Iyengar

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Iyengar
Classification: Ethnic group/ Caste/Community of South India
Total population: 2004: (approx) 600,000)
Significant populations in:

  Chennai
  Thanjavur
  Tiruchirapalli
  Bangalore
  Mysore
  Mandya
  Hassan
  USA

Language Mother tongue is Tamil or Kannada with a unique Iyengar accent. Knowledge in Sanskrit for religious/traditional reasons.
Religion Vishishtadvaita Hinduism
Acharyas

Ramanuja
Vedanta Desika
Manavala Mamunigal

Related Communities

Iyengar (or Aiyangar) is the name of a community of Tamil Brahmins of South India whose members profess the Visishtadvaita philosophy codified by Ramanuja. The word Iyengar (Anglicised from the Tamil ஐயங்கார்(Aiyaṅkār)) means "people entrusted with five tasks", referring to the five duties that traditional Iyengars perform (see [1]). The most common spelling is "Iyengar", but "Aiyangar" is the phonetically correct spelling. Sometimes although rarely "Iengar" is also used . Iyengars along with Iyers are known as Tamil Brahmins.

Traditionally Iyengars have been found in the state of Tamil Nadu, with large communities in the neighboring states of Karnataka (popularly known as Mysore, Hebbar, Mandyam, Hemige Iyengars); and Andhra Pradesh. There is also a sizeable community of Iyengars in the Purulia district of West Bengal who had migrated from Tamil Nadu by invitation of the King of Bengal around 1100 AD. Today iyengars are widely spread all over the world and are distinguished not only for their knowledge of the vedas but also for excellence in various fields such as science, technology, law etc.

Most Iyengars speak Tamil. However, Iyengars in Karnataka speak either Kannada or a dialect descended from medieval Tamil, which has a significant Kannada substrate. Iyengars in southern Andhra Pradesh speak Telugu.

Iyengars are followers of the Vaishnava tradition of the scholar-saint Ramanuja. This tradition is known within the community as Ubhaya or twofold Vedanta, referring to use of both the Sanskrit Vedas and Tamil Divya Prabandham of the Alvar saints in religious life. Today, Iyengars are divided into two sects, known as Thenkalai, or "Southern culture", and Vadakalai, or "Northern culture", with subtly different philosophical and ritual interpretations of Ubhaya Vedanta. Scholarly opinion is mixed as to the origin of the two names. Some believe that the terms Southern and Northern refer to differing regional developments, the Southern or Thenkalai predominating in the south of the Tamil country and the Northern or Vadakalai predominating in the north. Others argue that they reflect the greater development of Divya Prabandham interpretation by the former and of the Sanskrit Vedanta exegesis by the latter. Despite these differences, however, both traditions uniformly revere the same teachers from the Alvars down to Ramanuja and largely agree in their core philosophies. The differences seen today stem primarily from social conflicts stemming from rivalries at large temples dating from the 18th century.

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Origin

The word "Iyengar" is a relatively new name and was not used in any medieval works or scriptures. The word "Sri Vaishnava Brahamana" would therefore be the right word to describe them.

As their religion is based on worship of Vishnu - They have the prefix vaishnava.

The community started taking shape a 1000 years ago. Different brahmins some already following azhwars( vaishnava saints of tamil region), some from the smartha brahmin community and some other different brahmin sects joined ramanuja's movement ever since 10 th century ad.

It is also believed by some, that saintly non brahmins were brought into the community and bestowed with the status of brrahmins.There are also theories that some jains in karnataka became part of the community.

Each of these different sects were alergic to marrying with the other sects even a few hundred years ago.

But in course of time, they have divided themselves into two sects - Vadakalai and Tenkalai.

The community has always looked upon itself as a rival to the other brahmin community of Tamil Nadu - Iyers, inspite of the fact many different iyengar families have shared a common origin with the Iyers.Two of the Iyer sects vadamas and chozhiars have joined the Iyengar movement in large numbers.The former are more found among vadakalais and the latter are found more among tenkalais.


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Religion

Iyengars follow Visishtadvaita, a system of thought embodied by the Vedanta, the philosophical portion of the Vedas, Hindu's ancient scriptures. The central idea of Visishtadvaita is this: there exists an Ultimate Reality, an Absolute Being that is the source and substratum of all that exists. This immanent spirit is the inner guide and controller of the whole universe with all its diverse animate and inanimate elements. Communion with this gracious, omnipotent Supreme Being constitutes the supreme end of existence or Moksha. Such communion is attainable exclusively through complete self-surrender and undivided, loving meditation (Bhakti).

The Vaishnavite tradition began during the Vedic period. Most Iyengars follow Ramanuja's and Vedanta Desikar's school of philosophy.

The objects of worship are the images of Vishnu and His incarnations and the saligramas - small stone pebbles of different colors (predominantly black) recovered from the bed of the river Gandaki in Nepal at Mukti Kshetra. Saligramas are fossilized ammonite shells formed 140 million years, having several spiral grooves resembling the chakra of Narayana which are formed by the river worms called Vajra-keeta.

The 108 holy temples of Vishnu called 108 Divya Desams[2][3] are important to the Iyengars.

The 1st Divya Desam is Srirangam's Lord Ranganathaswamy Temple and the 108th Divya Desam is Vaikuntam which is the Mythical abode of Lord Vishnu.

The priests at Tirupati Balaji temple, the most famous of Hindu Temples are Iyengars. Although most priests at south indian temples are iyengars.

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'Gotra's and 'Nakshatra's

All the Iyengars trace their origin to one of the eight major rishis or sages. Iyengars classify themselves under different Gotras (also referred to as Gothram), those of the same Gotra share common ancestors. Thus in the Iyengar community, marriage among people of the same Gotra is prohibited. This is generally cited as an example of scientific practices followed even in the distant past. A plausible explanation for the term gotra being used to indicate ancestry from a certain sage, would be the use of this term to refer to the cowpens in which the sages used to keep their animals.

Another terminology which is used in conjunction with Gotra is Nakshatra (or Nakshatram).

The superiority/inferiority of the various gotras and subgroups with reference to each other and their stereotyping is the subject of many debates, often amusing to the current generation. Iyengars today are found all over the world and are an extraordinarily visible community with relation to their population.

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Iyengars Today

Iyengars today have diversified into a variety of fields—their strengths particularly evident in the fields of law, mass media, science, engineering, mathematics and computer science. However even today, a few Iyengars choose to pursue the vocation of priesthood. Iyengars have been active in the cultural field too. Music has always been integral to the Iyengar community; Carnatic music has a great tradition within the community. Apart from vocal music, instruments such as mridangam, naadaswaram, veena, ghatam, etc., Bharatanatyam were also patronized. Carnatic music and Bharatanatyam together enjoy a rich patronage in the cultural festivities in and around Chennai during the months of December and January. A large numbers of Iyengars also work in the movies, particularly the Tamil movie industry in southern India. Some famous Iyengar actors are Kamal Hassan, Hema Malini ,Vyjayanti Mala and Jayalalitha.

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Some Famous Iyengars in Recent Times

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External links

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