Moogooru Karnataka

Moogoor (Moogur) Karnataka Brahmins are a sect of the brahmins of Karnataka. There is a legend stating the curse by Adi Shankara to this sect and the rectification to the curse. Here is the legend.

Adi Shankara, before taking Sanyas promised his mother to see her at the time of her end. When Shankara indeed came during her last minutes, he recited many devotional stotras and she became contented and leaves her mortal body to proceed to Vaikunta.

After her demise, the (Namboothiri) brahmins in the vicinity don't allow him to perform the last rites, because shastras won't permit those for a sanyasi. They didn't allow people to lift the dead body and give shoulder to it till the cremation ground. Finally, he cremates her in the backyard of the house and curses them saying:

"You people have not got the tatva of shastras and are only fighting for trifles. Because of your ignorance about the truth of shastras you people need to be punished. You people shall loose your Brahmanatva."

Many distant relatives of this community used to live at Moogur, Chamaraja Nagar and some parts of Tamil Nadu. They came to Shankara and begged for forgiveness. Then he instructs that when the 33rd in the Sringeri Peetha lineage becomes the acharya, then the Shapa vimochana shall happen. Since, then these people are called Moogur Karnataka Brahmanas.

When the 33rd pontiff, Sri Sacchidananda Shivabhinava Narasimha Bharati took charge, a circular was circulated with the then Raja's stamp on it saying "Moogur Karnataka Brahmanas should be treated equal and at par with other brahmanas. They should be seated in saha pankti bhojana". Some people today also have kept that circular in their homes.

There is Moogur Karnataka Brahmana Sangha (MKBS) in Mysore (Sharadaniketana) since long.

Moogur karnataka brahmins are historically recent addition to the brahmin community.