- Mysore Iyengars
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Mysore Iyengars are Iyengars, SriVaishnava Brahmins who identified themselves with erstwhile Kingdom of Mysore. They were also called as "Ashtagrama Iyengars" as they inhabited 8 chief villages: Hulikal, Maadhihalli,Bylahalli,Kyathanpalli,Dodda Magge(and Koratikere),Kaniyar,Ramanathapura and Saligrama. These 8 villages are located in Hassan District,Karnataka.Hence they are also sometimes called Hassan Iyengars. Saligrama(pronounced as "Saaligraama") was the first village through which Ramanujacharya was supposed to have entered Karnataka(Melunadu)
Language
They speak Ashtagrama Tamil[1] which is a distinct dialect,containing varying proportions of Iyengar Tamil and Kannada
Origin
The Mysore Iyengars are Brahmin followers of Ramanujacharya from Tamil Nadu who settled in the eight (ashtagrama) villages.[2]
There is very little research done on Mysore Iyengars.
Occupation
Their chief occupations were studying the Vedas, Priesthood, Music, being Agriculture Consultants and Zameendars.
Poverty and land reforms[3] forced them to learn baking techniques from Kerala and establish the Bakery business in Leading Cities in South India. Iyengar Bakeries are known for quality, hygiene and non usage of saturated animal fat in their products.
Thus, they were popular in recent times as the "Bakery Iyengars" as they pionereed the Bakery Industry in South India.
Mysore Iyengars are Strict Vegetarians who do not consume onion and garlic.
Iyengars today have diversified into a variety of fields—their strengths particularly evident in the fields of music, law, medicine, teaching, business, science, engineering, mathematics and computer science. However, even today, a few Iyengars choose to pursue the vocation of priesthood
References
http://archispeaks.blogspot.com/2011/06/mysore-iyengars.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_of_Mysore http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saligrama,_Mysore,_Karnataka
http://www.parakalamatham.org/ http://www.iyengarsbakery.com/aboutus.html
External links
Categories:- Vaishnavites
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