Andhra Vaishnavas is a Brahmin community in the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana who follow Ramanuja Vishishtadvaita Vedanta Darshana and profess Sri Vaishnavism. [1]
Andhra Vaishnavas were formerly Smarta brahmins who converted under the influence of Ramanujacharya and later Sri Vaishnava acharyas . Sri Vaishnavas generally speak Tamil, however, Andhra Vaishnavas are Telugu-speaking. [2] Orthodox Sri Vaishnavas are exclusive and hold that they co-existed as a separate caste of Brahmins with the Smarthas. They seceded from Smarthas only after Ramanuja's teachings. Their ranks were swollen by frequent additions from other castes. [3] Andhra Vaishnavas form a single distinct sect and are not divided into the Vadakalai and Tenkalai denominations, unlike the Tamil Iyengars coreligionists. [4] Their practices are similar to Tenkalai denomination as they follow Tenkalai Sri Vaishnava mutts of Tirukoilur Emperumanar Jiyar mutt, Yathiraja Jiyar mutt and Tirupati Ramanuja Jiyar mutt. [5] They are sub-divided into two subsects, one entirely following the acharams of Tamil Iyengars and the other retaining those of the Telugu Smarthas. [6] They are also called Pancharatra Sri Vaishnava as they follow Pancharatra agama. [7]
Inscriptions, coins, and literary works suggest Vishnu worship date to at least 230 BC. It extended its domain to Andhra Desa in early 1000 AD, under the patronage of early local rulers such as Telugu Chodas. It received an impetus in the Palnadu region during the Haihayas regime, and its Chief Minister, Brahmanayudu. Vaishnavism underwent a significant change in the post-Ramanuja period as it won substantial royal patronage, largely due to the influence of Sri Vaishnava acharyas such as Vedanta Desika, Nainaracharya, and Parasara Bhattar during the regimes of Padmanayakas of Telangana, the Rayas of Vijayanagara, and the Reddis of Coastal Andhra in the 14th century. [8] Some other Sri Vaishnava families that moved from Tamil Nadu to Andhra Pradesh were Bhattars, Kandadais, Tirumalas, and Nallan Chakravatulas. [9] Annamacharya, who was born in Nandavarika Smarta Brahmin family, took initiation into Sri Vaishnavism and composed 32,000 sankeertanas (songs) on the praise of lord Venkateswara and played a significant role in popularizing the Ramanuja Sri Vaishnava Sampradaya which is still popular in the region of Andhra till date. [10]
Andhra Vaishnavas do not mix with Tamil-speaking Vaishnavas and retain some Telugu customs. They wear the Srivaishnava Urdhva Pundra. THey are expected to undergo a ceremony of initiation into Sri Vaishnavism after the Upanayanam ceremony. At the time of initiation, they are branded with the marks of chakram and panchajanya on the right and left shoulders respectively. Vaikhanasas and Pancharatras regard the branding as unnecessary. The ceremony of initiation (Panca-samskara) is usually performed by the head of a mutt. Sometimes it is carried out by an elderly member of the family. Such families go by the name of Swayam Acharya Purushas (those who have their own men as acharyas). [4]
Iyengars are an ethnoreligious community of Tamil-speaking Hindu Brahmins, whose members follow Sri Vaishnavism and the Visishtadvaita philosophy propounded by Ramanuja. Found mostly in the Southern Indian states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh, Iyengars are divided into two denominations, the Vadakalai and the Tenkalai.
Ramanuja, also known as Ramanujacharya, was an Indian Hindu philosopher, guru and a social reformer. He is noted to be one of the most important exponents of the Sri Vaishnavism tradition within Hinduism. His philosophical foundations for devotionalism were influential to the Bhakti movement.
The Smartatradition, also called Smartism, is a movement in Hinduism that developed and expanded with the Puranas genre of literature. It reflects a synthesis of four philosophical strands, namely Mimamsa, Advaita, Yoga, and theism. The Smarta tradition rejects theistic sectarianism, and is notable for the domestic worship of five shrines with five deities, all treated as equal – Ganesha, Shiva, Shakti, Vishnu and Surya. The Smarta tradition contrasted with the older Shrauta tradition, which was based on elaborate rituals and rites. There has been a considerable overlap in the ideas and practices of the Smarta tradition with other significant historic movements within Hinduism, namely Shaivism, Brahmanism, Vaishnavism, and Shaktism.
Telugu Brahmins are Telugu-speaking Brahmin communities native to the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Telugu Brahmins fall under the Pancha Dravida Brahmin classification of the Brahmin community in India. They are further divided into sections like Vaidikis, Niyogis, Deshasthas, Golkanda Vyaparis, Dravidulu etc. They are also divided on the basis of Vedic traditions that they follow such as Smartha, Madhva, Sri Vaishnava, Vaikhanasa.
Iyengar Tamil is a dialect of the Tamil language spoken mostly in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, as well as other neighbouring regions of South India. It is spoken by the Iyengar community, a sect of Tamil Brahmins whose members adhere to Sri Vaishnavism. Iyengars are present in considerable numbers in the states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh, though their spoken dialect varies from state to state.
The Ramanandi, also known as Ramavats, Ramananda sect is the largest sect of Vaishnavas, out of 52 gates of Vaishnavism, 36 are held by Ramanandi's. They mainly emphasize the worship of Rāma, Sita, and Hanuman, as well as Vishnu directly and also his other avatars.
Alagiya Manavalan, best known by his epithet Manavala Mamunigallit. 'The great saint, Manavalan' (1370–1450), was a Hindu theologian. He was a major proponent of the Sri Vaishnavism tradition in the 15th century in Tamilakam, disseminating it with the help of his eight disciples. The disciples of Manavalan established places of learning to teach the Vishishtadvaita philosophy in Tamilakam.
Tamil Brahmins are an ethnoreligious community of Tamil-speaking Hindu Brahmins, predominantly living in Tamil Nadu, though they number significantly in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Karnataka, in addition to other regions of India, as well as Sri Lanka. They can be broadly divided into two denominations: Iyengars, who are adherents of Sri Vaishnavism, and Iyers, who follow the Srauta and Smarta traditions.
Sri Vaishnavism is a denomination within the Vaishnavism tradition of Hinduism. The name refers to goddess Lakshmi, as well as a prefix that means "sacred, revered", and the god Vishnu, who are together revered in this tradition.
Padmasali is a Hindu caste residing in the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu. Their traditional occupation is weaving.
Vaikhanasa or Vaikhanasagama is a tradition of Hinduism that primarily worships Vishnu as the Supreme God. The tradition draws its name from the philosophy propounded by its founder, Sage Vikhanasa.
Sat Vaishnavism, , is a denomination within the Vaishnavism—Bhagavata tradition of Hinduism. Sat Vaishnavism was founded by thirteenth century philosopher-saint Madhvacharya, who developed the Tattvavada (dvaita) Vedanta sub-school of Hindu philosophy.
Chinna Jeeyar, more formally known as Sri Tridandi Srimannarayana Ramanuja Chinna Jeeyar Swami, is an Indian religious guru and yogi ascetic known for his spiritual discourses on Sri Vaishnavism. He subscribes to Thenkalai tradition of Sri Vaishnavism. He operates spiritual centers in the US. He is the designer and planner of the Statue of Equality, a statue dedicated to Ramanujacharya, in Hyderabad, India. He is also guiding Telangana State Government in the renovation of Yadadri Temple. He is one of the few Jiyars who accept non-brahmin disciples.
Satani is a Vaishnavite community who render temple services in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Telangana in India. Traditionally, they have rendered a variety of services as supervisors and purohits of minor temples, guardians of temple properties, heralds, singers and torch-bearers at festivals, bodyguards of Jiyars, and providers of umbrellas, flower garlands, and namam clay. They have claimed Brahmin status, although this has been contested by Brahmins as they do not wear the sacred thread. They are currently included in the Other Backward Classes (OBC) list by the state governments of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
Lakshmi Kumara Tatacharya, (1571–1643) was a prominent saint and guru of the Sri Vaishnava tradition of Hinduism. He served as the rajaguru for a ruler of the Vijayanagara Empire, Venkatapati Raya. He was also the overseer of a number of sacred temples known as the Divya Desams, including Srirangam, Kanchipuram, Tirumala, Melkote, and Srivilliputtur.
Parasara Bhattar, also called Periya Bhattar and Parashara Bhattarya, was a follower of Ramanuja, a 12th-century Sri Vaishnava teacher. He was the son of Koorathalvar. His works include the Srirangarajastavam. He wrote a commentary in Sanskrit on Vishnu Sahasranamam from a Sri Vaishnava viewpoint, titled Bhagavadguna Dharpanam, in contrast to the Advaita view of Adi Shankara.
The Vanamamalai Perumal Temple, also known as Arulmigu Sree Vanamamalai Totatri Perumal Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to the god Vishnu, in Vanamamalai or Totadrikshetram (Nanguneri), Tamil Nadu, India on the banks of Thamiraparani river. Constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture, the temple is glorified in the Nalayira Divya Prabandham, the early medieval Tamil canon of the Alvar saints from the 6th–9th centuries CE. It is one of the 108 Divya Desams shrines dedicated to Vishnu. Vishnu is worshipped here as Vanamalai Perumal and his consort Lakshmi as Varamanagi. The temple is believed to have been built by the Pandyas, with later contributions from Vijayanagara kings and Madurai Nayaks. The temple covers an area of 5 acres (20,000 m2) and has a five-tiered temple tower.
Madhva Brahmins, are Hindu Brahmin communities in India, who follow Sat Vaishnavism and Dvaita philosophy propounded by Madhvacharya. They are found mostly in the Indian states of Karnataka, Maharashtra, Goa, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
Kannada Brahmins are Kannada-speaking Brahmins, primarily living in Karnataka, and also present in the states of Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu. They belong to one of three traditions: Smartism, Sadh Vaishnavism, and Sri Vaishnavism, and are followers of Adi Shankara, Madhvacharya, and Ramanuja respectively. Madhva Brahmins are also called Sadh Vaishnavas and Madhvas. Sri Vaishnava Brahmins are also called Iyengars and Ramanujas.
Nanjiyar was a Sri Vaishnava philosopher from present-day Tamil Nadu, India. He wrote a commentary on the Tamil-language text Tiruvaymoli.