Niyogis Are a Sect of Brahmins and Are Predominantly Teluguspeakers
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Niyogis are a sect of Brahmins and are predominantly Teluguspeakers. Theories of origin The origin of Niyogi community is descending from their Bramhin ancestors originally from Northern as well as North Western geographical region of present day India. About six thousand (6000) exceptionally intelligent, extremely capable of administration, management with high degree of skills of warfare were chosen to help Kshatryias in desperate need in defending the country, in piloting the vimanas. Hence the origin of the word Aaruvela ( = six thousand; Niyogi = a derivative of word 'Niyogimpabadda' in Telugu which means appointed). Niyogin in Sanskrit means "employed" or "appointed" and it is quite probable that "Niyogi"s were given this name because they accept secular employment. In the later centuries they migrated to various parts of the country in pursuit of better and Green pastures. They belong to the brahma-kshatriya group who took secular duties like the military and administration. The Niyogi Brahmins are the only Brahmin Community which is alive in Modern day politics.Famous 6000 Niyogi Modern Day Politicians are Tangutoori Prakasham Pantulu (ANDHRA KESARI) First Chief Minister of Andhra State. P.V.Narasimha Rao (First Prime Minister of INDIA from SOUTH)- is a aruvela niyogi brahmin. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan (First President of INDIA from SOUTH). It is said in Shastras, that one should live near a river, away from relatives but close to place where medical help is available. Thus, they crossed Vindhyas . As they crossed over Vindhyas they came across perennial River Godavari few of them followed flow of River Godavari. A few crossed the river and went farther south and came across another perinial River - Krishna, they followed flow of River Krishna. Some went further down tracing origin of Krishna River and came across the main tributory "Tungabadra" and some other minor tributoriesof river krishna and settled down around hundreds of its tributories. Some who went tracing the tributeries of Tunga and Bhadra went further west and south west, to almost to west coast in Malenadu source of river Kavery. Some groups followed flow of River Kaveri and went to Tanjavur, Madurai etc in present day Tamil Nadu. Brahmins are known by their paths of belief, like Smartas, Vaishnavas or Madhvas. Most of Bramhins in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu belong to the Smarta Brahmin group. (Though in later years population of Madhvas saw increase in Karnataka where saint 'Madvacharya' spread the message of dwaitha philosophy). Smarthas follow Smritis and they are all followers of Adi Guru, Adi Sankara Acharya. The Smarta Brahmins follow Apastamba Smriti or Apastamba Sutra (not Manu Smriti). Apasthamba sutra dates back to pre (~600 BC) and these Bramhins were the ones who mastered the art of Administration, Medicine and teaching. They are the earliest Law makers of South India who lived on the banks of the Godavari river. Soon, their works and regulations like Boudhayana, Parasara, Yajnvalkya Sutras etc., came into practice and were passed as laws, especially in the courts of Sri Krishna Deva Raya. The Smarta Brahmins in Andhra Pradesh can be grouped into two major divisions formed about a thousand to 700 years ago (most probably during Kakatiya rule), Niyogi and Vaidiki, besides the smaller group of Bhatt (Bhattu, Bhatteria, Bhatia, Bhattarika are other variants.) This classification is based on their inherent ability and Masterity in Administration, Spiritual Practices and Cooking respectively. Traditionally believed to have descended from Lord Parasurama, Niyogi Brahmins are those Brahmins who are into various secular vocations including military activities and gave up religious vocation, especially the priesthood just like Bhumihar Brahmins in north India who largely gave up priesthood. There is a lot of brotherhood between Niyogi Brahmins and Bhumihar Brahmins. The Bhumihar Brahmins, of whom many, though not all, belong to the Saryupareen Brahmin division of Kanyakubja Brahmins. The Bhumihar Brahmins were established when Parashurama destroyed the Kshatriya race, and he set up in their place the descendants of Brahmins, who, after a time, having mostly abandoned their priestly functions (although some still perform), took to land-owning. The Satavahana Vamsam (dynasty) that is said to have given the name "Andhra" to the presnt state was from Niyogi clan. Traditionally and even today Niyogi Brahmins depend on as well as emphasise and orient themselves towards modern education. As minor-kings, zamindaars (landlords), ministers in the courts of kings and as feudal Lords (Palegallu) earned a good name for their administrative abilities and progressive attitude (sarva dharma samanatha). Many of them were village heads like munsabs, talukdaars, and accountants, Karanams (Andhra) or Patwaris (Telangana) until recently.. Etymology: According to Jogendranath Bhattacharya, the word Niyogi is derived from Yoga, which means "religious contemplation" or "meditation", as opposed to Yaga, which means "religious sacrifice". Niyogin in Sanskrit also means "employed" or "appointed" and it is probable that Niyogis were given this name because they accept secular employment. Subdivisions: Over the past millennium the Niyogis have been further divided further into various groups: Pradhamasakha/Kanveyulu/Yagnavalkyulu (The First Branch) - Aruvela(6000) Niyogi – Nandavarikulu - Golkonda Vyaparulu - Karanakamma Vyaparulu - Sristikaranalu/Sistukaranalu/Sistakaranalu/Karanalu or Karanam – Pakanati - Pranganati The Pradhamasakha group which belongs to the Shukla Yajurveda School. In Maharashtra too, there is a group of Brahmins called Pradhamasakha. There are Marathas (warrior / land owner community) also known as Pradhamasakhi. Pradhamasakha Brahmins are also called a Yagnavalkyulu and Kanveyulu. The Aruvela Niyogis are the largest Niyogi group. Different explanations exist for the coining of the phrase "Aruvela Niyogilu" or 6000 Niyogis. They, as well as the majority of Brahmins in Andhra Pradesh, belong to the Krishna Yajurveda School. Some part of Krishna Dist, Guntur Dist and the surrounding areas was called as "AAru vela naadu".As these people belong to that area, they were called so. Another belief is that 6000 brahmins once left out some area in and around "vishakhapattanam and the surrounding Samsthanams".So they were called as Aaruvela niyogulu. Another theory asserts that 6000 Brahmins left drought- and famine-stricken regions of present-day Maharashtra and traveled to coastal and riverine regions of Andhra. These Brahmin settlers and their descendants, who adopted secular vocations, were termed the 6000 (or Aruvela) Niyogi. Many surnames among Maharashtra Brahmins and Aruvela Niyogis are common (or similar): this fact is considered by many to support for this theory of migration. According to Narasimha Shastry Nori, 6000 Brahmins were appointed as village heads and accountants and training imparted to them, way back in 13th or 14th century AD Pravaras Every Brahmin family will have Pravara . This means every family linked up with one or two or three origins or ancestors or Vamsa Parampara. Every brahmin family will have minimum three Rishis . For example ., Angirasa , Aayasha, Gargeysa. This is one parampara . These three people are origin for today's generation . Like that there are very prominent Rishis ( sages) like Kashyapa, Vasista, Koundinyasa, Bhardwaja, Parasara, Gothamasa, Srivastava, and so on..,. Every family while celebrating either function or sraddha , they should utter three times this Pravara and start the function or ceremony. About The Nandavariks The Nandavariks, were known as such as they were ‘Nandavara Agrahara Graheetas’. They are Rig-vedins and come under ‘ASVALAYANA SUTRA’ or principle and follow ‘Smartha Sampradaya’ as distinguished from ‘Madhava’ or ‘Vaishnava samparadayas’. ‘ASVALAYANA SUTRA’ is one of the six Sutras followed by Rig Vedins, the others being APASTABMHA (KRISHNA YAHJUR VEDINS), KATHYAYANA (SUKLA YAJUR VEDINS) DRAKSHAYANA (SAMA VEDINS), VATSYAYANA (SUKLA YAJUR VEDINS). A liik at the galaxy of the names of the thirteen recipients (MOOLA PARASHAS) of the grant of Nandavaram will reveal their caliber and mettle. The list of their names and ‘Gothrams’ is as follows: ‘Avadhanam’ Peddi Bhattlu – Srivatsava Gothram. ‘Tarkasastram’ Mahadeva Bhattlu – Vasishta Gothram. ‘Vaseshikam’ Vishnu Vardhana Bhattlu – Kaushika Viswamitrasa Gothram. ‘Mahabhashyam’ Mahadeva Bhattlu – Athreyasa Gothram. ‘Mantra Sastram’ Kamalanbha Pandithulu – Harithasa Gothram. ‘Puranam’ Sridhara Dikshitlu – Bharadhwajasa Gothram. ‘Shadangala’ Narayana Dikshitulu – Agastyasa Gothram. ‘Prabhakara’ Naga Vadhyulu – Kashyapasa Gothram. ‘Kramadhati’ Janardana Somayajulu – Kutsasa Gothram. ‘Dasagrandhala’ Viswanadhacharyulu – Gautamasa Gothram. ‘Surya Siddhantham’ Narayana Somayajulu – Mounabhargava Gothram. ‘Pradyotha’ Narasimha Somayajulu – Modgalyasa Gothram. ‘Kanadam’ Vishnu Vardhana Bhattlu – Veetha Havyasa Gothram A close study of the names of the recipients will reveal that they were men of high caliber and attainments. They appear to have been authorities in their own fields and faculties with which their very names are associated, Folloing the same order of names of the recipients, ‘Tarkasastram’ Mahadeva Bhattlu appears to have been an authority on Logic. ‘Vaiseshikam’, the later branch of Logic which is said to haven the field of Vishnuvaardhana Bhattlu. ‘Mahabhashyam’ Maahadeva Bhattlu was an authority in Vedic Grammar.