Niyogi

Niyogi Brahmins are those Brahmins who took up various secular vocations including military activities and gave up religious vocation, especially the priesthood. Niyogi Brahmins were associated with administration, economics, literature, music composing, politics, scholarly, scientific, defense and warfare careers.

Etymology

The word Niyogi is derived from Yoga, which in this context means "religious contemplation", as opposed to Yaga, which means "religious sacrifice". Niyogin in Sanskrit also means "employed", "appointed" or "assigned" and it is probable that Niyogis were given this name because they accept secular employment.

In the past, Niyogis were ministers in the courts of kings and feudal lords, zamindars and talukdars. Sometimes Niyogis were well-off farmers with ownership of land acreage holdings.They owned thousands of acres until the land ceiling act was introduced.

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