Kunchitiga
Kunchitigas
Regions with significant populations
Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu, India
Languages
Kannada, and Sanskrit
Religion
Vaishnavism, Shaivism
Related ethnic groups
Dravidian · Kannadiga
A group of Kunchitiga women and children

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, Mysore, Ramanagara, Shivamogga and Chitradurga districts.[2][3] They are also found in Tamil Nadu.[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] in Tamil Nadu.

Etymology

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

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

It is believed that the Kunchitigas were originally from North India 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

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

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

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 and Tamil Nadu.

History

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 Tamil Nadu.[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

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. Uthenavaru 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. Aramaneyaru Zamindars

The following gotras are found outside Karnataka.[28]

The Kunchitigas of Malenadu were cattle traders that were known as maroru (transl. "vendors").[59]

References

  1. ^ a b Caste List, Karnataka (PDF). p. 15.
  2. ^ a b Nanjundayya, H.V; Iyer, L.K Ananthakrishna (1931). The Mysore Tribes and Castes. Mysore: The Mysore University. p. 17.
  3. ^ 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. ^ a b c d e Thurston, Edgar (1909). Castes and Tribes of Southern India, Volume 4. Vol. 4. Madras: Government Press.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g 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. ^ a b Thurston, Edgar (1909). Castes and Tribes of Southern India, Volume 5. Vol. 5. Madras: Government Press.
  7. ^ Balfour, Edward (1885). The Cyclopaedia of India and of Eastern and Southern Asia. Vol. 2. Graz, Austria: Akademische Druck-u. Verlagsanstalt. p. 261.
  8. ^ 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”
  9. ^ Mysore Census, 1921 (PDF).
  10. ^ a b c d Jan Peter Schouten (1995). Revolution of the Mystics: On the Social Aspects of Vīraśaivism. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass Publishers. p. 127. ISBN 9788120812383.
  11. ^ 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. ^ a b Rajashekara S (28 November 2020). "The Lingayat Gambit". Bangalore Mirror. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
  13. ^ "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.
  14. ^ "Kunchitigas, Raju Kshatriyas request inclusion into OBC category".
  15. ^ "PDF - National OBC list for Karnataka" (PDF).
  16. ^ 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. ^ a b 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.”
  18. ^ 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. ^ a b Gundimeda, Sambaiah (14 October 2015). Dalit Politics in Contemporary India. Routledge. p. 19. ISBN 978-1-317-38105-1.
  20. ^ a b c 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.
  21. ^ 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. ^ a b Nanjundayya, H.V; Iyer, L.K Ananthakrishna (1931). The Mysore Tribes and Castes. Mysore: The Mysore University. p. 26.
  23. ^ a b Annual Report Of The Mysore Archaeological Department For The Year 1931. Bangalore: Government Press. 1935. pp. 90–99.
  24. ^ 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. ^ a b c V, Anjanappa (2009). Kunchitigara Parampare haagu Samaja Sudharakaru (First ed.). Vishwa Kunchitigara Parishath.
  26. ^ Nanjundayya, H.V; Iyer, L.K Ananthakrishna (1931). The Mysore Tribes and Castes. Mysore: The Mysore University. p. 18.
  27. ^ a b c d Nanjundayya, H.V; Iyer, L.K Ananthakrishna (1931). The Mysore Tribes and Castes. Mysore: The Mysore University. pp. 17–18.
  28. ^ a b M, Puttaiah (1973) [1973]. Kunchitigara Samajada Charitre. Bangalore. p. 21.((cite book)): CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  29. ^ a b 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. ^ a b (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.
  31. ^ 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.
  32. ^ Dhere, Ramchandra (2011). Rise of a Folk God: Vitthal of Pandharpur South Asia Research. Oxford University Press, 2011. pp. 246–247. ISBN 9780199777648.
  33. ^ Dhavalikar, Madhukar (2014). Socio-economic Archaeology of India. Archaeological Survey of India, 2014. p. 274.
  34. ^ Sadasivan, S. N (2000). A social history of India. New Delhi, India: APH Pub. Corp. pp. 254, 700. ISBN 9788176481700.
  35. ^ Mysore Narasimhachar Srinivas (1942). Marriage And Family In Mysore. Bombay: New Book Co. p. 25. OCLC 4565441.
  36. ^ Michell, George (10 June 1999). Architecture and Art of the Deccan Sultanates. Arizona University Press. p. 5. ISBN 0-521-56321-6.
  37. ^ 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. ^ a b A. V. Narasimha Murthy 1971, p. 32.
  39. ^ T. V. Mahalingam 1957, p. 138.
  40. ^ A. S. Altekar 1960, p. 517-518.
  41. ^ Christian Lee Novetzke 2016, pp. 51–54.
  42. ^ Rice, Edward Peter (1921). A History of Kanarese Literature. Calcutta: Association Press; London, New York Oxford University Press. p. 30.
  43. ^ a b Hunisepalya, Rajanna. Mahasati Shivasharane Shri Veeranagamma Devi.
  44. ^ a b c M, Puttaiah (1973) [1973]. Kunchitigara Samajada Charitre. Bangalore. p. 95.((cite book)): CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  45. ^ 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)
  46. ^ The word Chalukya is derived from a Dravidian root (Kittel in Karmarkar 1947, p. 26)
  47. ^ 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.”
  48. ^ 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.”
  49. ^ Ludden, David (1999). An Agrarian History of South Asia (The New Cambridge History of India). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p. 91. ISBN 9781139053396.
  50. ^ Stein, Burton (1990). The New Cambridge History of India:Vijayanagara. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. pp. 96–97. ISBN 9781139055611.
  51. ^ (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.
  52. ^ 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”
  53. ^ 1600 Varshagala Vokkaligara Ithihasa (Pandukumar B)
  54. ^ 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.
  55. ^ 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)
  56. ^ (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.
  57. ^ Nanjundayya, H.V; Iyer, L.K Ananthakrishna (1931). The Mysore Tribes and Castes. Vol. 4. Mysore: The Mysore University. pp. 20–21.
  58. ^ Rangacharya, V (1915). A Topographical List Of The Inscriptions Of The Madras Presidency 1915 Vol I.
  59. ^ Nanjundayya, H.V; Iyer, L.K Ananthakrishna (1931). The Mysore Tribes and Castes. Mysore: The Mysore University. p. 19,24.

Works cited

Categories