Hinduism: Details about 'Niyogi'
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Niyogis are a sect of brahmins and are predominantly telugu speakers. Niyogi Brahmins are those Brahmins who took up various secular vocations including military activities and gave up religious vocation, especially the priesthood. Niyogi Brahmins depend and emphasize on modern education. They were ministers in the courts of kings and feudatories. Many of them were village accountants/clerks, karanams (in Andhra) or patwaris (in Telangana), until recently. The Niyogis are considered to be eligible for priestly service. But they will never either accept a religious gift or partake of Sraaddha food (food given to Brahmins duiring the death related rituals). According to Jogendranath Bhattacharya16a, Niyogi name is derived from Yoga, which means religious contemplation or meditation, as opposed to Yaga, which means religious sacrifice. Niyogin in Sanskrit also means "employed" or "appointed" and accordingly, it is probable that they are so-called because they accept secular employment. They were very rich and influential. Legendary Rayamantri belongs to this group. Niyogi Brahmins include eminent personalities like Veeresalingam Kandukuri, Radhakrishnan Sarvepalli, Venkatgiri Varahagiri, KL Rao, Prakasam Tanguturi, Venkatanarasimharao Pamulaparti (PV), General K. V. Krishnarao etc. PV was the only Brahmin Chief Minister (1971-72) of Andhra Pradesh and also the only Telugu Brahmin Prime Minister (1991-1996) from South India who ruled the modern Indian Union. Over the past millennium the Niyogi Brahmins are divided further into various groups: Aruvela Niyogi group is the largest Niyogi group. They belong to Krishna Yajurveda School. According to some, the word "Aruvela" is derived from 6000 (Aruvelu) villages in velanadu area of Andhra Pradesh. Some believe that Arvelanadu is an alternate name for Velandu and hence the Niyogi Brahmins of that region are Arvela Niyogis. Another story for Aruvela Niyogis is of a kakatiya ruler selecting 6000 brahmins (priests) to fight a crucial battle when all her army was decimated ( niyonginchuta in telugu means "to assign"). Hence, niyogis are commonly referred to as aaru-vela niyogulu (six-thousand niyogis). An alternative theory (narrated by R.E.Frykenberg) holds that the Niyogis are the descendants of 6000 Brahmins brought down from Kanauj in the 11th century to look after the administration. Niyogis have traditionally been well represented in the lower cadres of local administration in Andhra Pradesh. Pradhamasakha Niyogi caste belongs to Sukla (white) Yajurveda School1, while majority of Brahmins in Andhra Pradesh belong to krishna (black) Yajurveda School. In Maharashtra also there is a group of Brahmins called Pradhamasakha Brahmins. The Pradhamasakha Niyogi Brahmins are further divided into branches such as Vajasaneyulu, Saivulu, Yajnavalkyulu and Kanvulu. Niyogi is also a common Bengali family name, and means "recruiter". References1) "Andhra Viprula Gotramulu, Indla Perlu, Sakhalu," by Emmesroy Sastri. 2) "Hindu Castes and Sects," Jogendranath Bhattacharya. 3) "History and Culture of Andhra Pradesh," Rao PR. 4) 6) 7) 8) 9) External linksSome Bengali Niyogi's on the web:
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