Gavara is a term used to refer to four distinct and completely unrelated communities in South Indian.
Kamma is a largely Hindu caste from South India. The community of Kammas is believed to have originated from agriculturists of the Kammanadu region of the erstwhile Guntur district and Ongole division in Andhra Pradesh. Propelled by their military activity in the Vijayanagara Empire, Kammas are believed to have spread out from the region during the Vijayanagara period, followed by some in-migration during the British period and out-migration again during the twentieth century. Today they are regarded as one of the richest groups in Andhra Pradesh and are a dominant caste from Coastal Andhra with socio-economic and political prominence throughout the Telugu-speaking regions of India.
Naidu is a Telugu title commonly used by various Telugu castes. 'Nayudu/Naidu' (నాయుడు) is a contraction of the Telugu word 'Nayakudu' (నాయకుడు) meaning leader, chief, or headman. Telugu castes such as the Kapu/Balija Kamma, Gavara, Golla, Turpu Kapu, Velama, Boya among others use this title. In Coastal Andhra, the term Naidu primarily refers to Kapu caste.
Mudaliar is a Tamil title and surname. As title, it was historically given to high-ranking officers, administrators and their descendants during the rule of Imperial Cholas. The surname is most prevalent among Tamils from Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka. Descendants of Tamil migrants also bears variants of the name in countries such as South Africa, and elsewhere in the Tamil diaspora. List of Mudaliars
The Thanjavur Nayakdynasty were the rulers of Thanjavur in the 15th and 17th centuries. The Nayaks, who belonged to the Telugu-speaking Balija social group were originally appointed as provincial governors by the Vijayanagara Emperor in the 15th century, who divided the territory into Nayak kingdoms which were Madurai, Tanjore, Gingee and Kalahasthi. In the mid-15th century they became an independent kingdom, although they continued their alliance with the Vijayanagara Empire. The Thanjavur Nayaks were notable for their patronage of literature and the arts.
The Nayak, or Naik is a historic honorific title conferred on military captains and governors of feudal states in the Middle Ages. Today it is also a surname. Nayaks are mostly Hindu and few Sikhs, who follow Hinduism and Sikhism respectively.
Kapu is a Hindu caste primarily found in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. Kapus are classified as a Forward caste, and are a community of land-owning agriculturists. Historically, they also served as military generals (Nayakas) and warriors in Hindu kingdoms such as the Vijayanagara Empire. Kapus are a dominant caste of Andhra Pradesh. They are primarily present in Coastal Andhra, with a major concentration in the Godavari-Krishna delta region. Kapus commonly use the title Naidu.
Nayaka dynasties emerged during the Kakatiya dynasty and the Vijayanagara Empire period. The Nayakas were originally military governors under the Vijayanagara Empire. After the battle of Talikota, several of them declared themselves independent.
The Balija are a Telugu-speaking mercantile community primarily living in the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and in smaller numbers in Telangana and Kerala. In Tamil Nadu, they are known as Kavarais.
Telaga is a land-owning agrarian community primarily found in the Coastal Andhra region of India. Telaga is a subcaste of the Kapu community, with both terms often used interchangeably. They are classified as a Forward caste. Historically, they were a warrior caste known for their honour and bravery.
Settibalija refers to two distinct and completely unrelated communities in Andhra Pradesh, India. The term Setti Balija historically referred to a sub-caste of the Balija community. These Setti Balijas were a prominent mercantile community of South India with a history dating back to the Vijayanagara Empire. They are currently found in the Rayalaseema region and are classified as a Forward Caste.
The Madurai Nayaks were a Telugu dynasty who ruled most of modern-day Tamil Nadu, India, with Madurai as their capital. The Madurai Nayaks had their origins in the Balija warrior clans of present-day Andhra Pradesh. The Nayak reign which lasted for over two centuries from around 1529 to 1736 was noted for its achievements in arts, cultural and administrative reforms, revitalization of temples previously ransacked by the Delhi Sultans, and the inauguration of a unique architectural style.
Ainnurruvar is a medieval merchant guild originating in the Karnataka region of India between the 8th and 13th centuries. In this period, organised merchant guilds exerted considerable power and influence. Ainnurruvar was one of the most prominent of these guilds. During the Chola Empire they were regarded as the elite amongst the South Indian merchant organizations.
The 24 Manai Telugu Chettiar (24MTC) is a merchant social group who are predominantly found in the states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana in India, as well as Sri Lanka.
The Nayaks of Gingee (Senji) were Telugu rulers of the Gingee principality of Tamil Nadu between 16th to 18th century CE. The Gingee Nayaks had their origins in the Balija warrior clans of present-day Andhra Pradesh. They were subordinates of the imperial Vijayanagara emperors, and were appointed as provincial governors by the Vijayanagar Emperor who divided the Tamil country into three Nayakships viz., Madurai, Tanjore and Gingee. Later, after the fall of the Vijayanagara's Tuluva dynasty, the Gingee rulers declared independence. While they ruled independently, they were sometimes at war with the Tanjore neighbors and the Vijayanagara overlords later based in Vellore and Chandragiri. Gingee ruler Surappa nayaka had a brother called Era Krishnappa Nayak whose son established himself in Karnataka and his family came to be known afterwards as the Belur Nayakas.
Muthuraja is a Tamil and Telugu speaking community found in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.
The Komati is a Telugu-speaking trading community which is a Vaishya community that is currently organised as a caste. They are primarily found in the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana and in smaller numbers in neighbouring states. The members of the Komati caste are commonly engaged as moneylenders, businessmen, and shopkeepers. The community consists of many sects who are followers of Hinduism, namely the Gomata, the Thrivarnika, and the Kalinga, along with the Jaina Komatis who are followers of Jainism. Traditionally, most Komatis are vegetarian due to their belief in ahimsa (nonviolence).
Koppula Velama or Koppu Velama is a Telugu Forward caste found in Andhra Pradesh, India. They are primarily found in the Uttarandhra region with smaller populations in other districts of the state. They are politically well-represented in the Uttarandhra region. Koppula Velama is part of the broader Velama caste.
Kulala is a Hindu caste who traditionally pursued pottery trade and farming as professions and are commonly found in the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka especially in Tulunadu and Malenadu regions, Kerala, and southern and western parts of Tamil Nadu. They belong to the Other Backward Class group.
Linga Balija is a subcaste within the Balija community in India.
Similarly too the Balija community, with two sub-divisions, Gajalu Balija and Gavara Balija, migrated originally from Tamil Nadu. The Balija Gavarai are popularly known as Naidus and the other as Chetties Valai Chatties, Chettiars. It is said that they originally spoke Telugu. They are mainly traders and jewellers.
Balija, a Telugu speaking migrant caste to Kerala, is segmented into two sub-castes, viz., Gavara Naidu and Gajaiu Balija (Vala Chetti).
Balijas: Their main profession was and commerce. They added "Settis" to their names, which showed their supremacy over other castes in trade. The subsects of the Balijas indicate the professions pursued by them. some prominent subdivision were Gajula Balija, Gandhamvallu, Kavarai, etc.
A section of the Naidu migrants in Tamilnadu call themselves Kavarais. They are included in the list of backward classes. They have marital relationship with the Balijas.
Kavarai (the Tamil word for Balija merchants)
The Kavarais, known also as Balijas, are the trading caste of the Telugus, and belong to the right hand.
The deserters, who defined themselves as maga nadu tesattar, consisted of right hand castes and were headed by Vellalas and Tamilized Balijas, known as Kavarais.
Turning now to another Telugu group, the Balijas, also called Kavarai, it appears that although this was a trading caste, members could also take to textile manufacture.
English trade in Madras, the much sought after, and obviously lucrative, exclusive contracts for trading with the English Company (both for supplying textiles and other goods and buying the European goods) had been cornered by the Right side merchants, especially the Balijas (often referred to as the Kavarai in Tamil).
Within the right hand division the leading individuals were from the communities of Vellalas and Kavarais. The former constituted, as in other parts of Tamil Nadu, the established agricultural elite, while the latter were Telugu-speaking Balija Chetties, who had settled in Tamil country.
Kavarai was merely the Tamil equivalent of the Telugu word Balija
In the Tamil Districts, Balijas are known as Kavarais
Kavarai - A Tamil synonym for Balija; probably a corrupt form of Gavara.
The name 'Gavarai' may be a misspelling of 'Kavarai', which is now the Tamil name for Balijas (a Telegu trading caste) settled in the Tamil country
The largest trading community of the Telugu country is the Balija, which is widely spread over the Tamil districts also, and there called Vadugan, or Northerners, or Kavarai
In recent years, migrant communities, like the Gajula Balijas—called Gavarai in the Tamil country—have joined the agricultural workforce, giving up their traditional profession as bangle sellers
The Gajula Balija, called 'Gavarai' in Tamil, are popularly known as Naidu or Balija Naidu. Its members have such titles as Naidu, Chetty and Naicker.
Kavarais are the same caste as the Balijas
Kavarai is the Tamil name for the great Telugu trading caste, Balija, who are spread throughout the Presidency
Kavarai is the name for Balijas (Telugu Trading Caste), who have settled in Tamil Nadu
The Balija Naidus, the chief Telugu trading caste were found scattered throughout the Presidency of Madras. In the Tamil districts they were known as Vadugan and Kavarais
Gavarais are also called Balijas.
The
The Vysyas (Komati) are the most important traditional Telugu trading caste comprising 3 per cent of the State population. They are broadly divided into two endogamous sub-castes, viz., Gavara Komatis and Kalinga Komatis.
Komatis are mainly divided into two sections called Gavara and Kalinga
They are two main sections among the Komatis, namely the Gavara and the Kalinga
The main part of the Komati caste community in Masulipatnam were Gavara Komatis, one of the two main Komati groups on the Coromandel coast. The Gavara Komatis did not eat fish or meat.
The two major sects among Komati caste are Gavara Komati and Kalinga Komati. The Gavara Komatis are strict vegetarians while the Kalinga Komatis are non-vegetarians.
Gavara Komatis, who are a prominent section of the Telugu speaking merchant community.
The Gavaras, the Gavara Komatlu as they are called formed another community which claimed the status of Vaisyas.
The Gavara and Kalinga are the two main sections of the Komati. The Gavara Komati live far north of Vizianagaram.
Gavara is an important subdivision of Komatis and these Gavaras are probably in reality Gavara Komati.
The Komatis are, broadly divided into two sections called Gavara and Kalinga.
There are three main groups among the Kōmatis which constitute practically different castes, without either commensality or inter marriage, namely, Gavara, Tuppada and Trai - Varnika.
There are several sects amongst the Komatis - such as Yajna Komati, Gavara Komati, Kalinga Komati, Arava Komati, Neti Komati, Vidura Komati, Raipak Komati etc.
The Kavara also known as Gavara are distributed mainly in Ernakulam, Palakkad and Thrissur districts. The community perceives its distribution at medium range and its identification is at the regional level. Iyer (1981) writes that Kavara is a Tulu caste, found in the Chittur taluk of the Cochin State, who speak mutilated form of Tulu and make wicker work of all kinds. The Kavara still speak a mutilated form of Tulu language, called Kavara dialect with family members. With others they speak Malayalam.
The Kavara, also known as Gavara, is a Tulu caste, found in the Chittur taluk of the Cochin State, who speak mutilated form of Tulu and make wicker work of all kinds. They belong to the Scheduled Castes.
Kavaras and Gavaras have been again listed as separate Scheduled Castes lifting the area restrictions within Kerala. As already mentioned that the Kavara / Gavaras subsist on basket making. They speak some kind of Tulu - Malayalam dialect.
Kavara A Tulu - speaking caste found in northern and central Kerala. They do wicker work
Kavara is one of those castes belonging to the sixty - eight Scheduled Castes of Kerala. They subsist on basket - making and are mainly found in the district of Palhgat.