Dear Sourashtra Friends,
Namaste! For a very long time, there has been a doubt in my mind
which i want to clear before you. According to our history, when did we come
here from Sourashtra? A few people say it may be during the Islamic invasion
but according to Mondasar's stone carving, this is said to be false and that
before the invasion, some Sourashtrians who were experts in weaving were forced
to come to the south by the South Indian Kings to weave clothes for their
palace people. I have shared the information regarding this in my essay which
is called a compilation of letters called "பை4கு - 2". But at this moment, this is not
my doubt.
According to historical references, some Sourashtrians were
believed to be Rishis and some weavers who weaved clothes for the deities of
Somanath Temple.
But my doubt here is, unless they were Shaivites, who adorned
sacred ash on their forehead, they couldn't have worked in the Somanath
temple.
Here are two examples to show how Sourastrians might have changes
sects.
When they arrived in South India, specifically Vijayanagar, they
might have changed to a different sect because the king of Vijayanagar
especially Krishnadevarayar was a Vaishnav king. Since, the people of a kingdom
follow their king, the Sourashtrians who had come to Vijaynagar would have
changed sects. This is my strong belief.
Another example we know is that of a few Sourashtrians who came to
TamilNadu from Andhra. Nayakkar kings, especially Thirumalai Nayakkar of
Madurai were Vaishnavaites. We know the history of how the king of Madurai
Thirumalai Nayakkar supported Sourashtra and gave them place to stay near the
palace. These Sourastrians were originally Shaivaites, who used to wear sacred
ash on their foreheads but when they came to Andhra Pradesh, they changed to the
Vaishnavaites sect. This happens to be my belief.
Here is a thought. Shaivites use "Iyer" as their surname
but Vaishnavaites use "Iyengar". If they apply sacred ash on their
forehead they are Shaivaites and if they wear "Namam" on their
foreheads, they are Vaishnavaites. But we Sourashtrians, use the surname Iyer
and wear "Namam" on our foreheads. Isn't that contradictory? But, the
Sourashtra pundits use "Iyengar" as their surnames and wear
"Namam" on their foreheads. This is and important thing here.
Our forefathers, when they lived in our homeland were Shaivites.
Due to certain unavoidable situations at those times, they had to move away
from their homeland and come to another place where they had no choice, but to
change to the Vaishnavaites sect. This can be true because of the fact
that our ancestors had "Iyer" as their surname. This is my
opinion.
I am not here to argue that this is right. There are many
historians among us. If they research on this, that is on whether Sourashtrians
are "Iyer" or "Iyengars", then the truth might prevail.
This is my humble opinion. I am not here to talk about the difference between
"Iyer" and "Iyengars" and I know that whether it is
"Iyer" or "Iyengar". they belong to the Hindu religion.
I am writing this because I want to clarify the issue. What
I have written may be or may not be wrong, but I request you to take what is
right.
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