Satani (caste)

Satanis (Telugu: సాతాని) or Sathatha Sri Vaishnavas are a Sri Vaishnava caste who render temple services in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Telangana in India.[1][2][3] Traditionally, they have rendered a variety of services in the Sri Vaishnava temples as mendicants, singers, torch-bearers at festivals, makers of umbrellas and flower garlands, archakas (priests) of minor temples and guardians of temple properties.[4] They have claimed Brahmin status, although this has been contested by Brahmins.[5][6][7]

Origin/History

The name 'Satani' is supposed to be a corruption of 'chyatani' or 'chyati' which means "acting according to prescribed rites".[4] In their social and religious customs, the Satani community is associated with the Tenkalai movement[6] of Sri Vaishnava faith propounded by Ramanuja and have a long history from the time of Ramanuja and Guru-lineages and literature dating, from, at least the 15th century. They are descendants of mixed origin of both brahmins and non-brahmin castes like Sale (weavers), Darji (tailors), Golla (herdsmen) [4] who followed the egalitarian anti-caste Alvars/Bhagavata Vaisnavism formalized by Pillai Lokacharya and Manavala Mamunigal.[1]

There are several sub-sects among the Satanis/Sathatha Sri Vaishnavas and are known by various different names like Chatani, Chatadi, Ayyawar, Vira Vaishnava, Vighas,[4] Chattada Sri Vaishnavas and Sattada Sri Vaishnavas. They are also known as Koyil (temple) Sri Vaishnavas as they are Sri Vaishnava brahmins who have given up Vedic rites in order to give their full attention to temple service. Many follow a lifestyle (diet, dress, household appointments, and marriage considerations) that are strongly similar to that of the Tenkalai Iyengars.[1] Their names have the honorary suffix Ayyangar, the title acharya, swamy[4] and the ayya honorific. They give special honor to the servants and insignia of Vishnu; considering themselves "servants of the servants" (Dasanudasa) of the lord and revere Hanuman, Garuda, Chakra, Panchajanya and Naamam. Above all, they honour the Alvars, especially Nammalvar, and recite the Alvar's hymns for domestic rituals. Most have received their initiation (Panca-samskara) from the Koil Annan Acharya lineage of Srirangam, Vanamamalai Mutt at Nanguneri and Paravastu Mutt at Tirupati. From the eleventh through the sixteenth centuries, they enjoyed a supervisory status in many of the most important Sri Vaishnava temples at Srirangam, Kanchipuram, and Melkote[1]

Present day

Satanis enjoyed a greater status in Sri Vaishnava temples in the times past than they do today. The number of temples served by them has significantly declined in recent times. Their population in Srirangam was much larger in the past as some have left to serve other temples and some have sought a livelihood outside of temple service. Privileges have been eroded as they used to recite alongside Sri Vaisnava brahmins at Iyal Gosti at Srirangam up to 1942 when the privilege was cut off by legal action.[1]

The position of Satani in the social order is debatable according to Robert Lester and he ranked Satani below Sri Vaishnava brahmins and above all other castes.[1] In the 1931 Census Report for Mysore stated that "the request that the name Satani to be changed to Sattada Sri Vaishnava could not be accepted because Sri Vaishnava is the name of a distinctive group of Brahmins and Satani community is not generally treated as a Brahmin community. The adoption of the new name could be misleading." [7] They are currently included in the Other Backward Classes (OBC) list by the state governments of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.[8][9]

Notable people

See also

References
  1. Lester, Robert C. (1 January 1994). "The Sattada Srivaisnavas". The Journal of the American Oriental Society.
  2. Susheela, T. (2001). A Comparative Study of Culture in Telugu, Punjabi & Hindi Proverbs. Publication Bureau, Punjabi University. p. 28. ISBN 978-81-7380-416-8.
  3. Telugu-English Dictionary.
  4. Hassan, Syed Siraj ul (1989). The Castes and Tribes of H.E.H. the Nizam's Dominions. Asian Educational Services. p. 586. ISBN 978-81-206-0488-9.
  5. Apparao, Gurujada Venkata; Rao, Velcheru Narayana (2007). Girls for Sale: A Play from Colonial India. Indiana University Press. p. 4. ISBN 978-0-253-34899-9.
  6. Oddie, Geoffrey A. (2013) [1991]. Hindu and Christian in South-East India. Routledge. p. 95. ISBN 978-1-13677-377-8.
  7. Bairy, Ramesh (2013). Being Brahmin, Being Modern: Exploring the Lives of Caste Today. Routledge. pp. 167–168. ISBN 978-1-13619-819-9.
  8. "Central List of OBCs for the State of Andhra Pradesh" (PDF).
  9. "Backward Classes Castes/ Communities in the State of Telangana" (PDF).
  10. "చిన్నయ సూరి – గిడుగు రామమూర్తి 2 – ఈమాట". Retrieved 20 October 2020.
  11. "ఆంధ్ర రచయితలు/పరవస్తు చిన్నయసూరి - వికీసోర్స్". te.wikisource.org. Retrieved 20 October 2020.

Further reading
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