Brahatcharanam
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| (Unknown) | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Indian states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala | |
| Languages | |
| Brahmin Tamil, Malayalam, Samskrta | |
| Religion | |
| Hinduism | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Iyer, Tamil people |
Brahacharanam is a sub-sect of the Iyer community of Tamil Brahmins. The word "Brahacharanam" is a corruption of the Sanskrit word Brhatcharanam (Sanskrit: ब्रहतचरनम्). Many Brahacharanam follow the Advaita Vedanta philosophy propounded by Adi Sankaracharya. However, some Brahacharanam are stauchly Saivite unlike followers of Adi Sankaracharya, or else adhere to "Sivadvaita" so to speak. The Brahacharanams, along with the Vadamas, form the major portion of the Kerala Iyer community.
The Brahacharanams, like the Vadamas, have a distinctive martial tradition which differentiate them from other Iyer communities. Members of the community served as Senapatis or army commanders under the Chola kings Raja Raja Chola I and Rajendra Chola I.
The word bruhat in Sanskrit means "great", "vast" or "significant" and the word charanam refers to feet. The name Brahacharanam can be thus literally translated as "feet of the greats" referring to the status of a Guru, and the Brahacharanam being those who follow in the footsteps of the Greats.
Their exact origins are not clear but their presence in the Tamil Kingdoms extends back at least to the reign of Parantaka Chola II, who is said to have brahmarayars as ministers. Many of the agraharam villages of the Brahacharanam also have very ancient origins.
According to some, they made their way into the Tamil country through the Satyamangalam Pass.
BrahaCharanam means Brahath means Vedas and Acharanam means one who follows verbatim. So it means strict follower of Vedic rituals.
The Brahacharanam are divided into the following subgroups:
A significant number of Brahacharanams have migrated to Kerala, where they are part of the Kerala Iyer community. They have also migrated in large numbers to Puttur in Andhra Pradesh where they form the Puthur Dravida community.
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