Havyaka Brahmins: Difference between revisions
mNo edit summary |
m Edited content |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{underconstruction}} |
{{underconstruction}} |
||
{{Ethnic group| image= |
|||
{{Infobox caste |
|||
| |
|group=Havyaka Brahmin |
||
|poptime=2 million (estimate) |
|||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | |||
|subdivisions=- |
|||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | |||
* Divisions based on sect: |
|||
| ⚫ | |||
** [[Smarthas]] |
|||
* Divisions based on [[Veda]]: |
|||
** [[Rigveda|Rigvedi]] |
|||
** [[Yajur Veda|Yajurvedi]] |
|||
| ⚫ | |||
* [[Hoysala Karnataka Brahmins]] |
|||
* [[Smartism|Smartha Brahmin]] |
|||
}} |
|||
'''Havyaka Brahmins''' are a [[Brahmin]] subsect primarily from the [[India|Indian]] state of [[Karnataka]] and Northern [[Kerala]]. Havyakas mostly profess the [[Advaita Vedanta|advaita philosophy]] propounded by [[Adi Shankara|Shankaracharya]]. Most Havyakas can trace their immediate ancestry to either [[Dakshina Kannada]], [[Uttara Kannada]] or [[Shimoga District|Shimoga]] districts of [[Karnataka]] and [[Kasaragod district]] of [[Kerala]]. |
|||
{{Hinduism_small}} |
|||
==Etymology== |
==Etymology== |
||
The word Havyaka was transcended from words Havyaga or Haveega which means the one who performs Havana(Havya) and [[Homa (ritual)|Homa]](Gavya), since the very purpose of Havyaka Brahmins was to perform the royal [[Ritual|rituals]] and the related functions of the empirical government. In fact, the name "Haiga" persists in Havyaka [[lexicon]]. |
|||
==Origin of Havyakas== |
==Origin of Havyakas== |
||
Exact facts about Havyaka's origin are hard to come by since there are very little research available. Historically, it is believed that Havyakas are the first of the [[Brahmin]] kind to descend to the present day [[Karnataka]] around 3rd century ACE, followed by other sects like [[Shivalli Brahmins|Shivalli]], [[Smartism|Smartha]] etc., who arrived much later, around 7th century ACE. <ref name="Havyaka roots">http://www.havyak.com/pages/roots.htm </ref> However, the scientific school of thought places the date of Havyaka's immigration back to about 1300 years ago. The [[Brahmin]] king [[Mayurasharma|Mayooravarma]] was instrumental in bringing the first Havyaka families. It is believed that [[Kadambas]] had many Kshatriyas and we were brought in to perform the royal rituals and the related functions of the empirical government. Thus the first few families were settled in [[Banavasi]], the capital of the [[Kadambas]] and the place adored by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kannada_literature Pampa].<ref>http://www.chembio.niu.edu/hosmane/roots.html </ref> King [[Mayurasharma|Mayooravarma's]] act of inviting Havyakas to [[Banavasi]] has been inscribed on a stone stab(Epitaph|Shilashasana) from the period of the [[Kadambas]], which now lies near the village of [[Varadahalli]] in [[Sagara, India| |
|||
Sagar Taluk]] of [[Shimoga District|Shimoga district]]. |
|||
==Havyakas Today== |
==Havyakas Today== |
||
Havyakas today are the followers of either [[Ramachandrapura Math]] or [[Swarnavalli Mutt]] and are guided by [[Advaita Vedanta|advaita philosophy]] of [[Adi Shankara]]. Havyakas said to be the only Brahmins who plough the land and cultivate crops by themselves, without subordinates from other lower castes.Havyakas derive their last names from the jobs that they perform rather than by their origin. |
|||
===Geographic Distribution=== |
===Geographic Distribution=== |
||
===Population=== |
===Population=== |
||
===Language=== |
===Language=== |
||
===Caste=== |
===Caste=== |
||
==Havyaka Festivals== |
|||
==Havyaka Gotra== |
==Havyaka Gotra== |
||
Revision as of 22:05, 9 October 2006
 | This article or section is in a state of significant expansion or restructuring. You are welcome to assist in its construction by editing it as well. If this article or section has not been edited in several days, please remove this template. If you are the editor who added this template and you are actively editing, please be sure to replace this template with {{in use}} during the active editing session. Click on the link for template parameters to use.
This article was last edited by Gnanapiti (talk | contribs) 18 years ago. (Update timer) |
| Regions with significant populations | |
|---|---|
| India states of Karnataka, Kerala | |
| Languages | |
| Mother tongue is Kannada | |
| Religion | |
| Hinduism | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Brahmin |
Havyaka Brahmins are a Brahmin subsect primarily from the Indian state of Karnataka and Northern Kerala. Havyakas mostly profess the advaita philosophy propounded by Shankaracharya. Most Havyakas can trace their immediate ancestry to either Dakshina Kannada, Uttara Kannada or Shimoga districts of Karnataka and Kasaragod district of Kerala.
Etymology
The word Havyaka was transcended from words Havyaga or Haveega which means the one who performs Havana(Havya) and Homa(Gavya), since the very purpose of Havyaka Brahmins was to perform the royal rituals and the related functions of the empirical government. In fact, the name "Haiga" persists in Havyaka lexicon.
Origin of Havyakas
Exact facts about Havyaka's origin are hard to come by since there are very little research available. Historically, it is believed that Havyakas are the first of the Brahmin kind to descend to the present day Karnataka around 3rd century ACE, followed by other sects like Shivalli, Smartha etc., who arrived much later, around 7th century ACE. [1] However, the scientific school of thought places the date of Havyaka's immigration back to about 1300 years ago. The Brahmin king Mayooravarma was instrumental in bringing the first Havyaka families. It is believed that Kadambas had many Kshatriyas and we were brought in to perform the royal rituals and the related functions of the empirical government. Thus the first few families were settled in Banavasi, the capital of the Kadambas and the place adored by Pampa.[2] King Mayooravarma's act of inviting Havyakas to Banavasi has been inscribed on a stone stab(Epitaph|Shilashasana) from the period of the Kadambas, which now lies near the village of Varadahalli in Sagar Taluk of Shimoga district.
Havyakas Today
Havyakas today are the followers of either Ramachandrapura Math or Swarnavalli Mutt and are guided by advaita philosophy of Adi Shankara. Havyakas said to be the only Brahmins who plough the land and cultivate crops by themselves, without subordinates from other lower castes.Havyakas derive their last names from the jobs that they perform rather than by their origin.
Geographic Distribution
Population
Language
Caste
Havyaka Festivals
Havyaka Gotra
Prominent Members
Further Readings/Books
See Also
External Links
Havyaka is the name of a subsect of Brahmins in Karnataka and northern Kerala. Most Havyakas can trace their immediate ancestry to either Dakshina Kannada, Uttara Kannada or Shimoga districts of Karnataka and Kasaragod district of Kerala. Like most Brahmins in India, Havyakas are believed to have migrated from somewhere up north in India many, many centuries ago. In the north their counterpart Brahmins are known as Bhumihar Brahmins who reside mostly in eastern U.P. and Bihar.
There are historical evidences to prove that this community was associated with the Kadamba Empire in the central Karnataka in the 5th century AD. King Mayuravarma is believed to have invited these Brahmins to his kingdom from a place called Ahitchatra. They established their base amidst the natural beauty of the Malnad region.
They are followers of either Ramachandrapura Mutt or Swarnavalli Mutt, and are guided by the philosophy of Adishankara(Shankaracharya).
The Havyakas are united by their unique language. They speak a dialect of Kannada known as Havyaka Kannada. It is similar to mainstream Kannada but draws more words from ancient Kannada. However, most mainstream Kannada speakers find it difficult to understand Havyaka Kannada. The Havyaka dialect is supposed to be quite old. Its origins, like many other things in India, are shrouded in mystery.
Notably certain Havigannada (Havyaka Kannada) speakers use neuter gender in place of feminine gender while addressing females. Ramkrishna Hegde who was Karnataka chief minister in the late 80s belonged to havyak community.
 | This culture-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |