[Advaita-l] Raju Surname

[Mallika Gollapudi]

Namaste,

I am an Andhra Niyogi Brahmin and hence though i should reply to this to
give more clarity.
yes, Andhra Shakara Advaiti Brahmin are broadly divided into Niyogis and
Vaidikis.

Niyogis like all other Brahmins have same gotras and like Bharadwaja ,
Srivatsasa, Ateyasa..
and so follows their Pravara too.

A few 100 years back there wasnt this division. later Niyogi Brahmins
decided that they should only follow 3 of the six "Brahmanardhas".

The six brahmanardhas being

   - Adhyaapanam (*Vedic Teaching*)
   - Adhyayanam (*Vedic Learning*)
   - Yajanam (performing yajgnyas eg *Wedding*)
   - Daanam (*Donations*)


   - Pratigraham  (*Accepting*)
   - yaajanam( helping one perform yajna)

So Niyogi Brahmins only stuck to Adhyayanam, Daanam, and yajanam and
settled as village heads as known as Shanbhogs in Kannada. They do not
teach vedas , or help perform Yajnas or pujas or accept any Shradda food.
Most of them are Krishna yajurvedi's and tere are few Sukla Yajurvedi's too.

In modern days however the above said differences diluted to a great extent
but there was always animosity between the two groups.

Having accepted meatier roles in the administration, Niyogis were
economically better off than their counterparts which added to complexities
but later when NTR government annexed all niyogi lands even this difference
vanished.

Though my surname does not have raju in it. My paternal grandmother's
maiden surname is kommaraju.
and she was one chaste brahmin following Madi and all like any other
brahmin family I know of.

PV narasimharao, Krishnadeveraya's  prime minister Timmarasu are
other Niyogi Brahmins apart from the names mentioned earlier. Even the well
known Andhra Pravachanakarta Chaganti Koteswara Rao garu belongs to this
community.

plese let me know if anybody finds it wrong

Dhanyavadam,
Mallika

On Monday 19 December 2016, D.V.N.Sarma డి.వి.ఎన్.శర్మ via Advaita-l <
advaita-l at lists.advaita-vedanta.org> wrote:

> The founder Of Kurtallam peetham. Mounswami is a niyogi brahmana in
> poorvasrama and decreed that only niyogi brahmins in poorvasrama are
> eligible to mount the peetham.
> regards,
> Sarma.
>
>
> On Mon, Dec 19, 2016 at 11:20 AM, Venkata sriram P via Advaita-l
> <advaita-l at lists.advaita-vedanta.org <javascript:;>> wrote:
> > Namaste,
> >
> > In andhraite brahmin community, there are 2 sects namely 1) vaidiki 2)
> niyogi brahmins.
> >
> > The former sect followed the vedic lineage, learnt vedas, shastras,
> smArta karma-s etc. The
> > followed the vedic rituals and were employed in temples, mutts as
> archakAs, shAstra-paNDitAs
> > etc.  Basically, they followed the tenets & principles as laid down in
> shruti & smriti.
> >
> > The later sect moved a bit away from vedic-way of life and took the
> occupations of
> > village administration (karaNaM), revenue administration, secular jobs
> by studying english
> > education etc.  They were also chiefly appointed by kings to take care
> of military activities,
> > collection of tax etc.  This sect, even though possessed the brAhmaNa
> varchas, were
> > more into administration (both village & revenue division) and
> overseeing of military.
> >
> > Hence, their surnames were annanraju, yellamraju, machiraju, sattiraju,
> nandiraju etc.
> >
> > They were not allowed to sit along with siSTa-vaidikAs for bhojana ie.,
> saha-pankti-bhojana
> > was not allowed for them with siSTa brAhmaNAs.   Inter-community
> alliances were not
> > encouraged between vaidika & niyogi Brahmins.
> >
> > Taking this as a grudge, a niyogi community in andhra, studied the vedas
> & shastras
> > thoroughly and mastered shrauta prayogas.  A great scholar of niyogi
> community
> > by name "nandiraju lakshminarayana" performed "soma-yaga" and got the
> > accolades from vaidika community and got the name changed as
> “deekshitulu” & “somayaji”.
> >
> > Further, Andhra niyogi community has produced two great rAma-bhaktas
> namely
> > Vavilakolanu Subba Rao Garu (Andhra valmiki fame) and other being
> Kancharla Gopanna
> > (bhakta Ramadas fame).
> >
> > Regs,
> > Sriram
> >
> >
> >
> >
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