Thenkalai
| Regions with significant populations |
|---|
| Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh. |
| Languages |
| Religion |
| Related ethnic groups |
Thenkalai are a subsect of the Vaishnavite Iyengar community of Hindu Brahmins. Thenkalais are followers of Ramanuja, Pillai Lokacharya and Manavala Mamuni.
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This section needs additional citations for verification. (October 2012) |
The main difference lies in doctrine i.e. the relation of divine grace to human response. The main views of Thenkalais that are not in line with Vadakalais are:
- Thenkalai Iyengars lay more emphasis on worship of Vishnu while Vadakalais assign an equally important place to Vishnu's consort Lakshmi.
- Thenkalais do not ring bells during worship.
- Though both Vadakalais and Thenkalais revere Sanskrit, the Thenkalais place a higher important to Tamil shlokas than Sanskrit.
- Unlike Vadakalai Iyengars, Thenkalai Iyengars forbid widows to shave (tonsure) their head. While Vadakalais support the tonsure quoting the Manusmriti,[1] Thenkalais oppose it quoting the Parashara Smriti.[2]
- Thenkalais accept that kaivalya is in an eternal position within the realm of Vaikuntha. They say, however, that kaivalya only exists at the outer most regions of Vaikuntha.
- Thenkalais say that God's seemingly contradictory nature as both minuscule and immense are examples of God's special powers that enable Him to accomplish the impossible.
- Thenkalais take prapatti as the only means to attain salvation;[3] while the Vadakalais believe in Karmayoga, Jnanayoga, Bhaktiyoga and Prapatti as means to salvation.[4][5]
- Thenkalais accept Prapatti as an unconditional surrender, while the Vadakalais consider prapatti as an act of winning grace.[6]
- According to Thenkalais, exalted persons need not perform duties such as sandhyavandanam; they do so only to set a good example.
- Thenkalai iyengars follow Manavala Mamunigal and Pillai Lokacharya, while the Vadakalai Iyengars follow Vedanta Desika.[7]
Additionally, it is believed that while the Vadakalai society was rigid, the Thenkalai society, on the contrary, accepted a significant proportion of the non-Brahmin population into its fold.[8]
Mutts [edit]
The Thenkalai Iyengars are generally followers of Vanamamalai mutt, Sriperumbudur mutt and Tirukkoilur mutt in the Kanchipuram and Viluppuram districts of Tamil Nadu,[9]Tirumala Jeeyar Swamy Mutt in Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh [10] and Yadugiri Yathiraja Mutt in Melukote, Mandya District, Karnataka, Nanguneri, Tirunelveli, and Tamil Nadu.
List of people of Thenkalai Iyengar descent [edit]
- Srinivasa Ramanujan (1887–1920), Indian mathematician, of patrilineal Thenkalai descent.[11]
General S Padmanabhan, former Chief of Army Staff, Indian Army
Notes [edit]
- ^ Pg.65 The Indian historical review, Volume 17; Indian Council of Historical Research, Vikas Pub. House
- ^ Pg.66 The Indian historical review, Volume 17; Indian Council of Historical Research, Vikas Pub. House
- ^ Pg.141 The perfectibility of human nature in eastern and western thought -By Harold G. Coward, ISBN 978-0-7914-7336-8
- ^ Philosophy of Nārāyaṇīyam, Dharma, Nārāyaṇabhaṭṭapāda, Study of Nārāyaṇīya of Nārāyaṇabhaṭṭapāda, verse work on Krishna, Hindu deity; Nag Publishers.
- ^ Ānanda and the three great acharyas, by Mysore Sivaram, Vikas Pub. House 1976
- ^ Pg.35 Harmony of religions: Vedānta Siddhānta samarasam of Tāyumānavar - By Thomas Manninezhath, ISBN 81-208-1001-5
- ^ The Journal of Oriental research, Madras, Volumes 68-70, Kuppuswami Sastri Research Institute, Mylapore
- ^ Swarnalatha, P. (2005). The world of the weaver in Northern Coromandel, c.1750-c.1850. Orient Blackswan. p. 40. ISBN 8125028684, ISBN 978-81-250-2868-0.
- ^ Thurston, p 349
- ^ Tirumala Jeeyar Swamy Mutt
- ^ http://books.google.co.in/books?id=TT1T8A94xNcC&pg=PA89&dq=ramanujan+thengalai#PPA89,M1
References [edit]
- Thurston, Edgar; K. Rangachari (1909). "Brahmin". Castes and Tribes of Southern India Volume I – A and B. Madras: Government Press.
