The town of Udupi is famous for the Sri Krishna temple of the 13th century. The Madhwas believe that the human soul is saved by the grace of God and God bestows on true devotees. Devotional worship is central to the lives of madhwas.[5]
Madhwa Brahmins are not a homogeneous community. Followers of Madhvacharya include Brahmins from multiple regions and are from various linguistic backgrounds. Madhwas who speak Kannada, one of the major languages of the mainly southern Dravidian languages group, speak a variety of Kannada that borders on a literary dialect.[30] Even in the non-Kannada states Madhwas speak Kannada in their homes but with outsiders they speak the native language of that state.[31] The Marathi, Kannada, Telugu and Tamil speaking Madhva Brahmins are all followers of Deshastha Mathas, which are spread in Maharashtra and throughout South India.[32] The Tulu speaking Madhva Brahmins are followers of Tuluva Mathas. They are mainly concentrated in Tulunadu region of Karnataka, in the coastal districts of Udupi, Dakshina Kannada of present-day Karnataka state, and also in Kasargod and other parts of Kerala state. The Konkani speaking Madhva Brahmins are Gaud Saraswat Madhva Brahmins, who are spread throughout the Coastal Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra and Kerala.[33] The Bihari, Magahi and Hindi speaking Madhva Brahmins are Gayawal Brahmins, who are spread throughout the Gaya and Benares.[34][35]
Occupations
The traditional occupation of Madhwa Brahmins is priesthood, but they also engaged in occupations such as agriculture and the business. At present, the majority of them work in government and private sectors.[36]
The Tuluva Madhvas and Deshastha Madhvas are more sought after for priestly services by other communities. The Gaud Saraswat Madhvas are a religiously self-contained community. There are numerous cultural difference between these three subdivisions.[37] In Bihar, Gayawal Brahmins are traditionally priests. They are the priests in the famous Vishnupad Temple, Gaya, who also hold a traditional monopoly over the performance of shraddha rituals on the Ghats of Gaya.[38]
Madhwa Brahmins are pure vegetarian and their staple cereals are rice and wheat.[39]Udupi cuisine is a synonymous name to Madhwa cuisine. It is a major vegetarian cuisine of Karnataka, which includes a combination of cereals, pulses, vegetables and spices.[40]
Typical Madhwa cuisine consists of Saaru (Rasam), Huli (Sambar), Gojju and Anna (Rice).[41] Gojju is generally a beloved dish to entire Madhwa community.[42]
In sweets, Hayagreeva is a very common sweet dish made in most Madhwa Brahmin homes, made using Bengal gram with jaggery and coconut.
[43]
Strict Madhva Brahmins avoid onion, garlic, red lentils, and even carrots, radish, brinjal and a few other vegetables and spices. They usually only eat food (prasāda) that is offered (naivedya) to one of the Vishnu deities, and fast on Vaishnava Ekadashi days (twice a month) without taking any food or water. Fruits and milk are usually allowed on Ekadashi days.
In 2017 the government of Karnataka introduced The Karnataka Prevention and Eradication of Inhuman Evil Practices and Black Magic Bill, 2017 in the assembly, which planned to ban all superstition practices considered black magic that promoted "social evils" and the persecution of skeptics. After much debate, Madhwa practices were exempted. In this practice, mudras usually made of gold or copper are heated in the yajna fire and stamped on the body.[44]
Kumara Vyasa (1419-1446) - an influential and classical, early 15th century poet in the Kannada language. His pen name is a tribute to his magnum opus, a rendering of the Mahabharata in Kannada.[47]
Raghavendra Tirtha, (Guru Rayaru) was a Hindu scholar, theologian and saint. He has authored many works related to Dwaita Vedanta and written commentary on many Indian philosophies. Raghavendra Tirtharu entered Brindavana alive in 1671 in Mantralayam, a village on the bank of river Tungabhadra.
Veene Sheshanna (1852–1926) – an exponent of the Veena, an Indian string instrument, which he played in the classical Carnatic music style. He was a concert musician at the court of the princely state of Mysore.[53]
Dr. B. N. K. Sharma (1909–2005) was a Sanskrit Scholar (M.A., PhD, D.Litt) who was awarded the Sahitya Academy Award in 1963 for his book (in English) – The History of Dvaita School of Vedanta and its Literature. He also wrote a commentary on the Brahmasutras in 3 volumes. He was awarded the President's award for Sanskrit Scholars in 1992.
T. R. Ramachandran (1917–1990) - a Tamil actor and comedian who acted in lead and supportive roles from 1940s to the 1960s.[61]
Vishnuvardhan (1950–2009) – an Indian film actor predominantly in Kannada cinema.[65]
C. K. Prahalad (1941–2010) is an Indian-American entrepreneur and author. Internationally renowned "Management Guru" and one of the world's most influential business thinkers.[66]
Udupi Ramachandra Rao (10 March 1932 – 24 July 2017) was an Indian space scientist and former chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation. He is known as "The Satellite Man of India". He pioneered India's first satellite launch Aryabhata in 1975.
Krishna Kumari (1933–2018) – a leading Telugu actress of the 1960s and 1980s.[68]
Sakha Rama Rao – an Indian musician credited with having re-introduced the south Indian chitravina (or "gotuvadyam") to the concert scene.[70]
P. V. R. K. Prasad (22 August 1941 – 21 August 2017), was an Indian civil servant who served as Media Advisor to the Prime Minister of India, P. V. Narasimha Rao from 1991 to 1996. Prasad is an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer belonging to 1966 batch of Andhra Pradesh cadre.
Vishwesha Tirtha (1931–2019) was an Indian Hindu guru, saint and presiding swamiji of the Sri Pejavara Adokshaja Matha, one of the Ashta Mathas belonging to the Dvaita school of philosophy founded by Sri Madhvacharya.[71]
Bannanje Govindacharya (1936–2020) was an Indian philosopher and Sanskrit scholar versed in Veda Bhashya, Upanishad Bhashya, Mahabharata, Puranas and Ramayana. Padma Shri Awardee (2009).[72]
N. Vittal (1938 – 2023) was an Indian civil servant who held a number of senior positions in the Government of India, most prominently that of central vigilance commissioner.
Dwarakish (1942 – 2024) was an Indian actor, comedian, director and producer who predominantly worked in Kannada cinema in addition to few Tamil, Telugu and Hindi films.
N. R. Narayana Murthy (born 21 August 1946) is the founder of Infosys, and has been the chairman, chief executive officer (CEO), president, and chief mentor of the company.
Kodaganur S. Gopinath is an Indian surgical oncologist, known for his pioneering work on oncological research. He is a recipient of many awards including Dr. B. C. Roy Award, considered to be the premier medical honour in the country. The President of India recognised his services to the field of oncology, by awarding him the fourth highest civilian award, Padma Shri, in 2010.
Sudha Murthy (born 19 August 1951) is an Indian educator, author and philanthropist who is chairperson of the Infosys Foundation. Murthy was awarded the Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian award in India, for social work by the Government of India in 2006.
Shrinivas Kulkarni (born 4 October 1956) is a US-based astronomer born and raised in India. He is currently a professor of astronomy and planetary science at California Institute of Technology, and he served as director of Caltech Optical Observatory (COO) at California Institute of Technology, in which capacity he oversaw the Palomar and Keck among other telescopes. He is the recipient of a number of awards and honours.
Jerry Rao is an Indian businessman and entrepreneur. He is the founder and former CEO of the software company Mphasis.
Bhaskar Rao is an Indian politician and a retired Indian Police Service (IPS) officer who served as the Commissioner of Police for both Belagavi and Bengaluru City.
Upendra (born 18 September 1969) is an Indian filmmaker, actor and politician known for his work in Kannada cinema.
Whole Koteshwara Magane Brahmins are followers of Madhvacharya
Majority of Gaud Saraswat Brahmins are followers of Madhvacharya
Mainly found in Satara, Pune, Kolhapur districts of Maharashtra and North Karnataka region of Karnataka
Sharma says Savase Brahmins are found in large numbers in the Satara, Valva, Tasgoan, Koregoan and Karad taluks of Satara district of Maharashtra and in parts of Dharwad district in Karnataka.[18]
Entire Pennaththurar Brahmins are followers of Madhvacharya
Bansi Dhar Tripathi (1978). Sadhus of India: The Sociological View. Popular Prakashan. p.32. The followers of Madhwa are called Sad- Vaishnavas in contra-distinction to the Vaishnavas of Sri Sampradaya.
The Illustrated Weekly of India, Volume 93. Bennett, Coleman & Company, Limited, at the Times of India Press. 1972. pp.18–22. Page 18:The followers of Madhvacharya (especially Vaishnavas) are found all over Mysore, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra, apart from Maharashtra (Savase brahmins of Sangli, Tasgoan, Karad, Satara, etc) and Central Kerala (Gaud Saraswats)....Page 22:The institutions established by Madhva and his successors for the propagation of the system are found in different parts of the country. A large community of Madhva-Vaishnavas drawn mostly (not exclusively) from the brahmin fold has grown round these institutions. It is not a homogenous community on account of the barriers of language, manner's and customs, food habits and restrictions about intermarriages, etc. The largest number of the community are to found in the North Karnataka areas. Next comes The old Mysore areas, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, parts of Maharashtra proper, Tulunad (South Kanara) and U.P. Barring the Karnatak area and Tamil Nadu , the largest community of Madhvas is to be found among the Gaud Saraswats.
O. P. Bhatnagar, India. University Grants Commission, University of Allahabad. Dept. of Modern Indian History (1964). Studies in social history: modern India. St. Paul's Press Training School. pp.133–135.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
M. V. Kamath (1989). B.G. Kher, the Gentleman Premier. Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. p.4. The majority of Karhades are Shaivites and subscribe to Advaita though a small minority are Vaishnavites , having , like many Saraswat brahmins , come under the influence of Madhva.
Tapan K. Bose; Rita Manchanda (1997). States, Citizens and Outsiders: The Uprooted Peoples of South Asia. South Asia Forum for Human Rights. p.27. Most notably these were the Deshastha and the Karhade Brahmans many of whom migrated across the Deccan into the east Godavari basin.
B. N. Sri Sathyan (1973). Karnataka State Gazetteer: South Kanara. Director of Print., Stationery and Publications at the Government Press. p.109. The Koteshwara Brahmins, who are Madhvas, are a small body who take their name from Koteshwara, a place in Coondapur taluk.
Mysore Narasimhachar Srinivas (1978). Marriage and Family in Mysore. AMS Press. p.27. ISBN9780404159757. The Nanda Vaidikas come from the Telugu country and include both Smarthas and Madhvas.
Mysore Narasimhachar Srinivas (1978). Marriage and Family in Mysore. AMS Press. p.28. ISBN9780404159757. the Kannada Kamme and Ulcha Kamme are both Smartas and Madhvas: nearly all speak Kannada, a few Telugu also.
Karnataka State Gazetteer: Mysore. Director of Print, Stationery and Publications at the Government Press. 1988. p.157. The Madhwas are followers of the Dwaitha philosophy of Madhwacharya and have sub-sects like the Badaganadu, Aravelu, Aravathuvokkalu, Deshastha, etc.
B. N. Sri Sathyan (1973). Karnataka State Gazetteer: South Kanara. Director of Print., Stationery and Publications at the Government Press. p.109. The groups usually styled as Tulu Brahmins are mainly the Shivalli Brahmins whose main centre is Udipi....The Tulu-speaking Brahmins of the present day are largely followers of Madhvacharya. only a small number remaining Smarthas
Karnataka State Gazetteer: Belgaum. Karnataka (India), Director of Print, Stationery and Publications at the Government Press. 1987. p.199. Most of the Madhwas of the district speak Kannada at home. Among the Marathi speaking, a few are Chitpavans ( or Kokanasthas ) and Karhades and most of them are Deshasthas.
Gregory Naik (2000). Understanding Our Fellow Pilgrims. Gujarat Sahitya Prakash. p.65. ISBN9788187886105. The Karhada Brahmins: The Brahmins lived in southern parts of modern Maharashtra, between Konkan and Desh, in a province, then called Karathak, comprising Satara, Sangli, and Kolhapur, with Karad as capital. Hence the name of Karhada Brahmins. Among them too there are Smartas and Madhvas or Bhagwats (Vaishnavites).
Syed Siraj ul Hassan (1989). The Castes and Tribes of H.E.H. the Nizam's Dominions, Volume 1. Asian Educational Services. p.113. ISBN9788120604889. The Karhades are all Rigvedis of the Shakala Shaka, who respect the sutra, or aphorism, of Ashwalayana. They belong to both the Smartha, and the Vaishnava sects, and in religious and spiritual matters follow the guidance of Sri Shankaracharya, and Madhwacharya, respectively.
Kumar Suresh Singh (1998). India's Communities, Volume 6. Oxford University Press. p.2044. ISBN9780195633542. In Tamil Nadu, the Madhwa Brahmins are migrants from Karnataka. They have six sub-groups, they are Aruvela, Aruvanththuvakkalu, Badaganadu, Pennaththurar, Prathamasaki and Desastha and Badaga. They are concentrated in the Madras, Coimbatore, Coonoor and in Ooty.
Y. Subhashini Subrahmanyam (1975). Social Change in Village India:An Andhra Case Study. Prithvi Raj Publishers. p.71. The Madhwas or Golconda Vyapari Brahmins follow the teachings of their Guru Madhwachari who preached Dvaita in contrast to Sankaracharya's Advaita which believes that the Jivatma (soul of the individual) and Paramatma (cosmic soul) ...
T. N. Madan (1992). Religion in India. Oxford University Press. A third religious leader who has had tremendous influence on the Gayawal is Madhavacharya who flourished during the twelfth century ad. The Gayawal caste as a whole is a follower of the Madhava Vaishnava sect, and, as we have noted earlier, the Madhva math is a living religious center that wields a powerful influence on Gayawal.
Dr. Amith Kumar P.V. Bakhtin and Translation Studies: Theoretical Extensions and Connotations. Cambridge Scholars Publishing. p.83. The Madhwa Brahmins speak a variety of Kannada that borders on a literary dialect. Their language is punctuated by Sanskrit shlokas
R. Thirumalai, S. Manoharan (1997). Tamil Nadu, Part 2. Anthropological Survey of India. p.854. The Madhva speak Kannada, their mother tongue, in their homes but with outsiders they speak Tamil
Studies in the Linguistic Sciences, Volumes 8–9. Department of Linguistics, University of Illinois. 1978. p.199. The Desastha Madhwa brahmins in the South have traditionally been bilingual in Marathi and Kannada, Telugu or Tamil
People of India: India's communities, Volume 5. Oxford University Press. 1998. p.2044. ISBN9788185579092. The Madhwa Brahman are traditionally priests . In addition , they are engaged in agriculture and business . At present , most of them are in government and private services .
Journal of the Andhra Historical Society, Volumes 25–26. Andhra Historical Research Society. 1960. p.175. Krishnadevaraya of Tuluva Dynasty honoured the famous Madhwa Brahmin Poet Vyasatheertha
A. K. Ramanujan (2006). Poems and a Novella. Oxford University Press. p.193. ISBN9780195674989. Saint Vadiraja: Belonged to the sect of the Madhva Brahmins of Udipi.
Purandaradāsa; A. S. Panchapakesa Iyer (1992). Sree Puranḍara gānāmrutham: text with notation. Gānāmrutha Prachuram. Shri Purandara dasa who is considered to be the aadhiguru and Sangeeta Pitamaha of carnatic music was born in purandaragad in Ballary District near the town of Hampi, to a millionaire Varadappa Nayak and Kamalambal, a devoted wife and great lady, belonging to Madhva Desastha Brahmin race, by the blessings of Tirupati Venkatachalapathi in the year 1484.
The Illustrated Weekly of India, Volume 101, Issues 35–46. Bennett, Coleman & Company, Limited, at the Times of India Press. 1980. p.7. , it has been mentioned that Pachimiriyam Adiayyappaiah was a Karnataka Brahmin of the Madhva Sect.
"C. Hayavandana Rao". The Indian Biographical Dictionary, 1915 (Classic Reprint). Fb&c Limited. 24 February 2018. p.238. ISBN9780666284051. Retrieved 24 February 2018. (page 238) Krishnaswami Rao Kanchi, Dewan Bahadur, (1895), C.I.E, (1898), Dewan of Travsncore (retired), belongs to respectable Madhwa Deshastha Brahmin family; of late Mr. Kanchi Venkat Rao; b. 1845.
P.N. Sundaresan (1994). Sruti, Issues 112–113. p.9. Born in 1852 in a Madhwa brahmin family, Seshanna was the son of Veena- Bakshi Chikkaramappa, a vidwan in Mummadi Krishnaraja Wodeyar's court and a descendant of Pachimiriam Adiappaiah, the creator of the immortal Bhairavi
The Quarterly Journal of the Mythic Society (Bangalore)., Volume 73. The Society. 1982. p.124. P.N.Krishnamurthi Mysorean and Madhwa Brahmin was a Dewan
Vuppuluri Lakshminarayana Sastri (1920). Encyclopaedia of the Madras Presidency and the Adjacent States. Oriental Enclyclopaedic Publishing Company. p.610. Mr. Sanjeevi Rao is the youngest of the three sons, born in 1883, of his father Venkobachariar of Palladam, Coimbatore District, belonging to a respected orthodox Madhwa Brahmin family
Alonzo Simpson McDaniel (1990). The Absorption of Hydrocarbon Gases by Non-aqueous Liquids. University of Wisconsin—Madison. p.124. Kattingeri Krishna Hebbar was born on 15 June 1912 at Kattingeri, a village in Udupi Taluk of Dakshina Kannada District of coastal Karnataka, in a middle-class Kannada- speaking, Madhwa, Shivalli Brahman family.
"The Dharwad Gharana: Hindustani music's southern home". THE NEWS MINUTE. A name that stands tall is that of Pandit Bhimsen Joshi born to a Madhwa Brahmin family of scholars in Gadag, Bhimsen took his training under the great Pt Rambhau Kundgolkar, popular as 'Sawai Gandharva'.
The Journal of the Music Academy, Madras, Volume 58. Music Academy. 1987. p.110. Sakharam Rao was born at Madhyarjunam ( Tiruvidaimarudur) in the Tanjore District. He was the eldest son of Gottu Vadya Srinivasa Rao, a famous player of the preceding generation from whom he learnt the art. He was a Madhva Desastha Brahmin and a Rigvedi.
"Archived copy"(PDF). mha.nic.in. Archived from the original(PDF) on 15 October 2015. Retrieved 7 October 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
Sharma, B. N. Krishnamurti (2000). A History of the Dvaita School of Vedānta and Its Literature, 3rd Edition. Motilal Banarsidass (2008 Reprint). ISBN978-8120815759.
