Telaga

Telaga is a warrior sub caste or division of the Kapu, or Naidu community of Andhra and concentrated primarily in the coastal areas of Andhra Pradesh. The Telagas have been ancient warriors of all the major Dynasties of South India. They have the caste title Naidu and Dora which indicate their feudal and warrior past.Infobox caste
caste_name=Telaga Naidu
classification= Warriors, Traders and Peasants.
subdivisions=Six
populated_states=Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka
languages=Telugu, Tamil, Kannada
religions=Hinduism

ub Castes

The other SubCastes or Geographical Names of Telagas are
*Kapu
*Balija/Balija Naidu
*Munnuru Kapu
*Turpu Kapu
*Ontari
*Naidu

Origins

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 6th century A.D. The term Telaga was a derivation of the word Telingana. [4] Andhra was referred to as Telingana 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".

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

*Telugu ChodasThe 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
*Kona Kings
*Koppula Chiefs
*Musunuri Nayaks
*Korukonda Nayaks
*Nayak Kings of Madurai, Tanjore, 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.

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.

Another 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.

*Col 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 Telugu movie mogul 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.

*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 Governer of the Madras Presidency during the British Rule is a prominent Telaga.

See List of Telagas

Telaga Surnames and Titles

Lingampalli,Mediboyina, Amarapalli,Sevvana,Soorabathula, kandula, kanchumarthi, gundugula, kathula, ventrapati,karasudula , pediredla, sundara, kondapu, kondisetti,sandrani,pedapati,keerthi, chodiseti, baipineedi, vogeti, mutangi, pothula, mandiga, kotti, kunche, chebrolu, ramineedi, manchala, Avireddi, Medicherla, Palasala, Kakarlamudi, Sistha, Namburi, Rokkam, Busi, Pinapatruni, Adatrao, Mondrety, Bandaru, Jonnakuti, Gogisetty, Janyavula, Jannavula, Taladi, Ravuri, Nagisetty, kommana, Pasupuleti, Redrauthu, Darapureddy, Ramanjana, Dhulipudi, Sammeta, Kalisetty, KatikiReddy, MuppiriSetty, Puppala, Ikkurthi, kosana, gundubilli, gontu, Chikkala, Nagam, Reddipalli, Ijju, pupala, vempala, basava, battula, tellakula, masupu, Ankam , Arisankala, Boyina, yaga, sukkireddy, madhavarapu, girajala, koppisetti, garaga, adabala, Yerramsetti, Ayitham, Chikkam, pippalla, baluvu, Chinimilli, Sunkari, irri, Palacholla, Nimmakayala, Rankireddy, Bezawada, Bonam, Dasari, Dodda, vungarala, Chilakalapalli, Davala, Kaikala, Vuragayala, Konidela, Allu, Nalanagula, Kambala, vejju, Adabala, Pappula, Koppineedi, Kavali, Vangaveeti, akiri, Addagarla, Sunkara, Domarouthu, Nandhi, Bandi, Cheruku, Kondra, Kolla, Gandham, Geebu, Pothamsetty, yetam, Chodisetty, mondreti, Polisetty [http://polisettyfamily.googlepages.com] , Pilla, Turumulla, Tirumalasetti, Majji, Mande, Mucherla, Namburu, Neelam, Padala, Kommana, Yerrabolu, Alla, Bontha, Batreddi, bandaru, Konidena, Dwaram, Theegala, Thota, Tuta, Mallepudi, kumpatla, Koppana, Koppusetty, Ramisetty, Rangisetty, Nagisetty, inti, Kamisetty, elisetti, mokka, Lanka, Koppireddy, Kunche, Grandhi, Savaram, Sura, Sirangu, Siddireddi, Oosuri, Yadla, Vaddi, Ambati, Yenugula, muppidi, Tanneru, itla, Gatti, Badiga, Akula, madasi, uppu, nallam, chintalapudi, villa, maddimsetty, tadi, rednam, ganji, bhimala, kotipalli, mutyala, katnam, akkireddy, pinaka, Pinisetty, Ketinedi, kasireddy, nukala, arigela, yedida, akasam, saladi, Lalisetti, ghanta,Sankabathula, davuluri, desamsetty, chilaka, vallamsetty, Ravada, Rudra, Adukkune, kommana Nikrusta, chegondi, Singamsetty, Nandam, Kantamsetty, Yepuri, Allu, Gurram, Yedida, yarra, Sirigineedi, kunapareddi, nagireddi, mutyala, jagata, guruju, tikkisetti, adapa, addala, arava, pedireddy, Manam, sanati, Bandi, dodla, Maddala, Vaida, Thimmisetty. Mycherla; Gantakolla, Gudivada, Chittemsetty, Kamavarapu, Sangam, Cheekati, kunisetti, Kasireddy, Gainedi, Kodavathi, Nanabala, Battula, Lalisetty, bethamsetty, gundala, Gedala, Eti. Lingam, Seethala, Bonasu, immidisetti., madireddy, addanki, nalla, pettela, madapati, miriyala, allamsetty, bommisetty, karri, pantham, mangena, mudragada, sangeeta, mandali, mandala, samineni, buragadda, pinnenti, perni, simhardri, bhogireddy, naraharisetti, kosuri, parasa, Palakurthy, Mallareddy, Ravula, Yalla, Pitta, Challa, Chantati,vikram,Suravarapu,Mekala, Chilamakurthi, Godavari, venna,bonda, gunisetty, Appana, Varupula, GadamBodapati, pothireddy

References

*Castes And Tribes of Southern India (Edgar Thruston)
* [http://books.google.com/books?id=nJMs-r0FY50C&pg=PA106&vq=madura&dq=caste+and+race+in+india&source=gbs_search_s&sig=ACfU3U3D2RggL32msphQY-iDMWagpN4AlQ#PPA106,M1 " Caste and Race in India" (by G.S.Ghurye)]
*American Kapu Association(AKA) [http://www.aka-us.org]
*A Hand Book of the Fighting Races of India by P.D Baneerjee - 1975
*Telagas as feudal landlords [http://www.seattleluxury.com/encyclopedia/entry/Raju]
*Andhrula Sanghika Charitra (Suvarnam Pratapa Reddy)
*Caste & Class Articulation of Andhra Pradesh [http://www.odi.org.uk/livelihoodoptions/papers/wp179.pdf#search='caste%2C%20class%2C%20and%20social%20articulation']
*Genetic Evidence on Caste Origins [http://evolutsioon.ut.ee/publications/Bamshad2001.pdf]
*Caste politics in the North, West and South India before Mandal [http://www.nd.edu/~kellogg/pdfs/Jaffrelot.pdf]
* [http://books.google.com/books?id=r-ffeWmj2JUC&printsec=frontcover&dq=social+change+among+balija&ei=IHtWSICFKYTStgPPsJigDQ&sig=K_ulpBWOr36H7D0xeBfFnDZmagc "Social Changes among Balijas" (by Vijaya Kumari and Sepuri Bhaskar)]
*Andhrula Sankshiptha Charitra (E. Balarama Murthi)
*Religion in Vijaya nagara Empire (Konduri Sarojini Devi)
*Balijakula Charithra (By Kante Narayana Desayi)
* [http://www.kapunadu.com History in telugu]
* [http://indculture0.tripod.com/kapu.htm History in English]
* [http://www.kapunadu.com All about kapu community]
*Kapu surnames and gotras [http://www.kapusangam.com]

Gandluru,