Kota Brahmins

Kota Brahmin

Total population
(100,000 (estimate))
Regions with significant populations
Indian states of Karnataka, Kerala
Languages
Mother tongue is Kota Kannada, a dialect of Kannada
Religion
Hinduism Divisions based on sect: Smarthas Divisions based on Veda: Rigvedi
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 district in Karnataka, Bantwal and Puttur Taluk in Mangalore District, Kasargod District in Kerala. 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. The annual car festival will be held on 16 and 17 of every January and is attended by thousands of people.

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, Hyderabad, Kerala, Tamil Nadu 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. A large number of Kota Brahmins migrated to Kerala and took up the temple priesthood there in the 20th century. They are called 'Potti', or 'Potty' in South Kerala and Embrandiri in other parts of Kerala. Today, Bangalore has a significant share of Kota Brahmins, where the community thrives in such sectors as hotel/catering 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.

Prominent Members

• K. Shivaram Karanth- Jnanapeetha awardee writer
• B. V. Karanth - Kannada playwright and director
• Prema Karanth - wife of B. V. Karanth, theatre personality
• Kalinga Navada - Famous Yakshagaana Bhagavatha (Singer) of the Millennium
• Upendra - Famous Kannada film actor and director
• G. V. Atri - Famous Kannada sugama sangeetha singer
• Kashinath - Kannada film director and actor
• Harish Hande - founder of SELCO
• Malathi Krishnamurthy Holla - Noted Sports Woman of International reputation and Paralympic gold medalist
• Rekha Hande - former Miss India
• H. V. Hande - former health minister of Tamil Nadu and founder of Hande hospital
• Aravind Adiga - Booker Prize winner-2008
• Vaidehi - Famous Kannada writer
• Mohan - 'kokila mohan' famous Tamil movie actor
• Prakash Bare- Technocrat turned Entrepreneur and Malayalam Film producer and actor

See also

• Brahmin
• Kannada Brahmins
• Hinduism

External links

• Kootabandhu.org
• Boloji.com