The face-off between the two South Indian Brahmin communities is quite lored and loved over decades, writes Nagesh Alai
The other day at dinner, an Iyengar friend of mine asked me if I have tasted the award winning German beer, Ayinger. I had not. So that was an opening for him to tell me condescendingly: “Listen, buddy, the Iyengar you drink, the Iyer you go”. I could not resist responding with the repartee, “Iyengar you are, but Iyer you need to grow”.
The Iyer v/s Iyengar (both South Indian Brahmin communities ) face-offs are quite lored and loved over decades. As I indite my thoughts today, on the 11th August, the auspicious day of Gokulashtami (called Janmashtami too) celebrated the world over by the Hindus, I cannot but help point out that the Iyengars will be celebrating it on 12th August. If you ask an Iyer why, she or he might dismissively say: “Oh, they have to be different’ or pejoratively say: “don’t you know, they are god’s gift to mankind”. Or a gossipy Iyermami may add mirch to masala and say: “Attukkummattukumrendu kombu, Iyengarukkumoonu kombu.” To translate, it means a goat and a cow have two horns, an Iyengar has three horns – to signify their ‘exalted’ state of perception.
Shiva and Vishnu
For the non-cognoscenti, to fast forward the old genesis, Iyers are essentially Shaivites and follow Adi Shankaracharya (an 8th century legendary theologian and philosopher saint ) who revived the then-under-threat Hinduism by peregrinating across India and establishing the four mutts in the four zones besides founding the much respected Advaita philosophy (non-duality or unity of ‘Atman’ and ‘Brahman’). Iyengars are essentially Vaishnavites and follow Ramanujacharya (a 11th century and much revered theologian and philosopher saint) who established Vishishtadvaita philosophy (plurality and distinction between ‘Atman’ and ‘Brahman’ ). He disagreed with the non-dualistic Advaita philosophy and founded his own school of thought. He himself was an ardent devotee of Vishnu and believed and propounded Maha Vishnu ( orMaha Perumal, as Iyengars would address ) as the Supreme reality.
In a related context, Iyers repose much faith in the 63 Nayanmargal or Nayanars (poet saints who lived between the 6th and the 8th century) who were followers of Shiva and had achieved moksha. Similarly, the Iyengars repose much faith in the 12 Azhvaars or Alvaars (poet saints of similar vintage) who were followers of Vishnu and had achieved moksha. Both Nayanmargal and Azhvaars were instrumental in the Bhakti movement and espoused complete devotion or bhakti as a road to realising the Self.
While both Iyers and Iyengars believe in ‘kaashiyatrai’ (pilgrimage to Kashi/Varanasi), Iyers regard Rameshwaram (one of the 12 Jyotirlingams in India) and the famed Ramanathaswamy (Shiva) temple as a must-visit pilgrimage while Iyengars regard Srirangam and the famed Ranganathaswamy (Vishnu) temple as a must-do pilgrimage.
How you say?
Etymologically, the term Iyer could have been derived from the work ‘aiyaa’, a Tamizh word of respectability, amongst other meanings like elder brother, etc. It could have also had its source from the Sanskrit word ‘arya’ which means noble. The term Iyengar could have had its source, besides the above, also from the suffix of the word ‘garu’ (a Telugu word denoting respectability and elder. So, ‘ayya-garu’could have over time got colloqiualised as Iyengar.
Iyers have ‘vadamas’ to denote those from the north, while Iyengars have ‘vadagalai’ and ‘thengalai’ to denote those from north and south respectively. The difference is essentially the preference of the vadamas/vadagalais (from the north) to Sanskrit and Vedas while the thengalais have primary allegiance to the local Tamizh language and the hymns of the nayanmargal/azhvaars. It is interesting to note here that between vadagalai and thengalaiIyengars also, there have been simmering differences over centuries like what should the shape of the namam (more of that later ) – should it be U-shaped or V/Y-shaped – that is put on the ceremonial temple elephants. Suffice it to say, there have been court cases running into decades over this matter. Perhaps, the courts are also awaiting the divine oracle to settle this! Not surprisingly, in the past, alliances between vadagalais and thengalais were taboo, and continue to be so to some extent even today.
Famous as India is for its myriad cultures, castes and communities and the inevitable concomitant jokes, both Iyers and Iyengars are quite often referred to as TamBrahms collectively by many across India and of course as ‘illads’ by our North Indian brethren. Trust the North Indians ‘not’ to do it. Everything goes. But, yes, it is universally accepted and evidenced that many, if not most, of the Iyers and Iyengars are highly qualified and very erudite, making a mark in their chosen fields, be it finance, law, economics, public policy, business, medicine, engineering or what have you. No Ivy league colleges overseas or the premier IIT/IIM institutions in India will have TamBrahms missing from their rosters – both men and women. If there is a flagbearer Iyer business group in Amalgamations Group, there is the reputed TVS Group in the Iyengar fold. If there is an Ariyakudi Iyengar, there is a Madurai Mani Iyer in Carnatic music. The music world is lorded over by the Iyers and Iyengars quite extensively. If Bollywood world has a Hema Malini and a Vyjayantimala as famed Iyengar actors, the Kollywood world has a Kamal Haasan and a Madhavan as famed Iyer actors. At least they can sing and dance in unison, thanks to Lord Shiva and Maha Vishnu.
The stripes have it
To reconnect with the lighter vein of this article, the Iyers and Iyengars are perhaps horizontally and vertically challenged respectively. An Iyer applies a 3-line vibhuti (ash or bhasma) across his forehead while an Iyengar dons a U- or Y/V-shaped namam (of sandalwood paste and crimson line) vertically on his forehead. If a vertical and a horizontal line intersect, it should be a plus or a multiple, but not in the case of an Iyer and Iyengar; they would rather be cross and unequal!
An Iyer lady would apply a round tikka (red and/or yellow dot) on her forehead while an Iyengar lady will have a blue vertical line (symbolising the blue colour of Vishnu/Krishna). If the Iyer lady is right, then the Iyengar lady has to be left. An Iyer lady will have her saree or the 9-yard ‘madisar’ pallu draped over her right shoulder whereas the Iyengar lady will have it draped over her left shoulder. After all, the right feels left is wrong and the left feels there is no right!
Lest I forget, Iyer women will have their kondai (hair curled into a ball) right at the centre of the back of the head, while an Iyengar will have ‘the andalkondai’ off centre to the right and slightly to the front. Mercifully, both Iyer and Iyengar men’s traditional dress is veshti (white dhoti) and angavastram (white dupatta type cloth) draped round the neck/over the shoulders.
While Iyers are ascetic and restrained generally (Shiva is ascetic with bear essentials), Iyengars are loud and colourful (Vishnu or Krishna are always depicted as well attired and bejewelled). Shiva is seen as ‘abhishekapriya’ while Vishnu is seen as ‘alangarapriya’. That would explain why Shiva temples are shorn of adornments while in all Vaishnavite temples,Vishnu is draped with colourful clothes and jewels. Iyers are more seen as being receptive and inclusive of outsiders while Iyengars can be restrictive and reserved. Iyers believe in and pray to all gods including Vishnu and will visit all temples whereas Iyengars pray only to Perumal (Vishnu) and will not enter Shiva temples.
Iyers name their children after Vishnu as well, besides Shiva, while Iyengars will not name their children after Shiva. I recall an Iyer friend, who wanted to learn Carnatic music at Shanmukhananda Hall in Mumbai being asked by an Iyengar officebearer if he was an Iyengar – simply because my friend is named Srinivasan, his son Vijayaraghavan and his father Soundararajan; all Iyengar names. Not surprising that! Talking of faith, the writer is an Iyer, but his kuladeivatamis Lord Venkatachalapathy (Vishnu) residing in the well-known Taanthoni (swayambhu) Malai Temple in Karur. Catch an Iyengar having a Shiva temple as kuladeivatam!
In the past, a marriage proposal between an Iyer and Iyengar would be a no-no and scorned at, resulting in a mini family war. Fortunately, those feelings are by and large not extant today, given the propensity of the younger generation to inter-caste and inter-faith marriages.
To end the article on a delectable note – an Iyer husband requested his Iyengar wife to organise for rasamsaadam, poriyal and thayirsaadam.She volunteered and happily served him saathumudhu, karimedhu and daddojanam. Confused? It turns out that the Iyer terminologies and their respective Iyengar terminologies for these food items mean exactly the same thing – rasam rice, curry and curd rice! The last I heard of the couple, they were busy confusing each other with their choice of cuisine words and trying to draw a line somewhere between samayal and thaligai (both meaning cooking/food ) – vertical or horizontal. Shiva Shiva, Narayana, Narayana!
I am sure that before long, the I’err’ and the I’anger’ will fuse into calm and cool and there will be no ‘You Iyer, Me Iyengar’. After all, Sakkaraipongal (a sweet delicacy) tastes as sweet when called Akkaravadisal.
Well written Nagesh. I enjoyed it your humour in the article. As a Tambrahm it hits home!
Excellent story! They have contributed much for our country.I salute them.
Is such eloborate discussion necessary? Suffice it to say that Iyengars are highly fanatic Aiyers are cosmopolitan They may or may not don caste mark but at heart of hearts are liberal and catholic in outlook give their children Saiva and Vaishnavite names such as Rama Krishna Sankara Siva etc They worship Saivaite God’s as well Vaishnavite gods like Bhadrachala Rama Srisaila Mallikarjuna and Tirupathi Venkateswara Vaishnavites seldom visit Saivaite temples. Take Mr KR Narasimhan former Governor of A p he never visited any Saivaite temple such as Srisailam Srikalahasti. They shun them as pestilence even though they attend Iftar parties and break bread with fellow Muslims.
Harihi Om! Sir I like your comments & largely agree with you!
No doubt the elaborate writing of Nageshji is good in details to the common man to understand!
Worth going thru the article. One thing is missed in the article that It is a must for Iyengars /Vaishnavites to visit Shiva Temple & have darshan on Mahashivarathri day, as I understand! They make feast of sweet puran poli that day & enjoy the day! Iyers will be fasting on this day! Jai Gurudev Swami Chinmayananda of Chinmaya Maission!
I have myself witnessed the acrimony creeping in , otherwise , a tight waterproof cocoon of our social milleu in Air Force .
One Flt Sgt ( now called JWO ) belonging to Shaivite cult ( Ayyar ) , alleged harassed his Vaishnavite Sgt. He ( sgt ) formally sought for the redressal from the OC . As fate would have it , O C belonged to one of the two sects . He reclused himself for the obvious repercussions. He ruled that the action on the issue to be kept in abeyance until next week when he was scheduled to go on a short leave. There was a compromise effected and the matter ended there .
Notwithstanding their inborn animosity ( heard of annoiting the forehead of the temple elephant either vertical or parallel vibhuti ? ), the mixture is educationally most advanced community in this country . Their foray in academics , industry , administration and armed forces has no parallel . So ,let us cheer them both !
In true spirit of unity and fair ness both should live together with respect and love towards each other. I don’t wish to elaborate further as all of them are our brethren.
Brahmins all over India& the world at large, have to maintain unity and integrity along with love for their community. They form the creative brain & now must possess a creative heart as well to save Hinduism, or Sanatana dharma, failing which, it is not far away for new Buddhas & Jainas to be born again.
Beautiful exposture of culture and customs in Iyyer and Iyyangar families.
The difference vaishnavites and Smartha (iye) is strongly manifested in Tamil Nadu only
I liked the write up, beautifully narated.
Iyers are also Vaishnavaite and Iyengars are specially known as Sri Vaishnavaites
Sir:
Although I see no one has replied to your thought here so far, I concede, your reply is the most accurate one and somehow no one has credited you for the truth you expressed that Iyers are also “Vaishnavas”; Iyengars are “Shri Vaishnavas”!
Adhi Shankara and all his predecessors including his immediate guru Shri Govinda Bhagavad Pada and his own distant predecessor in Advaitha vedantha, the famed and most illustrious Madhusudhana Sarasvati who had written several important bhashyas, were all crystal clear in the vedic unanimity of verdict that Bhagavan Shrimann Narayanan was the “ultimate principle” (Tamil: Paramporul). They also communicated this thought in unequivocal terms in their own writing of bhashyas. In fact every one of Shankara’s own bhashyas invariably start with an invocatory hymn to Bhagavan Shrimann Narayanan.
Very Nice Article, Informative as well as humorous
The differences between these two brahmin communities strengthened atheists in Tamil Nadu.
A beautiful educative, informative, and superlative subscription throwing light on the real facts misconstrued, misinterpreted and mis used to spoil the harmony. A feeling of oneness, mutual respect and care and harmony can help both the segments to thrive well in these hard and unjust days of the community. Union is strength. Differences divide.
I was under the impression that Kerala Brahmins are Iyers nn run hotels and Tamil Brahmins are Iyengars
Actually sri parvathi is sister of Sri Vishnu married of to sri shiva so Gods are ok we people are stupid as usual to split ourselves even there is vadama vathima brahasaranam thengalai vadakalai all creating echakalai
Harihi Om! You said it Sir! Jai Girudev!
Lance Barbrady
Excellently covered all terminologies.
Very interesting. Explanation of differences with out prejudices.
Gayathri mantra is the moola mantra of both the sects.One portrays Namam on his forehead another vibuthi that’s all the difference.Food habits are same.Long live both the sects.
but What about the period between 8th century to 11th century.Were they having oneness in their thoughts,if yes then why can’t rhey have it now
All 63 Nayanaars belongs to all community.
Majority of them are Vellala’s.
‘NAMMALVAR’ Belongs to Vellala community.
Most of the Srivaishnava’s thoughts were formed with Nammavalvar teachings.
Quite an immature & superficial narration.
Very good informatiom
I know very little about the two communities myself but it is a very ill-informed article on many points. One, Iyer or iyengar, Brahmins do not drink. (Not supposed to!)
Adi Shankaracharya did not include the Nayanmars in his school of thought. Iyengars go for Divya Desam. Iyengars wear madisaar with the pallu on both right and left. Though left is more common.
Madhavan is not Iyer. And who cares who is what when they join film industry. They’ve shed all their identities.
Vadamas use chandanam mark. Last but not the least, please research better. Thank you.
I am Maharashtrian.My son-in-law is Iyer !
You forgot Su.Jayalaithaa, former CM and movie artist. She was a true Iyyengar girl.
OLDEN days ACRIMONY might have EXISTED but no more NOW a days! AND even if does exist, then , not on scale that arouses any VISUALs , or to the extent as to get noticed or even mentioned! SO NEED is to BURY and not prick and INCITE or rather stirring or whipping up hatred!
The VP nominee Kamala Harris is also either half Iyengar or half Iyer. Someone may clarify.
All iyers and iyengars are United and there is no need for such divisive articles. Please remove this article. We have all moved on and the brahmin community is united with all other communities in tamil nadu and Hindus across Tamilnadu are resolved to overthrow dravidian parties.
Smarthas are mentioned in the sangam literature of 5th-3rd centuries BCE. Iyengars are followers of the great 13th century CE philosopher Ramanujacharya. Some of the Iyengars are a blot on his name.
Never ever seen an Iyengar lady with a blue line on her forehead ! And I’ve lived in Chennai for a large part of my life! I was told that in those days Iyengars would not eat food cooked by an Iyer ,so it’s almost as if Iyers were untouchables to the Iyengars !
But both Iyer and Iyangar Brought by Chola,Pandya and Chera kings ( south Indian) while victory over Bangal and engaged them as Priests in their Siva ,Vishnu Temples ! They wrote commentaries on Sivisum and Vishnavisum and developed Tamil ( Sudha Karnatakam) litarature ! And they have not merged into the Native Indian ( Sudra) Population !
It may be Happened contemporary to Buddhism and Jainism Time before Islamic Period, because they used Buddhists and Jains philosophical terms,but not Arbic words in their litarature!
Vishnu and Rudra( Siva) are same background to Buddhism and Jainism also,they prisied Vadic Rudra as lingh(Easen),Vishnu as Tiru Vangan ( lord Srenevasa) which are nowhere connection with Vedas !
In South India Advitas,Visesta Advitas and Divitas accepted Vedas as Religious Book, married within themselves !
There are many factual errors like difference between thangalai and vadakalai is not namam only but the real difference is the philosophy of markata and marjala nyaya. Kamalahasan and madhavan are both Iyengar s. I am not sure kamalahasan has already been converted to Christianity?!
I was pleasantly surprised by the astute elucidation of the chasm between iyers n iyengars of the south. I just hvnt come across any article so beautifully crafted on the subject! I’ve practically seen the intricate complexities between the two sub-sects!
You missed famous movie artist and former chief minister of TN, Kum Jayalaithaa, an Iyyengaar.
Creating a controversy where none exists?
Or an I wrong?
But healthy rivalry should be welcome.
TAFE and VSTTillers are also reportedly owned by Iyers and Iyengars
A few factual errors. Kamalahasan and Madhavan are Iyengars.
Learnt a lot of subject which has confused all my life!!!!
And BLUE MARK? I think you were high on some drink to have seen the red mark as blue.
Excellent intresting combination of of Shiva and maha Vishnu
Pranaam bhudeva
For information the 63 nayanmars the Iyers follow and azhvars the Iyengars follow most of them are not Brahmins at all
Vijayaraghavan. Bangalore
Every iyer and ayyanger have huge ego’s, both claim they come first.
In these days of intercaste and inter religious marriages my father performed two of his daughters with one vaidika and one with smartha family. Two of his daughter-in laws are from one vaidika and one from shaiva family in 1990’s.
One god call shiva or vishnoo or else realise not fight
Loved your write-up
This bramin prodact
Does it matter who is who isn’t it enough how brahims have become scrapgoats for anti Hindu forces and you still want to continue these differences even in 21st century intrasect fights have to stop please please please ??????
Well written and very informative.
I have worked with both Iyers and Iyengars and found them very professional, hard working and knowledgeable.
Quite informative
They are abused and persecuted thoroughly in TAMILNADU, and driven out.
Narrow your circle and you are doomed for extinction.
Tamil Hindus have to think about a Single identity united with the entire Universal Hindu brotherhood. Otherwise the Periyarists will finish them off and the Abrahamics will be the eventual beneficiaries converting fast and reducing TN HINDUS into a minority.
Harihi Om! You said it Sir! Jai Girudev!
Nice article with humour ,I suggest that you read the book ” I meet Rajaji ” by Monica Felton (1962)
You will find more interesting references to Iyers and Iyengars, which may add fuel to fire!
By the way, I am in neither of the ‘warring groups’.
Nicely written with shades of humor. Correction: Kamalahasan & Madhavan are Iyengars
Interesting read with nice play of words ‘iyer’, ‘anger’. I don’t think iyengaras are rigid and conservatives compared to iyers! Infact Sri Ramanujacharya was all encompassing in his Outlook and accepted all, including lower varnashrama sects too into srivaiahnavism fold. He was Kindness personified. Only issue is salvation thro Bhakti to Srimannayana alone, who is satvic. Even in Puranas many of the boons bestowed by Lord Shiva (Bholenath) and Brahma to asuras, when proved detrimental, it was Visnu to the rescue!
You correctly hit the point sir!