Hello all... Today I'm not posting anything out of brainchild...I'm posting a beautiful description I got from WhatsApp ab birth of Iyyengar community...so all credit goes to the person who wrote it, Jaya ji...it's just copy paste...
I used to hate it when people referred to me as a tamilian because of my mother tongue...I'm a whole n soul Kannadathi ,now with clarification it is proved even my ancestors were Kannada Brahmins who got inspired by philosophy of Shree Ramanujacharya n converted...a beautiful description I got on WhatsApp...read on to know more
Being an Iyyengar myself, I felt very proud and felt that I should share this on a large platform..so here goes..I'm not taking any credits for this,I repeat...ok, let's read now..
Please read about how we Iyeangars came to existence. Especially Hebbar Iyengars. It is a must read for our next generation to know our roots.... please read....
Love,
Jaya
Write up on Iyengars
Iyengar (in English, spelled in a variety of ways - like Iengar, or Aiyengar, or Ayyangar) is a community belonging to Hindu Brahmins of Tamil origin who follow the Visishtadvaita philosophy propounded by Sri Ramanujacharya.
Iyengars are found mostly in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. There is also a sizeable number of Iyengars in the Purulia district of West Bengal who had migrated from Tamil Nadu a few centuries ago due to an invitation by a Bengal king around Sri Ramanujacharya's time.
Hebbar Iyengar or Hebbar Srivaishnava is a caste of Hindu Brahmins of Kannada origin whose members follow the Visishtadvaita philosophy propounded by Ramanuja. They are found primarily in the Indian state of Karnataka especially in Southern Districts. Hebbar is a Kannada word which is a combination of Hiriya Haruva meaning elderly Brahmins in Kannada. Sri Ramanuja Referred his new disciples who converted to Sri Vaishnavism as Hebbar
The Hebbar Iyengars speak a unique language known as Hebbar which is a Kannadised version of Tamil. Hebbar language is highly influenced by Kannada and uses many words from Kannada, Sanskrit and old Tamil Vocabulary.
As with other Iyengar community Hebbar Iyengars are also divided into two religious sects, the Vadakalai and the Thenkalai, though the vast majority of Hebbar iyengars belong to the Vadakalai sect. As with other Hindu communities, they are also classified based on their gotra, or patri-lineal descent.
Hebbar Iyengars also display a mark on their forehead known as the Srivaishnava Urdhva Pundra as a caste mark like other Iyengar Communities in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh etc.
In Karnataka, the Hebbar Iyengar community is traditionally based in the southern regions, particularly in the districts of Haasan, Tumkur, Mandya, Kolar, Bangalore and Mysore.
The details of Hebbar Iyengar origin was published long back in the Hebbar Srivaishnava magazine called "Hebbar Kshema". A historical novel written by Smt. Neeladevi about the life of Ramanuja in Karnataka named "Dhanya" gives similar answers to the origin of Hebbar Srivaishnavas.
During 12th Century Sri Ramanujacharya fled Tamil Nadu escaping persecution of Vaishnavas by the Chola King who wanted to kill him. He came and settled in the Hoysala Kingdom. When he was in Tondanur (Tonnur) near Melukote, a group of elderly Kannada Brahmins from Ramanathapura, Saligrama came to Tondanur and heard Sri Ramanujacharyas discourses on Srivaishnava Philosophy.
Impressed by the preaching of Ramanuja they offered to convert to Srivaishnava Religion and they became followers of Ramanuja. Sri Ramanuja affectionately called this group of Elderly Brahmins who became his disciples as Hebbar. Hebbar is a Kannada word which is a combination of Hiriya Haruva, which means elderly Brahmins in Kannada.
Thus the sect called Hebbar Iyengar originated in the erstwhile Hoysala Kingdom of 12th Century. So Hebbar Srivaishnavas are originally Kannada Brahmins (Advaitins) who got converted to Srivaishnavism, impressed by the teachings of Sri Ramanuja and they are not Jains or backward caste as some say.
Sri Ramanujacharya asked them to settle in Ashta Gramas or eight villages namely Bindiganavile, Kadaba, Nuggehalli, Nonavinakere, Shantigrama in the Hoysala Kingdom in the present day Southern Karnataka region called Hale Mysooru. Later they spread across various places in the region. Thus
They have their Haath-perumal in different places of these districts. Since their ancestor's mother tongue was Kannada they still have the affliction towards Kannada. Gradually they learnt to speak Tamil, mainly to learn the Alwars Divya Prabhandams which are the essential religious works which a Srivaishnava has to learn and recite.
Hebbar Iyengars study Kannada in schools as their prime language and cannot read and write in Tamil. They read the Ramanuja's philosophical works and Alwars Divya Prabhandams that are translated to Kannada or English. However, they recite NalayiraDivyaPrabhandams in Temples in Karnataka forming Goshtis (Groups). They are also called Melnatu Iyengars as they are residing in the High Deccan plateau of Karnataka.
When Ramanujacharya came to Karnataka from Kanchipuram and SriRangam, along with a few disciples, during the time when Kulothuga Chola was ruling the Chola Kingdom.
At Srirangam he had a lot of trouble with the Chola king, Krimikanda Chola, who was a puritan and fanatic Shaivite. He was incensed by the rapid promotion of Vaishnavism by Ramanujam and persecuted him. He wanted to blind him but somehow, the disciples of Ramanujam came to know about the plot. One of them, Kurathalwan, dressed like Ramanujam took the assault on himself while the others took Ramanujam away to Melkote, (Narayan Puram) in Mysore.
During this time, some of the disciples are said to have stayed back and there were people who received Pancha Samskaram from Ramanujacharya and continued staying here. This would be around 1100 CE.
During the Muslim Invasion of the Srirangam Temple, Pillai Lokacharyar and a few others made a big trip of South India with the idol of Nam Perumal (protecting it from being taken away), whereas Swami Deshikan came to Satyagalam (near Kollegala). Some of the people who came might have stayed back. This was around 1350 CE.
These are instances which led Iyengars coming to Karnataka. However it cannot be said if the first instance mentioned here is the earliest, as Vaduga Nambi, a Sri Vaishnava, was already in Karnataka before the arrival of Ramanujacharya. So the earliest instance is not known. The lack of any written historical records hampers the search for the origin of that peculiar branch of Iyengars, the Hebbars.
Iyengar significance:
The word Iyengar (In Tamil means "people entrusted with five tasks", referring to the five duties that traditional Iyengars perform.
Five Duties of Iyengars:
Pancha Mahayagyas (or Samskaaras) per the Vedas are:
Bhoota yagyam- Taking care of the creatures around us (Ahimsa paramodharma:).
Manushya yagyam- Taking care of guests and needy people (athithi satkaara) by treating them well.
Pitru yagyam- To respect the parents during their life time (and fondly remember (sraddha) the ancestors who are responsible for what we are today (Maatrudevo bhava, Pitru-devo bhava)
Rishi yagyam-To be grateful to the teachers and remembering them for the knowledge made available.
Deva yagyam- To be in constant remembrance of the Single great Cause that is responsible for the entire universe.
Apart from the above, as a subset of the Deva yagyam, Srivaishnavaites additionally subscribe to the following practices:
Thapam: To have the impressions of Sankha and Chakra on the arms (near the shoulders).
Pundram: To wear the Dvadasa Urdhva pundram (12 Thiruman & Srichoornam)
Namam: To be christened by the Acharya afresh as"Ramanuja dasan"to indicate that one is forever a servant of the Supreme Lord Sriman Narayana and Sri Ramanujar.
Mantram: To get the initiation of "Rahasya Traya MantrAs" - Ashtaksharam, Dvayam and Charama slokam.
Yajna: To learn the worship of Sriman Narayana in proper form.
Thiruman
There are two main sects of Iyengar : Thenkalai and Vadakalai. One among the most popular difference among them is their Thiruman or Namam
Upanayanam (Poonal)
The iyengar poonal is thicker as compared to the Iyer poonal. Venkat (वेंकट)'s answer to I came to know the sacred thread or "poonal" is different for Iyers and Iyengars. What is the difference? Why is there a difference?
Below are some interesting facts :
Bramopadesam
During the Gayathri mantra initiation. The father reveals the Gayathri mantra in the right ear of the boy secretly.
Bhikshakaranam
The brahmachari is supposed to live on the food he receives as alms by going from house to house. As a symbolic representation, the brahmachari asks for alms from his mother and all the other ladies of the congregation.
Marriage
Traditionally, Iyengar marriages are arranged through word of mouth through common relatives or friends in the community. The marriage ceremony is conducted by half-a-dozen Iyengar priests. As per the tradition, the groom is considered as Lord Vishnu on the day of the wedding and the bride is considered as Goddess Andal (manifestation of Goddess Lakshmi). The wedding is seen as a symbolic wedding between Lord Vishnu and Goddess Andal. The Iyengar bride’s attire is similar to that of Andal. She wears a 9 yards madisar saree and dons a andal kondai (bun with side pointing cone in hair). While the groom wears a 10 yards dhoti (or pathar). Venkat (वेंकट)'s answer to What are the rituals conducted in Iyengar weddings?
Kashi Yatrai
An interesting ritual called Kashi yatra takes place just prior to the main wedding ceremony, where the groom takes off on a mock pilgrimage to kashi. He acts as if he is proceeding to take sanyaas. The bride’s father then intervenes and persuades the groom to return and marry his daughter.
Oonjal
During the Oonjal ritual married ladies, milk is sprinkled on the bride and groom's feet. After which married ladies from the bride's side circle the rice balls around the bride and the groom thrice in clockwise and anticlockwise direction and then throw them in all four directions to ward off evil forces.
Kanyadaan
During the Kanyadaan and Mangalya dharanam ritual. The bride is seated in her father's lap all through the ceremony.
Thirumangalyam
The typical Iyengar Thirumangalyan or Thali in Tamil comes with Sangu(Conch), Chakra (discus) and Thiruman (namam). Sangu(Conch) representing auspiciousness,Chakra to wards off evil and Thiruman symbolising Lord Vishnu.
Dressing and food habits :
Iyengars have distinct dressing and food habits. The traditional dress of male Iyengars are 'panche' (dhoti) while the women wear traditional sarees called madishar. The sarees - especially for married ladies - are normally nine yards in length.
Iyengars are strictly vegetarian. Like most south Indians, rice is their staple food. They prepare a variety of rice like Puliyodharai (Tamarind Rice), lemon rice and curd rice forms an indispensable part of their diet.
Vegetarian side dishes like More Kuzhambu are also prepared as a part of their traditional dishes.
Iyengars Today :
Iyengars today have diversified into a variety of fields such as information technology, acting, politics, army, civil service, sports and business. A small percentage of Iyengars today 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.
Comments
Post a Comment