>Phil Bridger at 08:29, 30 June 2021

2021-06-30T08:29:53Z

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{{short description|Indian caste}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Primary sources|date=September 2020}}
{{infobox caste
| caste_name = Hebbar Iyengar
| image =
| caption =
| varna = Brahmin
| jati =
| classification =
| gotra =
| veda =
| kula_daivat =
| kula_devi =
| guru = [[Ramanuja]]
| mantra =
| nishan =
| devak =
| religions = Hinduism
| languages = [[Kannada]], [[Tamil language|Tamil]], [[Hebbar]], [[Sanskrit]],
| country = [[India]]
| state = [[Karnataka]]
| populated_states = Karnataka
| region =
| India_migration =
| population =
| family_names =
| feudal_title =
| heraldic_title =
| lineage =
| color =
| throne =
| victory_weapon =
| endogamous =
| notable_members =
| subdivisions =
| related = [[Iyengars]]
| historical_grouping =
| disputed_grouping =
| status =
| education_reservation =
| employment_reservation =
| other_reservation =
| original_kingdom =
| other_kingdom =
| official_website =
| footnotes =
}}
'''Hebbar Iyengar''' or '''Hebbar Srivaishnava''' is a [[caste]] of Hindu [[Brahmins]] of [[Kannada people|Kannada]] origin whose members follow the [[Visishtadvaita]] philosophy propounded by [[Ramanuja]]. They are found primarily in the Indian state of [[Karnataka]] especially in Southern Districts.

The Hebbar Iyengars speak a unique language known as [[Hebbar]] which is a Kannadised version of Tamil. Hebbar language is highly influenced by Kannada and uses many loan words from Kannada, Sanskrit and old Tamil Vocabulary.<ref name="Hebbarsabha.org_2021-02-17">{{Citation | url=http://www.hebbarsabha.org/index.html| title=Welcome to The Hebbar Sreevaishnava Sabha, Bangalore - India| newspaper=Hebbarsabha.org| date= | accessdate=2021-02-17}}</ref>

As with other Iyengar community Hebbar Iyengars are also divided into two religious sects, the [[Vadakalai]] and the [[Thenkalai]], though the vast majority of Hebbar iyengars belong to the Vadakalai sect. As with other Hindu communities, they are also classified based on their [[gotra]], or patrilineal descent.

Hebbar Iyengars also display a mark on their forehead known as the [[Srivaishnava Urdhva Pundra]] as a caste mark like other Iyengar Communities in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh etc. {{cite needed|date=September 2020}}

== Etymology ==
Hebbar is a Kannada word which is a combination of Hiriya Haruva meaning elderly Brahmins in Kannada. Sri Ramanuja Referred his new disciples who converted to Sri Vaishnavism as Hebbar.<ref name="Hebbarsabha.org_2021-02-17"/>

== History ==

The details of Hebbar Iyengar origin was published long back in the Hebbar Srivaishnava magazine called "Hebbar Kshema". A historical novel written by Smt. Neeladevi about the life of Ramanuja in Karnataka named "Dhanya" gives similar answers to the origin of Hebbar Srivaishnavas.

During 12th Century Sri Ramanujacharya fled Tamil Nadu escaping persecution of Vaishnavas by the Chola King who wanted to kill him. He came and settled in the Hoysala Kingdom. When he was in Tondanur (Tonnur) near [[Melukote]], a group of elderly Kannada Brahmins from Ramanathapura, Saligrama came to Tondanur and heard Sri Ramanujacharyas discourses on Srivaishnava Philosophy. Impressed by the preaching of Ramanuja they offered to convert to Srivaishnava Religion and they became followers of Ramanuja. Sri Ramanuja affectionately called this group of Elderly Brahmins who became his disciples as Hebbar. Hebbar is a Kannada word which is a combination of Hiriya Haruva, which means elderly Brahmins in Kannada. Thus the sect called Hebbar Iyengar originated in the erstwhile [[Hoysala]] Kingdom of 12th Century. So Hebbar Srivaishnavas are originally Kannada Brahmins (Advaitins) who got converted to Srivaishnavism, impressed by the teachings of Sri Ramanuja and they are not Jains or backward caste as some say.

Sri Ramanujacharya asked them to settle in Ashta Gramas or eight villages namely Bindiganavile, Kadaba, Nuggehalli, Nonavinakere, Shantigrama in the Hoysala Kingdom in the present day Southern Karnataka region called Hale Mysooru. Later they spread across various places in the region. Thus

They have their Haathperumal in different places of these districts. Since their ancestor's mother tongue was Kannada they still have the affliction towards Kannada. Gradually they learnt to speak Tamil, mainly to learn the Alwars Divya Prabhandams which are the essential religious works which a Srivaishnava has to learn and recite.<ref name="Hebbarsabha.org_2021-02-17"/>

Hebbar Iyengars study Kannada in schools as their prime language and cannot read and write in Tamil. They read the Ramanuja's philosophical works and Alwars Divya Prabhandams that are translated to Kannada or English. However, they recite NalayiraDivyaPrabhandams in Temples in Karnataka forming Goshtis (Groups). They are also called Melnatu Iyengars as they are residing in the High Deccan plateau of Karnataka.

== Demographics ==
Hebbar Iyengars are mainly found in [[Bengaluru]], [[Mysuru]], [[Mandya]], [[Tumkur]], [[Hassan, Karnataka|Hassan]], [[Chikkamagaluru]], [[Shivamogga]], [[Chikkaballapura]], [[Kolar]] and [[Chamarajanagar]] districts of Southern Karnataka.<ref name="Hebbarsabha.org_2021-02-17"/>

Hebbar Iyengar diaspora are now found in many states of India and also in UK, USA, Singapore, Australia and other Foreign countries.

== Religious observances ==
{{See also|Visishtadvaita#VisishtAdvaita and Sri Vaishnavism|l1=Vishishtadvaita and Sri Vaishnavism}}

== Notable people ==
'''Scientists'''
* [[Raja Ramanna]] (1925–2004), Indian [[Physicist]], Nuclear Scientist. Awarded [[Padma Vibhushan]] in 1975
* [[M. R. Srinivasan]] (b: 1930), Indian Nuclear Scientist. Awarded [[Padma Vibhushan]] in 2015

'''Writers and Poets'''
* [[Gorur Ramaswamy Iyengar]] (1904–1991), Kannada Writer. Awarded Sahitya Academy Award in 1981
* [[G. P. Rajarathnam]] (1909–1979), Kannada Poet, writer
* [[Nanjangud Tirumalamba]] (1887–1982), First Female Kannada Writer, publisher, [[Newspaper Editor]]. Karnataka Rajya Sahitya Academy honoured her in 1980

'''Politicians and Administrators'''
* [[H. V. R. Iyengar]] (1902–1978), 6th Governor of [[Reserve Bank of India]] and Member of [[Indian Civil Service]]. Awarded Padma Vibhushan in 1962

'''Film/Television Artists and Director'''
* [[B. S. Ranga]] (1917–2010), Kannada Film director
*[[J. Jayalalithaa]] (1946-2016), Tamil Actress and Chief minister of Tamil Nadu.
* [[Kalyan Kumar]] (1928–1999), Kannada Film Actor
* [[Prithviraj (Kannada actor)]] (b: 1948), Kannada Film Actor
* [[Vidya Murthy]] (b: 1956), Kannada TV Serial and Film Actress

'''Musicians'''
* [[Raghu Dixit]] (b: 1974) Indian Singer, [[Music Composer]] of [[Indian Ethnic Music]]
'''Philanthropist'''
* T.S. Champaknath (1926 - 2018) Founder Trustee [http://dharithree.org/ Dharithree], Narasipura, Bengaluru
*Sumitra Champaknath (1932- 2018) Secretary Trustee, [https://mlaahl.edu.in/ MLA High School], Malleshwaram, Bengaluru

== References ==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Kannada Brahmins]]
[[Category:Tamil Brahmins]]
[[Category:Social groups of Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Social groups of Karnataka]]
[[Category:Brahmin communities of Karnataka]]

Hebbar Iyengar - Revision history

>Phil Bridger at 08:29, 30 June 2021