Kota Brahmins

Kota Brahmins hail from the Kundapur and surrounding areas of Udupi district in Karnataka, Bantwal and Puttur Taluk in Mangalore District, Kasargod District in Kerala. Originally thought to have been brought to Kota (Udupi Taluk) and adjacent areas from northern India by Parashurama, they speak a Kannada different from the other regional dialects.

Kota Brahmins who had been originally concentrated in the villages of Kota, Saligrama, Koteshwara and Kundapura of Udupi district have apparently spread to other areas.

Origin

The Kota Brahmins remained as bhasma (ash)-dharis and followers of the Smarta sampradaya. The other sects of the area were influenced by Sri Madhvacharya to become Vaishnavites, e.g., Koteshwara Brahmins and Madhva Shivalli Brahmins.

Guru Narashima

Kota or Koota Brahmins do not believe in any sort of human guru or religious heads. Instead, they consider the Lord Narasimha, one among the ten incarnations of the Lord Vishnu, to be their Guru [Kuladevata-family deity]. Hence, the deity in Saligrama temple is referred to as Guru Narasimha. The annual car festival will be held on 16 and 17 of every January and is attended by thousands of people.