Iyengar

Iyengar is the name of a community of Brahmins of India whose members profess the Visishtadvaita philosophy codified by Ramanuja. The word Iyengar (Anglicised from the Tamil ஐயங்கார்(Aiyaṅkār)) could be derived from the Tamil word Aiyā (used as a term of respect), which in turn derives from the word Arya. It could also mean "people entrusted with five tasks", referring to the five duties that traditional Iyengars perform (see [1]).

Although most Iyengars speak Tamil, there are also large numbers of Kannada speaking Iyengars in southern Karnataka (popularly known as Bangalore Iyengars), as well as smaller numbers of Telugu-speakers in southern Andhra Pradesh. Today, Iyengars are divided into two sub-communities of Thenkalai and Vadakalai due to a 13th century schism between the followers of Pillai Lokacharya and those of Vedanta Desika respectively.

This article covers the Iyengars as an ethnic group.

Iyengar
Classification:	Ethnic group/ Caste/Community of South India
Total population:	2004: (approx) 1,000,000 (roughly 1% of Tamilians)
Significant populations in:	Chennai: XXXX Mayavaram: XXXX Palghat: XXXX
Language	Mother tongue is Tamil with unique Iyengar accent and dialect. Knowledge in Sanskrit for religious/traditional reasons.
Related ethnic groups	Brahmin   Iyer   Iyengar

Some Famous Iyengars

• Srinivasa Aiyangar Ramanujan
• Ariyakkudi T. Ramanuja Iyengar
• Rajaji
• B.K.S. Iyengar
• T.T. Krishnamachari
• T.V. Sundaram Iyengar
• J. Jayalalithaa
• Krishnamachari Srikkanth

The following were born Iyengars but denied their casteist identity later in life. In some cases, it may even be debatable whether it is appropriate to mention their names here.

• Kamal Haasan

External Links

• Sri Vaishnava Home Page
• Official Site of Tirumala Tirupathi Devasthanams
• Ahobila Matam Home Page
• Vanamamalai Divya Kshetram
• Sri Sri Sri Tridandi Srimannarayana Ramanuja Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji's Home page
• Important Links for Vaishnava Amrutham