STHANIKA BRAHMINS

Sthānika Brāhmins belong to Hindu Pancha Dravida Tuluva Smartha Brahmin group.They are primarily from the coastal Karnataka (Kanara) also known as Parasurama Kshetra. Sthānika Brahmins of south canara are also referred to as Subrahmanya Sthānika Brāhmins as Lord Subrahmanya is their kuladevata and Kukke subramanya temple was their main center till 16th century. Sthānika Brāhmins are followers of Advaita Philosophy and practice the Panchayatana form of worship. They are disciples of the Sri Sringeri Jagadguru Samsthanam from the time of Sri Adi Shankara.

Caste

Sthānika Brahmins are a subsect of Hindu Smartha Brahmins.

Etymology

Sthānika Brahmins acquired their name owing to their managerial positions. The word Sthānika is a sanskrit word and has meanings such as 'governor of a place', 'tax collector', 'one who holds managerial position', 'people of local place', 'A fixed worshipper in a temple', Manager or Administrator of temple etc.

History

Sthānika Brāhmins history in Tulunadu dates back even before to 200BC. From Historical records (stone, copper plate inscriptions and literature) ranging over a period of more than twenty centuries till the end of the 18th century, we can deduce and establish the facts, the origin, the history and the importance of the Sthānika brāhmins.
Sthānika Brāhmins were highly respected by, for their character, knowledge, proficiency, and efficiency. During the first quarter of the seventeenth century A.D., the Sthanikas in tulu speaking region of coastal Karnataka lost their reputed position because of the acute Saiva-Vaisnava rivalry, the changed political set up, the British revenue policies and as they joined their hands in freedom fights supporting the local rulers of that time.
Today sthanikas being well educated and economically well positioned joining their hands establishing unity among the different subsects of Dravida Brahmins and continue to be disciples of Sringeri Sharada Peetham.

 

Geographic distribution

The roots of this Sthanika Brahmins lie in Coastal Karnataka, in the South Kanara region, the majority of the Sthanika Brahmin families had settled, eg. in Udupi, Alevoor, in & around Mangalore, Puttur-Sulia, Yellur, Karkala, Kundapur, Kabbinale, Katpadi, Kasargod, Pavanje, Saligrama, Bhramavara etc. Nowadays a lot of people belonging to this community have settled in Bangalore and outside Karnataka including Maharashtra,Tamilnadu and various other parts of the world.

Language

The Sthanika Brahmins' mother tongue is “Tulu” and "Kannada". They speak a different dialect of Tulu called Brahmin Tulu, unique to their community.

Deities and festivals

Sthānika brāhmins offer Panchayatana puja worship introduced by Adi Shankara and celebrate all the festivals of South Canara. They mainly belong to the "Rig-Shakha" and are of different gotras .

Gotra and pravara

The following gotras and pravaras are found in the community.

Gotra	Pravara
Vishwāmitra	Vaishwāmitra — Devarāta — Oudala
Vishwāmitra	Vaishwāmitra — Mādhucchandasa- Dhānanjaya
Kāshyapa	Kāshyapa — Avatsāra — Naidhruva
Vasista	Vāsista — Indrapramada — Bharadwasu
Āngirasa	Āngirasa — Āmbarisha — Youvanāshwa
Bharadwaja	Angirasa - Bhāraspatya - Bhāradwaja
Bhārgava	Bhargava - Chyavana - Apnavaan
Atri	Ātreya - Archanānasa - Shyāvashwa

Food

Sthanika Brahmins are pure vegetarians.