Kunchitiga - Revision history

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← Older revision		Revision as of 09:15, 30 August 2021
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	==Etymology==		==Etymology==

	The origin of the word "Kunchitiga" is uncertain, and there are two speculative theories about it.		The origin of the word "Kunchitiga" is uncertain, and there are two speculative theories about it.

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	The other is that Jaldhi Bapparaya of the following legend was holding a Kuncha (a tassel or bunch), a brush used by [[Kuruba]] weavers. Unde Yattaraya is said to have named his community Kunchitiga in his honour.<ref>{{cite book \|last1=Nanjundayya\|first1=H.V\|first2=L.K Ananthakrishna\|last2=Iyer\|date=1931\|title=The Mysore Tribes and Castes\|url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.38701/page/n41/mode/2up\|location=Mysore \|publisher=The Mysore University\|pages=18}}</ref>		The other is that Jaldhi Bapparaya of the following legend was holding a Kuncha (a tassel or bunch), a brush used by [[Kuruba]] weavers. Unde Yattaraya is said to have named his community Kunchitiga in his honour.<ref>{{cite book \|last1=Nanjundayya\|first1=H.V\|first2=L.K Ananthakrishna\|last2=Iyer\|date=1931\|title=The Mysore Tribes and Castes\|url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.38701/page/n41/mode/2up\|location=Mysore \|publisher=The Mysore University\|pages=18}}</ref>

	== Origin, legends, and history==		==Origin, legends, and history==
	While the exact origins of the community are disputed to date, there seems to be a consistent legend describing the migration of the community from the north to the south of India.<ref name="The Genesis, Divisions, Movement and Transformation of Okkaligar Community"/><ref name="Castes and Tribes of Southern India, Volume 4"/><ref name="Nanjundayya p17–18">{{cite book \|last1=Nanjundayya\|first1=H.V\|first2=L.K Ananthakrishna\|last2=Iyer\|date=1931\|title=The Mysore Tribes and Castes\|url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.38701/page/n41/mode/2up\|location=Mysore \|publisher=The Mysore University\|pages=17–18}}</ref>		While the exact origins of the community are disputed to date, there seems to be a consistent legend describing the migration of the community from the north to the south of India.<ref name="The Genesis, Divisions, Movement and Transformation of Okkaligar Community"/><ref name="Castes and Tribes of Southern India, Volume 4"/><ref name="Nanjundayya p17–18">{{cite book \|last1=Nanjundayya\|first1=H.V\|first2=L.K Ananthakrishna\|last2=Iyer\|date=1931\|title=The Mysore Tribes and Castes\|url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.38701/page/n41/mode/2up\|location=Mysore \|publisher=The Mysore University\|pages=17–18}}</ref>

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	===The Legend of Veera Keturaya and Mahasati Devi Veera Nagamma===		===The Legend of Veera Keturaya and Mahasati Devi Veera Nagamma===

	This legend tells the story of ‘Veera Keturaya', his son ‘Veera Nagappa’ and daughter-in-law 'Veera Nagamma’.		This legend tells the story of ‘Veera Keturaya', his son ‘Veera Nagappa’ and daughter-in-law 'Veera Nagamma’.
	Veera Keturaya is described as a divine ruler born in Warangal, that rose to power after the fall of the Kakatiya empire. He is said to have moved south to fulfill his legacy of killing an evil demon king. In his adventure, he meets the 48 clans of the Kunchitigas coming from Dwarka and becomes their leader. Veera Keturaya then moves to Vaddagere along with the Kunchitigas. He conquers Nelamangala by killing its demon king Baicha and then becomes the king of Penakonda. He is succeeded by his son Veera Nagappa. <ref name="Shri Veeranagamma">{{cite book\|first=Rajanna\|last=Hunisepalya\|title=Mahasati Shivasharane Shri Veeranagamma Devi\|url=http://ammaji.in/English/history.html}}</ref>		Veera Keturaya is described as a divine ruler born in Warangal, that rose to power after the fall of the Kakatiya empire. He is said to have moved south to fulfill his legacy of killing an evil demon king. In his adventure, he meets the 48 clans of the Kunchitigas coming from Dwarka and becomes their leader. Veera Keturaya then moves to Vaddagere along with the Kunchitigas. He conquers Nelamangala by killing its demon king Baicha and then becomes the king of Penakonda. He is succeeded by his son Veera Nagappa. <ref name="Shri Veeranagamma">{{cite book\|first=Rajanna\|last=Hunisepalya\|title=Mahasati Shivasharane Shri Veeranagamma Devi\|url=http://ammaji.in/English/history.html}}</ref>
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	====Historical significance====		====Historical significance====

	Veera Keturaya is said to have ruled a part of the Warangal's [[Kakatiya]] kingdom in the 12th century. The archaeological evidences like a copper inscription/ script found in 'thadi' and 'heddla's martyr stone/ 'Veeragallu' helps us roughly approximate Veera Keturaya's period in history. Veera Keturaya was a contemporary of [[Penukonda]]'s ruler Jagaraya or Jaga Devaraya. The powerful Penukonda/'Mahanadu' rulers dominated parts of South India, roughly during and after the fall of [[Kakatiya dynasty]] of Warangal, and much before the uprise of [[Vijayanagara empire]]. After ruling Warangal for 12 years, Veera Keturaya who was looking to peacefully retire, reacting to a divinely call, moves and settles down in Varapura/Vaddagere, Tumkur.<ref name="Kunchitigara Samajada Charitre p95">{{cite book \|last=M\|first=Puttaiah\|title= Kunchitigara Samajada Charitre\|orig-year=1973\|year=1973\|page=95\|location=Bangalore}}</ref>		Veera Keturaya is said to have ruled a part of the Warangal's [[Kakatiya]] kingdom in the 12th century. The archaeological evidences like a copper inscription/ script found in 'thadi' and 'heddla's martyr stone/ 'Veeragallu' helps us roughly approximate Veera Keturaya's period in history. Veera Keturaya was a contemporary of [[Penukonda]]'s ruler Jagaraya or Jaga Devaraya. The powerful Penukonda/'Mahanadu' rulers dominated parts of South India, roughly during and after the fall of [[Kakatiya dynasty]] of Warangal, and much before the uprise of [[Vijayanagara empire]]. After ruling Warangal for 12 years, Veera Keturaya who was looking to peacefully retire, reacting to a divinely call, moves and settles down in Varapura/Vaddagere, Tumkur.<ref name="Kunchitigara Samajada Charitre p95">{{cite book \|last=M\|first=Puttaiah\|title= Kunchitigara Samajada Charitre\|orig-year=1973\|year=1973\|page=95\|location=Bangalore}}</ref>

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	===History===		===History===
			Some believe Kunchitigas were [[Chalukya]] or [[Rashtrakuta]] warriors. It has been proposed by the historian S. C. Nandinath that the word "Chalukya" originated from ''Salki'' or ''Chalki'' which is a Kannada word for an agricultural implement.<ref name="Chalki">Dr. Hoernle suggests a non-Sanskrit origin of the dynastic name. Dr. S.C. Nandinath feels the Chalukyas were of agricultural background and of Kannada origin who later took up a martial career. He feels the word ''Chalki'' found in some of their records must have originated from ''salki'', an agricultural implement (Kamath 2001, p. 57)</ref><ref name="root">The word ''Chalukya'' is derived from a Dravidian root (Kittel in Karmarkar 1947, p. 26)</ref> Some of the Rashtrakuta inscriptions found in the Banavasimandala carry the depiction of a plough at the top, the symbol of the [[Vokkaliga]].<ref>{{cite book \|author1=L. K. Ananthakrishna Iyer\|author2=H. V. Nanjundayya\|date=1930\|title=The Mysore Tribes And Castes\|volume=3\|url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.22885/page/n452/mode/1up?\|location=Mysore\|publisher=Mysore University\|page=350-351}}:”Engraved on the ladle are the badges of the different castes composing this section, such as the plough of the Okkaliga, the scales of the Banajiga, the shears of a Kuruba, the spade of a Odda, the razor of a barber, the washing stone-slab and pot of an Agasa, and the wheel of a Kumbara.”</ref> There is a view that the Rashtrakutas were originally prosperous cultivators, who later on dominated the political scene. Some of the inscriptions refer to them as Kutumbinah which is interpreted as meaning “cultivators”.<ref>{{cite book \|last=Shetty\|first=Sadanand Ramakrishna\|date=1994\|title=Banavasi Through the Ages\|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cUhuAAAAMAAJ&q=vokkaliga+rashtrakuta \|location=Banavasi (India)\|publisher=Printwell\|page=121}}:“The community of the land tillers or agriculturists was known as vokkaligas. The importance given to the cultivation of land is amply demonstrated by the fact that numerous tanks were dug and irrigational facilities were provided at various places. Some of the Rashtrakuta inscriptions found in the Banavasimandala carry the depiction of a plough at the top. There is a view that the
	Some believe Kunchitigas were [[Chalukya]] or [[Rashtrakuta]] warriors. It has been proposed by the historian S. C. Nandinath that the word "Chalukya" originated from ''Salki'' or ''Chalki'' which is a Kannada word for an agricultural implement.<ref name="Chalki">Dr. Hoernle suggests a non-Sanskrit origin of the dynastic name. Dr. S.C. Nandinath feels the Chalukyas were of agricultural background and of Kannada origin who later took up a martial career. He feels the word ''Chalki'' found in some of their records must have originated from ''salki'', an agricultural implement (Kamath 2001, p. 57)</ref><ref name="root">The word ''Chalukya'' is derived from a Dravidian root (Kittel in Karmarkar 1947, p. 26)</ref> Some of the Rashtrakuta inscriptions found in the Banavasimandala carry the depiction of a plough at the top, the symbol of the [[Vokkaliga]].<ref>{{cite book \|author1=L. K. Ananthakrishna Iyer\|author2=H. V. Nanjundayya\|date=1930\|title=The Mysore Tribes And Castes\|volume=3\|url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.22885/page/n452/mode/1up?\|location=Mysore\|publisher=Mysore University\|page=350-351}}:”Engraved on the ladle are the badges of the different castes composing this section, such as the plough of the Okkaliga, the scales of the Banajiga, the shears of a Kuruba, the spade of a Odda, the razor of a barber, the washing stone-slab and pot of an Agasa, and the wheel of a Kumbara.”</ref> There is a view that the
	Rashtrakutas were originally prosperous cultivators, who later on dominated the political scene. Some of the inscriptions refer to them as Kutumbinah which is interpreted as meaning “cultivators”.<ref>{{cite book \|last=Shetty\|first=Sadanand Ramakrishna\|date=1994\|title=Banavasi Through the Ages\|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cUhuAAAAMAAJ&q=vokkaliga+rashtrakuta \|location=Banavasi (India)\|publisher=Printwell\|page=121}}:“The community of the land tillers or agriculturists was known as vokkaligas. The importance given to the cultivation of land is amply demonstrated by the fact that numerous tanks were dug and irrigational facilities
	were provided at various places. Some of the Rashtrakuta inscriptions found in the Banavasimandala carry the depiction of a plough at the top. There is a view that the
	Rashtrakutas were originally prosperous cultivators, who later on dominated the political scene. Some of the inscriptions refer to them as Kutumbinah which is interpreted as meaning cultivators.”</ref>		Rashtrakutas were originally prosperous cultivators, who later on dominated the political scene. Some of the inscriptions refer to them as Kutumbinah which is interpreted as meaning cultivators.”</ref>
	This theory is supported with evidence from the settlement and migration patterns of Kunchitigas which resemble a mobile army's way of setting up outposts in their conquests.<ref name="Kunchitigara Parampare haagu Samaja Sudharakaru"/>		This theory is supported with evidence from the settlement and migration patterns of Kunchitigas which resemble a mobile army's way of setting up outposts in their conquests.<ref name="Kunchitigara Parampare haagu Samaja Sudharakaru"/>
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	As a community of warriors<ref name="Gavunda"/><ref name="Gundimeda"/> and cultivators,<ref name="Nanjundayya 1931 p26"/><ref>{{Cite book\|title=An Agrarian History of South Asia (The New Cambridge History of India)\|last=Ludden\|first=David\|year=1999\|publisher=Cambridge University Press\|location=Cambridge\|isbn=9781139053396\|page=91}}</ref> they were historically associated with the Vijaynagar Empire,<ref>{{Cite book\|title=The New Cambridge History of India:Vijayanagara\|last=Stein\|first=Burton\|year=1990\|publisher=Cambridge University Press\|location=Cambridge\|isbn=9781139055611\|pages=96–97}}</ref><ref>{{cite book\|first=Saki\|last=(social activist.)\|date=1998\|title=Making History: Stone age to mercantilism, Volume 1 of Making History: Karnataka's People and Their Past\|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ywNvAAAAMAAJ&q=Polity+Vokkaliga\|location=Bangalore\|publisher=Vimukthi Prakashana\|page=311}}</ref> Wodeyars of Mysore, among other rulers.<ref>{{cite magazine \|last=Gowda\|first=H.H.Annaiah\|date=5 September 1971\|title=Vokkaligas\|magazine=The Illustrated Weekly Of India Vol.92, No.27-39(july-sept)1971\|url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.110098/page/n617/mode/1up?q=Vokkaligas\|location=Bombay\|publisher=Times of India Press\|page=10}}:”Gowdas have been generals and vassals under dynasties such as the Kadambas , Gangas and Rashtrakutas”</ref><ref name="Gavunda"/><ref name="kamath"/> Kunchitigas were the rulers of [[Sira Taluk\|Sira]], [[Madhugiri]], and [[Koratagere]].<ref>1600 Varshagala Vokkaligara Ithihasa (Pandukumar B)</ref>		As a community of warriors<ref name="Gavunda"/><ref name="Gundimeda"/> and cultivators,<ref name="Nanjundayya 1931 p26"/><ref>{{Cite book\|title=An Agrarian History of South Asia (The New Cambridge History of India)\|last=Ludden\|first=David\|year=1999\|publisher=Cambridge University Press\|location=Cambridge\|isbn=9781139053396\|page=91}}</ref> they were historically associated with the Vijaynagar Empire,<ref>{{Cite book\|title=The New Cambridge History of India:Vijayanagara\|last=Stein\|first=Burton\|year=1990\|publisher=Cambridge University Press\|location=Cambridge\|isbn=9781139055611\|pages=96–97}}</ref><ref>{{cite book\|first=Saki\|last=(social activist.)\|date=1998\|title=Making History: Stone age to mercantilism, Volume 1 of Making History: Karnataka's People and Their Past\|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ywNvAAAAMAAJ&q=Polity+Vokkaliga\|location=Bangalore\|publisher=Vimukthi Prakashana\|page=311}}</ref> Wodeyars of Mysore, among other rulers.<ref>{{cite magazine \|last=Gowda\|first=H.H.Annaiah\|date=5 September 1971\|title=Vokkaligas\|magazine=The Illustrated Weekly Of India Vol.92, No.27-39(july-sept)1971\|url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.110098/page/n617/mode/1up?q=Vokkaligas\|location=Bombay\|publisher=Times of India Press\|page=10}}:”Gowdas have been generals and vassals under dynasties such as the Kadambas , Gangas and Rashtrakutas”</ref><ref name="Gavunda"/><ref name="kamath"/> Kunchitigas were the rulers of [[Sira Taluk\|Sira]], [[Madhugiri]], and [[Koratagere]].<ref>1600 Varshagala Vokkaligara Ithihasa (Pandukumar B)</ref>

	Kunchitigas are also found in interior parts of Tamil Nadu.<ref name="Castes and Tribes of Southern India, Volume 4"/><ref name="The Genesis, Divisions, Movement and Transformation of Okkaligar Community"/> Wodeyars were frequently battling Madurai Nayakars and had briefly won Dindigal and Theni after [[Chanda Sahib]] got rid of the [[Madurai Nayak dynasty]] (1736). ~~[[Hyder Ali]] was sent to govern the land by the Mysore King (1755).~~ Kunchitigas are believed to have gotten land grants<ref>{{cite book\|first=Saki\|last=(social activist.)\|date=1998\|title=Making History: Stone age to mercantilism, Volume 1 of Making History: Karnataka's People and Their Past\|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ywNvAAAAMAAJ&q=Vokkaliga+mysore\|location=Bangalore\|publisher=Vimukthi Prakashana\|page=420,536}}</ref> ~~in Dindigal and Theni then.~~ They are also associated with the expansion of the Dindigal fort.		Kunchitigas are also found in interior parts of Tamil Nadu.<ref name="Castes and Tribes of Southern India, Volume 4"/><ref name="The Genesis, Divisions, Movement and Transformation of Okkaligar Community"/> Some of the [[Polygars]] in Madura district were Kunchitigas.<ref>{{cite book \|author1=Herman Jensen\|date=2002\|title=Madura Gazetteer\|url=https://books.google.co.in/books?id=cqAlHNTOWJgC&pg=PA108#v=onepage&q&f=true\|location=Madurai, India\|publisher=Cosmo Publications\|page=319\|isbn=9788170209690\|quote=Some of the Poligars in this part of the country were Kappiliyans, and they doubtless brought with them a retinue of their own castemen.}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal\|editor=C.S. Ramakrishna Aiyar\|date=1921\|title=The Hindu Law Journal\|volume=2\|url=https://books.google.co.in/books?id=6m8vAQAAMAAJ&focus=searchwithinvolume&q=Kappiliyan\|location=Coimbatore\|publisher= C.S. Ramakrishna Aiyar, [1918-1925] \|page=5\|oclc=7783197\|quote=The Kombai Parivarams , who are the servants of the Kappiliyan Zamindars of Kombai and Tevaram in the Periyakulam taluk...}}</ref> Wodeyars were frequently battling Madurai Nayakars and had briefly won Dindigal and Theni after [[Chanda Sahib]] got rid of the [[Madurai Nayak dynasty]] (1736). Some Kunchitigas are believed to have gotten land grants then.<ref>{{cite book\|first=Saki\|last=(social activist.)\|date=1998\|title=Making History: Stone age to mercantilism, Volume 1 of Making History: Karnataka's People and Their Past\|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ywNvAAAAMAAJ&q=Vokkaliga+mysore\|location=Bangalore\|publisher=Vimukthi Prakashana\|page=420,536}}</ref> They are also associated with the expansion of the Dindigal fort.

	== Subdivisions ==		==Subdivisions==
	It is believed that Kunchitigas originally had 101 Gothras. Currently, people of the following 48 gothras are found in the Karnataka region. The Ithihasa Parishat/ Archaeological department found a stone inscription in nandana-hosuru, Chitradurga district with information about these 48 gothras of Kunchitigas.<ref name="Kunchitigara Samajada Charitre p95"/> Endogamous marriages within the same gothra are forbidden.<ref>{{cite book \|last1=Nanjundayya\|first1=H.V\|first2=L.K Ananthakrishna\|last2=Iyer\|date=1931\|title=The Mysore Tribes and Castes\|volume=4\|url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.38701/page/n43/mode/2up\|location=Mysore\|publisher=The Mysore University\|pages=20–21}}</ref>		It is believed that Kunchitigas originally had 101 Gothras. Currently, people of the following 48 gothras are found in the Karnataka region. The Ithihasa Parishat/ Archaeological department found a stone inscription in nandana-hosuru, Chitradurga district with information about these 48 gothras of Kunchitigas.<ref name="Kunchitigara Samajada Charitre p95"/> Endogamous marriages within the same gothra are forbidden.<ref>{{cite book \|last1=Nanjundayya\|first1=H.V\|first2=L.K Ananthakrishna\|last2=Iyer\|date=1931\|title=The Mysore Tribes and Castes\|volume=4\|url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.38701/page/n43/mode/2up\|location=Mysore\|publisher=The Mysore University\|pages=20–21}}</ref>

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{{Short description|Indian ethnic group}}
{{Copy edit|date=April 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2020}}
{{Infobox ethnic group
|group = Kunchitiga
|image = Kunchitiga People.jpg
|caption = Kunchitigas
|poptime =
|popplace =
|regions = [[Karnataka]], and [[Tamil Nadu]], India
|languages = [[Kannada language|Kannada]]
|religions = [[Vaishnavism]], [[Shaivism]]
|related = [[Dravidian people|Dravidian]]{{·}}[[Kannadigas|Kannadiga]]
}}
[[File:Kunchitiga Women and Children.jpg|thumb|A group of Kunchitiga women and children]]
'''Kunchitiga'''<ref name="Caste list">{{cite book|title=Caste List, Karnataka|page=15|url=https://bcw.karnataka.gov.in/storage/pdf-files/caste%20list.new.pdf}}</ref> (also [[transliterated]] as Kunchatiga, Kanchitiga, Kanchitigar, Kunchitigar, Kunchidigar, Kunchigar, Kunchu Okkaliga, Kunju Okkaliga, Kurichigar, Kunchiliyan) are a community of people from [[Karnataka]], India. They are mostly concentrated in [[Tumkur]], [[Bangalore]], [[Mysore]], and [[Chitradurga]] districts.<ref name="Nanjundayya,p17">{{cite book |last1=Nanjundayya|first1=H.V|first2=L.K Ananthakrishna|last2=Iyer|date=1931|title=The Mysore Tribes and Castes|url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.38701|location=Mysore |publisher=The Mysore University|page=17}}</ref><ref name="BalasubramanyamOperations1965">{{cite book|author1=K. Balasubramanyam|author2=India. Superintendent of Census Operations, Mysore|author3=India. Office of the Registrar General|title=Mysore: handicraft survey monographs : crafts using wood as the chief raw material|year=1965|series=Census of India, 1961|publisher=Manager of Publications}}</ref> They are also found in the neighbouring state of [[Tamil Nadu]].<ref name="Castes and Tribes of Southern India, Volume 4">{{cite book|first=Edgar|last= Thurston|year=1909|title=Castes and Tribes of Southern India, Volume 4|publisher=Government Press|location=Madras|volume=4|url=http://www.gutenberg.org/files/42994/42994-h/42994-h.htm}}</ref><ref name="The Genesis, Divisions, Movement and Transformation of Okkaligar Community">{{cite journal|first=Sundaramurthy|last= V.T|date=2007|title=The Genesis, Divisions, Movement and Transformation of Okkaligar Community|url=http://www.krepublishers.com/02-Journals/T-Anth/Anth-09-0-000-000-2007-Web/Anth-09-4-000-07-Abst-PDF/Anth-09-4-305-07-399-Sundaramurthy-V-T/Anth-09-4-305-07-399-Sundaramurthy-V-T-Tt.pdf|journal=The Anthropologist|volume=9|issue=4|pages=305–313|doi=10.1080/09720073.2007.11891017|s2cid= 74219783}}</ref>

While considered a sub-division of [[Vokkaliga]]s<ref name="Castes and Tribes of Southern India, Volume 5">{{cite book|first=Edgar|last= Thurston|year=1909|title=Castes and Tribes of Southern India, Volume 5|publisher=Government Press|location=Madras|volume=5|url=http://www.gutenberg.org/files/42995/42995-h/42995-h.htm}}</ref><ref name="Nanjundayya,p17"/><ref>{{cite book |last=Balfour|first=Edward|date=1885|title=The Cyclopaedia of India and of Eastern and Southern Asia|volume=2|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qeA0AQAAMAAJ&q=wakkaliga&pg=PA261|location=Graz, Austria|publisher=Akademische Druck-u. Verlagsanstalt|page=261|isbn=}}</ref> the Kunchitigas are listed separately by the government.<ref name="Caste list"/><ref>{{cite thesis|type=Doctoral |last=Dushkin|first=Lelah|date=1974|title=The NonBrahman Movement in Princely Mysore|publisher=University of Pennylvania|place=London|page=226|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=h8gBAAAAMAAJ&q=than+gangadikar}}:”the Kunchitigar were somewhat more prosperous and better educated and claimed a higher status than the Gangadikar and other Vokkalligas”</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Mysore Census, 1921|url=http://lsi.gov.in:8081/jspui/bitstream/123456789/6008/1/20203_1921_REP.pdf}}</ref> They are classified under the [[General/Unreserved Category]] by the Central Government of India.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021|title=Karnataka Caste Wise Report|url=https://karepass.cgg.gov.in/CasteReport.do?actionParameter=CasteWise&castecat_code=4|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210413040933/https://karepass.cgg.gov.in/CasteReport.do?actionParameter=CasteWise&castecat_code=4|archive-date=25 May 2021|access-date=2021-05-25|website=karepass.cgg.gov.in (Karnataka ePASS, Electronic Payment and Application System of Scholarships)|publisher=Department of Backward Classes Welfare, Government of Karnataka}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/karnataka/2016/aug/01/Raju-Kshatriyas-Kunchitigas-promised-OBC-category-1500163.html|title= Kunchitigas, Raju Kshatriyas request inclusion into OBC category}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ncbc.nic.in/Writereaddata/cl/karnataka.pdf|title=PDF - National OBC list for Karnataka}}</ref>

Historically the Kunchitigas were a landholding community of cultivators and merchants.<ref>{{cite book |last=Rice|first=Benjamin Lewis|date=1876|title=Mysore and Coorg: A Gazetteer Compiled for the Government of India, Volume 2 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SlkoAAAAYAAJ&q=kunchigar+merchants&pg=PA219|location=Bangalore |publisher=Mysore Government Press |page=219}}:”The large merchants , who live chiefly in Mysore city , are for the most part of the Kunchigar caste .”</ref> They formed part of the administrative<ref name="kamath">{{cite book |last1=Kamath|first1=Suryanath U.|last2=Naik|first2=R.A|date=1983|title=Gazetteer of India Government of Karnataka, Karnataka State Gazetteer Part II|url=https://archive.org/details/dli.csl.3241/page/n265/mode/2up?q=Gauda |location=Bangalore|publisher= Parishree Printers |page=243-244}}: ”Villages had gramakuta or gavunda (gauda), the village headman.
He had under him the village militia^ later called as talaras and tolls.”</ref><ref name="Karashima">{{cite book |last=Karashima|first=Noboru|year=2014|title=A Concise History of South India: Issues and Interpretations|url= |location=India|publisher=Oxford University Press|page=144-145|isbn=978-0198099772}}:”They are, for example, Gavunda chiefs and heggade revenue officers vis-à-vis the Chola Vellala nattars; kalnad military tenure vis-à-vis padai-parru or parigraham tenure in the Chola state”</ref> and warrior classes<ref name="Gundimeda">{{Cite book|last=Gundimeda|first=Sambaiah|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FjjbCgAAQBAJ&q=kammas+sat-shudra&pg=PA19|title=Dalit Politics in Contemporary India|date=2015-10-14|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-317-38105-1|pages=19|language=en}}</ref><ref name="Gavunda">{{cite journal |last1=Adiga |first1=Malini|date=1997 |title= 'GAVUNDAS' IN SOUTHERN KARNATAKA: LANDLORDS AND WARRIORS (AD 600 to 1030)|url= https://www.jstor.org/stable/44143897?read-now=1&seq=2#metadata_info_tab_contents|journal=Proceedings of the Indian History Congress |volume=58|pages=139–148|jstor=44143897|access-date= 10 March 2021}}</ref><ref name="Omvedt">{{Citation| title=Dalits and the democratic revolution : Dr. Ambedkar and the Dalit movement in colonial India / Gail Omvedt | author1=Omvedt, Gail | date=January 1994 | publisher=Sage Publications | isbn=0803991398 | language=English|page=|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=leuICwAAQBAJ&q=dalits+and+the+democratic+revolution+ksatriya+jatis+south&pg=PT56}}:”In addition the three way ' caste division ( Brahman , non - Brahman , Untouchable ) seems particularly prominent here. There are no recognized 'Ksatriya' jatis anywhere in the south, and the three states (in contrast to the more inequalitarian hierarchies of Tamil Nadu and Kerala) are characterized by the dominance of large peasant jatis with landholding rights who historically supplied many of the zamindars and rulers but remained classed remained classed as 'Shudra' in the varna scheme.”</ref> in ancient times. Their chiefs were called “[[Gowda (surname)|Gowda]]”<ref name="Nanjundayya 1931 p26">{{cite book |last1=Nanjundayya|first1=H.V|first2=L.K Ananthakrishna|last2=Iyer|date=1931|title=The Mysore Tribes and Castes|url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.38701|location=Mysore |publisher=The Mysore University|page=26}}</ref> and “Nayaka”<ref name="Copper Plate"/> in Karnataka and "[[Gounder]]"<ref>{{cite book|first=Kumar Suresh|last=Singh|title=People of India|volume=40,part 2|publisher=Anthropological Survey of India|date=2001|page=640|isbn=9788185938882|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CBIwAQAAIAAJ&q=Vokkaliga+Gounder}}:”The community has titles viz. Gowda , Gowdar , Gounder and Kounder.”</ref> in Tamil Nadu.

==Etymology==

The origin of the word "Kunchitiga" is uncertain, and there are two speculative theories about it.

One is that the word “Kunchiti" is a combination of two words Kuncha (Referring to the brush-like crest on a soldier's helmet) + Iti (Meaning Spear). Kunchiti described soldiers with spears ['Iti' or 'Barji'].<ref name="Kunchitigara Parampare haagu Samaja Sudharakaru"/>

The other is that Jaldhi Bapparaya of the following legend was holding a Kuncha (a tassel or bunch), a brush used by [[Kuruba]] weavers. Unde Yattaraya is said to have named his community Kunchitiga in his honour.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Nanjundayya|first1=H.V|first2=L.K Ananthakrishna|last2=Iyer|date=1931|title=The Mysore Tribes and Castes|url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.38701/page/n41/mode/2up|location=Mysore |publisher=The Mysore University|pages=18}}</ref>

== Origin, legends, and history==
While the exact origins of the community are disputed to date, there seems to be a consistent legend describing the migration of the community from the north to the south of India.<ref name="The Genesis, Divisions, Movement and Transformation of Okkaligar Community"/><ref name="Castes and Tribes of Southern India, Volume 4"/><ref name="Nanjundayya p17–18">{{cite book |last1=Nanjundayya|first1=H.V|first2=L.K Ananthakrishna|last2=Iyer|date=1931|title=The Mysore Tribes and Castes|url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.38701/page/n41/mode/2up|location=Mysore |publisher=The Mysore University|pages=17–18}}</ref>

===The Legend of Jaladhi Bapparaya===
Legend has it that the Kunchitigas were originally from North India and were forced to migrate south due to various circumstances prevailing in that region. In most legends concerning this migration a Muslim ruler is involved, who is said to have coveted the daughter of the community's chief “Unde Yattaraya”. Unde Yattaraya who whilst fleeing the said Muslim ruler, was unable to cross an overflowing river (Some accounts say [[Godavari]], others say [[Tungabhadra]]) and was helped by a [[Kuruba]]<ref name="The Genesis, Divisions, Movement and Transformation of Okkaligar Community"/><ref name="Nanjundayya p17–18"/><ref name="Castes and Tribes of Southern India, Volume 4"/> called "Jaldhi Bapparaya" who was one of the two divine foundlings (the other being “Avinakamaraya”) discovered by a Kuruba help of Unde Yattaraya, named Birapna.<ref name="Nanjundayya p17–18"/> Jaldhi Bapparaya is said to have offered himself as a sacrifice to the river goddess at which an easy passage was created for the fleeing people. Unde Yattaraya is said to have given his daughter in marriage to the corpse of Jaldhi Bapparaya, who was then revived by divine grace. These three characters, Unde Yattaraya, Jaldi Bapparaya, and Avinakamaraya are ranked among the progenitors of the Kunchitigas. After crossing the river, the Kunchitigas first settled in Vijaynagar country, and subsequently removed further south to Nandana Hosur in [[Chitradurga]] District, whence they migrated to [[Sira, India|Sira]], which is still considered as their headquarters.<ref name="Nanjundayya p17–18"/><ref name="Kunchitigara Samajada Charitre">{{cite book|last=M|first=Puttaiah|title=Kunchitigara Samajada Charitre|orig-year=1973|year=1973|page=21|location=Bangalore}}</ref><ref name="Castes and Tribes of Southern India, Volume 4"/>

====Historical significance====
There seems to be evidence to link the Kunchitigas with the [[Seuna (Yadava) dynasty]].<ref name="The Genesis, Divisions, Movement and Transformation of Okkaligar Community"/><ref name="Kamukula Urbhva Puranam">{{cite book |last=C |first=Subbaiah |date=1911|title=Kamukula Urbhva Puranam, (Based on the Kannada literatures found on copper plates and palm leaves found in Archives)|location=Madras|publisher=Madras Diamond Printing House}}</ref><ref name="Saki 1998 p143">{{cite book|first=Saki|last=(social activist.)|date=1998|title=Making History: Stone age to mercantilism, Volume 1 of Making History: Karnataka's People and Their Past|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ywNvAAAAMAAJ&q=Seuna|location=Bangalore|publisher=Vimukthi Prakashana|page=143}}</ref> The Seunas called “Yadavas of [[Devagiri]]”<ref name="ref_India_A_History_John_Keay">{{cite book
| last = Keay
| first = John
| author-link = John Keay
| title = India: A History
| date= 2001-05-01
| publisher = Atlantic Monthly Pr
| isbn = 0-8021-3797-0
| pages = 252–257
}} ''The quoted pages can be read at [https://books.google.com/ Google Book Search].''</ref> often proudly claimed their pastoral ancestry.<ref>{{cite book|first=Ramchandra |last=Dhere |title=Rise of a Folk God: Vitthal of Pandharpur South Asia Research |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jUeeAgAAQBAJ |year=2011 |publisher=Oxford University Press, 2011 |isbn=9780199777648 |pages=246–247}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|first=Madhukar |last=Dhavalikar |title=Socio-economic Archaeology of India |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YkR3Ke81LoMC |year=2014 |publisher=Archaeological Survey of India, 2014 |pages=274}}</ref> It is believed the [[Vokkaliga]]s had pastoral origins.<ref>{{cite book |last=Sadasivan|first=S. N|date=2000|title=A social history of India|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Be3PCvzf-BYC&q=a+social+history+of+india+vokkaligas&pg=PA254|location=New Delhi, India|publisher=APH Pub. Corp|page=254, 700|isbn=9788176481700}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |author1=Mysore Narasimhachar Srinivas|date=1942 |title=Marriage And Family In Mysore |url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.280868/page/n26/mode/1up?|location=Bombay|publisher=New Book Co.|page=25|oclc=4565441}}</ref> The Legend of Kuruba<ref name="Saki 1998 p143"/> Jaldhi Bapparaya has a clear theme of being chased south by Muslim invaders. Even the timing (13th century AD) of the arrival of the Kunchitigas at Nandana Hosur is in sync with [[Alauddin Khalji's raid on Devagiri]].
[[Alauddin Khalji]] sent [[Malik Kafur]] to recapture Devagiri in 1313.<ref>{{cite book|last=Michell|first=George|title=Architecture and Art of the Deccan Sultanates|url=https://archive.org/details/newcambridgehist00mich_127|url-access=limited|date=1999-06-10|publisher=Arizona University Press|isbn=0-521-56321-6|page=[https://archive.org/details/newcambridgehist00mich_127/page/n49 5]}}</ref> Singhana III was killed in the ensuing battle and Alaud-Dīn Khaljī army occupied Devagiri.<ref>The Dynasties of the Kanarese Districts of the Bombay Presidency"(1894) J.F.Fleet, Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency (Vol-1, Part-II, Book-III) {{ISBN|81-206-0277-3}}</ref>{{sfn|A. V. Narasimha Murthy|1971|p=32}} Seunas were once the feudatories of the Rashtrakutas who were dispatched to rule the northern regions {{sfn|A. V. Narasimha Murthy|1971|p=32}}and later became feudatories of the Western Chalukyas.{{sfn|T. V. Mahalingam|1957|p=138}}{{sfn|A. S. Altekar|1960|p=517-518}} Further Epigraphic evidence suggests that the Seuna dynasty likely emerged from a Kannada-speaking background.{{sfn|Christian Lee Novetzke|2016|pp=51-54}}Many Seuna rulers had Kannada names and titles such as "Dhadiyappa", "Bhillama", "Rajugi", "Vadugi", "Vasugi" and "Kaliya Ballala".<ref name="Kunchitigara Parampare haagu Samaja Sudharakaru">{{cite book |last=V|first=Anjanappa|title= Kunchitigara Parampare haagu Samaja Sudharakaru|edition =First|publisher=Vishwa Kunchitigara Parishath|publication-date=2009}}</ref> Kunchitigas could be [[Yadava]]s that migrated south with the fall of their dynasty.<ref name="The Genesis, Divisions, Movement and Transformation of Okkaligar Community"/>

According to [[Edgar Thurston]], the Vokkaligas claimed to be descendants of the Ballāl Rājah of Ānēgundi.<ref name="Castes and Tribes of Southern India, Volume 5">{{cite book|first=Edgar|last= Thurston|year=1909|title=Castes and Tribes of Southern India, Volume 5|publisher=Government Press|location=Madras|volume=5|url=http://www.gutenberg.org/files/42995/42995-h/42995-h.htm}}</ref> The [[Hoysalas]] or Ballāl Rājas were contemporaries of the Seūnas of Devagiri. The Hoysalas too were overthrown by Alaud-Dīn Khaljī in 1326.<ref>{{cite book|last=Rice |first=Edward Peter|date=1921|title=A History of Kanarese Literature|url=https://archive.org/details/kanareseliteratu00rice/page/30/mode/2up?q=Hoysala |location=Calcutta|publisher=Association Press; London, New York Oxford University Press|page=30}}</ref>

An alternate version of the history of Kunchitigas and the traditions of Unde Yattaraya is recorded in the Nandana Hosur Copper Plate. But its reliability is doubted.<ref name="Copper Plate">{{cite book|title=Annual Report Of The Mysore Archaeological Department For The Year 1931|date=1935|publisher=Government Press|location=Bangalore|page=90-99|url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.107058/page/n147/mode/2up}}</ref>

===The Legend of Veera Keturaya and Mahasati Devi Veera Nagamma===

This legend tells the story of ‘Veera Keturaya', his son ‘Veera Nagappa’ and daughter-in-law 'Veera Nagamma’.
Veera Keturaya is described as a divine ruler born in Warangal, that rose to power after the fall of the Kakatiya empire. He is said to have moved south to fulfill his legacy of killing an evil demon king. In his adventure, he meets the 48 clans of the Kunchitigas coming from Dwarka and becomes their leader. Veera Keturaya then moves to Vaddagere along with the Kunchitigas. He conquers Nelamangala by killing its demon king Baicha and then becomes the king of Penakonda. He is succeeded by his son Veera Nagappa. <ref name="Shri Veeranagamma">{{cite book|first=Rajanna|last=Hunisepalya|title=Mahasati Shivasharane Shri Veeranagamma Devi|url=http://ammaji.in/English/history.html}}</ref>

The unexpected death of his son Veera Nagappa at the hands of enemy forces brings Veera Nagamma‘a youthful marriage to an end. The grief-stricken Veera Nagamma disappointed at Lord [[Shiva]] for failing to protect her husband ends her life by performing [[Special:Permalink/1005132548|sati]]. Lord Shiva, not too pleased with the turn of events and the undeserved suffering of his innocent disciple revives her. The Kunchitigas worship Mahasati Devi Veera Nagamma as Lord Shivas's daughter, who through her pure and sincere devotion was able to overcome death.<ref name="Shri Veeranagamma"/>

====Historical significance====

Veera Keturaya is said to have ruled a part of the Warangal's [[Kakatiya]] kingdom in the 12th century. The archaeological evidences like a copper inscription/ script found in 'thadi' and 'heddla's martyr stone/ 'Veeragallu' helps us roughly approximate Veera Keturaya's period in history. Veera Keturaya was a contemporary of [[Penukonda]]'s ruler Jagaraya or Jaga Devaraya. The powerful Penukonda/'Mahanadu' rulers dominated parts of South India, roughly during and after the fall of [[Kakatiya dynasty]] of Warangal, and much before the uprise of [[Vijayanagara empire]]. After ruling Warangal for 12 years, Veera Keturaya who was looking to peacefully retire, reacting to a divinely call, moves and settles down in Varapura/Vaddagere, Tumkur.<ref name="Kunchitigara Samajada Charitre p95">{{cite book |last=M|first=Puttaiah|title= Kunchitigara Samajada Charitre|orig-year=1973|year=1973|page=95|location=Bangalore}}</ref>

Noted poet Kempananjaiah praises 'Sri Vijayee Veera Keturaya' in his [[yakshagana]] plays.
The 'Veera Keturaya' and 'Mahasati Veera Nagamma's yakshagana play mentions historical links such as Orangal/[[Warangal]]/Orugal [[Prataparudra]], [[Penukonda]], [[Nelamangala]]’s powerful king Bicha, [[Devagiri]], Devagiri's 'Patte Sire', Maddikere, Sirivala/ Shetturu, Tammadi Halli, Devara Halli, Chinakojra, Tadi, Basti Pattana, Vaddagere/ Varapura, Tumbadi, Etthugundana Halli, Neghalal, Sompura, Sunnavadi, Kodagadala, Heddla, Yeramanjana Halli. Some of these places were historically significant even before the times of Vijayanagara.<ref name="Kunchitigara Samajada Charitre p95"/>

The story of Veera Nagamma in Vaddagere, Tumkur, and the movement of Kunchitiga's from the north to south forms the basis that Kunchitigas were yadavas who gradually moved towards Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

===History===

Some believe Kunchitigas were [[Chalukya]] or [[Rashtrakuta]] warriors. It has been proposed by the historian S. C. Nandinath that the word "Chalukya" originated from ''Salki'' or ''Chalki'' which is a Kannada word for an agricultural implement.<ref name="Chalki">Dr. Hoernle suggests a non-Sanskrit origin of the dynastic name. Dr. S.C. Nandinath feels the Chalukyas were of agricultural background and of Kannada origin who later took up a martial career. He feels the word ''Chalki'' found in some of their records must have originated from ''salki'', an agricultural implement (Kamath 2001, p. 57)</ref><ref name="root">The word ''Chalukya'' is derived from a Dravidian root (Kittel in Karmarkar 1947, p. 26)</ref> Some of the Rashtrakuta inscriptions found in the Banavasimandala carry the depiction of a plough at the top, the symbol of the [[Vokkaliga]].<ref>{{cite book |author1=L. K. Ananthakrishna Iyer|author2=H. V. Nanjundayya|date=1930|title=The Mysore Tribes And Castes|volume=3|url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.22885/page/n452/mode/1up?|location=Mysore|publisher=Mysore University|page=350-351}}:”Engraved on the ladle are the badges of the different castes composing this section, such as the plough of the Okkaliga, the scales of the Banajiga, the shears of a Kuruba, the spade of a Odda, the razor of a barber, the washing stone-slab and pot of an Agasa, and the wheel of a Kumbara.”</ref> There is a view that the
Rashtrakutas were originally prosperous cultivators, who later on dominated the political scene. Some of the inscriptions refer to them as Kutumbinah which is interpreted as meaning “cultivators”.<ref>{{cite book |last=Shetty|first=Sadanand Ramakrishna|date=1994|title=Banavasi Through the Ages|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cUhuAAAAMAAJ&q=vokkaliga+rashtrakuta |location=Banavasi (India)|publisher=Printwell|page=121}}:“The community of the land tillers or agriculturists was known as vokkaligas. The importance given to the cultivation of land is amply demonstrated by the fact that numerous tanks were dug and irrigational facilities
were provided at various places. Some of the Rashtrakuta inscriptions found in the Banavasimandala carry the depiction of a plough at the top. There is a view that the
Rashtrakutas were originally prosperous cultivators, who later on dominated the political scene. Some of the inscriptions refer to them as Kutumbinah which is interpreted as meaning cultivators.”</ref>
This theory is supported with evidence from the settlement and migration patterns of Kunchitigas which resemble a mobile army's way of setting up outposts in their conquests.<ref name="Kunchitigara Parampare haagu Samaja Sudharakaru"/>

As a community of warriors<ref name="Gavunda"/><ref name="Gundimeda"/> and cultivators,<ref name="Nanjundayya 1931 p26"/><ref>{{Cite book|title=An Agrarian History of South Asia (The New Cambridge History of India)|last=Ludden|first=David|year=1999|publisher=Cambridge University Press|location=Cambridge|isbn=9781139053396|page=91}}</ref> they were historically associated with the Vijaynagar Empire,<ref>{{Cite book|title=The New Cambridge History of India:Vijayanagara|last=Stein|first=Burton|year=1990|publisher=Cambridge University Press|location=Cambridge|isbn=9781139055611|pages=96–97}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|first=Saki|last=(social activist.)|date=1998|title=Making History: Stone age to mercantilism, Volume 1 of Making History: Karnataka's People and Their Past|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ywNvAAAAMAAJ&q=Polity+Vokkaliga|location=Bangalore|publisher=Vimukthi Prakashana|page=311}}</ref> Wodeyars of Mysore, among other rulers.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Gowda|first=H.H.Annaiah|date=5 September 1971|title=Vokkaligas|magazine=The Illustrated Weekly Of India Vol.92, No.27-39(july-sept)1971|url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.110098/page/n617/mode/1up?q=Vokkaligas|location=Bombay|publisher=Times of India Press|page=10}}:”Gowdas have been generals and vassals under dynasties such as the Kadambas , Gangas and Rashtrakutas”</ref><ref name="Gavunda"/><ref name="kamath"/> Kunchitigas were the rulers of [[Sira Taluk|Sira]], [[Madhugiri]], and [[Koratagere]].<ref>1600 Varshagala Vokkaligara Ithihasa (Pandukumar B)</ref>

Kunchitigas are also found in interior parts of Tamil Nadu.<ref name="Castes and Tribes of Southern India, Volume 4"/><ref name="The Genesis, Divisions, Movement and Transformation of Okkaligar Community"/> Wodeyars were frequently battling Madurai Nayakars and had briefly won Dindigal and Theni after [[Chanda Sahib]] got rid of the [[Madurai Nayak dynasty]] (1736). [[Hyder Ali]] was sent to govern the land by the Mysore King (1755). Kunchitigas are believed to have gotten land grants<ref>{{cite book|first=Saki|last=(social activist.)|date=1998|title=Making History: Stone age to mercantilism, Volume 1 of Making History: Karnataka's People and Their Past|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ywNvAAAAMAAJ&q=Vokkaliga+mysore|location=Bangalore|publisher=Vimukthi Prakashana|page=420,536}}</ref> in Dindigal and Theni then. They are also associated with the expansion of the Dindigal fort.

== Subdivisions ==
It is believed that Kunchitigas originally had 101 Gothras. Currently, people of the following 48 gothras are found in the Karnataka region. The Ithihasa Parishat/ Archaeological department found a stone inscription in nandana-hosuru, Chitradurga district with information about these 48 gothras of Kunchitigas.<ref name="Kunchitigara Samajada Charitre p95"/> Endogamous marriages within the same gothra are forbidden.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Nanjundayya|first1=H.V|first2=L.K Ananthakrishna|last2=Iyer|date=1931|title=The Mysore Tribes and Castes|volume=4|url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.38701/page/n43/mode/2up|location=Mysore|publisher=The Mysore University|pages=20–21}}</ref>

According to various inscriptions that were found on the copper plates and palm leaves in Archives in South India,<ref name="A Topographical List Of The Inscriptions Of The Madras Presidency 1915 Vol I 120">{{cite book |last=Rangacharya|first=V|title=A Topographical List Of The Inscriptions Of The Madras Presidency 1915 Vol I|year=1915}}</ref> these 48 Gothras were named after their characters and physiques. Among them, Avinavaru, Baduvanavaru, Basalenavaru, Emmenavaru, Dasalenavaru, Danyadavaru, Undenavaru, Jaldhinavaru, and Janakallinavaru married beautiful girls of Shri Krishna Kula Nagakanni sect of [[Yadava]]s, and the rest of them were married to the offsprings of these couples during the pre-Vedic periods.<ref name="Kamukula Urbhva Puranam"/><ref name="The Genesis, Divisions, Movement and Transformation of Okkaligar Community"/>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
| 1. Undenavaru||Humorous ones, descendants of Unde Yattaraya
|-
| 2. Janakallinavaru ||Caretakers
|-
| 3. Arasanavaru ||Guru, Judge
|-
| 4. Jaldhinavaru ||Jailors, descendants of Jaldhi Bapparaya
|-
| 5. Rageoru ||Crazy ones
|-
| 6. Avinavaru||Traditional, descendants of Avinakamaraya
|-
| 7. Jannakkoru||Wardens
|-
| 8. Alunavaru ||Philanthropists
|-
| 9. Danyathavaru ||Elegant people
|-
| 10. Eradukkariouru ||Absent minded ones
|-
| 11. Kankalanavaru ||Zealous ones
|-
| 12. Alenavaru ||Sober ones/Teetotallers
|-
| 13. Sulenavaru ||Vocalists
|-
| 14. Basalenavaru ||Traders
|-
| 15. Emmenavaru ||Diplomats
|-
| 16. Ethirukaraioru ||Moral, Straightforward
|-
| 17. Huliyaru ||Humane ones
|-
| 18. Settenavaru ||Decision makers
|-
| 19. Goniyoru ||Rigid people
|-
| 20. Alpenavaru ||Aloof ones
|-
| 21. Bellenavaru ||Aggressive ones
|-
| 22. Andenavaru ||Good Anchors
|-
| 23. Jeerikkoru ||Jealous ones
|-
| 24. Kattaratavaru ||Ardent ones
|-
| 25. Onamanavaru||Powerful people
|-
| 26. Kakkiyavaru ||Enthusiastic ones
|-
| 27. Manasanvaru ||Recited Hymns
|-
| 28. Kambalioru ||Juvenile natured
|-
| 29. Ellaioru||Elite people
|-
| 30. Mayoru ||Confused ones
|-
| 31. Uthenavaru ||Commanders
|-
| 32. Karikkenavaru ||Youthful ones
|-
| 33. Sarangathoru ||Wise people
|-
| 34. Ravuththnaoru ||Chatterboxes
|-
| 35. Uthathoru ||Toolmakers
|-
| 36. Gudiyoru ||Guard, Guest
|-
| 37. Jeriyoru ||Entertainers
|-
| 38. Uthathoru ||Toolmakers
|-
| 39. Badavanavaru ||Singers
|-
| 40. Dasalenavaru ||Tailors
|-
| 41. Ullenavaru ||Autocrats
|-
| 42. Thabakkioru ||Weavers
|-
| 43. Saradenavaru||Intelligent ones
|-
| 44. Thomkuthioru ||Meticulous ones
|-
| 45. Kokkenavaru ||Knowledgeable ones
|-
| 46. Kuloru ||Traditional people
|-
| 47. Koopaenavaru||Ones with decorated eyes
|-
| 48. Olakkaloru ||Celebrities
|}

The following gothras are found outside the Karnataka region.<ref name="Kunchitigara Samajada Charitre"/>

# Kallakanteyavaru
# Jakkeladavaru
# Thandadavaru
# Koddagerenavaru
# Saakuvalleru
# Kodehalliyavaru
# Kottagereyavaru
# Huttenavaru
# Kalledavaru
# Nimbenavaru
# Devanavaru
# Hallakattanavaru
# Uravinevaru (Uravinoru)

Some Kunchitigas were Veerashaivas<ref>{{cite book |last=B. N.|first=Sri Sathyan|date=1967 |title=Karnataka State Gazetteer: Chitradurga District|chapter=Chapter 3|url=http://gazetteer.kar.nic.in/gazetteer/pdf/1967-11-0/Chitradurga_1967_Chapter3_People.pdf|location=Karnataka, India|publisher=Director of Print, Stationery and Publications at the Government Press|page=115|isbn=}}:” A section of the Kunchigas or Kunchitigas also follow the Veerashaiva religion.”</ref> who embraced [[Lingayatism]] to become a [https://en.wikisource.org/w/index.php?title=Castes_and_Tribes_of_Southern_India/Ling%C4%81yat&oldid=9561282 separate division]. The Kunchitigas of [[Malenadu]] were cattle traders referred to as Maroru (Vendors).<ref>{{cite book |last1=Nanjundayya|first1=H.V|first2=L.K Ananthakrishna|last2=Iyer|date=1931|title=The Mysore Tribes and Castes|url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.38701/page/n43/mode/2up|location=Mysore |publisher=The Mysore University|page=19,24}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Ethnic groups in India]]
[[Category:People from Karnataka]]
[[Category:Social groups of Karnataka]]