Namadhari Naik

Namadhari Naik

Namadhari Naik/Nayak (Kannada:ನಾಮಧಾರಿ ನಾಯ್ಕ Nāmadhāri Nāik) is a Hindu Vaishnava community predominantly found in Uttara Kannada, Udupi, Daksina Kannada District of Karnataka State in India and are numerically a majority community in the district. They have sub castes - Dasa Pantha & Bhakti Pantha. Known to be the followers of Sri Raamanujachaarya.Originating from Melukote of Mandya district. They are an agricultural community, though agriculture once formed an important source of income. The people of the community use Naik (ನಾಯ್ಕ), Nayak (ನಾಯಕ), and Namadhari (ನಾಮಧಾರಿ) as surnames . The community considers the Lord of Tirupati as their deity, apart from the local gods as family deities depending on the place of their origin .