Vadakalai

Hinduism

Vadakalai (Tamil: வடகலை), meaning Northern branch are a subsect of the Vaishnavite Iyengar community of Hindu Brahmins. In Sanskrit the Vadakalai are referred to as Uttara Kalārya (Sanskrit: उत्तर कलार्य).^[1] Vadakalais are followers of Ramanuja and Vedanta Desika.^[2][3][4]

Ethnicity and origin

The Vadakalai Iyengars are believed to be an Indo-Aryan people who once migrated from North India.^[5][6][7] In a genetic study in Andhra Pradesh all individuals examined among Vadakalai Iyengars showed a high similarity of rhesus(d) gene frequency with the people of Faislabad in the Punjab province of Pakistan.^[8] All the individuals examined among Vadakalai Iyengars showed Rhesus(D) positive with a high frequency of the D allele while the other castes from Andhra showed a low frequency of the D allele.^[8] Vadakalai Iyengars are ardent followers of the Vedas.^[9] Vedanta Desika, the Vaishnavite Acharya and philosopher, founded the Vadakalai sampradaya^[10] based on the Sanskritic tradition.^[11][12]

It is widely accepted that the Vadakalais share the same origin with Vadama Brahmins.^[13][14][15] It is noteworthy that Ramanuja, the founder of Srivaishnavism, was born a Vadama.^[16][17] But some believe that the subsect originated in the 14th century AD following a split in the Iyengar community.^[2]

Groups

The Vadakalai community consists of the following groups, based on the sampradaya followed^{[18][19][20][21][22]}

• Pancharatra – Followers of Ahobila Mutt.^{[23][24][25][26]} Majority of Vadakalais belong to this group.^[20]

• Munitraya – Followers of Andavan Ashramams,^[27][28] and Swayamacharyas.^[29]

• Hebbar – They are mostly followers of Parakala Mutt, Mysore.^[30]

Caste mark

The Tilak(Urdhva Pundra) mark of the Vadakalai men is a symbolic representation of Lord Vishnu's right foot. Since Vishnu's right foot is believed to be the actual origin of the river Ganges, the vadakalais contend that his right foot should be held in special veneration, and its sign impressed on the forehead.^[31] They also apply a central mark (Srichurnam) to symbolize goddess Lakshmi(Vishnu's wife), along with the thiruman(urdhva pundra).^[31] The Urdhva Pundra which is vertical and faces upwards denotes that it helps one in reaching Vaikunta (the spiritual abode of Lord Vishnu), and is also considered to be a protection from evil. Vadakalai women apply a red central mark only, symbolizing goddess Lakshmi, on their foreheads.

Religious practices and tradition

The Vadakalais being staunch followers of the Sanskrit Vedas,^[9] always championed the cause of purity of the vedic tenets.^[32] Traditionally, every day starts around 4 a.m as per Ushah Kāla Dharma.^[33] There are mantras to be recited on every occasion, invoking the grace of God at every stage – ablutions, etc.^[33] Performance of Sandhyavandanam three times a day(morning twilight, evening twilight and noon), is of absolute necessity.^[33] The most important daily duty is the Aradhana or Ijya, either with a shaligrama or a small idol.^[33] After that, Vaiswadeva and Pancha -Maha Yajnas(including brahma yajna) are to be performed.^[34] Special charts, namely Vyajanakara and Chakrakara are used in regard to the oblations offered in Vaiswadeva Yajnas.^[35]

The Vadakalai Iyengars firmly believe in practising Karma yoga, Jnana yoga and Bhakti yoga along with Prapatti, as means to attain salvation.^[36][37] The Vadakalai Guru Shri Vedanta Desika emphasizes the practise of the three yogas in his work Rahasya Trayasarah, where he describes Karma and Jnana yogas to be pre-requisites of Bhakti yoga.^[37]

The sect rigorously follows the set of rules prescribed by the Manusmriti and other Dharma Shastras.^[38][39]

Mutts (monasteries), and places of significance

The Vadakalais are generally followers of the Ahobila Mutt, Parakala Mutt, Srirangam Srimad Andavan Ashramam and Poundarikapuram Andavan Ashramam.^[13][40][41] Among these, Parakala Mutt is more than 700 years old, and the oldest.^[42][43] The Ahobila Mutt is a 600+ year old monastic order, and the second oldest.^[43][44][45] Srirangam Srimad Andavan Ashramam is a 300+ year old organisation,^[46] which came into existence by the 18th century,^[47] while Poundarikapuram Andavan Ashramam is 100+ years old.^[48]

Traditionally, places of high importance with significant Vadakalai populations included Kanchipuram, Kumbakonam, Tiruvallur, Mysore and Kurnool district.^{[49][50][1][51][52][53]} However, today much of the people have moved to the big cities.

Role and contributions in Northern India and other sampradayas

Gopala Bhatta Goswami, was born a Vadakalai Iyengar, who was one of the Six Goswamis of Vrindavan in Chaitanya Vaishnavism/Hare Krishna, and a highly revered Guru in ISKCON.^[54] He was born in Srirangam, to Venkata Bhatta. Although belonging to the Ramanuja(Shrivaishnav) Sampradaya, he was one of the foremost disciples to Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.^[54] He is famous for establishing the Radha-Ramana Temple in Vrindavan.^[55]

Differences with Thenkalai Srivaishnavas

The Vadakalai follow the doctrines of Vedantadesika and Ramanuja, while the Thenkalai follow the doctrines of Manavalamamunigal and Ramanuja. For philosophical differences between Vadakalai and Thenkalai traditions, please see Vadakalai and Thenkalai schools of thought, in Visishtadvaita. Vadakalai Iyengars sport the U naama, rather than the Thenkalai Y naamam.^[56] Compared to the Thenkalai Iyengars who thrived in Srirangam, their tradition developed around Kanchi. The Vadakalai group follow the Sanskrit Vedas, unlike the Thenkalai who follow the Tamil prabhandams.^[9]

In popular culture

• In the 1983 Bollywood film Coolie, the character Deepa Iyengar (Shoma Anand) – the love interest of Sunny (Rishi Kapoor), is shown as a Vadakalai Iyengar, as Deepa's father/Mr.Iyengar (Mukri) sports a Vadakalai Tilak.^[57]

• In the Hindi-Tamil bilingual film Hey Ram, the characters – Saket Ram (Kamal Haasan), Mythili Iyengar (Vasundhara Das), Uppili Iyengar (Girish Karnad), Ambujam Iyengar (Hema Malini)and a few others are shown as Vadakalai Iyengars, where Saket and Uppili Iyengar are seen sporting the Vadakalai Tilak.^[58][59]

• In the animated movie "Acharya Ramanuja", released by Mediateck in early 2006, the character Ramanuja is seen wearing the Vadakalai Tilak.^[60][61][62]

List of prominent Vadakalai Iyengars

• Gopala Bhatta Goswami (1503–1578), born a Vadakalai Iyengar, one of the Six Goswamis of Vrindavan in Chaitanya Vaishnavism, and a highly revered Guru in ISKCON.^[54]
• P. T. Srinivasa Iyengar(1863-1931), Indian historian, linguist and regarded as one of the greatest Dravidologists of the 20th century.
• V. Bhashyam Aiyangar (1844–1908), Indian lawyer. First Indian Advocate-General of Madras Presidency.
• Chakravarti Rajagopalachari (1878–1972), Indian politician and activist of the Indian independence movement. Premier of Madras (1937–1939), Governor of Bengal (1946–1948), Governor-General of India (1948–1950), Union Home Minister (1950–1952) and Chief Minister of Madras state (1952–1954). Founder of Swatantra party.^[63]
• C. V. Rungacharlu (1831–1883), Diwan of Mysore kingdom from 1881 to 1883.^[64]
• P. Anandacharlu (1843–1908), leader of the Indian National Congress.
• T. S. S. Rajan (1880–1953), Indian politician and freedom-fighter. Member of the Imperial Legislative Council (1934–1936), Minister of Public Health and Religious Endowments (Madras Presidency) (1937–1939), Minister of Food and Public Health (Madras Presidency) (1946–1951).^[65]
• Madabhushi Ananthasayanam Ayyangar (1891–1978), first Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha, and later the Speaker of the Lok Sabha from 1956 to 1962. He served as Governor of Bihar from 1962 to 1967.^[66]
• Tirumalai Krishnamacharya (1888–1989), an influential Yoga teacher, healer and scholar.^[67][68]
• T. K. V. Desikachar, son and primary student of Tirumalai Krishnamacharya, and a prominent yogi.^[69]
• Agnihotram Ramanuja Tatachariar (1907–2008), renowned vedic scholar, and recipient of two national awards for his contribution to Vedic studies and Sanskrit literature.^[70][71]
• Jairam Ramesh (b. 1954), a Vadakalai(Hebbar) Iyengar, Indian politician of Indian National Congress who is MP of Andhra Pradesh in the Rajya Sabha since June 2004. He has been the Indian Minister of State(Independent Charge) for Environment and Forests from May 2009 to July 2011.
• E. S. L. Narasimhan (b. 1946), Governor of Andhra Pradesh since December 2009.
• T.T. Krishnamachari (1899–1974), Indian Finance Minister from 1956–1958 and from 1964–1966, Industrialist.
• Narasimhan Ram (b. 1945), also known as N.Ram, Indian journalist and Editor in Chief of The Hindu.
• T. V. Sundram Iyengar (1877–1955), Founder of TVS Group (automobile and finance).^[72]
• T P Sundara Rajan (1941–2011), I.P.S Officer and Supreme Court lawyer.^[73]
• R. Madhavan (b. 1970), Indian film actor.^[74]
• Krishnamachari Srikkanth (b. 1959), former captain of the Indian cricket team and the current chairman of the BCCI selection committee.
• Vasundhara Das (b. 1977), a Vadakalai(Hebbar) Iyengar, Indian singer and actress.^[75]
• Gen. Krishnaswamy Sundarji(1930–1999), Former Chief of the Indian Army.
• T. N. Seshagopalan (b. 1948), renowned Carnatic musician and composer.^[76]
• T. M. Krishna (b. 1976), noted Carnatic musician, grand-nephew of T.T. Krishnamachari.^[77]

Notes

References

• Thurston, Edgar; K. Rangachari (1909). Castes and Tribes of Southern India Volume I – A and B. Madras: Government Press.