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Sthānika Brāhmins belong to Hindu Pancha Dravida Tuluva Smartha Brahmin group. They are old Tulu Brāhmins primarily from the coastal Karnataka (Kanara) also known as Parasurama Kshetra. They are one of the oldest brahmins of South India and are referred in many ancient historical inscriptions as;Sthanapanthulu,Sthanadhikari,Sthanatthar,Sthalatthar,Sthanapadiyan,Stahliathiri,Thaliathiri,Thaniker,Sthanikar,Buddhivantha, Sthānādhipathi, Sthānādhyaksha or Tuḷu brahmins. Sthānika Brahmins of south canara are referred to as Subrahmanya Sthānika Brāhmins as Lord Subrahmanya is their kuladevata and Kukke subramanya temple was their main center until the 16th century. Sthānika Brāhmins are followers of Advaita Philosophy and practice the Panchayatana form of worship. They are disciples of the Sri Sringeri Jagadguru Samsthanam from the time of Sri Adi Shankara.
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Caste
Sthānika Brahmins are a sect of Hindu Smartha Brahmins.
Etymology
The word Sthānika is a sanskrit word and has meanings such as 'Fixed worshiper','Chief priest of a temple', 'Manager or Administrator of temple' 'One who holds managerial position','Governor of a place', 'Tax collector', 'People of local place' etc. Sthānika Brahmins acquired their name owing to their managerial positions such as 'Chief priest of a temples' ,"Tantris", Temple administrators, tax collectors etc.
History
Sthānika Brāhmins history in Tulunadu dates back even before 380BC. From Historical records (stone, copper plate inscriptions and literature) ranging over a period of more than twenty centuries till the end of the 18th century, we can deduce and establish the facts, the origin, the history and the importance of the Sthānika brāhmins in the history of Tulunadu.
Sthānika Brāhmins were highly respected by, for their character, knowledge, proficiency, and efficiency. During the first quarter of the seventeenth century A.D., the Sthanikas in tulu speaking region of coastal Karnataka lost their reputed position because of the acute Saiva-Vaisnava (Madhva) rivalry, the changed political set up, the British revenue policies and as they joined their hands in freedom fights supporting the local rulers of that time.
In 1836 Dewan Lakshminarayya a Sthanika brahmin started the first Non-cooperation movement in south canara and prepared a plan to revolt against the British rule with the help of the king of Kodagu. At this time the administration of temples was with Sthanika Brahmins and had an influence over large section of the people. The Sthanika Brahmins who were at the helm of affairs in anti-British movement, were sacked from their tradltlonal posts and their hereditary trusteeship of the temple was also cancelled. A large number of people from the community also have been hanged to death by British and the community became economically poor.
Today sthanikas being well educated and economically well positioned joining their hands establishing unity among the different subsects of Dravida Brahmins and continue to be disciples of Sringeri Sharada Peetham.
Geographic distribution
The roots of this Sthanika Brahmins lie in Coastal Karnataka, in the South Kanara region, the majority of the Sthanika Brahmin families had settled, e.g. in Udupi, Alevoor, in & around Mangalore, Puttur-Sulia, Yellur, Karkala, Kundapur, Kabbinale, Katpadi, Pavange, Saligrama, Bhramavara etc. Nowadays a lot of people belonging to this community have settled in Bangalore and outside Karnataka including Maharashtra,Tamil Nadu,Andhra pradesh,Kerala and various other parts of the world.
Language
The Sthanika Brahmins' mother tongue is "Tulu" and "Sanskrit" and "Kannada". They speak a different dialect of Tulu called Brahmin Tulu, unique to their community.
Deities and festivals
Sthānika brāhmins offer Panchayatana puja worship introduced by Adi Shankara and celebrate all the festivals of South Canara. They are smartha brahmins with predominant Shaiva -Shakta leanings and mainly perform Shivalinga archana and Koorma peetastha poorna meru shree chakra aaradhana. They mainly belong to the "Rigveda- shakala Shakha-Ashwalayana sootra" and rigveda samhita parayana forms the main crux of their daily rituals.They are of different gotras .
Gotra and pravara
The following gotras and pravaras are found in the community.
Food
Sthanika Brahmins are pure vegetarians.
Last names
Sthanika Brahmins end their names with similar suffixes which are commonly used by south Indian Brahmins which is commonly seen in Dharma shastras.
Associations
Publications
These publications, carries information about the happenings of the Community,like festivals, meetings, Religious programmes etc.