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Telaga

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Telaga is sub caste of the Kapu, or Naidu community of Andhra and concentrated primarily in the coastal areas of Andhra Pradesh. The Telagas are primarily and Agragarian Community and also one of the Ancient Warrior Clan's of India and were also Fuedal Landlords who had its links to all the major Ruling Dynasties of South India like Chalukya,Chola,Kakateeya and Vijayanagar. They have the caste title Naidu which indicate their Fuedal and Warrior past.

Telaga
ClassificationWarriors, Cultivators, Zamindars
ReligionsHinduism,Christianity
LanguagesTelugu
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 SubCastes or Geographical Names of Telagas are

  • Balija (Rayalaseema region and Nellore district of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka regions).
  • Munnuru Kapu (Telangana Region of A.P.)
  • Ontari (Coastal districts like East Godavari, West Godavari and Visakhapatnam)
  • Turpu Kapu (Northern costal Andhra Region)
  • Naidu (Caste title for Kapu, Telaga, Ontari, and Balijas)

Note1 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).

Note2 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), Perika Balija, Krishna Balija, Surya Balija(Kalavatula), Vada Balija (Fishermen), Ediga Balija/Goud (Toddy Tappers), Setty Balija/Chettu Balija/Goud (Toddy Tappers) of Coastal Andhra, Ontari-Mudiraj

are not part of the Kapu/Balija/Telaga Caste.

  • Kapu (In Andhra/Telagana, Nowadays people refer themselves as Kapu without mentioning the sub-caste).

Please Refer to Kapu for more details about the Community.

Epitomology of the Telagas

Telagas are the most ancient Warrior clan of the Deccan and South India who specialised in warfare and took to agriculture during times of peace.

The Origin of the Telagas can be traced back to the Western Chalukyan Expansion into Andhra region which happened in the 1st century A.D. The term Telaga was a derivation of the word Telingana.[4] Andhra was referred to as Telingana/Tri-Linga Desam in the ancient texts as it was the area that had three major Shivinsa-Aramas, thus was called Tri-Linga', and the people living there were called Telugus and the language spoken by the people there was called Telugu. It is easy to see from this that the Telugu warriors came to regarded as Telagas par excellence.

This is how the word Telaga was Derived.

Trilinga -> Telinga -> Telanga -> Telaga (It is a Country of Telaga People)

Trilinga -> Telangu -> Telungu -> Telugu (It is a language of Telanga People)

Present Day Telanga + Anemu (well/high place) = Telanganamu = Telangana (this is the Ancient Horizon Place of Telugu People who are calling now as Telagas)

They ruled the Telugu country for most part of the medieval ages in the form of Telugu Chodas and were the foundation on which the Chalukyan Empire flourished. The Telagas served as Nayakulu (Governors), commanders and vassals of the Western Chalukya rulers under Pulakesin. These commanders were also called Telugu Nayakulu from which the community name Telaga have been derived. They seem to have a connection with the Eastern Chalukyas. The vassals of Chalukyas entered into matrimonial alliances, and ultimately established the Chalukya- Chola Dynasty. They formed the bulwark of ancient armies of the Deccan and South India like Cholas, Chalukyas, Kakatiyas, Vijaynagar, Nayaks Kings etc.

Some of the ruling Dynasities are

The Telugu Cholas ruled the various regions of Andhra for more than four centuries. Important ruling Clans were:-

  • Velanati Cholulu of Palnadu War who supported Bramha Naidu in his war against the Nalagam Raju. They ruled over Velanadu
  • Renati Cholas of Renadu who rules over the current Cuddapah, Prakasam and Kurnool Regions
  • Konidena Cholas ruler from the current Guntur region.
  • Nannuru Cholas
  • Nellore Chola Kings
  • Kolanu Kings ruled the area between Krishna Godavari Rivers
  • Kona Kings ruled the present Konaseema area
  • Koppula Chiefs ruled the Polunati seema present pitapuram area
  • Musunuri Nayaks
  • Korukonda Nayaks
  • Nayak Kings of Madurai, Tanjore, Chenji, Kandy and Vijayanagar.

After the fall of the Eastern Chalukyan kingdoms and the Velanati Cholas. The Telagas served as vassals/Governors during the Kakateeyas. They were given the title Nayaka/Nayakudu and played a major role in shaping the history of modern Andhra.

After the fall of the Kakateeyas, the Telagas, under Kaapaya Nayaka and Prolaya Nayaka, led the battle against the invading Bahamanis by combining forces with the Balija, Reddy, Velama and Kamma Nayaks, and liberated the Andhra country.

Telagas had matrimonial Alliances with the Kakateeya and Vijayanagar Rulers. Araveeti Rama Raya the son in law of Krishna Devaraya and the ruler of the last dynasty of Viajayanagar was a Telaga. This family was an Eastern Chalukyan Fuedataory called the Arayeti Family which became Araveeti in due course of time.

With Vijayanagara coming into power the Telagas served under the new rulers and were dispatched off to protect the far-flung regions of the empire to Tamil Nadu and were posted as Nayaks and took up Administration as Nayaks/Nayakers. The most famous Telaga general was Viswanatha Nayaka who started the Madurai Nayak Dynasty

After the fall of the Vijayanagar Empire in the Battle of Talikota large sections of Telagas migrated towards the North and settled down in their native region of the Godavari deltas and took to agriculture while some of them went further South and settled down in the Madhurai and Tanjavur region and joined the Nayak King army.

Telaga Bravery

Telagas are known for their bravery and fearlessness aptly put by a famous Telugu saying describing the community "Teginche vade Telaga" which means "One who dares is a Telaga". Even now, one can find swords, armour and weapons with some of the Telaga families in Rajamundry. All of these people are Vaishnavas and have Sri Venugopala Swami as their family deity. Most of their surnames represents the names of weapons used by this warrior community.

  • The Palnadu Battle also called the Andhra Mahabharatam played a pivotal role in shaping Andhras History Palnati Bramha Naidu

a Velama who was ousted from his Kingdom had to reli bed on the Telagas the Velanati Chodas who formed the bulwark in his battle against Nagamma's forces. The bravery exhibited in Palnadu battle is part of Andhra folklore and is still sung as Ballads.

  • After the fall of the Kakateeyas, the Telagas Kaapaya Nayaka and Prolaya Nayaka along with Koppla Prolaya Nayaka of Pithapuram, led the battle against the invading Bahamanis by combining forces with the Reddy, Velama Nayaks, and liberated the Andhra Country and Orugallu from tyranny and destruction of the invaders."
  • A legendary instance of Telaga bravery was exhibited during the Bobbili War, fought between the Velama Kingdom and the Vizianagaram Kingdom, led by Vijayaram Raju. Telagas warriors are the principal combatants of the Bobbilli war. When all seemed lost for the Bobbilli, Ranga Rayudu, the Bobbili king, before riding out to war, in no mood to submit the honour and the dignity of the Royal House, ordered all of his commanders to execute their families before riding out to meet their fate. Accordingly the Telaga and Velama commanders and soldiers executed their families before proceeding out to war. King Vijayaramaraju was laid to rest by a valiant Telaga commanders Miriyala Sitanna, padala ramudu along with Papa Rayudu.
  • Pulakesin II’s brother, Kubja Vishnu Vardhana, founded the Eastern Chalukya Empire after he was appointed Viceroy of Vengi, and gave many of his trusted generals fiefdoms to rule over as his vassals, and took up reign as Telaga Nayakulu (Governors). Most of the Telagas are feudal landlords concentrated mainly in the coastal areas of Andhra. Because of their warrior past and valiant fighting nature most Telagas were recruited in the British army as Major, Nayak Subhedars, Naikers etc. before India's independence. Telagas are very prominent in the Madras Regiment of British India army. Even now the Police and Indian Army recruits Telagas in large numbers from rural areas.
  • The Telugu movie mogul Padma Bhushan, Mega Star Dr. Chiranjeevi (Konidala Siva Sankara Vara Prasad), recipient of Padma Bhushan for his social service, hails from West Godavari district belongs to Telaga Community. He is also the founder of Praja Rajyam Party.
  • Padma Bhushan Colnal C. K. Naidu (Cottari Kanakaiah Naidu) was the First captain of India Cricket team is a Telaga. C K Nayudu was tall right-handed batsman and a useful change bowler. He was a batsman who could hit the ball tremendously hard and as a leader he has become famous. He was the first cricketer to be honored with the Padma Bhushan.
  • The famous social reformer ( 19th-20th century) Raghupathi Venkata Ratnam Naidu belongs to Telaga community. He also pioneered the Telugu movie industry.
  • Rao Bahaddur Dr Sir Kurma Venkata Reddy Naidu former Chief Minister and Governor of the Madras Presidency during the British Rule is a prominent Telaga.

See List of Telagas

Telaga Surnames and Titles

Achanta, Adabala, Adapa, Adatrao, Addagarla, Addala, Addanki, Adhikarla, Akasam, Akiri, Akkireddy, Akula, Alla, Allamsetty, Allu, Amarapalli, Ambati, Ankam, Appana, Arabolu, Arava, Arigela, Arja, Arisankala, Avireddi, Ayitham, Badiga, Baipineedi, Balla, Balusupati, Baluvu, Bandaru, Bandi, Basava, Batreddi, Battula, Bethamsetty, Bethu, Bezawada, Bhimala, Bhogireddy, Bodapati, Bommisetty, Bonam, Bonasu, Bonda, Bontha, Bonthula, Boyina, Buddireddi, Buragadda, Busi, Challa, Chaluvadi, Chandana, Chandu, Chantati, Chebrolu, Cheekati, Chegondi, Cheruku, Chikkala, Chikkam, Chilaka, Chilakalapalli, Chilamakurthi, Chilukuri, Chinimilli, Chintalapudi, Chittemsetty, Chodiseti, Chodisetty, Dangeti, Darapureddy, Dasari, Davala, Davuluri, Desamsetty, Dhulipudi, Dodda, Dodla, Domarouthu, Dwaram, Elisetti, Eti. lingam, Gadam, Gadi, Gajula, Gandi Gainedi, Galidevara, Galla, Gandham, Gangumolu, Ganji, Gantakolla, Garaga, Gatti, Gedala, Geebu, Ghanta, Girajala, Godavari, Gottam, Gogisetty, Gokeda, Gontu, Grandhi, Gudi, Gudivada, Gundala, Gundubilli, Gundubogula, Gundugula, Gunisetty, Gurram, Guruju, Ijju, Ikkurthi, Immidisetti, Inti, Irri, Irrinki, Itla, Jagata, Janaparedy, Jannavula, Janga, Janyavula, Jetty, Jonnakuti, Jyothula, Kadiyala, Kaikala, Kakarlamudi, Kalisetty, Kalakanda, Kalyanam, Kamavarapu, Kambala, Kamisetty, Kammula, Kanajam, Kanchumarthi, Kandula, Kandulapati, Kantamsetty, Karasudula, Karri, Kasireddy, Kasuladevi, Kathula, Katikireddy, Katnam, Katta, Kavali, Keerthi, Kelam, Kesavarapu, Ketinedi, Kodavathi, Kodi, Kola, Kolla, Kommana, Kona, Konda, Kondapu, Kondisetti, Kondra, Konedala, Konidela, Konidena, Koppana, Koppineedi, Koppireddy, Koppisetti, Koppula, Kosana, Kosuri, Kotipalli, Kotti, Krishnammagaru, Krishnamagaru, Krishnamsetty, Kumpatla, Kunapareddi, Kunche, Kunisetti, Lakkakula, Lalisetti, Lalisetty, Lanka, Lingala, Lingampalli, Macca, Madapati, Madasi, Maddhala, Maddimsetty, Madduri, Madhavarapu, Madhyanapu, Madireddy, Magatapalli, Majji, Mallareddy, Mallepudi, Manam,[3] Manchala, Manda, Mandala, Mandali, Mandapalli, Mande, Mandiga, Mangena, Marichetty, Maruboyana, Masapu, Masupu, Mediboyina, Medicherla, Mekala, Melam, Miriyala, Mokka, Mondreti, Mondrety, Mucherla, Mudragada, Munukoti, Muppidi, Muppirisetty, Mutangi, Mutyala, Mycherla, Nadipelli, Nagam, Nagisetty, Naidu, Nainala, Nayinala, Nalanagula, Nalla, Nallam, Namana, Namburi, Namburu, Nanabala, Nandam, Nandhi, Nandi, Nandyala, Naraharisetti, Neelam, Nimmala, Nimmakayala, Nukala, Oosuri, Padala, Padavala, Palacholla, Palakurthy, Palasala, Palla, Pallantla, Pallapu, Pallem, Pamarthy, Pandalaneni, Pantham, Papolu, Pappula, Parasa, Paravatha, Pasupuleti, Patimalla, Pedapati, Pedireddy, Pediredla, Penugonda, Perabattula, Perni, Pettela, Pidugu, Pilla, Pinaka, Pinapatruni, Pinisetty, Pinnenti, Pippalla, Pitta, Polisetty,[4] Poojari, Pothamsetty, Pothireddy, Pothula, Pulagam, Pulakandam, Pulaparthi, Pullagura, Pupala, Puppala, Puram, Putta, Puvvala, Ramanjana, Ramineedi, Ramisetty, Rangisetty, Rankireddy, Ravada, Ravula, Ravuri, Reddipalli, Rednam, Redrauthu, Regala, Reminisetty, Rokkam, Rudra, Sakumalla, Saladi, Samineni, Sammeta, Sanati, Sandrani, Sangam, Sangeeta, Sankabathula, Sanku, Sayam, Sarvisetty, Savaram, Seerla, Seethala, Sevvana, Siddabattula, Siddineni, Siddireddi, Sigireddi, Simhardri, Singamsetty, Sirangi, Sirangu, Sirigineedi, Sirimisetty. Sistha, Sivavarapu, Soorabathula, Sukkireddy, Sundara, Sundaraneedi, Sunkara, Sunkari, Sunnam, Sura, Suravarapu, Surisetti, Tadala, Tadi, Tady, Taladi, Talatam, Tanneru, Tekkam, Tekkem, Tellakula, Theegala, Thimmisetty, Thota, Tikkisetti, Tirumalasetti, Turumulla, Tuta, Uppu, Vaddi, Vagvala, Vaida, Vallamsetty, Vangaveeti, Vannemreddy, Varupula, Vejju, Vellanki, Vempala, Venna, Ventrapati, Vikram, Villa, Vishnumolakala, Vogeti, Vulli, Vungarala, Vuragayala, Yadama, Yadla, Yaga, Yalla, Yallabandi, Yarra, Yedida, Yedumambakula, Yejju, Yenugula, Yepuri, Yernagula, Yerrabolu, Yerramsetti, Yerubandi, Yetam.

References

  1. ^ [1]
  2. ^ Telugu
  3. ^ http://inthidreams.googlepages.com/manam
  4. ^ http://polisettyfamily.googlepages.com
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