Tamil Brahmin

According to eminent historians in the hoary past of Tamil Nadu were occupied by a highly cultured people whose religion was perhaps different from Hinduism. They had not Chaturvarnyam among them, but had different caste groups. To this country Brahmin in northern India migrated. It is, according to historians took place when the Maurya Kings were ruling India, the reason is the new religious revolutions in the north was founded by Gautama Buddha and Mahavira Vardhamana took mercy of kings. The Brahmin migration was in waves, and many of them settled in the current Telugu country, and some of them reached Tamil Nadu. The first groups to migrate to Tamil Nadu was pro-Shukra Brahmin who were followers of Lord Shiva and the past few waves Pro Brihaspati Brahmin, who were mainly followers of Lord Vishnu.

Tamil Nadu welcomed these new migrants with open hands. Stories of migration of Agasthya and he is the founder of River Cauvery is told in ancient Tamil myth. His disciple Tholkappiyar, there is certainly a historical figure wrote the first book in Tamil ie. Tholkappiyam. This book clearly mentions the existence of the Brahmin in Tamil Nadu. There is some evidence pointing out to Tholkappiyar itself to be a Brahmin. They were originally called Anthanars or Parpanars or aravor or vediyars. Tholkappiyam also mentions the word Aiyar in one place.

Kings of Tamil Nadu were attracted by these scholars, pundits and made them their Asan with the title or teachers. These teachers also were given more powers by them. Apart from this, several villages were given to them as grants, free and free of charge. Those were called Brahmodayams or Chadurvedimangalams. Possibly in a much later period they were renamed Agraharams. Although new to the culture and language, these new migrants learned the language of the country and the ancient books mention many great poets among them in the courts of some very famous kings. These early migrants also brought the concept Gothras. Bharadwaja, Koundinya, Kasyapa, Kaushika and Atreya Gothras mentioned in the early Sangam literature. They originally did not name themselves as they do in modern times after the Gods they worship but tended to use their Gothra in their names. Some examples of the early names were Kauniyan Vinnantayan (Kaundinya), Palai Gautamanar (Gautama), Ilankausikanar (Kausika) Kallil Athreyanar (Atreya) and Bharadwaji Nachinarkiniyanar (Bharadwaja) and so on.

They were strict vegetarians, teetotalers and spoke of a specialized dialect of Tamil among themselves. Their houses had a "well washed-scrubbed-courtyard" and mostly a cow and a calf were tied to a post in front of their houses and dog and fowls were assiduously kept out. The Brahmin of those times had six times the tasks, ie. learning of Vedic texts, teaching of Vedas, performing yagnas (called velvi in Tamil), helping others perform yagnas, gift giving and taking of gifts. Among the earliest schools Vedas started Ghatika them were of Kanchi and the Vedic school in a village called Ennayiram. The Sangam literature mentions about a famous Brahmin named Punjarurkavunian Vinnandayan presumed to have performed many Vedic sacrifices in these times.

They also took, great interest in the development of Tamil literature. Among them the famous poets of the time was Nakkerar, Kapýlar, Nachinarkiniyar and Tayam Kannanar and so on. If they were representatives of the Vedic learning, they also took very active part in the Bhakti movement of the ancient Tamil Nadu. Among the greats was Nambi Andar Nambi, Nadamuni, Sambandar, Sundarar, Kungilyakalayanar, and many others.

Divisions and groups:

It is very important to note that both were Shaivites and Vaishnavites among them, as they were known, but they preferred to live as one large group with several subgroups. Govindacharyar, Nathamuni, Nambi Andar Nambi etc were big Vaishavite saints in these times.

The historians who have traced the migration of Brahmin in Tamil Nadu believe that the first group to migrate were BrihatCharanams and Ashtasaharam Brahmin. The Brihatcharanams loosely translated as big foot or big migrations were the first wave of settlers who settled in Mangudi locations, Satyamangalam, Thiruvannamalai, Palamaneri, Kandarmanikkam and Milagasur and so on. The next immigrants were possibly Ashtasahasrams be settled at a place called Ennayiram near Pondicherry. The next great wave of immigrants was Vadamas, so called by others, who have already settled as Northerners. There were other smaller sub-groups, which also Vathimas. Many of those migrants whose main occupation was learning Vedas and performing Yagnas went to the temple in Tamil Nadu to achieve proficiency in AGAMA sastras. These were called Kurukkal in general and some of these prominent groups were again divided into Sholiyars. Since the first immigrants, believed that these people have committed a big mistake by taking up Temple Worship, they were looked down upon by the other groups. Another prominent and well recognized group of learned Brahmin was Chidambaram Dikshitars. The Mukkani Brahmin who assist in Puja in Tiruchendur temple was a later addition to these groups Vadamas itself was divided in to Then_desathu Vadamas and Vada _desathu vadamas.It is not clear when the Vaishnavites were a separate group and began to call themselves as Iyengar. They certainly did after the emergence of Sage Ramanujachariar who systematized Srivaishnavism After him his supporters again divided in to Vadakalai Iyengar and Iyengar Thenkalai. There is also some evidence that most of the Vadakalai Iyengar was from Vadamas and most of the Thenkalai Iyengar was from Sholiyars. Among Iyer, there were also smaller sects as Kesis and Kaniyalars. There's even a very small group called Prathamasakhis restricted to some villages which Seddanipuram near Nannilam of Tanjore district who feel they are untouchable in the middle of the day every day. They go out of the house at noon and again at home after a purificatory bath.