List of Iyers

This is a list of Iyers. Iyers are Hindu Brahmins of Tamil origin who are Smarthas or followers of the Smritis. They mostly believe in the Advaita philosophy propounded by Adi Sankara.

Prior to the 1800s, almost all prominent members of this community hailed from religious or literary spheres. Tyagaraja, Syama Sastri and Muthuswamy Dīkshitar, who constitute the "Trinity of Carnatic music" were probably the first verified historical personages from the community, as the accounts or biographies of those who lived earlier appear semi-legendary in character. During the British Raj, Iyers and Iyengars dominated the services by their predominance in the legal and administrative professions. Most of the Dewans of the princely state of Travancore during the 19th century were Tamil Brahmins (Iyers and Iyengars). Some of the prominent individuals of the period as Seshayya Sastri, Sir T. Muthuswamy Iyer, Sir P. S. Sivaswami Iyer, Shungrasoobyer, Sir K. Seshadri Iyer, Sir S. Subramania Iyer and C. P. Ramaswamy Ayyar all had a legal background. At the same time, they were also intimately associated with the Indian National Congress and the Indian independence movement. The most prominent freedom fighter from the community was Subrahmanya Bharati. Following independence, Iyers have diversified into a number of fields dominating the domain of classical arts in particular.

Saints, religious and spiritual leaders

• Abirami Pattar (c. 18th century AD), Tamil saint and poet. Author of Abirami Anthathi and Hindu religious works in Tamil.
• Appayya Dikshitar (1520–1593),Saivite saint and religious scholar who re-established Advaita philosophy's predominance in the South. He was especially patronised by the rulers of Vellore and Madurai, Chinnabomma Nayak and Tirumalai Nayak, respectively.
• Bharati Krishna Theerthaji (1884–1960), the Shankaracharya of Puri. He also popularized Vedic mathematics.
• Campantar (c. 7th century AD), One of the 63 Nayanmars. One of the authors of Tirumurai.
• Chandeshvara Nayanar, one of the 63 Nayanmars.
• Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswathi (1894–1994), former pontiff of the Kanchi Mutt.
• Cuntarar (c. 8th century AD), One of the Nayanmars and author of the Periya Puranam.
• Sri Jayendra Saraswathi (born 1935), Current pontiff of the Kanchi mutt.
• Manikkavacakar (c. 9th century AD), One of the Nayanmars. Author of Tiruvacakam
• Nambiyandar Nambi (c. 11th century AD), Saivite ascetic and poet. One of the authors of the Tirumurai.
• Siva Sri Paskarakurukkal, Sri Lankan Tamil priest resident in Germany, responsible for the building of the second biggest Hindu temple of Europe, the Sri Kamatchi Ampal Temple.
• Ramana Maharishi (1879–1950), saint and spiritual leader of Mount Arunachala.
• Sheshadri Swamigal (1870–1929), Siddha or religious mendicant who lived in the forests of Arunachala.
• Swami Sivananda (1887–1963), yogi who lived in Rishikesh, in the foothills of Himalayas. He popularized Hatha Yoga in North America

Scientists and academics

• L. K. Ananthakrishna Iyer (1861–1937), Indian anthropologist.
• Sir C. V. Raman (1888–1970), Indian physicist. Awarded the 1930 Nobel Prize in Physics for his work on the dispersion of light.
• Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar (1910–1995), American physicist of Indian origin. Awarded the 1983 Nobel Prize in Physics. Nephew of Sir C. V. Raman.
• Rajagopala Chidambaram (born 1936), Indian nuclear scientist. Former director of BARC, now chief scientific advisor to the Prime minister of India.
• Iravatham Mahadevan (born 1930), Indian civil servant, historian, archaeologist and epigraphist.
• V. R. Ramachandra Dikshitar (1896–1953), Indian historian and Dravidologist.
• Kollagunta Gopalaiyer Ramanathan (1920–1992), Indian mathematician.
• S. Ramaseshan (1923–2003), Indian physicist and biographer known for his work on crystallography. Former director of Indian Institute of Science. Nephew of Sir C. V. Raman and cousin of Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar.
• C. V. Runganada Sastri (1819–1881), Indian interpreter, civil servant and polyglot who was known for his mastery over Indian and foreign languages. Maternal great-grandfather of C. R. Pattabhiraman.

Journalists and writers

• Thi.Janakiraman (1921–1983), Tamil novelist.
• Professor K. V. Krishna Iyer (1894–1986), Indian historian. Author of standard reference books on Kerala History.
• Naccinarkiniyar (c. 10th century AD), Tamil writer who wrote a commentary on the Tholkappiyam.
• R. K. Narayan (1906–2001), Indian writer.
• Ulloor Parameswara Iyer (1877–1959), Malayalam poet. Regarded as one of the important poets in the Malayalam language.

Advocates and social activists

• K. Natesa Iyer, Sri Lankan journalist, political activist and leader of the Indian Tamil community of Sri Lanka.
• Sir S. Ramachandra Iyer, Chief Justice of the Madras High Court (1961–1964).
• V. R. Krishna Iyer, Former Judge,Supreme Court of India.
• C. S. Ranga Iyer (1895–1963), Indian journalist, politician and Indian independence activist. Proposed the Untouchability Abolition Bill in the Imperial Legislative Council (India) (now Lok Sabha) in 1932.
• Sir P. S. Sivaswami Iyer (1864–1946), Indian lawyer. Advocate General of Madras Presidency from 1907 to 1911.
• P. R. Sundaram Iyer (1862–1913), Indian lawyer and founder of Madras Law Journal. Grandfather of cinematographer P. C. Sreeram.
• M. Subbaraya Iyer (1885–1963), Indian lawyer and educationist.
• Pennathur Subramania Iyer (1860–1901), Indian lawyer, politician and philanthropist. Founder of P. S. Charities.
• Sir S. Subramania Iyer (1842–1924), Second Indian Judge of the High Court of Madras and one of the founders of the Home Rule movement in South India.
• A. Vaidyanatha Iyer (1890–1955), Indian activist. Participated in the Indian independence movement and organized the temple entry movement in the Meenakshi Temple in Madurai. President of the Tamil Nadu Harijan Seva Sangh.
• T. R. Venkatarama Sastri (1874–1953), Indian lawyer and politician. Advocate General of Madras Presidency (1924–1928)

Indian Independence Movement

• Sathyamurthy (1887–1943), Indian freedom fighter and leader of the Congress party in the erstwhile Madras presidency.
• G. Subramania Iyer (1855–1916), Freedom fighter and founder of "The Hindu" English newspaper.
• Subramaniya Siva (1884–1925), Freedom fighter and close associate of Bharathi and V.V.S.Iyer
• S. A. Swaminatha Iyer (1849–1899), Indian lawyer and freedom-fighter.

Artists and musicians

• Alathur Srinivasa Iyer (1912–1980) and Sivasubramania Iyer (1916-1964), Carnatic vocalists.
• Harsha Iyer (b. 1991) rock musician, singer-songwriter from Chennai
• Karaikudi Sambasiva Iyer (d. 1958), Veena player, Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship (1952)
• Kavi Kunjara Bharati (1810–1896), Composer of Carnatic music. Late contemporary of the "Great Trinity of Carnatic Music"
• Kavita Krishnamurthy, Hindi playback singer
• Koteeswara Iyer(1870–1936), composer of Carnatic music
• E. Krishna Iyer (1897–1968), Indian lawyer, freedom-fighter, classical artist and activist who fought for the revival of Bharatanatyam.
• G. J. R. Krishnan (born 1960), Carnatic violinist, vocalist and composer. son of Lalgudi Jayaraman.
• T. N. Krishnan (born 1928), violinist.
• Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan (1935–2008), violinist.
• Lalgudi Jayaraman (born 1930) - Carnatic Music composer and violinist.
• M. S. Subbulakshmi(born 1916 )-Carnatic vocalist.
• Madurai Mani Iyer (1912–1968), singer of Carnatic music
• Madurai Pushpavanam Iyer, vocalist
• Mahalaxmi Iyer, Prominent Hindi and Tamil playback Singer
• T. R. Mahalingam (1926–1986), flautist.
• Muthuswami Dikshitar (1775–1835), Composer. Formed the "Great Trinity of Carnatic Music" along with Thyagarajar and Shyama Shastri.
• K. V. Narayanaswamy (1923–2002), Singer of Carnatic music.
• Naresh Iyer, Male Playback Singer in Bollywood and Kollywood
• Nithyashree Mahadevan (born 1973), carnatic music singer. Granddaughter of singer D. K. Pattammal.
• Rukmini Devi Arundale(1904–1986), danseuse and artist. Popularized Bharatanatyam. Founder of Kalakshetra
• Sairam Iyer, Indian playback singer
• Trichy Sankaran (born 1942), mridangist
• T. V. Sankaranarayanan (born 1945), Singer of carnatic music.
• V. Selvaganesh (born 1966), Indian percussionist and carnatic musician. Son of T. H. Vinayakram.
• Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer (1907–2003), singer of Carnatic music
• Shankar Mahadevan, Music Director
• Shriram Iyer
• Shyama Shastri, Composer. Formed the "Great Trinity of Carnatic Music" along with Muthuswami Dikshitar and Thyagarajar.
• Sikkil Kunjumani (born 1930) and Sikkil Neela (b. 1940), Carnatic vocalists.
• R. K. Srikanthan (born 1920), Singer of carnatic music.
• Patnam Subramania Iyer (1845–1902), composer of Carnatic music.
• L. Subramaniam (born 1947), Violinist of International fame.
• Thiagaraja (1767–1847), Composer of Carnatic music. Formed the "Great Trinity of Carnatic Music" along with Muthuswami Dikshitar and Shyama Shastri.
• Umayalpuram K. Sivaraman (born 1935), Carnatic musician and mridangist
• Manambuchavadi Venkatasubbayyar (1803–1862), Carnatic musician and student of Thiagaraja.

Entertainers

• Soundarya (1971–2004), South Indian film actress.
• P. C. Sreeram, Tamil film cinematographer and director
• K. Subramaniam (1904–1971), Tamil film director.
• Suchitra Krishnamurthy, Hindi actress and former wife of Shekhar Kapur
• M. S. Thripunithura (1942–2006), Malayalam film actor
• N. C. Vasanthakokilam (1919–1951), Carnatic music singer and Tamil film actress.
• Mani Ratnam Great director.
• K.Balachander One of the doyens of Tamil Cinema
• Ravichandran Ashwin cricketer

Monarchs and military commanders

• Krishnan Raman Brahmarayar (c. 11th century AD), Commander-in-chief of the Chola army under Rajendra Chola. He was given the title Mummadi Brahmarayar Niyomanam.
• Ramaiyan (c. 17th century AD), Army general in the service of Thirumalai Nayak. Led the Madurai Nayak troops in the 1639 war against the Sethupathi of Ramnad. Subject of the ballad Ramayyan Ammanai.

Politicians and administrators

• Krishna Gopalayyan, Diwan of Travancore from 1768 to 1776.
• V. S. Krishna Iyer (born 1922), Indian politician and freedom-fighter. Member of Lok Sabha from Bangalore South (1984–1989)
• Mani Shankar Aiyar (born 1941), Indian politician from the Indian National Congress. Union Minister of Panchayat Raj, Youth Affairs and Sports.
• T. S. Narayana Iyer, Indian lawyer and civil servant. Diwan of Cochin kingdom from 1925 to 1930.
• C. R. Pattabhiraman (1906–2001), Indian lawyer and politician. Member of Lok Sabha for Kumbakonam (1957–1967). Eldest son of Sir C. P. Ramaswami Iyer.
• P. Ramamurthi (1908–1987), Communist leader and Indian independence activist.
• R. Ramasubbier, Indian politician, theosophist and Indian independence activist. Member of the Madras Legislative Council from 1892 to 1894.
• Sir C. P. Ramaswami Iyer (1879–1966), Indian lawyer, administrator and statesman. Advocate General of State of Madras (1920–1923), Diwan of Travancore (1936–1947).
• Ramayyan Dalawa, Dewan of Travancore from 1737 to 1756. Strategic advisor to Maharaja Martanda Varma during the Battle of Colachel against the Dutch.
• Ramesh Kallidai Secretary General, Hindu Forum of Britain.
• Sankaranarayana Iyen, Diwan of Travancore from 1815 to 1816.
• Sir K. Seshadri Iyer, (1845–1901) Diwan of Mysore from February 1883 to March 1901, the longest tenure for any Dewan of the princely state. Regarded as the "maker of modern Bangalore".
• T. V. Seshagiri Iyer (1860–1926), Indian lawyer and politician. Member of the Madras Legislative Council 1923-1926. Founder of the India Boat Club in Kodaikanal.
• T. N. Seshan (born 1930), 10th Chief Election Commissioner of India.
• Sir A. Seshayya Sastri (1828–1903), Indian administrator. Dewan of Travancore from 1872 to 1877 and Pudukkottai from 1878 to 1894.
• M. R. Sethuratnam Iyer, Indian politician. Minister of Development in the government of P. Subbarayan from 1928 to 1930.
• S. Shungrasoobyer (1836–1904), Dewan of Travancore from 1892 to 1898.
• R. Venkataraman (1910–2009), Indian politician and freedom-fighter. Served as the 8th President of India (1987–1992); Vice-President of India (1984–1987)
• Jana Krishnamurthi (1928–2007), Indian politician and one of the co-founders of BJP. Served as the 7th National President of BJP (2001–2002); Member of Rajya Sabha from Gujarat (2002-2007); Law Minister of India (2002-2003)

Businesspeople, industrialists and entrepreneurs

• S. N. N. Sankaralinga Iyer (1901–1969), Founder, India Cements (now part of Sanmar Group), Chennai.

References

• Ghurye, G. S. (1991). Caste and Race in India. Bombay: Popular Prakashan.
• Zvelebil, Kamil (1973). The Smile of Murugan on Tamil Literature of South India. BRILL. ISBN 90-04-03591-5.