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|group=Vadakalai Iyengar
|group=Vadakalai Iyengar
|image=
|image=
|popplace={{flagcountry|India}}<br> [[Tamil Nadu]], [[Karnataka]], [[Andhra Pradesh]], [[Delhi]], [[Maharashtra]], [[USA]], [[UK]], [[Germany]]
|popplace={{flagcountry|India}}<br> [[Tamil Nadu]], [[Karnataka]], [[Andhra Pradesh]]
|rels= [[Image:Om.svg|30px]] [[Hinduism]]
|rels= [[Image:Om.svg|30px]] [[Hinduism]]
|langs= [[Brahmin Tamil]], [[Kannada]], [[Telugu language|Telugu]], [[Sanskrit]](Ritualistic language)
|langs= [[Brahmin Tamil]], [[Kannada]], [[Telugu language|Telugu]], [[Sanskrit]](Ritualistic language)

Revision as of 01:52, 18 March 2014

Vadakalai Iyengar
Regions with significant populations
 India
Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh
Languages
Brahmin Tamil, Kannada, Telugu, Sanskrit(Ritualistic language)
Religion
Hinduism
Related ethnic groups
Vadama, Madhwas, Thenkalai

Vadakalai, meaning Northern school or Northern culture, are a subsect of the Vaishnavite Iyengar community of Hindu Brahmins. In Sanskrit the Vadakalai are referred to as Uttara Kalārya.[1] Vadakalais are followers of Ramanuja and Vedanta Desika.[2][3][4]

Ethnicity and origin

Vedanta Desika, the Vaishnavite Acharya and philosopher, founded the Vadakalai sampradaya[5] based on the Sanskritic tradition.[6]

Groups

The Vadakalai community consists of the following groups, based on the sampradaya followed:

  • Parakala – They are mostly followers of Parakala Mutt, Mysore. This was set in 1399 by the royal family of Mysore Kingdom, Wadiyars. This has stayed as a royal mutt of the kings since then, and is a mutt for all Iyengars undeer this category.

Caste mark

Caste symbol of Vadakalai Iyengars

The Tilak (Urdhva Pundra) mark of the Vadakalai men is a symbolic representation of Vishnu's right foot. Since Vishnu's right foot is believed to be the 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. They also apply a central mark (Srichurnam) to symbolize the goddess Lakshmi (Vishnu's wife), along with the thiruman (urdhva pundra).[15] 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 Lakshmi, on their foreheads.

Religious practices and tradition

The Vadakalais being followers of the Sanskrit Vedas,[16] always championed the cause of purity of the vedic tenets.[17] Traditionally, every day starts around 4 a.m as per Ushah Kāla Dharma.[18] There are mantras to be recited on every occasion, invoking the grace of God at every stage – ablutions, etc.[18] Performance of Sandhyavandanam three times a day(morning twilight, evening twilight and noon), is of absolute necessity.[18] The most important daily duty is the Aradhana or Ijya, either with a shaligrama or a small idol.[18] After that, Vaiswadeva and Pancha -Maha Yajnas(including brahma yajna) are to be performed.[19] Special charts, namely Vyajanakara and Chakrakara are used in regard to the oblations offered in Vaiswadeva Yajnas.[20]

The Vadakalai Iyengars believe in practising Karma yoga, Jnana yoga and Bhakti yoga along with Prapatti, as means to attain salvation.[21] Vedanta Desika emphasizes the practise of the three yogas in his work Rahasya Trayasarah, where he describes Karma and Jnana yogas to be prerequisites of Bhakti yoga.[22]

The sect follows the set of rules prescribed by the Manusmriti and other Dharma Shastras.[23][24]

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.[25][26] Among these, Parakala Mutt is more than 700 years old, and the oldest.[27][28] The Ahobila Mutt is a 600+ year old monastic order, and the second oldest.[28][29][30] Srirangam Srimad Andavan Ashramam is a 300+ year old organisation,[31] which came into existence by the 18th century,[32] while Poundarikapuram Andavan Ashramam is 100+ years old.[33]

Traditionally, places of high importance with significant Vadakalai populations included Kanchipuram, Kumbakonam, Tiruvallur, Mysore and Kurnool district.[1][34][35][36][37][38] However, today much of the people have moved to the big cities.

Differences with Thenkalai Srivaishnavas

The Vadakalai follow the doctrines of Vedanta Desika and Ramanuja, while the Thenkalai follow the doctrines of Manavalamamunigal and Ramanuja. Vadakalai Iyengars sport the U naama, rather than the Thenkalai Y naamam.[39] 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.[16]

Notable people

Notes

  1. ^ a b Pg 205 Students' Britannica India. Books.google.co.in. Retrieved 20 November 2011.
  2. ^ History of Tamilakam. Darkness at horizon. Shri Bhagavan Vedavyasa Itihasa Samshodhana Mandira. 1966. p. 166. {{cite book}}: Cite uses deprecated parameter |authors= (help)
  3. ^ Pg.129 Sociology of religion, Volume 1 – by Joachim Wach, University of Chicago press, 1944. Google Books. 3 November 1958. Retrieved 20 November 2011.
  4. ^ Pg.107 Kabir, the apostle of Hindu-Muslim unity: interaction of Hindu-Muslim ideas in the formation of the bhakti movement with special reference to Kabīr, the bhakta – Muhammad Hedayetullah, Motilal Banarsidass publication, 1977. Books.google.co.in. Retrieved 20 November 2011.
  5. ^ "Britannica Online Encyclopedia". Britannica.com. Retrieved 20 November 2011.
  6. ^ "Astadasabhedanirnaya". Adityaprakashan.com. Retrieved 20 November 2011.
  7. ^ Tirupati Balaji was a Buddhist shrine, Sanjivan Publications, 1991. Books.google.co.in. Retrieved 20 November 2011.
  8. ^ "Vadakalai Srivaishnava Festivals' Calendar – The source mentions Pancharatra & Munitraya Krishna Jayantis celebrated by Ahobila Mutt & Andavan Ashrams respectively". Trsiyengar.com. Retrieved 20 November 2011.
  9. ^ "Ahobila Mutt's Balaji Mandir Pune, Calendar – The calendar mentions Ahobila Mutt disciples celebrating Krishna Jayanti as "Pancharatra Sri Jayanti"". Sribalajimandirpune.com. Retrieved 20 November 2011.
  10. ^ "Sri Krishna & Janmashtami – Essence of Srivaishnava Practices". Trsiyengar.com. Retrieved 20 November 2011.
  11. ^ Pg.100, The Cultural Heritage of India: Sri Ramakrishna centenary memorial, published by – Sri Ramakrishna centenary committee. Books.google.co.in. 16 July 2009. Retrieved 20 November 2011.
  12. ^ Pg.31 Rāmānuja sampradāya in Gujarat:a historical perspective, Somaiya Publications. Google Books. Retrieved 20 November 2011.
  13. ^ Pg.82, Srivaishnavism and social change – by K.seshadri, K.P.Bagchi & co publishers. Books.google.co.in. Retrieved 20 November 2011.
  14. ^ The Cultural Heritage of India:The Religious. Ramakrishna Mission, Institute of Culture. 1956. p. 182.
  15. ^ Pg.194 – Modern India and the Indians ,by M.Monier Williams. Books.google.co.in. 26 July 2001. Retrieved 20 November 2011.
  16. ^ a b Pg 31 Std 7 Social Science textbook printed by the TamilNadu textbook corporation[dead link]
  17. ^ Sri Varadarajaswami Temple, Kanchi: A Study of Its History, Art and Architecture – by K.V.Raman. Retrieved 20 November 2011. {{cite book}}: Check |url= value (help)
  18. ^ a b c d Introductory Pages – Sri Vaishnava Sadacharanirnaya(for Vadakalai Vaishnavas) : edited and published by Sri Villivalam Krishnamacharya (1990), Reviewed by THE HINDU on – Tuesday 29 May 1990
  19. ^ Pg. 536,557,558,560 – Sri Vaishnava Sadacharanirnaya(for Vadakalai Vaishnavas) : edited and published by Sri Villivalam Krishnamacharya (1990), Reviewed by THE HINDU on – Tuesday 29 May 1990
  20. ^ Pg.544, 545, 568 & 569 – Sri Vaishnava Sadacharanirnaya(for Vadakalai Vaishnavas) : edited and published by Sri Villivalam Krishnamacharya (1990), Reviewed by THE HINDU on – Tuesday 29 May 1990
  21. ^ Pg.199 Philosophy of Nārāyaṇīyam, Dharma, Nārāyaṇabhaṭṭapāda, Study of Nārāyaṇīya of Nārāyaṇabhaṭṭapāda, verse work on Krishna, Hindu deity; Nag Publishers. Google Books. 1 February 1996. Retrieved 20 November 2011.
  22. ^ "www.munitrayam.org(An exclusive vadakalai website) – ''Srimad Rahasya Traya Sara'' by Vedanta Desika – under the subtopic ''Upaya Vibhaga Adhikara''". munitrayam.org. Retrieved 20 November 2011.
  23. ^ Pg.150 Dimensions of national integration: the experiences and lessons of Indian history – by Nisith Ranjan Ray, Punthi-Pustak & Institute of Historical Studies, 1993. 28 November 2006. Retrieved 20 November 2011. {{cite book}}: Check |url= value (help)
  24. ^ Pg.65 The Indian historical review, Volume 17 – Indian Council of Historical Research, Vikas Pub. House.,1990. Retrieved 20 November 2011. {{cite book}}: Check |url= value (help)
  25. ^ History of Sri Vaishnavism in the Tamil country post Ramanuja – by N.Jagadeesan, Koodal Publishers. Books.google.co.in. Retrieved 20 November 2011.
  26. ^ "Invitation document from Poudarikapuram Ashramam – It is a Vadakalai Ashram – the invitation bears the Vadakalai Caste Mark with salutes to Ramanuja and Desika". Google. Retrieved 20 November 2011.
  27. ^ "Projects". Parakala Matham. Retrieved 20 November 2011.
  28. ^ a b "HoparoundIndia, Andhra Pradesh, Ahobilam Attractions". Hoparoundindia.com. Retrieved 20 November 2011.
  29. ^ "Ahobila Mutt". Chembur.com. Retrieved 20 November 2011.
  30. ^ "Sri Balaji Mandir, Pune". Sri Balaji Mandir, Pune. Retrieved 20 November 2011.
  31. ^ "ssapsribalajimandir". ssapsribalajimandir. Retrieved 20 November 2011.
  32. ^ Pg.30 Vaiṣṇavism: its philosophy, theology, and religious discipline – By S. M. Srinivasa Chari, Motilal Banarsidass Publishers, ISBN 81-208-1098-8. Books.google.co.in. Retrieved 20 November 2011.
  33. ^ "Biography of Poundarikapuram Ashramam". Munitrayam.org. 20 October 1934. Retrieved 20 November 2011.
  34. ^ PG.14 Studies in history, Volume 1, Issue 1; Jawaharlal Nehru University. Centre for Historical Studies, Sage, 1979. Books.google.co.in. 1 June 2002. Retrieved 20 November 2011.
  35. ^ Pg.561 Gazetteer of South India, Volume 2 – By W. Francis, Mittal Publications. Books.google.co.in. Retrieved 20 November 2011.
  36. ^ Pg.33 Indian philosophy & culture, Volumes 3–4; Vrindāvan (India) Institute of Oriental Philosophy, Vaishnava Research Institute, Vrindāban, India. Books.google.co.in. 1 January 1984. Retrieved 20 November 2011.
  37. ^ Pg.240 Ontological and morphological concepts of Lord Sri Chaitanya and his mission, Volume 1; Bhakti Vilās Tīrtha Goswāmi Maharāj, Navadwīpa Dhām Prachārini Sabha; Pub' – Sree Gaudiya Math, 1994. Books.google.co.in. 2 October 2009. Retrieved 20 November 2011.
  38. ^ Pg.129 Studies in social history: modern India; O. P. Bhatnagar, India. University Grants Commission, University of Allahabad. Dept. of Modern Indian History; St. Paul's Press Training School, 1964. Books.google.co.in. 1 January 2006. Retrieved 20 November 2011.
  39. ^ Pg.70 Social change in village India: an Andhra case study – by Y. Subhashini Subrahmanyam, Prithvi Raj Publishers, 1975. Books.google.co.in. Retrieved 20 November 2011.
  40. ^ "The Life of Srila Gopala Bhatta Goswami; His Vadakalai origin is mentioned in the article, where Vadakalai is spelled as "Badagalai"(Some in Northern India often substitute the alphabet V with B)". Prabhupadanugas.eu. 22 January 2011. Retrieved 20 November 2011.
  41. ^ "TimesContent – Photo of Rajagopalachari – He wears the Vadakalai Tilak on his forehead". Retrieved 20 November 2011.
  42. ^ Jogendra Nath Bhattacharya (1896). Hindu Castes and Sects: An Exposition on the Origins of Hindu caste system. Thacker, Spink & Co. p. 78.
  43. ^ Jawaharlal Memorial Fund (1972). Selected Works of Jawaharlal Nehru. Orient Longman. p. 440.
  44. ^ "A Vedic scholar enters his 100th year". The Hindu. India. 30 March 2007. Retrieved 20 November 2011.
  45. ^ 15/06/2010 (15 June 2010). "ReelshowInt MAG". Mag.reelshowint.com. Retrieved 20 November 2011. {{cite web}}: |author= has numeric name (help)

References

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