Madhva Brahmins

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Madhwa Brahmins
Madhwa Brahmin.jpg
1909 illustration of a Madhwa Brahmin with religious symbols on the body
Regions with significant populations
India
Karnataka, Maharashtra, Kerala, Goa, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh
Languages
Kannada, Tulu,
Religion
Hinduism (Vaishnava)

Madhva Brahmins / Madhwa Brahmins (also often referred as Madhvas / Madhwas or Sadh-Vaishnavas[1]), are Hindu Brahmin communities in India, who follow Sadh Vaishnavism and Dvaita philosophy propounded by Madhvacharya. They are found mostly in the Indian states of Karnataka, Maharashtra, Goa, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.[2]

History[]

Madhwa Brahmins, photograph from 1855-1862 CE, Photographs of Western India. Volume I. Costumes and Characters

The Madhwa community traces its philosophical origins to Madhvacharya, the first said Sadh Vaishnava acharya, who lived around 13th century. The Ashta Mathas of Udupi were established by Madhvacharya by his disciples. Other Acharyas who established mathas after Madhvacharya include Padmanabha Tirtha, Naraharitirtha, Akshobhya Tirtha, Jayatirtha, Sripadaraja, Vyasatirtha, Vadiraja Tirtha, Vijayendra Tirtha, Raghavendra Tirtha.[3] The affiliations of the Madhwa philosophy extended in the form of temples and monasteries from Udupi in the south to Dwaraka in the North India.[4]

The town of Udupi is famous for the Sri Krishna temple of 13th century. The Madhwas believe that the human soul is saved by the grace of God and God bestows on true devotees. Devotional worship is central to the lives of madhwas.[5]

During the rule of Qutb shahis of Golkonda in 17th century, several Deshastha Madhva Brahmins held high administrative positions such as Deshmukh, Deshpande, Majumdar, Mannavar etc. in the districts of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana States.[6]

Demographics[]

Statewise list of Brahmin communities who have a section that follows the Dvaita Vedanta of Madhvacharya.[7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15]

Karnataka
  • Deshasthas
  • Shivallis
  • Koteshwara Brahmins
  • Gaud Saraswats
  • Badaganadus
  • Aravathuvokkalu
  • Aravelu
  • Kannada Kamme
  • Uluchukamme
Tamil Nadu
Maharashtra
Andhra Pradesh & Telangana
Bihar

In Bihar, the whole Gayawal Brahmins are followers of Dvaita philosophy.[16][17]

Goa
Kerala
  • In Kerala, the Embranthiris follow Dvaita Vedanta of Madhvacharya. There are also other sections of Brahmins who follow Madhva Sampradaya especially in the Central Kerala region.[20]
  • Gaud Saraswats (migrants from Konkan)

Society and culture[]

Masala dosa with Sambar and chutney in Udupi

Language[]

Madhwa Brahmins are not a homogeneous community. Followers of Madhvacharya include Brahmins from multiple regions and are from various linguistic backgrounds. Madhwas who speak Kannada, one of the major languages of the mainly southern Dravidian languages group, speak a variety of Kannada that borders on a literary dialect.[21] Even in the non-Kannada states Madhwas speak Kannada in their homes but with outsiders they speak the native language of that state.[22] The Marathi, Kannada, Telugu and Tamil speaking Madhva Brahmins are Deshastha Madhva Brahmins, who are spread in Maharashtra and throughout South India.[23] The Tulu speaking Madhva brahmins are Shivalli Madhva Brahmins. They are present in the coastal districts of Udupi, Dakshina Kannada of present day Karnataka state, Kasargod and other parts of Kerala state. The Konkani speaking Madhva Brahmins are Gaud Saraswat Madhva Brahmins, who are spread throughout the Coastal Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra and Kerala .[24] The Bihari, Magahi and Hindi speaking Madhva Brahmins are Gayawal Brahmins, who are spread throughout the Gaya and Benares.[25][26]

Occupations[]

The Shivalli Madhvas and Deshastha Madhvas are more sought after for priestly services by other communities. The Gaud Saraswat Madhvas are a religiously self-contained community. There are numerous cultural difference between these three subdivisions.[27]

Diet[]

Main articles: Karnataka cuisine and Maharashtrian cuisine

Madhwa Brahmins are pure vegetarian and their staple cereals are rice and wheat.[28] Udupi cuisine is a synonymous name to Madhwa cuisine. It is a major vegetarian cuisine of Karnataka, which includes a combination of cereals, pulses, vegetables and spices.[29]

Typical Madhwa cuisine consists of Saaru (Rasam), Huli (Sambar), Gojju and Anna (Rice).[30] Gojju is generally a beloved dish to entire Madhwa community.[31] In sweets, Hayagreeva is a very common sweet dish made in most Madhwa Brahmin homes, made using Bengal gram with jaggery and coconut. [32]

Social and political issues[]

In 2017, Government of Karnataka took stand against superstition and planned to Ban all superstition practices including Black Magic by introducing The Karnataka Prevention and Eradication of Inhuman Evil Practices and Black Magic Bill, 2017 in assembly. After much debate, practices like 'Mudradharane' by Madhwa Brahmins have been exempted. As per this practice, 'Mudras' (Seal- Chakra & Shanka) usually made of gold or copper are heated in the yajna fire and stamped on the body.[33]

Notable people[]

  • Vyasatirtha - a Dvaita saint and Rajaguru of Krishnadevaraya.[34]
  • Vadiraja Tirtha - a Dvaita philosopher, poet and mystic. He was pontiff of Sodhe mutt.[35]
  • Kumara Vyasa (1419-1446) - an influential and classical, early 15th century poet in the Kannada language. His pen name is a tribute to his magnum opus, a rendering of the Mahabharata in Kannada.[36]
  • Purandara Dasa (1484–1564) - a Haridasa, who is widely referred to as the Pitamaha (lit, "father" or the "grandfather") of Carnatic Music.[37]
  • Dewan Purnaiah (1746-1812) - the Dewan of Mysore Kingdom under three rulers Hyder Ali, Tipu Sultan and Wadiyar. He is also founder of Yelandur estate[38]
  • Satyadharma Tirtha (1743-1830) - a scholar, saint and mystic of Dvaita order of Vedanta; 28th pontiff of Uttaradi Matha[39]
  • Kanchi Krishnaswamy Rao (1845 – 1923) - Diwan of Travancore from 1898–1904.[40]
  • Veene Sheshanna (1852 - 1926) - an exponent of the Veena, an Indian string instrument, which he played in the classical Carnatic music style. He was a concert musician at the court of the princely state of Mysore.[41]
  • P. N. Krishnamurti (1849 – 1911) - Dewan of Mysore state and 5th Jagirdar of Yelandur estate.[42]
  • Conjeevaram Hayavadana Rao (1865 – 1946) - an Indian historian, museologist, anthropologist, economist and polyglot. He was a member of the Royal Anthropological Institute, Indian Historical Records Commission and a fellow of the Royal Society of Economics.[43][44]
  • Navaratna Rama Rao (1877 – 1960) - an Indian writer and scholar from Karnataka.[45]
  • Aluru Venkata Rao (1880 – 1964) - an Indian revolutionary, historian, writer and journalist.[46]
  • Palladam Sanjiva Rao (1882–1962) - an Indian flautist and carnatic musician.[47]
  • V. K. R. Varadaraja Rao - (1908 – 1991) - an Indian economist, politician and educator.[48]
  • T. R. Ramachandran (1917 – 1990) - a Tamil actor and comedian who acted in lead and supportive roles from 1940s to the 1960s.[49]
  • Bhimsen Joshi (1922 – 2011) - an Indian singer from Karnataka in the Hindustani classical tradition and Bharat Ratna and Padma Shri awardee.[50]
  • Shikaripura Ranganatha Rao (1922 - 2013) - an Indian archaeologist who led teams credited with the discovery of a number of Harappan sites including the port city Lothal and Bet Dwarka in Gujarat.[51]
  • Vishnuvardhan (1950-2009) - an Indian film actor predominantly in kannada cinema.[52][circular reference]
  • U. R. Ananthamurthy (1932 - 2014) - a contemporary writer and critic in the Kannada language;Winner of Jnanpith Award and Padma Bhushan.[53]
  • Krishna Kumari (1933 – 2018) - a leading Telugu actress of the 1960s and 1980s.[54]
  • Kashinath Hathwara (1951 – 2018) - an Indian actor and filmmaker who primarily worked in Kannada films.[55]
  • Sakha Rama Rao - an Indian musician credited with having re-introduced the south Indian chitravina (or "gotuvadyam") to the concert scene.[56]
  • Kattingeri Krishna Hebbar (1911 - 1996) - a celebrated artist known for his India themed artworks; Winner of Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan awards.[57]
  • Cheyur Krishna Nageshwaran (1933 – 2009) - acted over 1,000 films in Telugu, Malayalam, Hindi and Kannada, mostly remembered for his roles as a comedian during the 1960s. He earned the sobriquet the "Jerry Lewis of India"
  • Pralhad Joshi Pralhad Venkatesh Joshi (born 27 November 1962) is an Indian politician who is the current Minister of Coal of India, with additional portofolio Parliamentary Affairs and Mines in the central cabinet under the Prime Minister Modi since from May 2019. He has been a member of Lok Sabha since 2004 and was elected to 17th Lok Sabha in 2019 from the Dharwad Lok Sabha constituency. He was Karnataka State President of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) from 2014 to 2016. He served in the panel of chairpersons of Lok sabha (2014-2018)
  • N. R. Narayana Murthy is the founder of Infosys, and has been the chairman, chief executive officer (CEO), president, and chief mentor of the company.
  • Upendra Upendra Rao, known mononymously as Upendra, is an Indian filmmaker, actor and politician known for his work in Kannada cinema.

See also[]

Notes[]

  1. ^ Mainly found in Satara, Kolhapur districts, sometimes called Savashes, though a majority have integrated with Deshastha Vaishnavas

References[]

  1. ^ Bansi Dhar Tripathi (1978). Sadhus of India: The Sociological View. Popular Prakashan. p. 32. The followers of Madhwa are called Sad- Vaishnavas in contra-distinction to the Vaishnavas of Sri Sampradaya.
  2. ^ The Illustrated Weekly of India, Volume 93. Bennett, Coleman & Company, Limited, at the Times of India Press. 1972. pp. 18–22. Page 18:The followers of Madhvacharya (especially Vaishnavas) are found all over Mysore, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra, apart from Maharashtra (Savase brahmins of Sangli, Tasgoan, Karad, Satara, etc) and Central Kerala (Gaud Saraswats)....Page 22:The institutions established by Madhva and his successors for the propagation of the system are found in different parts of the country. A large community of Madhva-Vaishnavas drawn mostly (not exclusively) from the brahmin fold has grown round these institutions. It is not a homogenous community on account of the barriers of language, manner's and customs, food habits and restrictions about intermarriages, etc. The largest number of the community are to found in the North Karnataka areas. Next comes The old Mysore areas, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, parts of Maharashtra proper, Tulunad (South Kanara) and U.P. Barring the Karnatak area and Tamil Nadu , the largest community of Madhvas is to be found among the Gaud Saraswats.
  3. ^ O. P. Bhatnagar, India. University Grants Commission, University of Allahabad. Dept. of Modern Indian History (1964). Studies in social history: modern India. St. Paul's Press Training School. pp. 133–135.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  4. ^ Nataraja Guru (1990). Life and Teachings of Narayana Guru: In Two Parts. Narayana Gurukula Foundation. p. 200.
  5. ^ Yamuna Lingappa, Banadakoppa T. Lingappa (1992). Wholesome nutrition for mind, body, and microflora: the goal of lacto-vegetarianism (recipes of Udipi cuisine included). Ecobiology Foundation International. p. 320. ISBN 9780963499905.
  6. ^ Appasaheb Ganapatrao Pawar (1971). Maratha History Seminar, May 28-31, 1970: papers. Shivaji University. The ascendancy of the Qutb-shahis of Golkonda resulted in several Maratha Brahmins of the Madhwa sect, generally called Desasthas, being appointed to high positions. This is evident from several terms such as Deshmukh, Deshpande, Majumdar, Mannavar etc.used in the district's of Andhra to signify certain administrative posts
  7. ^ Mysore Narasimhachar Srinivas (1978). Marriage and Family in Mysore. AMS Press. p. 28. ISBN 9780404159757. the Kannada Kamme and Ulcha Kamme are both Smartas and Madhvas : nearly all speak Kannada, a few Telugu also.
  8. ^ Karnataka State Gazetteer: Mysore. Director of Print, Stationery and Publications at the Government Press. 1988. p. 157. The Madhwas are followers of the Dwaitha philosophy of Madhwacharya and have sub-sects like the Badaganadu, Aravelu, Aravathuvokkalu, Deshastha, etc.
  9. ^ B. N. Sri Sathyan (1973). Karnataka State Gazetteer: South Kanara. Director of Print., Stationery and Publications at the Government Press. p. 109. The groups usually styled as Tulu Brahmins are mainly the Shivalli Brahmins whose main centre is Udipi....The Tulu-speaking Brahmins of the present day are largely followers of Madhvacharya. only a small number remaining Smarthas
  10. ^ B. N. Sri Sathyan (1973). Karnataka State Gazetteer: South Kanara. Director of Print., Stationery and Publications at the Government Press. p. 109. The Koteshwara Brahmins, who are Madhvas, are a small body who take their name from Koteshwara, a place in Coondapur taluk.
  11. ^ Kumar Suresh Singh (1998). India's Communities, Volume 6. Oxford University Press. p. 2044. ISBN 9780195633542. In Tamil Nadu, the Madhwa Brahmins are migrants from Karnataka. They have six sub-groups, they are Aruvela, Aruvanththuvakkalu, Badaganadu, Pennaththurar, Prathamasaki and Desastha and Badaga. They are concentrated in the Madras, Coimbatore, Coonoor and in Ooty.
  12. ^ M. V. Kamath (1989). B.G. Kher, the Gentleman Premier. Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. p. 4. The majority of Karhades are Shaivites and subscribe to Advaita though a small minority are Vaishnavites , having , like many Saraswat brahmins , come under the influence of Madhva.
  13. ^ Tapan K. Bose; Rita Manchanda (1997). States, Citizens and Outsiders: The Uprooted Peoples of South Asia. South Asia Forum for Human Rights. p. 27. Most notably these were the Deshastha and the Karhade Brahmans many of whom migrated across the Deccan into the east Godavari basin.
  14. ^ K. S. Singh (1998). India's Communities. Oxford University Press. p. 738. ISBN 9780195633542. The Daivadnya accepted Vaishnavism during the twelfth century under the spiritual influence of Madawacharya, a great Vaishnava saint, but as they were looked down upon by other communities, they began to migrate to Maharashtra and, later, to Goa... ... They have two sects, i.e. Smartha and Vaishnava. Those living in Karnataka and Kerala are mostly Vaishnava.
  15. ^ Oliver Godsmark (29 January 2018). Citizenship, Community and Democracy in India: From Bombay to Maharashtra, c. 1930 - 1960. Routledge. p. 203. ISBN 9781351188210. daivadnya brahman sub-caste originally from coastal Maharashtra, Karnataka and Goa
  16. ^ A. M. Shah (6 December 2012). The Structure of Indian Society: Then and Now. Routledge. p. 88. ISBN 9781136197710. Retrieved 6 December 2012.
  17. ^ T. N. Madan (1992). Religion in India. Oxford University Press. A third religious leader who has had tremendous influence on the Gayawal is Madhavacharya who flourished during the twelfth century ad. The Gayawal caste as a whole is a follower of the Madhava Vaishnava sect, and, as we have noted earlier, the Madhva math is a living religious center that wields a powerful influence on Gayawal.
  18. ^ Vithal Raghavendra Mitragotri (1999). A socio-cultural history of Goa from the Bhojas to the Vijayanagara. Institute Menezes Braganza. p. 105.
  19. ^ Sharma 2000, p. 601.
  20. ^ Raj Kumar (1999). Survey of Ancient India: Literary and cultural perspectives on ancient. Anmol Publications. p. 267. ISBN 9788126101955.
  21. ^ Dr. Amith Kumar P.V. Bakhtin and Translation Studies: Theoretical Extensions and Connotations. Cambridge Scholars Publishing. p. 83. The Madhwa Brahmins speak a variety of Kannada that borders on a literary dialect. Their language is punctuated by Sanskrit shlokas
  22. ^ R. Thirumalai, S. Manoharan (1997). Tamil Nadu, Part 2. Anthropological Survey of India. p. 854. The Madhva speak Kannada, their mother tongue, in their homes but with outsiders they speak Tamil
  23. ^ Studies in the Linguistic Sciences, Volumes 8-9. Department of Linguistics, University of Illinois. 1978. p. 199. The Desastha Madhwa brahmins in the South have traditionally been bilingual in Marathi and Kannada, Telugu or Tamil
  24. ^ Hebbar 2005, p. 152.
  25. ^ Lalita Prasad Vidyarthi (1978). The Sacred Complex in Hindu Gaya. Concept Publishing Company. p. 54.
  26. ^ Sharma 2000, p. 476.
  27. ^ Vasudha Dalmia; Angelika Malinar; Martin Christof (2001). Charisma and Canon: Essays on the Religious History of the Indian Subcontinent. Oxford University Press. p. 123. ISBN 9780195654530. While the GSBs tend to be a religiously self-contained community, the Taulavas and Desasthas are more sought after for priestly services by other communities. There are numerous cultural difference between these three subdivisions.
  28. ^ India's Communities, Volume 5. Oxford University Press. 1998. p. 2045. ISBN 9780195633542. They are pure vegetarian and the staple cereals are rice and wheat
  29. ^ Secrets From The Udupi Kitchen
  30. ^ "A Peek Into A Madhwa Brahmin Kitchen". India Food Nerwork.
  31. ^ Madhur Jaffrey (2014). Curry Easy Vegetarian. Penguin Random House. ISBN 9781473503458.
  32. ^ Sweets from Karnataka that deserve Geographical Indication (GI)
  33. ^ "Karnataka Takes Stand Against Superstition, Bans All Evil Practices Including Black Magic". Indiatimes. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
  34. ^ Journal of the Andhra Historical Society, Volumes 25-26. Andhra Historical Research Society. 1960. p. 175. Krishnadevaraya of Tuluva Dynasty honoured the famous Madhwa Brahmin Poet Vyasatheertha
  35. ^ A. K. Ramanujan (2006). Poems and a Novella. Oxford University Press. p. 193. ISBN 9780195674989. Saint Vadiraja: Belonged to the sect of the Madhva Brahmins of Udipi.
  36. ^ C. T. M. Kotraiah; K. M. Suresh (2008). Archaeology of Hampi-Vijayanagara. Bharatiya Kala Prakashan. p. 390. ISBN 9788180902116. Retrieved 1 January 2008.
  37. ^ Purandaradāsa; A. S. Panchapakesa Iyer (1992). Sree Puranḍara gānāmrutham: text with notation. Gānāmrutha Prachuram. Shri Purandara dasa who is considered to be the aadhiguru and Sangeeta Pitamaha of carnatic music was born in purandaragad in Ballary District near the town of Hampi, to a millionaire Varadappa Nayak and Kamalambal, a devoted wife and great lady, belonging to Madhva Desastha Brahmin race, by the blessings of Tirupati Venkatachalapathi in the year 1484.
  38. ^ "Statesman and a survivor". Deccab Herald. 7 February 2011.
  39. ^ Rajaram N S (12 January 2019). The Vanished Raj A Memoir of Princely India. Prism Books Private Limited. p. 447. ISBN 9789388478113. Retrieved 12 January 2019.
  40. ^ "C. Hayavandana Rao". The Indian Biographical Dictionary, 1915 (Classic Reprint). Fb&c Limited. 24 February 2018. p. 238. ISBN 9780666284051. Retrieved 24 February 2018. (page 238) Krishnaswami Rao Kanchi, Dewan Bahadur, (1895), C.I.E, (1898), Dewan of Travsncore (retired), belongs to respectable Madhwa Deshastha Brahmin family; of late Mr. Kanchi Venkat Rao; b. 1845.
  41. ^ P.N. Sundaresan (1994). Sruti, Issues 112-113. p. 9. Born in 1852 in a Madhwa brahmin family, Seshanna was the son of Veena- Bakshi Chikkaramappa, a vidwan in Mummadi Krishnaraja Wodeyar's court and a descendant of Pachimiriam Adiappaiah, the creator of the immortal Bhairavi
  42. ^ The Quarterly Journal of the Mythic Society (Bangalore)., Volume 73. The Society. 1982. p. 124. P.N.Krishnamurthi Mysorean and Madhwa Brahmin was a Dewan
  43. ^ "The quarterly journal of the Mythic society (Bangalore)". 56. Mythic Society. 1966: 94. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  44. ^ Life Sketch of Rajacharitha Visharada Rao Bahadur C.Hayavadana Rao at Google Books at page 94; Quote - "Rao Bahadur C.Hayavadana Rao was born on Tenth of July 1865 at Hosur, Krishnagiri talk in a Madhwa Deshastha Family.His father was C.Raja Rao"
  45. ^ Rajaram N S (12 January 2019). The Vanished Raj A Memoir of Princely India. Prism Books Private Limited. p. 18. ISBN 9789388478113. Retrieved 12 January 2019.
  46. ^ Datta, Amaresh (1987). Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature: A-Devo. Sahithya Akademi. p. 145. ISBN 9788126018031. Born in an orthodox Madhwa Brahmin household, he graduated in Philosophy hons
  47. ^ Vuppuluri Lakshminarayana Sastri (1920). Encyclopaedia of the Madras Presidency and the Adjacent States. Oriental Enclyclopaedic Publishing Company. p. 610. Mr. Sanjeevi Rao is the youngest of the three sons, born in 1883, of his father Venkobachariar of Palladam, Coimbatore District, belonging to a respected orthodox Madhwa Brahmin family
  48. ^ Vijendra Kasturi Ranga Varadaraja Rao; S. L. Rao (2002). The Partial Memoirs of V.K.R.V. Rao. Oxford University Press. p. 1. ISBN 9780195658231.
  49. ^ "Man with saucer eyes". The Hindu. 28 May 2015.
  50. ^ "The Dharwad Gharana: Hindustani music's southern home". THE NEWS MINUTE. A name that stands tall is that of Pandit Bhimsen Joshi born to a Madhwa Brahmin family of scholars in Gadag, Bhimsen took his training under the great Pt Rambhau Kundgolkar, popular as ‘Sawai Gandharva’.
  51. ^ Baiderbettu Upendra Nayak; N. C. Ghosh; Shikaripur Ranganatha Rao (1992). New trends in Indian art and archaeology: S.R. Rao's 70th birthday felicitation volume, Volume 1. Aditya Prakashan. p. xxi. ISBN 9788185689135. Shikaripur Ranganatha Rao (S. R. Rao) was born on 1st July, 1920 at Anandapuram in Sagar taluk of Shimoga district in the erstwhile Mysore (now Karnataka) state. His father Shikaripur Hucha Rao, a Madhwa Brahmin, was well educated up to the first year in Arts and wanted to practise Law.
  52. ^ Vishnuvardhan (actor)
  53. ^ The mind and metaphors of U.R. Ananthamurthy - The Hindu
  54. ^ "Changing roles with the years". The Hindu. Retrieved 28 May 2016.
  55. ^ Kashinath laid to rest: Shivaraj Kumar, Darshan and entire Sandalwood bids tearful adieu
  56. ^ The Journal of the Music Academy, Madras, Volume 58. Music Academy. 1987. p. 110. Sakharam Rao was born at Madhyarjunam ( Tiruvidaimarudur) in the Tanjore District. He was the eldest son of Gottu Vadya Srinivasa Rao, a famous player of the preceding generation from whom he learnt the art. He was a Madhva Desastha Brahmin and a Rigvedi.
  57. ^ Alonzo Simpson McDaniel (1990). The Absorption of Hydrocarbon Gases by Non-aqueous Liquids. University of Wisconsin--Madison. p. 124. Kattingeri Krishna Hebbar was born on 15 June 1912 at Kattingeri, a village in Udupi Taluk of Dakshina Kannada District of coastal Karnataka, in a middle-class Kannada- speaking, Madhwa, Shivalli Brahman family.

Bibliography[]

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