Kota Brahmins

Kota Brahmin
Total population
(100,000 (estimate))
Regions with significant populations
Karnataka, India
Languages
Mother tongue is Kota Kannada, a dialect of Kannada[1]
Religion

Hinduism

Related ethnic groups
Brahmin
Smartha Brahmin
Shivalli Brahmin
Havyaka Brahmin

Kota Brahmins are an ethnic group that hail from the Kundapur and surrounding areas of Udupi[1] district in Karnataka, Bantwal and Puttur taluk in Mangalore district. Originally thought to have been brought to Kota (Udupi Taluk) and adjacent areas from northern India by Parashurama, they speak a Kannada different from the other regional dialects. Kota Brahmins who had been originally concentrated in the villages of Kota, Saligrama, Koteshwara and Kundapura of Udupi district, have spread to other areas.

Origin

The Kota Brahmins remained as bhasma (ash)-dharis and followers of the Smarta sampradaya. The other sects of the area were influenced by Sri Madhvacharya to become Vaishnavites, e.g., Koteshwara Brahmins and Madhva Shivalli Brahmins.

Guru Narashima

Kota or Koota Brahmins do not believe in any sort of human guru or religious heads. Instead, they consider the Lord Narasimha, one among the ten incarnations of the Lord Vishnu, to be their Guru [Kuladevata-family deity]. Hence, the deity in Saligrama temple is referred to as Guru Narasimha.

Kotas Today

Geographic Distribution

Though originally inhabiting in 14 villages in and around Kota near Brahmavar of the present day Udupi district, various families emigrated mainly to Shivamogga, Chikkamagaloor, South Canara, Bangalore, Mangalore and other regions in due course of time. Now, all over the world. Before India's independence, and the subsequent partition of states on linguistic basis, this place was included in the Madras state, and not the adjoining state of Mysore. Hence, many families migrated to Madras State for education, business and other purposes. Today, Bangalore has a significant share of Kota Brahmins, where the community thrives in such sectors as business, banking, medicine, life insurance, software and related engineering professions etc.

Surnames

Sharma, Adhikari, Adiga, Aithala or Aithal, Alse, Athri, Baasri, Bhat, Biliya, Gota (Koteshwara), Hande, Hathwara (Koteshwara), Hebbar (Madhwa, Koteshwara), Herle, Holla, Ibhat, Karanth, Kedlaya or Kedilaya, Madhyastha, Maiya or Mayya, Manja, Nakshathri, Navada, Rao, Somayaji, Thunga, Udupa (Kandavara), Upadhyaya, Upadhya, Urala, Rao, Bayar.

Caste

Kotas are the subsect of Brahmin caste of Hinduism.

[2]

Prominent Members

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Krishnendu Ray, Tulasi Srinivas (2012). Curried Cultures: Globalization, Food, and South Asia. University of California Press. p. 100. ISBN 0520270118. Retrieved July 16, 2015.
  2. http://www.bloomberg.comin
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