Sthanika Brahmins
Kuladevata - Shri Subrahmanya Swami | |
Regions with significant populations | |
---|---|
Indian states of Karnataka, Maharashtra, Kerala | |
Languages | |
Tulu, Kannada | |
Religion | |
Sootra: Ashwalayana Sutra |
Sthānika Brāhmins belong to Hindu Pancha Dravida Tuluva Smartha Brahmin group.[1][2][3][4] They are primarily from the coastal Karnataka (Kanara) also known as Parasurama Kshetra. Sthānika Brahmins of south canara are also referred to as Subrahmanya Sthānika Brāhmins as Lord Subrahmanya is their kuladevata and Kukke subramanya temple was their main center till the 16th century.[1][5][6][7] Sthānika Brāhmins are followers of Advaita Philosophy and practice the Panchayatana form of worship. They are disciples of the Sri Sringeri Jagadguru Samsthanam from the time of Sri Adi Shankara.[1][3][6]
Caste
Sthānika Brahmins are a subsect of Hindu Smartha Brahmins.
Etymology
Sthānika Brahmins acquired their name owing to their managerial positions. The word Sthānika is a sanskrit word and has meanings such as 'governor of a place', 'tax collector', 'one who holds managerial position', 'people of local place', 'A fixed worshipper in a temple', Manager or Administrator of temple etc.[8][9]
History
Sthānika Brāhmins history in Tulunadu dates back even before to 300BC.[10] From Historical records (stone, copper plate inscriptions and literature) ranging over a period of more than twenty centuries till the end of the 18th century, we can deduce and establish the facts, the origin, the history and the importance of the Sthānika brāhmins.[9] [11]
Sthānika Brāhmins were highly respected by, for their character, knowledge, proficiency, and efficiency. During the first quarter of the seventeenth century A.D., the Sthanikas in tulu speaking region of coastal Karnataka lost their reputed position because of the acute Saiva-Vaisnava rivalry,[12][13][14] the changed political set up, the British revenue policies and as they joined their hands in freedom fights supporting the local rulers of that time.[10]
Today sthanikas being well educated and economically well positioned joining their hands establishing unity among the different subsects of Dravida Brahmins and continue to be disciples of Sringeri Sharada Peetham.[10][15]
Geographic distribution
The roots of this Sthanika Brahmins lie in Coastal Karnataka, in the South Kanara region, the majority of the Sthanika Brahmin families had settled, e.g. in Udupi, Alevoor, in & around Mangalore, Puttur-Sulia, Yellur, Karkala, Kundapur, Kabbinale, Katpadi, Kasargod, Pavange, Saligrama, Bhramavara etc. Nowadays a lot of people belonging to this community have settled in Bangalore and outside Karnataka including Maharashtra,Tamil Nadu,Andhra pradesh,Kerala and various other parts of the world.[16]
Language
The Sthanika Brahmins' mother tongue is “Tulu” and "Kannada" and "Sanskrit". They speak a different dialect of Tulu called Brahmin Tulu, unique to their community.[10]
Deities and festivals
Sthānika brāhmins offer Panchayatana puja worship introduced by Adi Shankara and celebrate all the festivals of South Canara. They are Shaiva -Shaktas and mainly perform Shivalinga archane and poorna meru shree chakra aaradhane. They mainly belong to the "Rigveda- shakala Shakha-Ashwalayana sootris" and are of different gotras .[1][5][17]
Gotra and pravara
The following gotras and pravaras are found in the community.[2][18]
Gotra | Pravara |
---|---|
Vishwāmitra | Vaishwāmitra — Devarāta — Oudala |
Vishwāmitra | Vaishwāmitra — Mādhucchandasa- Dhānanjaya |
Kāshyapa | Kāshyapa — Avatsāra — Naidhruva |
Vasista | Vāsista — Indrapramada — Bharadwasu |
Āngirasa | Āngirasa — Āmbarisha — Youvanāshwa |
Bharadwaja | Angirasa - Bhāraspatya - Bhāradwaja |
Bhārgava | Bhargava - Chyavana - Apnavaan |
Atri | Ātreya - Archanānasa - Shyāvashwa |
Food
Sthanika Brahmins are pure vegetarians.[19]
Last names
Sthanika Brahmins end their names with similar suffixes which are commonly used by south Indian Brahmins.
- Ayya: Similar to Iyer or Iyendar
- Oja:Persons well versed in tantra-agama/mantra shastras were given the honorofic title of "OJA" by pallava and pandya emperors.E.g- Nattoja - meaning Moola Prathistapanacharya/ Sthapanacharya/Tantraagami (founder) and Governor ( Padamooli Chera Nattoja family are the founders of Polali Rajarajeshwari ; Puttur Mahalingeshwara andVittla panchalingeshwara Temples);[1][20] Moroja - Governor and High Priest of the mayoora kshetra/Kukke Subramanya Temple (When Kukke was under the control of Sthanika Brahmins) [1][5][5][21]
- Upadhyaya: Meaning Teacher of sanskrit vyakarana and kavya . [1]
- Shastry: Who is learned of six vedanga Shastras
- Sharma: Who is learned in six darshana shastras
- Bhatta or Bhat:One profecient in bhata kriya i.e officiating Shrouta yagnas
- Jyoisa: An astrologer
- Shanubhogue
- Hebbar:
- Rao
- Dwivedi, Trivedi,Chaturvedi:Depending on the number of vedas studied
Associations
- Adwaitha Samithi - an inter communal registered association of pancha Dravida Brahmans has also been formed by the leaders of the community and has its own building Adwaitha Ashrama (Now Belongs to Sringeri Mutt), at Kotekar near Ullal, five miles to the south of Mangalore [22]
- Shri Subramanya Sabha, Founded about 99 years back and registered on 1942 [23]
- Sthanika Dravida Brahmana Sangha, Kunjibettu, Udupi, Karnataka. - 576101[24]
- Akhila Bharata Sthanika Brahmana Sabha, Jnanashakthi Mantap, Kodigehalli post, Vishwaneedum, Bangalore.
- Bangalore Sthanika Brahmana Sabha
- Shri Jnanashakthi Samskruthika Sabha
- Sthanika Brahmana Sangha, Kundapura
- Sthanika Brahmana Sangha, Bantwal
- Shree Subramanya Sthanika Samaja Seva Sangha R. Sullia
Publications
- Sri Sharada (Kannada Monthly)
- Sulagna (Kannada Monthly)
- Sthanika, Bangalore(Kannada Monthly)
- Sthanika Sampada, Sullia(Kannada Monthly)
- Jnanashakthi, Mangalore(Kannada Monthly)
These publications, carries information about the happenings of the Community,like festivals, meetings, Religious programmes etc.
See also
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Tulunadu, Dr. P. Gururaja Bhat
- 1 2 Tulunadina Itihasadalli Sthanikaru, Dr.Padoor Gururaja Bhat (1966)
- 1 2 Sthanikas of Kanara District (North & South), CheraNattoja Shiva Rao, Mangalore Press, Year 1944, Page 10
- ↑ People of India - Karnataka, 2003
- 1 2 3 4 The Quarterly Journal of the Mythic Society (Bangalore)., Volume 92, p.179
- 1 2 STHANIKAS - Their Socio-religious and Economic Role in Karnataka (A. D. 1215-1800) - Dr. K. G. Vasanthamadhava
- ↑ D. R. Bhandarkar Volume, Indian Research Institute, 1940
- ↑ Sthanikas of Kanara District (North & South), CheraNattoja Shiva Rao, Mangalore Press, Year 1944
- 1 2 The Sthanikas and their Historical Importance B. A. Saletore, Journal Of The University Of Bombay, July 1938, Vol VII, Part I, p29 to p93
- 1 2 3 4 Tulunadu, Dr. Padooru Gururaja Bhat, Bhavyavani Publication, Udupi, 1966, p141
- ↑ Sthanikas of Kanara District (North & South) - Chera Nattoja Shivarao, Mangalore Press, 1944, p.1
- ↑ Being Brahmin, Being Modern: Exploring the Lives of Caste Today, Ramesh Bairy TS, 2010, p.163, ISBN 978-0415585767
- ↑ Vaishnavism In Vijayanagara, BA Saletore Published in D. R. Bhandarkar Volume, Indian Research Institute, 1940, p192 to p195
- ↑ Sthanikas and their Historical Importance, by Dr. B. A. Saletore, M. A., Ph. D.(Lond.) D. Phil (Giessen) published in Journal Of The University Of Bombay, July 1938, Vol VII, Part I,pp29 to pp93,
- ↑ Tattvāloka, Volume 25, Publisher: Sri Abhinava Vidyatheertha Educational Trust, 2002, p 134
- ↑ http://sthanika.info/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=25&Itemid=54
- ↑ Sthanikas of Kanara District (North & South), CheraNattoja Shiva Rao, Mangalore Press, Year 1944, p.11
- ↑ Ahnika Darpanam — Dr. N.V Upadhyaya
- ↑ Sthanikas of Kanara District (North & South), CheraNattoja Shiva Rao, Mangalore Press, Year 1944, Page 11
- ↑ Sthanikas of Kanara District (North & South), CheraNattoja Shiva Rao, Mangalore Press, Year 1944, p. 6
- ↑ Sthanikas of Kanara District (North & South), CheraNattoja Shiva Rao, Mangalore Press, Year 1944, p.6
- ↑ Sthanikas of Kanara District (North & South), CheraNattoja Shiva Rao, Mangalore Press, Year 1944, p. 11
- ↑ Sthanikas of Kanara District (North & South), CheraNattoja Shiva Rao, Mangalore Press, Year 1944, Page 11
- ↑ Antiquities of South Kanara, P. Gururaja Bhatt, Prabhakara Press, 1969, South Kanara (India), p.28
External links
- Akhila Bharatha Sthanika Brahmana Sabha (ABSBS)
- The Sthanikas And Their Historical Importance
- STHANIKAS - Their Socio-religious and Economic Role in Karnataka (A. D. 1215-1800) - Dr. K. G. Vasanthamadhav
- Tulunadina Itihasadalli Sthanikaru, Dr.Padoor Gururaja Bhat (1966)
- History of Sthanika Brahmins - Sri C. S. Rao
- Sthanika Brahmanaru - I. K. Shrinivasa Rao
- Dakshinamnaya Sri Sharada Peetham, Sringeri
- Adi Sankaracharya and Advaita Vedanta Library
- "Tatvāloka" an international English monthly magazine of Hindu religion
- comments on- The Tale of Tuluva Brahmins - Dr. Neria H. Hebbar