Hoysala Karnataka Brahmin

Hoysala Karnataka Brahmins are a community of Smarta Brahmins originating in the Hoysala Empire. The empire ruled most of what is now Karnataka between the 10th and the 14th centuries.

Diet

The community has traditionally followed a strict vegetarian sattvic diet consisting of seasonal fruits and vegetables (except onions and garlic), whole grains, dairy, nuts, seeds, and oil. A typical breakfast item is uppittu (a thick semolina porridge with seasonings and vegetables). A typical dinner may include saaru (a thin soup made with lentils, tamarind, tomatoes, and spices) with rice, vegetable palya, and curd rice.

Other Hoysala Karnataka dishes include:

• Badanekayi-aloogedde gojju, a curry made with eggplant and potatoes
• Bili holige, similar to the rice flatbread akki rotti but softer and suppler
• Gulpavate, a sweet made with dried fruit, ghee, jaggery, and toasted wheat flour
• Mysuru kootu, a Karnataka-style lentil and vegetable stew
• Nucchina unde, quenelle-shaped lentil dumplings

Titles and surnames

Common titles of community members include Bhat and Jois, which are also used as surnames. Rao is another common surname.

Associations

The Hoysala Karnataka Sangha formed in 1908 but eventually disbanded.

See also

• Forward Castes

References