Kapu (caste)
 |
Kapu (Protector)
The Kapu / Kaapu caste is found in South India. The term Kapu means Protector.They are concentrated mainly in the state of Andhra Pradesh followed by Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. Kapu community mainly produces the spices required for food especially for meat in olden days when castes are getting formed. They speak Telugu. They are also called Naidu which is a Caste Title.Setty being another Title. They make up about 25% of the population of Andhra Pradesh.
Origins
- Since it is a diverse, large and geographically well spread group there is no one root or origin but the most Predominant and verifiable origin theory is mentioned below.
- Kapus are the descendants of the migrants from Kampilya (near Ayodhya) and were one of the earliest inhabitants of South India.
- They are the descendants of the Satavahanas and other ancient dynasities, and seem to date back to the Pre-Christ Era (More to Come....)
- Kapu's share their origins with the Kurmi and Maratha Castes.
- Kapu is a Middle Caste.
- Kapu's traditionally served as Soldiers or Village Heads or Commanders or Governors and took to Agriculture during peace time in many of the Andhra dynasties.
- Modern Day Kapu's are predominantly an Agragarian community and have diversified into Business, Industry, Films, Academia, IT etc.
Kapu women are generally good looking unlike their men. Many of today's Kapus strongly resemble people in ancient Indian paintings, especially the girls. Note the pic... looks like today's Naidu girl in Nalgonda or Adoni or Vuyyuru. (Or anywhere in AP...most of the folks featured in old paintings are sharp featured and dark complexioned....).
Sub Castes
Kapu
It is probably the oldest middle caste in Andhra. References to this particular caste or grouping can be traced back to the Satavahana dynasty. The Kapu caste is the bed rock from which all of the modern castes in Andhra Pradesh seem to have evolved. They were probably the earliest settlers of the Deccan and Andhra region who came in and cleared the forests and started agriculture. There are various subdivisions again within this branch
They were also referred to as Kampu in some of the ancient texts and by historians, indicating that they were migrants from Kampilaya Nagaram. The Telugu Chodas, Musunuri Nayaks, Kona Kings, Korukonda Nayaks,Koppula chiefsare some Modern Dynasties or Ruling Clans associated with Kapu community.
The Mackenzie manuscript refers to many ancient rulers of coastal AP as belonging to the Kapu community ( Olden days Kapu community = Current Reddy community). Apart from some of the Inscriptions found off late belonging to Musunuri Kapaaya Nayaka and Chalukya Bhima, the Eastern Chalukyan King and the ancestor of Raja Raja Narendra, point the link's of these dynasties to the Kapus of Coastal Andhra. Template:Citations Required
They are heavily concentrated in the Coastal Districts of Andhra Pradesh where they live as small peasants. They are fighting to be recognised as BCs these days.
There is a Legendary rivalry and saying that the Palnadu war which was fought between Velanati Chiefs resulted in the Expulsion (Veli) of Certain Sections of the Kapu Community for practicing the principles of Bramha Naidu by the ruling Kapu Kings and this resulted in the formation of the Velama.
Telaga
The Telaga were referred to as the poeple settled in an area that had three major Shiva-Aramas, so the area was called Tri-linga',and the language spoken by the people there was called Telugu.
The term Telaga is also a derivation for the word Telugu Nayakulu. This SubCaste seems to have Originated possibly around the 7th Century A.D.They served as commanders and vassals of the Western Chalukyan rulers under Pulekesin, who later went onto establish the Eastern Chalukyan Dynasty. Legend says it that Badami Chalukyan King Pulakesi II conducted an Aswamedha Yagna to expand his Kingdon bringing him in direct confrontation with the Pallavas whom he managed to Subjugate and after the defeat he granted his Commanders and Vassals control over these areas and the Telugu Commanders took up reign as Telugu Nayakulu or Telaga
Telaga's are concentrated mainly in the coastal areas of Andhra.
Balija
Balija Meaning (Bala (Power) + Jeeva (Individual) ie. powerful people.Some sections of the Kapu communtiy diversified into Trading initially giving up the traditional Warrior Occupation.(More on this later...)
Balija itself is a huge branch and has lots of Sub Cates under it.There are various Branches to name a couple.
- Kota Balijas the Araveedu Dynasty of Vijayanagar Empire were from this lineage so are the Madurai Nayaks and the Tanjavore Nayaks.
- Setty Balijas these were the Merchants and Tax Collectors of the Kakateeyan Kingdom.
Balijas are concentrated throughout Andhra and Rayalaseema Region. [1]
Turpu Kapu
Turpu in Telugu means East. The Kapus living on the eastern frontier of Andhra Pradesh called themselves Turpu Kapus. There is a listing of Turpu Kapu rulers of Andhra.
Ontari
Ontari Kapu's used to be soldiers/special forces in Andhra dynasties.They are different from the Ontaris (Bunt -Individual hand to hand fighters). The Ontari-Kapu community were primarily specialized in individual weapons like a sword or a spear and were primarily used for special operations. Their surnames always start with weapons like Kattula (Knife), Tupakula (Pistol) etc.
Munnuru Kapu
Munnuru Kapu's are primarily concentrated in Telangana region of Andhra Pradesh. Although they have an ancient past the name Munnuru seems to be of a recent origin. Munnuru means three hundred. They belong to the the Telaga community which was the imperial guard of the Tanjore Nayaks.
The Nawab of Hyderabad requested the Tanjore Nayak a batallion of his best Infantry and Cavalry for his Personal Security (now Telangana). The Tanjore Nayak Dispatched Three hundred Telaga men and their families. The descendents of these three hundred families are now called Munnuri Kapu. There was a legendary rivalry between the Mudiraju Community and the Munnuru Kapu community which lasted for several Centuries.
They are Politically Strong in the Telangana Region.
Balija Naidu
Balija Naidu is a derivation of the term Balija Nayakulu. This sub caste seems to have formed during the Kakatiya times primarily to protect the Balija/Setty trading caravans and guilds from being attacked by theives.They are concentrated in the Rayalaseema region of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. They are Politically and Economically Strong in the Rayalaseema Region and Tamil Nadu.
Sources
Important informatiom about Kapu origins can be obtained from Balijapuranam in the Chennai library. For further information log on to the website for history of Kapus
Kapu Names
Many of the people with the Naidu surname had some remote ancestor who was a soldier that was promoted to "Nayaka", which means leader. It is equivilent to a Baron. They served as Nayakas under the Chalukyas,Kakateeyas and Vijayanagar Emperors. The Kakatiya Dynasty had many prominent Nayakas, of which several were from a Kapu background. The Vijayanagar kings also had several Nayakas of Kapu,Telaga and Balija Background.
During the expansion of Viajayanagar into Tamil Nadu Krishna Deva Raya dispatched his famous General Viswanatha Nayaka to subdue and force the Pandyan Dynasity into accept the suzerainty. He was a Telaga. There were a lot of Polligars and Nayakkars who were appointed here after taking control of the Madurai and Tanjavore Regions. Many of them were from Kapu Community.Most prominent among them was Katta Bomma Naicker Hence there is a very large Balija Naidu population in Tamil Nadu.
Nayakudu--Nayadu--Naidu--Naidoo--Nayakkar.
- Naidu in Andhra refers to the Kapu/Telaga/Ontari/Turpu Kapu community.
- Balija's have the title Setty
- In Tamil Nadu and Karnataka they are called Balija Naidu.
- Munnuru Kapu community sometimes get the title Reddy in Telangana.
Although there seem to be so many Subcastes within the Kapu Group most of them prefer to be called Kapu rather than mentioning the SubCaste.
Naidus, especially of Kapu background, have migrated to several countries like South Africa, Mauritius etc. They are active in the local Telugu and Tamil associations.
Famous Kapu's
- Kurma Venkata Reddy Naidu(Chief Minister for Madras Presidency(Andhra/T.N./Karnataka)
- Kanneganti Hanumanthu(Freedom Fighter Started the Palandu Rebelion against British General Rutherford)
- Vangaveeti Mohana Ranga(Famous Politician of Congress Party)
- C.K.Naidu.(Founding Father and Legendary Indian Cricketer)
- Kodi Ramamurthy Naidu (Greatest Wrestlers India has Produced)
- Dwaram Venkata Swamy Naidu(One of the Greatest Musicians A.P has Produced)
- Raghupathi Venkatratnam Naidu(Father of Telugu Cinema First Producer)
- Samrla Venkata Ranga Rao(S.V.R--Legendary Movie Actor)
- Kommareddi Savithri(Legendary Movie Actress).
- Chiranjeevi(Popular Movie Actor)