Find your community’s tradition stack

Notes — Mostly Sringeri-affiliated Smarthas; small percentage migrated to Madhva or Vaishnava sampradayas. Kuladevatas often at coastal Karnataka shrines (Murudeshwar, Idagunji Ganapati, Banavasi Madhukeshwara, Marikamba).

Notes — Many specifically tied to one of the 8 Udupi mathas (Pejawar / Palimar / Adamar / Puttige / Sode / Kaniyur / Shirur / Krishnapura) or Uttaradi Math, Raghavendra Swami Math at Mantralayam. Strong tulasi maala + gopichandana namam culture.

Notes — Smartha sub-community of old Mysore region. Some families align with Kanchi.

Notes — Tied historically to the Hoysala kingdom (12th–14th century). Mostly Smarthas under Sringeri. Belur Chennakeshava + Halebidu Hoysaleshwara are iconic community kshetras.

Notes — Coastal Karnataka Smarthas. Kota itself is a town near Kundapura. Strong Mookambika (Kollur) + Anantheshwara (Udupi) devotion.

Notes — Sri Madhvacharya was born into a Shivalli family (Pajaka, near Udupi). Community is core Udupi-Madhva. Strong association with the 8 Udupi mathas Paryaya rotation.

Notes — Madhva sub-community. Smaller numerically.

Notes — Traditional goldsmith Brahmin community. Mostly Madhva-aligned. Mahalakshmi at Bandivade (Goa) + Shantadurga shrines are key.

Notes — Largest Iyer sub-division. Predominantly under Kanchi; sub-segments under Sringeri. Strong Lalita Sahasranama + Soundarya Lahari recitation tradition.

Notes — Second-largest Iyer sub-division. Sringeri / Kanchi affiliation.

Notes — Sub-division concentrated around Thanjavur. Smaller numerically.

Notes — Smaller Iyer sub-division. Smartha-Bodhayana stack.

Notes — U-shape tiruman with central red SriChurnam. Vedanta Desika (1268–1369) is the codifying acharya. Daily Daya Shatakam + Hayagriva Stotram recitation.

Notes — Y-shape tiruman extending to nose-bridge. Manavala Mamunigal (1370–1443) is the codifying acharya. Stronger Tamil Divya Prabandham emphasis. Marjala-nyaya (kitten-and-mother) theology of surrender.

Notes — Hereditary archaka community at Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam + Vaikhanasa-aligned Vishnu temples. Vaikhanasa Sutra is the family kalpasutra. Distinct from Pancharatra-Iyengar lineage in agama details.

Notes — Adi Saiva archaka community serving Tamil Shaiva Siddhanta temples (28 Saiva Agamas). Tirumular tradition. Daily 6 kala-pujas at major temples. Tamil Tevaram alongside Sanskrit Sri Rudram.

Notes — Kerala Smarthas. Distinct ritual culture preserved (Athirathram, Agnichayanam — still performed, last full Athirathram at Panjal 1975 / 2011 / 2015). Most aligned with no specific peetham; some families with the Madhva diksha. Many serve as tantris in Kerala temples.

Notes — Tulu-speaking Smartha Brahmins. Many serve as temple priests in coastal Karnataka + north Kerala.

Notes — Kerala temple-priest community (specifically for flower-offering services, hence the name). Distinct from Nambudiris.

Notes — Largest Andhra Brahmin community. Bodhayana paddhati dominant; some Apastamba families. Pushpagiri / Ahobilam / Tirupati cluster are common kuladevata kshetras.

Notes — Historically administrative + scribal Brahmins (Niyogi = "appointed to office"). Vaidiki performs the priestly role; Niyogi traditionally did not. Sampradaya stack varies; mostly Smartha.

Notes — Velanadu Brahmins of coastal Andhra. Strong Bhadrachalam Sri Rama + Annavaram Satyanarayana association.

Notes — Smaller Andhra Smartha community. Smartha-Bodhayana stack.

Notes — Largest Maharashtra Brahmin community. Most are Smartha; sub-segments are Rigvedi (Aashvalayana paddhati) or Madhva. Khandoba / Vitthal (Pandharpur) / Bhavani (Tuljapur) are common kuladevatas.

Notes — Rigvedi sub-segment of Deshastha. Follow Aashvalayana grihya sutra.

Notes — Konkan-coast Rigvedi Brahmins. Mostly Smartha. Concentrated in Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg belt + later migrated to Pune. The Peshwa dynasty was from this community.

Notes — Rigvedi Maharashtrian Brahmins. Smaller numerically than Deshastha + Chitpavan.

Notes — Konkan Brahmin community. Smartha. Smaller community.

Notes — GSB community largely under Kashi Math (Varanasi) or Gokarna Partagali Jeevottam Math — both Madhva-aligned Vaishnava lineages. Kuladevatas: Mahalakshmi at Bandivade, Mangesh / Shantadurga / Nagesh in Goa.

Notes — Smartha-Advaita Saraswat lineage. Distinct from GSB which is Vaishnava. Chitrapur Math at Shirali (Uttara Kannada) is the seat.

Notes — Saraswat sub-community. Vaishnava alignment typical.

Notes — Gujarat Smartha community. Hatkeshwar (Vadnagar) is the principal kuladevata. Several sub-divisions (Vadnagara, Visnagara, Sathodra, Krishnora).

Notes — Gujarat Smarthas, originally migrated from north India (Audichya = "northern"). Diverse sub-divisions.

Notes — Rajasthan Smarthas, traditionally serving Pushkar Brahma temple.

Notes — North Indian Smartha community.

Notes — Smarthas of the Kannauj region. Major North Indian Brahmin community.

Notes — Trika-Kashmir-Shaivism alignment. Abhinavagupta-Vasugupta tradition. Distinct from Tamil Shaiva Siddhanta. Sharika Devi (Hari Parbat) + Kheer Bhawani are key shrines.

Notes — Largest Brahmin community in the north. Smartha-aligned. Many sub-divisions (Adi Gaur, Shri Gaur, etc.).

Notes — Bengali Smartha Brahmins typically follow Tantra Saara paddhati (Krishnananda Agamavagisha's 16th-cent. compendium). Strong Shakta orientation — Kali / Durga puja are core. Sub-divisions include Rarhi, Varendra.

Notes — Mithila Brahmins. Smartha-aligned. Sita-mata + Madhubani folk-shakta traditions.

Notes — Many serve as priests at Jagannath Puri. Distinct Jagannath-Pancharatra paddhati. Some Smartha + Shakta sub-segments.

Notes — Ishtalinga puja paddhati. Basavanna (1131–1167) is the codifying acharya. Kannada Vachana sahitya (Akka Mahadevi / Allama Prabhu) in daily devotion. Sub-jangama lineages tied to specific mathas (Murugha Mutt, Suttur Mutt, etc.).

Notes — The jangama is the wandering / monastic priest within the Veerashaiva tradition. Distinct from grihastha Lingayats.

Notes — Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (1486–1534) tradition. ISKCON is the modern global stream founded by Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada (1966). Mahamantra japa + deity-seva culture.

Notes — Generic Pancharatra-agama-aligned Vaishnava archaka. Specific paddhati depends on sub-sampradaya.

Notes — Karnataka agrarian community. Predominantly Smartha; engage Bodhayana-paddhati Brahmin purohits for samskaras. Kuladevatas: Adichunchanagiri Mutt, Melukote, Nanjangud, Chamundeshwari (Mysuru). Sub-clans: Gangadikara, Mulukanad, Hallikar, Reddy Vokkaliga.

Notes — Lingayat trader / mercantile sub-community. Ishtalinga puja. Aligned to a specific Veerashaiva matha (Murugha / Suttur / Edeyur / Siddhaganga).

Notes — Largest Lingayat sub-division by numbers. Agrarian + martial-historical roots in N. Karnataka. Strong matha association (Suttur, Murugha, etc.).

Notes — Lingayat sub-community.

Notes — Goldsmith Lingayats. Ishtalinga puja + occupation-tied family devata.

Notes — Shepherd / agrarian community. Predominantly Shaiva-Smartha alignment. Kuladevatas: Mailara Linga, Beerappa, Junjappa. Kanaka Dasa (Madhva saint) was from this community.

Notes — Weaver community. Kuladevi: Chowdeshwari Devi. Shakta-aligned. Engage Smartha or Madhva Brahmin purohits depending on region.

Notes — Tulu-speaking matrilineal community. Strong Bhuta Kola / Daivaradhane tradition + Shakta worship. Kuladevatas: Mookambika (Kollur), Durga Parameshwari (Kateel), Mangaladevi, Polali. Tulu Daivas (Panjurli, Guliga, Pilichamundi etc.) worshipped alongside Brahminical deities.

Notes — Tulu fisher community. Strong Marigudi (Marikamba) + Daivaradhane tradition.

Notes — Tulu toddy-tapper / agrarian community. Brahma Baidarkala association (Koti-Chennaya legends). Daivaradhane + Shakta worship. Narayana Guru influence.

Notes — Potter community. Folk Shakta + Smartha mixed.

Notes — Tamil Shaiva Siddhanta tradition. Strong Tevaram + Tiruvasagam recitation. Kuladevatas: Murugan (Aru-padaiveedu), Meenakshi-Sundareshwarar.

Notes — Kongu region agrarian community. Predominantly Shaiva. Kuladevatas: Bannari Mariamman, Kongu Andavar, Murugan (Marudamalai).

Notes — Vellalar sub-community in Chola country. Shaiva tradition.

Notes — Mudaliar sub-community of Tuluva-Vellalar origin. Shaiva tradition.

Notes — Weaver Mudaliar community. Devotion to Murugan + Kamakshi. Shaiva-Shakta mix.

Notes — Mukkulathor sub-community (with Maravar + Kallar). Strong Aiyanar / Karuppasamy worship.

Notes — Chettinad merchant community. Saiva tradition with strong dedication to the 9 Chettinad clan temples (Ilayathangudi, Pillaiyarpatti, Vairavanpatti, Nemam, Iraniyur, Mattur, Surakkudi, Kandanur, Iluppakkudi). Pillaiyarpatti Ganesha is the kuladevata for many.

Notes — Weaver Chettiar community. Chowdeshwari Devi kuladevi.

Notes — Saurashtra-origin silk weavers settled in Madurai for centuries; speak Saurashtri (Indo-Aryan). Vaishnava-aligned. Major presence in Madurai Meenakshi temple silk trade.

Notes — South Tamil community, historically toddy + agrarian, now mercantile-dominant. Kuladevatas: Bhadrakali (Tirunelveli), Mutharamman (Kulasekarapatnam), Bhagavathy. Many in Tuticorin region are Roman Catholic / Protestant.

Notes — North Tamil agrarian community claiming Kshatriya status. Strong Aiyanar / Draupadi Amman / Angala Parameshwari worship. Shaiva + Shakta alignment.

Notes — Telugu-origin Naidu community in Tamil Nadu. Predominantly Vaishnava (Tirupati Venkateshwara). Some Shaiva sub-segments.

Notes — Three-clan cluster (Maravar, Agamudaiyar, Kallar). Strong Aiyanar + Karuppasamy + Madurai Veeran kuladevata worship. Shaiva + folk-Shakta. U. Muthuramalinga Thevar veneration.

Notes — Tamil Yadava / Konar community. Krishna-bhakta tradition tied to the Ayarpadi (cowherd village) heritage.

Notes — Tamil Reddi community (distinct from Andhra Reddy though originally linked). Vaishnava-aligned.

Notes — Kerala matrilineal community (taravad system). Shaiva + Shakta mix; engage Nambudiri tantris for major samskaras. Kuladevatas vary by taravad — Bhadrakali / Sastha (Ayyappa) / Mahadeva / Bhagavathy. Sub-divisions: Kiriyathil, Illathu, Sudra, Padamangalam, Pallichan, Charna.

Notes — Menon was historically an administrative title within Nair community. Same tradition stack as Nair.

Notes — Kalari-payattu martial-arts teaching lineages within Nair community. Strong Bhadrakali worship + Kalari-paradevata propitiation.

Notes — Kerala agrarian / toddy-tapping community. Sri Narayana Guru (1856-1928) reformation tradition strong. Kuladevatas: Bhagavathy, Sastha, Subrahmanyan. Engage Nambudiri or Ezhava priests depending on locale.

Notes — Coastal fisher community. Strong Bhadrakali + Mariamman worship. Significant Christian sub-population in Kanyakumari belt.

Notes — Andhra agrarian / now-mercantile community. Predominantly Vaishnava (Tirupati Venkateshwara). Engage Vaikhanasa or Pancharatra archakas for samskaras.

Notes — Andhra agrarian-ruling community. Mixed Smartha + Vaishnava alignment by family. Kuladevatas: Tirupati Venkateshwara, Mahanandi, Vijayawada Kanaka Durga, Srisailam Mallikarjuna. Sub-clans: Panta, Pakanati, Velanati, Motati Reddy etc.

Notes — Andhra warrior-agrarian community. Smartha + Vaishnava mix. Sub-divisions: Padma Velama, Racha Velama, Koppala Velama.

Notes — Andhra agrarian-cluster covering Balija (mercantile), Telaga (martial), Ontari (warrior). Smartha + Vaishnava mix.

Notes — Telugu mercantile community. Kuladevi: Sri Vasavi Kanyaka Parameshwari (Penugonda). Smartha tradition; engage Bodhayana paddhati Brahmin priests.

Notes — Telugu weaver community. Kuladevatas: Bhavanarishi (the community's adi-rishi), Markandeya. Vaishnava-aligned.

Notes — Telugu Goud / Yadava community. Krishna-bhakta. Toddy-tapping traditional occupation.

Notes — Telugu Dalit communities. Worship includes folk-Shakta + Brahminical mix. Yellamma / Renuka / Pochamma. Buddhist + Christian conversions are common.

Notes — Maharashtra warrior-cluster of 96 clans. Smartha + Bhakta-warrior tradition. Kuladevatas vary by kul — Tuljapur Bhavani (Shivaji's kuladevi), Khandoba (Jejuri), Vithoba (Pandharpur), Mhalsa. Engage Deshastha / Chitpavan purohits.

Notes — Maharashtra agrarian community. Often blended with Maratha (Maratha-Kunbi cluster). Vithoba (Pandharpur) bhakti is central.

Notes — Gardener / floriculture community. Phule reformation tradition prominent (Jyotirao Phule, 1827-1890). Kuladevatas vary regionally.

Notes — Maharashtra shepherd community. Khandoba (Jejuri) + Biroba (Sangli) bhakti. Some sub-clans Vaishnava.

Notes — Carpenter community. Vishwakarma worship + family kuladevata.

Notes — Blacksmith community. Vishwakarma worship + regional kuladevatas.

Notes — Coastal fisher community. Strong Mumba-devi (Mumbai's namesake), Khanderi-Mahalakshmi, Ekvira-devi worship.

Notes — 5 artisan castes claiming Brahmin status via Lord Vishwakarma. Some sub-communities self-perform priestly functions. Kuladevata: Vishwakarma + regional shrines.

Notes — Gujarat agrarian-mercantile community. Predominantly Vaishnava — strong Swaminarayan + Pushtimarg (Vallabhacharya) sampradayas. Kuladevatas: Khodiyar, Umiya Mata, Annapurna. Sub-divisions Leuva (Anand belt), Kadava (Mehsana belt), Anjana (Banaskantha).

Notes — Kshatriya warrior community. 36 royal clans (Solanki, Chauhan, Pratihar, Rathore, Sisodia, Tomar, Bhati, Parmar, Sengar, etc.) across Suryavanshi (Sun), Chandravanshi (Moon), Agnivanshi (Fire) lineages. Kuladevis: each clan has its own — Karni Mata, Eklingji, Ban Mata, Nagnechiya Mata, Hinglaj Mata, Jamwai Mata.

Notes — Largest Marwari mercantile community. 18 gotras descending from Maharaja Agrasen. Vaishnava + Shakta mix; significant Jain Agarwal sub-population. Engage Smartha-Bodhayana purohits.

Notes — Marwari mercantile community. Mahesh (Shiva) is the community devata (hence Maheshwari). 72 sub-clans (khanps).

Notes — Marwari mercantile community traditionally from Osian. Significant Jain Oswal sub-population (largely Shvetambara Murtipujak). Hindu Oswals are Vaishnava + Smartha mix.

Notes — Mercantile community originally from Khandela. Both Hindu (Smartha-Vaishnava) and Jain (Digambara) Khandelwals exist as distinct communities.

Notes — Gujarat-Sindh mercantile community. Vaishnava — strong Pushtimarg + Jhulelal worship. Kuladevi: Hinglaj Mata.

Notes — Mercantile community. Pushtimarg (Vallabhacharya) tradition strong. Kuladevi: Hinglaj Mata, Jiviba.

Notes — Hindu community from Sindh. Distinct Jhulelal (Daryalal / Varuna) worship. Strong Nanak / Guru Granth Sahib reverence (Tikana culture). Kuladevatas: Jhulelal, Sant Kanwarram, Sadhubela (Sukkur), Sai Asharam.

Notes — Punjabi mercantile-administrative community. Strong Sikh-Hindu overlap (Guru Nanak was Khatri). Kuladevatas vary; many follow Mata Vaishno Devi + Guru Granth Sahib reverence.

Notes — Punjabi mercantile community. Similar Sikh-Hindu overlap. Mata Vaishno Devi + family kuladevatas.

Notes — North Indian Aggarwal mercantile community. Maharaja Agrasen lineage. Vaishnava + Shakta mix. Some Jain Aggarwals exist as separate community.

Notes — Scribal-administrative community descending from Chitragupta (per Padma Purana). 12 sub-divisions (above). Smartha-aligned. Chitragupta-puja during Yama-dwitiya (Bhai Dooj) is the community-defining festival.

Notes — Bihari Brahmin-Kshatriya hybrid community (claim Brahmin status). Smartha-aligned. Agrarian-dominant.

Notes — North Indian Brahmin agrarian community claiming Brahmin status by "tyaga" (renouncing priestly duty for farming). Smartha tradition.

Notes — Punjab-Haryana-Rajasthan agrarian-warrior community. Hindu Jats follow Smartha tradition + clan-specific kuladevatas (Bhola Nath / Mahadeva common). Significant Sikh Jat population.

Notes — North-Indian Yadava-Ahir cluster. Krishna-bhakti core (Krishna-vamsha claim). Mathura-Vrindavan kuladevata. Cowherd / dairy traditional occupation.

Notes — North-Western agrarian-pastoral community. Mixed Smartha-Vaishnava. Gurjar Pratihar dynasty historical heritage.

Notes — Bengali Kayastha. Tantra Saara Shakta paddhati. Strong Kali / Durga puja culture. Sub-divisions: Daksina Rarhi, Uttara Rarhi, Varendra.

Notes — Bengal agrarian community. Shakta-Smartha alignment. Tantra Saara paddhati for samskaras.

Notes — Bengali gold-merchant community. Shakta-Smartha.

Notes — Bengali agrarian community. Krishna-Gopa heritage claim.

Notes — Assam agrarian community. Shakta-Vaishnava mix. Strong Kamakhya (Guwahati) devotion + Sankardev Mahapurushiya Dharma (Ekasarana Nama Dharma) following for many.

Notes — Odia warrior-agrarian community. Strong Jagannath (Puri) devotion. Vaishnava-aligned.

Notes — Odia scribal Kayastha community. Jagannath devotion.

Notes — Assam ruling community originally from Tai-Shan migration (13th cent.). Adopted Hindu Smartha customs over centuries. Kamakhya devotion + ancestral worship.

Notes — Sky-clad sect of Jainism. Sub-divisions: Bisapanthi, Terapanthi (Digambara), Taranapanthi. Tirthankara worship at Bahubali (Shravanabelagola), Sammed Shikhar, Ranakpur. NOT served by Hindu Brahmin purohits — Bhattaraka / Pandit performs rites.

Notes — White-clad murti-worshipping sect. Sub-divisions by gachchha (Tapagachchha, Kharataragachchha, Anchalagachchha). Palitana / Girnar / Mt Abu Dilwara are major kshetras.

Notes — Murti-non-worshipping Shvetambara sub-sect. Worship in sthanaks (halls). 15th century reformist movement.

Notes — Shvetambara sub-sect founded by Acharya Bhikshu (1726-1803). Single-acharya lineage. Distinct from Digambara Terapanthi.

Notes — Jain mercantile community from Osian. Mostly Shvetambara Murtipujak; some Sthanakvasi.

Notes — Jain mercantile community from Khandela. Mostly Digambara.

Notes — Jain Marwari sub-community. Mostly Shvetambara.

Notes — Sri Vallabhacharya (1479-1531) sampradaya. Shrinathji (Nathdwara) is the main devata. 7 Goswami lineages descended from Vallabhacharya's grandson Vitthalnath (Sapt Swarup). Strong Patel + Lohana + Bhatia following.

Notes — Sahajanand Swami / Bhagwan Swaminarayan (1781-1830) tradition. Two main bodies: Vadtal + Ahmedabad gadis (Original), plus BAPS (Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Sanstha, founded 1907 by Shastriji Maharaj). Akshardham temples globally.

Notes — Sri Ramananda (14th-15th century) Vaishnava sampradaya — Rama-Sita worship. Largest sadhu order in India (Naga + Khaki + Tyagi sub-divisions). Ayodhya Ramjanmabhumi cluster.

Notes — Sri Nimbarkacharya tradition. Dvaitadvaita philosophy. Radha-Krishna devotion. One of the 4 classical Vaishnava sampradayas.

Notes — Tulu spirit-worship tradition. Bhutas / Daivas (Panjurli, Guliga, Pilichamundi, Kalkuda-Kalluti, Koddabbu, Bobbarya, Kalalrahu) propitiated through Kola performance. Practitioner communities: Pambada / Nalike / Parava. Coexists with Brahminical Shakta worship in Tulu households.

Notes — Ritual dance tradition where the performer becomes the deity (400+ Theyyam forms). Performer communities: Vannan, Malayan, Velan, Munnoottan. Coexists with Brahminical worship; many Theyyam deities are non-Brahminical ancestor / nature spirits.

Notes — Bhadrakali ritual theatre. UNESCO Intangible Heritage. Performed in Bhadrakali temples by Marar / Kuruppu communities.

Notes — Tribal community. Folk pantheon (Tejaji, Devnarayan, Bhilat Baba, Kalbeli mata) coexisting with Brahminical worship. Increasingly Hinduised via Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram + Christian conversions in some belts.

Notes — Largest Indian tribal community. Koyamuri Darshan / Gondi religion + folk Hindu pantheon. Bara Deo / Pari Kupar Lingo / Kankali Mata worship.

Notes — Sarna religion (Marang Buru, Jaher Era worship). Distinct from Hindu pantheon. Christian conversion historically significant.

Notes — Sarna religion. Birsa Munda (1875-1900) tribal reform movement. Folk pantheon.

Notes — Historically nomadic trading community. Sevalal Maharaj veneration. Mariamman / Sevabhaya worship. Largely Hinduised; small Christian sub-population.

Notes — Sikh dharma — Guru Granth Sahib is the eternal Guru. Khalsa initiation by Guru Gobind Singh (1699). 5 Ks (Kesh / Kangha / Kara / Kachera / Kirpan). Worship at Gurudwaras. Distinct from Hinduism though shared cultural ties. NOT served by Brahmin purohits; Sikh granthi performs sanskars.

Notes — Kerala Christian community claiming descent from St Thomas Apostle's mission (52 CE). Syro-Malabar + Syro-Malankara + Mar Thoma + CSI / CNI denominations. Not Hindu; cultural overlap with Nair / Ezhava / Hindu households in Kerala.

Notes — Largely the Dr B.R. Ambedkar-led Mahar mass conversion to Theravada Buddhism (Nagpur, 1956). Now ~8 million Indian Buddhists. Distinct from Tibetan / Mahayana traditions.