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Balija (Telugu: బలిజ వారు) is a sub caste of the Kapu or Naidu caste of Andhra Pradesh. They are an Agrarian / Merchant/ Warrior community spread out in the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh (concentrated in the Rayalaseema region), Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala. They are also referred to by their caste title Naidu and Naicker. Kapus constitute about 25% of the total population of Andhra Pradesh. In Karnataka the current population of Balija Naidus (Kapus/Telagas) is about 45 lakhs.The Balija Sub-Caste is Classified as an O.C (Forward Caste) by the Government of Andhra Pradesh.

Balija
ClassificationWarriors, Merchants, Farmers, Kings,Landlords
ReligionsHinduism
LanguagesTelugu, Tamil, Kannada
Populated statesAndhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka
SubdivisionsSix

Origin

File:EpicIndiaCities.jpg
Ancient Indian (Bharata) cities and Places(Title and location names are in English.)
  • Kapus were the earliest inhabitants of the Deccan region, people who migrated from the north, cleared forests for agriculture and built settlements.[1]
  • Kapu are the descendants of the Kaampu tribe, an Indo-Aryan tribe, which migrated from Kampilya, Mithila and Ayodhya, ancient cities situated in the Gangetic Plains of North India .
  • This Settlement& Geographical Area was referred to as as Tri-linga Desam in the Ancient Texts and the people who were settled in this region were called Telaga and the language spoken by them was called Telugu.
  • This settlement of Telagas started referring to themselves as Balija when the Balijas became quite prominent in the medieval period (around about 1000 CE) with their political and economic contributionsprimarily the Setty Sub-Division of Balija.
  • The caste title of the Kapus, Naidu, which is a derivation of the word Nayaka (meaning "leader"), was first used during the era of the Vishnukundina dynasty, which ruled the Krishna and Godavari river deltas during the 3rd Century A.D.
  • Kapus share their origins along with similar warrior/agrarian communities like the Kurmis of Bihar and UP and Kunbis/Marathas of Maharashtra and Vokkaliga of Karnataka.
  • The Kapus were primarily a military/agrarian community who took up military service and were into cultivation during peace time. Consequently the Kapu subcastes also evolved based on occupation.
  • Kapu subcastes dedicated to military service included Telaga, Munnuru Kapu and Ontaris (who served as special forces). Munnuru Kapu's were a detachment of the Telagas who migrated to the current Telangana Districts and served under the Kakatiyas and Nizams.
  • Kapus engaged in trade were referred to as Balija. Balijas who took up military service and protected trading caravans were called Balija Nayakulu or Balija Naidu.
  • A significant number of Kapus have today diversified into industry, arts and academia. However, a substantial segment of the population are still farmers.

For further details, please see Kapu (caste).

Sub Castes

The other geographical names of Balija are

  • Kapu (In Andhra, people refer themselves as Kapu without mentioning the sub-caste).
  • Balija (Rayalaseema region and Nellore district of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka regions).
  • Telaga (Coastal Andhra and Telangana Regions)
  • Munnuru Kapu (Telangana Region of Andhra Pradesh and erstwhile Hyderabad Region)
  • Ontari (Coastal districts like East Godavari, West Godavari and Visakhapatnam)
  • Turpu Kapu (Northern costal region of Andhra Pradesh)
  • Naidu (Caste title for Kapu, Telaga, Ontari,Turpu Kapu and Balijas)

Note:The Munnuru Kapu and Turpu Kapu Sub-Castes are classified as BC-D whereas the Balija,Telaga,Ontari Sub-Castes are Classified as O.C(Forward Caste).

The Balija Sub-Caste of Andhra Pradesh & Tamil Nadu are classified as an O.C(Forward Caste) but they are sometimes confused to be a B.C.(Backward Caste) since a lot of other Castes also carry the Suffix Balija in their Caste Names.

Note Perika Balija, Krishna Balija/Dasari, Surya Balija(Kalavatula), Voda Balija (Fishermen), Ediga Balija/Goud (Toddy Tappers), Setty Balija/Chettu Balija/Goud (Toddy Tappers) of Coastal Andhra, Ontari-Mudiraj Ayyaraka Patrulu, Venna Kapu, Kapu Savara, Konda Kapu and Reddy Subcastes (Dommari Kapu. Godugulanati Kapu, Kodithi Kapu, Kuruva Kapu, Musugu Kapu, Nallevelama Kapu, Pakanati Kapu, Paala Kapu, Palle Kapu, Panta Kapu, Pedakanti Kapu, Pokanati Kapu, Sajjana Kapu, Velama Kapu, Yerlam Kapu)


are not part of the Kapu/Balija Caste.

Etymology of Balija

  • It is believed that when Kapus organised themselves into their own trading guilds, such as 'veera balanja', then the Sanskrit term vanijya became balanja and balija, just as it became it became baniya in other places.
  • A. Vijaya Kumari and Sepuri Bhaskar in their book 'Social Change Among Balijas' suggest that the name Balija either comes from a dynasty belonging to King Bali or Balichakravarthi (also known as Mahabali) or from the Sanskrit 'Bali' (sacrifice) and 'Ja' (born), meaning 'born from sacrifice'. The Balijas alternatively claim to be fire-born merchant-warriors or claim to be Rishivanshi Kshatriyas. The Rishivanshi Kshatriyas trace their mythological origins to a King named Bali who was the King of the Patala loka. This story is also shared by the Rajput Dhakare clan which also claims to be Rishivanshi Kshatriyas. The rishivanshis are included as a separate lineage amongst the rajputs by some scholars.
  • Thurston and Rangachari describe the Telugu trading classes as fire-born merchant and artisan castes: Balijas (with their offshoots Kavarais and Janappans) believe they originated when their God Chamundeshwari threw rice into the sacrificial fire from which a host of warriors sprang out.
  • Bali in Sanskrit means tax. The Balijas also served as tax-collectors during medieval times in Andhra and Karnataka.
  • The word 'balija' has not been found in old inscriptions. According to the book "Symbols of substance, court and state in Nāyaka period Tamilnadu" (pg 74): "These left-Sudra groups — often referred to by the cover-title 'Balija', but also including Boyas, left-hand Gollas, Gavaras, and others - were first mobilized by Krishna Deva Raya in the Vijayanagara heyday...These Balija fighters are not afraid of kings: some stories speak of their killing kings who interfered with their affairs". The balija group therefore appears to have received members into it from other castes to become a single unit under one term during the Vijayanagar times.
  • The balijas of Karnataka claim to have derived their term as descendents of a king named Ballaja of Hoysala or Kadama dynasty. However, there is no evidence to the same.
  • Primarily agriculturists, traders or warriors 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 of Srikakulam District.
  • The Balija trace their mythological origins to Himavanta (father of Parvati) when he sacrificed a bull to Lord Brahma and from the fire emerged a person who brought forth combs, bangles, perfumes, sandals, powder, beads, and colored palf-leaf rolls for the ear for Parvati (Government Of Madras Staff, P. 105 Gazetteer of the Nellore District: brought up to 1938).
  • Veera Balaingyas were mentioned in Chalukyas of Badami, Kakatiya dynasty inscriptions as powerful and wealthy merchants who were known as "Five Hundred Lords of Ayyavolu" (or modern Aihole in Bagalkote District of Karnataka State). They were highly respected in the Chalukyan and Kakatiya society. The Setty Balijas were primarily tax collectors and merchants.
  • Balijas shared the same history with Kunbi and Kurmis. Kunbhee in Hindustani is known as Kapu in Telugu (17).
  • According to David West Rudner in 'Religious Gifting and Inland Commerce in Seventeenth-Century South India' (The Journal of Asian Studies, Vol. 46, No. 2 (May, 1987), page 361): "Balija Chettis are a caste that fissioned off from Balija Nayaks ("warrior") caste as recent as the 19th century. Accordingly they have closer kinship ties to these Nayak warriors than to Chetti merchants".
  • According to the 1891 census data, the merchant groups of Agrawal, Khatri, Balija, Barnwal together constituted just 5% of the population. However, in the census of 1981 (2), Balija formed 22.5% of the total population of Andhra Pradesh. It may be hypothesised that the Balija grouping received members from other castes during this time as a generic term for 'trader'. This may be so expected since the ties of kin and caste did play an important but unexplored role in South Indian commerce.

Note Most of the Western Historians who based their research from Madras often used to collate other castes like Perika, Voda, Surya Balija, Ediga Balija with the Balija Naidus without tracing their origin to the Mother caste Kapu.

Balija Branches

  • Balija Naidu
  • Setty Balija[శెట్టి బలిజ]
  • 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 and this person was the ancestor of the Gajula Balija [3]. The Gajulu Balija are known as Kavarai in Tamil Nadu.
  • Kota Balijas or Raacha Balijas
  • Rajamahendravaram Balija or Musukama Balija, traders named after a special ear ornament worn by women. They are named after the Rajamahendram town of Rajahmundry.
  • Kavarai (Kavara Balija Naidu or Gavara Balija Naidu).
  • Desai (or Desai Chetti, functioned as taluka headmen (21))
  • Anamala
  • Gandavallu (or Gundapodi Vandlu, supposed to have been originally Komatis. They sold turmeric, kumkum (color powder), dye powder, beads, combs, cosmetics, etc.
  • Linga (Lingayat balijas)
  • Ralla (a sub-sect of Kurubas, traded in precious stones, sub-sect Muktyala or Mutyala traded in Pearls)
  • Pagadala (traded in Corals, also a sub-sect of Ralla)
  • Pusa (traded in Beads, also supposedly a sub-division of the Yerukulas (13) that is also called as Korvanji (16))
  • Ravuth (Ravuthan or Rowthan, title of Kannadiyan (14))
  • Gonuguntla (Desayi Chettis named after a village Gonuguntla)
  • Gandavarapu (Gonuguntla balijas who migrated to Cuddapah)
  • Vyasa (sage Vyasa)
  • Gopati (Gopita or Gopa balija, also a title)
  • Mulaka (sold roots, village vaidhyas, also name of a tribe)
  • Miriyala (pepper traders)
  • Nemilli (peacock)
  • Pakanati
  • Poludasu
  • Oppanakkaran (Trader)

Note Perika Balija, Surya Balija(Kalavatula), Krishna Balija(Dasari) , Voda Balija (Fishermen), Vada Balija, Ediga Balija/Goud (Toddy Tappers), Chettu Balija/Goud (Toddy Tappers) of Coastal Andhra are not part of Balija or Balija Naidu Caste.

Balija Historical Dynasties

The Balijas were well-known in the several kingdoms as traders / merchants and soldiers who were appointed as tax-collectors for various vassal states. Their involvement in the formation of several rich and powerful trading guilds wielded considerable power in the social structure. One such trading guild was the Ayinavol trading guild in Prakasam District. Balija Naidus rose to power during the 1300 - 1700 AD with the advent of the Vijayanagar Empire.

The Vijayanagar rulers had a policy of consolidating power by granting the Palegars / Poligars, Palaiyakkarar local Administrative rights. And they in turn relied on the bands of soldiers that these Paleggallu / Palegars put at the disposal of the Vijayanagar rulers in times of war. While not being restricted to controlling small princely states as Palegars / Poligars, some the Balijas eventually commanded some of the biggest kingdoms in the form of Madurai Nayaks, Thanjavur Nayaks and Kandi Nayaks (Ceylon / Srilanka).

They ruled in Tamil Nadu with 13 lines of Kings for about 300 years. Some of the famous kings were:

Madurai Dynasty

  • Garikepati (Kotikam) Nagama Nayaka
  • Kotikam Nayakas [Viswantha Nayaka, Kumara Krishnappa Nayaka, Muthu Krishnappa Nayaka, Tirumala Nayaka, Muthu Alakadri Nayaka, Chokkanadha Nayaka, Ranga krishna Muthu Veerappa Nayaka, Rani Mangamma, Vijaya Ranga Chokkanatha Nayaka and Rani Meenakshi].

Thanjavur Dynasty

  • Alluru Nayakas and [Sevappa Nayaka, Achutappa Nayaka, Raghunadha Nayaka, Vijayaraghava Nayaka].

Chenji / Gingee Dynasty

  • Tupakula Krishnappa Nayaka and [Chennappa Nayaka, Gangama Nayaka, Venkata Krishnappa Nayaka, Venkata Rama Bhupaala Nayaka, Thriyambamka Krishnappa Nayaka, Varadappa Nayaka, Ramalinga Nayani vaaru, Venkata Perumal Naidu, Periya Ramabhadra Naidu].

Some prominent kings left a legacy worth its mention in every Indian history book in the form of several temples and forts built in Tamil Nadu during this period, like the Tirumala Nayaka Mahal and commissioning the re-building of the Madurai Meenakshi Temple.

The following were the Kingdoms of Balija Naidus.

Apart from these there were several small kingdoms and principalities[3] which formed the power structure on which the Vijayanagar Kingdom flourished.

  • Penukonda After Krishna Deva Raya, Venkatapathi rayalu, the Emperor of Vijayanagar, took over. He made Koneti Naidu (son of Kasturi Naidu, grandson of Akkappa Naidu, great-grandson of Kanaka Naidu of Chandragiri), the governor of Penukonda and conferred the title Maha-raja-raja-sri and celebrated Koneti Naidu's marriage to Swarna. Koneti Naidu hailed from the Vasarasi family of Balija caste. Koneti Naidu ruled Penukonda for about 14 years. For a brief period after the Battle of Tallikota in 1565, Penukonda became capital of Vijayanagara kingdom.
  • Ananthapur, Bukkarayapatnam, Dharmavaram [Linga Balijas of Hande Family. Hande Hanumappa Nayudu (1569-1582), Immadi Hampanaidu (1583-1595), Malakappa Naidu( 1595-1619), His 4th Son Hampa Naidu (1619-1631), Siddappa Naidu (1631-1659), Pavadappa Naidu(1659-1671), Ramakka(1671-1690), Siddappa Naidu (1690-1696), Prasannappa Naidu (1696-1719), Pavadappa Naidu (1719-1737), Siddappa Naidu (1737-1740), Ramappa Naidu(1740-1745)]
  • Tadipatri and Poddatur. Hande Malakappa Naidu's (1595-1619), 1st Son Devappa Naidu and his descendents.
  • Bellari, Kurgodu and Surrounding Districts. Hande Malakappa Naidu's (1595-1619), 2nd Son Chinna Ramappa Naidu and his descendents.
  • Konderpi and Kanakal: Hande Malakappa Naidu's ( 1595-1619), 3rd Son Lingappa Naidu and his descendents.
  • RayaDurgam
  • Kotakonda (kothi konda)
  • Ramagiri
  • Kalyanadurgam (of Butna family).
  • Chandragiri
  • Udayagiri
  • Poligars, land owners and tax collectors of Tamil Nadu where of Balija origin.

Sources, including Vijaya Kumari, Sepuri Bhaskar and Kante Narayana Desayi in their books, Social Changes among Balijas and Balijakula Charithra write that the Madurai, Thanjavur, Khandi (Kandy), Thundeera (Gingee/Chenchi), Krishnadeva Raya and the Araveeti kings of Vijayanagar empire were interrelated and from the Balija / Kapu caste.

Edgar Thurston and K.Rangachari in their book Castes And Tribes of Southern India observed a close connection between Vijayanagar and the West Coast and wrote (on page 292): "Kings who ruled Vijayanagar during the later half of the fourteenth century belonged to a low non-aryan caste, namely that of canarese cow-herds. They were therefore closely akin to the Nayars, one of the leading Rajas among whom at present time, although officially described as Samanta, is in reality of the Eradi i.e., cow-herd caste.... N.Subramani Aiyer writes in a note.. that Nair is derived from Naga (serpents) as the Aryans termed the earlier settlers of Malabar on account of the special adoration which they paid to snakes".

A. Vijaya Kumari and Sepuri Bhaskar in their book 'Social Change Among Balijas' recorded (page 3) that the "Balija kings of Madurai and Tanjore claim to be Kshatriyas of Kasyapa gotra, while the Vijayanagar Rais say they are lineal descendents of sage Bharadwaja. Others trace their ancestry to the Kauravas of the Mahabharata. These kshatriya descendents are an offshoot of the Kammas or Kapus, or they are a mixed community recruited from these and other Telugu castes".

The Encyclopedia of World History states:

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.

Description of sub-sects

  • Balija Naidu: seem to have formed during the Kakatiya dynasty primarily to protect the Balija / Setty trading caravans from being attacked by bandits.
  • Shetty Balija[శెట్టి బలిజ]: These were rich and powerful traders and merchants of the Kakatiya Dynasty. There was mention of some very old trading guilds concentrated in Bellary in Karnataka.[4] In fact historians suggest this was the first branch in Balijas.
  • 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. Kavarai or Gavarai is said to be a corrupt form of Kauravar or Gauravar, as descendants of Kuru of Mahabharata as Kauravas[3].
  • According to Jogendranath Bhattacharya in "Hindu Castes and Sects" though Kavarais were originally devoted entirely to agriculture, in the capacity of land owners, and their lands were cultivated by inferior castes, they were also involved in the other professions such as trading, sailing etc. Gajula Balija is the largest sub-division of Kavarais. The equivalent name for Gajula Balija in Tamil is Valaiyal Chetti. Gajula Balijas attained this name as they were involved in manufacturing and selling bangles. The other branch of the Kavarais was Kambalattars (Thottiyars/Thottiyans). Kambalattars were originally Telugu speaking cultivators that migrated from Telugu and Karnataka lands to Western parts of Madura Country in sixteenth century during the reign of Madurai Nayaks. They had found employment in Madurai Balija Nayak dynasty and also got promoted as Poligars. The famous chieftain Veerapandiya Kattabomman Naicker belonged to this branch of Balija caste (Rajakambala Balija). Kambalattars primarily practiced Vaishnavism. They were known to be energetic and industrious people.
  • Kota Balija: Few dynasties of Vijayanagara Empire, Madurai Nayaks, Thanjavur Nayaks, Gingee Nayaks and Nayaks of Kandy Kingdom dynasties were from this line. There are multiple references available divulging the interrelationship of Madurai, Thanjavur and Vijayanagar kings of Balija caste. Apart from historians such as Thurston, Rangachari and R.V.Russel there are others that attest to the Balija affiliation of the kingdoms of Thanjavur, Madurai and Vijayanagar.

According to the "Gazetteer of the Nellore district: Brought up to 1938" by the Government of Madras staff, the Desa section of Balija caste comprises the descendents of the Nayak kings of Madura, Tanjore and Vijayanagar. As per G.S.Ghurye in "Caste and Race in India", the Nayak kings of Madura and Thanjavur were Balijas. According to "Questioning Ramayana: A South Asian Tradition" by Paula Richman, the Thanjavur king Raghunatha Nayudu belonged to Balija caste. King Sevappa Naidu, the founder of Thanjavur dynasty and the predecessor of king Raghunatha Naidu had married the sister-in-law of Vijayanagar emperor Achyutha Deva Raya (half-brother of the emperor Sri Krishnadevaraya).

Racha, Rachu or Rachevar, is a title found in Balija, Dora, Golla, Kapu, Konda, Koya, Majjulu, Mutracha and Velama. The sect Ranagere were military and the sect Sarige were gold-lace (zari) makers. (10)

Excerpts


చంద్ర వంశ బలిజ క్షత్రియులు
బలిజ వంశోత్పత్తి వివిరణము.
భాగవతము, నవమస్కంధము ౨౩ వ అధ్యాయము
శ్రీ శుక వువాచ.

"అనో: సభానరస్చక్షు: పరోక్షశ్చత్రయ స్సుతా:,
సభానరాత్ కాలనరః సృన్జయంత త్సుతస్తత:.
జనమేజయ స్తస్యపుత్రో మహాశీలో మహామనాః,
ఉశీనరస్తితిక్షుశ్చ మహామనస ఆత్మజౌ.
శిబిర్వన స్సమిర్దక్షశ్చత్వారోశీనరాత్మజాః,
వృషాదర్భః సువీరశ్చ మద్ర: కైకయ ఆత్మజాః.
శిబే శ్చత్వార ఏవా సం స్తితిక్షోశ్చ రుసద్ర థః,
తతో హేమో థసుతపా బలి: సుతపసో భవత్.
అంగ వంగ కళింగాద్యాః సింహపున్ద్రాంధ్ర సంజ్నితా:,
జజ్ఞి రే దీర్ఘ తమసో బలే: క్షేత్రే మహీక్షిత:.
చక్రు: స్వనామ్నా విషయాన్ శడిమాన్ ప్రాచ్యకాంశ్చ తే."


తాత్పర్యం: యయాతి మహారాజునకు కొడుకైన అనువునకు సభానరుడు, చక్షుస్సు, పరోక్షుడు అను మువ్వురు పుట్టిరి. సభానరునికి కాలనరుడును, కాలనరునకు సృంజయుండును, సృన్జయునకు పురంజయుడును, పురంజయునకు జనమేజయుడును, జనమేజయునకు మహాశీలుమ్డును, మహాసీలునకు మహా మనస్సును పుట్టిరి. మహా మనస్సునకు ఉసీనరుడు, తితిక్షువు అని యిర్వురు కొడుకులు పుట్టిరి. ఉసీరునకు శిబి, వన, శమి, దక్షుడు అని నల్వురు పుట్టిరి. శిబికి వృషాదర్భ, సువీర, మద్ర, కేకయ అని నల్వురు కలరు. తితిక్షువునకు రుశద్రదుడును, వానికి హేముడును, వానికి సుతపుడును, వానికి బలి యును పుట్టిరి. బలి యొక్క క్షేత్రమునందు దీర్ఘతముడను ఋషి వలన అంగ, వంగ, కళింగ, సింహళ, పుండ్ర, ఆంధ్ర, అను వారార్గురు జన్మించి, ఈ భూమిని భాగించుకుని వారి వారి దేశములకు వారి వారి పేరుల నుంచిరి.

అది మొదలు అంగాది దేశములు ఆరు అయ్యెను.


సుతపుడను మహారాజునకు బహుకాలము సంతానము లేనందున అనేకములైన బలులను, యాగాములను చేయగా నొక్క కుమారుడు బలి కల్గెను. ఆ బలివలన పుట్టినవారైన అంగ, వంగ, కళింగ, సింహళ, పుండ్ర, ఆంధ్రులు అనువారు బలిజవారైరి. అనగా, బలి: = బలియను వానికి, జ: = పుట్టినవారు అని వ్యుత్పత్తి.


బలి కొమరుడైన ఆంధ్రుడు మగధ దేశమునకు రాజైనాడు. వీని వంశీయులు మహా పరాక్రమ శాలురై ౪౬౦ సంవత్సరములు హిమాచలము ఉజ్జయిని వంగ దేశము ఆనెగొంది..... ఈ సరిహద్దులలో గల దేశమును పాలించియుండిరి.


"శ్రీ విష్ణు పాద పద్మ సేవయు సద్గురు
భక్తి పారాయణుల్ బలిజ వారు,
తిరుమంత్ర నిష్టయు దేహతత్త్వములాడి
పరతత్త్వకోవిదుల్ బలిజ వారు,
పదపడి బ్రహ్మాండ భాండ మట్టండయిన
పల్కి బొంకని వారు బలిజ వారు."
"బలిజ వారిది భూమి బలుసమై వ్రాసి
ఇసుక ముప్పిరిత్రాడు వెయ్యంగ నేర్చి
కలిమి బలములకేల్ల ఘన పుణ్య రాశి
కలనైన ధర్మముల్ ఘనత తో జేసి
అయ్యావళి ముఖ్యమైనట్టి వారు
కయ్యమందున కాలు కదిలించ బోరు
నేయ్యమందు మహా నేర్పు గల వారు
దివ్యతుల యాభై ఆరు దేశాల వారు బలిజ వారు"

Contribution to literature

Balija kings encouraged many poets and contributed to literature themselves. The following is the list of Balja Naidus that made their 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): Raghunatha nayakabhyudayamu, 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): Sreeranga Mahatmyam and Maghamahathmyamu.
  • 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 surname 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 mahathmyam, 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 Dora Garu (Sri Dontihundamulku Darlu, Andhra Kalidasa, Kavibhushana, Bhirudankitulu, Sri Jayapura Samsthana gaurava Asthana Kavulu, 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.
  • Matla Anantharaju (Kadapa district, Telugu Chola descendent): Kakustha Vijayamu (Poems).
  • Katta Varada Raju (decent from Karikala Chola, tanjore): Wrote a Ramayana.

See List of Balijas for more information on prominent Balijas / Kapus.

Spelling variations

  • The following are supposed spelling variations of Balija [9]: bahlika, balika, balaika, balija, bahlikas.

See also

Notes

  1. ^ [1]
  2. ^ Telugu

References & Sources

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

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