Ayyaraka Patrudu
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| Caste: | Kshatriya | |
| Subdivisions: | Suryavanshi,Nagavanshi. | |
| Found in: | Andhra Pradesh | |
| Language | Telugu | |
| Religion | Hinduism | |
Aiyaraka Patrudu is a kshatriya community of Andhra Pradesh who live principally in the districts of Visakhapatnam and Vijayanagaram, while a few are distributed in the district of Srikakulam.
[edit] Roots of the name
The name ayyaraka is derived from aiyya and rikam, meaning a distinguished person. Patrudu means a person worthy or fit for praise.The title pathrudu was used as early as in the time of Ganga vamsa rulers. It was continued during the Gajapathi rule for those in the position of a minister or senadhi pathi(according to sasana of Narasimha 4 and Jagannadha sasana of kapileswara gajapathi).Prathapa rudra velicherla sasanam, published in the August issue of Barathi (1936), gave the meaning of
- Pathrudu as manthri (minister) referring the Oriya dictionary,Purna chandra pada kosha volume 5 and
- Maha pathrudu as pradhana manthri (prime minister).
[edit] Origin and genealogy
In the literature they are stated to be of the solar race although we find among them Nagavanshis also .The genealogies of this caste accordingly trace them up to Kusha the second son of Rama the hero of the great epic Ramayana of the Hindus."""Though Edgar Thurston mentions in his book "castes and tribes of south India" that they are a sub section of kapus but they are not of the kapu caste. Kapu was the term used in Telugu at the time of British rule to describe any one who is in farming work. On enquiry of this issue the elderly members of the caste said that they are never ever kapus and that they are of pure Rajput origin. Aiyaraku patrulu are an off shoot descendants of Gajapathi Raju royal race. Their race started from Ham vira patrudu the second son of Kapileswara Gajapathi who was ruling the vijayanagara empire at that time. They are also mentioned in Telugu "vignana sarvasvam" to be of kshatriya community" ("Note: Nagaralu another community of andhra pradesh also use the title patrudu). It seems that they have entirely given up their military inclinations of their fore fathers and are given to various occupations.
[edit] Sub divisions
The aiyaraka patrulu are divided into suryavanshis and nagavanshis. The two gotras which come under Suryavanshi are kasyapa and kurma gotras. Naganavanshi includes only one gotra namely naga gotra. Each gotra is further divided into exogamous lineages (intiperlu). Kantreddi, Lanka, Maha pathrudu,Pediredla,Behara, Karri are some of the exogamous lineages. The community still uses the surnames of their forefathers like Maha pathrudu and Behara .( eg:from ancestral names like Govinda vira mahapathrudua and Sathoda behara pathrudu described in various tamra sasanas (inscriptions on copper).
[edit] History
They were soldiers in the Vijayanagara Empire. They are thekshatriyas who were the chief controllers of military forces in the Vijayanagara Kingdom. They occupied positions such as Senadhi Pathi("General") and Dandanayaka ("commander in chief") in the Vijayanagara army. Some of them were in the position of mahamantri helping the kings in administration, wars etc. Some of the territories were in the control of aiyarika samantarajus.
[edit] Religious customs
They wear silver sacred threads as a symbol of their kshatriyahood. The members of the community say that their origin is the same as that of other royal races like rajus etc. The women wear a silver ring to their left leg as a symbol of bravery they showed against a muslaman general and his army who attacked their native villages to destroy the whole brood at once. This event took place when the Patrudu soldiers attacked Golkonda, against muslamans and successfully defeated them.[1]
[edit] Ceremonies observed from birth
The tonsure and ear piercing ceremonies are performed for children between three and five years of age. Puberty rites are also observed. Those belonging to kasyapa and kurma gotras observe thread wearing ceremony (upanayana) at the age of 21.
[edit] Marriage customs
Their marriage customs are similar to those of rajus. Girls are married before puberty and abrahmin officiates at the wedding rites, during which the bride and bride groom wear silver sacred threads. A man can marry his elder sister's or maternal uncle's or father's sister's daughter. Divorce and widow remarriage are forbidden. The aiyyarakulu observe arivani or poornam saiji pendli. The sacred pendant (pusti or sethamanam) is tied around the brides neck at an auspicious time (muhurtham) and toe rings are put on her toes.
[edit] Death ceremonies
The dead are buried and ten days pollution is observed.
[edit] Some of their prominent ancestors in the Vijayanagara empire
[edit] During the period of Kapileswara gajapathi rule
[edit] Gana deva maha pathrudu(1435-1457 A.D.)
Gana Deva Maha Pathrudu' was the ruler of Addanki, Vinukonda, and Kondaveedu sometime between 1435 and 1457, being put in power by Kapileswara Gajapathi. His army defeated Muslim invaders, and gave Chavali to the Brahma.
[edit] Kumara ham vira pathrudu
He is the elder son of Kapileswara.He is appointed as the ruler of Kondaveedu after Gana deva pathrudu.By the order of his father Kapileswara, he conquered the central Andhra and south Andhra and he himself described in a sasana (stone inscription) that he washed his blood stained sword in the southern ocean (bay of bengal) after the conquer.He gave off Jakkam pudi palle, Enikepadu village as alms to the needy.
[edit] Kapileswara kumara pathrudu
He is the son of Hamvira pathrudu. He is the durgadhipathi of Kondaveedu.He ruled mandapalli, Addanki, Vinukonda,Padaveedu, Chandra giri,Thiruchunapalli durgas as described in Munnuru sasana.
[edit] Narahari deva pathrudu
He is the second son of Ham vira pathrudu. He is the senani of Kapileswara gajapathi as described in his sasana.
[edit] Dakshina kapileswara pathrudu (1460)
He is son of Ham vira pathrudu. He ruled Kondaveedu, Addanki, Vinukonda durgas.
[edit] During the period of purushottama gajapathi rule
[edit] Mogul deva maha pathrudu
He is the samantha raju of Purushottama gajapathi. His titles as described in the sasanas found at Malakavaluru near Kondapalli, are Mogul raja sangrama, Mogul rajadhi raja, Pariksha dandapadha, Kadu madh jiya danda rajya. The meanings of these are not yet known.
[edit] Pathrudus who were the teachers( raja gurus ) of gajapathi rulers
Gajapathi rulers had raja purohitas and raja gurus as their teachers. Raja gurus taught them the art of war and raja neethi (politics).Some rajagurus as mentioned in the sasanas of Kapileswara gajapathi like, Bhuvaneswara sasanam (1437)and Gopi nadhur sasana(1465) are
[edit] Bhuvaneswara maha pathrudu (1437)
Bhuvaneswara sasanam describes him as one of the raja gurus.
[edit] Vasu maha pathrudu
Bhuvaneswara sasanam describes him as one of the raja gurus.
- Kasava Patrudu (Senadhipathi)
- Chandra Maha Patrudu (Danda Nayaka)
- Prahareswara patrudu
These were the principal soldiers who helped Sri Krishna Devaraya in winning the battle of Kondaveedu Muttadi.
[edit] Present status in the society
The social status of the community is fairly high. Stories of their military prowess are discussed to this day.[2] In the state they are included in the category of other castes(OC).The caste welfare society called Aiyaraka sangam is triying to the best of its efforts to include them in the BC list from the OC list so as to improve their economic and educational status.
[edit] References
- Thurston, Edgar Castes and Tribes of South India
- Andhradesa Charitra Samskruti, volume 2 (Vijayanagaradeesulu)
- Druvantuni charitra
- Ranga charyula vamsa charitralu
- Telugu vijnana sarvaswam.
