- Sthanika Brahmins
Ethnic group|group= Sthānika Brahmins (ಸ್ಥಾನಿಕ ಬ್ರಾಹ್ಮಣರು)
poptime= 30,000(estimate)
popplace=India n states ofKarnataka ,Maharashtra ,Kerala
langs=Kannada ,Tulu
rels=Hinduism
*Divisions based onSampradaya :
**Smarthas
* Divisions based onVeda :
** RigvediSthānika Brāhmins (
Kannada : ಸ್ಥಾನಿಕ ಬ್ರಾಹ್ಮಣರು) areSmartha Brahmins, and come under the classification of Tuluva Brahmins; The belong to Pancha-DrāvidaBrahmin 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 SriAdi Shankaracharya and follow theAdvaitha philosophy and areshishya 's of DakshinamnayaSringeri Sharada Peetha m. His Holiness Jagadguru Sri shankaracharya of DakshinamnayaSringeri Sharada Peetha m is their Kulaguru. Sthānika's acquired their name owing to their managerial positions. The word Sthānika is purely asanskrit word and has meanings such as Governor 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 [ [http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-46858/India India :: Mauryan government - Britannica Online Encyclopedia ] ] . [ Ancient Karnataka History Of Tuluva Vol I, Dr. B.A Saletore, 1936 ] [ [http://openlibrary.org/b/OL6655M Tulunadu, Dr. P. Gururaja Bhat] ] [ Studies in Tuluva History and Culture by Dr P Gururaja Bhat (1975) ] [ A Tale of Tuluva Brahmins: http://www.boloji.com/places/0019a.htm ]Caste
Sthānika's are the subsect of
Smartha Brahmin caste ofHinduism .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.Gotras
*Angirasa
*Agastya
*Atri
*Bharadwaja
*Kashyapa
*Vishwamitra
*BhargavaSurnames
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 (or Shyanubhoug) (Eg: Madhusoodan Shanbhag)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 inUdupi ,Alleoor , in & aroundMangalore ,Belthangady, Puttur-Sulia,Yellur , Bantwala, 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.Population
The population of this community is small (Expected to be around 30,000 - 35,000). Most of the Sthānika Brahmins prefix their native place name in front of their names and many of them have surnames. (Eg "Kabbinale Ganesh Hebbar" where Kabbinale is name of native village)
Sthānika'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, IT professional's you can find more than 100's as in India and abroad. ...,also in Udupi Restaurant Business,in Karnataka and mostly in all parts of Maharashtra.
Deities and festivals
Sthānika's perform
Panchayatana puja introduced byAdi Shankara and celebrate all the festivals of South Canara.As their Kula Devetha is Lord Subramanya, They also believe inNagaradhane [ [http://openlibrary.org/b/OL6655M Tulunadu, Dr. P. Gururaja Bhat] ] andBhoota Aradhane . They believe in Bhootas like, Kodmanthaya, Panjurli, Jumaadi, Bobbarryaa, Kallurti, Kalkuda which is widely followed in South Canara & parts of Kerala.Food
Sthanika Brahmins are Pure Vegitarians.
Temples
* Jnanashakthi Subramanya Temple,
Pavanje ,Haleangdi , D.K, Karnataka (On NH 17), India
* Jnanashakthi Subramanya Temple, Jnanashakthi Nagara, Kodigehalli Post,Vishwaneedum ,Bangalore - 560091, Karnataka, India, Ph:28535351.
* [http://srisharada.org/temple.html Sri Sharada Temple] , Kunjibettu, Udupi - 576102, Karnataka, India.
* 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.Associations
* 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. [Sthanikas of Kanara District (North & South), Cheera Nattoja Shiva Rao, Mangalore Press, 1944 ]
*Shri Subramanya Sabha , Founded about 99 years back and registered on 1942.
* Sthanika Dravida Brahmana Sangha, Kunjibettu, Udupi, Karnataka. - 576101.
* Akhila Bharata Sthanika Brahmana Sabha, Jnanashakthi Mantap, Kodigehalli post, Vishwaneedum, Bangalore.
* Bangalore Sthanika Brahmana Sabha was founded in 1962-63,with 47 members,which got officially registered in the early 70's.
* Shri Jnanashakthi Samskruthika Sabha, 87,Venkatadri, 9th Main, Saraswathipuram, Mysore - founded in 1977. Apart from Mangalore, Udupi, Mysore and Bangalore they have their associations atMumbai ,Nashik ,Satara ,Karad ,Sangli ,Pune ,Mysore ,Hubli-Dharwad ,Kasargod andUSA .Publications
1. [http://srisharada.org/epaper.html Sri Sharada] (
Kannada Monthly)2. Sulagna (
Kannada Monthly)3. Sthanika (
Kannada Monthly)4. Sthanika Sampada (
Kannada Monthly)These publications, carries information about the happenings of the Community,like festivals, meetings, Religious programmes etc.
Famous Personalities
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 BhooshanaFreedom Fighters
* Sri Gundu Rao - A Road in Mangalore is named as Gundu Rao road after Him
* Sri Sundara Rao (Mangalore)
* Sri K. L. Ramakrishna RaoPoliticians
* Smt. Lalitha Rao - Ex. Health Minister - Maharastra Govt., India
* Smt. Padmavathi Vittal Rao - MLC, Vidhanaparishat, KarnatakaSahitya
* Sri. Marpalli Haridasa Rao - Writer of " Balina Gida Kardambari "
* Sri. Tudiyadka Vishnu Ayia - Sahitya, Yakshagana
* Smt. Sharada R Rao - Tulu sahitya academy winner
* Sri M Vyasa - Famous kannada WriterSangeetha
* Sri. Anantha Padhbhanabha Shastry, Sahitya Shiromani
* Sri. Kalinga Rao - Famous musician (Vocal)Spiritual
* H H Swami Brahmananda, Regional head of Chinmaya Mission of Karnataka [http://www.chinmayamission.com]Dance - Bharathanatya
* Sri K. Ramamurthy Rao Mysore.Sports
* Famous CricketerRavi Shastri 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
* Vani Jayaram- Director, Canara BankReferences
Links
* [http://www.srisharada.org/history.html History of Sthānika Brāhmins]
* [http://www.srisharada.org/ Website of Shree Sharada Temple]
* [http://www.subramanyasabha.com/ Website of Shri Subramanya Sabha]
* [http://www.sthanika.com/ www.Sthanika.Com]
* [http://www.sringeri.net/ Dakshinamnaya Sri Sharada Peetham, Sringeri ]
* [http://www.sringerimutt.info/ Information about Sringeri Mutt ]
* [http://www.sankaracharya.org/ Adi Sankaracharya and Advaita Vedanta Library]
* [http://www.brahmasutra.iitk.ac.in/ Brahma sootra Shankara Bhashya]
* [http://www.tattvaloka.com/ "Tatvāloka" an international English monthly magazine of Hindu religion]
* [http://www.adhyatmaprakasha.org/books_kannada.php Website of Adhyatmaprakasha Karyalaya - ಅದ್ವೈತ ವೇದಾಂತ ಹಾಗೂ ಸಂಸ್ಕೃತಕ್ಕೆ ಸಂಬಂಧಪಟ್ಟ ಪುಸ್ತಕಗಳು - ಕನ್ನಡದಲ್ಲಿ]
*
List of teachers of Advaita Vedanta *
Advaita Vedanta * Smarta Sampradaya
Smartism *
Brahmin communities
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