Patrudu

Patrudu (Telugu: పాత్రుడు)
Religions	Hinduism
Languages	Telugu (Mother tongue)
Country	India USA UK Australia
Region	Andhra Pradesh

Patrudu (Telugu: పాత్రుడు) or Nagaralu (Telugu: నగరాలు) is a social community or caste found mostly in the south Indian state – Andhra Pradesh. Patrudu population is mostly distributed the coastal areas of Andhra Pradesh like Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, Anakapalle, Vizianagaram, Srikakulam etc.

Patrudus are considered as upper Shudras & was a sub-caste of Kapu community. The caste title is Patrudu indicating those who are appropriate to receive the gift.

History

Origin

Patrudus or Nagaralu or Nagarajulu means the dwellers in a 'Nagaram' or city and apparently this caste was originally a branch/sub-caste of the Kapus, which took to town life and separated itself off from the parent stock ^[1].

^[2]. Patrudu was a cultivating caste & their primary occupation was agriculture. In the 18th century their ancestors went to Vizianagaram and rose in to prominence as physicians. Some members of the caste have acquired a great reputation as medicine-men and druggists. In the last decade significant members of Patrudus migrated to other parts of India & world for employment as engineers, doctors etc.

Gothrams

The caste is divided in to three genuinely totemistic sections or gotras, which are further sub divided in to exogamous septs or intiperlu (surnames).

1. Nageswara (cobra)
2. Kurmesa (tortoise)
3. Vigneswara or Mushika (mouse)

Surnames

Pilla Chipilla Bypilla Marupilla Rampilla Illipilla Irupilla Singipilla Kanchupilla Sourupilla Lingipilla Jaggupilla

Pothina Bayana Tammina Makena Rayana Korikana

Adduri Potnuri Gujjari

Bevara Burada Banka Satyala Pyla Yenugula Gudela Kamandula Chokkara Patnala Boorada

Nagoti Majji Mudhilli Vandrasi Varanasi Koraganji Thothadi Bhogavalli Tothadi Eedi

Garre

Marulothu

References

1. ^ Castes and Tribes of Southern India By Edgar Thurston, K. Rangachari
2. ^ Census of India, 1901. Census Commissioner Edward Albert Gait