On 14 November 2016 at 18:17, Robert Zydenbos <zydenbos@uni-muenchen.de> wrote:

(1) To begin with: there are Vīraśaivas of various kinds, who also have organized themselves in different ways. One significant division among the maṭhas is whether a maṭha is one of the so-called pañcapīṭhas (of which there are five) or a viraktamaṭha (innumerable). The relationship between these two groups is a difficult one. Depending on one's point of view, one may say that the section of the Vīraśaiva community that predominantly associates itself with the small group of five consists of (a) descendants of former brahmins, or (b) they are quasi-brahmins, or (c) they are brahmin infiltrators in the Vīraśaiva community who distort and betray the teachings of Basava.


View (a) needs evidence. Do we have any? Apart from genetic evidence, is there any other way to prove it?
View (b): what exactly is meant by a quasi-brahmin?
View (c), frankly speaking, is ludicrous and borders on conspiracy theory (I hope it is not meant to be a joke). As if the Brahmins have an underground organization (like the Mossad) which infiltrates other communities to distort their teachings!!
 

> Gayatri Parivar, Svaadhyaaya, Sri Aurobindo organizations, Chinmaya Mission etc. Most of the 'modern' 'Hindu' organizations do not recognize the exclusive right of Brahmins over Veda learning.

But please note: vedådhyayana (Veda learning) has always been open to all brāhmaṇas, kṣatriyas and vaiśyas. Vedādhyāpana (Veda teaching) was the prerogative of brahmins. I.e., brahmins determined what the Vedas are and mean.


Vedādhyāpana is indeed done by Arya Samajis who are not Brahmin by birth. There is an influential Arya Samaj Pandit by the name Mahender Pal Arya who was born a Muslim and teaches Vedas (http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-a-journey-from-maulvi-to-pandit-2047727). It is also noteworthy that not only did the Arya Samaja give new meanings to most mantra-s of Veda-s, they also gave a new definition of Veda by restricting it to only the mantra (saṃhitā) portion, different from the traditional definition mantra­brāhmaṇayorvedanāmadheyam (ā.śrau.sū. 24.1.31).


> Gujarat is predominantly vegetarian. Udupi Brahmin tag is not used, not required there.

Perhaps because Udupi is simply too far away from Gujarat? ;-)


Still, Udupi/Udipi restaurants are common in Ahmedabad, where I lived for four years (2000 to 2004). There is a popular one at Paldi Char Rasta which was frequented by many students and tourists back then.