Telugu Brahmin


Telugu Brahmins are Brahmin communities native to the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

History

Origin theories

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 into peninsular India. Telugu brahmins are also called Andhras.

Classification

Telugu Brahmins fall under the Pancha Dravida Brahmin classification of the Brahmin community in India.
The Brahmins of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana mainly include Vaidikis, Niyogis, Deshasthas and Dravidas. They are divided on the basis of Vedic traditions that they follow such as Smartha, Madhva, and Sri Vaishnava.
Vaidikis are Smarthas, while Niyogis have both Smarthas and Sri Vaishnavas among them. Deshasthas are divided into two groups Deshastha Madhva Brahmins and Deshastha Smartha Brahmins.

Occupation

During the Medieval & Modern India

are generally village record keepers, poets and sometimes ministers, while Vaidiki Brahmins are priest and teachers. Deshastha Madhva Brahmins served as high level administrators
such as Deshmukhs, Deshpandes and Majumdars under Qutb shahis of Golkonda and Nizams of Hyderabad in Andhra Pradesh, while Dravidulu served as priests under local rulers, zamindars and chieftains. Deshastha Brahmins also ruled Andhra Pradesh as Zamindars. In fact two out of five Zamindars of Guntur were Deshasthas, whose title was "Deshmukh".

Post Independence of India

Brahmins followed a distinct tradition, "Brahminism". This is inculcated in how they worship. Thus, several earlier generation brahmins of some sect were priests by profession in ancient India. Modern India still observes only Brahmins as priests for their capacity to be vedic experts. Being experts in four vedas, they have long known to be teachers by profession too. Old times has seen Brahmins as landlords too. Brahmins today are professionals like doctors, engineers, scientists, teachers due to their insistence on professional education. Several Brahmins are profound musicians with national and international recognition. Classical music was more prevalent among Brahmins.

Population distribution

According to 1921 Census of India, In Telugu states Brahmins constitute three percent of total population.
According to a survey by Outlook India in 2003, Brahmins were estimated to be around 5% of Telugu states population.