Pranam
*Iyer vs Iyengar*
Iyer and Iyengar are two types of castes given to Hindu Brahmins of Tamil
origin. While the people from the former caste follow the tenets laid down
by Adi Sankara, the founder of Advaita philosophy, the people from the
latter caste follow the tenets laid down by Sri Ramanuja who advocated the
philosophy of Visishtadvaita. This is the main difference between the two
words.
2 Iyengars are divided into two sub-sects, namely, Vadakalai Iyengar and
Thenkalai Iyengar. The Vadakalai Iyengars are believed to be Indo-Aryan
people that might have migrated long ago from North India. The Thenkalai
sect on the other hand, was originally led by Manavala Mamuni. It is
important to know that this sect follows Divyaprabandham very strictly.
They reject the caste system as well. It is interesting to note that the
Iyengar traditions started to develop at least 1000 years ago. It is
believed that Nathamuni is said to have introduced the tradition long back.
Iyengars are said to have lived in large numbers in the Chola kingdom of
Tamilnadu.
3 In a related context, Iyers repose much faith in the 63 Nayanmargal or
Nayanars (poet saints who lived between the 6th and the 8th century) who
were followers of Shiva and had achieved moksha. Similarly, the Iyengars
repose much faith in the 12 Azhwars or Alvaars (poet saints of similar
vintage) who were followers of Vishnu and had achieved moksha. Both
Nayanmargal and Azhvaars were instrumental in the Bhakti movement and
espoused complete devotion or bhakti as a road to realising the Self.
4 Etymologically, the term Iyer could have been derived from the work
‘aiyaa’, a Tamizh word of respectability, amongst other meanings like elder
brother, etc. It could have also had its source from the Sanskrit word
‘arya’ which means noble. The term Iyengar could have had its source,
besides the above, also from the suffix of the word ‘garu’ (a Telugu word
denoting respectability and elder. So, ‘ayya-garu’could have over time got
colloquialism as Iyengar. AYYAN WAS ORIGINAL CALLING A BRAHMIN. SMARTHA
WA ORIGINAL COVERING ALL WHO WENT BY SMRITHI. As SAIVA worshippers are and
VISHNU WORSHIPPERS ARE TOGETHER NAMED AS SMARTHAS, AND AYYAN AR
SAIVAITES, AYYAN+KA= KA IS NAME OF VISHNU, TURNED OUT TO BE IYENGARS.
5 Iyers place more emphasis on the Smriti [scriptures], { while This is
again the primary difference between Sunni Muslims [followers of Sunnah]
and Shia Muslims [who place more emphasis on the spiritual leaders -
Imamah]. Again, while Protestants fundamentally trust scriptures to be the
sole guide, Catholics accord more importance to saints, prophets, and
Pope.e Iyengars place more emphasis on the Acharyas [teachers].
*6 *Their core philosophy affects their appearance too. Iyers sport
the Tripundra [3 marks]- forehead markings made with ash. The ash signifies
that everything eventually burns in the end and we must get beyond the
worldly illusions of Maya. The three lines signify three barriers to the
truth - anava [ego], karma [deeds] and Maya [illusion].
Iyengars sport the Sricharanam [lord's feet] on their forehead. Sricharanam
reminds a Srivaishnavite to always think of the feet of God and spend their
life in devotion. [There are two different sects within the tradition who
wear it in slightly different ways.] The two outer lines are the Lord's
feet [imagine someone standing with their feet in V-shape position] and the
inner line is that of Mahalakshmi who is keeping her feet closed due to
modesty.
7 All Iyengars are not SriVaishnavas, some Iyengars still pray to
demigods, like Ganesh, Siva, etc.. If they do so, then they are not
srivaishnavas... Sri Vaishnavas are devotees of Sriman Narayana, and Sri
Mahalakshmi.. They pray only to Him and His manifestations, and none other
than that. You are partly right on that question, All Srivaishnavas are not
Iyengars.. Because anyone can become a Sri Vaishnava... North they are
vaishnavas in Bangalore the Iyengar is different. In short, Iyengars
originated only in 1000 AD. Ayyangars and Iyengars are different. There are
vedic vaishnavites and non vedic followers too. All smarthas and iyers
will worship all GODs but Iyengars are not supposed to be. Today the
cleavage between is closing down since inter brahmin marriages are taking
place , except the VEERA VAISHNAVAAS. KR IRS 19722
On Tue, 19 Jul 2022 at 05:23, 'gopala krishnan' via iyer123 <
iyer...@googlegroups.com> wrote:
> What is the difference between Iyers and Iyengars?- FORWARD
>
> Answer by Mr Ramaswamy Sundaram, Former Retired HR Manager at
> The One Group of Companies (1967–2001) Fri in Quora digest.
>
> Friend - Since you being a Mechanical Engineer of the present generation
> has asked for clarifying and augmenting your Academic Knowledge *I am
> trying to explain the difference between Iyers and Iyengars briefly,
> without going deeply into ideologies and what not - ok?*
>
> Broadly Hinduism is divided into two factions - Saivists - worshipping
> Lord Shiva as their main deity; and Vaishnavites - worshipping Lord
> Mahavishnu as their only deity and consider all other Hindu Gods are
> Devathas abetting, assisting and coordinating with him..
>
> *Similarities between Iyers and Iyengars -*
>
> Both are called Brahmins generally
>
> Almost all the people from Non-brahmin communities call them both as Iyers
> or Brahmins because they dont see any differences between these two
> divisions.
>
> Both follow their traditional culture as was advised by their ancestors,
> meticulously
>
> Both eat only Vegetarian foods and never touch non-veg foods
>
> Both follow cleaner habits of bathing everyday; chanting Manthras in
> Sanskrit praising their deities and do Pooja to the deities they have in
> their Pooja room ardently
>
> Both keep away from doing sins and try the maximum to help others who are
> in distress irrespective of Caste-feelings!
>
> Control their wards to trek only in the auspicious paths adhered to by the
> family tradition
>
> *Differences between the two factions:*
>
> Iyers wear their Religious symbol namely smearing the Holy Ash (Vibhoothi)
> on their foreheads an arms like this:
>
> Iyer ladies wear the saree in a distinct style like this;
>
> Iyers go to Shiva and Shakthi Temples more than they go to Vishnu Temples.
> All the Shiva temples give prominence to Shakthi - Goddess Parvathy -
> consort of Lord Shiva. Famous Shiva Temples in Tamilnadu are popular only
> by the name of the Goddess worshipped there - namely Meenakshi Temple;
> Kamakshi Temple; Akilandeswari Temple; Karpagambal Temple etc. In Tamilnadu
> Shiva’s idol will be in the Lingam format in the Sanctum Sanctorum known as
> Moolavar; and the deity made up of metal called Uthsavar will only be taken
> on Procession outside the Temple on Festival Days.
>
> *The biggest Shiva Temple in Tamilnadu is built by Raja Raja Chozhan and
> is known as Big Temple located in Thanjavur, inside Tamilnadu:*
>
> All over India, especially in North India, you can see only Iyers smeared
> with Holy Ash doing Service in Temples as Priests and Iyengars are a rarity.
>
> Kasi (Varanasi) Sri Viswanath Temple:
>
> Iyengars wear Thiruman (Namam) as the symbol of Vaishnavas hereditarily
> from the period of Ramanuja thus -
>
> There are two “styles” of wearing Namam - namely
>
> Vadagalai Namam - the design of English Letter U
>
> Thengalai Namam - the Design of English Letter Y
>
> Vadagalai Iyengars are following the Vedic Rituals in Sanskrit and recite
> only Sanskrit Manthras in Temples.
>
> Thengalai Iyengars are following the traditions existing only in Tamilnadu
> - the Southern India - and recites only Thamizh Manthras in Temples.
>
> Iyengar Ladies wear their sarees exactly opposite of the style of Iyer
> Ladies - where the end of the sarry will go through their left shoulders -
> see Picture;
>
> The biggest Vaishnavite Temple for Lord Mahavishnu is at Srirangam
> (nicknamed as Bhoolga Vaikuntam - Heaven on Earth) in Tamilnadu:
>
> Idol of Lord Ranganatha at Srirangam!
>
> In Tamilnadu there are nearly 40,000 Temples for Hindu Gods and Goddesses.
> *Iyengars
> traditionally worship 108 important Temples of Vishnu (namely Divya Desams)*
> of which Srirangam Temple is the first. Almost 80% of these 108 Divya
> Desams are located in South India - Tamilnadu and Kerala - and only a few
> are located in North India.
>
> Some funny tit-bits about beliefs of Iyers and Iyengars:
>
> *If you go to any Vaishnavite Temple you will get one spoonful of Holy
> Water; leaves of Tulsi; and delicious mixed rice varieties which will make
> your tongue-buds watering* - all of them first offered to the deity in
> the Temple and distributed among devotees.
>
> In contrast in Shiva Temples you get only a bit of Holy Ash and nothing
> else. The age-old belief is if anyone takes the property of Shiva it is a
> sin that will destroy his generations. (Sivan Soththu Kulanasam).
>
> Orthodox Vaishnavites will avoid going to Shiva Temples. They say (Madha
> Yaanai Thuraththinaalum Shivan Koilukkul Nuzhayaathey) even if you are
> chased by a wild tuskar elephant you should not enter a Shiva Temple.
>
> The centuries old tussle between Vadagalai Iyengar and Thengalai Iyengar
> about which tradtion should be followed in the Temple rituals is very
> famous in Kanchipuram and even both sides approached Supreme Court of
> India. The SC Judges gave a via-media order that for 6 months of a year the
> Vadagalai Tradition and for the next 6 months the Thengalai Tradition can
> be followed.
>
> The poor creature - the Temple Elephant also did not escape this tussle -
> whether it should wear Vadagalai Namam or Thengalai Namam! The same SC
> Judgement applies here also. See the Kancheepuram Elephant;
>
> Elders in both sects are wise to say “Hariyum Shivanum Onnu; Ariyaathavar
> Vaaiyile Mannu”” (Both Shiva and Vishnu are one and the same; mud in the
> mouths of those who do not know or recognize this!)
>
> Fortunately the younger generation of Brahmins today have phoo phooed all
> this nonsense and they are keen to get foreign jobs and fly away from India!
>
> Dear friends,
>
> I found the reading brief and quite interesting. A few points I like to
> add. 1- Tirupathi Balaji temple Iyengars- They are either vadakalai or
> thenkalai. 2. In Kerala Lord Krishna temples are also there. Hindu
> devotees of iyer subcaste go toall temples. My home temple is Lord Krishna
> temple. I am named Gopalakrishnan as the deity’s name 3. In Kerala Lord
> Siva temples also gives tulsi leaves and theertham and sandal wood
> paste. Koovalm leaf and holy ash is more preferred in Siva temples.
>
> Gopalakrishnan 19-7-2022
>
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