Authored by Ramachander
History of Tamil Brahmins
P.R.Ramachander
A peep in to ancient and medieval history
Migration
According to reputed historians, in the hoary past Tamil Nadu was occupied by a very cultured people whose religion was perhaps different from Hinduism. They did not have the Chaturvarnyam among them but had different caste groups. To this country the Brahmins of North India migrated. This according to historians took place when the Maurya Kings were ruling India, the reason being the new religious revolutions in the north started by Gautama the Buddha and Mahavira Vardhamana which found favour with the kings. The Brahmin migration was in waves and many of them settled down in present telugu country and some of them reached Tamil Nadu. The first groups to migrate to Tamil Nadu were the pro-Shukra Brahmins who were followers of Lord Shiva and the last few waves were the Pro-Brihaspati Brahmins who were mainly followers of Lord Vishnu.
Tamil Nadu welcomed these new migrants with open hands. The stories of the migration of Agasthya and his being the founder of the river Cauvery are chronicled in ancient Tamil myth. His disciple Tholkappiyar , who is definitely a historical figure wrote the first book in Tamil viz. Tholkappiyam. This book clearly mentions the existence of Brahmins in Tamil Nadu. There is some evidence pointing out to Tholkappiyar himself being a Brahmin. They were initially called Anthanars or Parpanars or aravor or vediyars. Tholkappiyam also mentions the word Aiyar in one place.
The kings of Tamil Nadu were attracted by these learned pundits and made them their Asans or teachers. These teachers also were given several powers by them. Apart from this ,several villages were given to them as grants , free of cost and free of tax .These were called Brahmodayams or Chadurvedimangalams. Possibly in a much later period they were renamed Agraharams .Though new to the culture and language ,these new migrants learned the language of the country and the ancient books mention many great poets among them in the courts of some very famous kings. These early migrants also brought the concept of Gothras. Bharadwaja, Koundinya, Kasyapa, Kaushika and Atreya Gothras are mentioned in the early sangam literature. They initially did not name themselves as they do in modern times after the Gods they worship but tended to use their Gothra in their names. Some of the examples of the early names were Kauniyan Vinnantayan (Kaundinya), Palai Gautamanar (Gautama), Ilankausikanar (Kausika), Kallil Athreyanar (Atreya), and Bharadwaji Nachinarkiniyanar (Bharadwaja) and so on.
They were strict vegetarians, teetotalers and spoke a specialized dialect of Tamil among themselves. Their houses had a “well-washed-scrubbed-courtyard” and mostly a cow and a calf were tied to a post in front of their houses and dog and fowls were assiduously kept out. The Brahmin of those times had six fold duties viz. learning of Vedic texts, teaching of Vedas, performing yagnas (called velvi in Tamil), helping others perform yagnas, giving of gifts and taking of gifts. Among the earliest schools of Vedas started by them were the Ghatika in Kanchi and the Vedic School in a village called Ennayiram. The sangam literature mentions about a famous Brahmin named Punjarurkavunian Vinnandayan who is supposed to have performed many Vedic sacrifices during those times.
They also took, lot of interest in developing Tamil Literature. Among them the well known poets of that time were Nakkerar, Kapilar, Nachinarkiniyar, and Tayam Kannanar and so on. Though they were the representatives of the Vedic learning they also took very active part in the Bhakti movement of the ancient Tamil Nadu. Among the greats were Nambi andar Nambi, Nadamuni, Sambandar, Sundarar, Kungilyakalayanar, and many others.
Divisions and Groups
It is very important to note here that they were both Shaivites and Vaishnavites among them since their known history but they preferred to live as one major group with several sub groups. Govindacharyar, Nathamuni, Nambi andar Nambi etc were great Vaishavite saints of those times.
The historians who have traced the migration of Brahmins to Tamil Nadu believe that the first group to migrate was the BrihatCharanams and Ashtasaharam Brahmins. The Brihatcharanams loosely translated as big foot or Great migrations were the first wave of settlers who settled in places like Mangudi, Satyamangalam, Thiruvannamalai, Palamaneri, Kandarmanikkam, and Milagasur and so on. The next migrants were possibly were the Ashtasahasrams who settled down in a place called Ennayiram near Pondicherry. The next big wave of migrants were the Vadamas, so called by others who have already settled as Northerners. There were other smaller sub groups like Vathimas also. Many of these migrants whose main occupation was learning Vedas and performing Yagnas took to Temple worship in Tamil Nadu by gaining proficiency in agama Sastras. These were called Kurukkal in general and some of these prominent groups were again grouped in to Sholiyars. Since the initial migrants felt that these people have committed a big mistake by taking up Temple Worship , they were looked down by the other groups. Another prominent and well recognized group of learned Brahmins were the Chidambaram Dikshitars. The Mukkani Brahmins who assist in Pujas in the Tiruchendur Temples were a later addition to these groups The Vadamas themselves were again split in to Then_desathu Vadamas and Vada _desathu vadamas.It is not clear when the Vaishnavites became a separate group and started calling themselves as Iyengars. They definitely did it after the advent of Sage Ramanujachariar who systematized Srivaishnavism After him his followers again split in to Vadakalai Iyengars and Thenkalai Iyengars. There is also some evidence to prove that most of the Vadakalai Iyengars were from Vadamas and most of the Thenkalai Iyengars were from the Sholiyars. Among the iyers , there were also minor sects like Kesis and Kaniyalars. There is another very small group called Prathamasakhis who are confined to few villages like Seddanipuram near Nannilam of Tanjore district who believe that they turn in to untouchables at mid day everyday. They go out of the house at mid day and reenter the house after a purificatory bath.
History of Tamil Brahmins
P.R.Ramachander
A peep in to ancient and medieval history
Migration
According to reputed historians, in the hoary past Tamil Nadu was occupied by a very cultured people whose religion was perhaps different from Hinduism. They did not have the Chaturvarnyam among them but had different caste groups. To this country the Brahmins of North India migrated. This according to historians took place when the Maurya Kings were ruling India, the reason being the new religious revolutions in the north started by Gautama the Buddha and Mahavira Vardhamana which found favour with the kings. The Brahmin migration was in waves and many of them settled down in present telugu country and some of them reached Tamil Nadu. The first groups to migrate to Tamil Nadu were the pro-Shukra Brahmins who were followers of Lord Shiva and the last few waves were the Pro-Brihaspati Brahmins who were mainly followers of Lord Vishnu.
Tamil Nadu welcomed these new migrants with open hands. The stories of the migration of Agasthya and his being the founder of the river Cauvery are chronicled in ancient Tamil myth. His disciple Tholkappiyar , who is definitely a historical figure wrote the first book in Tamil viz. Tholkappiyam. This book clearly mentions the existence of Brahmins in Tamil Nadu. There is some evidence pointing out to Tholkappiyar himself being a Brahmin. They were initially called Anthanars or Parpanars or aravor or vediyars. Tholkappiyam also mentions the word Aiyar in one place.
The kings of Tamil Nadu were attracted by these learned pundits and made them their Asans or teachers. These teachers also were given several powers by them. Apart from this ,several villages were given to them as grants , free of cost and free of tax .These were called Brahmodayams or Chadurvedimangalams. Possibly in a much later period they were renamed Agraharams .Though new to the culture and language ,these new migrants learned the language of the country and the ancient books mention many great poets among them in the courts of some very famous kings. These early migrants also brought the concept of Gothras. Bharadwaja, Koundinya, Kasyapa, Kaushika and Atreya Gothras are mentioned in the early sangam literature. They initially did not name themselves as they do in modern times after the Gods they worship but tended to use their Gothra in their names. Some of the examples of the early names were Kauniyan Vinnantayan (Kaundinya), Palai Gautamanar (Gautama), Ilankausikanar (Kausika), Kallil Athreyanar (Atreya), and Bharadwaji Nachinarkiniyanar (Bharadwaja) and so on.
They were strict vegetarians, teetotalers and spoke a specialized dialect of Tamil among themselves. Their houses had a “well-washed-scrubbed-courtyard” and mostly a cow and a calf were tied to a post in front of their houses and dog and fowls were assiduously kept out. The Brahmin of those times had six fold duties viz. learning of Vedic texts, teaching of Vedas, performing yagnas (called velvi in Tamil), helping others perform yagnas, giving of gifts and taking of gifts. Among the earliest schools of Vedas started by them were the Ghatika in Kanchi and the Vedic School in a village called Ennayiram. The sangam literature mentions about a famous Brahmin named Punjarurkavunian Vinnandayan who is supposed to have performed many Vedic sacrifices during those times.
They also took, lot of interest in developing Tamil Literature. Among them the well known poets of that time were Nakkerar, Kapilar, Nachinarkiniyar, and Tayam Kannanar and so on. Though they were the representatives of the Vedic learning they also took very active part in the Bhakti movement of the ancient Tamil Nadu. Among the greats were Nambi andar Nambi, Nadamuni, Sambandar, Sundarar, Kungilyakalayanar, and many others.
Divisions and Groups
It is very important to note here that they were both Shaivites and Vaishnavites among them since their known history but they preferred to live as one major group with several sub groups. Govindacharyar, Nathamuni, Nambi andar Nambi etc were great Vaishavite saints of those times.
The historians who have traced the migration of Brahmins to Tamil Nadu believe that the first group to migrate was the BrihatCharanams and Ashtasaharam Brahmins. The Brihatcharanams loosely translated as big foot or Great migrations were the first wave of settlers who settled in places like Mangudi, Satyamangalam, Thiruvannamalai, Palamaneri, Kandarmanikkam, and Milagasur and so on. The next migrants were possibly were the Ashtasahasrams who settled down in a place called Ennayiram near Pondicherry. The next big wave of migrants were the Vadamas, so called by others who have already settled as Northerners. There were other smaller sub groups like Vathimas also. Many of these migrants whose main occupation was learning Vedas and performing Yagnas took to Temple worship in Tamil Nadu by gaining proficiency in agama Sastras. These were called Kurukkal in general and some of these prominent groups were again grouped in to Sholiyars. Since the initial migrants felt that these people have committed a big mistake by taking up Temple Worship , they were looked down by the other groups. Another prominent and well recognized group of learned Brahmins were the Chidambaram Dikshitars. The Mukkani Brahmins who assist in Pujas in the Tiruchendur Temples were a later addition to these groups The Vadamas themselves were again split in to Then_desathu Vadamas and Vada _desathu vadamas.It is not clear when the Vaishnavites became a separate group and started calling themselves as Iyengars. They definitely did it after the advent of Sage Ramanujachariar who systematized Srivaishnavism After him his followers again split in to Vadakalai Iyengars and Thenkalai Iyengars. There is also some evidence to prove that most of the Vadakalai Iyengars were from Vadamas and most of the Thenkalai Iyengars were from the Sholiyars. Among the iyers , there were also minor sects like Kesis and Kaniyalars. There is another very small group called Prathamasakhis who are confined to few villages like Seddanipuram near Nannilam of Tanjore district who believe that they turn in to untouchables at mid day everyday. They go out of the house at mid day and reenter the house after a purificatory bath.