Niyogi Brahmin
Classification
Religions
Languages
Telugu (primary)
Other Dravidian languages[1]
Country
Primarily India
Niyogi Brahmin is a Telugu Brahmin subcaste[2] native to the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, but are spread throughout South India and Maharashtra.[3][4] The traditional occupations of the Niyogi Brahmins are settled cultivation and priesthood.[5] But majority of them took up various secular vocations including military activities and karanams. They were associated with administration, economics, literature, music composing, politics, scholarly, scientific, engineering, defense and warfare careers.[6][7]
NiyogininSanskrit means "employed", "appointed" or "assigned" and it is probable that Niyogis were given this name because they accept secular employment.[8] As per Eastern Chalukyan records, Brahmins who were appointed to a 'Niyoga', commission, charge or office, were called 'Niyogins', officials or functionaries. The term 'Niyogikavallabha' finds mention in a record of Eastern Chalukyan king Mangi Yuvaraja (r. 682 – 706 CE).[9]
Niyogis are divided into groups like Aruvela Niyogis, Pakanati Niyogis, Prathamasaki Niyogis and others.[10] Golkonda Vyaparis were said to be a part of Niyogis. The word "vyapari" means trader. While Niyogis were Smartas, Vyaparis are Vaishnavas.[11][12][13]InKarnataka and Tamil Nadu, there are some sections of Niyogis such as Aruvela and Prathamasaki who follow Dvaita VedantaofMadhvacharya.[14][15]
In Maharashtra, the Niyogi Brahman have eleven subgroups like Aruvela Niyogi and Kammelu Niyogi. They have migrated from Andhra Pradesh. In social practices and rituals they do not differ from their original stock in Andhra Pradesh.
The traditional occupations of the Niyogi Brahman of Andhra Pradesh are settled cultivation and priesthood. They were Patwaris also.
Among the Niyogis, there are Aruvela Niyogis, Pakanati Niyogis and others.
The Madhwas are followers of the Dwaitha philosophy of Madhwacharya and have sub-sects like the Badaganadu, Aravelu, Aravathuvokkalu, Deshastha, etc.
In Tamil Nadu, the Madhwa Brahmins are migrants from Karnataka. They have six sub-groups, they are Aruvela, Aruvanththuvakkalu, Badaganadu, Pennaththurar, Prathamasaki and Desastha and Badaga. They are concentrated in the Madras, Coimbatore, Coonoor and in Ooty.
