Origins:
Since it is a large, diverse and geographically well spread with
multiple divisions there is not one root or Origin but the most
prevalent theories of their origin are mentioned below.
Kapu seem to be the earliest inhabitants of
the Deccan region who migrated from the North and cleared Forests for
Agriculture and built Towns in the Deccan. They are considered to be the
Original Aryan Descendants who migrated to South India.
Kapu Community is believed to be the
descendants of migrants of the Kaampu tribe from Kampilya (near Ayodhya)
and was one of the earliest inhabitants of South India who took to
clearing the forests and starting agriculture in the Deccan and of the
current day Andhra Pradesh.
Kapu Community is also referred to as the
Kaampu tribe in the Ancient Texts, which was also, referred to as the
Kossar tribe, who some historians believe established, the Satavahanas
and other ancient dynasties.
Kapu Community shares a similar history to the Kurmi,kunbis and Maratha castes.
Brief Notes:
Some of the very common Gothrams found in the Kapu community
are Janakula, Mahipala, Paidipaala, Raghukula, Kasyapa, Dhanunjaya,
Athreya, Achyuta to name a few and there are lots of other Gothrams
• Naidu in Andhra refers to the Kapu/Telaga/Balija/Ontari/Turpu Kapu community.
• Balijas have the title Naidu and Setty
•. In Tamil Nadu and Karnataka they are called Balija Naidu
•. In Southern T.N. Districts Balijas have the title Naicker
• Munnuru Kapu's have the title Rao and Reddy in Telangana
• Kapu/ Telaga /Balija /Munnuru Kapu communities have the title Setty
in their Surnames who served as Traders during the Kakateeya and
Vijayanagar Empires.
(Indicating their Ancestors established Powerful Trading
Guilds Surnames like Bandreddy, Ramisetty, Polisetty, Kalisetty,
Muthamsetty, Kamisetty, Tirumalasetty, Rangisetty, Singamasetty,
Chennamsetty etc)
• Telaga/Kapu Community also has the title Reddy in their Surnames in Coastal Andhra region.
(Indicating some of their ancestors were village heads.
Maddireddy, Muthareddy, Kunapareddy, Katreddy, kasireddy, Rayapureddy,
Siddireddy, Dharapureddy, Peddireddy etc.)
• Some Kapu/Telaga Surnames end with the title Neni which is a
derivation of Senani. (Indicating the Ancestors of these families
served as Commanders under the Kakateeya Dynasty.
Samineni, Lakkineni, Padalaneni, Vallabhaneni, chitikineni, kasineni etc.)
• Kapu and Telaga community have the title Rayudu in Coastal and
Rayalaseema Regions which is a legacy of the communities association
with the Vijayanagar Empire.
• Chola-Chalukyas used titles Udayar or Odeyar for certain period of time.
Occupation:
Kapu Community Primarily served as Protectors of villages from
Bandits in the medieval ages who later took to other Professions like
Village heads and Farmers during times of peace. During times of war
they also served as Soldiers, Governors (Nayaks), Commanders in many of
the Andhra Dynasties. Hence the term Nayaka/Naidu becomes synonymous
with the community
Modern day Kapu Community is predominantly
are an Agrarian community diversified into Business, Industry, Films,
Academia, and IT etc.
Note:
Kapu in teh Pre Kakatiyan period referred to soldiers and agriculturists.
Some of the occupations or responsibilities that "Kapus" had in the medieval period:
•.Village defense committees (Kapu)
•.Administration (Pedda Kapu)
• People responsible for protecting the farms bandits and those protecting livestock were (Panta Kapu).
The term Kapu has become synonymous with Agriculturists.
Hence Reddy are called Kapu in Telangana & Rayalaseema of Andhra Pradesh.Genetics of the Communities of A.P.
Sub Castes:
There are many sub castes within the Kapu community but most of them prefer to be simply called Kapu.
• Kapu • Telaga • Balija/Balija Naidu • Munnuru Kapu • Ontari • Turpu kapu • Naidu
Kapu
The Kapu community is primarily concentrated in the Coastal
Districts of Andhra. It is probably the oldest middle caste in Andhra
along with the Yadava/Golla Community of A.P. and forms the bed rock of
the state. They carry Caste title Naidu which is a Derivation of the
word Nayaka. The Nayaka/Danda Nayaka could be found being under the
Vishnukundini Dynasty of Andhra who ruled from the Krishna and Godavari
Deltas during the 3rd Century A.D.
Kapu as a term is used to refer to Landowning
or Agrarian Communities in Andhra Pradesh. Today the Land Owners are
called Kapu by the Agricultural Laborers, and those who served as
village heads were given the title of Reddy. This is the reason the
title Reddy is found among the Kapu and Reddy castes. They are heavily
concentrated in the coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh.
Kapu Branches:
. Dhulipudi • Mekala (Also found in Kamma, Boya, Chencus)
• Mogili (Also found in Yerukulas)
• Motati • Mungaru • Tungala • Thorati • Nagali • Nerati or Neravati
(Also found in Reddy)
• Pakanati or Pakinadu (Eastern territory)
(Also found in Reddy, Golla, Kamsala, Mala, and Tskala)
• Oruganti (Also found in Mudiraju)
• Nagaralu / Patrulu • Chalukya Kapu • Challa • Uggina •. Paggina • Koraganji
Note:
Konda Kapu, Vanne Kapu, Are Kapu, Kapu Savara, Moras Kapu
& Reddy Subcastes like (Dommari Kapu, Godugulanati Kapu, Kodithi
Kapu, Musugu kapu, Nallevelama Kapu, Pakaanati Kapu, Paala Kapu, Palle
kapu, Panta Kapu, pedakanti kapu, Pokanati Kapu, Sajjana kapu, Velama
Kapu, Yerlam kapu) are not Part of the Kapu Caste.
Telaga
The Origin of the Telaga’s can be traced back to the Western
Chalukyan Expansion into Andhra region which happened in the 6th century
A.D. Telagas are the most, ancient Warrior/Agricultural clans of the
Deccan and South India who are specialized in warfare. They ruled over
the Palnadu, Velnadu and Renadu regions to Andhra Pradesh as Feudatories
and Principal Clans of these regions.
Some of the major and improtant Dynasities of Telagas are
• Telugu Cholas
•. Kona Kings
• Koppula Chiefs
•. Musunuri Nayaks
• Korukonda Nayaks
The Term Telaga was a derivation of the word Telingana. Andhra
was referred to as Telingana in the ancient text as it was the area
that had three major Shivinsa-Aramas, thus was called Tri-Ling, and the
people living there were called Telugus and the language spoken by the
people there was called Telugu. The Telagas have 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 might also have been derived Telaga.
They formed the bulwark of Ancient armies of
the Deccan and South India like Cholas, Pallavas, Chalukyas and Kaktiya
etc. 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. The Telugu Cholas are in fact
the Telagas. They seem to have a connection with the Eastern Chalukyas.
Also the Telugu Cholas (Velanti Cholulu) of Palnadu War who supported
Bramha Naidu in his war against the Nalagam Raju. So were the other
Telugu Chola Dynasties like Renati Cholas, Konidena Choals, Nannuru
Cholas, and Nellore Chola Kings.
Balija:
Balijas are concentrated throughout Andhra and Rayalseema
Region, Tamilnadu and Karnataka. This is the only Sub caste of Kapu
which bears both the tiles Setty and Naidu.
Balija is Primarily a Warrior / Trading
community 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 the Original Balijas seem to have migrated form the
Balijipeta, Srikakulam District .According to some Historians. Veera
balingyas were mentioned in Kakatiya inscriptions. They were powerful
and wealthy merchants who were highly respected in Kakatiyan society.
The Balijas had the title Setty and were primarily Tax collectors and
Merchants.
The following are the major Balija ruling clans or Dynasties
which comprised the heart of Vijayanagar Empire. It is also said the
great Emperor Krishnadevaraya had a Balija / Kapu Origin.
• Araveeti Dynasty the last Dynasty of Vijayanagar and its ruler
Ramaraya the last ruler of the Vijayanagar Empire was Kota Balija.
• Madurai nayaks
• Tanjavur nayaks
• Ceylon Khandi Kings
• Penukonda
• Kalyanadurg
• Rayadurgam
• Chandragiri
• Udayagiri
Kasturi Naidu, Peda Koenti Nayudu of the Vasarasi family of Balija caste ruled these provinces.
Most of the Balijas refer themselves as
kapu/Telaga in Andhra and as Munnuru Kapu in Telangana. But in
Rayalaseema Area they are not referred as Kapu but as Balija/Setty
Balija / Balija Naidi / Naidu here kapu refers to Reddys another
Community, however they retain the caste title Naidu.
Balija Branches:
Setty Balija, These were the Rich and Powerful Traders and
Merchants of the Kakatiya Dynasty, there was mention of some very old
Trading Guilds concentrated in Bellary in Karnataka. In fact Historian's
suggest this was the first branch in Balijas.
• Balija Naidu is a derivation of the term Balija Nayakulu. This sub
caste seems to have formed during the Kakatiya Dynasty times primarily
to protect the Balija / Setty trading caravans from being attacked by
bandits. The current Anantapur Dt. and Nellore Dt were ruled by Balija
Naidu Kings' Families.
• Kota Balijas the Araveedu dynasty of
Vijayanagar Empire was from this lineage so are the Madurai nayaks and
the Tanjavore nayaks.
• Gajula Balija / Sugavansi Balija (Pure) Myth
is that Siva's wile Parvati made a penance in order to look beautiful
for Siva and person that brought her bangles riding a donkey was the
ancestor of the Gajula Balija.
• Kavarai (Kavara Balija Naidu or Gavara
Balija Naidu). "Kavarai is the name for Balijas (Teluu trading caste),
who have settled in the Tamil country" as per Thurston of Castes and
Tribes of Southern India.
Kavarais call themselves Balija (Born from lire). They use the
titles Naidu, Nayakkan. Chetti or Setti and nayak. Gajula Balija is the
largest sub-division of Kavarais. The equivalent name of Gajula Balija
in Tamil is Valaiyal Chetti, (The meaning of Tamil name valaiyal in
Telugu is Gajula (Bangles)). Gajula Balijas attained this name as they
were involved in manufacturing and selling bangles initially though they
made their mark in various other fields later.
• Rajamahendravaram Balija or Musu kamma Balija (Named after a special ear ornament worn by women)
• Gandavall or Gundapodi Vandlu (Supposed to have originally Komatis)
. Odda (vada) Balija a subcaste of the Balija based in
Visakhapatnam, Srikakulam and. East Godavari Dist, a community of
Sea-faring Traders and Merchants.
Munnuru Kapu:
Munnuru Kapu's are primarily concentrated in Telangana region
of Andhra Pradesh. By Occupation they are Farmers. The name Munnuru
seems to be of a recent origin, which means three hundred. They were a
part of the Telaga community and were the Imperial guard of the
Tanjavore Nayaks. The Nawabs of Hyderabad requested the Tanjavore nayaks
to send a battalion of his best infantry and cavalry for this personal
security. The Tanjavore Nayak dispatched three hundred Telaga men and
their families. The descendants of these three hundred families are now
called Munnuru Kapu.
The Munnuru Kapu's have always been associated
with one Kingdom or the other in the form of Interior palace Guards
like Tanjavore nayaks, Devarakonda, and Nizam etc.
Ontari:
Ontari community is concerted mainly in Coastal Andhra. They
have the title Naidu and Dora. Ontari Kapu's used to be soldiers/Special
Forces in Andhra Kingdoms. They are different from the Ontaris. The
Ontari-Kapu community was primarily specialized in individual weapons
like a sword or a spear and was primarily used for special operations.
Their surnames always start with weapons like Kattula (Knife),
Tupakula(Pistol),
Kommula etc,.
Note:
Ontari of Mudiraj Community is not part of the Kapu-Ontari Caste.
Turpu Kapu:
Turpu in Telugu means east. The Kapus living on the eastern
frontiers of Andhra Pradesh called themselves Turpu Kapus. There have
been some rulers of coastal kingdoms from this community; they are hard
working poor and middle farmers. They are majority community especially
in Vizianagaram District by many of them still show their feudal loyalty
to erstwhile Zamindars of Bobbili and Vizianagaram etc. Off late
however the political awakening of this Caste has led some
representatives of this caste group to be politically active.
Naidu:
Nayaka—> Nayudu—> Naidu—> Naicker—> Naidoo
Native captain or Headman.
Title of honor among Hindus in the Deccan. ”The King of Deccan
also has a custom when they will honor a man or recompense their
service done, and raise him to dignity and honor. They give him the
title of Nayak.
It evolved in the following manner during different phases of history.
Many people with the Naidu surname had some
remote ancestor who was a solider that was promote to 'Nayaka". It is
equivalent to a Baron. They served as nayaks under the Chalukyas,
Kakatiyas and Vijayanagar Emperors. The Kakatiya Dynasty had many
prominent Nayaks, of which several were from kapu background. The
Vijayanagar kings also had several Nayakas of Kapu, Telaga and Balija
background.
Naidu’s, especially of Kapu background, have
migrated to several countries like United Kingdom (UK), South Africa,
Mauritius, United States etc. They are active in the local Telugu and
Tamil associations.
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