Gowda
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Gowda ( Gauda or Gouda or Gowdru) is usually the title given to the head of the family or family group in the state of Karnataka & Andhra Pradesh in India. It is similar to Gounder or Kaoundar of Tamilnadu. It not the name of a caste, but title given to the leader or elder from any caste. For example the head of the tribal villages inhabitated by Kadu Kurubas and Soligas in Mysore is called Gowda, where as the spiritual leader is called as Devaragudda or Devaragowda, which means that the Gowda name or surname does not indicate social status of a person or community.
[edit] Origin
Gowda or Gowdar is used as surnames by people belonging to Hindu communities in Karnataka whose ancestors were once head of the village or community. Example Basavana Gouda, Kempe Gowda, Junje Gowda etc.
[edit] Facts
- Golla community is popularly portrayed as using the Gowda name in the legendary floklore poem 'Dharani Mandala Madhyadolage' (In the middle of the Earth...), which is poem known to all Kannadiga's since childhood, where in the cowherd boy is called as Golla Gowda. but it is said that the gowda word used in that poem was to emphasize the golla since gowda was a word with pride
- Thigala or thelagaru or thigalaru community is the major community of present day Bangalore famous for tilling land, pandava vokkaliga kashyap vokkaliga draupadi karagada vokkaliga and parts of Kolar and their family head is sometimes called Gowda.
- Lingayat community in North Karnataka uses Gowda as surname, it is the largest community in Karnataka and is grouped as Backward Caste under Group 3B in the reservation category.
- Devanga community in Chitradurga, Davangere uses Gowda as surname, it is grouped as Backward Caste under Group 3A in the reservation category.
- Vokkaliga is the second largest community in Karnataka. - Gowda Saraswat Brahmin is an other community which also use Gowda surname, which are found to be rare. they are Brahmins.
- Kodagu Gowdas are the major ethnic group in the Kodagu and Sullia of Dakshina Kannada.
- Kuruba Gowda is the third largest community in Karnataka. people of this community use gowda as a surname.
- Gowda people of andhra pradesh use Goud, Gowd or Gowda as surnames. It is grouped as a Backward caste under group BC-B and Section 4 category.
