Gurukkal brahmins
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| Total population |
|---|
| Unknown |
| Regions with significant populations |
| Tamil Nadu, Kerala |
| Languages |
| Religion |
| Related ethnic groups |
Gurukkal is Tamil plural form of the Sanksrit word "Guru" - Spiritual Initiator. These are the brahmins who were ritual associates to ancient kingdoms like cholas,cheras,pandyans,pallavas etc .
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[edit] On Brahmins in vedic service (in general)
There are records which indicate that brahmins were in the Tamil regions since the beginning. In ramayana the reference made by sage valmiki to ancient tonti the megacity of ancient tamil cheras and he also praises the same as being equal to amaravathi the city of gods when it came to virtue, and where yaagams took place uniterruptedly.This apart the king manu is known to be of Dramila desa or tamil country. Several vedic ethnic identifications like atreya,jaimini,kasyapa,kapila,kaundinya, gautama, bharadwaja, vasistha, viswamitra(kausika)etc, occur repeatedly even in early sangam works.In general whenever the word adi saiva brahmin is indicated, it most certainly refers to gurukkal or a similar temple work group like deekshitar, nambi etc.
These teachers also were given several powers by them. Apart from this, several villages were given to them as grants free of tax. This only means that they were grants to institutes focussing on welfare services, for which tax exemptions are mandatory in contemporary period also. These were called Brahmodayams or Chadurvedimangalams. Some of the examples from sangam literature are Kauniyan Vinnantayan (Kaundinya), Palai Gautamanar (Gautama), Ilankausikanar (Kausika), Kallil Athreyanar (Atreya), and Bharadwaji Nachinarkiniyanar (Bharadwaja).
The Brahmin of those times had sixfold duties viz. learning of Vedic texts, teaching of Vedas, performing yagnas (called velvi in Tamil), helping others perform yagnas, giving of gifts and taking of gifts. Among the earliest schools of Vedas started by them were the Ghatika in Kanchi. The sangam literature mentions a famous Brahmin named Punjarurkavunian Vinnandayan who is supposed to have performed many Vedic sacrifices during those times.
Among the servitors were the ones who focussed in temple worship services.These were called "Gurukkal (gurukuls)" in general and some of these prominent groups were again grouped in to Sholiyars.
[edit] History
Jnanasambandhar is said to have been a brahmin from the Kaundinya gotra, which finds many mentions even in early sangam works. Karikala chola of sangam age is known to have completed several yaagams. Thirumular a much sung about nayanmar saint and one of the earliest among them came to tiruvavaduthurai from naimisaranyam in UP after his being summoned by sage agastya. This event took place probably in an ealier epoch of dwapara age or treta yugam . He is said to have penanced in tiruvavaduthurai for 3000 years. Thirumular taught the monistic school of Saiva Siddhanta, known as Advaita Isvaravada Saiva Siddhanta. This is the original Saiva Siddhanta, which Meykandar a divine servitor later enriched and formed the now more well-known Saiva Siddhanta school.Tirumular is also known to have been a practitioner of agamic worship rituals.
Rajaraja – I and the later Kings are known to have moved in saivite servitors from various parts of India as well as outside the same. One inscription of kulothunga chola I, makes a record of some grants made by certain adisaiva servitors who had arrived from kadaram, now probably an Island in fiji and or philippines. Rajaraja's saiva associate Isanasivadeva donated the swarna kalasam to Sri Brihadeeswara temple, Tanjore. Srikantasiva was the acharya of Vikarama Chola. He wrote the famous Saiva Bhashya on the Sutras of Badarayana. Isvarasiva, author of Siddhantaratnakaram was the Rajaguru of Kulotunga III.
The Acaryas of the various ati-margas like, Kapalika, Lakukisa- Pasupata, Somasiddhanta and Kalamukha were also called as Sivacaryas.
[edit] Sub-groups
The Gurukkal Brahmins are further sub-divided into Tiruvalangad, Conjeevaram, and Thirukkazhukunram.[1]
[edit] Gruhya Sutras
They follow an almost extinct "Baudhayana" (which namboodiris also follow) sutras unlike Apastambha followed by most of other smarthas. It is to be noted that baudhayana sutra is older to a more strict Apastambha and it is similar to Gautama sutras. Most of them follow Krishna Yajurveda like majority of the South Indian Brahmins. Nowadays sutras are not heard outside Abhivadams. However, when certain rituals, like Avani Avittam (when the Brahmins renew their sacred threads) are performed, those following baudhayana sutra, recite more elaborate mantras and perform more involved rituals still today.
[edit] References
- ^ Castes and Tribes of Southern India, Pg 347
- Thurston, Edgar; K. Rangachari (1909). Castes and Tribes of Southern India Volume I - A and B. Madras: Government Press.
- [1] http://www.chennaionline.com/columns/DownMemoryLane/diary169.asp[dead link]
- [2] http://www.hinduonnet.com/2001/07/03/stories/1303017e.htm
- [3] http://www.gurukkal.com/[dead link]
- [4] http://tamilartsacademy.com/journals/volume3/articles/Vedas%20and%20Vedic%20Saivas%20in%20TN.html[dead link]
