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{{Short description|Indian ethnic group}} | {{Short description|Indian ethnic group}} | ||
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}} | {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}} | ||
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2020}} | {{Use Indian English|date=January 2020}} | ||
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|poptime = | |poptime = | ||
|popplace = | |popplace = | ||
|regions = [[Karnataka]] | |regions = [[Karnataka]] India | ||
|languages = [[Kannada language|Kannada]] | |languages = [[Kannada language|Kannada]], and [[Sanskrit language|Sanskrit]] | ||
|religions = [[Vaishnavism]], [[Shaivism]] | |religions = [[Vaishnavism]], [[Shaivism]] | ||
|related = [[Dravidian people|Dravidian]]{{·}}[[Kannadigas|Kannadiga]] | |related = [[Dravidian people|Dravidian]]{{·}}[[Kannadigas|Kannadiga]] | ||
}} | }} | ||
[[File:Kunchitiga Women and Children.jpg|thumb|A group of Kunchitiga women and children]] | [[File:Kunchitiga Women and Children.jpg|thumb|A group of Kunchitiga women and children]] | ||
''' | The '''Kunchitigas'''<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|archive-date=10 November 2023|access-date=12 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231110113355/https://bcw.karnataka.gov.in/storage/pdf-files/caste%20list.new.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> (also known as Kunchatiga, Kanchitiga, Kanchitigar, Kunchitigar, Kunchidigar, Kunchigar, Kunchu Okkaliga, Kunju Okkaliga, Kurichigar, Kunchiliyan, Kappiliyan) are a community of people from [[Karnataka]], India. They are mostly concentrated in the [[Tumkur]], [[Bangalore]], [[Shivamogga]] 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 [[Andhra Pradesh]].<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> | While the Kunchitigas are 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> they 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 Pennsylvania|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> Some Kunchitigas were [[Veerashaiva]]s who embraced [[Lingayatism]] to become a separate division.<ref name="Schouten">{{cite book |author1=Jan Peter Schouten |date=1995|title=Revolution of the Mystics: On the Social Aspects of Vīraśaivism |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eo0JR8nH3I8C&pg=PA127|location=Delhi|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publishers|page=127|quote=|isbn=9788120812383}}</ref><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><ref name="Lingayat Kunchitiga">{{cite news |author=Rajashekara S |date=28 November 2020|title=The Lingayat Gambit |url=https://bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com/bangalore/others/the-lingayat-gambit/articleshow/79456731.cms|work=Bangalore Mirror |location=|access-date=6 September 2021}}</ref> The Kunchitigas 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=13 April 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|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210507062324/https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/karnataka/2016/aug/01/Raju-Kshatriyas-Kunchitigas-promised-OBC-category-1500163.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=7 May 2021|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><ref name="Lingayat Kunchitiga"/> | ||
The Kunchitigas were historically 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 |pages=243–244}}: "Villages had gramakuta or gavunda (gauda), the village headman. | |||
He had under him the village militia^ later called as talaras and tolls. | 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|pages=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="Schouten"/><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 |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> | ||
==Etymology== | ==Etymology== | ||
The origin of the word | The origin of the word ''Kunchitiga'' is uncertain, and there are two speculative theories about it. The first is that the word ''kunchiti'' is a combination of two words: ''kuncha'' (referring to the brush-like crest on a soldier's helmet) and ''iti'' (spear), describing soldiers with spears.<ref name="Kunchitigara Parampare haagu Samaja Sudharakaru" /> | ||
The other is that a [[Kuruba]], Jaldhi Bapparaya, held a ''kuncha'', 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 | While the exact origins of the community are disputed to date, there are legends 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> | ||
=== | ===Jaladhi Bapparaya=== | ||
It is believed that the Kunchitigas were originally from North India (Haryana) and were forced to migrate south due to various circumstances in that region. In most legends concerning this migration a Muslim ruler is involved, who is said to have coveted the chief's daughter, Unde Yattaraya. While fleeing the Muslim ruler, she was unable to cross an overflowing river (some accounts say [[Godavari]], others say [[Tungabhadra]]) and was helped by a [[Kuruba Gowda]]<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).<ref name="Nanjundayya p17–18"/> Jaldhi is said to have offered himself as a sacrifice to the river goddess to create an easy passage for the fleeing people. Unde Yattaraya is said to have given her daughter to marry Jaldhi Bapparaya's corpse, who was then revived by divine grace. Unde Yattaraya, Jaldi Bapparaya, and Avinakamaraya are ranked among the progenitors of the Kunchitigas. After crossing the river, the Kunchitigas settled in Vijaynagar first, before moving further south to Nandana Hosur in [[Chitradurga]] District, where they migrated to [[Sira, India|Sira]], which is still considered to be 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==== | ====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 | There seems to be evidence to link the Kunchitigas with the [[Seuna (Yadava) dynasty|Seuna 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 known as [[Yadava]]s of [[Devagiri]]<ref name="ref_India_A_History_John_Keay">{{cite book | ||
| last = Keay | | last = Keay | ||
| first = John | | first = John | ||
| Line 45: | Line 42: | ||
| isbn = 0-8021-3797-0 | | isbn = 0-8021-3797-0 | ||
| pages = 252–257 | | 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| | }} ''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|pages=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 Jaldhi Bapparaya<ref name="Saki 1998 p143"/> has a clear theme of being chased south by Muslim invaders. The arrival of the Kunchitigas at Nandana Hosur matches 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 Khalji's 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"/> | ||
[[Alauddin Khalji]] sent [[Malik Kafur]] to recapture Devagiri in 1313 | |||
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" | 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"/> The [[Hoysalas]] or Ballāl Rājas were contemporaries of the Seūnas of Devagiri.<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 | 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|pages=90–99|url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.107058/page/n147/mode/2up}}</ref> | ||
=== | ===Veera Keturaya and Mahasati Devi Veera Nagamma=== | ||
A legend follows Veera Keturaya, his son Veera Nagappa, and daughter-in-law Veera Nagamma. 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 moves to Vaddagere with the Kunchitigas, conquers Nelamangala by killing the demon king Baicha, and becomes the king of [[Penukonda]]. He is succeeded by 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> | |||
Nagappa's unexpected death at the hands of enemy forces brings Nagamma‘a youthful marriage to an end. She is disappointed in [[Shiva]] for failing to protect her husband and ends her life by performing [[Sati (practice)|sati]]. Shiva, displeased with the turn of events, revives her. The Kunchitigas worship Mahasati Devi Veera Nagamma as Shiva's daughter, who through her pure and sincere devotion was able to overcome death.<ref name="Shri Veeranagamma"/> | |||
====Historical significance==== | ====Historical significance==== | ||
Keturaya is said to have ruled a part of the Warangal's [[Kakatiya]] kingdom in the 12th century, which is approximated by archaeological evidence like a copper inscription.{{Citation needed|date=September 2021}} He was a contemporary of Penukonda's ruler Jagaraya or Jaga Devaraya. The Penukonda rulers dominated parts of South India roughly during and after the fall of [[Kakatiya dynasty]] of Warangal, and much before the rise of the [[Vijayanagara Empire]]. After ruling Warangal for 12 years, Keturaya settles down in Varapura, 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> | |||
The poet Kempananjaiah praises Keturaya in his [[yakshagana]] plays.<ref name="Kunchitigara Samajada Charitre p95"/> | |||
The story of Veera Nagamma in Vaddagere, Tumkur, and the movement of | The story of Veera Nagamma in Vaddagere, Tumkur, and the movement of the Kunchitigas from the north to south form the basis that Kunchitigas were Yadavas who moved towards Karnataka. | ||
===History=== | ===History=== | ||
Some believe Kunchitigas were [[Chalukya]] or [[Rashtrakuta]] warriors. | Some believe Kunchitigas were [[Chalukya]] or [[Rashtrakuta]] warriors. Historian S. C. Nandinath proposed 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|pages=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 dominated the political scene. Some of the inscriptions refer to them as Kutumbinah, which is interpreted to mean "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. | 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 Kunchitiga settlements and migration patterns, which resemble a mobile army's method of setting up outposts in their conquests.<ref name="Kunchitigara Parampare haagu Samaja Sudharakaru"/> | ||
This theory is supported with evidence from | |||
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 | As a community of warriors<ref name="Gavunda"/><ref name="Gundimeda"/><ref name="Schouten"/> 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><ref name="Schouten"/> 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> and the 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 | Kunchitigas are also found in interior parts of Andhra Pradesh<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 the Madurai district were Kunchitigas.<ref>{{cite book |author1=Herman Jensen|date=2002|title=Madura Gazetteer|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cqAlHNTOWJgC&pg=PA108|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.com/books?id=6m8vAQAAMAAJ&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 frequently battled Madurai Nayakars and had briefly won Dindigal and Theni after [[Chanda Sahib]] ended the [[Madurai Nayak dynasty]]. Some Kunchitigas are believed to have received 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> They are also associated with the expansion of the Dindigal fort. | ||
==Subdivisions== | ==Subdivisions== | ||
It is believed that Kunchitigas originally had 101 | It is believed that Kunchitigas originally had 101 [[gotra]]s. Currently, people of the following 48 gotras are found in the Karnataka region. The archaeological department found a stone inscription in Nandana-hosuru, Chitradurga District, with information about the 48 gotras.<ref name="Kunchitigara Samajada Charitre p95"/> Endogamous marriages within the same gotra 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 | According to various inscriptions that were found on the copper plates and palm leaves in South Indian archives,<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> the 48 gotras were named after their characters and physiques. Among them, Avinavaru, Baduvanavaru, Basalenavaru, Emmenavaru, Dasalenavaru, Danyadavaru, Undenavaru, Jaldhinavaru, and Janakallinavaru married girls of Shri Krishna Kula Nagakanni sect of Yadavas, and the rest of them were married to the offspring of these couples during pre-Vedic periods.<ref name="Kamukula Urbhva Puranam"/><ref name="The Genesis, Divisions, Movement and Transformation of Okkaligar Community"/> | ||
{| class="wikitable" | {| class="wikitable" | ||
| Line 84: | Line 77: | ||
| 1. Undenavaru||Humorous ones, descendants of Unde Yattaraya | | 1. Undenavaru||Humorous ones, descendants of Unde Yattaraya | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 2. | | 2. Yelenavaru ||Powerful, Anjaneya Bhaktas | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 3. | | 3. Janakallinavaru ||Caretakers | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 4. | | 4. Arasanavaru ||Guru, judge | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 5. | | 5. Jaldhinavaru ||Jailors, descendants of Jaldhi Bapparaya | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 6. | | 6. Rageoru ||Crazy ones | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 7. | | 7. Avinavaru||Traditional, descendants of Avinakamaraya | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 8. | | 8. Jannakkoru||Wardens | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 9. | | 9. Alunavaru ||Philanthropists | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 10. | | 10. Danyathavaru ||Elegant people | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 11. | | 11. Eradukkariouru ||Absent minded ones | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 12. | | 12. Kankalanavaru ||Zealous ones | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 13. | | 13. Alenavaru ||Sober ones/Teetotallers | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 14. | | 14. Surenavaru ||clan guru/Advisor | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 15. | | 15. Basalenavaru ||Traders | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 16. | | 16. Emmenavaru ||Diplomats | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 17. | | 17. Ethirukaraioru ||Moral, straightforward | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 18. | | 18. Huliyaru ||Humane ones | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 19. | | 19. Settenavaru ||Decision makers | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 20. | | 20. Goniyoru ||Rigid people | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 21. | | 21. Alpenavaru ||Aloof ones | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 22. | | 22. Bellenavaru ||Aggressive ones | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 23. | | 23. Andenavaru ||Good anchors, Traders and Wise ones | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 24. | | 24. Jeerikkoru ||Jealous ones | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 25. | | 25. Kattaratavaru ||Ardent ones | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 26. | | 26. Onamanavaru||Powerful people | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 27. | | 27. Kakkiyavaru ||Enthusiastic ones | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 28. | | 28. Manasanvaru ||Recited Hymns | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 29. | | 29. Kambalioru ||Juvenile natured | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 30. | | 30. Ellaioru||Elite people | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 31. | | 31. Mayoru ||Confused ones | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 32. | | 32. Athenavaru ||Commanders | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 33. | | 33. Karikkenavaru ||Youthful ones | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 34. | | 34. Sarangathoru ||Wise people | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 35. | | 35. Ravuththnaoru ||Chatterboxes | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 36. | | 36. Uthathoru ||Toolmakers | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 37. | | 37. Gudiyoru ||Guard, Guest | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 38. | | 38. Jeriyoru ||Entertainers | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 39. | | 39. Uthathoru ||Toolmakers | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 40. | | 40. Badavanavaru ||Singers | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 41. | | 41. Dasalenavaru ||Tailors | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 42. | | 42. Ullenavaru ||Autocrats | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 43. | | 43. Thabakkioru ||Weavers | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 44. | | 44. Saradenavaru||Intelligent ones | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 45. | | 45. Thomkuthioru ||Meticulous ones | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 46. | | 46. Kokkenavaru ||Knowledgeable ones | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 47. | | 47. Kuloru ||Traditional people | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 48. Olakkaloru ||Celebrities | | 48. Koopaenavaru||Ones with decorated eyes | ||
|- | |||
| 49. Olakkaloru ||Celebrities | |||
|- | |||
| 50. Aranmaneyaru or Dasarivaru||Zamindars | |||
|} | |} | ||
The following | The following gotras are found outside Karnataka.<ref name="Kunchitigara Samajada Charitre"/> | ||
* Kallakanteyavaru | |||
* Jakkeladavaru | |||
* Thandadavaru | |||
* Koddagerenavaru | |||
* Saakuvalleru | |||
* Kodehalliyavaru | |||
* Kottagereyavaru | |||
* Huttenavaru | |||
* Kalledavaru | |||
* Nimbenavaru | |||
* Devanavaru | |||
* Hallakattanavaru | |||
* Uravinevaru (Uravinoru) | |||
The Kunchitigas of [[Malenadu]] were cattle traders that were known as ''maroru'' ({{Translation|"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== | ==References== | ||
{{reflist}} | {{reflist}} | ||
===Works cited=== | |||
{{refbegin|2}} | |||
* {{cite book |author=A. S. Altekar |author-link=Anant Sadashiv Altekar |editor=Ghulam Yazdani |title=The Early History of the Deccan Parts |volume=VIII: Yādavas of Seuṇadeśa |year=1960 |publisher=Oxford University Press |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=14DvAQAACAAJ5 |oclc=59001459}} | |||
* {{cite book |author=T. V. Mahalingam |author-link=T. V. Mahalingam |chapter=The Seunas of Devagiri |editor=R. S. Sharma |title=A Comprehensive history of India: A.D. 985-1206 |volume=4 (Part 1) |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ahFuAAAAMAAJ |year=1957 |publisher=Indian History Congress / People's Publishing House |isbn=978-81-7007-121-1}} | |||
* {{cite book |author=A. V. Narasimha Murthy |title=The Sevunas of Devagiri |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jxhY_3vLA_YC |year=1971 |publisher=Rao and Raghavan}} | |||
* {{cite book |author=Christian Lee Novetzke |author-link=Christian Lee Novetzke |title=The Quotidian Revolution: Vernacularization, Religion, and the Premodern Public Sphere in India |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=z9kbDQAAQBAJ&pg=PA53 |year=2016 |publisher=Columbia University Press |isbn=978-0-231-54241-8}} | |||
{{refend}} | |||
[[Category:Ethnic groups in India]] | [[Category:Ethnic groups in India]] | ||
[[Category:People from Karnataka]] | [[Category:People from Karnataka]] | ||
[[Category:Social groups of Karnataka]] | [[Category:Social groups of Karnataka]] | ||
Latest revision as of 07:57, 28 March 2026
 Kunchitigas | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
|---|---|
| Karnataka India | |
| Languages | |
| Kannada, and Sanskrit | |
| Religion | |
| Vaishnavism, Shaivism | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Dravidian · Kannadiga |
The Kunchitigas[1] (also known as Kunchatiga, Kanchitiga, Kanchitigar, Kunchitigar, Kunchidigar, Kunchigar, Kunchu Okkaliga, Kunju Okkaliga, Kurichigar, Kunchiliyan, Kappiliyan) are a community of people from Karnataka, India. They are mostly concentrated in the Tumkur, Bangalore, Shivamogga and Chitradurga districts.[2][3] They are also found in Andhra Pradesh.[4][5]
While the Kunchitigas are considered a sub-division of Vokkaligas,[6][2][7] they are listed separately by the government.[1][8][9] Some Kunchitigas were Veerashaivas who embraced Lingayatism to become a separate division.[10][11][12] The Kunchitigas are classified under the General/Unreserved Category by the Central Government of India.[13][14][15][12]
The Kunchitigas were historically a landholding community of cultivators and merchants.[16] They formed part of the administrative[17][18] and warrior classes[10][19][20][21] in ancient times. Their chiefs were called "Gowda"[22] and "Nayaka"[23] in Karnataka, and "Gounder"[24]
Etymology[edit | edit source]
The origin of the word Kunchitiga is uncertain, and there are two speculative theories about it. The first is that the word kunchiti is a combination of two words: kuncha (referring to the brush-like crest on a soldier's helmet) and iti (spear), describing soldiers with spears.[25]
The other is that a Kuruba, Jaldhi Bapparaya, held a kuncha, a brush used by Kuruba weavers. Unde Yattaraya is said to have named his community Kunchitiga in his honour.[26]
Origin, legends, and history[edit | edit source]
While the exact origins of the community are disputed to date, there are legends describing the migration of the community from the north to the south of India.[5][4][27]
Jaladhi Bapparaya[edit | edit source]
It is believed that the Kunchitigas were originally from North India (Haryana) and were forced to migrate south due to various circumstances in that region. In most legends concerning this migration a Muslim ruler is involved, who is said to have coveted the chief's daughter, Unde Yattaraya. While fleeing the Muslim ruler, she was unable to cross an overflowing river (some accounts say Godavari, others say Tungabhadra) and was helped by a Kuruba Gowda[5][27][4] called Jaldhi Bapparaya, who was one of the two divine foundlings (the other being Avinakamaraya).[27] Jaldhi is said to have offered himself as a sacrifice to the river goddess to create an easy passage for the fleeing people. Unde Yattaraya is said to have given her daughter to marry Jaldhi Bapparaya's corpse, who was then revived by divine grace. Unde Yattaraya, Jaldi Bapparaya, and Avinakamaraya are ranked among the progenitors of the Kunchitigas. After crossing the river, the Kunchitigas settled in Vijaynagar first, before moving further south to Nandana Hosur in Chitradurga District, where they migrated to Sira, which is still considered to be their headquarters.[27][28][4]
Historical significance[edit | edit source]
There seems to be evidence to link the Kunchitigas with the Seuna dynasty.[5][29][30] The Seunas known as Yadavas of Devagiri[31] often proudly claimed their pastoral ancestry.[32][33] It is believed the Vokkaligas had pastoral origins.[34][35] The legend of Jaldhi Bapparaya[30] has a clear theme of being chased south by Muslim invaders. The arrival of the Kunchitigas at Nandana Hosur matches with Alauddin Khalji's raid on Devagiri. Alauddin Khalji sent Malik Kafur to recapture Devagiri in 1313;[36] Singhana III was killed in the ensuing battle and Khalji's army occupied Devagiri.[37][38] Seunas were once the feudatories of the Rashtrakutas who were dispatched to rule the northern regions [38]and later became feudatories of the Western Chalukyas.[39][40] Further epigraphic evidence suggests that the Seuna dynasty likely emerged from a Kannada-speaking background.[41]Many Seuna rulers had Kannada names and titles such as Dhadiyappa, Bhillama, Rajugi, Vadugi, Vasugi, and Kaliya Ballala.[25] Kunchitigas could be Yadavas that migrated south with the fall of their dynasty.[5]
According to Edgar Thurston, the Vokkaligas claimed to be descendants of the Ballāl Rājah of Ānēgundi.[6] The Hoysalas or Ballāl Rājas were contemporaries of the Seūnas of Devagiri.[42]
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.[23]
Veera Keturaya and Mahasati Devi Veera Nagamma[edit | edit source]
A legend follows Veera Keturaya, his son Veera Nagappa, and daughter-in-law Veera Nagamma. 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 moves to Vaddagere with the Kunchitigas, conquers Nelamangala by killing the demon king Baicha, and becomes the king of Penukonda. He is succeeded by Nagappa.[43]
Nagappa's unexpected death at the hands of enemy forces brings Nagamma‘a youthful marriage to an end. She is disappointed in Shiva for failing to protect her husband and ends her life by performing sati. Shiva, displeased with the turn of events, revives her. The Kunchitigas worship Mahasati Devi Veera Nagamma as Shiva's daughter, who through her pure and sincere devotion was able to overcome death.[43]
Historical significance[edit | edit source]
Keturaya is said to have ruled a part of the Warangal's Kakatiya kingdom in the 12th century, which is approximated by archaeological evidence like a copper inscription.[citation needed] He was a contemporary of Penukonda's ruler Jagaraya or Jaga Devaraya. The Penukonda rulers dominated parts of South India roughly during and after the fall of Kakatiya dynasty of Warangal, and much before the rise of the Vijayanagara Empire. After ruling Warangal for 12 years, Keturaya settles down in Varapura, Tumkur.[44]
The poet Kempananjaiah praises Keturaya in his yakshagana plays.[44]
The story of Veera Nagamma in Vaddagere, Tumkur, and the movement of the Kunchitigas from the north to south form the basis that Kunchitigas were Yadavas who moved towards Karnataka.
History[edit | edit source]
Some believe Kunchitigas were Chalukya or Rashtrakuta warriors. Historian S. C. Nandinath proposed that the word Chalukya originated from Salki or Chalki, which is a Kannada word for an agricultural implement.[45][46] Some of the Rashtrakuta inscriptions found in the Banavasimandala carry the depiction of a plough at the top, the symbol of the Vokkaliga.[47] There is a view that the Rashtrakutas were originally prosperous cultivators, who later dominated the political scene. Some of the inscriptions refer to them as Kutumbinah, which is interpreted to mean "cultivators".[48] This theory is supported with evidence from Kunchitiga settlements and migration patterns, which resemble a mobile army's method of setting up outposts in their conquests.[25]
As a community of warriors[20][19][10] and cultivators,[22][49][10] they were historically associated with the Vijaynagar Empire[50][51] and the Wodeyars of Mysore, among other rulers.[52][20][17] Kunchitigas were the rulers of Sira, Madhugiri, and Koratagere.[53]
Kunchitigas are also found in interior parts of Andhra Pradesh[4][5] Some of the Polygars in the Madurai district were Kunchitigas.[54][55] Wodeyars frequently battled Madurai Nayakars and had briefly won Dindigal and Theni after Chanda Sahib ended the Madurai Nayak dynasty. Some Kunchitigas are believed to have received land grants.[56] They are also associated with the expansion of the Dindigal fort.
Subdivisions[edit | edit source]
It is believed that Kunchitigas originally had 101 gotras. Currently, people of the following 48 gotras are found in the Karnataka region. The archaeological department found a stone inscription in Nandana-hosuru, Chitradurga District, with information about the 48 gotras.[44] Endogamous marriages within the same gotra are forbidden.[57]
According to various inscriptions that were found on the copper plates and palm leaves in South Indian archives,[58] the 48 gotras were named after their characters and physiques. Among them, Avinavaru, Baduvanavaru, Basalenavaru, Emmenavaru, Dasalenavaru, Danyadavaru, Undenavaru, Jaldhinavaru, and Janakallinavaru married girls of Shri Krishna Kula Nagakanni sect of Yadavas, and the rest of them were married to the offspring of these couples during pre-Vedic periods.[29][5]
| 1. Undenavaru | Humorous ones, descendants of Unde Yattaraya |
| 2. Yelenavaru | Powerful, Anjaneya Bhaktas |
| 3. Janakallinavaru | Caretakers |
| 4. Arasanavaru | Guru, judge |
| 5. Jaldhinavaru | Jailors, descendants of Jaldhi Bapparaya |
| 6. Rageoru | Crazy ones |
| 7. Avinavaru | Traditional, descendants of Avinakamaraya |
| 8. Jannakkoru | Wardens |
| 9. Alunavaru | Philanthropists |
| 10. Danyathavaru | Elegant people |
| 11. Eradukkariouru | Absent minded ones |
| 12. Kankalanavaru | Zealous ones |
| 13. Alenavaru | Sober ones/Teetotallers |
| 14. Surenavaru | clan guru/Advisor |
| 15. Basalenavaru | Traders |
| 16. Emmenavaru | Diplomats |
| 17. Ethirukaraioru | Moral, straightforward |
| 18. Huliyaru | Humane ones |
| 19. Settenavaru | Decision makers |
| 20. Goniyoru | Rigid people |
| 21. Alpenavaru | Aloof ones |
| 22. Bellenavaru | Aggressive ones |
| 23. Andenavaru | Good anchors, Traders and Wise ones |
| 24. Jeerikkoru | Jealous ones |
| 25. Kattaratavaru | Ardent ones |
| 26. Onamanavaru | Powerful people |
| 27. Kakkiyavaru | Enthusiastic ones |
| 28. Manasanvaru | Recited Hymns |
| 29. Kambalioru | Juvenile natured |
| 30. Ellaioru | Elite people |
| 31. Mayoru | Confused ones |
| 32. Athenavaru | Commanders |
| 33. Karikkenavaru | Youthful ones |
| 34. Sarangathoru | Wise people |
| 35. Ravuththnaoru | Chatterboxes |
| 36. Uthathoru | Toolmakers |
| 37. Gudiyoru | Guard, Guest |
| 38. Jeriyoru | Entertainers |
| 39. Uthathoru | Toolmakers |
| 40. Badavanavaru | Singers |
| 41. Dasalenavaru | Tailors |
| 42. Ullenavaru | Autocrats |
| 43. Thabakkioru | Weavers |
| 44. Saradenavaru | Intelligent ones |
| 45. Thomkuthioru | Meticulous ones |
| 46. Kokkenavaru | Knowledgeable ones |
| 47. Kuloru | Traditional people |
| 48. Koopaenavaru | Ones with decorated eyes |
| 49. Olakkaloru | Celebrities |
| 50. Aranmaneyaru or Dasarivaru | Zamindars |
The following gotras are found outside Karnataka.[28]
- Kallakanteyavaru
- Jakkeladavaru
- Thandadavaru
- Koddagerenavaru
- Saakuvalleru
- Kodehalliyavaru
- Kottagereyavaru
- Huttenavaru
- Kalledavaru
- Nimbenavaru
- Devanavaru
- Hallakattanavaru
- Uravinevaru (Uravinoru)
The Kunchitigas of Malenadu were cattle traders that were known as maroru (transl. "vendors").[59]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Caste List, Karnataka (PDF). p. 15. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 November 2023. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Nanjundayya, H.V; Iyer, L.K Ananthakrishna (1931). The Mysore Tribes and Castes. Mysore: The Mysore University. p. 17.
- ↑ K. Balasubramanyam; India. Superintendent of Census Operations, Mysore; India. Office of the Registrar General (1965). Mysore: handicraft survey monographs : crafts using wood as the chief raw material. Census of India, 1961. Manager of Publications.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Thurston, Edgar (1909). Castes and Tribes of Southern India, Volume 4. Vol. 4. Madras: Government Press.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 V.T, Sundaramurthy (2007). "The Genesis, Divisions, Movement and Transformation of Okkaligar Community" (PDF). The Anthropologist. 9 (4): 305–313. doi:10.1080/09720073.2007.11891017. S2CID 74219783.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Thurston, Edgar (1909). Castes and Tribes of Southern India, Volume 5. Vol. 5. Madras: Government Press.
- ↑ Balfour, Edward (1885). The Cyclopaedia of India and of Eastern and Southern Asia. Vol. 2. Graz, Austria: Akademische Druck-u. Verlagsanstalt. p. 261.
- ↑ Dushkin, Lelah (1974). The NonBrahman Movement in Princely Mysore (Doctoral). London: University of Pennsylvania. p. 226.:"the Kunchitigar were somewhat more prosperous and better educated and claimed a higher status than the Gangadikar and other Vokkalligas"
- ↑ Mysore Census, 1921 (PDF).
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 Jan Peter Schouten (1995). Revolution of the Mystics: On the Social Aspects of Vīraśaivism. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass Publishers. p. 127. ISBN 9788120812383.
- ↑ B. N., Sri Sathyan (1967). "Chapter 3". Karnataka State Gazetteer: Chitradurga District (PDF). Karnataka, India: Director of Print, Stationery and Publications at the Government Press. p. 115.:" A section of the Kunchigas or Kunchitigas also follow the Veerashaiva religion."
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Rajashekara S (28 November 2020). "The Lingayat Gambit". Bangalore Mirror. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
- ↑ "Karnataka Caste Wise Report". karepass.cgg.gov.in (Karnataka ePASS, Electronic Payment and Application System of Scholarships). Department of Backward Classes Welfare, Government of Karnataka. 2021. Archived from the original on 13 April 2021. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
- ↑ "Kunchitigas, Raju Kshatriyas request inclusion into OBC category". Archived from the original on 7 May 2021.
- ↑ "PDF - National OBC list for Karnataka" (PDF).
- ↑ Rice, Benjamin Lewis (1876). Mysore and Coorg: A Gazetteer Compiled for the Government of India, Volume 2. Bangalore: Mysore Government Press. p. 219.: "The large merchants, who live chiefly in Mysore city, are for the most part of the Kunchigar caste ."
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 Kamath, Suryanath U.; Naik, R.A (1983). Gazetteer of India Government of Karnataka, Karnataka State Gazetteer Part II. Bangalore: Parishree Printers. pp. 243–244.: "Villages had gramakuta or gavunda (gauda), the village headman. He had under him the village militia^ later called as talaras and tolls."
- ↑ Karashima, Noboru (2014). A Concise History of South India: Issues and Interpretations. India: Oxford University Press. pp. 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"
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 Gundimeda, Sambaiah (14 October 2015). Dalit Politics in Contemporary India. Routledge. p. 19. ISBN 978-1-317-38105-1.
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 Adiga, Malini (1997). "'GAVUNDAS' IN SOUTHERN KARNATAKA: LANDLORDS AND WARRIORS (AD 600 to 1030)". Proceedings of the Indian History Congress. 58: 139–148. JSTOR 44143897. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
- ↑ Omvedt, Gail (January 1994), Dalits and the democratic revolution : Dr. Ambedkar and the Dalit movement in colonial India / Gail Omvedt, Sage Publications, ISBN 0803991398:"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."
- ↑ 22.0 22.1 Nanjundayya, H.V; Iyer, L.K Ananthakrishna (1931). The Mysore Tribes and Castes. Mysore: The Mysore University. p. 26.
- ↑ 23.0 23.1 Annual Report Of The Mysore Archaeological Department For The Year 1931. Bangalore: Government Press. 1935. pp. 90–99.
- ↑ Singh, Kumar Suresh (2001). People of India. Vol. 40, part 2. Anthropological Survey of India. p. 640. ISBN 9788185938882.:"The community has titles viz. Gowda, Gowdar, Gounder and Kounder."
- ↑ 25.0 25.1 25.2 V, Anjanappa (2009). Kunchitigara Parampare haagu Samaja Sudharakaru (First ed.). Vishwa Kunchitigara Parishath.
- ↑ Nanjundayya, H.V; Iyer, L.K Ananthakrishna (1931). The Mysore Tribes and Castes. Mysore: The Mysore University. p. 18.
- ↑ 27.0 27.1 27.2 27.3 Nanjundayya, H.V; Iyer, L.K Ananthakrishna (1931). The Mysore Tribes and Castes. Mysore: The Mysore University. pp. 17–18.
- ↑ 28.0 28.1 M, Puttaiah (1973) [1973]. Kunchitigara Samajada Charitre. Bangalore. p. 21.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ↑ 29.0 29.1 C, Subbaiah (1911). Kamukula Urbhva Puranam, (Based on the Kannada literatures found on copper plates and palm leaves found in Archives). Madras: Madras Diamond Printing House.
- ↑ 30.0 30.1 (social activist.), Saki (1998). Making History: Stone age to mercantilism, Volume 1 of Making History: Karnataka's People and Their Past. Bangalore: Vimukthi Prakashana. p. 143.
- ↑ Keay, John (1 May 2001). India: A History. Atlantic Monthly Pr. pp. 252–257. ISBN 0-8021-3797-0. The quoted pages can be read at Google Book Search.
- ↑ Dhere, Ramchandra (2011). Rise of a Folk God: Vitthal of Pandharpur South Asia Research. Oxford University Press, 2011. pp. 246–247. ISBN 9780199777648.
- ↑ Dhavalikar, Madhukar (2014). Socio-economic Archaeology of India. Archaeological Survey of India, 2014. p. 274.
- ↑ Sadasivan, S. N (2000). A social history of India. New Delhi, India: APH Pub. Corp. pp. 254, 700. ISBN 9788176481700.
- ↑ Mysore Narasimhachar Srinivas (1942). Marriage And Family In Mysore. Bombay: New Book Co. p. 25. OCLC 4565441.
- ↑ Michell, George (10 June 1999). Architecture and Art of the Deccan Sultanates. Arizona University Press. p. 5. ISBN 0-521-56321-6.
- ↑ 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
- ↑ 38.0 38.1 A. V. Narasimha Murthy 1971, p. 32.
- ↑ T. V. Mahalingam 1957, p. 138.
- ↑ A. S. Altekar 1960, p. 517-518.
- ↑ Christian Lee Novetzke 2016, pp. 51-54.
- ↑ Rice, Edward Peter (1921). A History of Kanarese Literature. Calcutta: Association Press; London, New York Oxford University Press. p. 30.
- ↑ 43.0 43.1 Hunisepalya, Rajanna. Mahasati Shivasharane Shri Veeranagamma Devi.
- ↑ 44.0 44.1 44.2 M, Puttaiah (1973) [1973]. Kunchitigara Samajada Charitre. Bangalore. p. 95.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ↑ 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)
- ↑ The word Chalukya is derived from a Dravidian root (Kittel in Karmarkar 1947, p. 26)
- ↑ L. K. Ananthakrishna Iyer; H. V. Nanjundayya (1930). The Mysore Tribes And Castes. Vol. 3. Mysore: Mysore University. pp. 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."
- ↑ Shetty, Sadanand Ramakrishna (1994). Banavasi Through the Ages. Banavasi (India): Printwell. p. 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."
- ↑ Ludden, David (1999). An Agrarian History of South Asia (The New Cambridge History of India). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p. 91. ISBN 9781139053396.
- ↑ Stein, Burton (1990). The New Cambridge History of India:Vijayanagara. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. pp. 96–97. ISBN 9781139055611.
- ↑ (social activist.), Saki (1998). Making History: Stone age to mercantilism, Volume 1 of Making History: Karnataka's People and Their Past. Bangalore: Vimukthi Prakashana. p. 311.
- ↑ Gowda, H.H.Annaiah (5 September 1971). "Vokkaligas". The Illustrated Weekly Of India Vol.92, No.27-39(july-sept)1971. Bombay: Times of India Press. p. 10.:"Gowdas have been generals and vassals under dynasties such as the Kadambas, Gangas and Rashtrakutas"
- ↑ 1600 Varshagala Vokkaligara Ithihasa (Pandukumar B)
- ↑ Herman Jensen (2002). Madura Gazetteer. Madurai, India: Cosmo Publications. p. 319. ISBN 9788170209690.
Some of the Poligars in this part of the country were Kappiliyans, and they doubtless brought with them a retinue of their own castemen.
- ↑ C.S. Ramakrishna Aiyar, ed. (1921). "The Hindu Law Journal". 2. Coimbatore: C.S. Ramakrishna Aiyar, [1918-1925]: 5. OCLC 7783197.
The Kombai Parivarams, who are the servants of the Kappiliyan Zamindars of Kombai and Tevaram in the Periyakulam taluk...
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help) - ↑ (social activist.), Saki (1998). Making History: Stone age to mercantilism, Volume 1 of Making History: Karnataka's People and Their Past. Bangalore: Vimukthi Prakashana. p. 420,536.
- ↑ Nanjundayya, H.V; Iyer, L.K Ananthakrishna (1931). The Mysore Tribes and Castes. Vol. 4. Mysore: The Mysore University. pp. 20–21.
- ↑ Rangacharya, V (1915). A Topographical List Of The Inscriptions Of The Madras Presidency 1915 Vol I.
- ↑ Nanjundayya, H.V; Iyer, L.K Ananthakrishna (1931). The Mysore Tribes and Castes. Mysore: The Mysore University. p. 19,24.
Works cited[edit | edit source]
- A. S. Altekar (1960). Ghulam Yazdani (ed.). The Early History of the Deccan Parts. Vol. VIII: Yādavas of Seuṇadeśa. Oxford University Press. OCLC 59001459.
- T. V. Mahalingam (1957). "The Seunas of Devagiri". In R. S. Sharma (ed.). A Comprehensive history of India: A.D. 985-1206. Vol. 4 (Part 1). Indian History Congress / People's Publishing House. ISBN 978-81-7007-121-1.
- A. V. Narasimha Murthy (1971). The Sevunas of Devagiri. Rao and Raghavan.
- Christian Lee Novetzke (2016). The Quotidian Revolution: Vernacularization, Religion, and the Premodern Public Sphere in India. Columbia University Press. ISBN 978-0-231-54241-8.