[Advaita-l] Raju Surname

[V Subrahmanian]

Thanks for bringing so much clarity. No doubt the contributions of niyogis
cannot and should not go unnoticed.

subbu
On Dec 21, 2016 5:31 AM, "Mallika Gollapudi via Advaita-l" <
advaita-l at lists.advaita-vedanta.org> wrote:

> 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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