Idiga

Edigas or Idigas are a community of people living mainly in south central areas of Karnataka.Edigas are involved in soma and Ayurvedic medicine developers in ancient days who are classified as Somavansh Kshatriyas. In coastal areas of Karnataka they are known by various names such as as billava , Namadhari , Deevaru , Halepaika , Namadhari naik , thiyya. In Some parts of karanataka they also called deevaru which means islanders. Their main profession were toddy tapping, brewing arrack etc, but now few people do their traditional job. It is one of the progressive communities of Karnataka.

Myths and Theories of Origin

The origin of the word Edigas is hotly disputed. According to one theory, the etymology of the word Edigas is 'people of Eda' or ida being an ancient Kannada name for Sri Lanka. they also called deevaru. The word deevaru might had come from the Sanskrit word "dweep" means island which again points to Srilanka. Another theory is that the word Eda or Ida is derived from archaic kannada word "ira" for Toddy. Interestingly Edigas or Idigas were into toddy shopping business.

Edigas today

Edigas are the group based in karnataka, traditionally involved in Toddy Tapping, Liquor sales, Ayurveda doctors and Farming. Due to their hard-work and sheer determination, now they are fast improving, spiritual, gaining strength economically, culturally and politically.

Population and religious belief

Their population is about 3,000,000. They mainly live in Bangalore, Chikmagalur, Chitradurga, Shimoga, Uttara Kannada, Udupi, Dakshina Kannada, Hassan and Tumkur districts. Their subgroups are Mudde Idiga, Swaswe Idiga and Arya Idiga -- based on their past occupations. Their traditional occupation is toddy tapping. And some also engaged in agriculture. They consider Yellamma as their community deity. The temples of Devi Yallamma also known as Shree Renuka Devi is situated on a hill near Soundatti Taluka in Belgaum District & on Chandragutti hill in Soraba Taluka in Shimoga District of Karnataka.

Popular Edigas

There are many popular Edigas like
*Dr Rajkumar
*S.Bangarappa
*Shivaraj Kumar
*Janardhan Poojari
*K.A.Nettakalappa
*R.L.Jallapa
*Puneet Rajkumar
*Kagodu Thimmapa and others

Kagodu Satyagraha

Kagodu Satyagraha was an agrarian movement launched in parts of Sagar taluk of Shimoga district in the early Fifties, was a spontaneous protest against the exploitation and oppression of poor tenants and by the Ediga .The movement was in support of the poor and oppressed tenants. People from the Deevaru (Ediga) community participated in it in large numbers.The protest, which started on a small scale, gained momentum with the active participation of veteran socialists such as Ram Manohar Lohia, Jayaprakash Narayan and Gopala Gowda. It was said that social impact of the movement was such that it resulted in the enactment of the Land Reforms Act in the early Seventies by the then Chief Minister, D. Devaraj Urs, which proclaimed that "the tiller is the owner of the land."

Chittara Wall paintings

Nestled deep in the villages of Hasunvanthe, Honnemaradu and Majina Kaanu (in Shimoga and South Kanara) in the Western Ghats are the Deewaru houses that spell magic with their age-old Chittara Wall paintings. These paintings adorn their walls, their colourful imagery bringing out the vivid beauty of the surrounding tropical forests. White from a mixture of rice paste, red from crushed stone, burnt rice for deepest black, yellow from 'gurige' seeds - it is a lyrical creative mosaic that Deewaru men and women conjure up. With auspicious geometric motifs ranging from yogic 'asana' poses to tribal figures celebrating life, in style and delineation, the Chittara wall paintings and mural crafts seem to take one back to the Stone Age cave paintings. Today, many young Deewaru men and women are proficient Chittara artists and the compelling heart stopping motifs such as "Mundage Chittara," "Thivage Mane" and "Chippakal Chinnada" still light up the homes of the Deewaru people.

Different names

The same caste in Karnataka has following names (as per the OBC list of central govt - List no 155) are Idiga, Ediga, Goud, Eliga,Iliga,Billava, Devar,Malayali Billava,Ezhava,Thiyya, Halepaik, Deevar, Deevaramakkalu, Namdhari,Kalal,Goundla, Goondla, Thiyan, Tiyan, Nadar

Brahmashri Narayana Guru and Community

Idiga community under certain pockets in south coastal Karanataka is influenced by teachings of Saint Sree Narayana Guru. Though Ary Idiga leaders have officially acceted guru as their spiritual guru, the influence seems to be limited to certain pockets. Guru followers have many asramas in Karnataka. Brahmashree Narayana Guru Ashrama in Shimoga is in forefront of spreading Sree narayana Guru's messages across karnataka. Some of the organizations associated with this ashrama are District Brahmashree Narayana Guru Arya Idiga Association, Brahmashree Narayana Guru Arya Idiga Women's Association etc.

In Neighboring States

In Andhra Pradesh they are called as Gouds or Gowds, Idigas or Edigas,Settibalija, and Srisayana. They mostly are identified as Idigas or Edigas living in the Rayalaseema area ,but use Gouda,Gowd,Goud,Gowda,Idiga,or Ediga as their middle name. They are also called Goud, Gowd, Gowda, Goundala and Kalali in the Telangana area, and Gowda, Gamalia and Setti Balija in the rest of Andhra Pradesh. They consider gangamma/yellamma as their community deity. In TAMIL NADU, the Idiga are also known as iluvar, Naidu, Vadugan, Ediga Balija and Gavara. They use Naidu as their title. Naidu, Vadugan, Ediga Balija and Gavara migrated from Andhra Pradesh, while iluvars are indigenous or kerala origin. They have a village council headed by a leader from the Mudaliar community in the area. In Kerala they are called ezhava or Thiyya or Billava (Kasarkode District).In Srilanka they are called Nalavar or Durava.Jaiswal community in North India also is similar caste.

Ezhavas, Iluvars , Graminis, Gouds, Idigas, Edigas, Thiyyas, Billavas, Swarnis, Poojaris,Shanars, Nalavars, Duravas are the names(According to local language influence) given to same community in different areas.

ee also

* Narayana Guru
* Namadhari naik
* Billava A Tulu and A Malayalam community
* Goud or Ediga A Telugu community
* Ezhava or Thiyya A Malayalam community.
* Iluvar A Tamil speaking kerala community of Tamil nadu
* Nalavar A Tamil community from Srilanka (of kerala origin) and not found in Tamil nadu
* Durave A Srilankan Ezhava community who speaks simhala
* Kannada Periodical "Atma Shakti" to propagate the teachings of Sree Narayana Guru [http://www.hindu.com/2004/10/22/stories/2004102210790300.htm]