Linga Balija

Linga Balijais a community living in the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. They are one of thesubcasteof theBalijacaste.
The Linga Balijas are a Telugu speaking trading community primarily residing in the Indian state ofAndhra pradesh.In Karnataka, they are known as Linga Banajigas.
Linga Balijas, who are traders, are described in the Madras Census Report of 1901 as a Lingayat sub-caste of the Balija community.
Variations of the name used in the medieval era include Balanja, Bananja, Bananju, Banajiga, and Banijiga, with probable cognates such as Balijiga, Valanjiyar, Balanji, Bananji, and Baliga, as well as derivatives like Vani (in Maharashtra).All of these are said to be derived from the Sanskrit term "Vanik" or "Vanij," meaning trader.
Another etymological theory suggests that "Balija" is derived from the Sanskrit word "Bali," meaning a sacrifice made during the 'Yagna' ritual, and "Ja," meaning born. Therefore, "Balija" translates to "born from sacrifice."
Balijas who followedLingayatismorVeerashaivismreferred to themselves as Linga Balijas or Linga Vaniks.
The following legendary account of the origin of the "Linga Bhojunnalawaru" is given in the Baramahal Records:
Para Brahma, or the great god Brahma, created PralayakalaRudra, a fierce form of the godShiva, associated with the day of destruction. Brahma also created four sages, known as the Chatur Acharyulu, named Panditaraju, Yekcoramalu, Murralaradulu, and Somaluradulu, and taught them mantras or prayers, appointing them as his deputies.
At one time, the Asuras (giants) and the Devatas (gods) waged war against each other. In response, PralayakalaRudracreated a being from his nose, whom he named MuchariRudra. Muchari Rudra had five sons, and together they went to assist the Devatas, enabling them to defeat the Asuras. In recognition of their service, the gods conferred upon Muchari Rudra and his sons several honorary distinctions.
The use of burning lamps and flambeaus during their daytime public processions, as well as the use of tents, is attributed to this tradition.
Once, when the god PralayakalaRudra, along with MochariRudra, his five sons, and other celestial attendants, were assembled on Kailāsa Parvata, the mountain of Paradise, the god instructed them to descend to Bhuloka, the earthly world, and to increase and multiply their species. They humbly asked how they could return to the divine presence. He replied, "I shall manifest myself in Bhuloka in the form of theLingam. Worship me in that form, and you will be permitted to approach me again." They then descended to the earthly regions, and from them, the present castes of Balijawaras trace their origin.
The Linga Balijas are primarily reside in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka, but also live in Kerala, Maharashtra and to a lesser extent.
Beginning in the 9th century, inscriptions throughout the Kannada and Tamil regions reference a trading network, sometimes described as a guild, known as theFive Hundred Lords of Ayyavolu. This network facilitated trade links between communities inTamil NaduandKarnataka.
From the 13th century, inscriptions referring to "Vira Balanjyas" (warrior merchants) began appearing in the Andhra region. The Vira Balanjyas, whose origins are often traced back to the Ayyavolu, were part of long-distance trading networks that employed fighters to protect their warehouses and goods in transit. These traders were identified asnanadesi("of many countries") andswadesi("of one's own country").The termsbalanjya-settiandbalijawere also used for these traders, and in later periods, they were referred to asnaiduandchetti.
These traders formed collectives known aspekkandruand distinguished themselves from other collectives callednagaram, which likely representedKomatimerchants. Thepekkandrucollectives also included members of other communities with status titles such asreddi,boya,andnayaka.They spread throughout South India, Sri Lanka, and even into some Southeast Asian countries.
Velcheru Narayana Raoand others note that the Balijas were first politically mobilized by theVijayanagaraemperorKrishnadevaraya.Later, in the 15th and 16th centuries, they colonized the Tamil region and established Nayaka chieftaincies. During this period, the Balijas were leaders of theleft-handsection of castes. These Balija warriors were known for their fearlessness, with some accounts describing them as assassinating kings who interfered with their affairs.Cynthia Talbot suggests that in Andhra, the transformation of occupational descriptors into caste-based identifiers did not occur until at least the 17th century.
The classification of people as Balija posed significant challenges forcensus enumerators during the British Raj era, who sought to simplify a complex social system into a manageable administrative framework using theories ofevolutionary anthropology.Early census attempts in theMadras Presidencyrecorded a wide variety of people claiming to be members of Balija subcastes, who often appeared to have little in common and thus defied the administrative goal of creating a rational and convenient taxonomy.
For instance, those identifying as Chetty were clearly connected through their involvement in trade, while those calling themselves Kavarai were simply using the Tamil term for Balija. However, other groups, such as the Linga Balija, based their claim to Balija status on sectarian identification, the Gazula were bangle-makers by profession, the Telaga had Telugu origins, and the Rajamahendram seemed to base their claim on their geographic origin in the town of Rajahmundry. Subsequent attempts to rationalize the enumeration led to further anomalies and dissatisfaction.
The Traditional occupation of Linga Balija is Trading, many of them are engaged in Agriculture, Business, petty trade, and jobs in government offices and in factories.
Hande Nayakas
Linga Balijas of the Hande family from Ananthapur, Bukkarayapatnam, and Dharmavaram.
Later Keladi Nayakas
In 2019, representatives of theTelanganastate Veerashaiva Lingayat Federation petitioned theNational Commission for Backward Classesto include Linga Balija and Veerashaiva Lingayat in the central government's list ofOther Backward Classes.In 2022, Member of ParliamentB. B. Patilmet with theMinister of Social Justice and Empowerment,Virendra Kumar Khatik, to discuss the inclusion of these two subcastes in the OBC list.
Family Names of Lingaya Balijas
Most family names or surnames of Lingayat Balijas/Banajigas are either:
1.Village Headmanship Names:
- Deshmukh
- Desais
- Patils
- Gowdas
- Appa (e.g., Jayadevappa, Haralappa, Yedurappa, Mallasarja Desai)
2.Names Based on Villages They Migrated From or Led:
- Lingadalli
- Davenagere
- Shivamogga
- Hospet
- Kalaburagi
- Munagala
- Rayachoti
- Kotturi
3.Names Related to Their Business, Trading, or Cultivating Crops:
- Pogaku
- Kandi
- Akula
- Patti
- Shetty
- Bowrshetti
- Miriyala
- Nelli
- Vadla
- Chatla
- Aamudaala
- Doodi
- Pattu
- Gurrala
- Aavula