Ashtagrama iyer
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Ashtagrama Iyers are a group of Vadama Iyers or South Indian Brahmins with their roots in the Ashtagrama situated in the Kolar district of Karnataka
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[edit] History
In the early 16th century a few of the Iyers from the North Arcot and the Tanjavur districts of Tamil Nadu migrated to the Ashtagrama group of villages, at the request of the existing government, as learned Priests, Vedic Scholars and Agriculturists. They soon transformed it from a once poor community, into a well-educated and prosperous one.
[edit] Ashtagrama
Ashtagrama (literally,'eight villages') consists of several villages which are located in the Valley of the Palar River, which flows through the Kolar district into Tamil Nadu. The 10 villages on the North side of the river are Cholagunte, Doddiganahalli, Devarayasamudram, Gangigunte, Honnagaanahalli, Kothamangala, Minijenahalli, Thattangunte, Vijalapura and Yelagundanahalli. The remainder of the villages, Aralakunte, Chamarahalli, Gangapura, Hunkunda and Shillangeri are on the southern side of the river. Though the Iyers form the majority of the population all these villages show communal diversity.
[edit] Customs and beliefs
Most of the customs of the Ashtagrama Iyers remain the same as that of their Iyer counterparts elsewhere but some of them are derived from the Brahmin customs of Karnataka. Most Iyers follow both the solar calendar of Tamil Nadu and the lunar calendar of Karnataka. For example, the lunar tithis are followed for celebrating festivals while the lunar day is taken into account for Shraddh or death ceremonies. Similarly, on 14/15th of January both Sankranthi and Pongal are celebrated.
[edit] Language
Most Ashtagrama Iyers have a good knowledge of Kannada and sometimes Telugu (Kolar being on the Karnataka-Andhra Pradesh border). Also a dialect of Tamil is spoken which varies significantly from the way the other Iyers speak . Not necessarily all Ashtagrama Iyers speak tamil. Kannada is the predominant language of the new generation.
Some examples are:
| Pure Tamil
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How Ashtagrama Iyers say it
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How other Iyers say it
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How other Tamils say it
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English Meaning
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Varugireergala?
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Vareegla?
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Varela?
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Vareengala?
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Are you coming?
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| Pogireergala?
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Poreegla?
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Porela?
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Poreengala?
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Are you going?
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| Engal veetil, Engal Agathil
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Enga ulle
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Enga athilae
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Enga veetla
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In our house
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| Engey poreer | Oonga poora | Engey porel | Engey poringo
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Where are you going?
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| Sirithu Nazhigai
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Konchu Pod
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Setha Nazhi
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Konja Neram
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For some time
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Today as many of them study Kannada or English , these languages are used in the regular discussions and written documents like marriage invitations .
[edit] Ashtagrama Iyers today
Today, many from the community have moved out into bigger cities like Bangalore, Chennai, New York, New Jersey etc. The Ashtagrama Sangha has taken shape in Bangalore to put forth the views of the community. Some known names from this community are Soundarya, the South Indian cine actress and Regret Iyer, a writer and cartoonist who had become a household name not too many years ago. Renowned body builder and kannada writer (late) K V Iyer, Photo journalists TS Sathyan and his son TS Nagarajan belong to this community
[edit] External links
Prof K V Iyer, information on legendery Prof. K V Iyer
