Ashtasahasram is a sub-sect of the Iyer

Iyer

Iyer is the title given to the caste of Hindu Brahmin communities of Tamil origin. Most Iyers are followers of the Advaita philosophy propounded by Adi Shankara...

 community of Tamil Brahmins from the Indian state of Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...

. They are believed to have been one of the earliest Brahmin communities to inhabit the Tamil country. According to one popular view, the Ashtasahasrams originate from a village called Ennaiyiram, which translates to "eight thousand", the Tamil counterpart of the Sanskrit word "Ashtasahasram".

Etymology

The name of the community is derived from the Sanskrit word "Ashtasahasram" meaning "eight thousand". According to popular belief, Ashtasahasram are believed to have migrated to their present habitations as a body of eight thousand individuals. However, according to another belief, the Ashtasahasram originate from a village near Tindivanam

Tindivanam

Tindivanam is a town and a municipality in Viluppuram district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Important roads from north to south Tamil Nadu pass through Tindivanam and similarly from west to east.-History:Tindivanam is a Selection grade Municipal Town...

 called "Ennaiyiram", which in Tamil translates to eight thousand.

Divisions

The Ashtasahasram community is further sub-divided into four groups:

• Aththiyur
• Arivarpade
• Nandivadi
• Shatkulam

Religious Beliefs

The community are part of the Smartha sect and as such worship all the major Hindu dieties. They are fewer in number as compared to Vadamas and Brahacharanams.

Traditional Occupation

The traditional occupation of the community is to function as household priests and to study and impart Vedic knowledge. However, in recent times, like other communities, they hold diversified occupations. As early as the Medieval Chola period, there have been records of Brahmins of the village of Ennaiyiram indulging in trade and commerce. Many also work as temple priests.

Notables

• M. S. Swaminathan
  M. S. Swaminathan
  Maankombu Sambasivan Swaminathan is an Indian agriculture scientist in Kuttanad, kerala. He was the second of four sons of a doctor.He is known as the "Father of the Green Revolution in India", for his leadership and success in introducing and further developing high-yielding varieties of wheat in...
  
  , agricultural scientist
• S. Balachander
  S. Balachander
  Sundaram Balachander , born in Madras was an Indian self-taught veena player.-Early life:His ancestors were from the Tanjore area, which is acclaimed as the seat of culture and fine arts in South India. His grandfather is Rao Saheb Vaidyanatha Iyer. He was born to V. Sundaram Iyer and Parvathi...
  
  , Veena
  Veena
  Veena may refer to one of several Indian plucked instruments:With frets*Rudra veena, plucked string instrument used in Hindustani music*Saraswati veena, plucked string instrument used in Carnatic musicFretless...
  
   artist and Carnatic
  Carnatic music
  Carnatic music is a system of music commonly associated with the southern part of the Indian subcontinent, with its area roughly confined to four modern states of India: Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu...
  
   Musician
• Patnam Subramania Iyer
  Patnam Subramania Iyer
  Patnam Subramania Iyer was a composer and singer of Carnatic music. Subramaniya Iyer followed the traditions of the great composer Tyagaraja. He has left behind almost one hundred compositions....
  
  Carnatic Classical Musician and Composer