Groups
Most of the Brahmins in Andhra Pradesh belong to the Smarta Brahmin group, i.e., the followers of smritis and followers of Adi Sankaracharya. The Smarta Brahmins follow Apastamba Smriti, not the Manusmriti. Āpastamba is from a family of Brahmins of the Taittirīya branch Vedic school dedicated to the study of the Black Yajurveda. and he was supposed to be living on the banks of River Godavari.However, a small minority of Sage Viswamitra are the followers of Aashvalaayana sutra i.e. the study of Rg Veda. Boudhayana, Parasara, Yajnvalkya sutras and other laws were also important in the courts of Srikrishnadevaraya.
Smartha Brahmins are worshippers of both Lord Narayana and Lord Shiva as also the various other Acharyas who have contributed to the spread of the faith. The Smaarta Brahmins in Andhra Pradesh can be grouped into two major divisions: the Vaidiki Brahmins - Learners of Vedas and Niyogi - those appointed to official positions by Kings. There are Vaikhanasas, a tiny vaishnavite Brahmin community of about 2,500 families widely dispersed in South India at Vaishnava temples in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and parts of Karnataka.
Some Telugu Brahmins follow the Dvaita philosophy of Sri Madhwacharya. They are known as Telugu Madhwa Brahmins are concentrated in the Andhra region and in the Anantapur and Kurnool districts of Rayalaseema.
Today, one can still find Telugu Brahmins practicing the ancient tradition of learning and teaching Vedas in most parts of Andhra Pradesh. There are many sub-sects of Brahmins, including Dravidlu, Niyogi (Aru Vela Niyogulu), Vaidiki Velandalu, Telaganyulu, Kanvulu, and others. Other important groups that eventually got absorbed into Telugu Brahmins from neighboring state Tamilnadu who are a followers of Sri Vaishnavism who follow Vishishtadvaita espoused by the saint Ramanujacharya.(Reference: Shreeram Balijepalli's articles online)
There are other divisions in vaidiki Brahmins. They are velanadu, venginadu, mulakanadu, kosalanadu, Karnakamma etc., The Brahmins who considered as purohits and who practice smartham as their profession are the well wishers of the society at large. The Brahmin community which prophes the vedic rituals and the 'dos' and 'do nots' sacrifies everything for the sake of society.
Read more about this topic: Telugu Brahmins
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