Iyer

Iyer This box:  •  • edit
An Iyer musician from the 19th century
Total population
2004: (approx) 2,400,000 (roughly 3% of the Tamil population)
Regions with significant populations
India 2.4 million Chennai: XXXX' Mayavaram:XXXX Tirunelveli district: XXXX Kottayam: XXXX Thiruvananthapuram: XXXX Madurai:XXXX Palakkad: XXXX Thrissur: XXXX Alappuzha: XXXX Mumbai: XXXX Kumbakonam: XXXX Kochi: XXXX Bangalore: XXXX Mysore: XXXX Nellore, Andhra Pradesh:XXXX London:XXXX USA:XXXX
Language(s)
Mother tongue is Tamil with unique Iyer dialects. Knowledge of Sanskrit for religious reasons.
Religion(s)
Hinduism
Related ethnic groups
Brahmin,Tamil people

Iyer (Tamil : அய்யர்) is the common designation given to Tamils from the upper Brahmin caste of Hinduism who adhere to and sometimes profess the Advaita philosophy propounded by Adi Shankara^[1].

Contents 1 Origins 1.1 Iyers and the Aryan Invasion Theory 2 Subsects 3 Gotra or Lineage 4 Demographics 5 Migrations 5.1 Migration to West Bengal 5.2 Migration to Karanataka 5.3 Migrations to Kerala 5.3.1 Iyers in Travancore and Cochin regions 5.3.2 Palakkad Iyers 5.4 Migrations to Sri Lanka 5.5 Recent Migrations 6 Rituals, Ceremonies and Festivals 6.1 Rituals 6.2 Festivals 7 Iyer Marriage 8 Agraharams 9 Social and political issues 10 Traditional Iyer Ethics 11 Traditional Attire 12 Iyers Today 13 Language of Iyers 14 Iyers and Art 15 Food 16 Accusations of Casteism and Racism 17 Famous Iyers 18 References 19 See also 20 External links

Origins

Iyers are South Indian Brahmins who reside in the states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. Iyers are predominantly Smarthas or followers of the Smriti texts. The term Iyer is derived from the term Ayya which is often used by Tamils to designate respectable people. The word Ayya is a Prakrit corruption of the Sanskrit word 'Arya' which means 'noble'.^[2][3] The origin of Iyers, like other South-Indian Brahmin communities, is shrouded in mystery. There have been evidences of Brahmin presence in the southern states even prior to the Sangam Age. However, it is generally believed that they were few in number and that most Iyers migrated from other parts of India at a later stage. According to some sources, these early inhabitants comprised mostly of priests who ministered in temples known as "Gurukkals". Large scale migrations are generally believed to have occurred between 200 and 1600 AD and most Iyers are believed to have descended from these migrants.^[4][5][6][7]. However, this theory has come under attack in recent times from historians and anthropologists who question the validity of this theory due to lack of evidence.^{[8][9][10][11][12]} Though initially divided into distinct groups, they have slowly evolved into a single community with similar culture and habits. They have preserved their unique common identity, even after migrating to other places. During the early medieval period, when Ramanuja founded Vaishnavism many Iyers adopted the new philosophical affiliation and were called Iyengars.^[13]

Iyers and the Aryan Invasion Theory

See also: Aryan Invasion Theory (history and controversies)

Iyer men and women are fairer in complexion to the average Tamilian and this, along with the meaning of the word "Iyer" itself are regarded as sufficient evidences of an "Aryan origin" for Tamil Brahmins.^[14] Moreover, some Iyer communities pay homage to the river Narmada instead of the South Indian river Cauvery in their rituals and revere legends proposing a northern origin for their community. This issue is still being debated and researched by anthropologists, linguists and archaeologists alike. However, regardless of whether the "Aryan theory" of origin for Iyers is true or not, still it has often been a major propaganda tool for politicians who have frequently utilized this canard to inflame caste and communal passions and get votes. Recent genetic studies amongst Iyers of Madurai reveal close proximity to populations from Eurasian steppes of Central Asia.^[15][16] However, when genetic analysis of South Asians was performed while discarding caste-based ramifications, it was observed that South Indians, in general had lesser genetic affinity with Central Asian people than the inhabitants of North India and that Indian caste and tribal populations all emerged from the same source.^[17] Some geneticists like Toomas Kivisild and Stephen Oppenheimer even postulated that these affinities might have originated in India and propose an Indian home for the Aryan race.^[18]

Subsects

Iyers have many sub-sects among them, such as Vadama, Brahacharanam, Vathima, Sholiyar or Chozhiar , Ashtasahasram, and Gurukkal.^[19][20] Each sub-sect is further subdivided according to the village or region of origin. They also maintain a similar culture regardless of specific origin, due to cultural interaction for more than a millennium.

Iyers are also divided into different sects based on the Veda they follow. Iyers belonging to the Yajur Veda sect usually follow the teachings of the Krishna Yajur Veda.^[21] A small but very important sect is that of Sivacharya or Gurukkal. They are the hereditary priests or Archakas of the Siva and Sakthi temples in Tamil Nadu. They are Saivas and follow the philosophy of Shaiva Siddhanta. They are well versed in Agama Sasthras and follow the Agamic rituals of these temples.

Gotra or Lineage

See Also: Brahmin gotra system Iyers—like all other Brahmins—trace their paternal ancestors to one of eight rishis or sages.^[22][23] Accordingly they classify themselves into eight gotras, based upon the ancestor rishi. A maiden in the family belongs to gotra of her father, but upon marriage takes the gotra of her husband.

Demographics

Today, Iyers live all over South India, but an overwhelming majority of Iyers continue to thrive in Tamil Nadu. They form roughly 3% of the state's total population and are quite evenly distributed all over the state.^[24] They are concentrated mainly along the Cauvery Delta districts of Mayiladuthurai, Thanjavur and Tiruchirapalli where they form almost 10% of the total population. In Northern Tamil Nadu they are found in the urban areas of Chennai, Kanchipuram, Chengalpattu, Sriperumbudur and Vellore. They are almost non-existent in rural parts. 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. The most prominent Tirunelveli Iyer was Subramanya Bharathy, often regarded as the "national poet of Tamil Nadu". In Coimbatore, there are a large number of Kerala Iyers from Palakkad. Telugu-speaking Smartha Brahmins, especially of the Mulukanadu sect, often identify themselves as Iyers. They are found all along coastal Andhra Pradesh and North Tamil Nadu. The fall of the Vijayanagar Empire in 1565 prompted large scale migrations from Vijayanagar as thousands of Telugu Brahmins moved southwards and settled in the districts of Tamil Nadu.^[25] There were also periodic migrations from the southern districts of Andhra Pradesh during the 19th and early 20th centuries when Southern and Eastern districts of Andhra Pradesh were parts of Madras province.Savant Tyagaraja, the Paramacharya of the Kanchi mutt and singer S.P.Balasubramanyam are prominent Iyers of Telugu origin.

Migrations

Migration to West Bengal

The oldest recorded migration of Tamil Brahmins is to West Bengal. They are known as Dākṣiṇātyas amongst Vaidika Brahmins. See Bengali Brahmins. Though the date of migration is being hotly debated, the general opinion is that they came during the period of the Senas.^[26] It is also possible that they arrived in the train of the Chola armies during Rajendra Chola's invasion which took place between 1021 and 1024 C.E. See Mahipala. Some historians have reported that the Adi Sura (Vira sena) who is supposed to have brought the five Brahmin families to Bengal was himself a Tamil Brahmin.

Migration to Karanataka

Over the last few centuries, a large number of Iyers have also migrated and settled in parts Karnataka. The erstwhile Mysore state had been home to a significantly large Mulukanadu community. During the enlightened rule of the Mysore Maharajahs, a large number of Iyers from the then Madras province migrated to Mysore and contributed to the cultural and economic growth of the kingdom. The Ashtagrama Iyers are also a prominent group of Iyers in Karnataka.

Migrations to Kerala

A series of large-scale migrations of Iyers from the Tamil country into Kerala over the past few centuries has created a slightly unique 'Kerala Iyer' community. According to anthropologists, two streams of migration actually took place:

• From Tirunelveli and Ramnad districts of Tamil Nadu first to the erstwhile princely states of Travancore and Cochin and later to Palakkad and Kozhikode districts.
• From Tanjore district of Tamil Nadu to Palakkad. They are known as Palakkad Iyers.

Iyers in Travancore and Cochin regions

Today, majority of the Iyers living in the historic Travancore and Cochin regions of Kerala are the descendents of Iyers migrated from the former Pandya kingdom and the Madras Presidency after 18th century. However, as a Tamil Brahmin community strictly following Smartism, Iyers were neither considered eligible nor allowed to officiate as priests in the temples of Kerala, which followed 'Tantra Vidhi'- a very complex and ancient branch of Tantric traditions preserved by Namboothiris unlike in other parts of India, with the exception of Nanjilnad. (Kanyakumari district in Tamil Nadu which was formerly part of Travancore). In Kanyakumari district, Iyers were also allowed to officiate as priests due to cultural reasons. Iyers were skilled in commerce and culinary art and were employed as cooks, accountants (Karyakars), other higher officers and ministers to the Royal family. Iyers are generally credited with having introduced previously unknown dishes as idli, sambhar, dosa and vadai to Kerala. The first prominent member of the Iyer community in Kerala was Ramayyan Dalawa, who was the Prime Minister (Dewan or Dalawa) of Travancore State during the reign of Raja Marthanda Varma. Tamil Brahmins have fully integrated into Kerala society while retaining their Tamil cultural heritage and Smartha traditions. Since there were not many schools teaching standard Tamil in Travancore and Cochin they have been learning Malyalam for generations. Hence, most of them speak a Brahmin Tamil dialect influenced by Malayalam vocabulary at home. They have also heavily contributed to the Malayalam Language and Literature.Ulloor S. Parameswara Iyer was one of leading Malyalam poets.

Palakkad Iyers

The basic difference between the 'Palakkad Iyers' and the 'Travancore Iyers' is that while Palakkad Iyers migrated to the Palakkad district from the Chola kingdom at the invitation of the Raja of Palakkad due to religious reasons, Travancore Iyers migrated and settled in the modern day south Kerala from the Pandya lands around Madurai and Tirunelveli due to economic reasons. The Brahmins of Palakkad were given lands by the Raja and owned land. Besides, they also officiated in temples as priests. The Palakkad Iyers stayed in large agraharams and retained Thanjavur culture while Travancore Iyers retained the Pandya traditions and mostly owned and lived in houses known as 'Madom', not in Agraharams in the interior parts of south Kerala.(in the districts including Kottayam and Alappuzha). As an exception to this, there are large Agraharams of Travancore Iyers in Thiruvananthapuram, the capital of Kerala. The Palakkad Iyers were one of the worst affected by the Kerala Agrarian Relations Bill, 1957 (repealed in 1961 and substituted by The Kerala Land Reforms Act, 1963) which abolished the tenancy system, and assigned proprietary right on land to the cultivating tenants.^[27] The people of Tamil Nadu easily identified them as Palakkad Tamil Brahmins or Palakkad Iyers. They are known as Palakkad Iyers only because many of them settled down in the Palakkad district of Kerala which is close to Tamil Nadu. Palakkad was a part of Madras state till 1956.

The mother tongue of all Iyers is Tamil but the form of Tamil that a common Palakkad Iyer speaks is influenced by Malayalam vocabulary and grammar to some extent. Their slang is highly influenced by Sanskrit as well. This might have resulted partially due to the absence of sufficient number of Tamil language schools in Kerala, where Iyers are a linguistic minority group.

Migrations to Sri Lanka

Brahmins in general are known in Sri Lankan history from the beginings of Indic migrations to the island from about 500 B.C. Currently Tamil Brahmins are an important part of the Sri Lankan Tamil ethnic group in Sri Lanka. Tamil Brahmins played an important historic role in the formation of the Jaffna Kingdom circa thirteenth century. (See Aryacakravarti dynasty)

Recent Migrations

Apart from South India, Iyers have also migrated to and settled in places in North India. There are significantly large Iyer communities in Mumbai, Kolkata, Orissa and Delhi. These migrations, which commenced during 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 large numbers to the United Kingdom, Europe and the USA in search of better fortune. They are one of the fastest growing Asian communities in the US.

Rituals, Ceremonies and Festivals

Iyer rituals comprise rites as described in Hindu scriptures such as Apastamba Sutra attributed to Apastamba. The most important rites are the shodasa samskaras or the 17 essential Saṃskāra. Although many rites and rituals that were practiced in ancient times are no longer followed, some traditions are continued to this day^[28][29]

Rituals

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. However, this practice is no longer observed. At the time of birth, a horoscope is made for the child based on the position of the stars. The child then named. This affair is important as the name given during this ceremony is the individual's ritual name, and is used whenever prayers or ceremonies are conducted, where that individual has to be mentioned by name. However, the child is officially christened in the Hindu sense only at the Ayushya Homam or the birthday of the child. This birthday however is unrelated to the child's birth date as per the calendar, rather it corresponds to the nakshatra, or star, corresponding to the time at which the individual is born. The child's first birthday is the most important and 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.^[30]

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 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 castes, generally when the individual is between 7 and 16 years of age.^[31][32] In exceptionally rare cases, the Upanayana may be performed for an individual immediately before his marriage. In ancient times, the Upanayana was often considered as the function which marks the commencement of a boy's education, which in those days, comprised mostly of the study of the Vedas. However, with the Brahmins taking to other vocations than priesthood, this initiation has become more of a symbolic ritual these days. The neophyte was expected to be extremely disciplined and practice absolute celibacy during the period known as Brahmacharya. He was expected to beg for a living and confine himself to vegetarian diet. The individual had to perform daily fire worship, and utter prayers without fail. More importantly, he was expected to perform the Sandhya Vandanam ritual^[33][34] 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,^[35] which is as sacred to the Hindus as the Kalima to the Muslims and Ahunwar to the Zoroastrians. Once a year (usually in the month of August or September) Iyers change their sacred thread. This ritual is exclusive to South Indian Brahmimns and the day is commemorated as 'Avani Avittam'. Iyer women have their own ceremonies such as the one at the time of attaining puberty (mostly a private family affair) and regular prayers that they organize for the welfare of their family. They learn shlokas and devotional hymns, and regularly worship various deities. However, there are no texts in the Vedas that are held to be suitable for study by women. The other extremely important rituals for the Iyers are the death ceremonies. All Iyers are cremated according to Vedic rites, usually within 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 shraarddha, 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 the ritual to give a "consent" to all the proceedings in it.

Festivals

Iyers celebrate different festivals where they worship God. They offer different kinds of sweets to God unique to that festival. These offerings usually include fruits and sweets. Worship of the divine is done by reciting Sanskrit hymns and by the offering of special flowers. Iyers celebrate almost all Hindu festivals like Deepavali, Navratri, Pongal, Vinayaka Chaturthi, Janmāshtami, Tamil New Year, Sivarathri and Karthika Deepam.

However, the most important festival which is exclusive to Brahmins of South India is the Avani Avittam festival.^[36][37] Iyers set aside certain days for fasting. Some of the days when the Iyers fast are Amavasya, Ekadasi, and Sivarāthri.^[38]

Iyer Marriage

A typical Iyer marriage consists of Sumangali Prārthanai (Hindu prayers for prosperous married life) , Nāndi(homage to ancestors), Nischayadhārtham(Engagement) and Mangalyadharanam(tying the knot). This is a highly ritualistic affair. The main ritualistic 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 is a casual and informal event.^[39]

Agraharams

In ancient times, Iyers, along with Iyengars and other Tamil Brahmins, lived in exclusive Brahmin quarters of their village or town known as an 'agraharam'(in Sanskrit Agram means tip or end and Haram means Shiva). Shiva and Vishnu temples were usually situated at the ends of an agraharam. In most cases, there would also be a fast-flowing stream or river nearby.^[40][41][42] A typical agraharam 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 the Industrial Revolution, Iyers started moving to cities for their sustenance. Starting from the late 1800s, the agraharams 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 agraharams left where traditional or old Iyers continue to reside. In an Iyer residence, people wash their feet first with water on entering their house before going further into the house. This is not possible in flats in cities due to the layout of the same. But in houses in villages, the layout permits this and is still practiced.^[43][44]

Social and political issues

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 ^{[45] [46]}. Their domination continued throughout the British Raj as they used their knowledge of the English language and education to dominate the political, administrative, judicial and intellectual spectrum. Upon India's independence in 1947, they hoped to consolidate their hold on the administrative and judicial machinery . Such a situation led to resentment from the other castes in Tamil Nadu; an upshot of this atmosphere was an "non-Brahmin" movement and the formation of the Justice Party^[47] . In the early days,the Justice Party functioned on a principled high-ground as a representative organization of non-Brahmins of the Madras Presidency and campaigning for their grievances to be addressed and for the fulfillment of their education and monetary needs. However, with the passage of time, the movement soon led to a power struggle between the Brahmins and other upper castes like the Mudaliars, Pillais and Chettiars. 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 a majority of Tamils who were Dravidian based on Robert Caldwell's writings ^[48]. See Iyers and the Aryan Invasion Theory. The ensuing anti-Brahmin propaganda and the rising unpopularity of the Rajaji Government left an indelible mark on the Tamil Brahmin community ending their political aspirations forever. 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 a few exceptions, Iyers have virtually disappeared from the political arena. ^{[49][50][51][52][53][54] [55][56][57]}

Traditional Iyer Ethics

Iyers are an orthodox community that adhered steadfastly to their customs and traditions till the turn of the 20th century, when they started leaving their traditional priestly duties for more secular vocations, causing contemporary Iyers to be more flexible than their parents and grandparents. They followed the Manusmriti (Hindu Code of Laws or The Institutes of Manu) and the Grihya Sutras of Apastamba and Baudhayana. The society is patriarchal but not feudal.^[58]

Iyers observed many rules in the past when they used to live and marry only within their community; many continue to adhere to their roots. Their dietary habits can be considered to be strict, consuming only vegetarian food which excludes fish and fowl, eggs and egg products. Some abjure onion and garlic on the grounds that they activate certain base senses. Milk and milk products, preferably from the cow, were approved. They were mandated to avoid the consumption of intoxicants, including alcohol and tobacco.

Iyers follow elaborate purification rituals, both of self and the house. The women of the household cook food only after a bath, while the males perform religious rites after a purificatory bath. An Iyer does not visit a temple without taking bath. Food is partaken of only after it is offered to the deity/deities in a prescribed manner. Like any other Brahmin community, bathing everyday is mandatory, and is, strictly speaking, the first thing to be carried out, before beginning any work of the day or before the start of any ritual or prayer. So much importance was given to this, that it was not unusual to see Iyers bathe many times during the day (before performing any important ritual).^[59]

The bathing was considered sufficiently purifying only if it confirmed to the rules of madi. The word madi is used by Tamil Brahmins to indicate that a person 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. Until recently, an Iyer widow (but not a widower) was never allowed to remarry. Divorces were considered a "great evil". Once a widow, an Iyer woman had to shave her head and lead the life of Sanyasin. She had to stop wearing the kumkum/bindi on her forehead, and was recommended to smear her forehead with sacred ashes. All of these practices have diminished over the last few decades, and modern Iyer widows lead less orthodox lives. There is also a restriction on Iyer women during menstruation. During this time, the Iyer women are prohibited from touching any person in the house and are not permitted to enter the worship or prayer room. She does not visit temples and does not partake any holy offerings such as prasadam. These restrictions were followed in order to relieve women from their household chores, and give them time to recuperate.

Traditional Attire

Iyer men traditionally wear veshtis, which cover them from waist to foot. These are made of cotton and sometimes silk. Veshtis are worn in different styles, the veshtis are worn in a typical brahminical style during religious ceremonies, the style is popularly known as panchakacham (from the sanskrit term pancha gajam meaning "five yards" or "ten cubits"; the length of the veshti used in non-ceremonial daily life is, by contrast, four or eight cubits long). They sometimes wrap their shoulders with a single piece of cloth known as angavastram (body-garment). Many centuries ago, Iyers involved in the most sacred rituals also draped their waist or chests with deer skin or grass. The Iyer woman is often portrayed as woman draped in a nine yard saree, also known as madisar in Tamil.^[60] Though such dress is worn regularly only by the older women, on festivals and other religious occasions young women wear it as well.

Iyers Today

Akin to Bengali Brahmins, the Brahmins of South India were one of the first communities to be Westernized. However, this was restricted to their outlook on the material world. They have retained their Smartha traditions despite almost two centuries of western influence. This newly created elite became the dominant social and cultural stratum in South Indian society producing a plethora of British style academicians, industrialists and political leaders. They also played an active role in the Indian independence movement. Prominent leaders from the Iyer community included Subramanya Bharathy. Bharathy fought against the caste system which was widely in vogue during his times. In addition to their earlier occupations, Iyers today have diversified into a variety of fields — their strengths particularly evident in the fields of Mass Media, science, mathematics and computer science. It is a small percentage of Iyers who voluntarily choose, in this era, to pursue the traditional vocation of priesthood, though all Hindu temple priests are Brahmins. Some Iyers today have even married outside of their caste in Europe and therefore produced children of mixed background. Iyers have been prominent in the field of literature too, especially in English and Tamil. Iyers have been active in the cultural field also. Music has always been integral to the Iyer community. Bharatanatyam has been ardently pursued by female members of the Iyer community from the time of its reinvention in early 20th century. These classical art forms, Carnatic music and Bharatanatyam, enjoy public patronage during the Chennai cultural season in the months of December and January.

Language of Iyers

See also: Brahmin Tamil 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 Braahmik or Brahmin Tamil, but is more popularly known by its colloquial term "Iyer baashai" or "language of Iyers". Brahmin Tamil is highly Sanskritized and has often invited ridicule from Tamil nationalists due to its extensive usage of the Sanskrit vocabulary. However, with Brahmins moving out of their agraharams to urban centres or migrating to foreign countries, Brahmin Tamil is being increasingly discarded and is facing the prospect of extinction. The Palakkad Iyers have a unique dialect of their own. Palakkad Tamil is characterized by the presence of a large number of words of Malayali origin. The Iyers of Tirunelveli speak a form of Tamil which is closely allied to the Tirunelveli dialect. The Sankheti Iyers speak a dialect of Tamil called Sankheti. Apart from Tamil, Iyers in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Kerala are also fluent in the local languages of their state i.e. Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam, respectively. Iyers who reside in Mumbai and North India are well-versed in Hindi and English. Iyers have the highest literacy rate amongst all communities in Tamil Nadu and most of them are educated and good in English.

Iyers and Art

See Also: Distinguished Iyers

For centuries, Iyers have taken a keen interest in preserving the arts and sciences. they undertook the responsibility of preserving the Bharata Natya Shastra, a monumental work on Bharatanatyam, the classical dance form of Tamil Nadu. During the early part of trhis century, dance was usually regarded as a degenerate art associated witrh devadasis. However, it was an Iyer woman, Rukmini Devi Arundale, who revived the dying art form thereby breaking social and caste taboos about Brahmins taking part in dance programmes or learning Bharatanatyam. However, compared to dance, the contribution of Iyers in field of music has been considerably noteworthy. The Trinity of Carnatic Music were responsible for making some excellent compositions towards the end of the 18th century. In more recent times, Chembai Vaidyanatha Iyer and D. K. Pattammal have enthralled audiences with some soul-stirring renderings. Today, there are Iyers who give traditional renderings as well as playback singers in Indian films like S P Balasubrahmanyam, Hariharan, Kavita Krishnamurthy, Nithyashree Mahadevan, Usha Uthup, Shankar Mahadevan, Mahalaxmi Iyer, Hamsika Iyer and Naresh Iyer . Iyers have also contributed considerably to drama, short story and temple architecture. In the field of literature and journalism, the Iyer community has produced stalwarts like R. K. Narayan, R. K. Laxman, Subramanya Bharathy, Kalki Krishnamurthy, Ulloor Parameswara Iyer, and Cho Ramaswamy to name a few. The adoption of Western education at a very stage has ensued their proficiency in the English language. They have also contributed in an equal amount to Tamil language and literature.There are innumerable hymns composed on different deities worshipped in the South such as Meenakshi, Amman, Shiva, Murugan, Vishnu, etc. The style of these poems are indeed unique and beautiful. Besides Tamil, they have also written a number of works in Sanskrit which is the language used in rituals. The Iyer community has also produced a number of film stars and cine artistes. Two of Kollywood's greatest directors, K. Balachander and Mani Ratnam hail from the Iyer community. Gemini Ganesan was one of the greatest Tamil film actors of the black-and-white era along with Sivaji Ganesan and M. G. Ramachandran. At present, Ajith and Trisha are amongst the top five stars in Tamil cinema.

Food

The main diet of Iyers is composed of vegetarian food^[61], 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 is poured over a heap of rice and lentils. While tasting delicious, 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^[62]. Coffee amongst beverages and curd amongst food items form an indispensable part of the Iyer food menu.

Accusations of Casteism and Racism

See Also: Brahminism,Anti-Brahminism,Caste-Based Reservations in Tamil Nadu The legacy of Iyers have often been marred by accusations of racism and counter-racism against them by non-Brahmins and vice versa. The Manusmriti forbids Brahmins from eating with individuals of particular castes (particularly the Scheduled Castes) and prescribed a strict code of laws with regard to their day-to-day behavior and dealings with other castes. Iyers of orthodox families generally obeyed these laws strictly.

“

It was found that prior to Independence, the Pallars were never allowed to enter the residential areas of the caste Hindus particularly of the Brahmins. Whenever a Brahmin came out of his house, no Scheduled Caste person was expected to come in his vicinity as it would pollute his sanctity and if it happened by mistake, he would go back home cursing the latter. He would come out once again only after taking a bath and making sure that no such thing would be repeated. However, as a mark of protest a few Pallars of this village deliberately used to appear before the Brahmin again and again. By doing so the Pallars forced the Brahmin to get back home once again to take a bath drawing water from deep well.[63]

”

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 was a rise in consciousness amongst the lower castes who felt that rights which were legitimately theirs were being denied to them. This, in combination with the depressed economic and social conditions of non-Brahmins, 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 the Brahmin in every sphere and destroyed the monopoly over education and the administrative services which the Brahmin had previously held.^[64] However, with the destruction of Brahmin monopoly over the services and introduction of adequate representation for other communities, anti-Brahmin feelings did not subside. On the contrary, they were fully exploited by scheming politicians, who often indulged in venomous anti-Brahmin rhetoric primarily in order to get non-Brahmin votes. With the passage of time, they reached such a pitch that even individuals who had previously been a part of the Dravidian Movement began to cry foul. Deprived of opportunities, Tamil Brahmins began to migrate en masse to other states in India and foreign countries in search of livelihood.^[65] There were frequent allegations of casteism and racism against Brahmins very similar to the ones made by the lower castes against them in the decades before independence. Professor George L. Hart in a speech in 1997 on Tamil, Brahmins, & Sanskrit, however, rubbishes the claims of anti Brahmins that Brahmins favored Sanskrit to Tamil.^[66]

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Here are some facts: 1. Brahmins are only 2% of the population, yet they have contributed much more to Tamil literature than their number would indicate. 2. The purest (i.e. least Sanskritized) Tamil was written by the medieval Saiva Brahmin commentators on Tamil. For example, Parimelazakar translates the yoga asanas into Tamil, and the only way anyone can figure out what he is saying is to read the sub commentary (by Gopalakrishnamachari), who gives the original Sanskrit terms. You will find no Tamil any purer than that of Naccinarkkiniyar et al. 3. Brahmins have contributed to Tamil from Sangam times. Kapilar is one of the greatest Tamil poets. 4. Yes, of course Brahmins have had their own political agenda to push. They have been responsible for many things that I feel are entirely unconscionable. But is this any different from the other high castes? I have heard many many stories of high non-Brahmin castes killing and abusing Dalits. You can't blame the Brahmins for this. In fact, the most pernicious example of the caste system was in the Tamil areas of Sri Lanka, where there are virtually no Brahmins and never have been. 5. You cannot blame the Brahmins for Sanskritizing Tamil. Tenkalai Aiyengars often use Tamil words where most non-Brahmins use Sanskrit ones. The Sanskrtization of Tamil is a very old process and cannot be understood except in an all-South-Asian context. The Bengali used in Bangladesh is highly Sanskritized, and the Muslims are quite proud of their language. The fact is, Sanskrit was the lingua franca of South Asia for intellectual purposes, much as Latin was in Europe. Buddhists used it, Jains used it, much as Spinoza, a Jew, wrote his philosophical treatises in Latin. The Tamil of Ramalinga Swamigal, a non-Brahmin, is highly Sanskritized.

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Dalit leader and founder of political party Pudiya Tamizhagam, Dr.Krishnasamy admits that the Anti-Brahmin Movement had not succeeded up to the expectations and that there continues to be as much discrimination of Dalits as had been before.

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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 is not given, they are not allowed to rise.[67]

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Famous Iyers

See Distinguished Iyers

References

See also

• Tamil people
• Iyengar
• Forward Castes
• Palakkad Iyers
• Kannada Iyers
• Vishwakarmas
• Anti-Brahminism
• Mulukanadu
• Agastya
• Smartha
• Aryan Invasion Theory (history and controversies)

External links

• http://www.keralaiyers.com/
• http://www.tamilbrahmins.com/
• sankethi.com, information on Sankethis, a sub group of Iyers from Karnataka.
• Thummagunta Dravida Iyers, Information on Thummagunta Dravida Brahmins, a sub-sect of Vadama Iyers from Thummagunta in Nellore District, AP.
• Iyer matrimony gives a brief idea about Iyer marriages
• Advaita Vedanta research centre, and hosts articles and mailing-lists on the subject; see also Advaita.
• Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham.
• Sringeri Sharada Peetham