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{{Short description|Community of genealogists in Karnataka and Maharashtra}}
[[File:Helava 25-09-21 11-57-51-639.jpg|thumb|Person from the Helavaru community, a traditional group in North Karnataka]]
The '''Helavaru''' or '''Helavas''' are a traditional community of genealogists found mainly in [[Karnataka]] and [[Maharashtra]], India. They are known for maintaining family lineages, reciting ancestral histories, and preserving genealogical records across generations.<ref>{{cite book |title=District Gazetteer of Belgaum |publisher=Government of Karnataka |year=1987 |pages=254–25 5}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Sangave |first=Vilas Adinath |title=Jaina Community: A Social Survey |publisher=Popular Prakashan |location=Bombay |year=1980 |pages=146–147}}</ref>

The term ''Helava'' is derived from the [[Kannada]] word ''helu'' (to say or narrate), reflecting their traditional role as narrators of religious stories, genealogies, and legends associated with sacred places.<ref>{{cite book |last=Ramachandran |first=C. N. |title=Folklore and Oral Tradition in Karnataka |publisher=Institute of Kannada Studies |year=1998 |page=92}}</ref>
== Historical background ==
The Helava tradition is believed to have originated during the reign of the [[Kalachuris of Kalyani|Kalachuri]] king [[Bijjala II]] (r. 1157–1167 CE). According to oral tradition, Bijjala, who was a patron of [[Jainism]], appointed the Helavas to maintain the genealogical records of the [[Chaturtha|Chaturtha Jains]] Particularly ruling lineages and [[Chaturtha|Chaturtha Jains]] were ruling linages at the time in [[Karnataka]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Ramachandran |first=C. N. |title=Folklore and Oral Tradition in Karnataka |publisher=Institute of Kannada Studies |year=1998 |page=92}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Nagarajaiah |first=Hampa |title=Jainism in Southern Karnataka |publisher=Sapna Book House |location=Bangalore |year=1999 |oclc=45166444 |pages=112–113}}</ref>

Even today, Helavas invoke [[Bijjala II|Bijjala’s]] name while reciting genealogies, and many [[Chaturtha|Chaturtha Jain]] families continue to preserve ancestral details through them.<ref>{{cite book |last=Ramachandran |first=C. N. |title=Folklore and Oral Tradition in Karnataka |publisher=Institute of Kannada Studies |year=1998 |page=92}}</ref> Over time, the system expanded beyond [[Jains]], and other communities—including [[Vokkaliga]] and [[Lingayat|Lingayats]] and many other communities of [[Karnataka]] and [[Maharashtra]] —Gradually adopted this practice of relying on Helavas for genealogical preservation.<ref>{{cite book |title=District Gazetteer of Belgaum |publisher=Government of Karnataka |year=1987 |pages=254–25 5}}</ref>

They also acted as genealogists, preserving family histories across generations, and were patronised by local chieftains and landed families. and people of the Helava's narrate in their North Karnataka tone:- "''[[Bijjala II|Raja Bijjala told our ancestors to keep all these records]]''" This oral tradition is still remembered and repeated within families as the origin of their role as record-keepers.<ref>{{cite book |last=Singh |first=K. S. |title=People of India: Karnataka, Volume 2 |publisher=Anthropological Survey of India |year=2003 |pages=484–485 |isbn=978-81-7304-133-4}}</ref>

== Role and practice ==
Helavas travel from village to village carrying record books, which often list twenty or more generations of families. When visiting households, they recite the genealogical accounts, update the records with new ''births'', ''marriages'', or ''deaths'', and collect offerings in return for their services. Their role has been important in preserving community memory, particularly in rural areas where written documentation was historically limited.<ref>{{cite book |title=District Gazetteer of Belgaum |publisher=Government of Karnataka |year=1987 |pages=254–25 5}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Sangave |first=Vilas Adinath |title=Jaina Community: A Social Survey |publisher=Popular Prakashan |location=Bombay |year=1980 |pages=148}}</ref>

== Distribution ==
The Helava community is concentrated in ''Northern Karnataka'' districts such as [[Bagalkot]], [[Belagavi]], [[Dharwad]], [[Gadag]], and [[Bijapur district, Karnataka|Bijapur]], [[Sangli district|Sangali]], [[Kolhapur]], [[Bagalkot]] and with smaller numbers in parts of Maharashtra. They primarily speak [[Kannada]] and [[Marathi Language|Marathi]], depending on their regional location.<ref>{{cite book |last=Singh |first=K. S. |title=People of India: Maharashtra, Part 2 |publisher=Anthropological Survey of India |year=2004 |pages= 832–834 |isbn=978-81-7304-141-9}}</ref>

== See also ==
•⁠ ⁠[[Chaturtha|Chaturtha Jains]]

•⁠ ⁠[[Kalachuris of Kalyani]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Social groups of Karnataka]]
[[Category:Indian castes]]

== Bibliography ==
* {{cite book |last=Ramachandran |first=C. N. |title=Folklore and Oral Tradition in Karnataka |publisher=Institute of Kannada Studies |year=1998 |page=92}}
* {{cite book |last=Nagarajaiah |first=Hampa |title=Jainism in Southern Karnataka |publisher=Sapna Book House |location=Bangalore |year=1999 |oclc=45166444 |pages=112–113}}

Helavaru - Revision history

Aman064: creating first info basic info