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'''Vokkaliga''' ({{lang-kn|ಒಕ್ಕಲಿಗ}}) (Pronounced Okkaliga)/] is a Powerful Forward Caste in Karnataka.The Vokkaligas belong to Solar Dynasty(Surya Vamshadavaru).They have been Warriors and Feudal Lords in the past and turned to Agriculture in the later years.They comprise about 15% Of the Karnataka Population.The Vokkaligas/Gowdas are Predominant in all fields in Karnataka.The people from this community have greater contributions to the growth of Karnataka.The Vokkaligas/Gowdas comprise about 35% of the Bangalore Population and 40% of the Mysore Population.Even The Bangalore is founded by the Highness Kempe Gowda. The districts like Bangalore Urban,Bangalore Rural,Ramanagara,Mandya,Mysore,Hassan,Chamarajanagara,Kodagu,Udupi,ChikMagalur,Kolar,Tumkur,Chikkaballapur are predominated by Vokkaligas/Gowdas.They are present less numbers in districts like Shimoga,Davanagere,Raichur,Bellary.The Power behind the Growth of Bangalore and Karnataka is "The Almighty Gowdas" <ref>{{cite web|url=http://scroll.in/article/662088/today-could-be-former-prime-minister-deve-gowdas-last-hurrah|title=Today could be former prime minister Deve Gowda's last hurrah}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/news/2008/apr/21spec.htm|title=In Karnataka politics, caste matters}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://scroll.in/article/662088/today-could-be-former-.prime-minister-deve-gowdas-last-hurrah|title=Today could be former prime minister Deve Gowda's last hurrah}}</ref>{{Infobox ethnic group
{{Infobox ethnic group
|group = Vokkaligas/Gowdas |group = Vokkaligas/Gowdas
|poptime = 8 to 9 million{{cn}} |poptime = 8 to 9 million{{cn}}
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}} }}


==EtymologT==
'''Vokkaliga''' ({{lang-kn|ಒಕ್ಕಲಿಗ}}) (pronounced Okkaliga)/] is an umbrella term for various agricultural, previously ] ] with a martial past, found mainly in the ], Bengaluru Urban, Bengaluru Rural, ], ], ] ,Tumkur, Mandya, Shivamogga, Chikmagalur, Madikeri and ] of southern ]. The Vokkaligas are primarily agriculturists.<ref name="Mysore Tribes">{{cite book|author=H.V. Nanjundayya and Diwan Bahadur L.K. Ananthakrishna Iyer|title=The Cultivators|year=1931|publisher=University Of Mysore}}</ref><ref name="Edgar Thurston">{{cite book|author=Edgar Thurston and K. Rangachari|title=Castes and Tribes of Southern India|year=1909|publisher=Government Press, Madras}}</ref> They form a politically and numerically dominant Hindu ] group and were the most populous group<ref name="Mysore">{{cite book|author=Benjamin Lewis Rice|title=Mysore A Gazetteer Compiled for Government|year=1897|publisher=Archibald Constable & Co. Westminster|url=http://www.archive.org/details/mysoregazetteerc01rice}}</ref><ref name="Journey">{{cite book|author=Francis Buchanan|title=A Journey from Madras through the countries of Mysore, Canara and Malabar (vol II)|year=1870|publisher=Balmar & Co., London}}</ref> until the ] of 1956 which enlarged the erstwhile ] by the inclusion of predominantly ] districts of the ], ] and ], (Mysore State was renamed Karnataka in 1973) following which the ]s became the most populous social group in north Karnataka. Together the two communities dominate Karnataka State politics.<ref></ref><ref name="Manor">{{cite book|author=James Manor|title=Political Change in Indian State, Mysore(1917-1955)|year=1978}}</ref> Vokkaligas is Karnataka’s second largest caste group (after ]s), who are estimated to form around 15% of the population.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://scroll.in/article/662088/today-could-be-former-prime-minister-deve-gowdas-last-hurrah|title=Today could be former prime minister Deve Gowda's last hurrah}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/news/2008/apr/21spec.htm|title=In Karnataka politics, caste matters}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://scroll.in/article/662088/today-could-be-former-.prime-minister-deve-gowdas-last-hurrah|title=Today could be former prime minister Deve Gowda's last hurrah}}</ref>

==Etymology==
Vokkaliga is a ] word of considerable antiquity finding mention in some of the earliest available literary works of the language, such as the ], ], ''Mangaraja's Nighantu'' ''et al.'' and has been used as an appellation for the cultivator community since time immemorial.<ref name="Namadhari">{{cite book|author=Dr. Ambalike Hiriyanna|title=Malenadina Vaishnava Okkaligara Samskruti|year=1999|publisher=Kannada Pustaka Pradhikara, Government of Karnataka}}</ref><ref name="Kittel">{{cite book|author=Rev.Ferdinand Kittel|title=A Kannada-English Dictionary|year=1894|publisher=Basel Mission Book & Tract Depository, Mangalore}}</ref> Generally the term has come to mean an agriculturist though various etymological derivations are available. A few likely derivations are as follows: Vokkaliga is a ] word of considerable antiquity finding mention in some of the earliest available literary works of the language, such as the ], ], ''Mangaraja's Nighantu'' ''et al.'' and has been used as an appellation for the cultivator community since time immemorial.<ref name="Namadhari">{{cite book|author=Dr. Ambalike Hiriyanna|title=Malenadina Vaishnava Okkaligara Samskruti|year=1999|publisher=Kannada Pustaka Pradhikara, Government of Karnataka}}</ref><ref name="Kittel">{{cite book|author=Rev.Ferdinand Kittel|title=A Kannada-English Dictionary|year=1894|publisher=Basel Mission Book & Tract Depository, Mangalore}}</ref> Generally the term has come to mean an agriculturist though various etymological derivations are available. A few likely derivations are as follows:
* The word Okka or Okkalu in Kannada (] in origin) means a family or a clan<ref name="Nighantu">{{cite book|title=Kannada Nighantu|year=1970|publisher=Kannada Sahitya Parishat, Bangalore}}</ref> and an ''Okkaliga'' being a person belonging to such a family.<ref name="Namadhari" /> This is an allusion to the ] ] clans which together form an endogamous sub group, of which there are many amongst the Vokkaligas. These clans are called Bali, Bedagu, Kutumba, Gotra or simply Okkalu all of which mean 'family'. They are named after their progenitor, primary occupation or in most cases after various birds, animals or objects.<ref>{{cite book|author=John Vincent Ferreira|title=Totemism in India|year=1965|publisher=Oxford University Press}}</ref> All the clans have their very own patron god and goddess (called Mane Devaru or Kula Devata)<ref name="Totem">{{cite book|author=Henry Whitehead|title=The Village Gods of Southern India|year=1921|publisher=Association Press (Y.M.C.A),Calcutta|url=http://www.archive.org/details/thevillagegodsof00whituoft}}</ref> and it is practice to refer to oneself as belonging to that particular god's ''Okkalu''. * The word Okka or Okkalu in Kannada (] in origin) means a family or a clan<ref name="Nighantu">{{cite book|title=Kannada Nighantu|year=1970|publisher=Kannada Sahitya Parishat, Bangalore}}</ref> and an ''Okkaliga'' being a person belonging to such a family.<ref name="Namadhari" /> This is an allusion to the ] ] clans which together form an endogamous sub group, of which there are many amongst the Vokkaligas. These clans are called Bali, Bedagu, Kutumba, Gotra or simply Okkalu all of which mean 'family'. They are named after their progenitor, primary occupation or in most cases after various birds, animals or objects.<ref>{{cite book|author=John Vincent Ferreira|title=Totemism in India|year=1965|publisher=Oxford University Press}}</ref> All the clans have their very own patron god and goddess (called Mane Devaru or Kula Devata)<ref name="Totem">{{cite book|author=Henry Whitehead|title=The Village Gods of Southern India|year=1921|publisher=Association Press (Y.M.C.A),Calcutta|url=http://www.archive.org/details/thevillagegodsof00whituoft}}</ref> and it is practice to refer to oneself as belonging to that particular god's ''Okkalu''.
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==Subgroups== ==Subgroups==
The Vokkaliga Community has several sub-groups within its fold. Previously they were mostly endogamous but in the modern context inter-group marriages have become a common affair, especially since colonial times.<ref name="Mysore Tribes" /> However to this day, within any given sub-group, exogamy at the family/clan level is strictly controlled by using the idiom of Mane Devaru (the patron god of the given exogamic clan) which dictates that the followers of same ''Mane Devaru'' are siblings and marriage is thus forbidden, allowing marital alliances only with another clan and not within.<ref name="Ganga">{{cite book|author=Dr. Bhavani Banerjee|title=Marriage and Kinship of the Gangadikara Vokkaligas of Mysore|year=1966|publisher=Deccan College Postgraduate and Research Institute, Poona}}</ref> This system is akin to the Brahminical ] System and is seen as a common feature in most Indian communities.<ref name="Totem" /> The community is patrilineal. The Vokkaliga Community has several sub-groups within its fold. Previously they were mostly endogamous but in the modern context inter-group marriages have become a common affair, especially since colonial times.<ref name="Mysore Tribes">{{cite book|title=The Cultivators|publisher=University Of Mysore|year=1931|author=H.V. Nanjundayya and Diwan Bahadur L.K. Ananthakrishna Iyer}}</ref> However to this day, within any given sub-group, exogamy at the family/clan level is strictly controlled by using the idiom of Mane Devaru (the patron god of the given exogamic clan) which dictates that the followers of same ''Mane Devaru'' are siblings and marriage is thus forbidden, allowing marital alliances only with another clan and not within.<ref name="Ganga">{{cite book|author=Dr. Bhavani Banerjee|title=Marriage and Kinship of the Gangadikara Vokkaligas of Mysore|year=1966|publisher=Deccan College Postgraduate and Research Institute, Poona}}</ref> This system is akin to the Brahminical ] System and is seen as a common feature in most Indian communities.<ref name="Totem" /> The community is patrilineal.
It is opined that all the sub-groups previously formed a single unified community which broke into several factions over the ages.<ref name="Mysore Tribes" /> It is opined that all the sub-groups previously formed a single unified community which broke into several factions over the ages.<ref name="Mysore Tribes" />


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===Gangadikara (Gangatkar) Vokkaliga=== ===Gangadikara (Gangatkar) Vokkaliga===
Numerically the largest among the Vokkaligas,<ref name="Mysore Tribes" /><ref name="Mysore" /> the Gangadikaras are mostly found in the Mysore, Mandya, Chamarajnagar, Hassan, Bangalore, Ramanagara and Tumkur districts of Karnataka. Gangawadi was the name for the area covering these districts, ruled over by the ] and Gangadikara is a contraction of the term Gangawadikara (''A man of Gangawadi'').<ref name="Mysore Tribes" /> The Gangadikara Gowdas claim to be descendants of the erstwhile Ganga royalty.<ref name="Namadhari" /><ref name="Itihasa">{{cite book|author=Dr.B. Pandukumar|title=1600 Varshagala Vokkaligara Itihasa|year=2007|publisher=Vedavati Prakashana, Bangalore}}</ref><ref name="People" >{{cite book|author=Kumar Suresh Singh|title=People of India, Volume XXVI, Part 2|year=2003|publisher=Anthropological Survey of India}}</ref><ref name="Economic">{{cite book|author=E.Stanley|title=Economic Development and Social Change in South India|year=1962|publisher=University of Manchester Press, Manchester|url=http://books.google.co.in/books?id=ekG8AAAAIAAJ&q=gangadikar#v=snippet&q=gangadikar&f=false}}</ref> With various theories on the origins of the Gangas, this is hard to prove but some scholars do opine that the Gangas were local chieftains who ascertained their power and rose to dominance during the political unrest caused in South India after the invasion of Samudragupta I.<ref name="Talakad" /> It is however, a fact that the administrative setup of Gangas vested power in the ''Ooru Gauda'',''Nadu Gauda'', ''Pergade'' (archaic for ''Hegde''.Pergade->Peggade->Heggade) and so on, at various levels of administration and apart from administrative duties the ''Gauda'' was expected to raise militia when called for.<ref name="Talakad">{{cite book|author=B.Sheik Ali|title=History of the Western Gangas|year=1976|publisher=University Of Mysore}}</ref> The Gangadikaras and the ]s are said to share a common origin and they regard themselves ''Ganga Kshatriyas''. In fact the word ''Kongu'' is the Tamil equivalent for ''Ganga''. There is a significant number of Vellala Goundars in Kollegala and T. Narsipur of southern Karnataka.<ref name="Karnataka">{{cite book|author=Dr. Suryanath. V. Kamath|title=Karnataka State Gazetteer|year=1988|publisher=Government Press,Bangalore}}</ref> Numerically the largest among the Vokkaligas,<ref name="Mysore Tribes" /><ref name="Mysore">{{cite book|url=http://www.archive.org/details/mysoregazetteerc01rice|title=Mysore A Gazetteer Compiled for Government|publisher=Archibald Constable & Co. Westminster|year=1897|author=Benjamin Lewis Rice}}</ref> the Gangadikaras are mostly found in the Mysore, Mandya, Chamarajnagar, Hassan, Bangalore, Ramanagara and Tumkur districts of Karnataka. Gangawadi was the name for the area covering these districts, ruled over by the ] and Gangadikara is a contraction of the term Gangawadikara (''A man of Gangawadi'').<ref name="Mysore Tribes" /> The Gangadikara Gowdas claim to be descendants of the erstwhile Ganga royalty.<ref name="Namadhari" /><ref name="Itihasa">{{cite book|author=Dr.B. Pandukumar|title=1600 Varshagala Vokkaligara Itihasa|year=2007|publisher=Vedavati Prakashana, Bangalore}}</ref><ref name="People" >{{cite book|author=Kumar Suresh Singh|title=People of India, Volume XXVI, Part 2|year=2003|publisher=Anthropological Survey of India}}</ref><ref name="Economic">{{cite book|author=E.Stanley|title=Economic Development and Social Change in South India|year=1962|publisher=University of Manchester Press, Manchester|url=http://books.google.co.in/books?id=ekG8AAAAIAAJ&q=gangadikar#v=snippet&q=gangadikar&f=false}}</ref> With various theories on the origins of the Gangas, this is hard to prove but some scholars do opine that the Gangas were local chieftains who ascertained their power and rose to dominance during the political unrest caused in South India after the invasion of Samudragupta I.<ref name="Talakad" /> It is however, a fact that the administrative setup of Gangas vested power in the ''Ooru Gauda'',''Nadu Gauda'', ''Pergade'' (archaic for ''Hegde''.Pergade->Peggade->Heggade) and so on, at various levels of administration and apart from administrative duties the ''Gauda'' was expected to raise militia when called for.<ref name="Talakad">{{cite book|author=B.Sheik Ali|title=History of the Western Gangas|year=1976|publisher=University Of Mysore}}</ref> The Gangadikaras and the ]s are said to share a common origin and they regard themselves ''Ganga Kshatriyas''. In fact the word ''Kongu'' is the Tamil equivalent for ''Ganga''. There is a significant number of Vellala Goundars in Kollegala and T. Narsipur of southern Karnataka.<ref name="Karnataka">{{cite book|author=Dr. Suryanath. V. Kamath|title=Karnataka State Gazetteer|year=1988|publisher=Government Press,Bangalore}}</ref>


The Gangadikaras have two primary sections – the Bujjanige (or ''Dhaare Shastradavaru'') and the Pettige (or ''Veelyada Shastradavaru'') based on differences in rituals performed during the wedding ceremony. They can be ''Shaiva'' or ''Vaishnava'' in religious affiliation (called ''Mullu'' and ''Dasa'' sects). The ''Dasa'' sect forms a separate endogamous group under the Gangadikaras and are called Dasa Vokkaligas. And the Gangatkar Vokkaligas was also splitted to Sarpa Vokkaliga long long years back for the sake of reservation and the person who splitted the community was Gangatkar Ramaiah, later on he registered it in the government as Sarpa Vokkaliga and even he (late. Gangatkar Ramaiah) did not succeed in it and they did not find a way and started following separate sub group called Sarpa vokkaliga and moved on. Cheluru Gangadikaras (also called Chelaru), another small sub-sect, are said to be strictly vegetarian, a vestige of the times when the Gangas followed Jainism. Oral traditions of the people maintain that after the decline of the Ganga power they reverted to Hinduism retaining certain Jaina practises.<ref name="Mysore Tribes" /><ref name="People" /> The Gangadikara Vokkaligas have as many as 40 exogamous clans called ''Bedagu''.<ref name="Mysore Tribes" /><ref name="Ganga" /><ref>http://www.karunadu.gov.in/gazetteer/GazetteerMandya2009/Chapter-3.pdf</ref> They speak Kannada and the castemen mostly use 'Gowda' as a surname. The Gangadikaras have two primary sections – the Bujjanige (or ''Dhaare Shastradavaru'') and the Pettige (or ''Veelyada Shastradavaru'') based on differences in rituals performed during the wedding ceremony. They can be ''Shaiva'' or ''Vaishnava'' in religious affiliation (called ''Mullu'' and ''Dasa'' sects). The ''Dasa'' sect forms a separate endogamous group under the Gangadikaras and are called Dasa Vokkaligas. And the Gangatkar Vokkaligas was also splitted to Sarpa Vokkaliga long long years back for the sake of reservation and the person who splitted the community was Gangatkar Ramaiah, later on he registered it in the government as Sarpa Vokkaliga and even he (late. Gangatkar Ramaiah) did not succeed in it and they did not find a way and started following separate sub group called Sarpa vokkaliga and moved on. Cheluru Gangadikaras (also called Chelaru), another small sub-sect, are said to be strictly vegetarian, a vestige of the times when the Gangas followed Jainism. Oral traditions of the people maintain that after the decline of the Ganga power they reverted to Hinduism retaining certain Jaina practises.<ref name="Mysore Tribes" /><ref name="People" /> The Gangadikara Vokkaligas have as many as 40 exogamous clans called ''Bedagu''.<ref name="Mysore Tribes" /><ref name="Ganga" /><ref>http://www.karunadu.gov.in/gazetteer/GazetteerMandya2009/Chapter-3.pdf</ref> They speak Kannada and the castemen mostly use 'Gowda' as a surname.


===Morasu Vokkaliga=== ===Morasu Vokkaliga===
The Morasu Vokkaligas are found mostly in the Bangalore, Kolar, Tumkur and Chitradurga districts of Karnataka. The Baramahal Records<ref name="Baramahal Records">{{cite book|author=Govt Press|title=Baramahal Records of the Madras Presidency|year=1907|publisher=Govt Press}}</ref> of the Madras Presidency state that the ''Morasu Vokkaligas'' got their name because they originally inhabited Morasu Nadu which is the eastern province of Mysore. Edgar Thurston<ref name='Edgar Thurston' /> (''Castes and Tribes of India'' Volume 5) also states that the eastern province of Mysore consisting of Bangalore and Kolar districts is known as Morasu Nadu. According to J. Pinkerton the Morasu Vokkalu are an original people of Karnataka<ref name="Pinkerton">{{cite book|author=John Pinkerton|title= collection of voyages and travels digested by j Pinkerton|year=1814|publisher=London}}</ref> The Morasu Vokkaligas are found mostly in the Bangalore, Kolar, Tumkur and Chitradurga districts of Karnataka. The Baramahal Records<ref name="Baramahal Records">{{cite book|author=Govt Press|title=Baramahal Records of the Madras Presidency|year=1907|publisher=Govt Press}}</ref> of the Madras Presidency state that the ''Morasu Vokkaligas'' got their name because they originally inhabited Morasu Nadu which is the eastern province of Mysore. Edgar Thurston<ref name="Edgar Thurston">{{cite book|title=Castes and Tribes of Southern India|publisher=Government Press, Madras|year=1909|author=Edgar Thurston and K. Rangachari}}</ref> (''Castes and Tribes of India'' Volume 5) also states that the eastern province of Mysore consisting of Bangalore and Kolar districts is known as Morasu Nadu. According to J. Pinkerton the Morasu Vokkalu are an original people of Karnataka<ref name="Pinkerton">{{cite book|author=John Pinkerton|title= collection of voyages and travels digested by j Pinkerton|year=1814|publisher=London}}</ref>


The ancestors of ] of the Yelahanka Nadaprabhus (the founder of Bangalore city and himself a Morasu Vokkaliga) are recorded to have migrated to these districts from Alur of Kanchi around the 15th century under Rana Bhaire Gowda, who built the fort at Devanahalli.<ref name="History">{{cite book|author=Phalaksha|title=Introduction to Karnataka History|year=1999|publisher=Shashi Prakashana, Tumkur}}</ref> In Kanchi, they were known as Morasu Vellala since they had migrated from Morasu Nadu which is identified as the eastern province of Mysore. The ancestors of ] of the Yelahanka Nadaprabhus (the founder of Bangalore city and himself a Morasu Vokkaliga) are recorded to have migrated to these districts from Alur of Kanchi around the 15th century under Rana Bhaire Gowda, who built the fort at Devanahalli.<ref name="History">{{cite book|author=Phalaksha|title=Introduction to Karnataka History|year=1999|publisher=Shashi Prakashana, Tumkur}}</ref> In Kanchi, they were known as Morasu Vellala since they had migrated from Morasu Nadu which is identified as the eastern province of Mysore.

Revision as of 21:10, 23 April 2016

Vokkaliga (Template:Lang-kn) (Pronounced Okkaliga)/Gowda is a Powerful Forward Caste in Karnataka.The Vokkaligas belong to Solar Dynasty(Surya Vamshadavaru).They have been Warriors and Feudal Lords in the past and turned to Agriculture in the later years.They comprise about 15% Of the Karnataka Population.The Vokkaligas/Gowdas are Predominant in all fields in Karnataka.The people from this community have greater contributions to the growth of Karnataka.The Vokkaligas/Gowdas comprise about 35% of the Bangalore Population and 40% of the Mysore Population.Even The Bangalore is founded by the Highness Kempe Gowda. The districts like Bangalore Urban,Bangalore Rural,Ramanagara,Mandya,Mysore,Hassan,Chamarajanagara,Kodagu,Udupi,ChikMagalur,Kolar,Tumkur,Chikkaballapur are predominated by Vokkaligas/Gowdas.They are present less numbers in districts like Shimoga,Davanagere,Raichur,Bellary.The Power behind the Growth of Bangalore and Karnataka is "The Almighty Gowdas"

Ethnic group
Vokkaligas/Gowdas
Regions with significant populations
 India South India
Languages
Kannada, Tulu
Religion
Hinduism, Jainism
Related ethnic groups
Dravidian · Kannadiga · Kodava

EtymologT

Vokkaliga is a Kannada word of considerable antiquity finding mention in some of the earliest available literary works of the language, such as the Kavirajamarga, Pampa Bharata, Mangaraja's Nighantu et al. and has been used as an appellation for the cultivator community since time immemorial. Generally the term has come to mean an agriculturist though various etymological derivations are available. A few likely derivations are as follows:

  • The word Okka or Okkalu in Kannada (Dravidian in origin) means a family or a clan and an Okkaliga being a person belonging to such a family. This is an allusion to the totemistic exogamous clans which together form an endogamous sub group, of which there are many amongst the Vokkaligas. These clans are called Bali, Bedagu, Kutumba, Gotra or simply Okkalu all of which mean 'family'. They are named after their progenitor, primary occupation or in most cases after various birds, animals or objects. All the clans have their very own patron god and goddess (called Mane Devaru or Kula Devata) and it is practice to refer to oneself as belonging to that particular god's Okkalu.
  • Great(Royal dynasties) Rulers or founders such as Kadambas,Rastrakutas,BadamiChalukyas are vokkaligas(Gowdas).
  • Okkalutana in Kannada means agriculture and the epithet Okkaliga has been used to refer to a person belonging to the cultivator community.
  • Alternate etymologies include Okku which means threshing, said to refer to their agricultural activities from which is derived Okkaliga. It is also supposed to be a contraction of the name Okkahaalu Makkalu which claims the origin of the castemen from the breastmilk of Parvati. This however is merely attributing a divine origin, a common practise in most of the Indian castes.

Gowda People of the Vokkaliga community ascribe various honorifics to their castemen, the most popular of which is Gauda, anglicized as Gowda. The words Vokkaliga and Gowda are almost synonymous in usage and colloquially, Gowda has come to mean a Vokkaliga; however the term itself is also used by people of various other castes as an honorary title.

The etymology of Gauda is also heavily debated by scholars. The term and its archaic forms in Old Kannada such as Gamunda, Gavunda, Gavuda, appear frequently in the inscriptions of Karnataka, recorded in the Epigraphia Carnatica. In fact the Epigraphia Carnatica is replete with such references to land grants, donations to temples, hero-stones (Veeragallu), stone edicts and copper plates dating back to the age of the Western Ganga Dynasty (est. 350 CE) and earlier. Attributing a Sanskrit origin, H. V. Nanjundayya has derived the word from Grama or Gava meaning a village and Munda meaning head, thus a Gamunda being the head of the village. Vokkaligas are traditionally known to have been feudal landlords and village chieftains and to this day remain major land-holders. Edgar Thurston, (Castes and Tribes of Southern India), the popular Kannada linguist Shamba Joshi and others propose a derivation from the Sanskrit - go (cow) and govala (cowherd) (Govala->Goula->Gowda). Moreover, though the Vokkaligas did practise animal husbandry, Govalas (from whence Golla) or the Yadavas' form a separate caste group and they were traditionally herdsmen. Alternatively Tamil origins to the word claim its derivation from kavundan or kamindan (one who watches over). The Vokkaligas of Tamil Nadu (found mostly in and around Coimbatore,Theni & Dindigul districts) use 'Gowdar (though sometimes addressed by tamils as Kaundar)' as their surname. Whether the name Gauda/Gowda is an allusion to the Gauḍa region or not has not been conclusively proved.

Subgroups

The Vokkaliga Community has several sub-groups within its fold. Previously they were mostly endogamous but in the modern context inter-group marriages have become a common affair, especially since colonial times. However to this day, within any given sub-group, exogamy at the family/clan level is strictly controlled by using the idiom of Mane Devaru (the patron god of the given exogamic clan) which dictates that the followers of same Mane Devaru are siblings and marriage is thus forbidden, allowing marital alliances only with another clan and not within. This system is akin to the Brahminical Gotra System and is seen as a common feature in most Indian communities. The community is patrilineal. It is opined that all the sub-groups previously formed a single unified community which broke into several factions over the ages.

The major sub-groups of the Vokkaligas include the Hosadevara Vokkaliga, Jogi Vokkaliga, Gangadikara (also called as Gangatkar), Morasu Vokkaliga, Namadhari Gowda, Kunchitiga and Kodagu Gowda sections, which form the corpus of the community with several other sub-groups.


Hosadevara Vokkaliga (Hosadevaru/Bandidevaru Vokkaliga)

Hosadevara Vokkaligas are mainly found in the parts of Bangalore Rural, Kolar and Chikkaballapur Districts. The name originated from the unique tradition they follow, viz Hosadevara (Hosadyavara) once in every year, where all the relatives who worship a particular God (Mane Devru), mainly women get together at a particular place called Devara Mane (Dyavara Mane) and perform poojas to the God for 2 days. They also celebrate another unique festival called Bandidevara (Bandidyavara) once in 10–15 years when all the people of the community get together and worship the God.

The Yelahankanadu Prabhus were Gowdas or tillers of the land. They belonged to Morasu Vokkalu sect, whose ancestors were migrants. Fourth in succession from Rana Bhairave Gowda, founder of the dynasty of Avati Nadu Prabhus and great grandson of Jaya Gowda, who established a separate dynasty, is the famous Yelahanka Nadu Prabhus, Kempe Gowda I who ruled for 46 years commencing his reign from 1513. Jaya Gowda accepted the sovereignty of the Vijayanagar emperor. The city of Bangalore itself was established by Kempe Gowda in 1537, as the capital of his erstwhile kingdom.

Jogi (Jogi Vokkaliga)

Jogi Vokkaligas are mostly found in the parts of Chitradurga, Shimogga, Tumkur and Mandya districts. The origin is Adichunchungiri matt and they worship Bhairava. But with due course of time, they were separated and formed as other caste. Jogis were teachers (mattpati) of Adichunchungiri matt when the matt started. The Jogi are followers of yoga and worshippers of the Hindu god Shiva. As followers of yoga, they traditionally wear saffron-colored clothing.

Gangadikara (Gangatkar) Vokkaliga

Numerically the largest among the Vokkaligas, the Gangadikaras are mostly found in the Mysore, Mandya, Chamarajnagar, Hassan, Bangalore, Ramanagara and Tumkur districts of Karnataka. Gangawadi was the name for the area covering these districts, ruled over by the Western Ganga Dynasty and Gangadikara is a contraction of the term Gangawadikara (A man of Gangawadi). The Gangadikara Gowdas claim to be descendants of the erstwhile Ganga royalty. With various theories on the origins of the Gangas, this is hard to prove but some scholars do opine that the Gangas were local chieftains who ascertained their power and rose to dominance during the political unrest caused in South India after the invasion of Samudragupta I. It is however, a fact that the administrative setup of Gangas vested power in the Ooru Gauda,Nadu Gauda, Pergade (archaic for Hegde.Pergade->Peggade->Heggade) and so on, at various levels of administration and apart from administrative duties the Gauda was expected to raise militia when called for. The Gangadikaras and the Kongu Vellalars are said to share a common origin and they regard themselves Ganga Kshatriyas. In fact the word Kongu is the Tamil equivalent for Ganga. There is a significant number of Vellala Goundars in Kollegala and T. Narsipur of southern Karnataka.

The Gangadikaras have two primary sections – the Bujjanige (or Dhaare Shastradavaru) and the Pettige (or Veelyada Shastradavaru) based on differences in rituals performed during the wedding ceremony. They can be Shaiva or Vaishnava in religious affiliation (called Mullu and Dasa sects). The Dasa sect forms a separate endogamous group under the Gangadikaras and are called Dasa Vokkaligas. And the Gangatkar Vokkaligas was also splitted to Sarpa Vokkaliga long long years back for the sake of reservation and the person who splitted the community was Gangatkar Ramaiah, later on he registered it in the government as Sarpa Vokkaliga and even he (late. Gangatkar Ramaiah) did not succeed in it and they did not find a way and started following separate sub group called Sarpa vokkaliga and moved on. Cheluru Gangadikaras (also called Chelaru), another small sub-sect, are said to be strictly vegetarian, a vestige of the times when the Gangas followed Jainism. Oral traditions of the people maintain that after the decline of the Ganga power they reverted to Hinduism retaining certain Jaina practises. The Gangadikara Vokkaligas have as many as 40 exogamous clans called Bedagu. They speak Kannada and the castemen mostly use 'Gowda' as a surname.

Morasu Vokkaliga

The Morasu Vokkaligas are found mostly in the Bangalore, Kolar, Tumkur and Chitradurga districts of Karnataka. The Baramahal Records of the Madras Presidency state that the Morasu Vokkaligas got their name because they originally inhabited Morasu Nadu which is the eastern province of Mysore. Edgar Thurston (Castes and Tribes of India Volume 5) also states that the eastern province of Mysore consisting of Bangalore and Kolar districts is known as Morasu Nadu. According to J. Pinkerton the Morasu Vokkalu are an original people of Karnataka

The ancestors of Kempe Gowda I of the Yelahanka Nadaprabhus (the founder of Bangalore city and himself a Morasu Vokkaliga) are recorded to have migrated to these districts from Alur of Kanchi around the 15th century under Rana Bhaire Gowda, who built the fort at Devanahalli. In Kanchi, they were known as Morasu Vellala since they had migrated from Morasu Nadu which is identified as the eastern province of Mysore.

According to Edgar Thurston (Castes and Tribes of India Volume 5) the Kongu region was ruled by a series of twenty eight kings before being conquered by the Cholas of Tanjore, citing the earliest portion of the Kongu Chronicle - Kongu Desa Rajakkal (a manuscript in The Mackenzie Collection) which gives a series of short notices of the reigns of all the kings who ruled the country from the start of the Christian era till its conquest by the Cholas. These kings belonged to two distinct dynasties: the earlier line of the Solar race which had a succession of seven kings of the Ratti tribe, and the later line of the Ganga race.

According to Burton Stein, the region of modern day Bangalore and Tumkur districts was known as Morasu Nadu, dominated by the Morasu Vokkaligas. In fact Hosur which borders Bangalore claims to have been called Murasu Nadu during the Sangam Age and has a significant population of Morasu Vokkaligas.

The four main sub-divisions being the Musuku, Hosadevru (Beralu), Palyadasime and Morasu proper which is again divided into three lines called Salu viz. Kanu salu, Nerlegattada salu, Kutera salu. The Musuku sect is so-called because the bride wears a veil or 'Musuku' during the wedding ceremony. Another section call themselves Hosadevara Vokkaligas and follow a custom known as Hosadevaru in the month of August/October every year. There are about 70 exogamous clans among the Morasu Vokkaligas.

Sarpa Vokkaliga

The Sarpa Vokkaligas are also called Salaparu in the short form and are found mainly in Tumkur, Chikmagaluru and in some taluks of chitradurga and bellary districts of Karnataka. They are also found in large numbers in the cities of Chikmagalur and some parts of Tumkur. Vokkalathana in the Kannada language means tilling land and Vokkaliga means one who tills land. Alternate etymologies include the work vokku ("to thresh grain out of the ear stocks"). Those in the cities have been known to be agriculturist, warriors, traders and businessmen since olden days. The Sarpa vokkaliga's (Salaparu) have a reputation for being traditionally inclined. According to the history they say it was split from a group for the sake of reservation which would be useful to future generations and they say it was also a part of Gangatkar Vokkaliga split up and made a separate group called Sarpa Vokkaliga. Gangatkar Ramaiah was the one who splitted the community. And these people starting to mention themselves as Sarpa Vokkaliga and moved on.

Namadhari Gowdas

The Namadhari Vokkaliga group is the second largest Vokkaliga sub-group. Found mainly in the 'Malnād' region of Karnataka in the districts of Shimoga, Hassan, Chickamagalur, Kodagu and Dakshina Kannada though they have spread to the Karāvaļi and Bayalu Seemae also. (Karnataka is divided into three Seemaes or geographical areas: starting from the coastline called Karāvaļi, the Western Ghats called Malnād and the plain lands called Bayalu Seemae).

Though originally said to belong to 18 root families or Balis the vast Namadhari population encompasses numerous sub-sects and folds. Like most Vokkaligas, they have Shaiva and Vaishnava folds. It is said that the Namadhari Gowdas acquired their name after they were re-converted to Hinduism during the time of the Hoysala King Vishnuvardhana, by the celebrated Srivaishnava Acharya, Ramanuja and they started wearing the Srivaishnava Nama or Tilaka. The Namadhari Gowdas who had earlier been converted to Jainism (which had gained popularity in Karnataka during the period of the Western Gangas) thus came to be Vaishnavas and ardent followers of Tirupati Timmappa. To this day they retain vestiges of Jain traditions. For instance, some Namadhari sub-sects are still strictly vegetarian (a majority of Vokkaligas being non-vegetarian) and in most families, while honouring their ancestors, a separate vegetarian offering of food called Jaina Ede is made.

Kunchitiga Vokkaliga

The Kunchitiga Vokkaligas are found mainly in Tumkur, Chitradurga, Ramanagara and Chikkaballapura districts of Karnataka. They are also found in large numbers in the cities of Mysore and Bangalore. Those in the cities have been known to be agriculturist, warriors, traders and businessmen since olden days. The Kunchitigas have a reputation for being traditionally inclined. They are said to have 16 'Moola Gotras' or root families from which separated about 48 'Kulas' or exogamous clans. The kunchitiga gowdas are also found in parts of Theni, Madurai, Dindugal, Coimbatore, Dharmapuri & Krishnagiri Districts of Tamil Nadu and they are found in all taluks of Ananthapura district bordering tumkur and chitradurga district.

Kodagu and Dakshina Kannada Gowdas

The Kodagu Gowda (Kodagu, Dakshina Kannada Gowda) communities, as their name indicates, hail mostly from those districts. Originally they are the migrants from Ikkeri (present Shimoga District). They were originally Natha Pantha and Shivaites owing allegiance to Sringeri Matha. Later Emperor Vishnuvardhana's rule they became Vaishnavites and worship 'Tirupati Timmappa' (Balaji of Thirupati) and 'Sabbakka' (Sharada of Sringeri). They are also called Tuluva Gowdas as they spoke Tulu when they came from Ikkeri, later in the Mysore kingdom, and settled the Mangalore-Udupi (Dakshina Kannada-Udupi) region. They now speak the Are Bhashe or Gowda Kannada dialect of Tulu and Kannada. They are said to have 10 Kutumba and 18 Balis as their primordial root families, from which arose around a Nooru Mane or hundred families. Concerning the Vokkaligas in the district of Coorg, Rev. G. Richter, in Gazetteer of Coorg (1870) lists them as Tulu Gowdas (Vokkaligas in Kodagu and Dakshin Kannada) who migrated to Coorg (Kodagu) from the Mangalore-Udupi (Dakshina Kannada-Udupi) region under the Canarese (Kannada) speaking peoples.

Organisation

There are many organisations that cater to the needs of the community. These include the Vokkaligara Sangha based in Bengaluru. The Sangha runs institutions such as Kempegowda Institute of Medical Science, Bangalore Institute of Technology, V.V.Puram Arts and Commerce College among others such institutions. The Sangha also runs several hostels for the welfare of students from the community.

Sri Adichunchanagiri Maha Samsthana Math, a religious mutt in Nagamangala Taluk, Mandya District, Karnataka State, India is a Vokkaliga community Mutt. The Mutt runs more than 450 educational institutions worldwide.

Since the 20th century when Vokkaligas began to emigrate out of their native region various organisations have been formed elsewhere, such the Vokkaligara Parishat of America, USA and in the United Arab Emirates.

Notable People

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Politicians

  • Kempe Gowda I - Founder of the Bengaluru city
  • H. D. Deve Gowda - Former Prime minister of India, Former Chief Minister of Karnataka
  • K.C.Reddy - 1st Chief Minister of Karnataka (then Mysore State)
  • K. Hanumanthaih - Former Chief Minister of Karnataka (then Mysore State)
  • Kadidal Manjappa - Former Chief Minister of Karnataka (then Mysore State)
  • S.M.Krishna - Former Chief Minister of Karnataka, former Governor of Maharashtra, Union External Affairs Minister in 15th Lok Sabha
  • D. V. Sadananda Gowda - Former Chief minister of Karnataka, Union Law Minister
  • H.D.Kumaraswamy - Former Chief Minister of Karnataka, President of Karnataka state JD(S)
  • Shantaveri Gopala Gowda - Socialist leader and politician
  • Sobha Karandlaje - Member of Parliament, Udupi-Chickmagalur constituency
  • C.S.Puttaraju - Member of Parliament, Mandya constituency
  • D.K.Suresh - Member of Parliament, Bengaluru Rural constituency
  • Pratap Simha - Member of Parliament, Mysuru constituency
  • D.K.Shivakumar - Is the current Minister for Energy, Government of Karnataka
  • Krishna Byre Gowda - Is the current Minister of Agriculture, Government of Karnataka
  • T.B.Jayachandra - Is the current Minister of Law, Parliamentary affairs, Animal Husbandry and Muzrai, Government of Karnataka
  • Kimmane Rathnakar - Minister for Primary and Secondary education, Government of Karnataka
  • H.D.Revanna - Former Minister for PWD, Government of Karnataka
  • R.Ashok - Former Deputy Chief Minister and Home Minister, Government of Karnataka
  • Alangur Srinivas - Former Minister, Government of Karnataka
  • D. B. Chandre Gowda - Former Speaker of Karnataka Legislative Assembly
  • Tejashwini Gowda - Member of the 14th Lok Sabha of India
  • Ramachandra Gowda - Former Minister for Science & Technology, Government of Karnataka
  • B.N.Bachegowda - Former Labour Minister, Government of Karnataka
  • Narayana Gowda - President of the pro-Kannada organization Karnataka Rakshana Vedike

Literature

Civil Services and Judiciary

Academicians and Founders

Artists and Cinema

  • Ambareesh - Born Malavalli Huchche Gowda Amarnath - is an Indian film actor, media personality and a politician from the Karnataka state
  • B.Sarojadevi - Indian actress, who has acted in Kannada, Tamil, Telugu and Hindi Movies, Padma Bhushan Awardee
  • K.C.N.Gowda - Kannada Film Producer
  • Vajramuni - Indian actor
  • Jaggesh - Indian actor and politician
  • Devaraj - Indian actor who has acted in Kannada, Tamil and Telugu Movies
  • Nagathihalli Chandrashekar - Kannada film director, producer and screenwriter
  • Yash - Born Naveen Kumar Gowda - Indian film actor who primarily works in Kannada films
  • Prem - Indian film actor and director
  • Ravishankar Gowda - Indian film actor
  • Ramya - Indian film actress
  • Rakshitha - Indian film actress
  • Deepa Sannidhi - Indian film actress
  • Akshara Gowda - Indian film actress who has appeared in Hindi and Tamil films
  • Karunya Ram - Indian film actress
  • Bhavya Gowda - Indian Born Model
  • Krishne Gowda - Kannada comedian

Fine Arts

Business

  • V.G.Siddhartha - Founder of Cafe Coffee Day, Way2Wealth, Daffco Furniture, Global Village Tech Park, Board Member on MindTree
  • Raja Bagmane - Founder of Bagmane Group
  • Anitha Kumaraswamy - Managing Director, Kasturi Media
  • G.Balaraju - Managing Director, Sindhu Cargo Services
  • Manjunath.M.Gowda - Founder of WildTrails and i7 Networks

Spiritual

Sports

Others

  • Dr.C.N.Manjunath - Indian cardiologist and Director of the Sri Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research
  • Tulsi Gowda - Environmentalist

References

  1. "Today could be former prime minister Deve Gowda's last hurrah".
  2. "In Karnataka politics, caste matters".
  3. "Today could be former prime minister Deve Gowda's last hurrah".
  4. ^ Dr. Ambalike Hiriyanna (1999). Malenadina Vaishnava Okkaligara Samskruti. Kannada Pustaka Pradhikara, Government of Karnataka.
  5. ^ Rev.Ferdinand Kittel (1894). A Kannada-English Dictionary. Basel Mission Book & Tract Depository, Mangalore.
  6. ^ Kannada Nighantu. Kannada Sahitya Parishat, Bangalore. 1970.
  7. John Vincent Ferreira (1965). Totemism in India. Oxford University Press.
  8. ^ Henry Whitehead (1921). The Village Gods of Southern India. Association Press (Y.M.C.A),Calcutta.
  9. Hebbalalu Velpanuru Nanjundayya (1906). The Ethnographical Survey of Mysore. Government Press, Mysore.
  10. Benjamin Lewis Rice, R.Narasimhacharya (1894–1905). Epigraphia Carnatica. Government Central Press,Bangalore & Mysore.
  11. http://www.classicalkannada.org/DataBase/KannwordHTMLS/CLASSICAL%20KANNADA%20RELIGION%20HTML/MAJOR%20CASTES%20OF%20KARNATAKA.htm
  12. Dr. Ganapati Gowda (2011). Grama Okkaligara Samsrutika Ananyate Mattu Samakaleena Sandarbhagalu. Kannada University, Hampi.
  13. ^ Dr. Suryanath. V. Kamath (1988). Karnataka State Gazetteer. Government Press,Bangalore.
  14. Vokkaligara Directory. Vokkaligara Sangha, Bangalore. 1999.
  15. ^ H.V. Nanjundayya and Diwan Bahadur L.K. Ananthakrishna Iyer (1931). The Cultivators. University Of Mysore.
  16. ^ Dr. Bhavani Banerjee (1966). Marriage and Kinship of the Gangadikara Vokkaligas of Mysore. Deccan College Postgraduate and Research Institute, Poona.
  17. "Jogi". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  18. Benjamin Lewis Rice (1897). Mysore A Gazetteer Compiled for Government. Archibald Constable & Co. Westminster.
  19. ^ Dr.B. Pandukumar (2007). 1600 Varshagala Vokkaligara Itihasa. Vedavati Prakashana, Bangalore.
  20. ^ Kumar Suresh Singh (2003). People of India, Volume XXVI, Part 2. Anthropological Survey of India.
  21. E.Stanley (1962). Economic Development and Social Change in South India. University of Manchester Press, Manchester.
  22. ^ B.Sheik Ali (1976). History of the Western Gangas. University Of Mysore.
  23. http://www.karunadu.gov.in/gazetteer/GazetteerMandya2009/Chapter-3.pdf
  24. Govt Press (1907). Baramahal Records of the Madras Presidency. Govt Press.
  25. ^ Edgar Thurston and K. Rangachari (1909). Castes and Tribes of Southern India. Government Press, Madras.
  26. John Pinkerton (1814). collection of voyages and travels digested by j Pinkerton. London.
  27. Phalaksha (1999). Introduction to Karnataka History. Shashi Prakashana, Tumkur.
  28. Burton Stein (1987). Vijayanagara. Cambridge University Press,Cambridge and New York.
  29. "Krishnagiri District Website". Krishnagiri.tn.nic.in. 2004-02-09. Retrieved 2015-12-23.
  30. Dr. Kodi Kushalappa Gowda (1976). Gowda Kannada. Annamalai University.
  31. L.A. Krishna Iyer (1969). The Coorg Tribes and Castes. Jonshon (Reprint).
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