Subsects
By philosophy
See also: Vadakalai and Thenkalai
Iyengars are classified into Vadakalai, or “Iyengars of the Northern Descension”, and Thenkalai, or “Iyengars of the Southern Descension”, with subtly different philosophical and ritual interpretations of Ubhaya Vedanta.[21] Scholarly opinion is mixed as to the origin of the two names. Some believe that the terms Northern and Southern refer to differing regional developments, the Northern or Vadakalai predominating in the north of the Tamil country and the Southern or Thenkalai predominating in the south. Others argue that they reflect the importance or primacy given to Sankrit Vedanta by the Vadakalais and of the Tamil scritpure, Divya Prabandham, by the Thenkalais.
Some others argue further that the difference is also racial, with the opinion that the Vadakalai sect descend from Indo-Aryan missionaries whereas the Thenkalai sect descend from various groups, some ancient Brahmin groups that are not as ‘Aryan’ as the Vadakalais, suggestingDravidian admixture, and that some also descended from converts to Sri Vaishnavism from non-Brahmin ethnic groups.[22] One of the factors that add support to this arguement is that the Kambaramayanam Payiram describes the Vadakalai as Prakrit and Thenkalai as Tamil.[23]
The Vadakalais, who trace their philosophical origins to the insightful Vedanta Desika, asseverate primacy to Sanskrit and Vedas, and believe that human effort is a contributory factor to liberation, as is Divine grace. Despite these differences, however, both traditions uniformly revere the same teachers from the Alvars down to Ramanuja and largely agree in their core philosophies. The differences seen today stem primarily from social conflicts stemming from rivalries at large temples dating from the 18th century[citation needed]. Vadakalai Iyengars follow Ramanujaand Thooppul Vedanta Desika.[21] While Thenkalai Iyengars follow Ramanuja and Manavala Mamuni.
Edgar Thurston summarizes the points of dissension between Vadagalai and Thengalai Iyengars thus:[16]
Whether Lakshmi, the consort of Vishnu, is (Vibhu) co-omnipresent and co-illimitable with Vishnu;
Whether Lakshmi is only the mediatrix for, or the co-bestower of moksham or final beatitude;
Whether there is any graduated moksham attainable by the good and blessed, according to their multifarious merits;
Whether prapatti, or unconditional surrender of the soul to God, should be performed once for all, or after every act of spiritual rebellion;
Whether it (prapatti) is open to all, or is prescribed only for those specially prepared and apprenticed;
Whether the indivisibly atomic human soul is entered into, and permeated or not by the omnipresent creator;
Whether God’s mercy is exerted with or without cause;
Whether the same (the divine mercy) means the overlooking (dhosha darsanam) or enjoyment (dhosha bogyatvam) of the soul’s delinquencies;
Whether works (karma) and knowledge (Jnana) are in themselves salvation giving, or only lead to faith (bhakthi) by which final emancipation is attained;
Whether the good of other (unregenerate) castes should be tolerated according^ to their j^raduated social statuses, or should be venerated without reference to caste inequalities;
An almanack dated 1765 divides Iyengars into Tadwadis and Ramanuja Vaishnavas.[1] While the author mentions Kumbakonam as the headquarters of the Tadwadi sect he mentions Kanchipuram as the headquarters of the ramanuja Vaishnavas.[1]
By origin
Iyengars, both Vadakalai and Thenkalai, are sub-divided into Hebbar, Mandyam, Iyengar proper (those who live in Tamil Nadu) and Chozhiyar. The Iyengar proper, who form the majority are referred to as Keezhnaatu (from eastern lands) in Karnataka.
Hebbar
See also: Hebbar Iyengar
The Hebbars speak a unique dialect of Tamil called Hebbar Tamil. In earlier years confined to the towns of Belur, Shanti Grama, Nuggehalli, Nonavinakere, Bindiganavile in the Tumkur district, and Hiremagalur (all inKarnataka), Hebbar Iyengars are now found in many parts of India, across Europe, and North America. Some believe that the Hebbars are the descendants of Srivaishnavas who migrated to Karnataka from Tamil Nadu, in the train of the Vaishnavite acharya Ramanuja while others feel that they are Jain Kannadigas who had been initiated into Srivaishnavism by Ramanujacharya.
Mandyam
See also: Mandyam
A Mandyam Iyengar priest collecting water from a holy water tank
Mandyam Iyengars are those who migrated to Mandya district in Karnataka from Tirupathi in Andhra Pradesh. They are fewer in number than Hebbars and speak a unique dialect of Tamil known as Mandyam Tamil. Mandyam Iyengars, without exception,belong to the Thenkalai subsect[24]
It is interesting to note that Iyengars of Melkote, mostly of the Mandyam sect, do not celebrate Deepawali due to the lore that Tippu Sultan massacred hundreds of relatives of the Tirumaliengar, in retaliation for his having entered into an agreement with the British in 1790, on behalf of the dowager queen Rani Lakshammanni of Mysore.[25]
Chozhiar Iyengars
The word Chozhiar means “of the Chola country”. Chozhiar is the name given to a sect of Brahmins native to the Chola country. While most Chozhiars profess Saivism, some profess Vaishnavism and are known as Chozhiar Iyengars. Vaishnavite Chozhiyars often intermarry with their Smartha counterparts.[26] They usually bear titles as ‘Dikshitar’’’ or ‘Nambi’’’.[26] The chozhiar Iyengars are a closely knit community with a high degree of cooperation and cohesion . They are also found in and around tiruchi in several agraharams like Srirangam, Puthur , Amoor etc.
Others
Other sub sects include Keezh Naattu Iyengars,Mysore Iyengars,Kalkunte Iyengars and Hemmige in Karnataka
Keezh Naadu refers to the more recent connection to eastern lands. Keezh Naatu literally means southern land. This class comprises of Brahmin migrants from Tamil Nadu who live in the South Western states such as Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. The principle native cities or cities of importance to this sect of Iyengars are Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh as well as Mysooru(Mysore), Mandya, Kollegaala and Hassan districts of Karnataka.
Iyengar proper (Tamil Iyengars)
Vadakalai Iyengar Priests at a religious function
This class describes the original Iyengars that inhabit Tamil Nadu,whose descendants have a widespread diaspora through out the South of India in states such as Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh,as mentioned before.
The principal native cities in recent times are Sri Rangam, Kanchipuram/North Arcot(Tonda nadu) district, Thanjavur, Kumbakonam, Madurai, Srivilliputtur,Ramanadapuram(near Tiruppalani), and Tirunelveli(near Nava Tirupathi divya desams) in Tamil Nadu.
The main sub sects are Vadakalai and Thenkalai, as are in all Iyengars.
In Karnataka they are mostly spread across the erstwhile Maharaja of Mysore’s kingdom -Hassan,Mysore,Nuggehalli,Coorg.
In Andhra Pradesh,they are present in the areas around Tirupathi,Ahobilam(near Nandyal)