Iyengar

For the yoga style founded by B.K.S. Iyengar, see Iyengar Yoga.

Iyengar

Regions with significant populations
Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Delhi, USA
Languages
Kannada, Tamil, Telugu
Religion
Vishishtadvaita Hinduism
Related ethnic groups
Madhva, Iyer

Iyengar (also Ayyangar, Aiyangar, Ayengar, Iengar) is the name of a community of Kannada/Tamil Brahmins of South India whose members subscribe to the Visishtadvaita philosophy codified by Ramanuja. The word Iyengar (Anglicised from the Tamil ஐயங்கார்(Aiyaṅkār)) literally means "people characterized by Five Components", referring to the five parts of Divine worship that Sri Vaishnavas who have had pancha samskara under a qualified guru perform.(Also see [1]). Experts in historical linguistics observe however that the appellation 'Iyengar' ['ayyaa+gaaru" = 'ayyangaaru' = 'ayyangaar'] is similar in formation to other historically known appellations such as 'appangar', 'annangar', 'ammangar' - all of which are constituted of two terms viz., a kinship term denoting an 'elder' and the Telugu honorific 'garu', a term of respect - appropriately contracted to 'gar' in spoken Tamil.

Introduction

Traditionally Iyengars have been found in the states of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. There is also a sizeable community of Iyengars in the Purulia district of West Bengal who had migrated from Tamil Nadu by invitation of the King of Bengal around 1100 CE. Today iyengars are widely spread all over the world and are distinguished not only for their knowledge of the vedas and divya prabandham, also known as Tamil Veda, but also for excellence in various fields such as science, technology, law etc.

Most Iyengars speak Tamil. However, Iyengars in Karnataka speak a dialect descended from medieval Tamil, which has a significant Kannada substrate. Iyengars in southern Andhra Pradesh speak both Tamil and Telugu.

Iyengars are followers of the Vaishnava tradition of the scholar-saints Ramanuja and Srimathe Vedanta Desikan. This tradition is known within the community as Ubhaya or twofold Vedanta, referring to use of both the Sanskrit Vedas and Tamil Vedas, i.e., Divya Prabandham of the Alvar saints in religious life. Today, Iyengars are divided into two sects, known as Thenkalai , or "Southern Descention", and Vadakalai, or "Northern Descention", with subtly different philosophical and ritual interpretations of Ubhaya Vedanta. Scholarly opinion is mixed as to the origin of the two names. Some believe that the terms Southern and Northern refer to differing regional developments, the Southern or Thenkalai predominating in the south of the Tamil country and the Northern or Vadakalai predominating in the north. Others argue that they reflect the importance or primacy given to Tamil Scripture, Divya Prabandham, by the former and of the Sanskrit Vedanta by the latter. Despite these differences, however, both traditions uniformly revere the same teachers from the Alvars down to Ramanuja and largely agree in their core philosophies. The differences seen today stem primarily from social conflicts stemming from rivalries at large temples dating from the 18th century.Thengalai Iyengars follow Ramanuja and Manavalamamuni. While Vadagalai Iyengars follow Ramanuja and Thuppul Vedanta Desikan. The differences between the two sub sects are minor and they are united as a whole.

Origin

The word "Iyengar" is a relatively new name and was not used in any medieval works or scriptures. The word "Sri Vaishnava" would therefore be the right word to describe them, though all of them could be called as Sri Vaishnava Brahmins. The word Iyengar itself, meaning one who is characterized by five attributes (Aindu angangal), is independent of the person's Varna or caste. Rather, it indicates the philosophical affiliation of the adherent. However, in current day practice, the term is taken to indicate brahminical roots as most people who affiliated themselves with the philosophy were from the Brahmin castes.

All Iyengars accept Narayana / Vishnu as the Supreme Being (Paramatma), and subscribe to a monotheistic philosophy of a Supreme Being who is the primal, substantive and supportive cause of the manifest and unmanifest universe. But it will appear strange for a Southerner to know that Vichitadvaitam as practised in South India is an unheard term among the Vaishnav Sects in the North India.

They also recognize all other gods such as Brahma, Indra, Shiva, Agni in the Hindu pantheon as subservient to Narayana and amongst the jeevatmas (sentient souls, chit) whose existence is dependent upon the will of the Supreme Being.

The community started taking shape a 1000 years ago, and traces its philosophical origins to Nathamuni, a Sri Vaishnava Acharya, who lived around 900 CE. Nathamuni, who was exposed to the divine outpourings of Nammazhwar and other Azhwars (Sri Vaishnava Saints from Southern India) introduced the philosophy of Azhwars into temple worship. Nathamuni's efforts were formalized into a religious system of lifestyle, practice and worship by Ramanuja, one of the most well known humanist acharyas amongst the triad who gave the famous three systems of vedantic philosophy-Visishtadvaita (Advaita - Shankara, Dvaita - Madhwa are other systems) . Ramanuja showed that the mystic insights of the Azhwars were the same truths enshrined in the vedas, and created a group of people whose identity as servants of Narayana focussed on the fact that all sentient beings were 'equal' being children of the same Supremet Being, and that outward bodily differences in terms of varna and caste were unimportant in terms of one's relationship to the Supreme. Ramanuja had Srivaishnava (Iyengar) disciples spanning the social gamut, including well known non-brahmin saints such as Pillai uranga villi dasar (before becoming Ramanuja's disciple, he would have been termed as a Shudra) and Tripura-devi, a lady disciple well known for her unwavering devotion to Ramanuja.

How many Brahmins are there among the 12 Azhwars? The answer is really surprising!

It can be argued that Ramanuja's efforts in bringing in people of Non-Brahmnical Origins into the Iyengar fold may have upset a few and might have caused the community divided into two sects, called then-kalai (southern descention) and vada-kalai (northern descention). Vada Kalai Sect aligned more with Vedanta Desikan. Thenkalais held the philosophy of Azhwars on par with the vedas and gave the divine outpourings of the Azhwars in Tamizh a place of primacy in every day worship. The thenkalais, led by the philosophical commentary of Pillailokacharya and Azhagiya Manavalapperumal nayanar, subscribe to the idea that human liberation stems from the uninstigated grace of the Supreme.

The Vadakalais, who trace their philosophical origins to the insightful Vedanta Desika, asseverate primacy to Sanskrit and Vedas, and believe that human effort is a contributory factor to liberation, as is Divine grace.

The community has always looked upon itself as a rival to the other Brahmin community of Tamil Nadu - Iyers, in spite of the fact many different Iyengar families have shared a common origin with the Iyers. Two of the Iyer sects vadamas and chozhiars have joined the Iyengar movement in large numbers. The former are more found among Vadakalais and the latter are found more among Tenkalais.

Dharmic Principles

Six Principles of Vishishtadvaita : Lord of Kanchi (Sri Varadaraja Perumal) told these six statements to Sri Ramanuja through Sri Thirukachi Nambi.

1. Sriman Narayana is the supreme self; unparalleled and unsurpased - Ahameva Param Tatvam.

2. The lord has all the insentient and sentient as his body, and He is the soul of everything - Darsanam Bhedam Eve Cha.

3. The way to get salvation is surrendering to the feet of the Lord - Upayeshu Prapatisyaat.

4. There is no need to adopt contemplation on the Lord during our final breath - Anthima Smruthi Varjanam.

5. After the soul departs from the material body, it gets salvation if he/she adopted the means of surrender (saranagathi) - Dehaavasaane Mukthisyaat.

6. One should approach a fully qualified Vaishnava acharya and get enlightened - (Poorna)achaaryam Samaasraya.

Sri Vaishnavam is believed to be a true religion of the Vedas drawing authority from the Prastana Thraiyam, namely, Upanishads, Brahmma Sutra, and Bhagavath Geetha.

In addition to the Prastana Thraiyam, Sri Vaishnavas consider the Tamil hymns of twelve saints called Azhvars as equal in authority to that of the Vedas. These hymns are called the Dhivya Prabhandham. The teachings found in Dhivya Prabhandham are completely consistent with the teachings of the Prastana Thraiyam. Therefore, Sri Vaishnavas consider the Dhivya Prabhandhams to be equal in status to the Vedas. For this reason, Sri Vaishnavas are called Ubhaya Vedantis.

The central idea of Vishishtadvaita is this: there exists an Ultimate Reality, an Absolute Being that is the source and substratum of all that exists (Saguna Brahman). This immanent spirit is the inner guide and controller of the whole universe with all its diverse animate and inanimate elements. Ramanuja, in his seminal work gadya traya (three prose works), reiterates the idea of Azhwars that liberation or Moksha from the cycle of birth and death Samsara, is possible only due to the uninstigated Grace of this gracious, omnipotent Supreme Being. Such communion is attainable simply through self-surrender and a recognition of the jeevatma's total dependence on the Supreme Being.

The Vaishnavite tradition began in the Puranic period. Most Iyengars follow an unbroken lineage of Acharyas. After the period of the Tamil Saints called Azhvars, the Dhivya Prabhandham was lost. During the 9th century C.E., Sri Nathamuni retrieved them by the grace of Nammazhvar and re-established Sri Vaishnavam. For this reason Sriman Nathamuni is considered the first Acharya of the modern era. In the line of Acharyas that followed, Sri Ramanuja is considered the greatest. Among his many achievements the commentary he wrote for Brahma Sutra, called Sri Bhashyam is considered by many to be the best.

Among the Acharyas after Sri Ramanuja, Sri Vedantha Desika and Sri Manavalamamuni are considered preeminent. After the time of these two great saints several Sri Vaishnava religious orders were established for the purpose of following the teachings of the great line of Acharyas. Among the organizations that follow Sri Vedantha Desika as the torch bearer of Sri Ramanuja's teachings are Sri Parakala Matam, Srimad Ahobila Matam, Sri Powndareekapuram Andavan Ashramam, and Sri Srirangam Andavan Ashramam. Among these the oldest is Sri Parakala Matam founded by one of the disciples of Swami Sri Desikan. Sri Ahobila Matam is the second oldest in this line.

The objects of worship are the images of Vishnu and His incarnations and the saligramas - small stone pebbles of different colors (predominantly black) recovered from the bed of the river Gandaki in Nepal at Mukti Kshetra. Saligramas are fossils.

Important Religious Texts

The four Vedas(Rig, Yajur, Sama and atharvaveda),Prashtana traya(Upanishads, Brahma-sutras and bhagavad geeta), Nalayira Dhivya Prabhandam, Pancharatra aagama, Ramayana, Mahabharata, Srimad Bhaghavatam, Vaishnava puranas (Vishnu Puranam, Garuda Puranam, Matsya Puranam, Kurma Puranam, Varaha Puranam, Padma Puranam, Vamana Puranam,Brahma Puranam), and the compositions/commentaries of various sri-vaishnava aacharyas.

Iyengars Today

Iyengars today have diversified into a variety of fields—their strengths particularly evident in the fields of law, mass media, science, engineering, mathematics and computer science. However even today, a few Iyengars choose to pursue the vocation of priesthood. Iyengars have been active in the cultural field too. Music has always been integral to the Iyengar community; Carnatic music has a great tradition within the community. Apart from vocal music, instruments such as mridangam, naadaswaram, veena, ghatam, violin, and more recently, the mandolin etc., Bharatanatyam were also patronized. Carnatic music and Bharatanatyam together enjoy a rich patronage in the cultural festivities in and around Chennai during the months of December and January.

Use of Iyengar as a Last Name

Due to political persecution in Tamil Nadu and the resulting use of the Initial Prefix system, most Iyengars who grow up in the southern states of current generations have not used Iyengar as a last name. However the practice is still alive among Iyengars who grew up in Northern India, Mumbai or outside India. In recent times there has been a renewed interest in use of Iyengar as the new generation seeks an identity for itself.

Famous Iyengars

Due to education and a progressive outlook, Iyengars have progressed in many fields and have made remarkable contributions, especially in science, bureaucracy (Indian civil services) and more recently industry.

Science and Technology

• Sreenivas Lakshminarasimha Malurkar (late), Former Director, Colaba and Alibag Observatories, Mumbai. M.Sc. Cantab, Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge, UK. Worked in mathematical physics at Sir Ernst Rutherford Research Laboratory, Cambridge, UK. Fellow, Indian National Science Academy. Post-doctoral Research Associate, Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, USA.
• M.C.Rangaswamy, Director, National Dairy Research Center, Bangalore
• Prof. Asuri Sridharan , Geotechnical Engineer, Former Deputy Director ,Indian Institute of Science Bangalore , Distinguished Engineering Alumnus Purdue University U.S.A ,Fellow , Indian National Science Academy , Indian Academy of Sciences , Indian National Academy of Engineering.
• Sir K. S. Krishnan - Physicist, Fellow of the Royal Society, Director of National Physical Laboratory. He along with Sir C.V.Raman discovered the Raman Effect.
• C S Seshadri - Director, Chennai Mathematical Institute and Trieste Awardee.
• Dr.Raja Ramanna - Nuclear Scientist.
• Dr S Rajappa, Former Deputy Director, National Chemical Laboratories, Pune.
• Dr Rangaswamy Srinivasan - Former Scientist, IBM Research Labs, NY and inventor of LASIK laser surgery.
• Dr. V.K. Aatre- Former Scientific Advisor to Defence Minister of India (replaced Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, Oceanographic scientist, Fmr. Scientific Advisor to the Defence Minister of India and Fmr. head of the DRDO.
• Prof S Sadagopan - Founder Director, International Institute of Information Technology, Bangalore, India.
• Mandyam V Srinivasan - Robotics and Biology.
• Dr. K Kasturirangan - Head of Indian Space Research Organisation (India's Space Agency).
• P. K. Iyengar - Former Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission.
• M. R. Srinivasan - Former Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission.
• Dr.Rajan K. Sampath - FAO Consultant Head of Economics Dept, Colorado State University and Former Director of ISARD.
• Dr. S. Rangachari - Renowned physician.
• Dr. P.Vasudevan- Renowned Urologist in the US after whom the Dr Vasudevan Wellness Center at the University of Arkansas at Helena, Arkansas is named.
• Dr. Srinidhi Varadarajan - Renowned Computer Scientists, Director of Terrascale Computing Facility at Virginia Tech and leader of the team that built the world's cheapest and seventh fastest super computer.
• Dr. R. N. Iyengar - Director, Central Building Research Institute, KSIIDC Chair, Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Science.
• Dr. Kotur S. Narasimhan - Former Director, Central Fuel Research Institute, (CSIR) Dhanbad, Bihar.
• Dr Thirumalachari Ramasami- Secretary, Department of Science and Technology, Govt of India, New Delhi.
• Professor Ramanuja Vijayaraghavan - Physicist, TIFR.
• Sonny Ramaswamy - Insect physiologist; Director of Agricultural Research Programs and Associate Dean, Purdue University
• Gita Ramaswamy - Textile scientist; Associate Dean of the Graduate School, Purdue University
• Ravi Iyengar- Indian neuroscientist, pioneer in G protein studies.
• Venkataramanan Soundararajan- Fellow of Biological Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and IIT Guwahati Alumni who founded the education consultancy company Lakshyas.com in 2005.
• Dr. Rangachar S. Keshavaprasad - American trained Interventional Cardiologist who has performed over 10,000 cardiac catheterizations completely free of charge in rural India.
• Dr.K.Aprameyan - Former CMD, Bharat Earth Movers Limited
• Prof.S.Ranganathan- Professor Emeritus ( Metallurgical sciences ),IISc and Bhatnagar award recipient
• Professor Dr Nallar Chakravarthy Vaijayanthi, Professor Obstetrics & Gynaecology, banaglore University
• Dr. Sudarshan - Remote Sensing Expert - Regional Organisation for Protection of Marine Environment - Kuwait
• Late Prof. Sampath -Ertswhile Director IIT Kanpur and a distibguished academic

Mathematics

• Srinivasa Iyengar Ramanujan - world renowned Mathematician.
• Prof Thothatri Iyengar - Professor of Mathematics, St Joseph's College, Tiruchi, and teacher of A P J Abdul Kalam
• S. R. Srinivasa Varadhan - Abel Prize awardee
• Ramakrishnan - Actuary - Consultant for various insurance companies
• Professor Chidambaram Padmanabhan Ramanujam - Mathematician, TIFR.
• T.S.Vijayaraghavan - Eminent Mathematician.
• Professor Mudumbai Narasimhan - Mathematician & Fellow of the Royal Society (1996).
• Professor Madabusi Raghunathan - Mathematician & Fellow of the Royal Society (2000).
• Professor Conjeeveram Seshadri - Mathematician & Fellow of the Royal Society (1988).
• Professor Mandyam Srinivasan - Fellow of the Royal Society (2001).
• Professor Cadambathur Tiruvenkatacharlu Rajagopal - Mathematician, Ramanujan Institute
• S Ramanan -Mathematician and TIFR Professor

Social Sciences / Literature

• Mrs. YGP (YG Parthasarathy) Padma seshadri Bala Bhavan
• Aandayya : Ancient Kannada poet of Sri Vaishanvisim ( Used 100% kannada for his poetry without mixing a single Sanskrit word)

• Mahamahopadhyaya Rao Bahadur R.Narasimhachar- Doyen of Archeology in India( Ex Director of Archeological Department of Karnataka ),Author of Kannada Kavicharithre(Epigraphy of Karnataka)
• Prof K T Bhasyam : Eminent Kannada Professor
• Vasudha Narayanan - President Elect, American Academy of Religion and Professor of Religious Studies, University of Florida.
• Indira Parthasarathy - Playwright, Author, Saraswathi Samman Awardee.
• Deepam Naa.Parthasarathy - Author, Tamil Novelist, Founder of Deepam, a Tamil literary magazine.
• A. K. Ramanujan - Chair of Department of South Asian Studies at the University of Chicago, Padma Shri Awardee and MacArthur Fellow.
• T. S. Parthasarathy - Musicologist and music critic for The Hindu.
• Chikkupadhyaya - Kannada Literature, Minister and Teacher of His Royal Highness Sri Chikka Devaraja Wodeyar.
• Masti Venkatesha Iyengar - Kannada Literature.Jnanapeeta Awardee
• Gorur Ramaswamy Iyengar - Kannada Literature.
• Dr. G.P. Rajarathnam - Kannada Literature.
• P.T. Narasimhachar - Pu.Thi.Na - Kannada Literature.
• Aadya Rangacharya -sriranga - Kannada Literature ( Drama )
• Sujatha Rangarajan - Fiction & Film Writer & Visionary A prolific thinker (From Srirangam)
• K.S.Varadachariar-Eminent Sanskrit Scholar.
• Mahavidwan R. Raghava Iyengar - Tamil and Sanskrit Scholar.
• M N Srinivas - Pioneering Sociologist.
• S. M. S. Chari - Author of books on Sri Vaishnavism.
• P.B.Annangaracharyar - Renowned Vaishnavism Scholar in Sanskrit and Tamil.
• D. Lakshminarasimhachar - Kannada Literature.
• G. Srinivasa Desikachar - Sanskrit/Kannada Scholar, Asthana Vidhwan - "Sri Abhinava Ramanuja" title conferred in 2006 by Governor of Karnataka.
• Madabushi Gopalachari - author, playwright, freedom fighter.
• Raghuram Rajan-Chief Economist, IMF
• Prof.Narayanacharya : Ramayana & Mahabharata Specialist
• Echeskey : Prof. H.S.Krishnamacharya Iyengar : Eminent Kannada columnist
• Heremagalooru Kannan : Kannada writer,speaker
• Varada Desikacharya : Eminent Sanskrit scholar
• Sri Rama Bharati : Carnatic musician & composer
• Sriranga Mahaguru : Founder of Astanga Yoga Vigyana Mandira, Mysore
• Dr. Vijay Govindarajan:Dr. Earl C. Daum 1924 Professor of International Business at the Tuck School and founding director of Tuck's Center for Global Leadership
• Prof VV Chari-Professor of Economics , University of Minnesota
• Seshadri - President, Shanmugananda Hall, Bombay
• Velukudi Krishnan - ( Upaniasam )
• Dr. Rangarajan - Psychiatrist - Chennai

Music

• Ariyakkudi T. Ramanuja Iyengar - Renowned Carnatic musician.
• Mysore Doreswamy Iyengar - Veena Maestro.
• Varaha swamy - Gottuvadya Maestro
• Madurai T.N. Seshagopalan - Carnatic music maestro.
• Chitraveena Ravi Kiran - Chitraveena maestro & Child Prodigy.
• Guitar Prasanna - Carnatic Guitar pioneer and Jazz fusion composer.
• Annamacharya - Vaishnava Saint and Carnatic Music Composer.
• Tiger Varadachariar - Renowned Carnatic Music Exponent.
• T.B.Narasimhachar - aka 'Saragrahi', renowned Carnatic Music Critic and Sabha organiser.
• BS Raja Iyengar : Carnatic Vocal
• Chitte Krishna Iyengar : Carnatic Vocal
• Belakavadi Srinivasa Iyengar : Carniatic Vocal
• M J.sreenivasa Iyengar : Veena
• Veena Chokkama : Veena & Vocal - Carnatic Music
• Srirnagam Gopalaaratam : Vocal
• Neelamma Kadambi : Veena & Vocal - Carnatic Music
• Rajalakshmi Tirunarayanan : Veena
• Vasundara Das - Musician.
• Sudha Raghunathan - Carnatic Vocal.
• NS Krishnaswamy Iyengar - Carnatic Vocal; Guru of DK Pattammal
• T M Krishna - Carnatic Vocal.
• Sangeetha Bhushana M A Narasimhachar- Carnatic Vocal Exponent
• Latha Rajnikanth Notable personality and singer wife of Rajnikanth Tamil Film Actor
• Lakshmi Rangarajan Notable Carnatic Vocalist
• Harini - Film Singer

Journalism

• TCA Srinivasa-Raghavan - Columnist, Business Standard of India.
• Seshadri Chari - Editor, The Organiser, periodical of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.
• Sreenivasan Jain - Of iyengar heritage and correspondent for NDTV.
• Madhan - Cartoonist.
• Govind - Cartoonist The Hindu.
• Sandilyan - Tamil Novelist
• Deepam Naa.Parthasarathy - Author, Tamil Novelist, Founder of Deepam, a Tamil literary magazine.
• T. S. SreenivasaRaghavan - Correspondent, The Times of India.
• Seetha Parthasarathy - Journalist and Author of The Backroom Brigade: How a Few Intrepid Entrepreneurs Brought the World to India.
• Vai. Mu. Kodainayaki Ammal - First woman editor in Tamil, Jaganmohini, Tamil monthly, and novelist(1903-1960).
• V.K.Narasimhan - Ex-Editor-in-chief, Indian Express.
• S.Narasimhan - Ex-Asst. Editor, Indian Express, Bangalore.
• V.N.Narayan - Editor Bhavan's Journal of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan.
• Indra Soundarrajan - Story Writer - Tamil

Industry

• Partha Iyengar - Research Vice President, Gartner Inc.
• Ms. Shobana Ramachandran - Chairperson TVS Tyres Ltd
• Shailesh Ayyangar - Managing Director, Aventis Pharma Ltd
• Dr. Krishna Bharat- Principal Scientist, Google Inc.
• Pulavanur Chakrapani Iyengar - ESSEE Industries Ltd
• Srikanth Nadhamuni - part of the team that first pioneered the Intel Pentium chip
• Narasimha Chari -Chief Architect ,Tropos networks
• Uday Garudachar - Managing Director and Promoter of Garuda Group, the group which owns Garuda Mall in Bangalore
• G. R. Gopinath - CEO and Co-Founder of Air Deccan
• Sampath Iyengar -CEO, PSI Systems
• Sridar Iyengar - Director of Infosys and President of TiE (The Indus Entrepreneurs) in Silicon Valley
• Suresh Krishna - CEO, Sundaram Fasteners
• A Krishnan - Ex Managing Director, State Bank of Mysore, Author of a rendition of The Ramayana
• N Sampath Kumar - Executive Director, Finance, IndusInd Bank Ltd.
• Ravi Parthasarathy - Vice-Chairman & Managing Director, IL&FS Ltd.
• S V Parthasarathy- Executive Director- operations, IndusInd Bank Ltd.
• Kuppuswamy Vijay Raghavan - Ex-Chairman, Engineers India Limited, Chairman, premier explosives Limited and President, EID Parry Ltd.
• N S Raghavan - Co-Founder of Infosys.
• Arvind Raghunathan - Managing Director and Head of Global Arbitrage, Deutsche Bank
• P Ragunathan - Senior Vice-President, IndusInd Bank Ltd.
• Srini Rajam - Chairman and CEO, Ittiam Ltd
• Shyam Ramanna - CEO of Crest Communictions, a famous animation firm and son of Dr Raja Ramanna
• R. Seshasayee - President of Confederation of Indian Industry and CEO of Ashok Leyland, part of the Hinduja group
• Balaji Sreenivasan - Founder & CEO, [Aurigo] Software Technologies Inc.
• Ramanujam Sridhar - Author and CEO of Brand-Comm, a prominent Brand consulting firm
• Raj Srikanth - Managing Director, Deutsche Bank Alex Brown Securities, New York
• Venu Srinivasan - MD, TVS Motor Company Ltd
• T.V. Sundram Iyengar - Founder of T.V.S. group (automobile and finance)
• N. Vaghul - Chairman of ICICI and Director of Mittal Steel
• Vidyadharini - Former Business Development Manager of Covansys, Sanjose now Business Head Innova Inc CA.
• TT Srinivasaraghavan MD Sundaram Finance Ltd

Diplomacy, Bureaucracy and Politics

• A. R. Badrinarayan (late) - Former Minister for Education, Govt. of Karnataka, Former Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha), Former President, Hebbar Srivaishnava Sabha.
• C. V. Narasimhan - former Under secretary General, United Nations
• C.Vijayaraghvachariyar- President, Indian National Congress (1920), All India Hindu Maha Sabha (1931), Member Imperial Legislative Council.
• Sir T.Vijayaraghavachariyar- Dewan of Udayapur.
• Sir V.T.Krishnamachari - Dewan of Baroda.
• C. S. Venkatachar - Dewan of Udayapur
• C. S. Srinivasachar - Secretary to Sir M. Visvesvaryya
• Rajaji - Freedom fighter, national leader, the first Indian Governor General of Independent India and also the Chief Minister of State of Madras.
• C V Ranganathan - Former Indian Ambassador to China.
• TCA Srinivasavardan - Former Home Secretary, Government of India.
• Justice K.S. PARIPOORNAN - Former justice Supreme Court of India.
• Dr.K.Sreenivasan - Former DGP & IGP of Karnataka State.
• L N Rangarajan - Indian Ambassador to Norway, Professor at Manchester University, UK and author of an English translation of Arthasastra.
• H V R Iyengar - (Late) ICS, Home Secretary, RBI Governor, Secretary to the Constituent Assembly etc among various positions in the administrative services in both pre and post independence India.
• Vijay Rangarajan - Acting British Ambassador to Mexico.
• N Gopalaswami - Election Commissioner, Government of India.
• G. Parthasarathy - Former Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan, Cyprus and Australia.
• S. Ramaswamy - Former Director General of Technical Development, Ministry of Industries, Govt.of India.
• Venkat Chary - Former Chairman Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission and Addnl Chief Secretary Govt of Maharashtra,currently Chairman MCX, Multi Commodity Exchange of India.
• N. Rangachary - Director, Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA), India.
• C.V. Narasimhan - Under Secretary General of the UN.
• C. Rangarajan - Former Governor of Reserve Bank of India and governor of Andhra Pradesh, India.
• M Ananthasayanam Ayyangar - First speaker of the Indian Parliament.
• K. Santhanam- An attorney, Gandhian, 1st Railway Minister in Free India, Governor of Vindhya Pradesh, Chairman of Santhanam Committee on Corruption, authored several books), including a critical edition on the Jallianwallah Bagh massacre.
• K Parasaran - Attorney General of India for Indira Gandhi.
• Mohan Parasaran - Eminent Lawyer - SC
• Ashok Parthasarathi - Scientific Adviser to Indira Gandhi.
• Sir Bhashyam Iyengar-Eminent Lawyer and one of the first Indian Judges of the Madras High Court.
• T.T. Krishnamachari - Industrialist, Minister of Finance for Jawaharlal Nehru.
• J. Jayalalithaa - Former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.
• K N Govindacharya - RSS Idealogue.
• Gopalkrishna Gandhi - Of Iyengar heritage (mother Laxmi was daughter of Rajaji and wife of Devadas Gandhi) and was Governor of West Bengal and grandson of Mahatma Gandhi.
• Rajmohan Gandhi - Brother of Gopalkrishna Gandhi and popular author.
• R K Raghavan - Director of Central Bureau of Investigation.
• T Narasimha Iyengar - Renowned Criminal Vakil who was a member of the jury investigating the Arbuthnot Crash and grandfather of Rangaswamy Srinivasan and P Ragunathan.
• Sr. Advocate Embar Varadha Iyengar- Renowned Criminal lawyer.
• N Kannan - Head, Civil Affairs, U.N Mission in Cyprus.
• Justice .M. Srinivasan-Judge, Supreme Court.
• Justice S. Ranganathan (retired judge Supreme Court and the Delhi high Court)
• Sr. Advocate Late Heragu Singaiyengar - Renowned lawyer
• TT Vasu - Eminent Personality
• Jairam Ramesh - Member of Parliament

Sports

• MJ Gopalan - Cricket & Hockey Player.
• S. Venkataraghavan - Cricketer.
• Krishnamachari Srikanth - Cricketer.
• Sadagopan Ramesh - Former Opening Batsman, Indian Cricket Team.
• W V Raman - Opening Batsman, Indian Cricket Team.
• M. Chinnaswamy - Cricket administrator.
• Sudararajan Kidambi - International Chess Master.
• T A Sekar - Cricketer & Chief Coach at the MRF Pace Foundation, Chennai.
• Krishnan Sasikiran - Chess Grandmaster.
• TE Srinivasan-Former Test Cricketer
• Shyla Yoganand-from Mysore (09823053135)-got an entry into guinness book of records as first lady in the world to reach highest motorable point on earth (khardungla pass - 18400' at -23 C temp.) driving an ordinary 100 cc scooter.
• N.S.Vardachari- freedom fighter and politician

Films and Entertainment

• R. Madhavan -- Tamil actor
• Vyjayantimala Bali - Tamil/Hindi Actress.
• Hema Malini - Hindi Actress.
• Kavignar Vali - Tamil Lyricist.
• Dr.P.B.Srinivas - Playback singer.
• B.S.Ranga - Veteran producer and director of Kannada, Telugu and Tamil films with more than 70 movies to his credit, winner of 2 President's Awards, Rajotsava Awardee.
• Kamal Haasan - Actor.
• "Crazy" Mohan - Scriptwriter and dramatist.
• Maadhu balaji - dramatist
• M.S.Sathyu - Kannada and Hindi Film Director.
• Sandeep Prasad- Actor.
• Aathreya - Telugu lyricist.
• Sadagopan Venkatesh - Former DJ of New Jersey FM, actor and stage performer.
• Yashoda Ranganathan - Indo-Canadian Actress.
• Sabrina Setlur - German rapper Of Iyengar heritage (Father Iyengar).
• Chithralaya Gopu - Tamil Playwright and Film Director.
• Vasundara Das - Actor (Kannada,Tamil And Hindi Movies).
• Y G Mahendran - Famous Drama / Cinema Actor
• Raman Vijay - Famous local comedian of champagne / aspiring Cinema Actor
• Suhashini Manirathinam - Film Actress W/o Manirathinam Famous Director in Tamil, Hindi
• Geetha - Tamil Actress and TV Actress
• Srikanth - Upcoming Tamil Film Star
• Late "Major" Sundarrajan - Yesteryears Film Personality
• "LIC" Narasimhan - Film and TV Actor
• Charu Hassan - Tamil Actor - FIL of Manirathinam
• Anu Hassan - Tamil Actress - D/o Chandra Hassan

Army and Police

• Aprameya Sreenivas Malurkar - Former (17th) DG & IG of Police Karnataka State.
• Gen. K. Sundarji - Former Chief of the Indian Army.
• General Sundararajan Padmanabhan - Former chief of the Indian Army.
• Dr.K.Sreenivasan - Former DGP & IGP of Karnataka State.
• S. Parthasarathi Ayyangar - Former Commissioner of Police in Madras Presidency.
• Lt Gen C R Sampath Kumar - Military Secretary to Shankar Dayal Sharma, President of India.
• Lt.Gen.S.S.R.Iyengar , Former commandant of School of Artillery
• Air Marshal(Retd.) Sriperampudur Raghavan,former AO-in-C(Logistics),HQMC
• B. N. Garudachar - Director-General and Inspector-General of Police Karnataka.
• K. R. Srinivasan - Director-General of Police Karnataka.
• Dr.P. S. Ramanujan - Director-General of Police Karnataka & a Sanskrit scholar
• K.Seetharam- Black cat to Rajiv Gandhi and Aide-De-Camp(ADC) to Governor of Karnataka

Miscellaneous

• B.K.S. Iyengar - Yogi and founder of Iyengar Yoga.
• Srinivasa (Hal)Iyengar - Chief Structural Engineer of the Sears Tower, John Hancock Tower and Spain's Guggenheim Museum.
• Dr. K.R. Srinivasa Iyengar - Former Vice Chancellor of Andhra University, who pioneered Indian writing in English
• V. Krishnaswamy Sharma - Founder LIFCO Books

External links

• Vedics Foundation - Organization devoted to the philosophy of Ramanuja
• Sri Vaishnava Sampradayam - Information about Sri Vaishnava Acharyas
• NAMA Inc.- An Association of SriVaishnavas
• Sri Parakalamath, Mysore
• Sri Vaishnava Home Page
• Srirangam Srimad Andavan Periyaashramam
• Ahobila Matam Home Page
• Sri Sri Sri Tridandi Srimannarayana Ramanuja Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji's Home page