04/02/2017 AgraharamBrahmincommunitylivingspacefastdisappearing!!

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''Almost nothing is known about the true nature of the Tallest peak Mt.
space-time continuum'' Everest,
........The Lost Warship" by Robert Moore Williams fascinating facts

Brave 13th century

In this transient world from its early beginning till Indian queen
now nothing is permanent. Old is always being Rudramadevi
replaced by new ones. Our heritage structures, living
Charles Dickens'
space, culture, etc face frequent changes with the
vicious racist
march of time and onslaught of modernity. Caught in
remarks (1857)
the ebb and ow of time and change, the agraharams against Indians
- once the serene, quiet and clean Brahmin
settlements, the space where one's early childhood life
Lables
was spent and enjoyed, are gradually disappearing. However,

some agraharams in Melattur, Tippirajapuram, etc of

FilterbyCategory
Thajavur District, TN and some in Kerala still retain the
past connectivity, old charm and the ambiance.

''The agraharam: the transformation of social space and

Brahman status in Tamilnadu during the colonial and
post colonial
C. J. Fuller

The name Agraharam or Agrahara is referred to the

residential quarter of a village that may also have other
communities belonging to different castes. In some
places an agraharam may include an entire village.
Also known as ''Chaturvedi mangalams'' in ancient
times, agraharam has been in existence for centuries
across south India, in particular. Several decades ago
before (1950s) it was a living space exclusively for
Brahmins only. Brahmins, by profession, were temple
priests in the very early days.

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A front par part of house in an agraharam, Palakad dist. mathrubhumi.com

The name Agraharm itself refers to the garland shape

of plan of the living quarter with rows of houses on
either side of the street and the temple to the village
god at the center, thus resembling a garland around
the temple. In some agraharam, as per traditional
Hindu practice of architecture and town-planning, the
street with rows of houses runs north to south on
either side of the road with one end of which there will
be a temple dedicated to Shiva and at the other end a
temple dedicated to Vishnu.

Agraharam, at Udayalur, Thanjavur districtn.www.thehindu.com

In the early days the traditional Brahmin settlement-

agraharam was a unique feature of numerous villages.
In Tamil Nadu the composite district of Thanjavur
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(prior to 1965), Trichy , Kanchipurm and Tirunelveli

districts are good examples. Basically it is a cluster of
simple houses with common walls on either side,
Madras terraces, country tile roo ng, Burma teak
rafters, pillars, lime plastering, proper ventilation and
water facilities; an agraharam is a good model
community living where they share the civic problems,
temple festivals, etc., commonly. The settlement is
located in such a way, the area slopes down to the
near-by river. Proximity of river assures of copious
supply of water, as in such places the water-table is at
higher level.

The following are some of features of an Agraharam:

01. Based on the topography and the nature of river

owing near-by and its banks, the settlement is built at
higher levels. This way problems related to water-
logging and ooding are avoided.

02. Invariably the entire agrahara village or the places

where Brahmins used to live were grants from the
ruling kings. Ganapathy agraharam near Thiruvaiyaru,
Thanjavur District is a good example. The entire village
is referred to as Agraharam'

03. During the Chola,Pallava and Pandya dynasties,

the great rulers granted agricultural lands for their
household needs, etc., and and lands for housing to
the temple priests - Brahmins to take care of the
temple rituals and six-kaala pujas regularly.
Those settlements were known as ''Chaturvedi
mangalams.''

04. The later rulers of Thanjavur, belonging to Nayak

and Maratha dynasties granted lands to the Brahmins.

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During th Maratha rule in Thanjavur, many agraharams

were attached to the chatrams (travelers' inns) built by
the Maratha rulers. Dabir Agraharam in Kumbakonam
city (named after Dabir Pundit alias Naroo Pundit) who
was a minister under Pratap Singh (1739 to 1763) and
later under Tulaja II. He introduced a unique revenue
generating system called Dabir Muri system. Though
this system
was not implemented, it was the Collector of
Thanjavur J. Cotton successfully adopted it.
05. Likewise, the agraharams and agricultural lands in
Kerala were donated by the rulers of Travancore and
Cochin. The rulers of Mysore, now in Karnataka State
donated many villages in the district of Mandhya, etc
to the Brahmins who were temple priests. Further, in
the earlier days the rulers patronized mutt- heads of
Saivite mutt such as Aadheenams of Tamil Nadu,
Sankaracharyars and Vaishvaite mutt heads - Jeers
and others.

06.In a typical agraharam there used to be two or

three potable common water wells in the same street
for all the residents there.

07.In any house the common feature is the presence
of a raised platform called Thinnai (pial) all along the
front portion either side of the main entrance to the
house with typical slanting country tiled roof,
teakwood rafters and solid teak wood pillars. The
overhang provides shelter from rain and reduces the
glare in the building. It is a casual lounging place/
seating area by day, where visitors are received.
Sometimes, it may used to discuss latest politics,
agricultural matter or simply local gossip. In my early
days the elders used to play cards to spend their
leisure hours!!

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08. A typical Brahmin house consists of three parts -

the mudhal kattu (receiving quarters), irandaam kattu
(living quarters) and moondram kattu (kitchen, etc.,).

09. Almost all homes will have sky space or open court
yard with gently sunken oor above which there will be
high tiled roo ng called mithaam ( a tamil word). In
some houses with out sunken oor, in the above
space, there will be
HISTORY what is informally
INTERESTING PLACES called
' kalyana
FUNNY QUOTES OTHER INTERESTING STUFF
koodam'- tall madras terraced roof with teak wood
rafters and windows on side walls for better sunlight,
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aeration and reduced heat radiation. For extra safety to
avoid burglary or entry of monkeys, etc the open space
at ceiling level is covered with thick iron rods riveted to
iron angles covering the entire open space. This space
is used for conducting small family functions,
ceremonies, etc

The agraharam-style house still retains its old charm. kalyana koodam-.www.thehindu.com

10. On the other side of the mudalkattu, the space

around the mithaam is used for receiving guests. and
relaxation. This space will also have a swing (in Tamil
oonjaal) with long wide wooden plank. In some
houses, there will be a small pooja room or space for
puja.

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11. In the second portion (irandaam kattu) - the living

quarters there will be bed rooms, additional rooms for
storing valuables, etc.

12. In the third portion (moondram kattu), there will be

kitchen and dinning area, and storage space. There will
be a separate room for storage of groceries. There will
be a small puja room or recessed space on the wall
with door.HISTORY
The kitchen
will havePLACES
INTERESTING a simple
counter for
FUNNY QUOTES OTHER INTERESTING STUFF
cooking, etc with simple chimney above it. This part of
the house will have well protected sky space for
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ventilation and provision for water.

13. All parts of the house will have suf cient gradient
to drain water. Floor washing is done twice a week
and also on festival days.There will be a common
spacious covered drainage provision and the waste
water will be collected in the yard garden where they
will be absorbed by the soil and trees.

14. Tulasi (basil plant) maadam (platform) and water

well will be in the rear part of the kitchen. Since the
advent of electricity in the early 1940s many rich
families had installed pump motors to get water from
the well.

15. Yet another feature is there will be a small

separate room with all facilities on a separate side of
the house for the family women who go through the
monthly 'period' - mensuration cycle; normally women or
girls are not allowed beyond the room during this
time.

16. The settlement is far away from the business

district in the case of big towns so that it retains the
residential character - quiet, peaceful, clean and tidy
and no pollution.

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17. A typical agraharam in those days was not only a

quiet residential settlement but also was a fusion of
architecture and typical Brahmin culture. Life here
starts in the early morning and by nine every body will
retire to his home. On week ends there will be Bhajans
or some religious discourse in the temple there.

Reasons for the disappearance

HISTORY INTERESTING of agraharams:
PLACES FUNNY QUOTES OTHER INTERESTING STUFF

A garland with open ends - Agraharam - a remnant of

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our old heritage and part of Brahmin culture, has
disappeared in many parts, particularly in Tamil Nadu
after 1965 for several reasons 1. Agricultural land
reforms introduced in the 1950s and 1960s, 2.
Political, 3. Poor employment prospects in the state
government due to introduction of quota system, 4.
major migration of younger generation well- educated
Brahmins to urban areas and western countries for
higher education and employments, 5. Because of
fast phase of urbanization, existing houses are
replaced by the modern building either by the Brahmin
owner or a new owner. 06. Kerala government is
making sincere efforts to preserve this old heritage
site which is a good model of community living in the
by-gone days.

Brahmin community boasted of high morality,

integrity, Bhakti (devotion to God), ethics and ne arts -
Carnatic music - vocal and instrumental and Bharata
Natyam. They typi ed an intellectual community.

Ref:

http://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-
review/history-and-culture/where-the-roots-are-
preserved/article4720524.ece

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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agraharam

HISTORY INTERESTING PLACES FUNNY QUOTES OTHER INTERESTING STUFF

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