From: narayana@psuvax1.cs.psu.edu (Kuram T Narayana)
Subject: Re: On AP Brahmins continued...
Followup-To: soc.culture.indian soc.culture.indian.telugu 
Organization: Penn State Computer Science
Date: Sun, 3 Jan 1993 20:12:52 GMT

In article <1993Jan2.162853.26018@news.acns.nwu.edu> rags@casbah.acns.nwu.edu (Raghavan Jayaraman) writes:
>In article <C04xMs.43r@cs.psu.edu> narayana@psuvax1.cs.psu.edu (Kuram T Narayana) writes:
>>My earlier notes on AP brahmins gives the reader a broad 
>>taxanomy. AS I said I am not sure if there are any saivite/Saaktha
>>worshippers other than vaidiika one. In my notes on Hindu
>>marriage  rituals, I made a stronger statement saying that
>>I have not come across in my life a brahmin other than 
>>the catogories that I had listed. When I wrote that, I had
>>in mind two classes of Brahmins that philosophy texts relate.
>>
>>1) Kapalika Brahmins:
>>
>>Apparently in Northern Deccan, TN, and Bengal there was a 
>>sect (not necessarily a brahmin sect, it is unclear) which
>>used to follow the worship of Kapalika. At these worships,
>>they were offering human sacrifices. I have not come across
>>a brahmin from such sects.
>
>The historical references attribute them to the time of
>chalukyas/Pallavas - as U   said they needn't be brahmins. 
>

All philosophy books refer to the Arayninzed aboriginals. These
are vaidiika sects, whether brahmin or nonbrahmin. But they also
make a claim that, in some parts of the south worship of Shakthi,
Kapalika rites are manifestations of the same, was prevelant. These
are the aboriginals which have not been brought under the aryan fold.
It was banned under some law by the british. During my childhood one of
my relatives from Chintamani in Karnataka used to tell us stories
of some kid kidnapped by Kapalika brahmins; they apparently could not
sacrifice him because the kid did not have yagnopaveetham. The ritual of
human sacrifice of that sect requires a a brahmachary. How far this story
is true, whether it was her imagination is anybody's guess! In AP,
children are often therthened by saying, "look! the Malayalee Maanthreekudu
will come". No offense intended for Malayaalese. Are there these nonaryanized
aboriginal sects which perform these rituals; I seriously doubt that
aryanization is complete in that every one follows the vedanta.

Actaually it is useful to know what these fellows rituals are, what makes
them perform human sacrifices, with what rites they are sacrificed and
so on. I could not get hold of authentic sources, except for some indologists
calims. It is useful if some kind scier can write up notes on these rites
and so on!


>>2) Tantrika Brahmins (of some variety):
>>
>>I have read that in TN there was a particular sect of brahmins
>>which used to practice some tantra. This sect of people used to
>>engage in secretive rituals in Smashaanams. During the course
>>of the worship, there was no caste distinctions and both brahmins
>>and nonbrahmins used to worship together in the rirual as equals. They
>>used to drink at that time, engage in sodomy, and wife-swapping,
>>and other XXX rated sexual acts. 
>>
>>This class of brahmins I have not come across in AP. I do not
>>know that much about TN demography to rule it out from there.
>>...kt
>
>I think here U are refering to sakti movement - as represented by Baskara
>Rayar in TN. This is similar to sakti practices of kashmiri brahmins. Their
>ritual called 'pancha magara' [five 'm's] refering to 5 steps starting with
>word 'm'-[fish, liquor,sexual intercourse among the five]. No wife swapping
>or XXX rated activities as U alluded to. Actullly this was followed and
>advocated by 'Lashmipathi' [I think]. Baskararayar opposed such practicess
>and he replaced the five steps with mudras which one invoked while starting
>the puja.
>

Actaully the philosophy books do not refer to a specific person. Here again
such Sakthi worshippers are said to be outside the pale fo vedanta.

In the books that I read, it was mentioned that the rite were performed
without caste distinctions by a group of people assembled in Smashaanams
(cremation gorunds). There used to be sexual acts. Sometimes their
wifes used to join the rites. The societies of these people is matriarchical.
Female worship is viewed in all its sensuaousness. It is because this notion
of females were participating occasionally in the  rites, I had to infer that
they indulged in acts of sodomy. Because the females, when they participated,
engaged in sex along with others, I believe that there was no such notion of
'wife' entertained in those rites, and they may be indulging in wifeswapping
and other XXX related activities. 

Again the books themselves are not specific, in that they do not give the
descriptinos of rites, some magic mantras etc. It is this pausity of
information that leaves me wonder how well entrenched is this Sakthi worship.

I do know that in our villiage there is a sadhu who performs sakthi worship.
He has an asram, I was told 2 years ago in India, that the asram is flourishing
with endowments from people and so on. For example, when I was in my SSLC,
my self and my friend used to go to this place every evening and spend an
hour talking to this sadhu! We had our doubts on the fellow, but yet he 
never looked like someone who enaged in sex acts in cremation grounds etc.
At that time we were only thinking that the guy performs some Kshudra
sakthi pujas! Such things are common in villiages; gangamma, poleramma,
anlkaalamma, tip-pot goddesses etc. But this guy was distinct though!
He was in his youth, his worship was very tantric, and he was capable
of hypnoptizing people. That is how the guy got the foothold in our
villiage.

But god knows! what he used to do at midnight on Amaavashya day!

>To say the least, not-necessarily brahmins who were involved in this [as I
>can see from the folowers of Baskararayar in TN].

I may agree that they may not be brahmins in the sense of Vedas.
but they may be priestly classes from the aboriginal tribes.

>
>raghavan
>

...kt