Telugu Brahmins are Telugu-speaking Brahmin communities native to the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. They fall under the Pancha Dravida Brahmin classification of the Brahmin community in India. Telugu Brahmins are further divided into sections like Vaidiki, Niyogi, Deshastha, Dravida and Golkonda Vyapari.
History
According to the Aitareya Brahmana of the Rigveda, the Andhras left north India from the banks of the River Yamuna around 800 BCE and migrated to peninsular India.
The Apastamba Dharmasutra is posited to have been composed in the region of modern-day Andhra Pradesh between the Godavari and Krishna rivers, but this is not certain. It is dated to approximately 600-300 BCE, and more narrowly to between 450 and 350 BCE.
Sub-divisions
Telugu Brahmins fall under the Pancha Dravida Brahmin classification of the Brahmin community in India. They are further divided into various sections based on their occupation, denomination, region etc.
Sub-groups
Vaidiki (Velanati, Telaganya, Mulukanadu), Niyogi (Aruvela, Pakanati, Prathamasaki etc.), Golkonda Vyapari, Deshastha and Dravida.
Denominational divisions
Smartha, Madhva, Vaikhanasa, Sri Vaishnava, Shaiva and Shakta.
Even though in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana regions majority of Vaidikis and Niyogis are Smartas, who follow Advaita Vedanta of Adi Shankara, there are some sections among them who migrated and settled in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu region that follow Dvaita Vedanta of Madhvacharya.
Sri Vaishnavas and Telugu Madhvas are Telugu Brahmins who converted to Ramanuja and Madhvacharya faith respectively.
Niyogis are further subdivided into Aruvela Niyogis, Pakanati Niyogis, and others.
Golkonda Vyaparis were said to be a part of Niyogis, but they consider themselves as separate group and have their own community organizations. The word vyapari means trader. Golconda Vyaparis are Vaishnavas and have both Madhvas and Sri Vaishnavas among them.
Telugu Madhvas and Deshastha Madhvas are mainly followers of Uttaradi Matha, Raghavendra Matha and Vyasaraja Matha,
Deshastha Brahmins are mainly divided into two groups Deshastha Madhva Brahmins and Deshastha Smartha Brahmins. In Telangana, Deshastha Brahmins are spread throughout all the districts of the state, while in Andhra Pradesh, they are mainly concentrated in Rayalaseema, Nellore, and Godavari-Krishna delta, especially in the cities of Kurnool, Anantapur, Kadapa, Chittoor, Nellore, Rajahmundry, Guntur and Hyderabad. Marriage alliance between Deshastha Brahmins, other Telugu Brahmins and Karnataka Brahmins takes place quite frequently.
Dravidulu are migrants from Tamil Nadu and speak Tamil or Telugu or both at their homes.
Occupation
Pre-Independence
Niyogi Brahmins served as village record keepers (karanams), poets, and sometimes ministers. Deshastha Brahmins also served as village record keepers (karanams) and many also served as high-level administrators and bureaucrats such as Deshmukhs, Sheristadars, Tehsildars, Deshpandes and Majumdars under Qutb Shahis of Golkonda and Nizams of Hyderabad in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
Niyogi Brahmins and Deshastha Brahmins also ruled Andhra Pradesh as zamindars. In Guntur district, one of the four major zamindars i.e., Chilakaluripet zamindari and Sattenapalle zamindari were ruled by Deshastha Brahmins, whose title was "Deshmukh", The Polavaram zamindari of West Godavari district and Lakkavaram zamindari of Prakasam district were ruled by Niyogi Brahmins. Due to their secular occupations, marriage alliances between Deshastha Brahmins, Golkonda Vyapari Brahmins and Niyogi Brahmins was very common since centuries. Vaidiki Brahmins and Dravidulu are priests and teachers.
Post-Independence
After the implementation of the Land Ceiling Reforms Act in 1973, Niyogi Brahmins and Deshastha Brahmins who had huge amounts of land lost their lands and properties as a result of this. In 1983, after becoming Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh N. T. Rama Rao abolished Patel–Patwari system prevailing in Andhra Pradesh. As a result of this many Brahmins who had control over the villages as Karanams (revenue officers) lost their control over villages as well as many of their lands and properties.
Population distribution
As per the 1931 census, Brahmins were about three percent in the region constituting present-day Andhra Pradesh (then part of Madras State). According to a survey by Outlook India in 2003, Brahmins were estimated to be around 5% of United Andhra Pradesh population.