Billava

Billava

Image of a Billava man in Traditional attire with Toddy tapping equipments taken in 1909 by Edgar Thurston
Total population
(est.)2,000,000 (2 million)-2,500,000(2.5 million)
Regions with significant populations
Languages
Tulu Kannada Malayalam
Religion
Hinduism
Related ethnic groups
Ezhava

Billava is one of the largest Hindu communities of Tulu ethnic group and also found among Kannada speaking Kundapura region of Karnataka and some parts of Kerala including Kasaragod District. They were previously engaged in Martial Arts (Garadi), practising Ayurveda and racially same as of Ilava . This community was reformed under Sree Narayana Guru's teachings.

Sri Narayana Guru : Spiritual Guru of Billawas

The Gokarnanatheshwara Temple

Etymology

It is believed that billava and ilava are derived from a Proto-Dravidian word. The word Billava is the variation of Villavars or Archers who were a warrior caste among the Dravidians who ruled most of India during ancient times.Villavars founded the Chera kingdom and the Chera king was addressed as Villavar Kon. The meaning of Billu in Tulu is Bow. Martial act centres of Billavas are known as Garadi. Reading, writing and teaching of bows, arrows and martial arts were the main activities of this Garadi, similar to Kalari practiced by some of the Ezhava ( a intermediate caste in Kerala ) community in Kerala . Thus the word billava, meaning fighters, could be derived from word billu or Villu in Tamil.Billavas descend from the ancient Villavar warriors.

Billavas are also known as 'Biruva's. This again strengthens the name derivation from Dravidian/Tulu root "bow". Tulu words for bow are 'billu' or 'biru'

Language

Tulu is the main language spoken by Billavas. In some areas of Karnataka where Billavas also speak Kannada and identifies themselves as Kannada Billavas. The Tulu dialect spoken by the Billava people is known as common Tulu. There are also group within Billavas also called Thiyyabillas or Malaylali Billavas in South Canara district who considered part of the Malayalee community.

Garadi or Gardi

The coastal regions of Karnataka and Kerala had a very active martial traditions. Many Billava families still continue this tradition . Very soon they developed some kind of community identity. They built Garadis in the line of Kalaris in Kerala in honour of their folk heroes Koti and Chennayya.The Tulu term Garadi is derived from Kannada word Garodi which means gymnasium. These garadis became major religious and martial centre of Billavas all over coastal areas of Karnataka. Though this tradition was common to their equivalent caste in Kerala, due to rigid caste rules they lost all their independent religious/martial traditions. Billawas still follows matrilineal system and a highly centralised community. Marrying ones own sisters daughter is strictly prohibited except few cases among Belthangady Billawas. Maliyali Billawas speak Byari language and their Kula God is Baghavathi. Billavas are believers in ancestral worship.

Nema

Just like Theyyam in Kerala, Tulu regions have Nema, a kind of spirit worship. Billavas were important part of this native worship. Bobbariya is most common bhuta worshipped by the community. Distillation is one of work of Billawas. However some politicians are involved in country liquor manufacturing business are projecting liquor distillation is the main caste job of the Billavas .

Tuluva paddanas

Tuluva paddanas are sung narratives which are a part of several closely related singing traditions, similar to Vadakkan Pattukal(Northern ballads) of north Kerala and which could be called ballads or epics or ritual songs, depending on the context or purpose in which they are sung. The community have special occasions in which it is traditional to sing paddanas. They will sing the paddana of Koti-Chennaya during a ceremony on the evening before a marriage. Women of the caste who sing the song in the fields will sing those episodes appropriate to the tonsure of the young heroes.

Aliya Kattu

Main article: Aliya Kattu

Aliya Kattu (Nephew lineage) is a matrilineal system of property inheritance and other associated traditions practiced among Tulu/Malayalee Billavas in coastal Karnataka and Kerala.

Yakshagana

Main article: Yakshagana

Yakshagana (Tulu/Kannada: ಯಕ್ಷಗಾನ , yakṣagāna) is a dance drama popular in coastal and Malenadu regions of Karnataka, India [2]. It is believed to have evolved from pre-classical music and theatre. This dance form was very famous and were taught in billava Gordis. Shri Anada Kuthpady (pen named as Yakshananda Kuthpady), hails from community, awarded with 'Yaksha Kavya' State Level Award for his contribution to Yakshagana. To name the few prominent billava yakshagana personalities are - teacher (Guru) Shri Sanjiva Suvarna of Yakshagana Kendra, MGM College, Udupi, famous traditional badagu thittu artist Shri Airody Govindappa, veteran hasya kalavida (comedian) Shri Seetaram Kumar Kaleelu, today's most promising tenku thittu bhagavatha Shri Ravichandra Kannadikatte (Mangaladevi Mela), Tonse Jayant Kumar and others.

Sub sections

The community has different subsections based on language and culture. The section involved in nagaradhana is called Baidya while that involved in spiritual worship(Nema) is called Poojary. These subsections fall under two major sections called Malayali/Tulu billava. The malayali billavas are also called Thiyya Billavas or Belchadas.

Poojari

The word Poojary or Poojari literally means "worshipper". In the past, the Poojarys had a very important role in Bhuta Kola/Nema which is a kind of practice seen amongst the tribal communities of Tulunadu . This sub-sect of Billawa community is one which is responsible for building temples and other places of worship. They indulge themselves in 'poojas' and hence the name 'Poojary' is given for this community.

Malayali Billava

They were the inhabitants from time immemorial concentrated between north of Chandragiri river (Kasaragod) and south of Kalyanpura river (Hejamamdi) and West to East between the shores of the Arabian sea to Sullia region. There exist 18 important Bhagavathi Kshetras apart from many Tharavadu(Family) shrines spread over Kasaragod, Mangalore and Udupi districts. Though the ruling deity of community is Bhagavathi ,there are temples dedicated to Vishnumoorthy, Wayandu Daiva and Korathi- the later to are believed to be incarnation of Lord Shiva and Shakthi respectively. Chaitanyas like Kallurutti, Panjurli ,Guliga, Naagadevan are being devotionally worshipped by this community and regular Kola ,Thamblia, Kaliyatha etc. are performed to invoke their blessings. The community is divided into 8 Illams which traces its origin to one Amruthamani born out of the Lord Shiva's grace and seven others born to the Sapthamathas through the same Lord's divine blessings, which means Thiyas are the progeny of Lord Shiva. Marriage between the same Illams is considered a taboo being Sagothra. Link [1]

Surnames

The common Surnames used by people of this community are Amin, Anchan, Baidya, Baishya, Banan, Bangera, Gujran, Jathann/Jathanna, Karkera, Kirodian, Kotian, Kukian/Kukiyan, Palan/Palanna, Poojari/Poojary, Salian, Sanil, Suvarna, Talwar, Upiyan and surprisingly "Billava" as surname only in Kundapura Taluk.

Shri Narayana Guru

Sree Narayana Guru (1856–1928) was born in a religious Billava family. He was a great sage and social reformer of India. Billavas emerged dramatically mainly due to the role played by Sri Narayana Guru, a great saint and social reformer who preached a message of self-help, self-improvement, and self-esteem. During Guru's time, he exhorted people to educate themselves and to improve themselves through industry and thrift; but most of all, he preached the dignity of the individual: a universal message for our troubled times.

But never once did the Guru attack Hinduism. He never advocated hatred for any faith or its priests.'No matter what the religion, man must improve,' he said. He personally believed the core of the Vedanta teachings was eternal and truthful and universal. The social excrescences that had attached themselves to those sublime philosophies could and would be excised.

An order of monks called the Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana (SNDP) was established by Guru. The SNDP Yogam has gained immense popularity as one which nurtures the material and spiritual welfare of the community at large.

He has visited all parts of Kerala, South Canara, Srilanka and Tamil Nadu and built temples for the Billava community and had given the foundation for the progress of the community. When he established his own temples, he was challenged by the brahmins. When challenged about his right to consecrate a Shiva image once, he replied, that it was Billava Shiva that he had consecrated and that Brahmins have no right to question it.

Kudroli Gokarnanatheshwara Temple

The Billawa Community in some places was suppressed by the brahmins. It is in such a scenario that the community found a leader in Sree Narayana Guru. Sree Narayana Guru has been regarded as the up lifter of the downtrodden and a visionary social servant.

Learning about the work undertaken by Sree Narayana Guru in establishing social equality through his temple in Sivagiri, Kerala, a prominent Billava leader from Mangalore, Sahukar Koragappa visited the Guru along with the leaders of the community in 1908. The delegation appraised Sree Narayana Guru about the problems faced by the Billawas.

Sree Narayana Guru visited Mangalore on invitation from this delegation and ascertained for himself, the exactness of the then prevailing situation. After visiting the place, Sree Narayana Guru himself selected the place in Kudroli and advised the community elders about a suitable location to build their temple and the work began under his direction. Elders such as Sahukar Koragappa took the initiative in ensuring smooth progress in the temple's construction.

Sree Narayana Guru himself formally consecrated the temple in February 1912 with the establishment of sacred Shiva Linga, which was brought by him. He also named this place as Sri Gokarnanatheshwara Kshethra. Sree Narayana Guru advocated that all of God's creation had the right to worship the Almighty and preached that people irrespective of the caste, creed or religion must worship one divine force, known by different names.

As per the Guru's advice, idols of Lord Ganapathy, Lord Subramanya, Goddess Annapoorneshwari, Lord Bhairava, the Nava Grihas (Lords of nine planets), Lord Shanishwara and Lord Shri Krishna has been installed at the Kshethra. This has helped devotees worship at all these sannidanams (abode) and seek blessings and solace for their varied problems.

Sahukar Koragappa then donated the land needed for the Kshethra. He was also chosen as its first administrative head.

Social conditions and present social status

Once a thriving community , after the arraival of Brahmins from north, many social restrictions were imposed upon this community. As a result, until the social reforms in twentieth century the community faced many a hardships. It is in such a scenario that the community found a leader in Sree Narayana Guru. After the construction of Kudroli Gokarnanatheshwara Temple at Mangalore, he asked community leaders to work together for the progress of the community by starting schools and industrial establishments. He asked them organize themselves and after guru's instruction many Sri narayana organizations have been formed by the community members.

Under the leadership many Sri Narayana organization and hard-work, Billavas are today fast improving and gaining strength economically, culturally, spiritually and politically. A large number of Billawas have been settled in Persian Gulf and cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore have contributed enormously for the community development.

Famous politicians and Prominent persons

Billavas are one of the largest communities of South Canara and Udupi districts, hence these districts are primarily led by Billava politicians. We also have prominent persons from the Hindi film industry. To name the few -

• Mr. Janardhana Poojary (Former Congress MP)
• Mr. Ravi Pujari Gangster
• Mr. Shirish Kunder (Bollywood director, editor and husband of Farah Khan)

See also

• Villavar
• Gokarnanatheshwara Temple Temple Built by Narayana Guru
• Koti and Chennayya heroes of Ballads
• Poojary A subsect
• Ezhava A Similar Malayalam community of kerala.
• Goud A Telugu community
• Ediga or Idiga A kannada community. Also called Deevaru
• Iluvar A Tamil community from Tamil Nadu
• Nalavar A Tamil community from Srilanka and not found in Tamil Nadu
• Durave Srilankan community speaks simhala
• Poojary a Tulu speaking community of Dakshina Kannada
• Namadhari caste of Uttara Kannada
• Bhandari caste A Marathi community
• Caste system in Kerala

References

• Tulu Paddanas
• Thiyabillawa.com A community site for Thiya Billawas around the globe