Namadhari

Namadhari
ReligionsHinduism
CountryIndia
Populated statesAndhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Telangana
RegionSouth India
EndogamousYes

Namadhari is a term used for people of all castes who follow Sri Vaishnava tradition, sport vermillion nama (a veritcal mark) on their foreheads and consider Sri Ramanujacharya as their guru.[1] There are a number of different Namadhari castes like Namadhari Naik in Uttara Kannada, Udupi and Dakshina Kannada Districts, Namdhari Vokkaligas in Malenadu, Namadhari Nagarthas in southern Karnataka and northern Tamil Nadu.[2] and Namadhari Dasari in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Telangana.[3]

  1. ^ Kamat, Suryanatha (1993). Karnataka State Gazetteers: Kodagu District. Office of the Chief Editor, Karnataka Gazetteer. p. 154.
  2. ^ Iyer, LK (1928). The Mysore, Tribes and Castes. Mittal Publications. p. 403. ISBN 9780836425352.
  3. ^ Singh, Kumar Suresh (1992). People of India: Karnataka. Anthropological Survey of India. p. 415.