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Balija is a caste found in the state of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka and primarily concentrated in the Southern Districts of Andhra Pradesh. Balija is a Sub Caste of the Kapu caste in Andhra Pradesh.

Contents 1 Sub Castes 2 Origins 3 Famous Balija Naidus(Kapus/Telagas) 3.1 References & Sources

[edit] Sub Castes

The other sub-Castes or geographical names of Balija are

• Kapu Caste
• Munnuru Kapu
• Telaga
• Turpu Kapu
• Ontari
• Naidu

[edit] Origins

Primarily traders by occupation they seem to have been formed by a small social change that seem to have occurred among some sections of the Kapu community according to some historians. The Original Balijas seem to have migrated from the Balijipeta, Srikakulam District.

Balija Branches

• Setty Balija There was mention of some very old trading guilds concentrated in Bellary in Karnataka^[1]. In fact historians suggest this was the first branch in Balijas. They have the title 'Setty'.
• Balija Naidu a derivation of the term Balija Nayakulu. They seem to have formed during the Kakatiya dynasty times primarily to protect the Balija / Setty trading caravans from being attacked by bandits.
• Odda (Vada) Balija a sub caste of the Balijas from the Visakhapatnam Srikakulam and East Godavari area who are Sea farers and were sea traders and merchants.
• Kota Balijas:Madurai,Thanjavur and Vijayanagar kings were Kota(Fort/Desa)Balija Naidus.
• Gajula Balija / Sugavansi (pure) Balija. Myth is that Siva’s wife Parvati did a severe penance in order to look beautiful for Shiva. A man sprung from the sacrificial fire leading a donkey laden with heaps of bangles, turmeric, sandal powder, perfumes, etc, and this person was the ancestor of the Gajula Balija ^[3].
• Kavarai (Kavara Balija Naidu or Gavara Balija Naidu). As per Thurston of "Castes and Tribes of Southern India" Kavarai is the name for Balijas (Telugu trading caste), who have settled in the Tamil country. Kavarais call themselves Balijas (born from fire). They use the titles Naidu, Nayakkan, Chetti or Setti and Nayak. Gajula Balija is the largest sub -division of Kavarais. The equivalent name for Gajula Balija in Tamil is Valaiyal Chetti. Kavarai or Gavarai is said to be a corrupt form of Kauravar or Gauravar as descendents of Kuru of Mahabharata as Kauravas^[3].
• Rajamahendravaram Balija or Musukama Balija (traders named after a special ear ornament worn by women)
• Gandavallu or Gundapodi Vandlu (supposed to have originally Komatis)
• Anamala
• Linga
• Thota
• Ralla
• Pusa (traded in beads)
• Andey
• Racha
• Vyasa
• Gopati Balija
• Mulaka
• Miriyala (pepper traders)
• Nemilli
• Pagadala (coral traders)
• Pakanati
• Poludasu
• Oppanakkaran (Trader)

Balijas are concentrated throughout Andhra and Rayalseema Region.

There were several small kingdoms in Anantapur District owned by Balijas. [2]. [Ex: Kalyanadurgam Butna family. Rayadurgram, Linga Balija of Ande Prasannapaa palegar of Bukkarayapatnam, etc].

While the majority of the modern day community does not fret over the Varna origin or status of their community, there are conflicting accounts to this. In the "Social Change Among Balijas: Majority Community of Andhra Pradesh" (page 3 & 4):

This conflicts with the The Encyclopedia of World History statement,

Balijas were originally part of the great Telugu migrations southward into the Tamil country in the 15th and 16th centuries, Balija merchant-warriors who claimed these Nayaka positions rose to political and cultural power and supported an ethos that emphasized non-ascriptive, heroic criteria in legitimizing political power. The Balijas were proud of their Sudra status, in a world previously dominated by a classical Sanskritic Varna scheme that insisted that kings had to be Kshatriya. The new egalitarian ethos made it easier for claimants from a variety of communities to succeed to political control.

Contribution of Balija Naidus(Kapus/Telagas) to literature: Lot of Balija kings themselves being great poets enriched Telugu language by encouraging many Telugu poets.The following is the list of Balja Naidus that made enormous contribution to Telugu and Sanskrit languages.

• Raghunatha Naidu(Thanjavur king): Sangeetha Sudha,Ramayana Katha Sangrahamu,Bharatha Katha Sangrahamu,Ramayanam,Parijathapaharanam,Nalabhyudayamu,Achyuthabhyudayamu,Valmiki Charithram.
• Vijaya Raghava Naidu (Thanjavur king,son of Raghunatha Naidu): Yakshaganas and composition of poems.
• Pasupuleti Rangajamma (One of the queens of Vijaya Raghava Naidu): Mannarudasa Vilasam
• Sreekrishna Devaraya (Vijayanagar emperor): Amuktha Malyada/Vishnuchittiyam
• Vemanayogi: Centum(Sataka) of verses
• Queen Ganga devi ( wife of Vijaya nagar prince Kumara Kampana): Madhura Vijayam
• Vijayaranga Chokkanatha Naidu (Madura king): Maghamahathmyamu,Sreeranga Mahathmyamu
• Samukham Venkata Krishnappa Naidu (Poet in the court and Army chief of Vijaya Ranga Chokkanatha Naidu of Madura dynasty): Jaimini Bharatham,Ahalya Sankradana Vilasam,Radhika Santhwanam,Saarangadhara Charithra.
• Thupakula Anantha Bhoopaludu (Poet and Dalavai of Vijaya Ranga Chokkanatha Naidu of Madura): Vishnupuranam,Bhagavatham,Ramayanam,Bharatham,Garalapuri Mahathmyam,Bhagavadgeetha.
• Nanne Choda Prabhuvu(Telugu Choda prince,son of Chodaballi of Pakanadu, and Poet): Kumara Sambhavam.
• Gudaru Venkatadasa Kavi(Poet's sur name is Gudaru and Gothram is Paidipala) : Balarama Charithram.
• Konidena Nagaya Kavi(Born in Yellammapeta in Kadapa district): Vedavedantha Sarasagraham,Ashtottara Sathakam,Brahmanarada Samvadam
• Chekuri Siddha Kavi ((Born in Yellammapeta,Kadapa district): Sreerama Karnamrutham,Dwadasa manjareesthavam,Chathurdasa manjareestavam,Venugopala sathakam,Vishnupuranam,Sreeranga mahathmyamu,Haribhakthamrutha saaramu.
• Macha Venkataraya Kavi (Born in Jalumuru,Visakhapattanam district): Vydarbhee Parinayam,Haribhajana Keerthana kruthi,Chennakesava Ramayana Sangraham,Chaya putra Sathakam,Mukhalingeswarodaharanamu,Rukmini Natakam,Droupadi vasthrapaharanam,Mayuradhwajopakhyanamu,Suddhandhra nirvachana niroshtya kusa charithram.
• Thumu Ramadasa Kavi (Born in Warangal): Rukmini Kalyanam,Gopika vilasam,Mitravindo dwaham,Kalidasu Natakam,Andhrapada nidhanamu.
• Tripurana Venkata Surya Prasada Rao (Born in Siddhantham in Visakhapattanam district): Nirvachana Kumara Sambhavamu,Raghu vamsamu,Kiratharjuneeyamu,Uttararama Charithramu,Raghudayamu,Indumati mandaramu,Rati vilapamu,Pathala khandamu,Moilu Rayabharamu,Sree Bhagavadgeethamruthamu
• Erra Venkata swami: Vasthuguna Deepika
• Erra Ayyanna: Telugu Kavaathu

[edit] Famous Balija Naidus(Kapus/Telagas)

• S. V. Ranga Rao— Veteran Telugu/Tamil actor
• Chiranjeevi — Famous Telugu actor
• Pasupuleti Kannamba — Veteran Telugu and Tamil actress/Producer
• Savithri — Famous Telugu and Tamil actress
• Dasari Narayana Rao — Famous Telugu director /Producer
• Rajanala — Famous actor
• G. Varalakshmi — Famous actress
• Vangaveeti Mohana Ranga — Famous Politician
• Santha Kumari — Famous Telugu and Tamil actress/Producer
• Allu Rama Lingaiah — Veteran actor
• Kaikala Satyanarayana — Famous actor
• Pawan Kalyan — Famous actor
• Srihari —Famous actor
• Nagendra Babu — Actor/Producer
• Allu Arjun — Famous actor
• Bhanu Chander—Famous actor
• Sneha — Famous actress
• Mohan (editor) — Editor/Famous Producer
• E.V.Ramasami Naicker — Founder of Dravida Kazhagam
• Veerapandiya Kattabomman —Freedom Fighter
• Kaneganti Hanumanthu—Freedom Fighter
• Kurma Venkata Reddy Naidu — Chief Minister of Madras Presidency
• Grandhi Venkata Reddy Naidu — First Law Minister of Andhra Pradesh
• Dwaram Venkataswamy Naidu — Renowned Musician
• C. K. Nayudu — First Captain of Indian Cricket
• Kodi Rammurthy Naidu — Greatest Bodybuilder and wrestler
• Raghupathi Venkaiah| Naidu — Father of Telugu Cinema
• P. V. Rangaiah NaiduIPS —Former DGP,Former Union Minister
• Mallipudi Raju Pallam Mangapati — Union minister
• Chegondi Venkata Harirama Jogaiah — Politician/Cine producer
• Ramakrishna Badiga — Politician/Businessman
• P. Shiv Shankar — Ex Union minister
• Manikonda Chalapathi Rau — Famous journalist
• Vikram Akula — Founder of SKS Microfinance
• Venugopal Rao — Cricketer
• Sekhar Tam Tam — Famous physician
• Marthand K. Venkatesh — Famous editor
• Master Venu — music Director
• Ramesh Naidu — Music Director
• Devi Sri Prasad — Music Director
• Ramana Gogula — Music Director
• Kodi Ramakrishna — Famous Director
• Sekhar Kammula — Famous Director and Producer
• Nagesh Kukunoor — Famous Director and Producer
• V.V. Vinayak — Famous Director
• Krishna Vamsi — Famous Director
• Allu Aravind — Famous Producer
• A. M. Rathnam — Famous Producer
• Chota K. Naidu — cinematographer
• Shyam K. Naidu — cinematographer
• Vijayakanth — Tamil Cinema Actor Turned Politician
• M.R. Radha — Veteran Tamil Actor
• Raadhika Sarathkumar — Tamil and Telugu Actress/Producer
• V. Hanumantha Rao —Politician
• Dharmapuri Srinivas —Politician
• Botsa Jhansi Lakshmi —Politician
• Pappala Chalapathirao— Politician
• D. K. Audikesavulu Naidu —Politician,industrialist,Founder of Educational Institutes
• Edida Nageshwara Rao —Famous producer
• Thotta Tharani —Famous art director
• Jayam Ravi —Famous actor
• Ravi Krishna —Famous actor
• Sukumar — Famous director
• M. S. Narayana —Famous actor
• Ram Charan Teja— Famous actor
• K. Keshava Rao —Politician
• Sai Prathap Annayyagari— politician
• C. Ramachandraiah —Politician
• Balashowry Vallabhaneni — Politician
• Tapi Dharma Rao Naidu —Famous writer
• M. Raja —Famous director
• Sri Krishna Deva Raya —Famous King of Vijayanagar dynasty
• Thirumalai Nayak—Famous king of Madurai dynasty
• Rani Mangammal —Famous queen of Madurai dynasty
• Srini Kopollu —MD, Microsoft India
• Shobha Naidu —Kuchipudi Dancer
• Vice Admiral R D Katari —First Chief of Naval Staff from 22 April 1958 - 4 June 1962
• Ponnala Laxmiah —State Minister Irrigation,Govt of AP
• Kamichetty Venougopala Rao Naidou— Grand Old Man of Yanam,Pondicherry
• Kamichetty Sri Parassourama Varaprassada Rao Naidu— Speaker of Pondicherry state.
• Ambati Rayudu —Famous Cricketer
• E.V.K.S. Elangovan —Central minister( Grand-son of Periar's brother)
• Narayana —Founder of Narayana Educational Institutes,Nellore
• M S Ramaiah —Founder of M S Ramaiah Medical College,B'lore
• M. V. Bhaskara Rao I.P.S —Former DGP, Andhra Pradesh
• Yerramsetti Sai —Novelist
• Madhusudan Katakam —Software Architect

[edit] References & Sources

Important information about Kapu origins can be obtained from Balijapuranam in the Chennai library.

• American Kapu Association[3]
• Castes And Tribes of Southern India (Edgar Thruston)
• "Rethinking India's Oral and Classical Epics: Draupadi among Rajputs, Muslims" By Alf Hiltebeitel.
• American Kapu Association(AKA)-[4]
• Andhrula Sanghika Charitra (Suvarnam Pratapa Reddy)
• Caste & Class Articulation of Andhra Pradesh
• Genetic Evidence on Caste Origins
• Caste politics in the North, West and South India before Mandal
• Social Changes among Balijas (by Vijaya Kumari and Sepuri Bhaskar)
• Andhrula Sankshiptha Charitra (E. Balarama Murthi)
• Religion in Vijaya nagara Empire (Konduri Sarojini Devi)
• - History in telugu
• - History in english
• - All about kapu community
• Balijakula Charithra (by Kante Narayana Desayi)