Havyaka
Karnataka, along with several other countries worldwide, is home to a small smartha Brahmin community known as the ‘Havyakas’. With a rich history spanning over two thousand years, the Havyakas are renowned for their unique traditions, customs, cultural values, artistic talents, and a distinct mother tongue that closely resembles old Kannada.
Below is an introduction to the intelligent, talented, educated, skilled and respectful Havyaka community.
Havyaka Heritage / History
Around two thousand years ago, Banavasi, Karntaka was home to highly skilled Vedic Brahmins who specialized in performing yajnas, yaaga, homa and other Vedic rituals. During this period, Jainism, Buddhism, and Kapalika traditions gained significant influence in the region, leading many kings and a large portion of the population to adopt these faiths. As a consequence, the devoted Brahmins of that time gradually lost both royal and public patronage. Some among them converted to other religions and were considered to have deviated from their original traditions. However, some committed Brahmins, determined to preserve the Sanatana Vedic tradition, chose to leave Banavasi and its surrounding areas in search of a supportive environment or refuge. They eventually migrated to Ahichchatra, a well-known Brahmin center of that era called “Brahmana Mahamandala”, located in present-day Ramnagar, Bareilly District, Uttar Pradesh.
Around 1,600 years ago, Mayuravarma (circa 325–345 CE), the first Kannada king, defeated the Tamil Pallava rulers and established control over the Kannada region. He then founded the Kadamba dynasty and made Banavasi his capital.
At the time, Mayuravarma unable to find skilled Vedic Brahmins in Banavasi to perform yajnas, yaaga, homa, and other rituals. Realizing that many Vedic Brahmins from Banavasi had earlier migrated to Ahichchatra, Mayuravarma personally traveled to Ahichchatra. He reported that the influence of Jainism in Banavasi had waned (#1) and, with this understanding, invited 32 Dravidian Brahmin families along with their disciples from Ahichchatra to return to Banavasi. Offering them royal patronage, he entrusted them with the performance of yajnas, yaaga, homa, and other religious ceremonies, thus reviving Vedic traditions in his kingdom.
After the death of Mayuravarma, his friend and the ruler of Gorashtra desha, Chandrasena, invites several Ahichatra Brahmins from Banavasi to the present-day Uttar Kannada district to live. After Chandrasena's time, his son and Mayuravarma's son-in-law, King Lokaditya, gave the name "Havyaka" to these Brahmins, who were renowned for their Homa, Havana aka Havya and ritual ceremonies for ancestors aka Kavya (#2).
Havyaka Guru Peetha or Matha
The Havyaka community currently has three main Guru Peethas.
They are:
Sri Ramachandrapura Matha (https://srisamsthana.org)
Sri Swarnavalli Matha (https://www.shreeswarnavalli.org)
Srimannelamavu Matha (Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/share/g/12JsE2Nfwn7/?mibextid=wwXIfr)
Around 1,200 years ago (circa 820 CE), Adi Shankaracharya established the first Havyaka Guru Peetha, known as ‘Raghuttama Matha,’ in Ashoke, Gokarna. He appointed his disciple, Vidyanandaacharya, as the first Peethadhipati (head) of the matha. Later, the matha was relocated to a site near Hosnagar (Haniya) in Karnataka and renamed "Sri Ramachandrapura Matha." Over time, it became the primary Guru Peetha (spiritual center) for the majority of Havyakas. The current and 36th Peethadhipati/Guru of the matha is the esteemed Paramapoojya Shrimad Jagadguru Sri Shankaracharya Sri Sri Raghaveshwara Bharathi Mahaswamiji.
Around 1,200 years ago, a matha established by Sri Shankara Bhagavatpadaru in Kashi (circa 810–820 CE) later relocated through Ujjaini, Gokarna, Kadathoke, and Sahasralinga before settling in Sonda, Sirsi, Karnataka, where it became known as “Sri Swarnavalli Matha”.This matha serves as the Guru Peetha (spiritual center) for the Havyakas of Yellapur, Sirsi, and parts of Siddapur taluk.The current and 54th Peethadhipati/Guru of the matha is the revered Shrimad Jagadguru Shankaracharya Sri Gangadharendra Saraswati Maha Swamiji.
Around 650 years ago (circa 1380 CE), Sri Vidyaranya, who played a key role in the establishment of the Vijayanagara Empire, founded the third Havyaka Guru Peetha, Nelamavu matha, in Heruru, Siddapur taluk. This matha serves as the gurupeetha (spiritual center) for the Havyakas of the Heruru region of Siddapur taluk and five villages in Honnavar taluk. The current 26th Peethadhipati/Guru of the mutt is the revered Sri Sri Madhavananda Bharati Maha Swamiji.
Havyaka's Mother Tongue, Havigannada
Although Havyakas speak Kannada, their dialect is distinct from modern Kannada. It is closely related to Old Kannada, which is why it is considered a sub-dialect of Kannada. One notable characteristic of the Havyaka language is that it retains more Old Kannada words in original format compared to modern Kannada.
Around 30 years ago, Dr. Harikrishna Bharani referred to the Havyaka language as "Havigannada." Since then, it has been referred to as Havigannada in Havyaka literature and community.
The special features of Havigannada are as follows:
In Havigannada, words like "Da", "Ada", and "Eda" are used, which come from the Old Kannada word "Gada" or "Gadu." For example, "Hogada" (don’t go), "Nodada" (don’t look), "Hovuttavada" (going), etc.
Havigannada does not have a distinct feminine form. Feminine words are used in the neuter form instead. For example, "Akka Baniddale" becomes "Akka Bayindu/Banju," "Aayi Baruttale" becomes "Aayi Battu," and "Ivalu Maaduttale" becomes "Idu Maadthu / maadta."
Some words in Havigannada are pronounced with nasal sounds (nasalized), similar to nasal pronunciation. For example, "Ava" (he), "Baava" (Brother in-Law), "Aanu" (me), etc.
In Havigannada, some Kannada words are shortened and spoken in condensed forms. For example, "Neenu Barabeku" becomes "Neenbarakku/Neenbaravu" and "Tinnuttane" becomes "Tintnada/Tintanada."
The Havyaka language, known as Havigannada, can be divided into two main categories: Badagu (northern region) and Tenkana (southern region).
Furthermore, there are total six regional variations within Havigannada under these main categories:
In Badagu Havigannada, there are three regions:
Coastal (Areas Below the Western Ghats) – Uttara Kannada District.
Areas Above Western Ghats (Shimoga, Sirsi, Siddapura, Banavasi, Yellapura)
Sagar region.
In Tenkana Havigannada, there are three regions:
Panja region
Vittla region
Kumble region.
Havyaka’s Migration – Back From two thousand years till present.
The Havyaka ancestors initially migrated from Banavasi and its surrounding regions to Ahichchatra in Uttarpradesh. They returned to Banavasi during the reign of Mayuravarma. Later, during the time of King Chandrasena, some Havyakas settled in the present-day Uttar Kannada district, which was then part of the region called Gorashtra Desha. Over time, royal patronage gradually diminished. Consequently, the Havyakas, who depended on agriculture—such as betel nut, coconut, and banana farming—began to settle in regions like Shimoga district, Siddapur, Sirsi, and Yellapur. The migration continued further within Uttar Kannada, with the Havyakas eventually settling from Gokarna to the Gangolli River near Kundapura.
The migration of Havyakas to the Dakshina Kannada district began around the early to mid-16th century CE. The Hiriya Venkappa Nayak, a ruler of the region, brought Havyaka families from the Soraba's Jambehalli to the Dakshina Kannada district. Eventually, Havyakas spread from Uttar Kannada district areas to the southern parts of Udupi and as far as the Payaswini River in Kasaragod.
By the 17th century CE, the rulers of Haleri began bringing Havyakas from the Sagar region to Kodagu. During this time, some Havyakas also migrated from Dakshina Kannada to Kodagu. After migrating from Ahichchatra, Havyakas spread across Karnataka from around 320 CE to the mid-18th century, establishing Karnataka as their homeland.
Before India's independence, Havyakas from Uttar Kannada migrated to Mumbai and Pune; from Sagar and Shivamogga to Bangalore and Mysore; from Dakshina Kannada to Chennai; and further to the southern parts of Kerala.
Today, Havyakas are spread across the world and live in countries like the United States, Canada, England, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, and various Arab nations.
References:
Havyakara Itihaasa Darshana, by H.M. Timmapa Kalasi. Published by Havyaka Studies Center, Shri Akhila Havyaka Mahasabha, 2012.
Skanda Purana, Uttara Sahyadri Kanda, by Shri Hosabale Ananta Sharma, Nadahalli Press, 1912.
Havyaka Samaja and the History of Shri Gurumath, by Lt. Dr. G. S. Patil, Barige. Published by Shri Madramachandrapura Math, Tirthahalli, 1954.
Havigannada Chintana, by Narayana Shanbhag, 2006.
Havyakara granthakaara kruti soochi, by . Narayana Shanbhag, 2005.
Havyaka Videos:
A comprehensive introduction to the Havyaka community by Mr. Ranganath who is from Australia, available on his YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@PustakaRanga.
Playlist: “ಹವ್ಯಕರ ಸಂಪೂರ್ಣ ಪರಿಚಯ / A Complete Guide to Havyaka” – https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9fEvYIsckQPC35gJh2zRjgZ7qqQHwlQu&si=DQF_oVNg2_0WlhI6
(#1) – “Jainanigrahavelayaam samaveta mahotsaaha” – Uttara Sahyadri Kanda 85th Chapter 15th Sloka.
(#2) – “Havyakashcheti vipraanaam naamadheya” - Uttara Sahyadri Kanda