Sthanika Brahmins

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Sthānika
Total population

30,000(estimate)
Regions with significant populations
Indian states of Karnataka, Maharashtra,Kerala
Languages
Mother tongue is Tulu(Brahmin Dialect)& Kannada
Religions

Hinduism
Related ethnic groups

Brahmin

Sthānika Brāhmin or Sthānika Brāhmana's are Smārtha Brahmins, and come under the classification of Tuluva Brahmins; The belong to Pancha-Drāvida Brahmin Community. The Kuladevatha of Sthānika Brahmin's is Subramanya. Hence Sthānika Brahmins are also called Subramanya Sthānika Brāhmins.In the year 1924 Sringeri Sri Sharada Peetham had given a notification that ,this sect of Smaratha Brahmins from South Canara can be called as Subramanya Sthānika Brāhmins. Sthānika Brāhmins are followers of Sri Adi Shankaracharya and follow the Advaitha philosophy and are shishya's of Dakshinamnaya Sringeri Sharada Peetham. Sthānika's acquired their name owing to their managerial positions. The word Sthānika is purely a sanskrit word and has meanings such as Governer of the place, Tax collector, One who holds Managerial position, People of Local place etc. The Importance of Sthānika's is also explained in Chānakya's Artha Shastra [1]. [2] [3] [4] [5]


Contents

[edit] Caste

Sthānika's are the subsect of Smartha Brahmin caste of Hinduism.

[edit] Language

The Sthanika Brahmin's mother tongue is Tulu and Kannada; However they speak a different dielect of Tulu unique to their community called Brahmin Dielect.

[edit] Gotras

  • Angirasa
  • Agastya
  • Atri
  • Bharadwaja
  • Kashyapa
  • Vishwamitra
  • Bhargava

[edit] Surnames

The common surnames are:

  • Ayya or Aiah (Similar to Iyer (Iyer is plural form of Ayya or Aiah. Eg: Laxminarayanappayya)
  • Hebbar (Eg: Ganesh Hebbar),
  • Oja (Meaning Acharya. Eg: Maroja, Nattoja)
  • Rao (Eg: Shiva Rao)
  • Sharma (Eg: Narayana Sharma)
  • Shastry (Eg: Atmarama Shastry)
  • Upadyaya (Eg: Venkataramana Upadyaya)
  • Shanbhag (Eg: Kiran Shanbhag)

[edit] Geographic distribution

The roots of this sect of Brahmins is Coastal Karnataka. In the South Kanara region, majority of the Sthanika Brahmins families have settled in Udupi, Alleoor, in & around Mangalore, Puttur-Sulia, Yellur, Karkala, Kundapur, Kabbinale, Katpadi, Kasargod, Pavange, Saligrama, Bhramavara etc. Nowadays a lot of people belonging to this community have settled outside karnataka including Maharashtra and various parts of the world.

[edit] Population

The population of this community is small. Most of the Sthanika Brahmins prefix their native place name in front of their names and many of them have surnames.

[edit] Sthanika's Today

Although, Brahmins are restricted to their outlook on the material world, Sthanika Brahmins have retained their Smartha traditions and In addition to their earlier occupations, Sthanika's today have diversified into a variety of fields. Sthanika's today are Aggriculturists, Professors, Teachers, Doctors, Engineers, Priests, Businessmens, Entrepreneurs, Government and Bank Employees, Lawyers ,CA’s, MBA's,you can find more than 100's as IT professional's in India and abroad. ...,also can find sthanika brahmins,in Udupi Restaurant Business,in Karnataka and mostly in all parts of Maharashtra,as well as cooking contracts.

[edit] Deities and festivals

They perform Panchayatana puja introduced by Adi Shankara. They worship all the Gods, and celebrate all the festivals of South Canara. Their Kula Devetha is Lord Subramanya. They also believe in Nagaradhane and Bhoota AradhaneKola.They believe in Bhootas like, Kodmanthaya, Panjurli, Jumaadi, Bobrryaa, which is widely followed in South Canara & parts of Kerala. [6]

[edit] Food

Sthanika Brahmins are Pure Vegitarians.

[edit] Temples & Associations

They also own and maintain two temples of Lord Sri Subramanya:

  • Jnanashakthi Subramanya Temple, Pavange, Haleangdi, D.K, Karnataka (On NH 17).
  • Jnanashakthi Subramanya Temple, Jnanashakthi Nagara, Kodigehalli Post,Vishwaneedum, Bangalore- 560091, Ph:28535351

Other Temples Include:

  • Sri Rajarajeshwari Temple, Matanthabettu,, Puttur, D.K., Karnataka.
  • Sri Vishnumurthi Temple, Battrapadi.D.K., Karnataka.
  • Sri Mahalingeshwara Temple, Guruvayanakere.D.K., Karnataka.
  • Sri Trishuluni - Durgaparameshwari Temple, Balapa, D.K. Karnataka.
  • Sri Laxminarayana Temple ,Kabbinale, D.K. ,Karnataka.

[edit] Associations

  • Shri Subramanya Sabha, Founded about 99 years back and registered on 1942.
  • Bangalore Sthanika Brahmana Sabha was founded in 1962-63,with 47 members,which got officially registered in the early 70's.
  • Akhila Bharata Sthanika Brahmana Sabha, Jnanashakthi Mantap, Kodigehalli post, Vishwaneedum, Bangalore.
  • Sthanika Dravida Brahmana Sangha, Kunjibettu, Udupi, Karnataka. - 576101.
  • Adwaitha Samithi - an inter communal registered association of pancha Dravida Brahmans has also been formed by the leaders of the community and has its own building Adwaitha Ashrama (Now Belongs to Sringeri Mutt), at Kotekar near Ullal, five miles to the south of Mangalore. [7]


Apart from Mangalore,Bangalore and Udupi,they have their associations at Mumbai, Nashik, Satara, Karad, Sangli, Pune, Mysore, Hubli-Dharwad, Kasargod and at USA also.

[edit] Prominent Members

Sanskrit and Vedic Sholars

  • Brahmashri K. Narayana Acharya - Vedic & Sanskrit Scholar
  • Brahmashri K. Ramakrishna Shastry - Vedic & Sanskrit Scholar
  • Brahmashri S. Seetharama Shastry (Dvivedi)- Vedic & Sanskrit Scholar
  • Brahmashri Bhagavatha Venkataramana Shastry - Vedic Scholar
  • Brahmashri Bhagamandala Padbhanabha Shastry - Vedic Scholar
  • Sri M.V Shastry - Sanskrit & Ayurveda Bhooshana

Freedom Fighters

  • Sri Gundu Rao - A Road in Mangalore is named as Gundu Rao road after Him
  • Sri Sundara Rao (Mangalore)
  • Sri K. L. Ramakrishna Rao

Politicians

  • Smt. Lalitha Rao - Ex. Health Minister - Maharastra Govt., India
  • Smt. Padmavathi Vittal Rao - MLC, Vidhanaparishat, Karnataka

Sahitya

  • Sri. Marpalli Haridasa Rao - Writer of " Balina Gida Kardambari "
  • Sri. Tudiyadka Vishnu Ayia - Sahitya, Yakshagana

Sangeetha

  • Sri. Anantha Padhbhanabha Shastry, Sahitya Shiromani
  • Sri. Kalinga Rao - Famous musician (Vocal)

Spiritual

  • H H Swami Brahmananda, Regional head of Chinmaya Mission of Karnataka [[1]]

Sports

Other Famous Personalities

  • Sri N.D Krishna Rao - Ex. Andhra High Court Judge
  • N. Jagannatha Rao - I.A.S Officer
  • K. Janardhana Rao- Artist & Catoonist

[edit] References

  1. ^ India :: Mauryan government - Britannica Online Encyclopedia
  2. ^ Ancient Karnataka History Of Tuluva Vol I, Dr. B.A Saletore, 1936
  3. ^ Tulunadina charitre, Dr. P. Gururaja Bhat
  4. ^ Studies in Tuluva History and Culture by Dr P Gururaja Bhat (1975)
  5. ^ A Tale of Tuluva Brahmins: http://www.boloji.com/places/0019a.htm
  6. ^ Tulunadina charitre, Dr. P. Gururaja Bhat
  7. ^ Sthanikas of Kanara District (North & South), Cheera Nattoja Shiva Rao, Mangalore Press, 1944

[edit] Links

www.subramanyasabha.com [[2]]

Dakshinamnaya Sri Sharada Peetham, Sringeri [[3]]

List of teachers of Advaita Vedanta

Advaita Vedanta

Adi Sankaracharya and Advaita Vedanta Library [[4]]

Brahma sootra Shankara Bhashya [[5]]

Smarta Sampradaya Smartism

Brahmin communities

www.sthanika.com [[6]]