TAMIL BRAHMIN CULTURE AND SPIRITUALITY

[GNANA SUNYAM]

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In this thread we shall discuss on 'TAMIL BRAHMIN CULTURE AND SPIRITUALITY'

Spirituality and Culture mutually influence each other.

What are the salient features of TB Culture? What are those things that are distinctly TB Culture? What is unique about TB Culture?

What is contribution of TBs to Spirituality?

Let us list out the TB Spiritual Leaders.

If there is one TB whom I can single out as TB Leader in TB Spirituality, that is Ramanujacharya, the teacher of 'Visishtadvaita' philosophy.

Sankaracharya is not Tamilian. Is he Nambudri? The Keralites say he was not nambudri either. Is there another sect of malayalam brahmiins then? Or can we include him as TB Spiritual leader? Undeniably the number of TBs who are his followers is significant.

Puttaparthi Saibaba is neither Tamil nor Brahmin. But his TB devotees were largest, larger than other people groups. The number of SB Bhajan groups post his death is more in TN than any other state.

There have been numerous samiyaars in Tamilnadu, whose mother tongue is Tamil, but they are not brahmins.

The novel 'Thiruvarangan Ula' describes the pains TBs took to bring the Ranganatha statue from Srirangapatnam to Srirangam.

Agasthiyar, the founder of Tamil language was not a brahmin.

Thiruvalluvar's Tirukkural can be accepted as partially spiritual, yet was Thiruvalluvar a TB?

Dhevaram, Thiruvasagam, Thiruvaimozhi could be accepted a spiritual texts indeed, but were authored by non TBs. Could we accept the authors as virtual TBs?

Suddenly there came out of the blues one 'Kalki Vijayakumar' during 90s but he is not brahmin. And there was this Sivasankar baba. Both of them got mired in controversies and hence disqualifies them as spiritual leaders.

Are there any TB individuals reputed for performing super natural miracles like healing the sick, finding lost objects, raising the dead alive etc?

TBs contributed immensely in preserving and protecting the sanskrit texts and diligently following vedic prescriptions. But for that matter Brahmins of other language groups viz Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam etc contributed nonetheless.

TBs distinctly perform festivals viz Kara Adaiyan Nonbu, Varalaskshmi Pooja and Pongal. Again culture is not limited to festivals alone.

 

[sravna]

Why start on a negative note? It is as if one wants the premise to be truth. There are towering TBs who have profoundly and immensely contributed to Tamil and Indian spirituality. The easiest way to know this is to look at the wikipedia. The list is huge highly disproportionate to their minuscule population.

Adi Sankara was a Tamil and a brahmin. Does that mean Tsmil Brahmin though that particular brahmin sect is rooted in present kerala. Ramanujacharya is undoubtedly a TB. These are towering figures who single handedly changed perceptions of the whole population and immensely influenced Indian philosophy and spirituality.

If the idea of the thread is to have logical and factual arguments I and everyone else will welcome it. But if they are self serving messages out to assert what one believes most may not be interested to follow the posts.

 

[sravna]

When you ask what is unique about TB culture it is the right balance of North and Tamil culture. Both venerable and with a long history. TBs inherited both being both brahmins snd tamils. Others have their uniqueness but the true uniqueness of TB culture is the above which enriched them synergistically in many ways.

 

[sravna]

When I talk of tamil culture I talk of that due to the efforts of valluvar, avvaiyar, tholkappiar, agastiyar and such figures who were deeply ethical and spiritual in nature. It aligned with the northern brahmin culture but in a complementary way and immensely paved the way for a very formidable TB culture

 

[sravna]

Agastiyar etc were already brahmins by Guna according to Vedic classification.

 

[GNANA SUNYAM]

When you ask what is unique about TB culture it is the right balance of North and Tamil culture. Both venerable and with a long history. TBs inherited both being both brahmins snd tamils. Others have their uniqueness but the true uniqueness of TB culture is the above which enriched them synergistically in many ways.

Please list the specifics that form part of TB culture.

For instance, when married women make a brief visit to TB homes, we advise them to apply 'Kumkum' when leaving. For this purpose, in every TB home, Kumkum barani is placed at the entrance. This is regardless of the caste of the visitor.

TB Women, wake up early in the morning, wet the floor in front of the entrance and draw the white kolam. In almost every Tamil People group this is done as a practice. In TB homes this is done diligently, even in TB homes outside TN.

Come Aadi month, Varalakshmi Pooja is mandatory, when sumangali women from among Brahmin communities are invited and gifted thamboolam.

 

[GNANA SUNYAM]

In this thread we shall discuss on 'TAMIL BRAHMIN CULTURE AND SPIRITUALITY'

Spirituality and Culture mutually influence each other.

What are the salient features of TB Culture? What are those things that are distinctly TB Culture? What is unique about TB Culture?

What is contribution of TBs to Spirituality?

Let us list out the TB Spiritual Leaders.

If there is one TB whom I can single out as TB Leader in TB Spirituality, that is Ramanujacharya, the teacher of 'Visishtadvaita' philosophy.

Sankaracharya is not Tamilian. Is he Nambudri? The Keralites say he was not nambudri either. Is there another sect of malayalam brahmiins then? Or can we include him as TB Spiritual leader? Undeniably the number of TBs who are his followers is significant.

Puttaparthi Saibaba is neither Tamil nor Brahmin. But his TB devotees were largest, larger than other people groups. The number of SB Bhajan groups post his death is more in TN than any other state.

There have been numerous samiyaars in Tamilnadu, whose mother tongue is Tamil, but they are not brahmins.

The novel 'Thiruvarangan Ula' describes the pains TBs took to bring the Ranganatha statue from Srirangapatnam to Srirangam.

Agasthiyar, the founder of Tamil language was not a brahmin.

Thiruvalluvar's Tirukkural can be accepted as partially spiritual, yet was Thiruvalluvar a TB?

Dhevaram, Thiruvasagam, Thiruvaimozhi could be accepted a spiritual texts indeed, but were authored by non TBs. Could we accept the authors as virtual TBs?

Suddenly there came out of the blues one 'Kalki Vijayakumar' during 90s but he is not brahmin. And there was this Sivasankar baba. Both of them got mired in controversies and hence disqualifies them as spiritual leaders.

Are there any TB individuals reputed for performing super natural miracles like healing the sick, finding lost objects, raising the dead alive etc?

TBs contributed immensely in preserving and protecting the sanskrit texts and diligently following vedic prescriptions. But for that matter Brahmins of other language groups viz Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam etc contributed nonetheless.

TBs distinctly perform festivals viz Kara Adaiyan Nonbu, Varalaskshmi Pooja and Pongal. Again culture is not limited to festivals alone.

Also, please list the spiritual contributions of any TB Spiritual Leader.

For instance has any TB Spiritual leader authored any text like 'Sashti Kavacham', 'Abirami Andhadhi', 'Thiruppavai Thiruvembavai' etc.

Have any TB Spiritual Leader established any peetams like 'Madurai Adheenam'?

 

[GNANA SUNYAM]

"Tamil Culture" is a large Super Set, containing 'Naadar Culture', 'Dhevar Culture', 'Gounder Culture', 'Mudaliar Culture', 'Chettiar Culture', 'Nagarathar Culture', 'Saiva Vellalar Culture', 'Mukkulathor Culture', 'Viswakarma Culture' etc as Sub Sets.

Let us limit our discussions to 'Tamil Brahmin' Culture, the elements that form part of TB Culture, that are exclusively Tamil Brahmin, not Telugu Brahmin or Kannada Brahmin. We can include those elements of other language-brahmins' culture which we have adopted and absorbed and which have also become an essential part of TB Culture. For instance 'Ugadhi' is also celebrated by TBs.

 

[sravna]

The big picture conveys the idea. The specifics more obfuscate it than elucidate it because the strength of the TB culture is in its depth and vision.

 

[GNANA SUNYAM]

The big picture conveys the idea. The specifics more obfuscate it than elucidate it because the strength of the TB culture is in its depth and vision.

Please be specific Sravna. You seem to be beating around the bush.

What is the Vision of TB Culture? What is the Vision Statement? Is it documented in any TB Spiritual Literature? Or is there any TB Spiritual Literary Work that specifies the Vision, Mission, Goals and Strategies of TB Culture and TB Spirituality?

 

[sravna]

TB culture has the underpinnings of the teachings of highly revered Shankara and Ramanuja. The vision of these great stalwarts set the bar for the TBs. The assimilation of the equally famous ancient tamil culture into their Vedic culture makes the culture very robust. In spite of severe hammerings of the western hedonism the culture still holds in the heart of hearts of many TBs. They understand the superficiality of western philosophy if one is there and would really get back to their roots if time is ripe.

Sometimes moving with the times is not the best thing to do. You stand still and you will soon find the right time will come and take you ahead.

 

[sravna]

American model is a failed model. History will see it as something overhyped and lived a fly by night type of fame that couldn't have gone farther but within that time messed up the world to a remarkable extent and almost collapsed it.

 

[sravna]

The last 70 or 80 years have been an anamoly in human history. Anamolies themselves are part of nature. These brief intense periods teach us what we should not be and hence we need to unlearn all that are connected with those periods. Those who are at the helm are self destructive and vanish without a trace.

 

[prasad1]

In this thread we shall discuss on 'TAMIL BRAHMIN CULTURE AND SPIRITUALITY'

Spirituality and Culture mutually influence each other.

What are the salient features of TB Culture? What are those things that are distinctly TB Culture? What is unique about TB Culture?

What is contribution of TBs to Spirituality?

Let us list out the TB Spiritual Leaders.

If there is one TB whom I can single out as TB Leader in TB Spirituality, that is Ramanujacharya, the teacher of 'Visishtadvaita' philosophy.

Sankaracharya is not Tamilian. Is he Nambudri? The Keralites say he was not nambudri either. Is there another sect of malayalam brahmiins then? Or can we include him as TB Spiritual leader? Undeniably the number of TBs who are his followers is significant.

Puttaparthi Saibaba is neither Tamil nor Brahmin. But his TB devotees were largest, larger than other people groups. The number of SB Bhajan groups post his death is more in TN than any other state.

There have been numerous samiyaars in Tamilnadu, whose mother tongue is Tamil, but they are not brahmins.

The novel 'Thiruvarangan Ula' describes the pains TBs took to bring the Ranganatha statue from Srirangapatnam to Srirangam.

Agasthiyar, the founder of Tamil language was not a brahmin.

Thiruvalluvar's Tirukkural can be accepted as partially spiritual, yet was Thiruvalluvar a TB?

Dhevaram, Thiruvasagam, Thiruvaimozhi could be accepted a spiritual texts indeed, but were authored by non TBs. Could we accept the authors as virtual TBs?

Suddenly there came out of the blues one 'Kalki Vijayakumar' during 90s but he is not brahmin. And there was this Sivasankar baba. Both of them got mired in controversies and hence disqualifies them as spiritual leaders.

Are there any TB individuals reputed for performing super natural miracles like healing the sick, finding lost objects, raising the dead alive etc?

TBs contributed immensely in preserving and protecting the sanskrit texts and diligently following vedic prescriptions. But for that matter Brahmins of other language groups viz Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam etc contributed nonetheless.

TBs distinctly perform festivals viz Kara Adaiyan Nonbu, Varalaskshmi Pooja and Pongal. Again culture is not limited to festivals alone.

I take exception to your post. You are an invited guest (you asked to join the group). You start insulting the Tamils and the Brahmins. Will you clarify your background? If you are born "Brahmin" and "Tamil" there might be a saving grace. If not, your comments are offensive and insulting. If on the other hand, you are reformer maybe you can tone down your comments.

I do question some of the "Cultural" opinions expressed on this site, and get pushback from other members. That is healthy, but an "Outsider" has no business insulting the forum.

You said :"Sankaracharya is not Tamilian."

Did Tamil Nadu existed when Shankara was born? Was Tamil the prevalent language of the intellectuals at that time? Does a sanyasi have a past?

 

[GNANA SUNYAM]

I take exception to your post. You are an invited guest (you asked to join the group). You start insulting the Tamils and the Brahmins. Will you clarify your background? If you are born "Brahmin" and "Tamil" there might be a saving grace. If not, your comments are offensive and insulting. If on the other hand, you are reformer maybe you can tone down your comments.

I do question some of the "Cultural" opinions expressed on this site, and get pushback from other members. That is healthy, but an "Outsider" has no business insulting the forum.

You said :"Sankaracharya is not Tamilian."

Did Tamil Nadu existed when Shankara was born? Was Tamil the prevalent language of the intellectuals at that time? Does a sanyasi have a past?

Sankaracharya, also referred to as 'Aadi Sankara', if my understanding is correct, was born in Kalady, near Cochin, which is now Kerala. In all probability his mother tongue is Malayalam, which shares many common words with Tamil. Undeniably he is also a great scholar in Sanskrit. Perhaps he knew many more languages. He is renowned for his numerous slokas in Sanskrit and the teacher of Advaita philosophy. He has travelled extensively and has established at least 5 Peetams. His teachings impacted a large audience exceeding even the borders of current India. As Indians, of course we can feel proud he is one of our own. But as Tamils, could we say he is one of our own? People of Kerala can say he is one of their own.

Under the umbrella 'Indian Spirituality' we can list more than 1000 people in addition to Sankaracharya, Madhwacharya, Ramanujacharya as contributors.

In this thread we are attempting to list Tamil Brahmins who contributed to Spirituality, attempting to specify the spiritual practices which are distinctly of Tamils and adopted by others.

Also we are attempting to specify the cultural practices exclusively of Tamil Brahmins.

The objective is to identify and distinguish between Religious practices and Cultural Practices.

For instance, 'Kasi Yatra', 'Valai Kappu' are Cultural Practices and not Religious mandate.

'Thinga Nagavalli' is cultural and not a religious mandate. 'Mangalya Dharanam' is religious but 'Nalangu' is cultural.

'Karadayan Nonbu' is cultural but 'Varalakshmi Vradam' is a Religious mandate.

'Bomma Kolu' is cultural but 'Saraswati Pooja' is a Religious mandate.

 

[GNANA SUNYAM]

The recitation of Thiruppavai and Thiruvembavai is partly cultural and partly religious. It is exclusively of Tamil Nadu origin also practised by some Kannada Brahmins in Malleswaram and Ulsoor in Bangalore. These are predominantly Tamil Brahmin areas in Bangalore.

 

[GNANA SUNYAM]

@prasad:

This thread is in a sense a relay of your thread which you opened on 26-May-2013 under a similar title.

 

[prasad1]

Tamil Brahmin culture is a distinct aspect of Tamil culture, characterized by unique traditions, practices, and beliefs.

Religious Practices

Predominantly Hindu, with a strong emphasis on rituals and ceremonies.
Regular participation in temple activities and festivals.
Vedic chanting and adherence to specific religious texts are common.
Cuisine

Vegetarian diet is typical, with a focus on rice, lentils, and vegetables.
Use of traditional spices and cooking methods.
Popular dishes include sambar, rasam, and various types of rice preparations.
Language and Literature

Tamil is the primary language, with a rich literary heritage.
Contributions to Tamil literature include poetry, philosophy, and religious texts.
Social Structure

Traditionally organized into a caste system, with a focus on education and professional fields such as teaching, medicine, and engineering.
Family plays a central role, with strong emphasis on marriage and kinship ties.
Cultural Practices

Celebrations of festivals like Pongal and Deepavali are significant.
Traditional music and dance forms, such as Bharatanatyam, are integral to cultural expression.
Education and Career

High value is placed on education, often leading to careers in academia, technology, and the arts.
Many Tamil Brahmins are known for their contributions to various fields, including science and literature.
This culture continues to evolve while maintaining its core traditions and values.

 

[prasad1]

This is what CPT thinks.

Who are Tamil Brahmins?
Tamil Brahmins are traditionally considered part of the priestly and scholarly caste (varna) in Hindu society. They are known for preserving ancient Vedic rituals, Sanskrit learning, and Tamil literature.

Main sub-groups:

Iyers – Mostly follow the Smartha tradition (worship of multiple deities like Shiva, Vishnu, Devi, etc.).

Speak Tamil, mostly follow the Advaita Vedanta philosophy (non-dualism).

Iyengars – Follow Sri Vaishnavism (exclusive worship of Vishnu).

Further divided into Vadakalai and Thenkalai sects.

Philosophically follow Visishtadvaita Vedanta (qualified non-dualism).

Religion and Philosophy
Strong adherence to Sanatana Dharma (eternal dharma).

Emphasis on pujas (ritual worship), sandhyavandanam (daily prayers), and scriptural study.

Festivals like Navaratri, Deepavali, Pongal, Upakarma, and Vaikunta Ekadasi are celebrated with ritual precision.

Language and Literature
Tamil is the spoken language, but Sanskrit is heavily used in religious contexts.

Contribution to Tamil literature, especially devotional works like the Thevarams (Shaiva) and Divya Prabandhams (Vaishnava).

High respect for classical texts, both Vedic and Tamil.

Cuisine
Vegetarian.

Staple diet includes rice, sambar, rasam, curd, kootu, poriyal, etc.

Strict food codes are followed, especially during religious rituals.

Meals are typically served on banana leaves and eaten by hand.

Lifestyle and Values
Emphasis on education, particularly in traditional scriptures and modern academics.

Many have excelled in fields like academia, science, law, engineering, and arts.

Simple lifestyle with focus on discipline, cleanliness, and humility.

Arranged marriages are common, and family structures are traditionally patriarchal but changing with time.

Arts and Culture
Deep involvement in Carnatic music, Bharatanatyam, and Sanskrit drama.

Many famous musicians and dancers are from Tamil Brahmin backgrounds.

Modern Context
Many Tamil Brahmins have migrated to cities and abroad (notably the US, UK, and Canada).

There is an ongoing dialogue within the community about caste, modernity, and tradition.

Organizations and online platforms play a crucial role in preserving and sharing cultural practices.

Caste & Social Dynamics
Historically, they held a high social status due to their roles as priests and scholars.

In modern India, some aspects of Tamil Brahmin identity are debated due to caste politics and social reform movements (like the Dravidian movement).



Many younger Tamil Brahmins are more progressive, embracing inclusivity while retaining cultural practices.

 

[GNANA SUNYAM]

This is what CPT thinks.

Who are Tamil Brahmins?
Tamil Brahmins are traditionally considered part of the priestly and scholarly caste (varna) in Hindu society. They are known for preserving ancient Vedic rituals, Sanskrit learning, and Tamil literature.

Main sub-groups:

Iyers – Mostly follow the Smartha tradition (worship of multiple deities like Shiva, Vishnu, Devi, etc.).

Speak Tamil, mostly follow the Advaita Vedanta philosophy (non-dualism).

Iyengars – Follow Sri Vaishnavism (exclusive worship of Vishnu).

Further divided into Vadakalai and Thenkalai sects.

Philosophically follow Visishtadvaita Vedanta (qualified non-dualism).

Religion and Philosophy
Strong adherence to Sanatana Dharma (eternal dharma).

Emphasis on pujas (ritual worship), sandhyavandanam (daily prayers), and scriptural study.

Festivals like Navaratri, Deepavali, Pongal, Upakarma, and Vaikunta Ekadasi are celebrated with ritual precision.

Language and Literature
Tamil is the spoken language, but Sanskrit is heavily used in religious contexts.

Contribution to Tamil literature, especially devotional works like the Thevarams (Shaiva) and Divya Prabandhams (Vaishnava).

High respect for classical texts, both Vedic and Tamil.

Cuisine
Vegetarian.

Staple diet includes rice, sambar, rasam, curd, kootu, poriyal, etc.

Strict food codes are followed, especially during religious rituals.

Meals are typically served on banana leaves and eaten by hand.

Lifestyle and Values
Emphasis on education, particularly in traditional scriptures and modern academics.

Many have excelled in fields like academia, science, law, engineering, and arts.

Simple lifestyle with focus on discipline, cleanliness, and humility.

Arranged marriages are common, and family structures are traditionally patriarchal but changing with time.

Arts and Culture
Deep involvement in Carnatic music, Bharatanatyam, and Sanskrit drama.

Many famous musicians and dancers are from Tamil Brahmin backgrounds.

Modern Context
Many Tamil Brahmins have migrated to cities and abroad (notably the US, UK, and Canada).

There is an ongoing dialogue within the community about caste, modernity, and tradition.

Organizations and online platforms play a crucial role in preserving and sharing cultural practices.

Caste & Social Dynamics
Historically, they held a high social status due to their roles as priests and scholars.

In modern India, some aspects of Tamil Brahmin identity are debated due to caste politics and social reform movements (like the Dravidian movement).



Many younger Tamil Brahmins are more progressive, embracing inclusivity while retaining cultural practices.

Great!

You have covered almost every element that makes for Tamil Brahmin Culture, that forms an essential part of Tamil Brahmin Culture.

You could be more specific.

For instance, you can elaborate the contribution by Tamil Brahmins to Tamil Devotional Literature, Tamil Classical Literature. Please specify the name of the Tamil Literary Work, the piece of literature, the name of the author and if possible the period when it was authored.

Also please list the traditional practices and customs which are distinctly Tamil Brahmin.

Worthy of noting is a personal episode during lunch with my colleagues in our Corporate Campus. We were gathered for lunch in 'Rajdhani' Food Court, one of the Vendors to whom Catering was outsourced. In 'Rajdhani' the practice is to place stainless steel plate in front of every customer and a cup-bearer brings a jug of water and bowl, advise customers to rinse palms prior to eating. While my colleagues showed only the palms, I casually requested the waiter to rinse from my wrist. One of my colleagues immediately queried me, 'Are you a Tamil Brahmin?'. It was only then I learnt TBs in the neighbouring state usually rinse from their wrist.