From: narayana@psuvax1.cs.psu.edu (Kuram T Narayana)
Subject: On AP Brahmins
Followup-To: soc.culture.indian.telugu 
Organization: Penn State Computer Science
Date: Thu, 31 Dec 1992 17:02:46 GMT

I have received lots of mail clarifying some aspects of Brahmins
in AP.

There are three broad categories of Brahmins:

 1) Smarthas: So called because they are followers of Sankaracharya.
 2) Madhavas: So called because they are followers of Madhva Charya.
 3) Vaisnavites: So called because they are followers of Ramanuja.

There are beside this pale other Brahmins who have different scriptural
authority. Many of them are either Siva worshippers or Saaktha worshippers.
They adhered assiduously to their scriptures.

Because I come from Rayalaseema, I am familiar with the profile of
that region. Knowledge about other regions are through friends/relatives/
and batchmates.

We definitely know that there are Madhva followers (many of them
are immigrants from Karnataka) in Rayalaseema.

We also know that there are Ramanuja (Vedanta Desika) followers in
Rayalaseema (and actually spread around AP).

The rest I classified as Smarthas; generally in our region they are
primarily Siva worshippers. Note that not all Smarthas are primarily
Siva worshippers; they may worship him secondarily.

The bulk of AP brahmins are smarthas. I do not think that Vaisnavites
or Madhvites are anywhere above 10%.

As for as the Niyogi brahmins are concerned, I have got a clarification
from some kind person. They are called Smarthas.

Here is a copy of the mail that I received from one of our Telugu friends.
I hope that helps!

This personal mail has been included without permission from its
author. Since there is no malicious intent on my part, and since the
mail contains educative information, I have attached the mail here.
Please do not generate flames on the person. Direct flames if any
to me. I have included the mail, because it is helpful for us
to understand.

----------------------------------------------------------------
Thanx for your replies.
The case is that Niyogis were a part of the Vaidiki sect of brahmins.
Hence, they were also rightly referred to as smarthas. Your observation
in this respect is quite accurate. The niyogis practice all the riuals
and rites as laid down in the Vedas. To that extent, the niyogis and the
vaidikis are quite similiar. Actually all rites and rituals in the niyogis
families are performed by the vaidiki purohits. However, in the 12th century
or so, there was a vertical split in the vaidiki sect. There was a difference
in opinion as to the prime role of Brahmins in the society. The niyogis
wanted to set Teaching, administrating and literary pursuits as the prime
aim. This was opposed by the Vaidikis. Hence, the split. The basic difference
lies only in their means to serve the society. The vaidikis perform rituals
as laid down in the vedas, while the niyogis perform such functions as laid
above.
I come from the coastal anfhra region, where there is a very high density of
niyogis. As far as the daily rituals are concerned there are no differences.
I hope these clarify the questions raised by you.
Regards.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
...kt
Newsgroups: soc.culture.indian.telugu