Satani is a community that renders temple services in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Telangana in India.
[9][1][5] In social and religious customs, the Satani community is associated with the Tenkalai movement[3] and have a long history from the time of Ramanuja and Guru-lineages and literature dating, from, at least the 15th century.
[1] Their names have the honorary suffix Ayyangar,[10] the title acharya, swamy, [citation needed] alwar, alvar, iah, iyya[11] and the ayya honorific.
[1] From the eleventh through the sixteenth centuries, Satanis enjoyed a supervisory status in many of the most important temples at Srirangam, Kanchipuram, Tirumala-Tirupati, and Melkote.
According to one of the hagiographies, their guru lineage is from Nammalvar to Ramanuja to Manavala Mamunigal to Srimat Paravastu Kantopayantru Munindra Jiyar who firmly established their order.
They were Vadama Brahmins who accepted the Divya Prabandham and stood in the ancient Parama Ekanta tradition of those who have renounced all associations by giving up their Sikha and sacred thread.
[13] In recent times, they are called Ayyawar, Chatani, Chatali, Chattada,[5] Sattadavar purohitar, Vighas, Vira and Vishnu archaka in Andhra Pradesh,[11] Satvik Vaishnava in Karnataka, Satani Vaishnavulu in Maharashtra and Dasa-Nambi, Kovil Padagar, Kovil Thurayar, Sathata aiyyar, Satanaiah, Chattadi Sathtavar and Sattadas in Tamil Nadu.
The Sangham regularly organizes cultural celebrations, spiritual gatherings, and social activities to foster unity and support among its members.