High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! Vadakalai, meaning Northern branch is one of the two Iyengar subsects, the other one being thenkalai (southern style). Iyengars are a sect of Brahmins that predominantly worship Lord Vishnu, one of the three leading deities of the Hindu religion. Brahmins originated as the priestly class in ancient India and, to a large extent, still continue to do so. Iyengars is the term given to Vishnu-worshiping brahmins who have settled in the Southern States of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh, but predominantly in Tamil Nadu.