61-594: Vadama , meaning "Northerners", are a sub-sect of the Iyer community of Tamil Brahmins . While some believe that their name is an indication of the fact that they were the most recent Brahmin migrants to the Tamil country others interpret the usage of the term "Vadama" as a reference to their strict adherence to the Sanskrit language and Vedic rituals which are of northerly origin. The term Vadama may have originated from
122-453: A day of the individual's death. The death rites include a 13-day ceremony, and regular Tarpanam (performed every month thereafter, on Amavasya day, or New Moon Day), for the ancestors. There is also a yearly shrārddha , 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
183-652: A few exceptions , Iyers have virtually disappeared from the political arena. In 2006, the Tamil Nadu government took the decision to appoint non-Brahmin priests in Hindu temples in order to curb Brahmin ecclesiastical domination. This created a huge controversy. Violence broke out in March 2008 when a non-Brahmin oduvar or reciter of Tamil idylls, empowered by the Government of Tamil Nadu, tried to make his way into
244-406: A population of 94,387, consisting of 47,272 males and 47,115 females, with 10.83% of the population being under the age of 6 years. The town has a literacy rate of about 69%, which is 10% higher than the national average; male literacy is 77% and female literacy is 61%. Chetpet is a Selection Grade Town Panchayat, a small town under 20,000 or 25,000 inhabitants, in the district of Tiruvannamalai in
305-577: Is a casual and informal event. Iyers generally lead orthodox lives and adhere steadfastly to their customs and traditions. Iyers follow the Grihya Sutras of Apastamba and Baudhayana . The society is patriarchal but not feudal. Iyers are generally vegetarian . Some abjure onion and garlic on the grounds that they activate certain base senses. Cow milk and milk products were approved. They were required to avoid alcohol and tobacco. Iyers follow elaborate purification rituals, both of self and
366-629: Is as sacred to the Hindus as the Six Kalimas to the Muslims and Ahunwar to the Zoroastrians . Once a year, Iyers change their sacred thread. This ritual is exclusive to South Indian Brahmins and the day is commemorated in Tamil Nadu as Āvani Avittam . Other important ceremonies for Iyers include the rites for the deceased. All Iyers are cremated according to Vedic rites, usually within
427-745: Is bodily pure. 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. . Iyer men traditionally wear veshtis or dhotis which cover them from waist to foot. These are made of cotton and sometimes silk . Veshtis are worn in different styles. Those worn in typical Brahminical style are known as panchakacham (from
488-506: Is draped in a nine-yard saree, also known as madisār . For centuries, Iyers have taken a keen interest in preserving the arts and sciences. They undertook the responsibility of preserving the Natya Shastra , a monumental work on Bharatanatyam , the classical dance form of Tamil Nadu. During the early 20th century, dance was usually regarded as a degenerate art associated with devadasis . Rukmini Devi Arundale , however, revived
549-504: Is further subdivided according to the village or region of origin. Iyers, like all other Brahmins, trace their paternal ancestry to one of the eight rishis or sages. Accordingly, they are classified into eight gotras based on the rishi they have descended from. A maiden in the family belongs to gotra of her father, but upon marriage takes the gotra of her husband. The Vedas are further sub-divided into shakhas or "branches" and followers of each Veda are further sub-divided based on
610-523: Is not given, they are not allowed to rise. Iyers have been called Sanskritists who entertained a distorted and contemptuous attitude towards Tamil language, culture and civilization. The Dravidologist Kamil Zvelebil says that the Brahmin was chosen as a scapegoat by the Dravidian parties to answer for the decline of Tamil civilization and culture in the medieval and post-medieval periods. Despite these allegations many Iyers were great contributors to
671-638: Is poured over a heap of rice and lentils. 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. Coffee amongst beverages and curd amongst food items form an indispensable part of the Iyer food menu. In ancient times, Iyers, along with Iyengars and other Tamil Brahmins , lived in exclusive Brahmin quarters of their village known as an agrahāram . Shiva and Vishnu temples were usually situated at
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#1732787330754732-527: Is processing paddy and the town is home to one of the largest organised paddy exchange markets of the state. Chetpet is one of the very few places of German colonisation in Indian history. A village called Nedungunam nearby has one of the Famous temples of Lord Rama. The temple is very famous and called Sri Yoga Rama temple . From 2015 Chetpet became a Taluk under Tiruvannamalai District, Tamil Nadu. Chetpet has
793-454: 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. 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. A three-piece cotton thread is installed around the torso of
854-567: The Battle of Talikota , in 1565, when Rama Raya of Vijayanagar was killed and the capital city razed to the ground. The land, in addition to being plundered by the combined armies of the Sultanates, came to be oppressed by renegade polygars and bandits whose rise commenced with the destruction of the central power. The Mogul invasion of Peninsular India and the depredations of the Deccan by
915-577: The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam have been using films and the mass media for the propagation of their political ideology. Most of the films made, such as the 1952-blockbuster Parasakthi written by future Chief minister M. Karunanidhi , are anti-Brahminical in character. Chetpet Chetpet is a major town panchayat in Tiruvannamalai district in the state of Tamil Nadu , India. Chetpet's major economical activity
976-567: The Tamil term Vadakku meaning North, indicating the Northern origin of the Vadama Brahmins. However, what is not certain is whether 'North' refers to northern Tamil Nadu/Southern Deccan, or regions farther north. Other scholars are of the opinion that rather than the superficial indication of a northern origin for the people, the term "vadama" would rather refer to proficiency in Sanskrit and Vedic ritual, generally associated with
1037-758: The Tughlaqs . In response to the Moslem irruptions the Kingdom of Vijayanagar was founded in 1336, and came to be locked in an existential struggle with the Bahmani Sultanate from 1347 to 1490, when the Moslem state broke up. This early period was marked by much strife, especially in the jihads of Taj ud-Din Firuz Shah (1397–1422) and his brother Ahmad Shah I Wali (1422–1435), when thousands of Hindus, especially Brahmins, were enslaved and temples of
1098-426: The lingua franca for inter-caste communication between different Tamil communities during pre-independence times, it has been gradually discarded by Brahmin themselves in favour of regional dialects. In addition to their earlier occupations, Iyers today have diversified into a variety of fields. Three of India's Nobel laureates, Sir C. V. Raman , Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar and Venkatraman Ramakrishnan hail from
1159-566: The sanctum sanctorum of the Nataraja temple at Chidambaram. The legacy of Iyers have often been marred by accusations of racism and counter-racism against them by non-Brahmins and vice versa. Grievances and instances of discrimination by Brahmins are believed to be the main factors which fuelled the Dravidian Movement . With the dawn of the 20th century, and the rapid penetration of western education and western ideas, there
1220-444: 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 daily life which are four or eight cubits long). 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
1281-581: The 19th century, as with other Iyers , many of the Vadama joined, the judiciary of British India as lawyers and judges, or served in the Indian Civil and Revenue Services . Many others continued in the service of the kings of the princely states of Travancore , Mysore , Pudukottai , and Ramnad . The Vadama traditionally claim to be superior to other classes of Iyers. Vadamas have also significantly contributed towards popularizing and propagating
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#17327873307541342-530: The Brahacharanams for the domination of Brahmin villages called agraharams . Sociologist Andre Beteille , in his thesis Caste, class, and power: changing patterns of stratification in a Tanjore village , describes them as the biggest mirasidars among the Iyer community. They may also have organised the agraharams' defence in turbulent times for though there were not many who joined the army, they were not specifically forbidden to take to arms. In
1403-486: The Brahmin in every sphere and destroyed the monopoly over education and the administrative services which the Brahmin had previously held. The concept of "Brahmin atrocities" is refuted by some Tamil Brahmin historians. 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
1464-659: The British rule, were often undertaken in search of better prospects and contributed to the prosperity of the community. In recent times Iyers have also migrated in significant numbers to the United Kingdom, Europe and the United States in search of better fortune. Iyers have many sub-sects among them, such as Vadama , Brahacharnam or Brahatcharanam , Vāthima , Sholiyar or Chozhiar , Ashtasahasram, Mukkāni, Gurukkal, Kāniyālar and Prathamasāki. Each sub-sect
1525-942: The Buddhist scripture Mahavamsa , the presence of Brahmins have been recorded in Sri Lanka as early as 500BC when the first migrations from the Indian mainland supposedly took place. Currently, Brahmins are an important constituent of the Sri Lankan Tamil minority. Tamil Brahmins are believed to have played a historic role in the formation of the Jaffna Kingdom . Apart from South India , Iyers have also migrated to and settled in places in North India . There are significantly large Iyer communities in Mumbai , and Delhi . These migrations, which commenced during
1586-520: The Industrial Revolution, Iyers started moving to cities for their sustenance. Starting from the late 19th century, the agrahārams 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 agrahārams left where traditional Iyers continue to reside. In an Iyer residence, people wash their feet first with water on entering
1647-727: The Iyengars are together referred to as Tamil Brahmins . The majority of Iyers reside in Tamil Nadu , India . Iyers are further divided into various denominations based on traditional and regional differences. Like all Brahmins, they are also classified based on their gotra , or patrilineal descent, and the Veda that they follow. They fall under the Pancha Dravida Brahmana classification of Brahmins in India. Apart from
1708-523: The Mahrattas under Shivaji also began early in the 17th century. The relatives and family members of C. P. Ramaswami Iyer , a Vadadesa Vadama, believed that they were descended from Brahmins of the Desh region of Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh who migrated to Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh from where they migrated to the northern part of Tamil Nadu in the 16th century where they were granted
1769-488: The Tamil language. Agathiar, usually identified with the legendary Vedic sage Agastya is credited with compiling the first rules of grammar of the Tamil language. Moreover, individuals like U. V. Swaminatha Iyer and Subramanya Bharathi have made invaluable contributions to Tamil literature . Parithimar Kalaignar was the first to campaign for the recognition of Tamil as a classical language. Brahmins are mentioned for
1830-932: The Travancore state. The old capital of Travancore was Padmanabhapuram which is at present in Kanyakumari district. There has also been a continuous inflow from Tirunelveli and Ramnad districts of Tamil Nadu which are contiguous to the erstwhile princely state of Travancore. Many parts of the present Tirunelveli district were even part of the old Travancore state. These Iyers are known today as Trivandrum Iyers . Some of these people migrated to Cochin and later to Palakkad and Kozhikode districts. There were also migrations from Tanjore district of Tamil Nadu to Palakkad. Their descendants are known today as Palakkad Iyers . These Iyers are collectively now called as Kerala Iyers . In Coimbatore , there are many such Iyers due to its proximity to Kerala. According to
1891-588: The administrative and judicial machinery. Such a situation led to resentment from the other castes in Tamil Nadu, the result of this atmosphere was a "non-Brahmin" movement and the formation of the Justice Party . 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 non-Brahmin Tamils who were Dravidian . The ensuing anti-Brahminism and
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1952-493: The child encompassing the whole length of his body from the left shoulder to the right hip . The Upanayana ceremony of initiation is solely performed for the members of the dvija or twice-born castes , generally when the individual is between 7 and 16 years of age. 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
2013-585: The community. 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. Their domination continued throughout the British Raj as they used their knowledge of the English language and education to dominate politics, administration, the courts and intelligentsia. Upon India's independence in 1947, they tried to consolidate their hold on
2074-419: The contribution of Iyers in field of music has been considerably noteworthy. The main diet of Iyers is composed of vegetarian food, mostly rice which is the staple diet for millions of South Indians. 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
2135-414: The dying art of Sadir into the more "respectable" art form of Bharatanatyam, thereby breaking social and caste taboos about Brahmins taking part in the study and practice of dance. However many have claimed that, rather than becoming more open to other communities, the practice of Bharatanatyam was then restricted specifically to the middle and upper classes of Tamil society. However, compared to dance,
2196-422: The ends of an agrahāram . In most cases, there would also be a fast-flowing stream or river nearby. A typical agrahāram 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
2257-469: The farmers. The STD code for Chetpet is 04181. Its pincode number is 606801. Schools: Colleges: Its neighboring towns are Vandavasi (east), Polur (west), Gingee (south), Tiruvannamalai (southwest) and Arani (north). In the outskirts of Chettupattu town there is a Christian chapel on the hill called Madha hill chapel. This hill shrine has a grotto which is an exact replica of the Grotto found in
2318-500: The first time in the works of Sangam poets . During the post sangam era, Brahmin saints have been frequently praised for their efforts in combating Buddhism . In modern times, when Iyers and Iyengars control a significant percentage of the print and visual media, there has been significant coverage of Brahmins and Brahmin culture in magazines and periodicals and a number of Brahmin characters in novels, TV serials and films. Their portrayal in media started to become more negative with
2379-473: The house. Tamil is the mother tongue of most Iyers residing in India and elsewhere. However, Iyers speak a distinct dialect of Tamil unique to their community. This dialect of Tamil is known as Brāhmik or Brahmin Tamil . Brahmin Tamil is highly Sanskritized and has often invited ridicule from Tamil purists due to its extensive usage of the Sanskrit vocabulary . While Brahmin Tamil used to be
2440-399: The house. Men are forbidden from performing their "sixteen duties" while women are forbidden from cooking food without having a purificatory bath in the morning. Food is to be consumed only after making an offering to the deities. The bathing was considered sufficiently purifying only if it conformed to the rules of madi . The word madi is used by Tamil Brahmins to indicate that a person
2501-433: The knot). The main 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
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2562-600: The north prior to the first millennium CE. Vadamas are further sub-divided into five categories Some historians hold that all Brahmins who migrated to the far-south during and after the age of the Gupta Emperors , came to be classified as Vadama. Instability prevailed in Peninsular India in the aftermath of the defeat of the Yadavas of Deogiri and Kakatiyas of Warangal in the early 14th century by
2623-657: The northern Deccan desecrated. The oppression was also felt in the eastern peninsula as far as the Gajapati Kingdom where, for instance in 1478, Muhammad Shah III Lashkari (1463–1482) demolished the Great Temple of Kondavidu and was acclaimed as a ghazi , for personally decapitating all the Brahmins. Such excesses induced Brahmins to seek refuge in the realms of Vijayanagar, where many were appointed karnams ( bailiffs ) in preference to other castes, from
2684-457: The position of the stars. The child is then given a ritual name. On the child's birthday, a ritual is performed to ensure longevity. This ritual is known as Ayushya Homam . 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 . The child's first birthday is the most important and
2745-623: The prevalent practice of using the title "Iyer" as surname, Iyers also commonly use other surnames, such as Sāstri or Bhattar . Iyer ( Tamil : ஐயர் , pronounced [aɪjəɾ] ) has several meanings in Tamil and other Dravidian languages, often referring to a respectable person. The Dravidian Etymological Dictionary lists various meanings for the term such as "father, sage, priest, teacher, brahman, superior person, master, king" with cognates such as tamayan meaning "elder brother" and simply ai "lord, master, husband, king, guru, priest, teacher, father". Linguistic sources often derive
2806-477: The reign of Harihara I (1336–1357) onward. After the division of the Bahmani Sultanate in 1490, into the Sultanates of Bijapur , Golconda , Ahmadnagar and Berar , the armies of Vijayanagar were successful in fending of invasions and restricting the Sultanates to Central India, especially in the reign of Krishnadeva Raya (1509–1529), who also began the practice of appointing Brahmins commanders of strategically important forts. Relative peace prevailed until
2867-590: The rights of Dalits and that there continues to be as much discrimination of Dalits as had been before. So many movements have failed. In Tamil Nadu there was a movement in the name of anti-Brahmanism under the leadership of Periyar. It attracted Dalits, but after 30 years of power, the Dalits understand that they are as badly-off - or worse-off - as they were under the Brahmans. Under Dravidian rule, they have been attacked and killed, their due share in government service
2928-475: The rise of Dravidian political movements. The writings and speeches of many Dravidian political activists such as Iyothee Thass , Maraimalai Adigal , Periyar , Bharatidasan , C. N. Annadurai , the leaders of Justice Party in the early 20th century and of the Dravidar Kazhagam in more modern times constitute much of modern anti-Brahmin rhetoric. Starting from the 1940s onwards, Annadurai and
2989-691: The rising unpopularity of the Rajaji Government left an indelible mark on the Tamil Brahmin community ending their political aspirations. 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. Today, apart from
3050-403: The rites and rituals followed in antiquity are no longer practised, some have been retained. Iyers are initiated into rituals at the time of birth. In ancient times, rituals used to be performed when the baby was being separated from mother's umbilical cord. This ceremony is known as Jātakarma . However, this practice is no longer observed. At birth, a horoscope is made for the child based on
3111-531: The ritual to give a "consent" to all the proceedings in it. Iyers celebrate almost all Hindu festivals like Deepavali , Navratri , Pongal , Vinayaka Chathurthi , Janmaashtami , Tamil New Year , Sivarathri and Karthika Deepam. An important festival, exclusive to Brahmins of South India, is the Āvani Avittam festival. A typical Iyer wedding consists of Sumangali Prārthanai (Hindu prayers for prosperous married life), Nāndi (homage to ancestors), Nischayadhārtham (Engagement) and Mangalyadharanam (tying
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#17327873307543172-695: The rule of the Mysore Maharajahs, many Iyers from the then Madras province migrated to Mysore. The Ashtagrama Iyers are also a prominent group of Iyers in Karnataka. Iyers have also been resident of the princely state of Travancore from ancient times. The Venad state (present Kanyakumari district ) and the southern parts of Kerala was part of the Pandyan kingdom known as Then Pandi Nadu. There were also many Iyers in Venad which later on grew to be
3233-541: The shakha they adhere to. However, only a few of the shakhas are extant, the vast majority of them having disappeared. The different Vedas and the corresponding shakhas that exist today in Tamil Nadu are: Iyer rituals comprise rites as described in Hindu scriptures such as Apastamba Sutra attributed to the Hindu sage Apastamba . The most important rites are the Shodasa Samaskāras or the 16 duties . Although many of
3294-413: The state of Tamil Nadu, India. More than 80% of its inhabitants are farmers, and the primary source of income is agriculture. The town's main crops are groundnut , paddy and sugarcane. Chetput is a fast developing town, ranking with panchayats of Pazhampet and Kannanur. Animal husbandry provides subsidiary income to farmers in the region. A veterinary dispensary established in 1963 provides services to
3355-581: The state's total population and are distributed all over the state. However, accurate statistics on the population of the Iyer community are unavailable. 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. Over the last few centuries, many Iyers have migrated and settled in parts of Karnataka . During
3416-591: The study of the Vedas. However, with the Brahmins taking to other vocations than priesthood , this initiation has become more of a symbolic ritual. The neophyte was expected to perform the Sandhya Vandanam on a regular basis and utter a prescribed set of prayers, three times a day: dawn, mid-day, and dusk. The most sacred and prominent of the prescribed set of prayers is the Gayatri Mantra , which
3477-526: The village of Chetpet by a local chieftain. During the 19th century, the Vadamas along with other Tamil Brahmins made ample use of the opportunities provided by British rule to dominate the civil services, legislature and the judiciary in the Madras Presidency . Throughout the second half of the 19th century and the early 20th century there was intense political rivalry between the Vadamas and
3538-565: The words Ayya, Ayira/Ayyira as Prakrit versions of the Sanskrit word Aryā which means ' noble '. In ancient times, Iyers were also called Anthanar or Pārppān , though the usage of the word Pārppān is considered derogatory in modern times. Until recent times, Kerala Iyers were called Pattars . Like the term pārppān , the word Pattar too is considered derogatory. Today, Iyers live all over South India , but an overwhelming majority of Iyers continue to thrive in Tamil Nadu . Tamil Brahmins form an estimated less than 3 per cent of
3599-602: The worship of Shiva and Devi. Iyer Traditional Iyers ( Tamil: [ajːɐr] ) (also spelt as Ayyar , Aiyar , Ayer , or Aiyer ) are an ethnoreligious community of Tamil-speaking Brahmins . Most Iyers are followers of the Advaita philosophy propounded by Adi Shankara and adhere to the Smarta tradition . This is in contrast to the Iyengar community, who are adherents of Sri Vaishnavism . The Iyers and
3660-418: Was a rise in consciousness amongst the lower castes who felt that rights which were legitimately theirs were being denied to them. This led the non-Brahmins to agitate and form the Justice Party in 1916, which later became the Dravidar Kazhagam . 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
3721-655: Was liberal and anti-casteist, for example 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. Dalit leader and founder of political party Pudiya Tamizhagam, Dr. Krishnasamy admits that the Anti-Brahmin Movement had not succeeded in improving
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