Dravida Brahmins, or simply Dravidulu, are Hindu brahmins and a sub-caste of the Telugu Brahmins of Andhra Pradesh in South India, who migrated from Tamil-speaking regions.[1] They are further divided into sub-sects based on the places where they have settled such as Aaraama Dravidulu, Pudur Dravidulu, Konaseema Dravidulu, Peruru Dravidulu, Tummagunta Dravidulu and Dimili Dravidulu.[2]
| Dravida Brahmins | |
|---|---|
| Classification | Forward caste |
| Religions | Hinduism |
| Populated states | Andhra Pradesh, Telangana |
Origin
During the reign of Rajaraja Narendra (r. 1022 – 1061 CE),[3] many Tamil Brahmin families settled in different parts of Andhra Pradesh.[4] Under Narendra's son, Kulottunga I (r. 1061 – 1118 CE), the first Chalukya-Chola emperor, several Brahmins migrated from the Tamil country.[5]
His son Virachodadeva, the Viceroy of Vengi, invited 546 Brahmin families and established them at Virachoda Chaturvedimangalam. Several records of the Chalukya-Cholas register the gift of villages in the plains of Godavari river to Brahmins who migrated from Dravidadesa.[5] These Brahmins who had settled in Andhra region are known as the Dravida Brahmins.[2]
Classification
They fall under the Pancha Dravida Brahmin classification of the Brahmin community in India.[6] Dravida Brahmins are divided into several sub-sects, which are named after the places in which they have settled such Aaraama Dravidulu, Puduru Dravidulu, Konaseema Dravidulu, Peruru Dravidulu, Tummagunta Dravidulu and Dimili Dravidulu.[7][2][8]
Most of them speak Telugu as their native language, while Puduru Dravidulu (settled in Nellore district) speak Tamil at home.[9][10]
Notable people
- Avadhanum Paupiah[11][12]
- Vavilla Ramaswamy Sastrulu[13][12]
- Vedam Venkataraya Sastry[13][12]
- Chadalavada Sundararamasastri[12]
- Chilakamarti Lakshmi Narasimham[14][13]
- Chellapilla Venkata Sastry[13][12]
- Ganapati Muni[12]
- Mahamahopadhyaya Tata Subbaraya Sastri
- Alladi Krishnaswamy[13][12]
- Mamidipudi Venkatarangayya[15][12]
- Ayyalasomayajula Lalitha
- Adibhatla Narayana Dasu
- Dokka Seetamma Garu
- Ayyagari Sambasiva Rao
- Sri Sri (Srirangam Srinivasa Rao)
- Arudra (Bhagavatula Sadasiva Sankara Sastri)
- Mahamahopadhyaya Vishvanatha Gopala Krishna Sastri
- Ganti Prasada Rao
- Ganti Jogi Somayaji