Aiyarika Patrulu

Aiyarakulu

Regions with significant populations
Indian state of Andhra Pradesh (mainly the district of Vishakhapatnam)
Religion
Hinduism
Related ethnic groups
Kapu

Aiyarakulus are a community of traditional Telugu warriors in the vijayanagara kingdom. Now mostly found in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.

Etymology

The term Ayyaraka is derived from "Ayya" and "rikam" and denotes the act of being an "Ayya" or a "respectable person".

Origin

The Ayyaraka pathrulu, according to C. Hayavadana Rao, were to be Kapus who rose in the social scale and claimed to be a separate community. Several historians and authors seem to have been confused by this argument since there are no matrimonial alliances between Patrulu and Kapu sub castes which is generally the rule of thumb used to associate sub castes.

This was a generic term which was used in the Medieval Ages to Associate all communities who were Agrarian/Military by Profession So Non Kapu Communities like Patrulu, Reddy, Velama were also called Kapu in the Medieval Ages along with Telagas, Munnuru Kapu, Turpu Kapu which are Kapu sub castes).

Patrulu were appointed as administrators and soldiers and rose to good positions in the Vijayanagaram Dynasty which ruled from North Coastal Andhra Pradesh.pathrudu is symbol of believable and (arhudu in Telugu meaning)confident.

In fact, there is a legendary tale of Patrulu womenfolk defending the fort from invasion of an enemy kingdom when all the men were went to battle, leaving the fort defenseless.

Traditional beliefs

According to AYYARAKA PATHRULU tradition, they formed the bulk of the which invaded the state of Golconda. When the Sultan of Golconda, after the successful defense of his kingdom, invaded Vijayanagar resolving to put an end to the kingdom, he met tough resistance from a brigade of Aiyarakulu women dressed as men, forcing him to flee. In return for their gallantry, the Raja allowed the women of the community to wear silver bangles. They retained this practice well into the 20th century.

Sub-divisions

The Ayyaraka pathrulu are divided into totemistic gotras such as naga and tabelu and further into exogamous septs called "intiperulu". Some of the Aiyarakulus have the surname "Raju" and wear the sacred thread. Most Ayyarakas have the surname "patrudu".

References

Thurston, Edgar; K. Rangachari (1909). Castes and Tribes of Southern India Volume I - A and B. Madras: Government Press. pp. 19–20.