Written by London Swaminathan
Post No. 15,862
Date uploaded in London –12 June 2026
Contact – swami_48@yahoo.com
Pictures are taken from various sources for spreading knowledge.
this is a non- commercial blog. Thanks for your great pictures.
tamilandvedas.com, swamiindology.blogspot.com
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Brahmins lived not only in India but also in Sri Lanka and all over Southeast Asia. The Tamil and Sanskrit inscriptions and books like Mahavamsa confirm it. Agastya and Kaundinya, two Brahmins, occupy an important place in the literature, Historical inscriptions and folklore of Southeast Asian Countries. Sanskrit inscriptions of Mulavaman, Purnavarman (Fourth Century CE) and others were discovered inside the deep virgin forest of Borneo (Indonesia). Yupas (Yaga Pillars) were also found there. That shows Brahmins did big Yagas as well.
The suffix Varman has been continued with the name of Kings from Mahabharata days to the modern period.
Sangam Tamil poets proudly include their Gotra names. Dr R Nagaswamy, famous historian and archaeologist, N.Subramanian, Tamil scholar gave us a list of the gotras found in Tamil Nadu in their books.
Here is a list given by N.Subramanian in his book The Brahmin in the Tamil country, Madurai, 1989 :
The following Brahminical Gotra names are heard of in early and medieval Tamil inscriptions:
1.MAUTKALYAYANA
2.SRIVATSA
3.KAUNDINYA (GNANA SAMBANDAR’S GOTRA)
4.KASYAPA
5.BHARADVAJA (NACHCHINARKINIYAR GOTRA)
6.JATUKARNA
7.VADULA
8.AGNIVESHYA
9.ATREYA
10.VISHNU VRIDHDHA
11.LOHITA
12.VASISTHA
13.GAUTAMA
14.PARASARA
15.HARITA
16.MUTKALA
17.KAUSIKA
18.SANDILYA
19.TARAYANA
20.AUSITHA
21.SAVARNI
22.SANKRIYAYANA
23.MASHALA
24.GARKA
25.RATHITARA
26.KANEKA
27.SALAVATA
28.KUTSA
29.VARAKYA
30.KAPI
31.TUMRAYANA
32.PAURUKUTSA
33.SAMKRASHTI
34.MATTARA
35.JANATKARNA
36.MADALA
37.KAPPA (KAVYA?
38.UDAMEGHA
39.LAKSHANYA
40.KANVAYANA
41.VISVAMITRA
42.ASHMATYA
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The following Sutra names are also found in inscriptions:
1.APASTAMBHA
2.PRAVACHANA
3.BAHUVRIKSHA
4.SANDIKA
5.VASAUNI
6.HIRNYAKESI
7.ASVALAYANA
8.BAUVISHYA
9.KALARASPA(KALASARPA?)
10.KALARCHCHA
11.VAJAYANESYA
****
Following suffixes to names occur
1.SARMA, 2.BATTAR, 3.SOMASI (SOMA YAJI), 4.KILAN, 5.SARMAN, 6.CHATURVEDI, 7.VASANTAYAJI, 8.TRIVEDI, 9.SANGHVI (SATANGAVIT), 10.AIYAN, 11.VAJAPEYI, 12.UPADYAYA, 13.DVIVEDI
Chaturvi- one who mastered four Vedas; oldest Tamil book was approved by Chaturvedi Acharya of Tiruvithankodu in Kerala.
Trivedi- one who mastered three Vedas.
Dvivedi – one who mastered two Vedas.
Tamil Brahmins were great scholars; throughout Sangam Tamil literature we hear only Chaturvedi (in Tamil Naan Marai)
Sanghvi is Shat Andga Vit= one who is an expert in Six Angas/parts of Vedas.
In Tamil we call it Sadangu.
***
The following sacrifices are also mentioned:
Vajapeyam (Indian Prime minister Atal Behari Vajpeyi was from the family of Vajapeya Yaga experts)
Agnishtomam;
Asvamedham (horse sacrifice)
Rajasuyam is mentioned in Purananuru (Sangam Tamil Literature)
Kalidasa mentions that Pandyas are always with wet clothes because eof bathing called Avabrudha Snanam (in Raghuvamsa; it may be about Pal yaaga salai Mudu Kudumi Peruvazuthi)
Pal yaaga saalaa= one who constructs many Yaga Kundas at the same time)
The following Sakais (shakaa= branch) or Charanams are mentioned:
Asvalayana – Rig Veda;
Apastambha , Bharadvaja, Baudhayana, Satyasadha, Vaikanasa 0f Yajur Veda; Katyayana- Sukla Yajur Veda; Drahyayana- Sama Veda.
From Madurai N Subramanyam’s book
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My old article on this subject follows: –
Brahmin Poets and Gotras
Brahmin poets of Sangam age identified themselves by thier Gotras. This gives valuable information to us. Even when Asoka sent his emissaries to Sri Lanka, they were welcomed by Brahmin priests. Mahavamsam says Brahmins were living in Sri Lanka even before Vijayan’s arrival there. It shows Brahmins were there at least from sixth Century BCE.
But most famous Brahmin poets Kapilar, Paranar, Mamulanar (Maamuulanaar) ,Kadiyalūr Uruthirankannanār etc. never mentioned their castes. Only other poets praised Kapilar as the most celebrated Brahmin because he was pure and self-controlled.
Pulan Azukkatra Anthanaalan – in Tamil
செறுத்த செய்யுட் செய் செந்நாவின், வெறுத்த கேள்வி விளங்கு புகழ்க் கபிலன்’ (புறம்.53) ;
‘புலன் அழுக்கற்ற அந்தணாளன்’ – நப்பசலையார் (புறம் 126); ‘
பொய்யா நாவிற் கபிலன் (புறம் 74)
***
We find the following Gotras in Sangam books:
The Gotras mentioned are: Atreya, Kausika, Kaundinya, Gowthama, Kasyapa, Kapya (Kaavya), Vatulya, Gargya,
Ilankousikanār இளங்கௌசிகனார்
Iraniyamuttathu Perunkundrūr Perunkousikanār இரணியமுட்டத்துப் பெருங்குன்றூர்ப் பெருங்கெளசிகனார்
Kallil Āthiraiyanār கள்ளில் ஆத்திரையனார்
Kāppiyan Chēnthanār காப்பியஞ் சேந்தனார்
Kāppiyātru Kāppiyanār காப்பியாற்றுக் காப்பியனார்
Kāsipan Keeranār காசிபன் கீரனார்
Kavuthaman Sāthēvanār கவுதமன் சாதேவனார் (ஆமூர் கவுதமன் சாதேவனார்)
Kondimankalathu Vāthuli Narchēnthanār கொடிமங்கலத்து வாதுளி நற்சேந்தனார்
Kōthamanār கோதமனார்
Madhurai Ilankanni Kōsikanār மதுரை இளங்கண்ணிக் கோசிகனார்
Madhurai Ilankousikanār மதுரை இளங்கௌசிகனார்
Madhurai Kavuniyan Poothathanār மதுரைக் கவுணியன் பூதத்தனார்
Neythal Kārkkiyār நெய்தல் கார்க்கியர்
Pālai Gouthamanār பாலைக் கெளதமனார்
Perunkousikanār பெருங்கௌசிகனார்
Sellūr Kōsikan Kannan செல்லூர் கோசிகன் கண்ணனார்
From other sources we know Chandilya, Bharadvaja Gotras. Most famous commentator Nachchinarkiniyar , and Nedum Bharatayanar, Teacher of a Chera king, belong to Bharadwaja Gotra.
Post Sangam epic Silappadikrama gives more information. Dr Nagaswamy, famous historian and archaeologist, lists 32 Gotras that lived in Tamil Nadu, from post Sangam period inscriptions.
List of Brahmin poets and their contribution in Sangam/ Cankam literature:
List of Famous Brahmin Poets:
Agasthyar ,who received Tamil language from Shiva
Tolkappiyar (Thruna dumagni), who wrote grammar after Agaththiyam became obsolete.
Amur Gowthaman Sathevanar (Sahadevan)
Kadiyalur uruththiran Kannanar ( Rudra Aksha)
Kodimangalam Vathula (Gothra) Narsenthan
Sellur Kosikan (Kausika Gothra) kannanar
Madurai Teacher Nalanthuvan
Madurai Ilam kausikanar
Madurai Kanakkayanar
Nakkiran,son of Madurai Kanakkayanar
Madurai gownian (Kaundinya Gothra) daththnar
Mamulanar
Uraiyur enicheri mudamosi
Perunkundrur Perungkausikan
Kumattur kannan
Gowthaman
Valmiki
Vadamavannakkan damodaran
Vembathur kumaran
Paranar
Kapilar-Paranar
*****
Books written by Brahmin poets
Tolkappiyam (Pre Cankam period); His name was Truna Dhumagni, according to most famous commentator Nachchinarkiniyar. Tolkappiyar beloned to Kavya Gotra ( Kappiyak Kuti in Tamil) Lord Krishna in Bagavad Gita praised this clan. Usanas was the greatest Kavi= Kavya= Kappiya.
Kurinji pattu (lines 261)
Thiru murugatruppadai (lines 317)
Pattinap palai (Lines 301)
Perumpanatrup padai (Lines 500)
Malaipadukadam (lines 583)
Nedunal vadai (lines 188)
Six out of Ten Idylls sung by Brahmins
Pathitrup pathu (all except one)
Ainkurunuru (Kapilar’s 100)
Brahmin’s contribution adds up to 10,000 lines, nearly one third of the Sangam/ Cankam literature.
****
No Brahmins, No Tamil!!
14 Jan 2012 — Without Brahmins Tamil would have died or at least become poorer two thousand years ago. The reason being Brahmins were the teachers of that language
Also more details are given in my article No Brahmins, No Tamil.
–Subham—
Tags- Brahmins, Gotras, Yagas, Tamil inscriptions, Brahmin poets, Sutras, Tolkappiar
Tamil and Vedas 