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Total population | |
---|---|
15 Lakhs | |
Regions with significant populations | |
Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, | |
Languages | |
Telugu, Kannada, Tamil | |
Religion | |
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Related ethnic groups | |
Balija |
Banajigas are a Kannada speaking mercantile community primarily living in the Indian state of Karnataka. In Andhra Pradesh and Telangana they are known as Balijas. [1]
Banajiga (vanik, tradesman) are Canarese traders, many of whom are Lingayats. [2]
Variations of the name in use in the medieval era were Balanja, Bananja, Bananju, Banajiga and Banijiga, with probable cognates Balijiga, Valanjiyar, Balanji, Bananji and derivatives such as Baliga, all of which are said to be derived from the Sanskrit term Vanik or Vanij, for trader. [3]
Banajigas are traders and business people. Some are also professionals such as teachers, doctors, and engineers.[ citation needed ]
This section needs additional citations for verification .(January 2025) |
Adi Banajiga are engaged in the priestly functions. Adi Banajiga have been found to do the priestly services in the Goddess temple at saundatti Belgaum District. [19]
The Dasa Banajigas of Mysore style themselves Jaina Kshatriya Ramanujas Dasa Banajigas are as they call themselves Jaina Kshatriya Ramanuja-Dasa Vaniyas say they were formerly Jain Kshatriyas, and were converted into Vaishnavism by Ramanujachsrya. They are very clean in their habits, pure vegetarians, and follow the doctrines of Ramanujacharya. They are found in large numbers in Chennapatna (Bangalore District). They do not eat food cooked even by Brahmans, who are not Sri Vaishnavas.
Dudi Banajigas are traders in cotton. They are also strict vegetarians, and abstain from eating in the houses of persons other than Brahmans. They have some (eponymous) exogamous clans, e.g., Govila and Babhruvahana, and are found in small numbers in the Kolar District. They have a Purana known as Lakshminarayana Puranam, written for them by their guru Lakshminārayana Sastri.
Ele Banajigas, as their name implies are betel growers. Some of them are vegetarians.
The Gazula Balija are also known as Gauriputra, Banajiga, Kavarai and Balija Naidu. The Gazula Balija is a subgroup of Balija. Naidu and Nayudu are their titles. The Gazulu are the glass bangles section is also known as Setti Banajiga. This is considered a very respectable division, and it is not unusual for persons of other sections to claim it as their own. They are the dealers in glass bangles, and are at the head of the 18 phanas. Setti is the title applied to persons of this section.
Gowda means village chiefs. The Banajigas, who were village chiefs, called themselves Gowda Banajigas.
The Linga Banajigas are a trading section of Lingayats, who are a religious sect, abounding in the Canarese country, whose distinctive characteristic is the wearing of a linga the symbol of the god Siva made of steatite, or soapstone, and enclosed in a metal casket, often of silver, and sometimes encrusted with precious stones, or, among the poorer classes, enclosed in a cloth of a particular colour. The linga should always be worn, both by males and females, and is buried with the corpse. A Lingayat shopkeeper, who was not wearing it, explained that he removed it during working hours, as it was necessary to tell a little lie when doing business. [20]
Musu Kamma Named after a special ear ornament worn by women.
The Nayadu division is said to be the same as Kota division above referred to. On behalf of these, it is claimed that they are Kshatriyas of the Lunar Race, and that the term which is a corrupted form of the Sanskrit 'Nayak,' came to be applied to them when, at the zenith of Vijayanagar rule, the king divided his whole realm into nine districts or provinces and placed at the head of each a man of this caste with the title of Nayak. This division has become much mixed up, the title Nayadu being appropriated by many persons of doubtful origin, such as the children of dancing girls.
Puvvalu Banajigas are flower sellers, are also said to belong to the Gazulu division.
The Jidipalli and Rajamahendram originated from the places inhabited by them, but they subse-quently came to denote caste sub-divisions. The members of the latter division are the immigrants from the districts of Nellore, Cuddapah, Anantapur, North Arcot and Chinglepet.
Rāvut or Raut has been recorded as a sub-caste of Balija, and a title of Kannadiyan. The Ravut are a small section living specially in the town of Mysore. They are also known as Oppana Banajigas, because they are said to have been sent into the Mysore country from Vijayanagar to collect the tribute due to that king, oppana meaning appointment. They were all soldiers, and were hence known as Ravuts.
The Sadu Banajiga, were once Jainas and later at the time of Vishnuvardhana Hoysala, became Vaishnavas. Therefore, these people are also known as Ramanuja Dasa-Vanijakshatriyas, and were Jaina Kshatriyas once. There are many lineages and gothras among Banajiga people. Some of them like Dasa Banijiga cremate the dead, but most of Banajiga groups bury the dead. They worship Vaishnava gods. Banajigas of Virajpet, however, identify themselves as Sadu Settys. They are small business peoples, mostly betel leaf vendors. They are involved in other kinds of business also.
Setty Balija or Setty Banajiga are also known as Balija, Kapu, Balija Settlu, Chetty Balija or Banajiga in the different areas of their habitation. Rao, Naidu, Nayudu and Setti are the synonyms of the community . Rao , Naidu , Nayudu and Setty are their titles. They have jati puranam namely " Balija vamsapuranam " which mainly deals with the origin of the community.
Banajigas are high in social status. The Banajiga caste is included in the Central List of Other Backward Classes (OBCs) for the state of Karnataka. [31] [32]
In the Telugu word balija or balijiga has the same meaning . It is therefore probable that the words vaļañjiyam , vaļañjiyar , balañji , baṇañji , baṇañjiga and balija are cognate and derived from the Sanskrit vanij
The Lingayat votes had been important to the Janata Dal since 1978. Without Veerendra Patil (a member of the Banajiga jati), the long-standing difficulties of the national party president S. R. Bommai in appealing to voters beyond his Sadar jati (which has represent of other jatis gaining disproportionate share of spoils) became especially serious
Sri Basappa Danappa Jatti Born in a Kannadiga Lingayat Banajiga family at Savalgi in Jamkhandi Taluk of Bijapur district, Jatti entered politics as a Municipality member at Jamakhandi in 1940 and later became its President. He was eventually elected to the Jamakhandi State Legislature