Banajiga

Banajiga
Total population
	15 Lakhs
Regions with significant populations
	Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu,
Languages
	Telugu, Kannada, Tamil
Religion
	Hinduism
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]

Etymology

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]

Origin

Beginning in the 9th century, references are found in inscriptions throughout the Kannada and Tamil areas to a trading network, which is sometimes referred to as a guild, called the Five Hundred Lords of Ayyavolu that provided trade links between trading communities in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. From the 13th century, inscriptions referring to "Vira Balanjyas" (warrior merchants) started appearing in the Andhra country. The Vira Balanjyas, whose origins are often claimed to lie in the Ayyavolu, represented long-distance trading networks that employed fighters to protect their warehouses and goods in transit. The traders were identified as nanadesi (of 'many countries') and as swadesi ('own country'). The terms balanjya-setti and balija were also used for these traders, and in later times naidu and chetti. These traders formed collectives called pekkandru and differentiated themselves from other collectives called nagaram, which probably represented Komati merchants. The pekkandru collectives also included members of other communities with status titles reddi, boya and nayaka. They spread all over South India, Sri Lanka, and also some countries in the Southeast Asia.^[4]^[5]^[6]^[7]^[8]^[9]

Branches

Balija

Balajiga/Banajiga/Gowda Banajiga

Naidu

The Nayudu Banajigas claim that they are Kshatriyas by origin

Linga Balija/Linga Banajiga/Lingayat Balija/Lingayat Banajiga

Telaga Balija/Telaga Banajiga

Setty Balija/Setty Banajiga/Banajiga Setty

The Setti Banajigas are Bangle sellers

Dasara Balija/Dasara Balajiga/Dasara Banajiga/Dasa Banajiga

Dasa Banajigas call themselves Jaina Kshatriya Ramanuja Dasa Vaniyas. It is said that they were formerly Jaina Kshatriyas and were converted to Vaishnavism by Sri Ramanujacharya

Munnur/munnar/Munnur Kapu

Balegara/Bale Banajiga/Bale Balajiga/Bale chetty/Banagara

Reddy(Balija)

Janappan

Uppar(Balija)

Tyler (Balija)

Ele Banajiga

Ele Banajigas are betel gardeners.^[10]

Dynasty

Later Keladi Nayakas^[11]^[12]^[13]

Rulers

Shivappa Nayaka (1645–1660)^[14]
Chikka Venkatappa Nayaka (1660–1662)
Bhadrappa Nayaka (1662–1664)^[15]
Somashekara Nayaka I (1664–1672)
Keladi Chennamma (1672–1697)
Basavappa Nayaka (1697–1714)^[16]
Somashekara Nayaka II (1714–1739)
Kiriya Basavappa Nayaka (1739–1754)
Chenna Basappa Nayaka (1754–1757)
Queen Virammaji (1757–1763).^[17]

References

^ "Tamil Nadu Bench - National Commission for Backward Classes". ncbc.nic.in.^{[dead link‍]}
^ "Castes and Tribes of Southern India". Wikisource.
^
Epigraphia Indica. Vol. 4. Manager of Publications. 1896. p. 296. 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
- Quarterly Journal of the Andhra Historical Research Society. Vol. 11. Andhra Historical Research Society. 1938. p. 54.
^ Burton Stein, ‎David Arnold, ed. (2010). A History of India. John Wiley & Sons. p. 120.
^ K. Sundaram, ed. (1968). Studies in Economic and Social Conditions of Medieval Andhra, A. D. 1000-1600. Triveni Publishers. p. 69.
^ Kambhampati Satyanarayana, ed. (1975). A Study of the History and Culture of the Andhras: From stone age to feudalism. People's Publishing House. p. 334.
^
Sakkottai Krishnaswami Aiyangar, ed. (1941). Ancient India and South Indian History & Culture: Papers on Indian History and Culture; India to A.D. 1300. Oriental Book Agency. p. 801.
- The quarterly journal of the Mythic society (Bangalore). Mythic Society. 1991. p. 88-91.
^
A. Satyanarayana, Mukkamala Radhakrishna Sarma, ed. (1996). Castes, Communities, and Culture in Andhra Desa, 17th & 18th Centuries, A.D. Osmania University. p. 105. .
- S.S. Shashi, ed. (2000). Encyclopaedia Indica: India, Pakistan, Bangladesh. Vol. 106. Anmol Publications. p. 86.
^ "Guild Inscriptions".
^ "Population".
^ The quarterly journal of the Mythic society Vol.XI. Bangalore: The Mythic Society, Daly Memorial Hall. 1921. p. 47-48.:”Venkatappa. ruled from 1504 to 1551. His son Bhadrappa died before him. During his reign the Moghals under Ranadullakhan seized Ikkeri and set up a, viceroy there. Then Virabhadrappa Nayaka ascended the Gadi and -retiring to Bidarur ruled over his country more peacefully than before.* His rule lasted for 15 years from 1551 to 1566. During his reign the rule of Vokkaligas came to an end and was replaced by the rule of Banajigas”
^ Basavaraj S. Naika (2001). Keladi Nayakas - The Rebellious Rani of Belavadi and Other Stories. Atlantic Publishers & Dist. ISBN 9788126901272. Retrieved 22 May 2015.
^ "Rulers of Keladi". Udupi Tourism. Archived from the original on 8 August 2014. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
^ Portuguese Studies Review (ISSN 1057-1515) (Baywolf Press) p.35
^ The quarterly journal of the Mythic society Vol.XI. Bangalore: The Mythic Society, Daly Memorial Hall. 1921. p. 47-48.:”Venkatappa. ruled from 1504 to 1551. His son Bhadrappa died before him. During his reign the Moghals under Ranadullakhan seized Ikkeri and set up a, viceroy there. Then Virabhadrappa Nayaka ascended the Gadi and -retiring to Bidarur ruled over his country more peacefully than before.* His rule lasted for 15 years from 1551 to 1566. During his reign the rule of Vokkaligas came to an end and was replaced by the rule of Banajigas”
^ A journey from Madras through the countries of Mysore, Canara, and Malabar Vol 111 – 1807 – Francis Buchanan -from page 254 "[1]"
^ Advanced Study in the History of Modern India 1707–1813 by Jaswant Lal Mehta p.458

[1] "Tamil Nadu Bench - National Commission for Backward Classes". ncbc.nic.in.^{[dead link‍]}

[2] "Castes and Tribes of Southern India". Wikisource.

[3] Epigraphia Indica. Vol. 4. Manager of Publications. 1896. p. 296. 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
Quarterly Journal of the Andhra Historical Research Society. Vol. 11. Andhra Historical Research Society. 1938. p. 54.

[4] Quarterly Journal of the Andhra Historical Research Society. Vol. 11. Andhra Historical Research Society. 1938. p. 54.

[4] Burton Stein, ‎David Arnold, ed. (2010). A History of India. John Wiley & Sons. p. 120.

[5] K. Sundaram, ed. (1968). Studies in Economic and Social Conditions of Medieval Andhra, A. D. 1000-1600. Triveni Publishers. p. 69.

[6] Kambhampati Satyanarayana, ed. (1975). A Study of the History and Culture of the Andhras: From stone age to feudalism. People's Publishing House. p. 334.

[7] Sakkottai Krishnaswami Aiyangar, ed. (1941). Ancient India and South Indian History & Culture: Papers on Indian History and Culture; India to A.D. 1300. Oriental Book Agency. p. 801.
The quarterly journal of the Mythic society (Bangalore). Mythic Society. 1991. p. 88-91.

[9] The quarterly journal of the Mythic society (Bangalore). Mythic Society. 1991. p. 88-91.

[8] A. Satyanarayana, Mukkamala Radhakrishna Sarma, ed. (1996). Castes, Communities, and Culture in Andhra Desa, 17th & 18th Centuries, A.D. Osmania University. p. 105. .
S.S. Shashi, ed. (2000). Encyclopaedia Indica: India, Pakistan, Bangladesh. Vol. 106. Anmol Publications. p. 86.

[11] S.S. Shashi, ed. (2000). Encyclopaedia Indica: India, Pakistan, Bangladesh. Vol. 106. Anmol Publications. p. 86.

[9] "Guild Inscriptions".

[10] "Population".

[“mythic”-11] The quarterly journal of the Mythic society Vol.XI. Bangalore: The Mythic Society, Daly Memorial Hall. 1921. p. 47-48.:”Venkatappa. ruled from 1504 to 1551. His son Bhadrappa died before him. During his reign the Moghals under Ranadullakhan seized Ikkeri and set up a, viceroy there. Then Virabhadrappa Nayaka ascended the Gadi and -retiring to Bidarur ruled over his country more peacefully than before.* His rule lasted for 15 years from 1551 to 1566. During his reign the rule of Vokkaligas came to an end and was replaced by the rule of Banajigas”

[12] Basavaraj S. Naika (2001). Keladi Nayakas - The Rebellious Rani of Belavadi and Other Stories. Atlantic Publishers & Dist. ISBN 9788126901272. Retrieved 22 May 2015.

[Rulers_of_Keladi-13] "Rulers of Keladi". Udupi Tourism. Archived from the original on 8 August 2014. Retrieved 7 August 2015.

[14] Portuguese Studies Review (ISSN 1057-1515) (Baywolf Press) p.35

[15] The quarterly journal of the Mythic society Vol.XI. Bangalore: The Mythic Society, Daly Memorial Hall. 1921. p. 47-48.:”Venkatappa. ruled from 1504 to 1551. His son Bhadrappa died before him. During his reign the Moghals under Ranadullakhan seized Ikkeri and set up a, viceroy there. Then Virabhadrappa Nayaka ascended the Gadi and -retiring to Bidarur ruled over his country more peacefully than before.* His rule lasted for 15 years from 1551 to 1566. During his reign the rule of Vokkaligas came to an end and was replaced by the rule of Banajigas”

[16] A journey from Madras through the countries of Mysore, Canara, and Malabar Vol 111 – 1807 – Francis Buchanan -from page 254 "[1]"

[ReferenceA-17] Advanced Study in the History of Modern India 1707–1813 by Jaswant Lal Mehta p.458

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