Iyers and Iyengars : Is it Shaivites and Vaishnavites

[Guest guest]

Often I hear people say that Iyers are Shaivites and Iyengars are Vaishnavites. This I believe is a wrong notion. Shaivites by definition are shiva worshippers. Vaishnavites are vishnu worshippers. Iyengars tend to worship Vishnu exclusively to the complete neglect sometimes derision of other gods. Iyers are more catholic and follow the tenets of the Shrutis and Smritis and do not view any one god as superior. They view that Shiva and Vishnu are but two aspects of the same god. In this light it is possible for an iyer to be a vaishnava (without becoming iyengar) but ofcourse for an iyengar, shiva could be anathema. But I guess nowadays the distinctions are getting blurred but the misconception refuses to go.

[Guest guest]

That is very confusing.....