History

Src:- http://kaundinyaeducationaltrust.in/rootsofourcaste.htm

ROOTS OF OUR CASTE IN PARTICULAR :        A brief explanation of the roots of Gowda, Ediga, Settibalija, Sri Sayana and Yaata in Andhra Pradesh, is given below separately.        People belonging to toddy tapping as a profession are named as Gowdas in general and its sub-castes in different regions are called Ediga, Settibalija, Sri Sayana & Yaata. Of course, the percentage of Gowdas engaged in this profession at any point of time is hardly 20.        However, let us know in which region they are named as what caste and why, though all of them are being assigned the same profession. GOWDA :  A village head is called Gowda. A few people from this caste tap toddy from the palm, date and coconut trees as a family profession.  They are concentrated in districts like Sri Potti Sriramulu Nellore, Prakasam, Guntur, Krishna, East, West, Visakhapatnam and the whole of Telangana region. Ediga : It is a Dravidian Eezhava word and it conveys a man who taps the palmira, coconut and date trees and lives on selling the toddy. Gowdas are called by the name Ediga in Rayalaseema districts like Kadapa, Kurnool, Chitoor and Anantapur, though a few are found spreading in other districts also. Settibalija : Ediga caste in East Godavari was not given its due respect, where kshatriyas and kapus dominated in the caste Hierarchy.  This was noticed by Sri Dommeti Venkata Reddy Gowda who stayed a long time in Rangoon and came back to spend in his own district.  Having revolted against the ill-treatement meted by the upper castes in the district, he gave a thought to change the name of his caste. Then he changed the name of Ediga to Settibalija in 1920 and started propagating “Education and Economic Development”are the only assets for self respect in the society.  He not only started schools, but also one or two hostels for the poor & Meritorious.  Since then with Sri Dommeti Venakta Reddy Gowda’s spirit behind them, changing the original name of Ediga to Settibalija, started their development in all fields.  But, this development did not spread to other districts.  In my observation settibalija community after the change of name from Ediga as a whole developed in all fields like education, industrial, political, trade & business when compared with the rest of the Gowdas in the state.  This is a welcome change. Ofcourse, it does'nt mean that one should change ones own caste to develop in the society.  This information is just to bring the facts to your notice.  But, the present generation is not aware of this fact and are thinking that these two castes are different, each one feeling superior to one another.  This is painful and I hope leaders will not create more gap for their self interest.  But I appreciate the GESSY organistaion, the future hope of Gowdas & the highly educated youth of our state, who took the cause of education, Eco. Development and unity of Gowdas, Settibalijas, Edigas, Sri Sayana and Yaata of the state of Andhra Pradesh. Sri Sayana : “Sri” has many meanings.  One of them is “Sura”or “madhuvu”.  It is a drink called toddy tapped from Palmira, coconut and date trees, which make people to enjoy, loosing rationality for a little time. Sayana means to lie down and sleep.  Sri Sayana conveys that the people who tap toddy and sell it to people making them happy & joyful.  History tells that king Asoka after embracing Buddhism, sent all his soldiers to spread Buddhism.  This army (Sainyam) was named by him as Sri Saina”or “Sri Sena”.  The Sri Sayanas who settled in the district of Srikakulam have the origin of Sri Senas, sent by the Emperor Asoka to spread Buddhism.  This explanation was given by Sri Suravaram Pratap Reddy in his social history of Andhras. Yaata or Sagadi : Presently our country is mainly protected by Army, Navy and Air force. In ancient days, kings used to have four types of forces to protect their kingdoms.  They are “RATHA”(Chariot) “GAJA” (Elephant) “TURAGA”(Horses) and“PADAATHI” (Soldiers on foot).        Chariots are also called “Sakatas”. People who used to run chariots or Sakatas are called SAGADIS.Vijaya Nagar empire was invaded by Mohammdan Kings. Ganga Vamsa Kshatiyas used to be (Samanta) subordinate kings of Vijaya Nagar kings.  They fought against Mohammaden kings and being defeated by them, they fled away to the nearby jungles to save themselves.  They used to live on fruits  and roots. Whereever the fruits and edible roots are not available, they used to cut the heads of Palmira and date trees and eat the softest part available in it. In this process, they found the trees oozing some juice and they collected it and found tasty and enjoyable.        Since then, they took up this as a profession.  This information was collected by me from the thesis of M. Phil collected by Sri G. Anajaneyulu Gowda.        I know the web reader may be reading about his own scub-caste.  But dear gentleman,  “ we are all one and the only one ”. “ARE WE NOT ONE” IN MANY WAYS? “YES”, WE ARE ALL ÖNE!”SEE HOW?

ORIGIN-WISE- “WE ARE ONE”
       My dear enthusiastic readers of the web site about KAUNDINYA EDUCATIONAL TRUST, I feel that I am very clear in selecting these five castes because they are all only one in origin and the marriages among Gowda, Settibalija and Edigas are very common.

A.P. GOVT. G.O. WISE “WE ARE ONE”
       To be more clear bout the oneness of these sub-castes, we find in the Report of the Backward Classes Commission “Submitted to and accepted by the A.P. Govt. In this report, in page 158, Appendix-4, socially and educationally backward classes schedule B, it was stated that Gowda, Ediga, Settibalija, sri Sayana, Yaata or Chegidi belong to the same profession.  It is found in item No.4 and page No. 160.  However, Yaata caste is kept in BC-A.

ELDERS WISH-WISE “WE ARE ONE”
       Later, with the involvement of all our Gowda leaders of our state, led by Sardar Gowthu Latchanna, who is highly respected not only by Gowdas and Andhra Pradesh but also by all political parties in India, persuaded the A.P. Govt. to issue a G.O. branding Gowda, Settibaliaj, Ediga, Sri Sayana & Yaata, as Gowdas.  Subsequently, a G.O. was issued by A.P. Govt. on 11-12-1997 with G.O. No.16.

GOWDAPURANA WISE, “WE ARE ONE”
       To the pride of honour of our Gowdas, we have a purana called Gowda Puranam.  Gowda Puranam says that Brahma the creator, while travelling to kailasa on his Hamsa Vaahana, was sweating on his forehead.  Brahma rubbed his forehead with his finger and was about to throw it away, both the earth & sky shivered conveying that they can not bear it.  Brahma asked Vayudeva to throw it Seven Seas away.  But vayudeva threw it in the pond where goddess parvathi used to take bath.  Then the sweat  did not absorb in the water.  At the same time, a Mahatma was born with Sirshasana i.e., head down and feet upwards.  Seeing this Mahatma, Goddess Parvati asks sage Narada to explain it to her.  Narada comes to know from Three Murthies ( Brahma, Vishnu and Maheswara ) that he was born out of God Brahma’s sweat.  As he was also born on Karthika Poornima, he was given the name of Kaundinya.  When he was asked to come out of the pond, he asks for a boon to have progeny without marrying a woman. Otherwise, he rejected to come out of the pond.

       Then all the three gods blessed Kaundinya by chanting Adiveda, Amaraveda and Saamaveda.  Kaundinya was blessed with 5 sons by name Adi Gowda, Amara Gowda, Veda Gowda, Vipra Gowda, Pungama Gowda and a daughter Nilambari.

       All the sons were given good education by the gods.  And they were given the kalpaVRIKSHAS ( Palm, Coconut, Date) and asked them to produce sura and supply to all gods.  Hence we can conclude, purana wise also all people who hail from the main profession toddy tapping, belong to one origin.

       One Mr. Buddiga Adi Narayana who wrote “SAMAGRA GOWDULA CHARITRA” from a Hindi book Adi Gowda Deepika pages 121-124, the purana of Gowdas says that one demon king by name TRIPURASURA used to wage war against Devatas and used to tease Rishis. In this process , unable to bear the violence of the Asurars, god’s king Indra fled away to Himalayas and hid himself not to be seen by Asuras.  The rest of rulers of sides (Ashta Dikpalakulu) could not do their duties normally.  As  a result there was a famine in Bhooloka and people suffered from hunger & starvation.  Then other maharishis prayed Atri Maharishi, requesting him to save the people of Bhooloka.  Being satisfied with their request, he has uttered a mantra “OM GOWDASYA SIVAYA SWAHA”.  With thisMANTRA, a handsome man with many arms (Ayudhas) around him was born, he being the brain child of Atri Maharshi.  He was named as "Kaundinya”and he was ordered by Atri Maharishi to help the people by providing food, water and medicines.

       Being ordered by his father, he came to Bhooloka and provided many medicinal plants, food crops, fruits and tasty juices from Palmira, coconut and date trees to keep the pople happy and joyful. Thus Kaundinya saved all the people of the earth.

       Kaundinya got married to “Mayakanya”, the daughter of Satyavati, and begot four sons by name “Kaundilya” ”Ayudharmudu””Homaaksha”and “Devaasraya”. These four sons are called Deva Gowdas with Kaundinya Gotra.  Since then the Deva Gowdas started receiving 6 Gotras by name 1. Atri Gotra, 2. Kaundinya Gotra, 3. Kundilya Gotra, 4. Ayudhama Gotra 5. Homaksha Gotra and 6. Devasraya Gotra.

       All the above 6 Gotrikas were being called as Deva Gowdas and Siva Gowdas.  These gotrikas used to utter Gowda Mantra and squeeze the juice from coconut, palm and date trees and provide it to Garuda, Gandharva, Yaksha, Siddha, Naga, Kinnera, Kimpursha.  In turn the Gowdas were being respected and appreciated by one and all.

       Having read this, “you believe it” or “do not believe” or “simply laugh at it”. (Nammakandi, Nammandi or Navvukondi) But , believe that we all have the same origin, either through purana, or through history or through the Govt. GOs issued through the involvement of our great leaders.