Banajiga

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.

{{cite book|editor1-last= |author2=|title=Epigraphia Indica

|volume=4 |publisher=Manager of Publications |year=1896|page=296|quote=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 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vqZCAAAAYAAJ }}

• {{cite book|editor1-last= |author2=|title=Quarterly Journal of the Andhra Historical Research Society

|volume=11 |publisher=Andhra Historical Research Society |year=1938|page=54|quote=| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pn65KlYEJmsC }}

Banajigas are traders and business people. Some are also professionals such as teachers, doctors, and engineers.{{citation needed|date=December 2024}}

{{Verification|section|date=January 2025}}

• Adi Banajiga
• Balajiga / Banajiga / Gowda Banajiga
• Balegara
• Dasa Banajiga
• Dudi Banajiga
• Ele Banajiga or Thota Banajiga. Ele Banajigas are betel gardeners
• Gandudi Banajiga
• Gazula Banajiga
• Goni Banajiga / Croni Banajiga
• Gopala Banajiga
• Gopati Banajiga
• Janappan
• Jidipalli Banajiga
• Joti Banajiga
• Linga Balija / Linga Banajiga
• Musu Kamma
• Nayudu / Naidu Banajiga
• Panchama Banajiga
• Punavalu Banajiga
• Puvulu Banajiga
• Rajamahendram or Musu Kamma
• Raut / Ravut / Rahutar Banajiga
• Sadu Banajiga
• Setty Balija / Setty Banajiga / Banajiga Setty
• Shilvant / Sheelavant Banajiga
• Sukamanchi Banajiga
• Telaga Balija / Telaga Banajiga
• Uppar Banajiga{{cite web|url=https://gazetteer.karnataka.gov.in/storage/pdf-files/Mandya1967Chapter3Pdf.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwjZ-djw7a6KAxX6xjgGHayyCzgQFnoECCcQAQ&usg=AOvVaw1dHueVxSVAOoFt7Umry_Nt|title=Population}}{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7yQLAQAAIAAJ&q=raut+banajiga|title=Karnataka State Gazetteer: Mysore|date=1988 }}{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zseCqGFRpyQC&dq=ravut+banajiga&pg=RA1-PA104|title=Banajiga |last1=Iyengar |first1=Venkatesa |date=1932 }}{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bo8BAAAAMAAJ&q=gopala+banajiga|title=Gopala Banajiga|date=1990 }}{{cite web|url=https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Page:Castes_and_Tribes_of_Southern_India,_Volume_2.djvu/468&ved=2ahUKEwjVwPix4e2KAxXcUWcHHXpbG4kQFnoECB8QAQ|title=Castes and Tribes of Southern India}}{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ViALAQAAIAAJ&q=Banajiga+sub+groups|title=Banajiga subgroups|date=1990 }}{{cite web|url=https://www.nsbacademy.ac.in/dvv/criteria-2/2-1-2/Copy-of-communication-issued-by-state-govt.pdf|title=Copy-of-communication issued by state govt}}{{cite web|url=https://ncbc.nic.in/Writereaddata/Banagara635300614401004259.pdf|title=Write read data Banagara}}{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bfAMAQAAMAAJ&dq=Sub+groups+of+banajiga&pg=PA1100|title=Sub groups of banajiga|isbn=978-0-19-563357-3 |last1=Singh |first1=K. S. |date=1996 |publisher=Anthropological Survey of India }}{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YfGAAAAAQBAJ&dq=Adi+banajiga&pg=PA18|title=Adi banajiga|isbn=978-1-136-23736-2 |last1=Ishwaran |first1=K. |date=21 August 2013 |publisher=Routledge }}{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1BJGAQAAMAAJ&dq=Linga+banajiga&pg=PA419|title=Linga Banajiga|date=1909 }}{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=D2pBAAAAYAAJ&dq=Banajiga+occupation&pg=PA246|title=Banajiga Occupation |last1=Rice |first1=Benjamin Lewis |date=1897 }}{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bfAMAQAAMAAJ&dq=Uppara+banajiga&pg=PA1837|title=Uppara Banajiga}}

{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Aw5FAQAAMAAJ&q=Gopati+banajiga|title=Gopati Banajiga}}{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QVVuAAAAMAAJ&q=sadu+banajiga|title=Karnataka State Gazetteers: Kodagu District - Page 147}}

• Adi Banajiga

Adi Banajiga are engaged in the priestly functions. Adi Banajiga have been found to do the priestly services in the Goddess temple at saundatti Belgaum District.{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MMGAAAAAMAAJ&q=adi+banajiga|title=Man in India}}

• Dasa Banajigas

The Dasa Banajigas of Mysore style themselves Jaina Kshatriya Ramanujas

Dasa Banajigas are as they call themselves Jaina Kshatriya Ramanuja-Dasa Vaniyas say they were formerly Jain Kshatriyas, and were converted into Vaishnavism by Ramanujachsrya. They are very clean in their habits, pure vegetarians, and follow the doctrines of Ramanujacharya. They are found in large numbers in Chennapatna (Bangalore District). They do not eat food cooked even by Brahmans, who are not Sri Vaishnavas.

• Dudi Banajiga

Dudi Banajigas are traders in cotton. They are also strict vegetarians, and abstain from eating in the houses of persons other than Brahmans. They have some (eponymous) exogamous clans, e.g., Govila and Babhruvahana, and are found in small numbers in the Kolar District. They have a Purana known as Lakshminarayana Puranam, written for them by their guru Lakshminārayana Sastri.

• Ele Banajigas

Ele Banajigas, as their name implies are betel growers. Some of them are vegetarians.

• Gazulu Banajiga

The Gazula Balija are also known as Gauriputra, Banajiga, Kavarai and Balija Naidu. The Gazula Balija is a subgroup of Balija. Naidu and Nayudu are their titles. The Gazulu are the glass bangles section is also known as Setti Banajiga. This is considered a very respectable division, and it is not unusual for persons of other sections to claim it as their own. They are the dealers in glass bangles, and are at the head of the 18 phanas. Setti is the title applied to persons of this section.

• Gowda Banajiga

Gowda means village chiefs. The Banajigas, who were village chiefs, called themselves Gowda Banajigas.

• Linga Banajiga

The Linga Banajigas are a trading section of Lingayats, who are a religious sect, abounding in the Canarese country, whose distinctive characteristic is the wearing of a linga the symbol of the god Siva made of steatite, or soapstone, and enclosed in a metal casket, often of silver, and sometimes encrusted with precious stones, or, among the poorer classes, enclosed in a cloth of a particular colour. The linga should always be worn, both by males and females, and is buried with the corpse. A Lingayat shopkeeper, who was not wearing it, explained that he removed it during working hours, as it was necessary to tell a little lie when doing business.{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1BJGAQAAMAAJ&dq=Linga+banajiga&pg=PA419|title=Linga Banajiga}}

• Puvulu Banajiga

Puvvalu Banajigas are flower sellers, are also said to belong to the Gazulu division.

• Nayudu Banajiga

The Nayadu division is said to be the same as Kota division above referred to. On behalf of these, it is claimed that they are Kshatriyas of the Lunar Race, and that the term which is a corrupted form of the Sanskrit 'Nayak,' came to be applied to them when, at the zenith of Vijayanagar rule, the king divided his whole realm into nine districts or provinces and placed at the head of each a man of this caste with the title of Nayak. This division has become much mixed up, the title Nayadu being appropriated by many persons of doubtful origin, such as the children of dancing girls.

• Rajamahendram Banajiga

The Jidipalli and Rajamahendram originated from the places inhabited by them, but they subse-quently came to denote caste sub-divisions. The members of the latter division are the immigrants from the districts of Nellore, Cuddapah, Anantapur, North Arcot and Chinglepet.

• Raut / Ravut / Rahutar Banajiga

Rāvut or Raut has been recorded as a sub-caste of Balija, and a title of Kannadiyan. The Ravut are a small section living specially in the town of Mysore. They are also known as Oppana Banajigas, because they are said to have been sent into the Mysore country from Vijayanagar to collect the tribute due to that king, oppana meaning appointment. They were all soldiers, and were hence known as Ravuts.

• Sadu Banajiga

The Sadu Banajiga, were once Jainas and later at the time of Vishnuvardhana Hoysala, became Vaishnavas. Therefore, these people are also known as Ramanuja Dasa-Vanijakshatriyas, and were Jaina Kshatriyas once. There are many lineages and gothras among Banajiga people. Some of them like Dasa Banijiga cremate the dead, but most of Banajiga groups bury the dead. They worship Vaishnava gods. Banajigas of Virajpet, however, identify themselves as Sadu Settys. They are small business peoples, mostly betel leaf vendors. They are involved in other kinds of business also.

• Setty Banajiga

Setty Balija or Setty Banajiga are also known as Balija, Kapu, Balija Settlu, Chetty Balija or Banajiga in the different areas of their habitation. Rao, Naidu, Nayudu and Setti are the synonyms of the community . Rao , Naidu , Nayudu and Setty are their titles. They have jati puranam namely " Balija vamsapuranam " which mainly deals with the origin of the community.

• Later Keladi Nayakas{{cite book |date=1921|title=The quarterly journal of the Mythic society Vol.XI|url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.277202/page/n55/mode/2up |location=Bangalore|publisher=The Mythic Society, Daly Memorial Hall|page=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”{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZiOBi3DNj5kC&q=keladi+nayaka+lingayat&pg=PA10 | title=Keladi Nayakas - The Rebellious Rani of Belavadi and Other Stories | publisher=Atlantic Publishers & Dist | author=Basavaraj S. Naika | year=2001 | isbn=9788126901272 | access-date=22 May 2015}}{{cite web | url=http://www.udupitourism.com/Udupi-Keladi-Rulers | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808012707/http://www.udupitourism.com/Udupi-Keladi-Rulers | url-status=dead | archive-date=8 August 2014 | title=Rulers of Keladi | publisher=Udupi Tourism | access-date=7 August 2015 }}

• Chennapatna Nayakas{{cite web|url=https://bmrda.karnataka.gov.in/storage/pdf-files/Traffic%2520Management%2520Plan%2520-%2520Report.pdf|title=Chennapatna Nayakas}}{{cite web|url=https://planning.karnataka.gov.in/storage/pdf-files/DHDR/Ramanagar%2520English_compressed%2520(1).pdf|title=Chennapatna Rayas}}

• Shivappa Nayaka (1645–1660)Portuguese Studies Review (ISSN 1057-1515) (Baywolf Press) p.35
• Chikka Venkatappa Nayaka (1660–1662)
• Bhadrappa Nayaka (1662–1664){{cite book |date=1921|title=The quarterly journal of the Mythic society Vol.XI|url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.277202/page/n55/mode/2up |location=Bangalore|publisher=The Mythic Society, Daly Memorial Hall|page=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”

• Somashekara Nayaka I (1664–1672)
• Keladi Chennamma (1672–1697)
• Basavappa Nayaka (1697–1714)A journey from Madras through the countries of Mysore, Canara, and Malabar Vol 111 – 1807 – Francis Buchanan -from page 254

"[https://books.google.com/books?id=bK4Ba6824koC&dq=marcupa+chitty&pg=PA128]"

• Somashekara Nayaka II (1714–1739)
• Kiriya Basavappa Nayaka (1739–1754)
• Chenna Basappa Nayaka (1754–1757)
• Queen Virammaji (1757–1763).Advanced Study in the History of Modern India 1707–1813 by Jaswant Lal Mehta p.458
• Belawadi Mallamma (1624–1678){{Cite journal |last=Gaonkar |first=Raj N. |title=Nadavara Exile in Malenadu |url=https://www.academia.edu/13003135 |journal=Academia}}
• Rana Peda Jagadeva Raya
• Rana Immadi Jagadeva Raya
• Rana Ankusa Raya
• Rana Kumara Jagadeva Raya
• Immadi Ankusa Raya

Banajigas are high in social status.

The Banajiga caste is included in the Central List of Other Backward Classes (OBCs) for the state of Karnataka.{{cite web|url=https://www.ncbc.nic.in/user_panel/GazetteResolution|title=Centre list of OBC}}{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=o0Gngp3wPtMC&dq=Jangam+banajiga&pg=PA17|title=Female Education: A Study of Rural India - Page 17|isbn=978-81-7755-207-2 |last1=Korishetty |first1=Vijaya B. |date=2003 |publisher=Cosmo Publications }}

• B. S. Yediyurappa Chief Minister of Karnataka{{cite news |title=1 year in office earns CM a snub|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/mail-today/story/1-year-in-office-earns-cm-a-snub-49142-2009-06-02|accessdate= 23 August 2019 |work= indiatoday |date=2005 |language=en-IN}}
• S. Nijalingappa Chief Minister of Karnataka{{cite book|editor1-last=Nels Anderson| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6pM3AAAAIAAJ&dq=Nijalingappa%2C+who+belongs+to+the+Banajiga&pg=PA134|title=Studies in Multilingualism I of VII|location= |publisher= |year=1969|page=134}}
• J. H. Patel Chief Minister of Karnataka{{cite news |title=J H Patel stoops, yet may not conquer|url=https://rediff.com/election/1999/sep/04patel.htm|accessdate= 29 August 2019 |work= rediff |date=2004 |language=en-IN}}
• S. R. Kanthi Chief Minister of Karnataka {{cite news|title= Mysorian Becomes CM after 33 Years |url=https://www.newskarnataka.com/mysore/mysorian-becomes-cm-after-33-years|newspaper=NewsKarnataka|access-date=2019-08-27|archivedate=2019-08-26|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20190826134729/https://www.newskarnataka.com/mysore/mysorian-becomes-cm-after-33-years|url-status=dead}}
• Veerendra Patil Chief Minister of Karnataka{{cite book|author1=Thomas Blom Hansen |author2=Christophe Jaffrelot|title=The BJP and the compulsions of politics in India |year=2001|page=176 |quote=The Lingayat votes had been important to the Janata Dal since 1978. Without Veerendra Patil (a member of the Banajiga jati), the long-standing difficulties of the national party president S. R. Bommai in appealing to voters beyond his Sadar jati (which has represent of other jatis gaining disproportionate share of spoils) became especially serious}}
• Jagadish Shettar Chief Minister of Karnataka {{cite web|author1=Bansy Kalappa |author2=Naushad Bijapur| url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/karnataka/2019/aug/23/stormy-season-ahead-for-bjp-over-rebel-karnataka-mla-umesh-kattis-exclusion-2023061.html|title=Stormy season ahead for BJP over rebel Karnataka MLA Umesh Katti's exclusion|location= |website= New Indian Express|year=2019|page=

}}

• B. D. Jatti Chief Minister of Karnataka{{cite book |title=Parliament mourns death of B.D. Jatti, adjourns |volume= |year=2002|page= |quote=Sri Basappa Danappa Jatti Born in a Kannadiga Lingayat Banajiga family at Savalgi in Jamkhandi Taluk of Bijapur district, Jatti entered politics as a Municipality member at Jamakhandi in 1940 and later became its President. He was eventually elected to the Jamakhandi State Legislature }}

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Category:Indian castes

Category:Social groups of Karnataka

Category:Social groups of Andhra Pradesh

Category:Social groups of Telangana