Iyengar and Iyer

[narayanan]

Namaskaram all,

I have seen so many Iyers (Smarthas) are getting married with Iyerngars..
Is that acceptable as per Dharma.
Post your opinion/views about this?

Narayana Narayana...

[sarabhanga]

Namaste Narayanan,

The “Iyers” (descended from ayAsya) and the “Iyengars” (descended from AyAÑgiras) are all gotamAH AÑgirasAH. And there should be no intermarriage between ANY individuals who invoke exactly the same ancestors (to avoid any problem of inbreeding or incest).

[narayanan]

Thanks for your posting,

If an Iyer guy and Iyengar gal belongs to different gothram... is it acceptable for them to get married...

[sarabhanga]

Namaste Narayanan,

Iyers and Iyengars are Angirasa Brahmans, particularly associated with fire and salvation. Traditionally, they were expert in metal-work (especially precious metals) and/or healing (especially mortal wounds), and they were Ayurvedins or Alchemists.

There are two main groups of Angirasa priestly families ~ the Gotamas and the Bharadvajas.

And there are ten different Gotras of Gotama Angirasa ~ the Gotamah, Ucathyah, Rahuganah, Somarajakayah, Vamadevah, Brihadukthah, Prishadashvah, Rikshah, Kakshivantah, and Dirghatamasah.

As I understand it, ALL true Iyers and ALL true Iyengars are born from the same one of the 49 possible Gotras (“cow-pens” or “mangers”) ~ the Gotamah. And they should ALL have exactly the same set of Pravara Rishis.

[sarabhanga]

Strictly, marriage is not recommended between any couple of the same Gotra; and it is generally prohibited when the couple has even one Pravara Rishi in common. Although, for the Bhrigus and Angirasas, marriage is only prohibited when the majority of their Pravara Rishis are the same.

The Ayasya Gotamah and the Ayasya Angirasa Gautamah follow different Sutras, but their ancestral Pravara Rishis are identical.