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{{Short description|Overview of the Tamil-speaking Brahmins in India}}
{{Use Indian English|date=November 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2015}}
{{Infobox ethnic group
| group = Tamil Brahmin
| image = Tamil Brahmin Hindu {{sic|M|arraige|hide=y}}.jpg
| caption = A Tamil Brahmin wedding ceremony
| poptime =
| popplace = [[Tamil Nadu]], [[Karnataka]], [[Telangana]], [[Kerala]], and [[Andhra Pradesh]]
| langs = [[Tamil language|Tamil]], [[Sanskrit]]
| rels = [[Hinduism]]
| related = [[Panch-Dravida|Pancha-Dravida Brahmins]], [[Tamil people]]
| native_name =
| native_name_lang = ta
}}
'''Tamil Brahmins''' are an ethnoreligious community of [[Tamil language|Tamil]]-speaking [[Hindus|Hindu]] [[Brahmin]]s, 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]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://noolahamfoundation.org/wiki/index.php?title=Team|title = Team - Noolaham Foundation}}</ref> They can be broadly divided into two denominations: [[Iyengar|Iyengars]], who are adherents of [[Sri Vaishnavism]], and [[Iyers]], who follow the [[Srauta]] and [[Smarta tradition|Smartha traditions]].

==Groups==
Tamil Brahmins are divided into two major groups: Iyers, who follow the [[Smarta tradition|Smartha tradition]], and Iyengars, who adhere to the tradition of [[Vaishnavism]].

=== Iyer ===
Iyers are ''[[Srauta]]-[[Smartha]]'' Brahmins, whose members follow the ''[[Advaita Vedanta|Advaita]]'' philosophy propounded by [[Adi Shankara]]. They are concentrated mainly along the [[Cauvery]] Delta [[districts]] of [[Nagapattinam district|Nagapattinam]], [[Thanjavur District|Thanjavur]], [[Tiruvarur district|Tiruvarur]] and [[Tiruchirapalli District|Tiruchirapalli]] where they form almost 10% of the total population. However the largest population reside in [[Nagercoil]], making up to 13% of the city's population.<ref name="hindu.com">{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/Brahmins-seek-reservation-in-education-and-employment/article15305880.ece|title=Brahmins seek reservation in education and employment|date=19 September 2008|access-date=22 June 2019|newspaper=The Hindu}}</ref><ref name="ghuryep393">[[#G. S. Ghurye|G. S. Ghurye]], Pg 393</ref><ref name="migrationp5">[[#Migration and Urbanization among Tamil Brahmans|Migration and Urbanization among Tamil Brahmans]], Pg 5</ref> They are also found in significant numbers in [[Chennai]],<ref name="migrationp15">[[#Migration and Urbanization among Tamil Brahmans|Migration and Urbanization among Tamil Brahmans]], Pg 15</ref> [[Coimbatore]], [[Madurai]], [[Thiruchirappalli]], [[Thanjavur]], [[Palakkad]], [[Alappuzha]], [[Kozhikode]], [[Ernakulam]], [[Kannur]], and [[Thiruvananthapuram]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.dtnext.in/Lifestyle/Culture/2017/04/09210907/1030961/Approaching-societal-issues-through-the-eyes-of-Ambedkar.vpf|title=Approaching societal issues through the eyes of Ambedkar|date=2017-04-10|work=dtNext.in|access-date=2018-05-20|language=en-US}}</ref>

=== Iyengar ===
The Iyengars practise the [[Visishtadvaita]] philosophy propounded by [[Sri Ramanujacharya|Sri Ramanuja.]] They are divided into two denominations: Vadakalai (Northern art) and Tenkalai (Southern art), each with minor differences in religious rites and traditions. They adhere to the tradition of [[Sri Vaishnavism]].

The Tamil Brahmins who serve as priests in temples in the Shaivite tradition and perform poojas are also sometimes offered a distinct designation. These priests are called "batter" in the southern regions of Tamil Nadu and "gurukkal" in the northern ones.

== Notable people ==


* [[Agastya|Sage Agastya]], revered Indian sage of [[Hinduism]], Tamil Siddhar in the [[Shaivism]] tradition, and author of [[Agattiyam]], an early grammar of the Tamil language<ref name="zvelebil_companion_agathiar">[[#Companion Studies to the History of Tamil Literature|Companion Studies to the History of Tamil Literature]], Appendix III, The Case of Akattiyam; Sanskrit and Tamil; Kankam, Pg 235–260</ref>
* [[Viswanathan Anand]], Indian Chess Grandmaster
* [[Rukmini Devi Arundale]], Classical Bharata Natyam dancer, theosophist, choreographer and an activist for animal welfare.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2017-03-08|title=Know the Only Indian in Today's Google Doodle? She Could Have Been India's First Female President!|url=https://www.thebetterindia.com/90623/rukmini-devi-arundale-bharatnatyam-kalakshetra-president/|access-date=2022-01-16|website=The Better India|language=en}}</ref>
* [[Ravichandran Ashwin]], Indian cricketer
* [[Indra Nooyi]], Former CEO of PepsiCo
* [[K. Balachander]], Indian filmmaker and playwright
* [[Maadhu Balaji]], Indian actor
* [[Subramania Bharati]], [[Indian independence movement|Indian independence]] activist and poet<ref>{{cite book|title=Indian Literature: An Introduction|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mivv3p-msd8C&pg=PA125|work=University of Delhi|publisher=Pearson Education India|year=2005|isbn=9788131705209|pages=125–126}}</ref>
* [[Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar]], Nobel Prize-winning astrophysicist<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/who-is/who-is-subrahmanyan-chandrasekhar-nobel-prize-winner-physics-4897568/|title=Who was S Chandrasekhar?|date=19 October 2017|website=The Indian Express|language=en|access-date=2019-01-13}}</ref>
* [[Seetha Doraiswamy]], Carnatic multi-instrumentalist
* [[Gemini Ganesan]], Indian actor
* [[Shyamala Gopalan]], biomedical scientist, Mother of U.S. Vice President [[Kamala Harris]]<ref>{{Cite news|title=What Kamala Harris Isn't Saying About Her Mother's Background - WSJ|newspaper=Wall Street Journal|date=20 August 2020|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/what-kamala-harris-isnt-saying-about-her-mothers-background-11597944590|access-date=21 January 2021|quote=Ms. Harris’s mother also figures in another tale told less often: of India’s small and successful Tamil Brahmin diaspora|last1=Dhume|first1=Sadanand}}</ref>
* [[Kamal Haasan]], Indian actor
* [[K. S. Krishnan]], Indian physicist, co-discoverer of the [[Raman scattering]] for which C. V. Raman was awarded the 1930 Nobel Prize<ref>{{Cite news|last=Srinivasan|first=Mahadeva|date=2012-06-05|title=Not for him the second fiddle|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/books/not-for-him-the-second-fiddle/article3491088.ece|access-date=2022-01-11|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>
* [[Alladi Krishnaswamy Iyer]], Indian lawyer and member of the [[Constituent Assembly of India]] responsible for framing the [[Constitution of India]]<ref>{{cite book|title=India through the ages|url=https://archive.org/details/indiathroughages00mada|last=Gopal|first=Madan|year= 1990| page= [https://archive.org/details/indiathroughages00mada/page/191 191]|editor=K.S. Gautam|publisher=Publication Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India}}</ref>
* [[Alladi Ramakrishnan]], Indian physicist and founder of the [[Institute of Mathematical Sciences, Chennai|Institute of Mathematical Sciences]] (Matscience) in [[Chennai]]<ref>{{cite news|last=Staff Reporter|title=Alladi Ramakrishnan, 85, Scientist, Passes Away|url=http://www.indiajournal.com/pages/event.php?id=3846|accessdate=18 August 2010|newspaper=India Journal|date=13 Jul 2008}}{{Dead link|date=September 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
* [[Nirmala Sitharaman]] - Current Finance Minister of India, Bharatiya Janata party.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/a-power-couple-whom-ap-looks-up-to/articleshow/38766320.cms}}</ref>
* [[Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer]], Indian Carnatic vocalist
* [[Shreyas Iyer]], Indian cricketer
* [[Venkatesh Iyer]], Indian cricketer
* [[U. V. Swaminatha Iyer]], Tamil scholar and researcher<ref>{{cite web | url = https://frontline.thehindu.com/static/html/fl2205/stories/20050311001909700.htm | title = The patriarch of Tamil | last = Viswanathan | first = S. | date = 26 February – 11 March 2005 | website = | publisher = Frontline, Vol. 22, Issue 5 | access-date = 7 July 2021 | quote = }}</ref>
* [[J. Jayalalithaa]], politician (Former [[List of chief ministers of Tamil Nadu|Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu]]), Indian actress
* [[Ramya Krishnan]], Indian actress
* [[Kasthuri (actress)|Kasthuri]], Indian actress
* [[S. Srinivasan]], Indian aeronautical engineer
* [[Janani Iyer]], Indian actress
* [[Trisha Krishnan]], Indian actress
* [[Padma Lakshmi]], Indian American author, activist, model, and television host
* [[R. Madhavan]], Indian actor
* [[Hema Malini]], Indian actress
* [[Crazy Mohan]], Indian actor
* [[Venniradai Moorthy]], Indian actor
* [[T. S. B. K. Moulee]], Indian actor
* [[Iravatham Mahadevan]], Indian [[epigraphist]] and civil servant<ref name="mahadevan_interview">{{cite web|title=Straight from the Heart – Iravatham Mahadevan: Interview with Iravatham Mahadevan|url=http://www.varalaaru.com/Default.asp?articleid=740|publisher=Varalaaru.com}}</ref>
* [[Shankar Mahadevan]], Indian Singer and Composer
* [[Nachinarkiniyar]], medieval Tamil scholar and commentator of the [[Tolkāppiyam]], [[Pattuppāṭṭu]], [[Kaliththokai]], [[Kuṟuntokai]] and [[Civaka Cintamani]]<ref>{{cite book | title=The Tamil Plutarch, containing a summary account of the lives of poets and poetesses of Southern India and Ceylon | last=Chitty| first=Simon Casie| year=1859| publisher=Ripley & Strong| location=Jaffna|page=57}}</ref>
* [[Nambi Narayanan]], Indian aerospace engineer
* [[Paridhiyaar]], medieval Tamil scholar and [[Tirukkural|Kural]] commentator<ref name="MVAravindan_Commentators">{{cite book |author= M. V. Aravindan |title= உரையாசிரியர்கள் [Commentators] |year= 2018 |publisher=Manivasagar Padhippagam | location= Chennai |pages= 348–360}}</ref>
* [[Parimelalhagar]], medieval Tamil scholar and Kural commentator<ref>{{cite book |author= Ki. Vaa. Jagannathan |title= திருக்குறள், ஆராய்ச்சிப் பதிப்பு [Tirukkural, Aaraicchi Pathippu] |year= 1963 |edition=3 |publisher=Ramakrishna Mission Vidhyalayam | location= Coimbatore}}</ref>
*[[Sundar Pichai]], CEO of [[Alphabet Inc.]]<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-08-26|title=Opinion: Tamil Brahmin emigration was driven by opportunity, not socialism or identity politics|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/opinion-tamil-brahmin-emigration-was-driven-opportunity-not-socialism-or-identity-politics|access-date=2021-10-03|website=The News Minute|language=en}}</ref>
* [[C. Rajagopalachari]], statesman, politician, Indian independence activist, last [[Governor-General of India]], Former Chief Minister of [[Madras State]]
*[[Venki Ramakrishnan]], Nobel Prize-winning structural biologist<ref>{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-5099742,prtpage-1.cms|title=Common root: Tamil Nadu gets its third laureate|date=8 October 2009|newspaper=Times of India|agency=TNN}}</ref>
* [[C. V. Raman]], [[Nobel Prize]]-winning physicist<ref>{{Cite web|title=CV Raman Birth Anniversary 2020: Interesting Facts About The Nobel Laureate|url=https://www.ndtv.com/education/cv-raman-birth-anniversary-2020-interesting-facts-about-nobel-laureate|access-date=2021-06-23|website=NDTV.com|language=en}}</ref>
* [[Srinivasa Ramanujan]], Indian [[mathematician]]<ref name="Kanigel1991">{{Cite book |last=Kanigel |first=Robert |title=The Man Who Knew Infinity: a Life of the Genius Ramanujan |location=New York |publisher=Charles Scribner's Sons |year=1991 |isbn=978-0-684-19259-8|pages=11–12}}</ref>
* [[Cho Ramaswamy]], Indian actor
* [[C. S. Seshadri]], mathematician.<ref>{{Cite web|title=From Proofs to Transcendence, via Theorems and Rāgas – Bhāvanā|url=https://bhavana.org.in/proofs-transcendence-cs-seshadri/|access-date=2020-07-30|language=en-US|quote=We are a Shree Vaishnavite Brahmin family}}</ref>
* [[Krishnamachari Srikkanth]], Indian cricketer
* [[Padma Subrahmanyam]], Classical Bharata Natyam dancer
* [[Subramanian Swamy]], Indian politician, economist and statistician
* [[Tolkappiyar]], earliest known author and grammarian in Tamil language<ref>{{citation|author=Kamil Zvelebil|title=The Smile of Murugan: On Tamil Literature of South India|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=degUAAAAIAAJ|year=1973|publisher=BRILL|isbn=90-04-03591-5|page=136}}</ref>
* [[Vaali (poet)|Vaali]], Indian poet and Lyricist
* [[S. R. Srinivasa Varadhan]], mathematician and [[Abel Prize]] laureate<ref>{{Cite web|title=Srinivasa Varadhan|url=http://www.abelprisen.no/binfil/download.php?tid=56998|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161105070617/http://www.abelprisen.no/binfil/download.php?tid=56998|archive-date=5 November 2016|access-date=25 March 2018|work=Abel Prisen|quote=" I came from a Brahmin community, viewed by the government as privileged, and there was reverse discrimination"}}</ref>
* [[Vyjayanthimala]], Indian actress



==See also==
{{Div col}}
*[[Caste system in India]]
*[[Gotra]]
*[[Vedic priesthood]]
*[[List of Brahmins]]
*[[List of Iyengars]]
{{div col end}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}
*{{cite journal|last=Witzel|first=Michael|title=Toward a History of the Brahmins|journal=Journal of the American Oriental Society|volume=113|year=1993|pages=264–268|jstor=603031|issn=0003-0279}}

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[[Category:Brahmin communities]]
[[Category:Tamil Brahmins]]
[[Category:Brahmin communities across India]]
[[Category:Social groups of Tamil Nadu]]

Tamil Brahmin - Revision history

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