Guest guest Posted February 4, 2002 Report Share Posted February 4, 2002 Dear learned ones... Iam a Sri Vaishnavite from Andhra pradesh. I have few general doubts. In AP, i never saw anyone with a suffix of 'Iyengar'. We have 'Chari', or 'Chary' or 'Acharyulu' as the suffixes to the names. Why is it so? What is the difference between Sri Vaishnavites in Andhra and other parts? Is there any or is it just naming convention? Recently i came to know that there are two groups again in Iyengars: i) Vadagali ii) and Tengalai. Can anyone explain me the difference between the two? Regards, Venkata Ramakrishna Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 5, 2002 Report Share Posted February 5, 2002 Dear Sri Venkata Ramakrishna, In response to your queries: Venkata Ramakrishna wrote: > > > In AP, i never saw anyone with a suffix of 'Iyengar'. > We have 'Chari', or 'Chary' or 'Acharyulu' as the suffixes to the names. The term "Iyengar" is actually based on the Sanskrit/Telugu/Kannada root that refers to the number five, which would seem to indicate that what has now become a name that is often used in Tamil Nadu and largely used in Karnataka in varied forms, was probably a respectable title for someone who had received panchasamskAram, the five sacraments of SriVaishnava faith. Over time, however, this word has become associated with specific castes of SriVaishnavas, and hence its use has been dropped for the most part to maintain the equality among devotees that forms a unique part of the SriVaishnava experience. A few families, particularly those who have emigrated to the US, continue to utilize this title as a convenient last name. The suffix Chary (or Chari) is highly caste based, and with very few exceptions, is used primarily by brahmin followers of SriVaishnavism as a means to identify their scholarly role in the community. Over time, particularly in Andhra, it would seem that the term has now come to refer to any male hailing from a SriVaishnava family. The use of "-ulu" ending is unique to Andhra to make the name more in line with the proper grammar of the Telugu speaking region. > > > Why is it so? What is the difference between Sri Vaishnavites in Andhra and > other parts? Is there any or is it just naming convention? > Ideally, there are no differences in philosophy or practice between SriVaishnavas in Andhra and those in other states. However, there have been many cultural adaptations and dilutions that have occurred over time as people acculturated themselves to the largely Telugu community of which they are now a virtually indistinguishable part. These have become more solidified in the past 50 or so years as the regions became more clearly defined as states. >From what I have been able to piece together from speaking with relations and scholars from the area, the history of SriVaishnavas in Andhra can be traced as far back as Sri Ramanuja's time, when such notable Acharya Purusha paramaparai families as those of Sri Periya Thirumalai Nambi, Sri Thirumalai Anandanpillai, Sri Parasara Bhattar, Sri Koyil Kandadai Annan, and many, many others settled in and around the divya dEsham of Thirumalai, and several of the abhimAna sthalams, such as the temples at Sri Kurmam and Simhachalam, for the purposes of serving the Lord and propogating SriVaishnavism among the local populations. Later exoduses occured at various other times in SriVaishnava history, as well, particularly just after the brutal ransacking of Srirangam in the 1200s, and the during the great Vijayanagaram Empire. This latter period could be called a Golden Age of SriVaishnava history in Andhra, as it marked the time of the formalization of worship at the divya dEsham at Ahobilam, and the renovation and restoration of Thirumalai. It was during this period that SriVaishnavam spread throughout Andhra, and also was probably the time that the large agrahArams, such as those that can still be seen in and around Guntur, were sectioned off exclusively for the use of SriVaishnava families. > > Recently i came to know that there are two groups again in Iyengars: i) > Vadagali ii) and Tengalai. This subject has been discussed many times in some detail in this forum. You may wish to peruse the Bhakti archives for more information on this. Please feel free to contact me to me if I can be of further assistance on this. I hope that this brief introduction helps. adiyEn rAmAnuja dAsan Mohan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 5, 2002 Report Share Posted February 5, 2002 Excellent explanation Mohan. Thanks -r- "Arriving at one goal is the starting point to another." - "Mohan Sagar" <mmsagar Tuesday, February 05, 2002 5:18 AM Re: small doubt > > > > In AP, i never saw anyone with a suffix of 'Iyengar'. > > We have 'Chari', or 'Chary' or 'Acharyulu' as the suffixes to the names. > > The term "Iyengar" is actually based on the Sanskrit/Telugu/Kannada root Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 11, 2002 Report Share Posted February 11, 2002 Dear BhagavatOttamas, Recently there had been some correspondence regarding the meaning of the word "iyengar". The word "i" denoting five is also a Tamil word (not Sanskrit, Telugu and Kannada alone). I am attaching a mail on the subject forwarded by adiyEn's brother Sri TCA Sadagopan. adiyEn madhurakavi dAsan TCA Venkatesan -- Sri TCA Sadagopan writes: The title Iyengar denotes "A Person who performs the PANCHA SAMASKARAMS in their daily routine". Such eligibility occurs to them after the ritual of "Samaachrayanam" by a worthy and True Aachaaryan. The Pancha samaskarams are : 1. Daily Snanam (in the morning and evening) with application of Urthva Pundaram, 2. Nithyaanusandhaanam (including Manthra pushpam, Sandhya vandanam, Perumal amudhupadi) 3. Aacharyan tiruvadi saranaagati or sambandam, 4. Vaishnava Ghoshti kainkaryam (including adhithi samaaradanai) and 5. Bhagavat prabhatti. ( Thayar & Perumaal sevai). Just as a person perceives this world through the 5 sensory organs of Mey, Vaai, Kann, Mukku, & Sevi, an Iyengar perceives his world through these 5 samaskaraas, taking these as the Angaas for spiritual life. Thus the name Iyengaars - meaning "I" (5 in chaste Tamil - like "ai aindum ariyaada maanidarai") "Angaars" - Angangalai udaiyavar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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