|
|
| Line 1: |
Line 1: |
| {{short description|Community of Telugu speaking Brahmins}}
| | #REDIRECT [[Telugu Brahmins]] |
| {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2019}}
| |
| {{Use Indian English|date=May 2019}}
| |
| '''Telugu Brahmins'''{{efn|Now they are sometimes referred as Andhra Brahmins and Telangana Brahmins after the bifurcation of the states.}} are [[Brahmin]] communities native to the [[Indian states]] of [[Andhra Pradesh]] and [[Telangana]].<ref>{{cite book|title=Abstracts: Daśam Antarrāshṭrīya Nr̥vaijñānika evaṃ Nr̥jātīya Vijñāna Mahāsammelana : Xth International Congress of Anthropological and Ethnological Sciences, India, December 10 to 21, 1978, Volume 3|publisher=National Committee for ICAES|year=1978|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PuY4AAAAIAAJ|page=3}}</ref>
| |
| [[File:Telugu brahman with rudraksha coat.jpg|thumb|Telugu brahman with rudraksha coat]] | |
|
| |
|
| ==History==
| | {{Redirect category shell| |
| ===Origin theories===
| | {{R from move}} |
| According to the ''[[Aitareya Brahmana]]'' of the [[Rigveda]], the [[Andhras]] left [[north India]] from the banks of the [[River Yamuna]] around 800 BCE and migrated into [[peninsular India]]. Telugu Brahmins are also called [[Andhras]].<ref>{{cite book|title=Dance Dialects of India|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KRz5ykKRVAEC&q=Andhra+Trace+their+history&pg=PA66|work=Ragini Devi|year = 1990|publisher=Motilal Bansarsi Dass|isbn=81-208-0674-3|access-date=2014-06-09}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=History of Andhra Pradesh|url=http://www.aponline.gov.in/quick%20links/hist-cult/history.html|work=AP Online|publisher=[[Government of Andhra Pradesh]]|access-date=22 July 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120716182646/http://www.aponline.gov.in/quick%20links/hist-cult/history.html|archive-date=16 July 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Ancient and medieval history of Andhra Pradesh|year=1993|url=https://archive.org/details/ancientmedievalh0000ragh|url-access=registration|work=P. Raghunadha Rao|publisher=Sterling Publishers, 1993|page=iv|access-date=2014-06-09}}</ref>
| | {{R to plural}} |
| | | }} |
| ==Classification==
| |
| Telugu Brahmins fall under the [[Pancha-Dravida|Pancha Dravida Brahmin]] classification of the Brahmin community in [[India]].<ref>{{cite book|title=The Journal of the Anthropological Survey of India|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DfeBAAAAMAAJ|publisher=Anthropological Survey of India|year=2002|page=194}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=India's communities, Volume 1; Volume 5|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Jw9uAAAAMAAJ|author=Kumar Suresh Singh|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=1998|page=552|isbn = 9780195633542|quote=(pg 552) In Andhra Pradesh, all the Brahman groups except the Oriya Sahu Brahman are Pancha Dravida and are divided into Tamil Srivaishnava, Andhra Srivaishnava, Kamme Brahman and Maharashtra Desastha Brahman.}}</ref>
| |
| | |
| The Brahmins of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana mainly include [[Vaidiki Brahmins|Vaidikis]], [[Niyogi]]s, [[Deshastha]]s and [[Dravidulu]].<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gLZOBQAAQBAJ&pg=PT160|title=Knowledge-Power/Resistance: Beyond Bacon, Ambedkar and Foucault|author=Vinod Kumar Rawat|date=22 October 2014|publisher=Partridge Publishing|access-date=22 October 2014|page=160|isbn=9781482839166}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=People of India: A - G., Volume 4|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=1998|page=3317|quote=In Andhra Pradesh, the Deshastha Brahman have settled in various parts, particularly in the cities of Rayalaseema, Anantapur, Kurnool, Tirupati, Cud- dapah and Hyderabad.}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=India and the Indianness of Christianity: Essays on Understanding -- Historical, Theological, and Bibliographical -- in Honor of Robert Eric Frykenberg|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Jgubl3CQQDgC&pg=PA70|author1=Robert Eric Frykenberg|author2=Richard Fox Young|publisher=Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing|page=70|year=2009|isbn = 9780802863928}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=The Andhras through the ages|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dzduAAAAMAAJ|author=Kandavalli Balendu Sekaram|publisher=Sri Saraswati Book Depot|year=1973|page=29|quote=One of the very important sections among the Telugu Brahmins are Dravida Brahmins. Their very name indicates their South Indian or Tamil origin. A very large number of Brahmin families migrated from Tamil Nadu to Andhra Pradesh}}</ref> They are divided on the basis of Vedic traditions that they follow such as [[Smartha tradition|Smartha]], [[Madhva tradition|Madhva]], and [[Sri Vaishnavism|Sri Vaishnava]].<ref>{{cite book|title=Journal of the Indian Anthropological Society, Volume 26|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MT6BAAAAMAAJ|publisher=Indian Anthropological Society|year=1991|page=230|quote=The Brahmins of Andhra Pradesh who speak Telugu can be divided into Vaishnavites, Smarthas and Madhwas. They are strictly vegetarians.}}</ref>
| |
| | |
| [[Vaidiki Brahmins]] are [[Smarthas]], while [[Niyogi Brahmin]]s have [[Smarthas]] and [[Sri Vaishnava]]s among them.<ref>{{cite book|title=Social change in village India: an Andhra case study|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JiruAAAAIAAJ|pages=73–74|author=Y. Subhashini Subrahmanyam|publisher=Prithvi Raj Publishers|year=1975}}</ref> The [[Dravidulu]] are migrants from [[Tamil Nadu]].<ref>{{cite book|title=The Andhras through the ages|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dzduAAAAMAAJ|author=Kandavalli Balendu Sekaram|publisher=Sri Saraswati Book Depot|year=1973|page=29|quote=One of the very important sections among the Telugu Brahmins are Dravida Brahmins. Their very name indicates their South Indian or Tamil origin. A very large number of Brahmin families migrated from Tamil Nadu to Andhra Pradesh}}</ref>
| |
| | |
| [[Deshastha Brahmin]]s are mainly divided into two groups [[Deshastha Brahmin|Deshastha Madhva Brahmins]] (or [[Madhwa Brahmins]]) and [[Deshastha Brahmin|Deshastha Smartha Brahmins]] (or [[Smartha Brahmins]]).<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Mt9G1e6JF-QC|title=India's Communities, Volume 6|page=3317|author=Kumar Suresh Singh|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=1998|quote=The Deshatha Brahman in Andhra Pradesh have two groups, namely Smartha and Madhva which are divided into exogamous surnames (intiperu) to indicate one's ancestry and regulate marriage alliances.|isbn=978-0195633542}}</ref> In [[Telangana]], Deshastha Brahmins are spread throughout all the districts of the state, while in [[Andhra Pradesh]], they are mainly concentrated in the districts of [[Kurnool district|Kurnool]], [[Anantapur district|Anantapur]], [[Kadapa district|Kadapa]], [[Chittoor district|Chittoor]], [[Nellore district|Nellore]],<ref>{{cite book|title=Gazetteer of the Nellore District: Brought Upto 1938|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2qx-smrZLyUC|page=101|publisher=Asian Educational Services|year=2004|isbn = 9788120618510|quote=There are several Karnatakas and Desastha Madhwas in the district.}}</ref> [[Krishna district|Krishna]], [[Guntur district|Guntur]], [[East Godavari district|East Godavari]] and [[West Godavari district|West Godavari]], especially in the cities of [[Kurnool]], [[Anantapur]], [[Kadapa]], [[Chittore]], [[Nellore]], [[Rajahmundry]], [[Guntur]] and [[Hyderabad]].<ref>{{cite book|title=India and the Indianness of Christianity: Essays on Understanding -- Historical, Theological, and Bibliographical -- in Honor of Robert Eric Frykenberg|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Jgubl3CQQDgC&pg=PA70|author1=Robert Eric Frykenberg|author2=Richard Fox Young|publisher=Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing|page=70|year=2009|isbn = 9780802863928}}</ref> [[Deshastha Brahmin]]s in [[Telugu states]] are bilingual in [[Marathi language|Marathi]] and [[Kannada language|Kannada]] or [[Telugu language|Telugu]].<ref>{{cite book|title=People of India: A - G., Volume 4|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=1998|page=3317|quote=In Andhra Pradesh, the Deshastha Brahman have settled in various parts, particularly in the cities of Rayalaseema, Anantapur, Kurnool, Tirupati, Cud- dapah and Hyderabad.}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=India's Communities|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Jw9uAAAAMAAJ|page=552|author=K. S. Singh|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=1998|isbn = 9780195633542|quote=The Maharashtra Desastha Brahman are distributed in the districts of Telangana.}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Society in India: Continuity and change|url=https://archive.org/details/societyinindia0002mand|url-access=registration|author=David Goodman Mandelbaum|publisher=University of California Press|page=[https://archive.org/details/societyinindia0002mand/page/n192 18]|year=1970|isbn = 9780520016231}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CK0oAQAAIAAJ|title=Studies in the Linguistic Sciences, Volumes 8-9|publisher=Department of Linguistics, University of Illinois|page=199|year=1978|quote=The Desastha Madhwa brahmins in the South have traditionally been bilingual in Marathi and Kannada, Telugu or Tamil}}</ref> Marriage alliance between Deshastha Brahmins, Telugu Brahmins and [[Karnataka Brahmins]] takes place quite frequently.<ref>{{cite book|title=Maharashtra, Land and Its People|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bl90u5lmwRAC|page=45|publisher=Gazetteers Department, Government of Maharashtra|year=2009|quote=Marriage alliance between Deshastha Rigvedi and Telugu and Karnataka Brahmins takes place quite frequently.}}</ref>
| |
| | |
| ==Occupation==
| |
| ===During the Medieval & Modern India===
| |
| [[Niyogi|Niyogi Brahmins]] are generally village revenue officers, village record keepers (Karanams), [[poet]]s, Scholars, Teachers, [[Minister (government)|ministers]] in Sri Krishna Deva Raya Dynasty, Thanishas of Golkonda, Reddy Dynasty's, Landlords, while [[Vaidiki Brahmins]] are [[priest]] and [[teachers]].<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qtxlCgAAQBAJ&pg=PT34|title=Medieval Andhra: A Socio-Historical Perspective|author=Alpana Pandey|date=11 August 2015|publisher=Partridge Publishing|access-date=11 August 2015|page=34|isbn=9781482850178}}</ref> [[Deshastha Brahmin|Deshastha Madhva Brahmin]]s served as high level [[Public administration|administrator]]s
| |
| such as [[Deshmukh]]s, [[Deshpande]]s and [[Majumdar]]s under [[Qutb Shahi dynasty|Qutb shahis of Golkonda]] and [[Nizams of Hyderabad]] in [[Andhra Pradesh]],<ref>{{cite book |title= Maratha History Seminar, May 28-31, 1970: papers |author= Appasaheb Ganapatrao Pawar |publisher= Shivaji University |year=1971 |quote= The ascendancy of the Qutb-shahis of Golkonda resulted in several Maratha Brahmins of the Madhwa sect, generally called Desasthas, being appointed to high positions. This is evident from several terms such as Deshmukh, Deshpande, Majumdar, Mannavar etc.used in the district's of Andhra to signify certain administrative posts}}</ref> while [[Dravidulu]] served as [[priest]]s under local rulers, zamindars and chieftains.<ref>{{cite book|title=People of India: Andhra Pradesh (3 pts.)
| |
| |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cvcejt9krDkC|author=Kumar Suresh Singh|publisher=Anthropological Survey of India|year=1992|page=567|isbn = 9788176710060|quote=Traditionally, the Dravidulu were engaged as priests by the local rulers, zamindars and chieftains, and donated to them Agraharams. Some of them followed the vedic texts and engaged themselves as purohits and acharyas.}}</ref> [[Deshastha Brahmin]]s also ruled [[Andhra Pradesh]] as [[Zamindar]]s. In fact two out of five Zamindars of [[Guntur district|Guntur]] were [[Deshastha]]s, whose title was "Deshmukh".<ref>{{cite book|title=The journal of Asian studies, Volume 24|year = 1964|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Zp5RAQAAIAAJ|page=264|quote=Indeed, the official titles of the Zamindars of Guntur had been Desmukh ( Executive-Collector), Mannavar (Head of Police), and Despandi (Chief Accountant); moreover, two of the five zamindari families were Desastha.}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=State and Society: A Reader in Comparative Political Sociology|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=P5gzTp13AXQC&pg=PA116|page=116|author=Coenraad M. Brand|publisher=University of California Press|year=1973|isbn = 9780520024908}}</ref>
| |
| | |
| ===Post Independence of India ===
| |
| Brahmins followed a distinct tradition, "Brahminism". This is inculcated in how they worship. Thus, several earlier generation Brahmins of some sect were priests by profession in ancient India. Modern India still observes only Brahmins as priests for their capacity to be vedic experts. Being experts in four vedas, they have long known to be teachers by profession too. Old times has seen Brahmins as landlords too. Brahmins today are professionals like doctors, engineers, scientists, teachers due to their insistence on professional education. Several Brahmins are profound musicians with national and international recognition. Classical music was more prevalent among Brahmins.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.vepachedu.org/manasanskriti/Brahmins.html|title=Brahmin, brahmana, caste, tribe, gotra, rishi, ritual, india, hindu, religion, Mana Sanskriti (Our Culture), Issue 69|website=www.vepachedu.org|access-date=2019-06-29}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thoughtco.com/who-are-the-brahmins-195316|title=Who Are the Brahmin Caste in India?|last1=history|first1=Kallie Szczepanski Kallie Szczepanski has a Ph D. in|last2=College|first2=Has Taught at the|website=ThoughtCo|language=en|access-date=2019-06-29|last3=U.S|first3=high school level in both the|last4=Korea.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-38915853|title=How an Indian maestro is taking classical music to the masses|last=Tilak|first=Sudha G.|date=2017-02-16|access-date=2019-06-29|language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/7-days/carnatic-music-is-a-brahmin-dominated-male-chauvinistic-world/cid/1669510|title=Carnatic music is a Brahmin-dominated male chauvinistic world|website=www.telegraphindia.com|language=en|access-date=2019-06-29}}</ref>
| |
| | |
| ==Population distribution==
| |
| According to 1921 Census of India, In [[Telugu states]] (combined both [[Andhra Pradesh]] and [[Telangana]]) Brahmins constitute three percent of total population.<ref>{{cite news|title=Upper caste quota? Telangana and Andhra already running Brahmin corporations|url=https://www.timesofindia.com/city/hyderabad/upper-caste-quota-telangana-and-andhra-already-running-brahmin-corporations/articleshow/67465534.cms|work=Times of India|access-date=10 January 2019}}</ref>
| |
| According to a survey by [[Outlook India]] in 2003, Brahmins were estimated to be around 5% of [[Telugu states]] population (combined both [[Andhra Pradesh]] and [[Telangana]]).<ref>{{cite news|title=Distribution Of Brahmin Population|url=https://www.outlookindia.com/magazine/story/distribution-of-brahmin-population/220442|publisher=Outlook India|access-date=16 June 2003}}</ref>
| |
| | |
| == Notable people ==
| |
| <!---♦♦♦ Only add a person to this list if they already have their own article on the English Wikipedia ♦♦♦--->
| |
| | |
| ===Politics===
| |
| * [[Keshav Baliram Hedgewar]], the founder and the first Sarsanghchalak of the [[Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh]] (RSS).<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Andersen|first1=Walter|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BDqdDwAAQBAJ|title=Messengers of Hindu Nationalism: How the RSS Reshaped India|last2=Damle|first2=Shridhar D.|date=2019-06-15|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-1-78738-289-3|pages=261|language=en|quote=Dr. Hedgewar, a Telugu Brahmin, was a trained medical practitioner, and founded the RSS in 1925}}</ref>
| |
| * [[Madhukar Dattatraya Deoras]], the third Sarsanghchalak of the [[Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh]] (RSS).<ref>{{cite book|title=The Emerging Hindutva Force: The Ascent of Hindu Nationalism|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=917XAAAAMAAJ|author=Prakash Louis|publisher=Indian Social Institute|year=2000|page=38|isbn = 9788187218319|quote=The third head of RSS, Balasaheb Deoras was another Telugu Brahmin.}}</ref>
| |
| * [[P. V. Narasimha Rao]], an Indian lawyer and politician who served as the [[Prime Minister of India|9th Prime Minister of India]] from 1991 to 1996.<ref>{{cite book|title=Government and Politics in South Asia, Student Economy Edition|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=R_7EDwAAQBAJ|page=53|author=Robert Oberst|publisher=Routledge|date=27 April 2018|isbn = 9780429962325|quote=P. V. Narasimha Rao Congress (IP) 1921 2004 Jun. 1991–May 1996 Brahmin (Hindu) Telugu, South (AP)}}</ref>
| |
| *[[Varahagiri Venkatagiri]] (V. V. Giri), an Indian Lawyer and former President of India (Telugu Niyogi Brahmin).
| |
| *[[Tanguturi Prakasam]], lawyer and freedom fighter, known as "The Lion of Andhra" during the British Raj, who served as first chief minister of Andhra state.
| |
| | |
| === Literature ===
| |
| * [[Viswanatha Satyanarayana]], poet, novelist
| |
| *[[Divakarla Tirupati Sastry]], poet and scholar
| |
| *[[Devulapalli Krishnasastri]], poet, playwright and translator
| |
| | |
| ===Music===
| |
| * [[S. P. Balasubrahmanyam]], Indian playback singer.<ref>{{Cite web|date=20 November 2016|title=SP Balasubrahmanyam honoured with centenary award|url=https://www.deccanherald.com/content/582136/sp-balasubrahmanyam-honoured-centenary-award.html|access-date=27 August 2020|website=Deccan Herald|language=en|archive-date=11 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201011195241/https://www.deccanherald.com/content/582136/sp-balasubrahmanyam-honoured-centenary-award.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
| |
| *[[Gokulotsavji Maharaj|Acharya Pandit Dr.Gokulotsavji Maharaj]], Hindustani Classical Music and Ancient Indian Musical Styles veteran, singer
| |
| *[[M. Balamuralikrishna|Mangalampalli Bala Murli Krishna]], Carnatic singer
| |
| *[[Sunitha Upadrashta]], Singer
| |
| *[[S.P. Sailaja]], Singer
| |
| | |
| === Films ===
| |
| *[[Bapu (director)|Bapu]], Film director
| |
| *[[Mullapudi Venkata Ramana]], Writer
| |
| *[[Kasinathuni Viswanath]], Film Director
| |
| *[[Jandhyala]], Director, Writer
| |
| *[[Trivikram Srinivas|Akella Trivikram Srinivas]], Film Director, Writer
| |
| *[[Mohana Krishna Indraganti|Indraganti Mohana Krishna]], Film Director, Writer
| |
| *[[Tanikella Bharani]], Film Director, Writer, Actor
| |
| *[[Gollapudi Maruti Rao]], Actor, screenwriter, dramatist and playwright
| |
| *[[Veturi|Sri Veturi Sundararama Murthy]], lyricist
| |
| *[[Sirivennela Seetharama Sastry|Sri Sirivennela Seetharama Sastry]], lyricist
| |
| *[[Ramajogayya Sastry]], Lyricist
| |
| *[[Ananta Sriram]], Lyricist
| |
| *[[Rallapalli (actor)|Rallapalli Venkata Narasimha Rao]], Actor
| |
| *[[Chandra Mohan (Telugu actor)|Chandra Mohan]], Actor
| |
| *[[Subhalekha Sudhakar]], Actor
| |
| *[[P. Sai Kumar|Sai Kumar]], Actor
| |
| *[[Aadi (actor)|Aadi Pudipeddi]], Actor
| |
| *[[Ananth Babu]], Actor
| |
| *[[Bhanupriya]], Actress, Classical Dancer
| |
| *[[Laya (actress)]], Actress, Dancer
| |
| | |
| == Notes ==
| |
| {{notelist}}
| |
| {{Reflist|group=note}}
| |
| | |
| ==References==
| |
| <references/>
| |
| | |
| == External links ==
| |
| * [http://www.vedah.net/manasanskriti/Brahmins.html#Brahmins_of_Andhra_Pradesh Brahmins of Andhra Pradesh]
| |
| | |
| [[Category:Social groups of Andhra Pradesh]]
| |
| [[Category:Brahmin communities by language]]
| |
This page is a redirect. The following categories are used to track and monitor this redirect: