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Ashtasahasram

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Ashtasahasram
Regions with significant populations
Tamil Nadu
Languages
Brahmin Tamil
Religion
Hinduism
Related ethnic groups
Iyer, Tamil people

Ashtasahasram is a sub-sect of the Iyer community of Tamil Brahmins from the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.

Culture

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The Ashtasahasrams as Iyers belong to the Smarta (Shaivite) tradition, along with the Vadamas, Brahacharanams, Vadyamans/Madhyamans, and the Kanials/Kaniyalars. However, the Ashtasahasrams are smaller in numbers and are considered inferior to the first two Brahmin groups.[1]

The Ashtasahasrams follow the Taittirīya śākhā of the Kr̥ṣṇa Yajurveda.[2]

They are Aparaśikhā Brahmins, who wear their traditional hair tuft towards the back of their head.[3]

Divisions

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The Ashtasahasram community is further sub-divided into four groups:[4]

  • Āttiyūr
  • Arivarpede
  • Nandivādi
  • Satkulam

References

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  1. ^ Fuller, C. J.; Narasimhan, Haripriya (2014). Tamil Brahmans: The Making of a Middle-Class Caste. University of Chicago Press. p. 6.
  2. ^ Mahadevan 2008, p. 51.
  3. ^ Mahadevan 2008, p. 3, 142-143.
  4. ^ Mahadevan, Thennilapuram P. (2008). "On the Southern Recension of the Mahābhārata, Brahman Migrations, and Brāhmī Paleography (For Frits Staal)". Electronic Journal of Vedic Studies. 15 (2): 143. doi:10.11588/ejvs.2008.2.327. ISSN 1084-7561.