്‍ was the Dewan of Travancore state India, during 1737 and 1756 and was Marthanda Varma (Anizham Thirunal Malayalam, (1706-1758 was the Maharajah of the Indian Princely state of Travancore from 1729 till Other prominent Iyers from Kerala include C. P. Ramaswami Iyer, Ulloor S. Parameswara Iyer, Malayattoor Ramakrishnan, V. R. Krishna Iyer and T. N. Seshan. Sir Chetpat Pattabhirama Ramaswami Iyer ( Tamil:சேத்துப்பட்டு பட்டாபி ராமசுவாமி அய்யர், KCSI Ulloor S Parameswara Iyer (1877-1949 ( Malayalam: ഉള്ളൂര്‍ എസ് Malayattoor Ramakrishnan (1927-1997 was a prominent Malayali Novelist of the 20th century Introduction Justice V R Krishna Iyer was Home minister and minister for law power prisons irrigation and social welfare in the Government of the State of Kerala Tirunellai Narayana Iyer Seshan (born in Tirunellai in Palakkad district Kerala) was the 10th Chief

Tamil Brahmins have fully integrated into Kerala society even while retaining their ancestral traditions. Racial integration, or simply integration includes Desegregation (the process of ending systematic Racial segregation) Their mother tongue is a dialect of Tamil heavily influenced by Malayalam vocabulary. Brahmin Tamil or Braahmik is the name for a number of closely related Tamil dialects used by the Tamil Brahmin communities ( Iyers and Iyengars Not to be confused with the Malay language. Malayalam (മലയാളം malayāḷaṁ) is a Dravidian language used

Palakkad Iyers

Iyers who migrated to the Palakkad district from the Chola kingdom to serve in the temples of Kerala are known as Palakkad Iyers. Palakkad District ( Malayalam:പാലക്കാട്) or Palghat is one of the 14 districts of Kerala state in South India. Palakkad Iyers also known as Kerala Iyers are Brahmin who have migrated to Palakkad from Tanjore district in the State of Tamil Nadu a few centuries ago From the very beginning, the Palakkad Iyers were endowed with grants of land and were pretty well-off compared to the Travancore and Cochin Iyers. They also officiated in temples as priests. A temple (from the Latin word Templum) is a structure reserved for religious or spiritual activities such as prayer and sacrifice or analogous rites The Palakkad Iyers resided in agraharams^[47][48] . Agraharams are clusters of houses in a village where Brahmins live Those who established themselves in the interior parts of Kerala lived in houses known as 'Madom'^[48][49].

The Palakkad Iyers were greatly affected by the Kerala Agrarian Relations Bill, 1957 (repealed in 1961 and substituted by The Kerala Land Reforms Act, 1963) which abolished the tenancy system. ^[50]

Migrations to Sri Lanka

According to a primary source called Mahavamsa, Brahmins in general are known in written Sri Lankan history from the beginnings of Indic migrations to the island from about 500 BCE. Primary source is a term used in a number of disciplines In Historiography, a primary source (also called original source) is a Document, Recording The Mahavamsa, ("Great Chronicle " is a historical poem written in the Pali language of the kings of Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka ( Sinhalese:, இலங்கை known as Ceylon before 1972 is an Island Currently Tamil Brahmins are an important part of the Sri Lankan Tamil ethnic group in Sri Lanka. Sri Lankan Tamil people ( or Ceylon Tamils, are an Ethnic group native to the South Asian island state of Sri Lanka who predominantly speak ^[51] Tamil Brahmins played an important historic role in the formation of the Jaffna Kingdom circa thirteenth century. The Jaffna kingdom (யாழ்ப்பாண அரசு (1215-1619 CE also known as Kingdom of Aryacakravarti, of modern northern Sri Lanka came into existence ^[52] (See Aryacakravarti dynasty)^[53]

Recent Migrations

Apart from South India, Iyers have also migrated to and settled in places in North India. See also Jaffna kingdom The Aryacakravarti dynasty (ஆரியச் சக்கரவர்த்திகள் வம்சம் were kings of the Jaffna South India is the area encompassing India 's states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu as well as the union Geography Northern India lies mainly on continental India and a very small part of it lies on the Indian peninsula There are significantly large Iyer communities in Mumbai, Kolkata, Orissa and Delhi. Mumbai ( Marathi:,, IPA: formerly Bombay, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra and the financial Orissa (ଓଡ଼ିଶା is a state located on the east coast of India, by the Bay of Bengal. Delhi (दिल्ली ਦਿੱਲੀ دلی d̪ɪlːiː sometimes referred to as Dilli) is the second largest metropolis of India, with a population These migrations, which commenced during the British rule, were often undertaken in search of better prospects and contributed to the prosperity of the community^[6].

In recent times Iyers have also migrated in large numbers to the United Kingdom, Europe and the USA in search of better fortune. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located The United States of America —commonly referred to as the They are one of the fastest growing Asian communities in the US.

Religious Practices, Ceremonies and Festivals

Rituals

Iyer rituals comprise rites as described in Hindu scriptures such as Apastamba Sutra attributed to Apastamba. Literature regarded as central to the Hindu literary tradition was predominantly composed in Sanskrit, Indeed much of the morphology and linguistic The most important rites are the shodasa samskaras or the 17 essential Saṃskāra. Samskaram ( Sanskrit saṃskāraṃ "accomplishment embellishment consecration" Hindi Sanskar) are Vedic Rites of passage finding Although many rites and rituals that were practiced in ancient times are no longer followed, some traditions are continued to this day^[54][55]

Iyers from South India performing the Sandhya Vandhanam, 1913

Iyers are initiated into rituals at the time of birth. South India is the area encompassing India 's states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu as well as the union In ancient times, rituals used to be performed when the baby was being separated from mother's umbilical cord. This ceremony is known as Jatakarma^[56]. However, this practice is no longer observed. At birth, a horoscope is made for the child based on the position of the stars. In Astrology, a horoscope is a chart or diagram representing the positions of the Sun Moon planets the Astrological aspects, and sensitive angles The child is then given a ritual name with a grand Hindu ritual^[57]. On the child's birthday (especially the first one) a Hindu ritual is performed to ensure longevity. This ritual is known as Ayushya Homam. Homas are small scale Pujas in which different offerings are put into fire under the supervision of a Vedic Purohit chanting special Mantras They This ceremony is held on the child's birthday reckoned as per the Tamil calendar based on the position of the nakshatras or stars and not the Gregorian calendar^[57]. A nakshatra ( Devanagari: नक्षत्र or lunar mansion is one of the 27 or 28 divisions of the sky identified by the prominent star(s in them that the The Gregorian calendar is the most widely used Calendar in the world today The child's first birthday is the most important and is the time when the baby is formally initiated by piercing the ears of the boy or girl. From that day onwards a girl is expected to wear earrings. ^[58]

A second initiation (for the male child in particular) follows when the child crosses the age of seven. This is the Upanayana ceremony during which a Brahmana is said to be reborn. Upanayana, sometimes known outside India by the name "sacred thread ceremony" is commonly known for being a Hindu rite-of-passage ritual Brahmin ( Brāhmaṇa, sa ब्राह्मणः is the class of educators scholars and preachers in Brahminical Hinduism. A three-piece cotton thread is installed around the torso of the child encompassing the whole length of his body from the left shoulder to the right hip. Torso is an anatomical term for the central part of the many animal bodies (including that of the human from which extend the neck and limbs In Human anatomy, the shoulder joint comprises the part of the body where the Humerus attaches to the Scapula. The Upanayana ceremony of initiation is solely performed for the members of the dvija castes, generally when the individual is between 7 and 16 years of age. Dvija ( Sanskrit twice born) is one of the members of the first three Varnas in Hindu Dharma. Castes are Hereditary systems of occupation, Endogamy, social culture, Social class, and Political power. ^[59][60] In ancient times, the Upanayana was often considered as the ritual which marked the commencement of a boy's education, which in those days, comprised mostly of the study of the Vedas. However, with the Brahmins taking to other vocations than priesthood, this initiation has become more of a symbolic ritual these days. A vocation is an occupation for which a person is suited trained or qualified Clergy is the generic term used to describe the formal religious leadership within a given Religion. The neophyte was expected to perform the Sandhya Vandanam ritual^[61][62] and utter a prescribed set of prayers, three times a day: dawn, mid-day, and dusk. Sandhyavandanam (Sanskrit sa संध्यावन्दन saṃdhyāvandana is a religious practice performed by Hindu men initiated into the rite by the ceremony The most sacred and prominent of the prescribed set of prayers is the Gayatri Mantra,^[63] which is as sacred to the Hindus as the Kalima to the Muslims and Ahunwar to the Zoroastrians. This is an article dedicated to Gayatri Mantra or sacred religious chant common to Hinduism and Brahmoism. See also Shahadah The Six Kalimas (or Six "Words" are recorded in various books of knowledge and are recited (and remembered by Muslims across the A Muslim (مسلم pronounced Muslim, not Muzlim) is an adherent of the Religion Ahuna Vairya is the Avestan language name of the most sacred of the Gathic hymns of the Avesta, the revered texts of Zoroastrianism. Zoroastrianism (ˌzɔroʊˈæstriəˌnɪzəm is the religion and philosophy based on the teachings Once a year (usually in the month of August or September) Iyers change their sacred thread. This ritual is exclusive to South Indian Brahmimns and the day is commemorated as 'Avani Avittam'.

Other important ceremonies for Iyers include the rites for the deceased. All Iyers are cremated according to Vedic rites, usually within a day of the individual's death^[64]. This article discusses the historical religious practices in the Vedic time period see Hinduism and Indian religions for details The death rites include a 13-day ceremony, and regular Tarpanam^[65](performed every month thereafter, on Amavasya day, or New Moon Day), for the ancestors. Tarpanam refers to the Offerings made to an individual's Ancestors according to the method prescribed by the Vedas This is performed by religious Hindus Amavasya is the Indic name for a New moon. The word Amavasya is common to many Indian languages especially Sanskrit, Hindi, Bengali There is also a yearly shraarddha^[66], that must be performed. These rituals are expected to be performed only by male descendants of the deceased. Married men who perform this ritual must be accompanied by their wives. The women are symbolically important in the ritual to give a "consent" to all the proceedings in it^[67].

Festivals

Iyers celebrate almost all Hindu festivals like Deepavali, Navratri, Pongal, Vinayaka Chaturthi, Janmāshtami, Tamil New Year, Sivarathri and Karthika Deepam. Diwali, or Deepavali, (also called Tihar and Swanti in Nepal (Markiscarali is a major Indian and Nepalese festival and a significant Navratri ( Sanskrit: नवरात्रि is a Hindu Festival of worship and dance Thai Pongal (தைப்பொங்கல் is a Harvest festival equivalent to a Thanksgiving event celebrated by Tamils across the world Ganesha Chaturthi ( IAST: Gaṇeśa Caturthī Devanagari: गणेश चतुर्थी or Ganesha Festival is a day on which Lord Ganesha Krishna Janmashtami ( Devanagari कृष्ण जन्माष्टमी, also known as "Krishnashtami","Saatam Aatham"," Gokulashtami Puthandu, or better known as Tamil New Year, is the celebration of the first day of the new Tamil year by people of Tamil origin Maha Shivratri or Maha Sivaratri or Shivaratri or Sivaratri ( Night of Shiva or "Great Night of Shiva" is a Hindu festival celebrated every year on

However, the most important festival which is exclusive to Brahmins of South India is the Avani Avittam festival. ^[68][69]

Weddings

A typical Iyer wedding consists of Sumangali Prārthanai (Hindu prayers for prosperous married life) , Nāndi (homage to ancestors), Nischayadhārtham (Engagement) and Mangalyadharanam (tying the knot). This is a highly ritualistic affair. The main ritualistic events of an Iyer marriage include Vratam (fasting), Kasi Yatra (pilgrimage to Kasi), Oonjal (Swing), Kanyadanam (placing the bride in the groom's care), Mangalyadharanam, Pānigrahanam and Saptapathi (or seven steps - the final and most important stage wherein the bride takes seven steps supported by the groom's palms thereby finalizing their union). This is usually followed by Nalangu, which is a casual and informal event. ^[70]

Lifestyle and Culture

Traditional Iyer Ethics

A traditional-looking Iyer -- M. V. Sivan, a prominent vocalist from the 19th century

Iyers are generally orthodox Hindus who adhere steadfastly to their customs and traditions. However, of recent, they have started leaving their traditional priestly duties for more secular vocations, causing contemporary Iyers to be more flexible than their parents and grandparents. They followed the Manusmriti (Hindu Code of Laws or The Institutes of Manu) and the Grihya Sutras of Apastamba and Baudhayana. The Manu Smriti ( Sanskrit: मनुस्मृति is a work of Hindu law and ancient Indian society Baudhāyana, (fl ca 800 BCE was an Indian mathematician whowas most likely also a priest The society is patriarchal but not feudal. ^[71]

Iyers observed many rules in the past when they used to live and marry only within their community; many continue to adhere to their roots. Their dietary habits can be considered to be strict, consuming only vegetarian food which excludes fish and fowl, eggs and egg products. Some abjure onion and garlic on the grounds that they activate certain base senses. Milk and milk products, preferably from the cow, were approved. They were mandated to avoid the consumption of intoxicants, including alcohol and tobacco^[72].

An Iyer man dressed in traditional clothes for a Hindu ritual

Iyers follow elaborate purification rituals, both of self and the house. The women of the household cook food only after a bath, while the males perform religious rites after a purificatory bath. An Iyer does not visit a temple without taking bath. Food is partaken of only after it is offered to the deity/deities in a prescribed manner. Like any other Brahmin community, bathing everyday is mandatory, and is, strictly speaking, the first thing to be carried out, before beginning any work of the day or before the start of any ritual or prayer. So much importance was given to this, that it was not unusual to see Iyers bathe many times during the day (before performing any important ritual). ^[73]

The bathing was considered sufficiently purifying only if it confirmed to the rules of madi^[73]. The word madi is used by Tamil Brahmins to indicate that a person is bodily pure. For other uses see Madi (disambiguation. Multichannel Audio Digital Interface, or MADI, is an industry-standard electronic communications In order to practice madi, the brahmin had to wear only clothes which had been recently washed and dried, and the clothes should remain untouched by any person who was not madi. Only after taking bath in cold water, and after wearing such clothes, would the person be in a state of madi. This practice of madi is followed by Iyers even in modern times, before participating in any kind of religious ceremony^[73].

As alcoholic beverages are prohibited according to the Manusmriti, Iyers have taken a special liking for coffee ^[74][75]

.

Until the turn of the last century, an Iyer widow (but not a widower) was never allowed to remarry. Divorces were considered a "great evil". Once a widow, an Iyer woman had to shave her head and lead the life of Sanyasin. "Sanyasi" redirects here For the motion picture see Sanyasi (1975 film Sannyasa, ( Devanagari: संन्यास She had to stop wearing the kumkum/bindi on her forehead, and was recommended to smear her forehead with sacred ashes. Ashes are put to use in various religions In Hinduism, sacred ashes or Vibhuti are used to smear anoint or mark devotees All of these practices have diminished over the last few decades, and modern Iyer widows lead less orthodox lives^[76].

Traditional Attire

Tamil Brahmins (Iyers and Iyengars) in traditional veshti and angavastram at a convention of the Mylai Tamil Sangam, circa early 1900s

Iyer men traditionally wear veshtis, which cover them from waist to foot. The pancha in Telugu, called dhoti or doti in Hindi, Laacha in Punjabi, Mundu in Malayalam These are made of cotton and sometimes silk. Cotton is a soft staple Fibre that grows around the seeds of the cotton plant ( Gossypium sp Silk is a natural Protein Fiber, some forms of which can be woven into Textiles The best-known type of silk is obtained from cocoons Veshtis are worn in different styles. They are worn in typical brahminical style during religious ceremonies. This style is popularly known as panchakacham^[77](from the sanskrit terms pancha and gajam meaning "five yards" as the length of the panchakacham is five yards in contrast to the veshtis used in non-ceremonial daily life is, by contrast, four or eight cubits long). Sanskrit (sa संस्कृता वाक् saṃskṛtā vāk, for short sa संस्कृतम् saṃskṛtam) is a historical They sometimes wrap their shoulders with a single piece of cloth known as angavastram (body-garment). In earlier times, Iyer men who performed austerities also draped their waist or chests with deer skin or grass.

The traditional Iyer woman is draped in a nine yard saree, also known as madisar in Tamil. The Madisar is the style in which the Sari is worn by the Brahmin community in Tamil Nadu, India ^[78] Though such dress is worn regularly only by the older women these days, on festivals and other religious occasions younger women wear it as well.

Iyers and Art

See Also: Distinguished Iyers

DK Pattammal (right) ,Classical Music Singer, in concert with her brother, DK Jayaraman; circa early 1940s. See also Iyer This is a list of notable Iyers (people from the Iyer caste of Tamil Brahmins.

For centuries, Iyers have taken a keen interest in preserving the arts and sciences^[79]. They undertook the responsibility of preserving the Bharata Natya Shastra, a monumental work on Bharatanatyam, the classical dance form of Tamil Nadu. The Nātya Shastra ( Sanskrit: Nātyaśāstra नाट्य शास्त्र is an ancient Indian treatise on the Performing arts Bharatanatyam (பரதநாட்டியம்is a classical Dance form originating in Tamil Nadu, During the early 20th century, dance was usually regarded as a degenerate art associated with devadasis. The term devadasi originally described a Hindu religious practice in which girls were "married" and dedicated to a deity ( deva or Devi) However, it was an Iyer woman, Rukmini Devi Arundale, who revived the dying art form thereby breaking social and caste taboos about Brahmins taking part in the study and practice of the traditional dance form of Bharatanatyam, an art then considered degenerate^{[80][81][82][83]}. Rukmini Devi Arundale ( February 29, 1904 - February 24, 1986) was an Indian Theosophist, dancer and choreographer in Indian classical

However, compared to dance, the contribution of Iyers in field of music has been considerably noteworthy^[84][85][86]. The Trinity of Carnatic Music were responsible for making some excellent compositions towards the end of the 18th century. In more recent times, Chembai Vaidyanatha Iyer and D. K. Pattammal have enthralled audiences with some soul-stirring renderings. Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar ( Malayalam ചെമ്പൈ വൈദ്യനാഥ ഭാഗവതര്‍‍ was an Indian The vocalist Damal Krishnaswamy Pattammal (தாமல் கிருஷ்ணசுவாமி பட்டம்மாள் ( March 28 Today, there are Iyers who give traditional renderings as well as playback singers in Indian films like S P Balasubrahmanyam, Hariharan, Kavita Krishnamurthy, Nithyashree Mahadevan, Usha Uthup, Shankar Mahadevan, Mahalaxmi Iyer, Hamsika Iyer and Naresh Iyer . Sripathi Panditaradhyula Balasubrahmanyam, ( Telugu: శ్రీపతి పండితారధ్య్యుల బాల సుబ్రమణ్యం Kannada Sharada Krishnamurthy credited as Kavitha Krishnamurthy (married name Kavita Subramaniam made her mark in the Indian (film playback industry Dr Nithyasree Mahadevan, also previously referred to as S Nithyashri (born August 25, 1973) is an eminent Carnatic musician and Playback Usha Uthup is a popular Indian pop singer She was well known for popular hits in the late 1960s1970s and 1980s Shankar Mahadevan is an Indian singer and music composer He is a part of the Shankar Ehsaan Loy trio team that provides music to Bollywood Mahalakshmi Iyer is an Indian Playback singer, best known for her Hindi and Tamil songs Hamsika Iyer is an Indian singer based in Mumbai - born in Pune and brought up in Bombay Naresh Iyer is a playback singer from Mumbai, India Noted for his emphatic and versatile style of singing Naresh Iyer has rendered film songs in several Indian Iyers have also contributed considerably to drama, short story and temple architecture. Drama is the specific mode of Fiction represented in Performance.

In the field of literature and journalism, the Iyer community has produced stalwarts like R. K. Narayan, R. K. Laxman, Subramanya Bharathy, Kalki Krishnamurthy, Ulloor Parameswara Iyer, and Cho Ramaswamy to name a few. For other users see Narayan (disambiguation R K Narayan ( October 10, 1906 - May 13 2001) born Rasipuram Krishnaswami Rasipuram Krishnaswamy Iyer Laxman ( Tamil: ராசிபுரம் கிருஷ்ணசுவாமி லட்சுமண் Kannada: ಅರ್ Subramania Bharati (சுப்ரமணிய பாரதி ( December 11, 1882 - September 11, 1921) was a Tamil poet from Tamil Nadu Kalki (கல்கி was the pen name of R Krishnamurthy (ரா Ulloor S Parameswara Iyer (1877-1949 ( Malayalam: ഉള്ളൂര്‍ എസ് Cho Ramaswamy ( Tamil: சோ ராமசாமி born October 5 1934 is an actor, Playwright, Columnist The adoption of Western education at every stage has ensued their proficiency in the English language^[87][88]. They have also contributed in an equal amount to Tamil language and literature^[89][90]. There are innumerable hymns composed on different deities worshipped in the South such as Meenakshi, Amman, Shiva, Murugan, Vishnu, etc. South India is the area encompassing India 's states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu as well as the union Meenatchi or Meenakshi ( IAST mīnakṣi, often written Meenakshi in Tamil மீனாட்சி s a Hindu deity Amman (ɑˈmɑːn sometimes spelled Ammann ( Arabic عمان ʿAmmān) is the Capital city of the Hashemite Kingdom The style of these poems are indeed unique and beautiful. Besides Tamil, they have also written a number of works in Sanskrit which is the language used in rituals.

The Iyer community has also produced a number of film stars and cine artistes. Two of Kollywood's greatest directors, K. Balachander and Mani Ratnam hail from the Iyer community. Tamil cinema or Kollywood ( Tamil: கோலிவுட் kōlivūṭ) is the English name of the popular Tamil Film Industry based in the Mani Ratnam (மணி ரத்னம் (born June 2, 1956 in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India) is a critically acclaimed South Gemini Ganesan was one of the greatest Tamil film actors of the black-and-white era along with Sivaji Ganesan and M. G. Ramachandran. Gemini Ganesan ( 17 November 1920 &ndash 22 March 2005) was an Indian actor Sivaji Ganesan (born Viluppuram Chinnaiahpillai Ganesan, October 1, 1927 - July 21, 2001) was a legendary Indian Maruthur Gopala Ramachandran Menon ( Tamil: மருதூர் கோபால இராமச்சந்திரன் Malayalam:മരുതൂര് At present, Ajith and Trisha are amongst the top five stars in Tamil cinema. Ajith Kumar ( Tamil: அஜித் குமார் (born May 1, 1971) is an Indian film actor and car racer who has acted in many Tamil Trisha Krishnan, born on 4 May 1983 as Trisha Krishnamurthy ( Tamil: த்ரிஷா கிருஷ்ணமூர்தி is a prominent

Food

See Also: Tamil cuisine

The diet of Iyers comprise mainly of Tamil vegetarian cuisine, comprising rice

The main diet of Iyers is composed of vegetarian food^[91], mostly rice which is the staple diet for millions of South Indians. Tamil Nadu is famous for its hospitality and its deep belief that serving food to others is a service to humanity as is common in many regions of India Vegetarian side dishes are frequently made in Iyer households apart from compulsory additions as rasam,sambar,etc. Home-made ghee is a staple addition to the diet, and traditional meals do not begin until ghee is poured over a heap of rice and lentils. Ghee ( Hindi घी ghī, Urdu گھی ghī, Punjabi ਘਿਉ/گھیو ghiu, Kashmiri ग्याव/گیاو While tasting delicious, the cuisine eschews the extent of spices and heat traditionally found in south Indian cuisine. Iyers are mostly known for their love for curd. Other South Indian delicacies such as dosas, idli, etc. are also relished by Iyers^[92]. Coffee amongst beverages and curd amongst food items form an indispensable part of the Iyer food menu. Liquor is traditionally forbidden, as per the Manusmrithi^[72], and is accordingly eschewed by the Iyers.

Consumption of food is also accompanied by a ritual called annasuddhi, literally meaning 'purification of rice'. Involving a few invocations and sprinkling of water, the ritual is considered essential before partaking of food, in traditional Iyer households.

Agraharams

Agraharam

In ancient times, Iyers, along with Iyengars and other Tamil Brahmins, lived in exclusive Brahmin quarters of their village or town known as an 'agraharam'(in Sanskrit Agram means tip or end and Haram means Shiva). Iyengar or Ayyangar ( Tamil:அய்யங்கார் Kannada:ಐಯಂಗಾರ್ is the name given to Hindu Brahmins of Tamil A quarter is a section of an urban settlement Its borders can be administratively chosen (then denoted as Borough) and it may have its own administrative structure Agraharams are clusters of houses in a village where Brahmins live Shiva and Vishnu temples were usually situated at the ends of an agraharam. Shiva:(pronunciation; Sanskrit: शिव Śiva, lit "Auspicious one" One of the Trimurtis Shiva is the supreme God in the Shaiva For other meanings see Vishnu (disambiguation. Vishnu ( IAST viṣṇu Devanagari विष्णु (honorific A temple (from the Latin word Templum) is a structure reserved for religious or spiritual activities such as prayer and sacrifice or analogous rites In most cases, there would also be a fast-flowing stream or river nearby. ^[93][94][95]

A typical agraharam consisted of a temple and a street adjacent to it. The houses on either side of the street were exclusively peopled by Brahmins who followed a joint family system. All the houses were identical in design and architecture though not in size.

With the arrival of the British and commencement of the Industrial Revolution, Iyers started moving to cities for their sustenance. Starting from the late 1800s, the agraharams were gradually discarded as more and more Iyers moved to towns and cities to take up lucrative jobs in the provincial and judicial administration.

However, there are still some agraharams left where traditional Iyers continue to reside. In an Iyer residence, people wash their feet first with water on entering the house. This is not possible in flats in cities due to the layout of the same. But in houses in villages, the layout permits this and is still practiced. ^[96][97]

Language of Iyers

See also: Brahmin Tamil

Tamil is the mother tongue of most Iyers residing in India and elsewhere. Brahmin Tamil or Braahmik is the name for a number of closely related Tamil dialects used by the Tamil Brahmin communities ( Iyers and Iyengars Tamil (ta தமிழ்; t̪əmɨɻ is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. A first language (also mother tongue, native language, arterial language, or L1) is the language a human being learns from birth India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country However, Iyers speak a distinct dialect of Tamil unique to their community^[98][99]. This dialect of Tamil is known as Braahmik or Brahmin Tamil, but is more popularly known by its colloquial term "Iyer baashai" or "language of Iyers". A dialect (from the Greek word διάλεκτος dialektos) is a variety of a Language that is characteristic of a particular group of Brahmin Tamil or Braahmik is the name for a number of closely related Tamil dialects used by the Tamil Brahmin communities ( Iyers and Iyengars Brahmin Tamil or Braahmik is the name for a number of closely related Tamil dialects used by the Tamil Brahmin communities ( Iyers and Iyengars A colloquialism is an expression not used in formal speech, writing or Paralinguistics. Brahmin Tamil is highly Sanskritized and has often invited ridicule from Tamil nationalists due to its extensive usage of the Sanskrit vocabulary. Sanskritisation may also refer to introduction of Sanskrit vocabulary in another language or dialect (such as Khariboli) The Thanittamil Iyakkam (தனித் தமிழ் இயக்கம் ( Pure Tamil Movement, Only Tamil Movement)is a movement of Linguistic The term nationalism can refer to an Ideology, a sentiment, a form of Culture, or a Social movement that focuses on the Nation The vocabulary of a person is defined either as the set of all Words that are understood by that person or the set of all words likely to be used by that person when constructing However, with Brahmins moving out of their agraharams to urban centres or migrating to foreign countries, Brahmin Tamil is being increasingly discarded and is facing the prospect of extinction. Brahmin ( Brāhmaṇa, sa ब्राह्मणः is the class of educators scholars and preachers in Brahminical Hinduism. Agraharams are clusters of houses in a village where Brahmins live In Biology and Ecology, extinction is the cessation of existence of a Species or group of taxa. The Palakkad Iyers have a unique sub-dialect of their own. Palakkad Tamil is characterized by the presence of a large number of words of Malayali origin. The Iyers of Tirunelveli speak a form of Tamil closely allied to the Tirunelveli dialect. The Sankheti Iyers speak a sub-dialect of Brahmin Tamil called Sankheti. Sankethi is distinct from Tamil and is now an independent language according to Dravidian linguists such as Hampa Nagarajaiah

Apart from Tamil, Iyers in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Kerala are also fluent in the local languages of their state i. e. Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam, respectively. Kannada (kn [[wiktಕನ್ನಡ ಕನ್ನಡ]] Kannaḍa) is one of the major Dravidian languages of India, spoken predominantly in the state Not to be confused with the Malay language. Malayalam (മലയാളം malayāḷaṁ) is a Dravidian language used Iyers who reside in Mumbai and North India are well-versed in Hindi and English. Mumbai ( Marathi:,, IPA: formerly Bombay, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra and the financial Geography Northern India lies mainly on continental India and a very small part of it lies on the Indian peninsula Hindi ( Devanāgarī: hi [[wiktहिन्दी हिन्दी]] or hi [[wiktहिंदी हिंदी]] IAST:, IPA:) is English is a West Germanic language originating in England and is the First language for most people in the United Kingdom, the United States

Iyengars speak a separate dialect of Tamil called Iyengar Tamil.

Iyers Today

A Tamil Brahmin couple, circa 1945

Akin to Bengali Brahmins, the Brahmins of South India were one of the first communities to be Westernized. However, this was restricted to their outlook on the material world. They have retained their Smartha traditions despite almost two centuries of western influence^[6].

In addition to their earlier occupations, Iyers today have diversified into a variety of fields — their strengths particularly evident in the fields of Mass Media, science, mathematics and computer science. "Popular press" redirects here note that the University of Wisconsin Press publishes under the imprint "The Popular Press" It is a small percentage of Iyers who voluntarily choose, in this era, to pursue the traditional vocation of priesthood, though all Hindu temple priests are Brahmins. Some Iyers today have even married outside of their caste in Europe and therefore produced children of mixed background.

Social and political issues

See Also:Accusations of Casteism and Other Controversies

Since ancient times, Iyers, as members of the privileged priestly class, exercised a near-complete domination over educational,religious and literary institutions in the Tamil country ^{[100] [101]}. Iyer (aiʝar Tamil: அய்யர் Malayalam:അയ്യര (variously spelt as Iyer, Ayyar, Aiyar, Ayer or Education encompasses both the Teaching and Learning of Knowledge, proper conduct, and technical competency A religion is a set of Tenets and practices often centered upon specific Supernatural and moral claims about Reality, the Cosmos Literature is the Art of written works Literally translated the word means "acquaintance with letters" (from Latin littera letter Institutions are structures and mechanisms of Social order and Cooperation governing the Behavior of a Set of Individuals Their domination continued throughout the British Raj as they used their knowledge of the English language and education to dominate the political, administrative, judicial and intellectual spectrum. For usage see British rule in India British Raj ( rāj, lit "reign" in Hindustani) primarily refers to the British In Law, the judiciary or judicial system is the system of Courts which administer Justice in the name of the sovereign or State An intellectual (from the adjective meaning "involving thought and reason" is a person who tries to use his or her Intelligence and analytical thinking, Upon India's independence in 1947, they hoped to consolidate their hold on the administrative and judicial machinery . Such a situation led to resentment from the other castes in Tamil Nadu; an upshot of this atmosphere was an "non-Brahmin" movement and the formation of the Justice Party^[87] . Justice Party was the political wing of Then Nala Urimai Sangam (literal translation The South Indian Welfare Association In the early days,the Justice Party functioned on a principled high-ground as a representative organization of non-Brahmins of the Madras Presidency and campaigning for their grievances to be addressed and for the fulfillment of their education and monetary needs. Madras Presidency, also known as Madras Province and known officially as Presidency of Fort St However, with the passage of time, the movement soon led to a power struggle between the Brahmins and other upper castes like the Mudaliars, Pillais and Chettiars. Brahmin ( Brāhmaṇa, sa ब्राह्मणः is the class of educators scholars and preachers in Brahminical Hinduism. Mudaliar also Mudaliyār, Mudali and Moodley in Tamil language literally means a person of first rank Pillai, Pillay, Pulle or Pilli is a popular title of Tamil - and Malayalam -speaking people of India and others living in Sri Lanka The Chettiars also Chetty, Chetti, Setty, Chitty, Shetty and Shettigar is a title commonly used by people of South Periyar, who took over as Justice Party President in the 1940s, changed its name to Dravida Kazhagam, and formulated the view that Tamil Brahmins were Aryans as opposed to a majority of Tamils who were Dravidian based on Robert Caldwell's writings ^[102]. Periyar E V Ramasamy (பெரியார் ( September 17, 1879 &ndash December 24, 1973) also known as Ramaswami Dravidar Kazhagam or Dravida Kazhagam (Dravidian Organization was the first fully Dravidian party in India. Aryan is an English word derived from the Sanskrit " Ārya " meaning "noble" or "honorable" Bishop Robert Caldwell (1814 -1891 was an orientalist who pioneered the study of the Dravidian languages with his work Comparative Grammar of Dravidian Languages See Iyers and the Aryan Invasion Theory. The ensuing anti-Brahmin propaganda and the rising unpopularity of the Rajaji Government left an indelible mark on the Tamil Brahmin community ending their political aspirations forever. Anti-Brahminism, also spelled as Anti-Brahmanism, is Discrimination, hostility or Prejudice directed against the Brahmin caste Chakravarthi Rajagopalachari (Tamil சக்ரவர்த்தி ராஜகோபாலாச்சாரி ( December 10, 1878 - December 25, In the 1960s the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (roughly translated as "Organisation for Progress of Dravidians") and its subgroups gained political ground on this platform forming state ministries, thereby wrenching control from the Indian National Congress, in which Iyers at that time were holding important party positions. Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam ( Tamil:திராவிட முன்னேற்றக் கழகம் (literally "Dravidian Progress Federation") is a regional Indian National Congress-I (also known as the Congress Party and abbreviated INC) is a major Political party in India. Today, apart from a few exceptions, Iyers have virtually disappeared from the political arena. ^{[103][104][105][106][107][108] [109][110][111]}

Relations with other Communities

See Also: Brahminism,Anti-Brahminism,Caste-Based Reservations in Tamil Nadu

The legacy of Iyers have often been marred by accusations of racism and counter-racism against them by non-Brahmins and vice versa. Anti-Brahminism, also spelled as Anti-Brahmanism, is Discrimination, hostility or Prejudice directed against the Brahmin caste Reservation in Indian law is a form of Affirmative action whereby a percentage of seats are reserved in the public sector units union and state civil services List of racism-related topics|Racism by country Racism, by its simplest definition is the belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that The Manusmriti forbids Brahmins from eating with individuals of particular castes (particularly the Scheduled Castes) and prescribed a strict code of laws with regard to their day-to-day behavior and dealings with other castes. The Manu Smriti ( Sanskrit: मनुस्मृति is a work of Hindu law and ancient Indian society Scheduled Castes ("SC"s and Scheduled Tribes ("ST"s are Indian population groupings that are explicitly recognized by the Constitution of Iyers of orthodox families generally obeyed these laws strictly.

Grievances and alleged instances of discrimination by Brahmins are believed to be the main factors which fuelled the Dravidian Movement^[87]. Unlike most discrimination policies discrimination between, which is the discernment of qualities and recognition of the differences focused here discrimination against is The Self-Respect Movement was founded in 1925 by EV Ramasami Naicker (also known as Periyar in Tamil Nadu, India. With the dawn of the 20th century, and the rapid penetration of western education and western ideas, there was a rise in consciousness amongst the lower castes who felt that rights which were legitimately theirs were being denied to them ^[87]. A right is a legal or moral Entitlement or Permission. Rights are of vital importance in theories of Justice and deontological ethics This, in combination with the depressed economic and social conditions of non-Brahmins, led the non-Brahmins to agitate and form the Justice Party in 1916, which later became the Dravidar Kazhagam. An economy is the realized social system of production exchange distribution and consumption of goods and services of a country or other area Definition In the absence of agreement about its meaning the term "social" is used in many different senses referring among other things to attitudes Year 1916 ( MCMXVI) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year Dravidar Kazhagam or Dravida Kazhagam (Dravidian Organization was the first fully Dravidian party in India. The Justice Party banked on vehement anti-Hindu and anti-Brahmin propaganda to ease Brahmins out of their privileged positions. Gradually, the non-Brahmin replaced the Brahmin in every sphere and destroyed the monopoly over education and the administrative services which the Brahmin had previously held. In Economics, a monopoly (from Greek monos, alone or single + polein, to sell exists when a specific individual or enterprise has sufficient Education encompasses both the Teaching and Learning of Knowledge, proper conduct, and technical competency ^[113]

However, with the destruction of Brahmin monopoly over the services and introduction of adequate representation for other communities, anti-Brahmin feelings did not subside. On the contrary, they were fully exploited by politicians, who often indulged in anti-Brahmin rhetoric primarily in order to get non-Brahmin votes^[114][115]. A politician (from Greek " Polis " is an individual who is involved in influencing public decision making through the influence of Politics or a person Rhetoric has had many definitions no simple definition can do it justice With the passage of time, they reached such a pitch that even individuals who had previously been a part of the Dravidian Movement began to cry foul. Deprived of opportunities, Tamil Brahmins began to migrate en masse to other states in India and foreign countries in search of livelihood. ^[6] There were frequent allegations of casteism and racism against Brahmins very similar to the ones made by the lower castes against them in the decades before independence.

However, the very concept of "Brahmin atrocities" is refuted by some Tamil Brahmin historians who are keen to dismiss it as fictitious. They argue that allegations of casteism against Tamil Brahmins have been exaggerated and that even prior to the rise of the Dravida Kazhagam, a significant section of Tamil Brahmin society was liberal and anti-casteist. Their claim is supported by the fact that a number of Iyers participated in the Vaikom Sathyagraha. Also, the Temple Entry Proclamation passed by the princely state of Travancore which gave people of all castes the right to enter Hindu temples in the princely state was due to the efforts of the Dewan of Travancore, Sir C. P. Ramaswamy Iyer who was an Iyer. Also, the Iyers used to regularly allow the entry of the Konars, traditionally cow-herds, into their houses, which was not the case with several other upper castes. The reason given for this is the maintenance of several cows, in the kottil area behind the house, by well-to-do Iyers.

Another important accusation hurled upon Iyers was that they were Sanskritists who entertained a distorted and contemptuous atitude towards Tamil language, culture and civilization^[20][116]

Professor George L. Hart in a speech in 1997 on Tamil, Brahmins, & Sanskrit rubbishes the claims of anti Brahmins that Brahmins favored Sanskrit to Tamil. George L Hart (born c 1945 is a professor of Tamil language at the University of California Berkeley. ^[89]

Dalit leader and founder of political party Pudiya Tamizhagam, Dr. Dalit is a self designation for group of people of South Asian descent who were traditionally regarded as untouchables or low Caste. Krishnasamy admits that the Anti-Brahmin Movement had not succeeded up to the expectations and that there continues to be as much discrimination of Dalits as had been before.

Portrayal in Popular Media

There have been extensive portrayals of Iyers in popular media, most of them, positive and a few negative. This is because despite the fact that Tamil Brahmins form just 3% of the Tamil population their distinct culture and unique practices and strange habits make them strong targets of criticism,both positive and negative.

Positive Portrayals

Iyers have been positively portrayed in Hindi films as Tere Mere Sapne. Tere Mere Sapne ( English: Our Dreams) is a 1996 Bollywood film produced by Amitabh Bachchan 's production company A Malayalam films such as Iyer the Great^[118] and Sethurama Iyer and the Tamil movie Iyer IPS ^[119]have fictitious Iyer characters in the lead. Sethurama Iyer (also spelt Sethuramayyar is a fictional investigative officer of the CBI, the Indian equivalent

There have always been movies in Tamil, Malayalam and Hindi portraying Iyer society and traditional values in a positive manner. The black-and-white era saw Tamil films as Thyagabhoomi and Vietnam Veedu.

Famous Iyers

See Distinguished Iyers

References

See also

• Tamil people
• Iyengar
• Forward Castes
• Palakkad Iyers
• Ashtagrama Iyer
• Kannada Iyers
• Vishwakarmas
• Anti-Brahminism
• Mulukanadu
• Agastya
• Smartha
• Aryan Invasion Theory (history and controversies)

External links

• http://www.keralaiyers.com/
• http://www.tamilbrahmins.com/
• Ashtagrama.com, information on Ashtagrama Iyers, a sub group of Iyers from Karnataka. Tamil people (also called Tamils or Tamilians) ( are an Ethnic group native to Tamil Nadu, a state in India, and the north-eastern Iyengar or Ayyangar ( Tamil:அய்யங்கார் Kannada:ಐಯಂಗಾರ್ is the name given to Hindu Brahmins of Tamil " Forward class " is used in India generally to denote communities and Castes from any religion who do not currently qualify for Government of India Palakkad Iyers also known as Kerala Iyers are Brahmin who have migrated to Palakkad from Tanjore district in the State of Tamil Nadu a few centuries ago The Ashtagrama Iyers(Margasahayam are a group of Vadama Iyers or South Indian Karnataka Brahmins with their roots in the Ashtagrama situated in the Kolar The Sankethis are Smartha Brahmins residing in Karnataka. They are one of the groups related to the Tamil Iyers. Vishwabrahmin ( विश्वब्राह्मण) also known as Vishwakarmas are a community or caste of artisans in India who are the followers of Lord Vishwakarma Anti-Brahminism, also spelled as Anti-Brahmanism, is Discrimination, hostility or Prejudice directed against the Brahmin caste Mulukanadu Brahmins ( Telugu:మూలకారణం బ్రహ్మానందం are a sub-sect of Telugu speaking Vaidiki Smartha Brahmins In Hinduism, Agastya (अगस्त्य in Devanagari, pronounced /ə gəs tyə/ is a legendary Vedic sage or Rishi. Smartism (or Smarta Sampradaya, Smarta Tradition, as termed in Sanskrit) is a denomination of the Hindu
• sankethi.com, information on Sankethis, a sub group of Iyers from Karnataka.
• Thummagunta Dravida Iyers, Information on Thummagunta Dravida Brahmins, a sub-sect of Vadama Iyers from Thummagunta in Nellore District, AP.
• Advaita Vedanta research centre, and hosts articles and mailing-lists on the subject; see also Advaita. Advaita Vedanta ( IAST Advaita Vedānta; Sanskrit अद्वैत वेदान्त əd̪vait̪ə veːd̪ɑːnt̪ə is a sub-school of the