Wikipedia
Iyengar or Ayyangar is a caste of Hindu Brahmins of Tamil origin whose members follow the Visishtadvaita philosophy propounded by Ramanuja. They are found mostly in the Indian states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
Iyengar are divided into two religious sects, the Vadakalai and the Thenkalai. As with other Hindu communities, they are also classified based on their gotra, or patrilineal descent.
The Iyengar community trace their origin in Tamil Nadu from the period of Ramanuja. But they are also migrated and settled in other South Indian states mostly Karnataka, thus speaking Kannada, Telugu.
Iyengars display a mark on their forehead known as the Srivaishnava Urdhva Pundra as a caste mark.
Iyengar may be:
- Iyengar, an Indian caste
- B. K. S. Iyengar, founder of Iyengar Yoga
- Sitharama Iyengar, a US-based computer scientist