Smartha Brahmins of Bangalore

Smartha Brahmins of Bangalore

A note by

P.R.Ramachander

Quite a large percentage of Bangalore Brahmins are Smarthas . Most of them are settlers from neighbouring states. I might have left many other groups .Please do write in this forum, if you know any more group . I would be writing about Vaishnavites soon.
The word Smartha  means  , followers  of Smrithi. Most of  the Smarthas are the followers of Adhi Sankara.Though they  worship all  Gods  of Hinduism, they  are referred   to as Shaivite Brahmins./

There are many types of Smarthas living in Bangalore .Here are a few that I know of:-

1.Havyaka Brahmins who have come from South and North Canara districts and are  the major  Cultivators  of  Arecanut  in those  districts   . They normally have a surname Bhats.They are well educated and normally rich. Though they speak Kannada , they prefer to speak Tulu language (To know about them read https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Havyaka_Brahmin )

2.Kolar Iyers or Ashtagrama Iyers or DEvaraja samudram Iyers. They are settlers from Tamil Nadu and possibly from Northern districts of Tamil Nadu about 500 years back and settled down in Banbgalore .They speak Kannada .You can find lot of information about them in http://kolariyers.com/

3.Sankethi Brahmins – They are again settlers from Thirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu. They initially preferred to stay in the hilly districts of Karnataka state . They also speak Kannada and a sort  of Tamil  among themselves . You can know more about them by visiting http://www.sankethi.org/Culture/index.html

4.Desasth Brahmins - They are a group of Brahmins who have got themselves settled in Maharashta, Northern Karnataka and Andhra, You can know more about them by reading https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deshastha_Brahmin

5.KOnkanastha Brahmins - They are mainly migrants from Goa and Maharashtra . There are many sub divisions to this community .The major potion are Gaud SAraswath and Saraswath Brahmins ,Chithpavans also belong to this group . You can more about them by reading https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chitpavan and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Konkani_Brahmins

6.Babbur Kamme  Brahmins  .They are  Kannada  Speaking Brahmins  possibly  originating from  Maysore  and Bangalore  .Sage Vidhyarananya  who helped  in Founding Vijayanagar empire   was  one of them. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babburkamme

7.Hoysala Karnataka Brahmins. They are  another  Kannada  speaking Smartha Brahmins  .Read more about them in  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoysala_Karnataka_Brahminshttp://hoysalakarnatakabrahmins.com/

                                                             
6.Andhra Brahmins , This is a very strong community in Bangalore , They speak Telugu and have several sub divisions.The Major  Sub divisions are  Niyogis   and Sasthris, which  have  many sub divisions  among them  .You can know  more about them by  reading  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telugu_Brahmin

7.Tamil Iyers There are large number of Tamil iyers in Bangalore who have well settled there.Since Tamil Nadu is a neighbouring state they are able to easily visit their native places whenever they want.They speak Tamil in their home,Those who had come more than 100 years back , had come to the Mysore King’s court to show their expertise in music arts etc and have settled down in Mysore.They prefer to talk Kannada outside their homes. You can know  more   about them by reading  https://rajathathablog.blogspot.com/2008/10/brahmins-of-tamil-nadu.html

8.Palakkad Iyers. You would find that a good percentage of Tamil iyers are from Palakkad . They are Tamil iyers who had settled in Palakkad.They speak Tamil mixed with Malayalam in their home ,SEshadri iyer was a Palakkad iyer who became Divan of Mysore and contributed to the development of Bangalore. The grateful Bangloreans have erected his statue in front of the State central library and also named the Library after him. Seshadri puram also is named after him.The initial crop of Palakkad iyers came to run hotels in Bangalore.. Read  https://rajathathablog.blogspot.com/2017/12/palakkad-brahmins-or-kerala-iyers.html  to know more about  them

9.Konkanastha  Brahmins ..They  are settlers  from Goa and speak a language  called Konkani  ,Large  number of them have  settled down in coastal  districts  of Karnataka.Many of them  have settled  down in Bangalore .You can know  more about them by reading https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chitpavan

10.Pancha  Dravida  Brahmins  of Maharashtra  . The extreme northern part  of Karnataka  has a large  number  of Marahthi  Speaking  Brahmins  .Some  of them have  moved  to Bangalore  .You can no more  about them  by reading  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maharashtrian_Pancha-Dravida_Brahmin

11.Large  number  of Smartha  Brahmins  belonging to North India  can be found as  living  in Bangalore .Since  they belong to varios states  and various sub groups  a single  web site  will not give details about them. Chaterji, Mukherji, Banerjee, Shukla  , Trivedi, Chathurvedi , Bharuah, Acharya , Mishra , Kaul, Bhat, Sathpathi, Upadhyay  , Deshmukh  , Kulkarni  are  some  of their surnames

She who with her ten properties has ten incarnations-Happy women’s day

She   who with her  ten properties  has ten incarnations-Happy   women’s day

By

P.R.Ramachander

(Based on the tamil comments of my friend, Sri Raghu Rajan)

1.Without  you there  is no world,

2.Without you  Life is not sweet,

3.Without you  there is no spring  among seasons

4.Without  you  kindness  does not have agod

5.Without  mother  there is no hug,

6.Without  you   there is no love

7.Without  you , no served  food is tastey

8.Without you  , there is no nurse when you   are sick,

9.Without  you there  is no happiness  in family,

10.Without  you  , Lord Shiva  is not  complete

Oh lady  you too  have  Dasavatharas

You are  the mother  who gives birth,

You are  the  mother  who gives  us milk,

You are   the Grandma   who told us stories

You    are  the sister , who taught  us affection,

You are   our own “Miss”   who taught  us all that we know

You are  the wife, Who  taught  us what is love,

You are  the daughter   who made our life  meaningful

You are  our daughter in law  , who respected us and  made us  respect her

You   are   the Grand daughter who taught  us joy  of old age,

You are  the Nurse who   looked after us when we are sick

Oh Lady  without  you  , we do not know how to live

Vegetable poem

Vegetable poem

Translated  from Tamil

By

P.R.Ramachander

If you   consume  tomato always,

You will  never see  sicknessin the world

Even if lime is sour , please take it.

Your bones  will become strong

SAmbar   without onion  , the taste,

Will  never  stay  in our toungue

The taste  of snake   gourd , ,

Would make  even evil  people good

Even at     the very old age, push,

Inside   three  numbers of radish

As long as  Okra is there, the turkey berry,

Would never  go below   the throat.

They who  live in the world  without eating yam,

Can be considered   as not living

Onlly those who eat brinjal , eat something,

Others   are  equal to  lunatics

Those  who consume ash gourd are blessed people,

For  they will live  with fame in the world

Those   Who do not   eat vegetables, Would fall sick,

Always and their  life would be useless.

Only those  who tasted  drumstick  have really tasted,

All others are those who measure  with bare hands

If you want   to see  in Pitch darkness,

Add  false  daisey  (கரிசலாங்கண்ணி )to your food

If you want to deveop a steel like heart,

Enjoy   eating   sugarcane

Eat pumpkin as it is plucked,

To get  best  possible results.

Those who do not eat  bitter gourd because it is bitter,

Would fall   tired   with sorrow

Iron is there  in Jaggery   and so add,

A piece   to your food

What is the  use in living without plaintains,

You would always  be below all

The cooking in which   carrot is not added,

Is like insect living  deep in the well.

If you daily   want to walk with majesty,

Daily cook  beet root

Understand that  Clluster bean , beans  and cabbage,

Have   very good   effects

Those who do not add curry leaf, coriander and mustard,

Would suffer  due to itches

If you want to have a gold like body ,

Add POnnanganni leaf in your food

In this earth  those  who do not eat vegetables,

Are like blind people  with a good eye 

An interest in Diabetes

An interest  in Diabetes

BY

Sri Yezhil Arasu  Sokka lingam

Translated by

P.R.Ramachander

(I thought  this write  by Sri Sokka Lingam   would be  very useful  to those  affected by Diabetes.I am only trying  the message to reach  those  who do not know  Tamil.I have given the Tamil  Text below  my Translation)

1.Hear an explanation   about  diabetes disease,

Take  interest  in this   and  live   for several years,

There is no need  to be scared  of shortage, we can,

Live   with  satisfaction, please  hear  these  words.

 

2.Pancreas   is an organ   behind  the stomach,

Its responsibility is to produce  Insulin

The job  of insulin    is to control,

The sugar   in the body  only

3.If the amount of insulin  gets reduced,

The balance  of blood sugar  will get upset,

More   sugar    will go   to the kidney,

And trying to remove it , kidney will get  damaged.

4.These   are  the symptoms  of diabetes ,  knowing  ,

Them with interest and  testing them   will do good,

Neglecting  it is a  mistake  and this  is  also called,

By another  name-“the killer  of peace  “.

5.Passing  of urine  very frequently and because  of that,

Becoming   thirsty  very often  and  ,

Increase  of hunger and also ,

Itching below   the   feet   often are  important  symptoms

6.If you  notice  these   symptoms  in you,

You have   to get  urine   tested  for sugar.

Also test sugar  in the blood and after that.

Consult  the doctor  and seek his advice

The things that  sick  people  have  to follow 

7.The food that we take   three   times  everyday,

Should  be divided   and taken  in five times,

Daily   we should practice  to walk   and if ,

Weight of body has  increased , we  should  reduce it.

8.Do not  observe  fast,and great feasts,

Are not also  accepted   by   this disease,

Without  missing  we have  to take food,

If we delay  Sugar  will go down   and we will  faint

Food types

9.You have reduce   rice  based  food-Instead,

WE should take   Bajra    and maize,

Avoid taking   gruels and  paste like food,
You should also practice  limited  food in take

10.We should  bring down  quantity  of rice, instead,

We should consume    varieties   of Vegetables,

You should  avoid   oily   food and take,

Boiled pulses  in the morning

11.WE should avoid food based  on roots and tubers, You should,

Stop taking    all sweet   fruits, but

Small bits  or orange, Apple  , Papaya and Guava.

Can be taken but  not in large   quantities

12.When we  drink  coffee  ,tea and milk   , it is ,

Better   that  we drink them without  adding sugar,

If you   feel having   some thing  of sweet taste,

You can add  limited quantities  of sweet substitutes

13.You have to reduce in take of fatty food, If  you are,

Short   tempered  learn     how    to control it,

Mental  tension increases  sugar, we have

Avoid that   and learn    to be peaceful

Original text in Tamil

சர்க்கரை மீது அக்கறை

By

திரு எழிலரசு சொக்கலிங்கம்

மெட்டு: "நந்த வனத்தில் ஓர் ஆண்டி" எனும் பாடல்

சர்க்கரை நோய் விளக்கம் கேளுங்கள்-இதில்
அக்கறை கொண்டு பல்லாண்டு வாழுங்கள்
குறை பற்றி அச்சம் தேவையில்லை- மன
நிறைவுடன் வாழலாம் கேளுங்கள் சொல்லை. (சர்க்கரை நோய்)

இரைப்பைக்கு அடியில் உள்ள உறுப்பு-கணையம்
'இன்சுலின்' சுரப்பதே இதனுடைய பொறுப்பு
இரத்தத்தில் சர்க்கரையின் அளவு- அதைக் கட்டுப் படுத்துவதே
இன்சுலின் செயலாம். (சர்க்கரை நோய்)

இன்சுலின் அளவு குறையுமானால் -இரத்தச் சர்க்கரை அளவு சீர்கெட்டுப்போகும்
அதிகச் சர்க்கரை சிறுநீரகம் போகும்- அதைச்
சிறுநீரில் வெளியேற்றி அகங் கெட்டுப் போகும் ( சர்க்கரை நோய்)

சர்க்கரை நோய் அறிகுறிகள் சிலவாம்- அவற்றை
அக்கறையுடன் அறிந்து சோதித்தல் நலமாம்
அலட்சியமாய்இருப்பதென்றும் தவறு- இதற்கு
"அமைதிக் கொல்லி" என்று மற்றொரு பெயரு ( சர்க்கரை நோய்)

அடிக்கடி சிறுநீர் கழித்தல்- அடுத்து
அடிக்கடி தண்ணீர் தாகம் எடுத்தல்
பசியின்அளவு கூடுதல் - மற்றும்
பாதத்தில் அடிக்கடி எரிச்சல் எடுத்தல். ( சர்க்கரை நோய்)

இவ்வறிகுறிகள் தென்படு மாயின்- நம்
சிறுநீரில் சர்க்கரைக்கு ஆய்வு செய்ய வேண்டும்
இரத்தச் சர்க்கரை ஆய்வும் செய்க- தொடர்ந்து
மருத்துவரை அணுகி ஆலோசனை பெறுக. ( சர்க்ரை நோய்)

நோயாளிகள் பின்பற்ற வேண்டியவை

மூன்று வேளை உண்ணும் உணவை-இனி
ஐந்து வேளையாகப் பிரித்து உண்ண வேண்டும்
நடைப்பயிற்சி நாள்தோறும் வேண்டும் - உடல்
எடை கூடியிருந்தால் குறைத்திடவும் வேண்டும்.(சர்க்கரை நோய்)

விரதம் இருத்தல் கூடாது- பெரு
விருந்தும் இந்நோய் ஏற்றுக் கொள்ளாது
நேரம் தவறாது உண்ணவேண்டும்- காலம்
தாழ்த்தினால் சர்க்கரை குறைந்து மயக்கம் தோன்றும் (சர்க்கரை)

உணவு வகைகள்

அரிசி உணவைக் குறைத்துக் கொள்ள வேண்டும் - பதிலாய்
கேழ்வரகு, வரகு உணவு சேர்க்க வேண்டும்
கஞ்சி, கூழ் தவிர்த்திட வேண்டும்- திட
உணவையும் அளவோடு உண்ணும் பழக்கம் வேண்டும் ( சர்க்கரை)

சோற்றின்அளவைக் குறைத்திட வேண்டும்- பதிலாய்
காய் வகைகள் நிறையச் சேர்த்திட வேண்டும்
எண்ணெய்ப் பலகாரம் தவிர்த்து- பயறு
சுண்டல்வகை மாலையில் சாப்பிட வேண்டும். ( சர்க்கரை நோய்)

கிழங்கு வகை தவிர்த்திடவும் வேண்டும்- இனிக்கும்
பழங்களை உண்ணுவதை நிறுத்திட வேண்டும்
ஆரஞ்சு ஆப்பில் பப்பாளி கொய்யா- போன்ற
பழங்களைப் பகுதியாக மட்டும் உண்ண வேண்டும் ( சர்க்கரை)

காஃபி, டீ, பால் அருந்தும்போது -உடன்
சர்க்கரை சேர்க்காமல் அருந்துவது நன்று
இனிப்புச் சுவை தேவைப்படுமாயின்- சர்க்கரைப்
பதிலியை அளவாய்ச் சேர்த்தல் வேண்டும். ( சர்க்கரை)

கொழுப்பு உணவைக் குறைத்துக் கொள்ள வேண்டும்- பெருங்
கோபம் வருமாயின் தணித்துக் கொள்ளவேண்டும்
மனஅழுத்தம் சர்க்கரையைக் கூட்டும்- அந்த
அழுத்தம் தவிர்த்து அவர் அமைதி காக்கவேண்டும் ( சர்க்கரை)

சில சொற்களுக்கு விளக்கங்கள்

கணையம் - நம் இரைப்பைக்கு(வயிற்றுக்கு-stomach) அடிப்புறம் உள்ள உறுப்பு.
( pancreas)
அகங் கெட்டுப்போகும்- சிறுநீரகம் கெட்டுப் போகும் என்பதைத் தான், பாடலின் மெட்டுக்காக அவ்வாறு தரப்பட்டுள்ளது.
அமைதிக் கொல்லி- Silent killer- சர்க்கரை நோய் வெளியே
தெரியாமல்,ஆபத்தை விளைவித்துவிடும்.
கவனமாக இருந்தால் கவலை தேவையில்லை.
விரதமும்,விருந்தும் இந்நோய்க்கு ஆகாது.(No fasting or feasting)
சர்க்கரைப் பதிலி- sugar free tablet
மனஅழுத்தம் - pressure

Mother’s last diary noting

Mother’s last diary  noting

By

P.R.Ramachander

(Based on a  whatsapp message in tamil)

The  golden son  whom I fondled

Lifting him over  my head ,

Has grown up above my head

I have one fear , Will he some day,

Say  “Do not interfere in my affairs.”

Oh son  , never  ever   say that.

As soon as  I hear it I will die

When you were  a baby,

You used  to ask me  silly questions,

And I  with a smile , used to always reply.

When I become old  , I may ask you,

Silly   questions like  a baby,

Never ever  shout”shut up”

My mouth may  not open after  that.

When you were  baby, you used to drop,

All  the food you  take  , here and there,

With a smile, I used   to pick  them up,

In my old age, due to hands that shiver,

If I drop  the food, Do not  shout at me,

Afterwards  I may  not take  any food at all.

When you were a baby , always  my  Saris,

Used to smell of your urine,

I used to feel it was the scent of Arabia,

And in old age  , unable  to control,

If  I spill  some times  urine  here  and there,

Do not shout at me , to be carefull,

And say  this smell   will go away only  when you die,

For afterwards, I may never ever open my eyes and die

I should die, when  I have capacity  to walk,

To the   cremation  ground  myself,

Please  son, please  do not put me in an old age home,

There were days  , when I used  to starve  and feed you food,

There were days when I never slept , so that  I can look after you,

And you  have  grown up this big drinking my milk  that was my blood,

At this time  of my life  , all that I want ,

Is to close  my eyes surrounded  by you all,

Please, please my son, fulfill my this last wish”

I am writing all this, not because of the wish,

That you will understand me   and shed a tear ,

On reading all this , but  with a wish,

That no mother  will ever have to write like this.

Mother’s last diary noting

Mother’s last diary  noting

By

P.R.Ramachander

(Based on a  whatsapp message in tamil)

The  golden son  whom I fondled

Lifting him over  my head ,

Has grown up above my head

I have one fear , Will he some day,

Say  “Do not interfere in my affairs.”

Oh son  , never  ever   say that.

As soon as  I hear it I will die

When you were  a baby,

You used  to ask me  silly questions,

And I  with a smile , used to always reply.

When I become old  , I may ask you,

Silly   questions like  a baby,

Never ever  shout”shut up”

My mouth may  not open after  that.

When you were  baby, you used to drop,

All  the food you  take  , here and there,

With a smile, I used   to pick  them up,

In my old age, due to hands that shiver,

If I drop  the food, Do not  shout at me,

Afterwards  I may  not take  any food at all.

When you were a baby , always  my  Saris,

Used to smell of your urine,

I used to feel it was the scent of Arabia,

And in old age  , unable  to control,

If  I spill  some times  urine  here  and there,

Do not shout at me , to be carefull,

And say  this smell   will go away only  when you die,

For afterwards, I may never ever open my eyes and die

I should die, when  I have capacity  to walk,

To the   cremation  ground  myself,

Please  son, please  do not put me in an old age home,

There were days  , when I used  to starve  and feed you food,

There were days when I never slept , so that  I can look after you,

And you  have  grown up this big drinking my milk  that was my blood,

At this time  of my life  , all that I want ,

Is to close  my eyes surrounded  by you all,

Please, please my son, fulfill my this last wish”

I am writing all this, not because of the wish,

That you will understand me   and shed a tear ,

On reading all this , but  with a wish,

That no mother  will ever have to write like this.

The sufferings we caused to our mother

The sufferings we caused to our mother

Translated by

P.R.Ramachander

In Gaya  they offer  sixteen Pindas(Rica balls)  to the n mother,  Here is what they say in english

1.Oh mother I caused you great pain and sorrow,
While I came out of your womb and while you put me on earth,
And for the sake of alleviating that great pain,
I am offering this first Pinda to you .

2.Oh mother month after month , I grew up causing pain within you,
Culminating in the great pain of delivery which I caused,
And for the sake of alleviating that great pain,
I am offering this second Pinda to you .

3.Within your womb, I kicked you hard ,
Causing pain to you oh my mother ,those days when you carried me,
And for the sake of alleviating that great pain,
I am offering this third Pinda to you .

5.During those days nearing delivery ,
You underwent and suffered pain again and again,
And for the sake of alleviating that great pain,
I am offering this fourth Pinda to you .

5.When those ten months of your pregnancy ceased,
I gave you lots and lots of pain , to come out of your womb,
And for the sake of alleviating that great pain,
I am offering this fifth Pinda to you .

6.After my birth you had to swallow several bitter liquids,
And several types of extracts . so that I was kept comfortable,
And for the sake of alleviating that suffering that you have undergone
I am offering this sixth Pinda to you .

7.You had to starve causing pangs of burning hunger ,
Which made you bitter thin, so that I am nurtured well,
And for the sake of alleviating that suffering that you have undergone
I am offering this seventh Pinda to you .

8.All through the night I used to make your cloth wet,
As well as smelly by my frequent urination and you had to bear that,
And for the sake of alleviating that suffering that you have undergone
I am offering this eighth Pinda to you .

9.You suffered by toiled hard all the time without any rest ,
So that , your this son would be well nurtured,
And for the sake of alleviating that suffering that you have undergone
I am offering this ninth Pinda to you .

10.Without any difference between day and night ,
Oh mother, I caused pain by biting you , when you offered your milk,
And for the sake of alleviating that suffering that you have undergone
I am offering this tenth Pinda to you .

11.During the biting cold of those bitter winter months,
To guard me well from that cold , you shivered and suffered in it ,
And for the sake of alleviating that suffering that you have undergone
I am offering this eleventh Pinda to you .

12.During those days when I used to fall sick,
Besides toiling you were drowned in pain of apprehension,
And for the sake of alleviating that suffering that you have undergone
I am offering this twelfth Pinda to you .

13. Oh mother you used to starve and suffer,
So that me your son got goodies to eat
And for the sake of alleviating that suffering that you have undergone
I am offering this thirteenth Pinda to you .

14. You were about to break your body and come out,
And without any doubt you were travelling towards death,
And for the sake of alleviating that suffering that you have undergone
I am offering this fourteenth Pinda to you .

15.On mother in the freezing darkness of Yama’s gate ,
You are waiting with uncontrollable pain of doubt ,
And for the sake of alleviating that suffering that you have undergone
I am offering this fifteenth Pinda to you .

15,Never at any time and nowhere is there a son,
Who does not keep on giving pain to his mother,
And for the sake of alleviating that suffering that you have undergone
I am offering this Sixteenth Pinda to you .