A boyar, also spelled boya, meaning Hunter or Warrior, denotes the leader of a group or head of a territory.
Boya is called a
Boyar in
Tamil Nadu. They constitute the
Kshatriya or Warrior class of
India and are believed to have originated from an ancient people called the
Kirata (
Sanskrit: किरात), a generic term in
Sanskrit literature for people who lived in the mountains, particularly in the
Himalayas and
North-East India
Origins
Map of "Bharatvarsha" (Kingdom of India) during the time of Mahabharata and
Ramayana. (Title and location names are in
English.)
The Boya caste corresponds to the
Kiratas people, described in the Kirata-Parva and Vana-Parva of
Mahabharata as warriors, hunters and mountain dwellers. They belonged to one of the hill tribes who subsisted by hunting and maintaining small armies.
According to mythology, the geographical position of the Kirata kingdom was near
Nepal and
Bhutan. In the
Mahabharata,
Bhima meets the Kiratas east of
Videha. The dwellers of the Himalayas, especially the eastern Himalayas, were called Kiratas.
[2] They are described as "gold-like", or yellow, unlike the
Nishadas or the
Dasas, who were dark.
[3]
Kiratas are described as being so powerful that even Lord
Shiva is said to have taken the Kirata form.
[
edit] Etymology of the Russian word "Boyar"
The Boyars migrated from Indo-Iran around 5th century BCE to the Indian sub-continent, and in the 9th century to
Turkey,
Ireland and
Romania. The use of the word "Boyar" in other languages, notably
Russian and
Bulgarian, is thought to be related to the Indian tribes who migrated via Turkey to Slavic lands.
The Russian word
Boyar is considered to be etymologically related to the Indian word, arriving in the Russian language via
Turkic. It is thought to be composed of the roots bai("noble", distinguished) and ar ("a nobleman");.
[4] Another explanation for the Russian term is that it originates from the Turkic title boila ("noble"), which is attested in Bulgar inscriptions
[5] and rendered as boilades or boliades in Greek or
Byzantine documents.
[4][6]
[
edit] History
In ancient Hindu scriptures, The Himalayas are referred to as the "Kirant Desh", or "the Land of Kirants". (
[4]) (
[5])(
[6]).(
[7])
The term "Kirat" is a corrupt form of kiriat, kiryat, or kirjat, which means a fort or town in the Moabite language of the
Mediterranean region. When their number increased, they built many forts and towns and called them Kiriat-hime, Kiryat-yarim, Kirjath-arba, Kiryat-baal, Kiryat hujro, Kiryat-sanna and kiryat-sapher, which indicate the meaning of the town or fort of the forest or the town of the god
Baal, or the town of Books, or the town of palm trees. The residents of the above noted towns started calling themselves “Kereti”, which later became keratite or the kerite tribe. The kereti people led a nomadic life and gradually spread towards the eastern and north-eastern countries.
In 2400 BC, a branch which came to
Mesopotamia or Assyrian country, intermingled with the ashur people and formed one nation with them. Later, they migrated to northern India and the Himalayan region via Meydia and Nisa of Northern
Persia, with title of Kirat-Ashur tribe. In Sanskrit texts, the Kirat people is included among the Yavanas, Pallavas, kochas and Pulinda races. The Greek had also known the kirats by name Kirhadai. The Kirat-Ashur were great hunters, and preferred to live in the mountainous countries of
Kabul,
Kashmir, Karakoram and other Himalayan Regions. There were certain principalities which were definitely styled as Nishada in the Epic and Alavaka in Pali texts and were doubtless of non-Aryan origin.
[7]
The Biblical atlas and scripture Gazetteer of the religious tract society of London proves that the Assura people were situated on the eastern bank of the river
Tigris, bounded on the south by Susa, the capital town of
Elam, or southern
Persia. As a kingdom, it is often said to have been founded by Ashura or Assura, the second son of Shem and the second grandson of
Noah, who, on leaving Shinar, or
Babylon, traveled northwards and founded
Nineveh, the capital town of the Ashur land, or Assyria, in 2400-2300 BC.
The history of the Ashur people mentions that they originated from Babylonia, but later on, received Semites and became one nation with them, and they were called the Keratite or Kirat people.
In the book bharat ka brihat Itihas, by Pandit Bhargava, mentions that the
Assyrians ruled the Indian tribes. This fact is also proven in Rigveda (10/99/10) by showing that the Ashur kings had colonies in the
Indus Valley and
Saurashtra. Their ruler was Danavendra Aruru and they had a good connection with
Mohenjo-daro and the
Harappa civilization. This colonization existed for thousands of years before Vedic period.
In 606 BC, the last king of Kirat-Ashur people of Assyria, Sin-Shar-Ishkun, perished in a fire in his palace. From that time, the Kirat-Ashur people disappeared as a nation and their territories were divided by the
Greeks,
Romans,
Babylonians,
Persians,
Turks and
Indians. After many years, the Indian Kirat-Ashur people were converted into Rajput Hindus. According to Richard Temple "the population now as the rajputs, are not of Aryan origin, but various descents, generally foreign, though sometimes aboriginal origin occurred during various invasions, a great number of miscellaneous tribes from the north and west had settled in India, each with its ruling family and its people, and thus were set up as clans held together by a highly developed sense of chivalry. The same process had taken place in the case of the more closely knit and more powerful of the aboriginal tribes."[
citation needed]
[
edit] Hindu
This section does not
cite any
references or sources.Please help
improve this article by adding citations to
reliable sources. Unsourced material may be
challenged and
removed. (July 2010)
By the 7th century AD, all of the many tribes in the region now known as India had become thoroughly converted to Hinduism, and had adopted the Hindu law of “Right conduct” (Dharma). All of the ruling families of the tribes were taken into the
Aryan Hindu fold and became Kshatriyas. The Kirat-Ashur people who made their permanent settlements in the mountain region continued to abide by their original culture and civilization.
Buddhist writers refer to other Yakkha principalities besides Alavaka. The Kirat Vansvali mentions that after twelve generations, one branch of Kirat people migrated from the Indo-gangetic plains to the
Himalayan region and the other branch migrated to
Sri Lanka, or
Ceylon, to south.
The origin of the Kirat people of Nepal can be traced back to the combination of three races; the Khambongbas, or the Khambos; the Tangsangthas, or the Mongols; and the Munaphens, or the Chinese.
Kiratas, or Kirants, were indigenous people who were skilled in archery and were brave warriors. Before the advent of the Kirants, there was
Ahir and Abhir rule in the valley. Yalambar, or Yellung Hang, the first Kirant King, overthrew the last king of the Abhir dynasty, Bhuban Shima. Thus, after defeating the last ruler of the Abhir dynasty, Yalambar laid the foundation for the Kirata dynasty, that lasted for about 1225 years. When the Kirants occupied the valley, they made Matatirtha their capital. The Kirant kingdom, during the rule of Yalambar, had extended to Tista in the East and Trisidi in the West. It is said Yalambar had gone to witness the battle of
Mahabharata between the
Pandavas and the
Kauravas. He was so brave and powerful that Lord
Krishna beheaded him prior to the battle, suspecting that he might fight for the Kauravas. The Kirants revere him as the "God King". In the chronicle of Banasawali, William Kirk Patrick mentions that "the Kirata rule existed from about 900 BC to 300 BC". During this long period, altogether 29 Kirata Kings ruled over the country'.
The twenty-nine Kirant kings, in chronological order, were Yalambar, Pari, Skandhar, Balamba, Hriti, Humati, Jitedasti, Galinja, Oysgja, Suyarma, Papa, Bunka, Swawnanda, Sthunko, Jinghri, Nane, Luka, Thor, Thoko, Verma, Guja, Pushkar, Kkeshu, Suja, Sansa, Gunam, Khimbu, Patuka, and Gasti.
It was during the rule of Jitedasti, the 7th Kirant king, Lord Gautama Buddha visited the valley with his several disciples. He visited the holy places of Swayambhu and Suheswari and preached his religious gospels. Kirants in the valley refused to follow his doctrine, but welcomed Lord Buddha and his disciples. It is also said that King Jitedasti had helped the Pandavas in the battle of Mahabharata. This shows a historical anachronism, because according to another legend, the battle of Mahabharata had taken place during the regime of King Yalambar.
During the rule of the 4th Kirant king, Sthunko, at about 2250 BC, the Indian Emperor
Ashoka had his inscriptions engraved on rocks and a stone-pillar. The pillar, known as Ashoka-pillar, still stands in Lumbini, the birthplace of Gautama
Buddha.
Emperor
Ashoka also came to the
Kathmandu Valley, accompanied by his daughter, Princess Charumati. During his stay in the valley, he built four
stupas in four directions, and one in the center of Patan. These monuments speak of Ashoka's visit to the valley. He arranged his daughter Charumati's marriage with a local young Prince named Devpal, who lived at Chabahil, near the Pashupatinath temple area. Later, Charumati built the towers of Devpatan, after the death of her husband, in his memory. Charumati, who later became a nun, also erected a convent where she resided and practiced the doctrines of the
Buddha.
Buddhism thus entered Nepal and flourished during the liberal rule of the Kirant dynasty. Like Buddhism, another religious doctrine,
Jainism, was being preached at the same time by Mahavir Jain in India. In this regard, Bhadrabhau, a disciple of
Mahavir Jain came to Nepal in about 300 BC, when the 17th Kirant king, Jinghri, was ruling. Jainism did not become as popular as Buddhism in Nepal.
When the 28th Kirant king, Patuka, was ruling in the valley, the Somavamshi ruler attacked his kingdom many times from the west. Although he successfully repelled their attacks, he was forced to move to Shankhamul from Gokarna. He built a royal palace called "Patuka" there for himself, of which only ruins in the form of mound remain. "Patuka" had changed Shankhamul into a beautiful town. The last king of the Kirant dynasty was Gasti, who proved to be a weak ruler and was overthrown by the Somavamshi ruler Nimisha. This brought the end of the powerful Kirant dynasty that had lasted for about 1225 years.
After their defeat, the Kirants moved to the eastern hills of
Nepal and settled down there, divided into small principalities. Their settlements were divided into three regions; namely, "Wallo-Kirant" or "near Kirant", which was to the East of
Kathmandu; "Majh-Kirant" or "central Kirant"; and "Pallo-Kirant", which was to the far east of the Kathmandu valley. These regions are still heavily populated by Kirants. Many Kirant people moved to
Indus valley in 300 BC in search of advanced civilization, where they were called the 'Boya' ( meaning : mountaineers / hunters / warriors). Also, a village called
Boya exists in the Bhojpur District, Nepal.
[
edit] In South India
The Boya warriors migrated from the
Indus valley after the Sarasvati River dried up(
Sanskrit: सरस्वती नदी sárasvatī nadī). The
Sarasvati River is one of the chief
Rigvedic rivers mentioned in ancient
Hindu texts. The
Nadistuti hymn in the
Rigveda (10.75) mentions the Sarasvati between the
Yamuna in the east and the
Sutlej in the west, and later Vedic texts, like the Tandya and Jaiminiya Brahmanas, as well as the
Mahabharata, mention that the Sarasvati dried up to become a desert.(
[8])
Boyas bounded to mountainous regions in south-eastern
peninsula near the
Orissa-
Andhra region. The original population of Boyas was mixed with various linguistic groups later, such as the
Telugu speaking community, and spread to all southern states. These Boya warriors served as the military regiment and chiefs between 10th century to 15th century in
Chalukya,
Chola,
Vijayanagar, and
Hoysala empires.
The eastern
Chalukyan empire’s court was essentially a Republic of
Badami, and the administrative subdivisions were known as 'Boya-Kottams'. Boya-Kottams existed across the southern states right from 5th century, according to
Kakatiya inscriptions. Boya-Kottams held assignments of land or revenue in different villages. Chola-Chalukyas used the titles '
Udayar' or '
Odeyar' for chieftains at certain periods of time, which included Boya Chieftains.
The
Musunuri Nayaks were Boya and Kamma warrior chieftains in the Kakatiya army who regained Andhra in 1326 from the
Delhi Sultanate in the aftermath of the Kakatiya defeat. King Pratapa Rudra’s Kakatiya kingdom was aptly served by seventy five chieftains called Nayaks. The
Nayaks, who belonged to various agrarian castes such as Boyar, Velama, Kamma, Reddy, Telaga, and Balija, were divided by mutual jealousy and rivalry, but were valiant cousins.
The
Chitradurga Palaegar (
Polygar) family was of the Beda, or Boya, caste and belonged to one of the hunting hill tribes. According to one tradition, three Boya families emigrated from Jadikal-durga, in the neighbourhood of
Tirupati, and settled at Nirutadi, near Bramhasagara, at about 1475 AD. They are said to have belonged to the Kamageti family. The son and the grandson of one of these was named Hire Hanummappa Nayaka and Timmanna Nayaka, respectively. There were many battles in the reign of this Nayaka between Chitradurga, Harapanahalli, Rayadurga, and
Bijapur, in all of which the Nayaka had splendid success. (
[9])
Sri Krishnadevaraya was ruling over the
Vijayanagar empire from 1509 AD to 1529 AD. In about 1562, there were very well-known Nayakas in the Vijayanagar army were 'Boya Ramappa' and 'Tipparaju', the Boya chief of Pulivendakonda and the palaegars of Kotakonda-Kappatralla.
In about 1517, Chitradurga Fort was given by Vijayanagar ruler to a Boya chief. It became a tributary to Bijapur after fall of Vijayanagar. There were portraits of ‘A Boya of Rank’, a member of the royal caste (related to royal family) of Chitradurga Nayaks who was documented by
Colin Mackenzie.(
[10])
These princes and Boya chiefs were invariably valorous in battle, merciful and generous to their enemies, wise and discreet in their administration, far-sighted in their policy, thoroughly religious and orthodox in their belief and liberal to a fault. These powerful chieftains had some
French engineers in their service and built very strong fortresses and other public utilities as standing monuments of their glory.
Chitradurga Fort
Rayadurg and
Kalyandurg are two important forts which were ruled by Boya Palaegars. The name Kalyandurg came from Boya Kalyanappa, who was a Palaegar in the 16th century. Rayadurg was originally a stronghold of Boya Palaegar, which was very turbulent during the Vijayanagar rule.
Kalyandurg was under the rule of Sri Krishnadevaraya and was a part of
Vijayanagar Empire.(
[11])
In 1786, Harapanahalli, a town in the
Bellary District, was in possession of a powerful Palaegar of the Boya caste. One of the descendants married a daughter of Palaegar of Chitradurga. The Palaegars at different times paid tribute to the
Nizam, Morari Rao of
Gooty and the
Peshwa. The fort was deserted and now in ruins.
Later, in 17th century, the Boyars distinguished themselves as smiths, sculptors, nobles, leaders, priests, landlords, temple sculptors, arm traders, and seafarers.
[
edit] British era
The fall of the Vijayanagar empire was followed by conflict between the British Indian rulers and the rulers of
Hyderabad and
Mysore, and more incidents took place over the Rayalseema districts. Battling armies and warlords both hired Boyas to serve their causes, and the local people too needed their help to protect them against the marauding soldiers from outside the region. By the time the British brought the entire region into their control by the beginning of the 19th century, there was a residue of a social practice; men of the dominant sections would gather an armed gang around them to assert their power, enforce their writ in the village and fight off challengers to their power over society. While the palaegars were mostly of non-cultivating communities such as Boya and Patra, the practice of establishing dominance and exercising power through the force of armed gangs became a characteristic feature of powerful landed communities, generically described as Kapu (husbandman), but mainly of the
Reddy caste in recent decades. The British, who successfully put an end to the palaegars by a carrot-and-stick policy, found to their dismay that this residue continued to disturb their notion of rule of law. The Britishers christened the boya gangs "village factions", a name that continues to be used to this day.
Some got settled in Karnataka and later migrated to Maharashtra. The word 'Bhuyal' in Berad's language seems to have originated from Boya, though it is known in Maharashtra as Ramoshi-Berad, and the name 'Ramoshi' is not older than 100–200 years. Innumerable Boya Berads sacrificed their lives in uprisings against the British. History knows very few names. The important names are:
1820-1831—
Umaji Naik, Bhulaji, Pandu Naik revolted in Pune, Nagar, Nasik, Satara, Solapur, Kokan. Most of participants in these rebellions were Ramoshis.
1817— In the Gokak and Pachapur regions of Karnataka, Nayaks organized and rebelled. They were mostly Berads. The revolt of Kittur Channamma and Sangoli Rayanna in Karnataka had mostly Berads.
1817— Trimbak Dengale's revolt in Pune by Sardars in Peshaai- mostly Ramoshis, Bhils, and Kolis.
1857- Uprising of
Rango Bapuji Gupte in Satara in the name of Chatrapati of Satara. Centres established for recruitment where Ramoshi Koli and Mangs were in majority. Two Madane Brothers of Ramoshi wadi (Koregaon Satara) and Nana Ramoshi of Kundal were killed by cannon. Many Ramoshis from Tasgaon in Bijapur Taluka participated.
1844-50— Tukaram and Mahankal, two sons of Umaji Naik, revolted.
1857- Berads of a village in the Halgali District, including Bijapur Karnataka, revolted against the Disarming Act. 19 Berads were hanged at Mudhol.
1857— Raja Venkatappa Nayak died in a rebellion in the Shurpur Gulbarga District.
1870—1880- Rebellion of Vasudev Balwant Phadake, was participated by mostly Ramoshis. The leader was Daulati Naik, who died in fight against Capt. Daniel in Tisubai Hills. Hari Ramoshi was hanged at Jejuri and Berads at Mudhol.
1910— Veer Sindhur Laxman rebelled against Sansthanik at Jat, but was betrayed and killed. Vajya - Baijya - fought against Saranjamdar at Kukudwad District of Satara.
1942 - 'Quit India' movement and formed 'prati sarkar' - parallel Government. Most Ramoshis of Satara Sangali Pune Districts participated.
[
edit] Boyas in medieval Andhra history
The Boyas were not a homogenous people. They were divided into several groups which are mainly occupational.
Among the Boyas there are two main divisions, Uru boyas (village Boyas) and Myasa boyas (grassland Boyas), and each of the above categories is sub-divided into a number of exogamous groups such as Yenumula Varu (buffalo men), Mandala Varu (herdsmen), Puva Varu (flower men), and Meena Varu (fishermen). Such divisions among the Boyas does not appear to have been of recent origin but has been coming down from early times. It is in the early Eastern Chalukyan records of the late 7th century in which the earliest inscriptional evidence about the Boyas and their names suggest that even during that distant past, the Boyas were divided into occupational groups.
The Reyur grant 115 of Vishnuvardhana II (A. D. 673-'81) introduces names such as Manda Sarma, Kappa Sarma of the house of Alaboya, Koilboya, Manduboya and Pululurboya.
'Puluru' means 'grass' in
Telugu and the Pululurboya might have belonged to the Mysaboya sect. 'Manda Sharma' might be Mandalavaru (herdsmen). 'Mandhu boya' means medicine man, whereas 'Koil boya' (temple man) means priest.
The Koneki plates 14 of the same king give the name 'Pati Sharma'. As pati in Telugu means flowerbed (Pati-fertile, mannu-soil), Pati Sarma may be taken to have belonged to the 'Pulavaru Boya' section, It is further observed that Boyas did not engage Brahmins in their religious activities, as they had their own priests 15, The Reyur record noted above mentions 'Koil boyas'. ‘Koil’ means temple and the 'Koil boyas' may signify the existence of priestly class among the Boyas as early as the 7th century AD.
'Koil boya’s' consisted of two gotras, one of 'Bharadwaja gotra' and the other of 'Gautama gotra', and thus the record suggests that there were different family groups in each of the Boya castes. The Boyas appear to have been Saivite by faith. Siva is known as the god of Nishada. Curiously, the human form on the famous Gudimallam Linga, probably the earliest in South India, assigned to 200 BC, unmistakably betrays the physical features of Nishada. In this Kalahasti Mahatyam of Dhurjati, a Telugu poet of the 16th century describes Kannappa who worshipped Siva with his own eyes, as the son of a Boya chief.
In his short note on the Boyas, Dr. N, Venkataramanayya remarks "minor communities like the Boyas are occasionally mentioned in the inscriptions but (they) were far down in the scale of civilization and the part played by them is indeed very insignificant".
R N. Nandi on the other hand, holds the view, on the basis of the Eastern Chalukyan records that the Boya tribe was transformed into the caste of Boya Brahmins and for considerable time retained their identity in the same way as the Goragas or Saivite Brahmins. But, with a careful examination of the available epigraphy and evidence, it was revealed that the Boyas played an interesting role in the political and social history of Medieval Andhra. It was a story of several sections of the Boyas giving up their aboriginal habits and entering into the fold of the neighbouring Brahminical social order, gradually rising in the scale of civilization and social ranking and getting absorbed not only into the priestly class but into the ruling, trading and agricultural classes, ultimately losing their tribal identity. By about the 7th century A D., the Boyas appear to have reaped the fruits of acculturation, resulting from their nearness to and contracts with the neighbouring civilized societies in Andhra, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
The Eastern Chalukyan records of the 7th century AD suggest that the Boya priests emulated their counterparts in the Brahmincal society in mastering vedic learning and performing Vedic rituals. Most of them added the suffix Sharma to their names, which may be taken to mean 'Vedic Scholar'. The Kondanagur plates 23 of Indravarma (AD 673) refers to Somayajula.
The Koil Boya of the above record suggests that the Boyas had built temples of their own and had priests for conducting worship in them. It was the period when Brahmanism developed into theism of the puranic type, with a temple as the centre of religion, and there was brisk temple building activity in the Pallava and Chalukya kingdoms between which the Boyadesa was interposed. Again, it was during this period, that the devabhogas and brahmadeyas multiplied and the resultant compulsions of expanding agriculture and trade at almost imperative to admit the aboriginals, like the Boyas, into the fold of the peasant communities, such as the Sudras of the Brahmanical system. Devotion, or Bhakti, was of prime importance in sects of 'Saivism' and 'Vaisnavism', which were gainng widespread popularity through the propaganda of the 'Nayanmars' and the 'Alwars', and was the philosophy of the Sudras, or lower castes, and it provided for their active participation in the year-round temple festivities, thereby working for their intellectual elevation and social ranking.
Politically, the Boyas, by this time organised themselves into twelve Kottams. The word Kottam is frequently met with in the Tamil inscriptions in the meaning of a sub-division of Nadu. The word Kottam means a fortress and they normally developed around a fortified town and were ruled by a chieftain. The Boya chieftains were known as 'Doras' or 'Simhasana Boyas'. Of all the twelve forts, according to the Addanki record of Pandaranga, the general of Gunaga Vijayaditya (AD 848-891), Kottam appears to be the strongest and the most important. It is probable that the Boya kingdoms formed a loose confederacy under the leadership of the chief who held Kottam Kandukur, which was another stronghold of the Boyas. Both Pallavas and the Vengi Chalukyas coveted to occupy the Boyakottams, as a result of which it frequently changed hands until about the middle of the 9th century, when Pandaranga destroyed the Boya strongholds and evicted the Boyas.
Almost from the time of the founding of the Vengi kingdom, the Eastern Chalukyas appear to have cast their greedy eyes on the Boyakottams. Their second king, Jayasimhavallabha (AD 643-673), issued his Pedamaddali plates 30 from Udayapura, identified by scholars with Udayagiri in Nellore district 31 evidently in the Boya viharadesa. Jayasimha took the proud title Vijayasiddha (scorer of victory) and his Polimburu plates 32 were issued from Vijaya skandhavara (victorious war camp). He was silent about the name of the king on whom he waged the war and scored the above victory, but it can be surmised that in his effort to expand his kingdom southwards, Jayasimha came into conflict with the Boyas and defeated their chief. With this victory in Jayasimha, the Vengi kingdom extended southwards beyond the very heart of the Boyakottams. The records of the immediate successors of Jayasimha; Indravarma (673), Visnuvardhana (673-681) and Sarvabkasraya Mangi (673-705) suggest that they were left with the problems of consolidating the authority of Vengi in the newly conquered Boyakottams.
Ever since the conquest of Vengi (AD 616), the Chalukyas appear to have adopted the statesman-like policy of winning the loyal support of Boya Brahmins by granting them Brahmadesham and Agraharam, and through their good offices hoped to get the people of the region reconciled to the newly established Chalukyan authority. The successors of Jayasimha appear to have carried this policy into the Boyakottams, and in their records it is shown that the villages that were granted are situated in Karmarastra, within the Chalukyan kingdom, but not far off from the Boya Kottams.
The names of most of the Brahmin donors were non-Sanskrit, such as Badi, Pala, Jetti, Eddonde, Gabota etc(in Reyur grant). In several cases, as in the Chandalur plates, the donors are not mentioned by their personal names.
Village names with the suffix boya are used as aliases. In the Koneki grant, four beneficiaries are referred to merely by their proper names suffixed by Boya, and seven are referred to merely as the boyas of different villages. But in the case of one of these four, the original village name is also mentioned. Madisarma, also known as Patiboya, is also called Kummunurboya. Kummanur is identified with Konur in the Settenapalli Taluk, Guntur District (Kammarastra).
Among these Boya Brahmins, the most popular gotras are Kaundinya, Bharadwaja, Kashyapa and Parasara. These gotras are not recorded in many cases, and out of the 74 Brahmins in the Reyur grant, 24 are without gotras. Five of the donors of the Chandalur record belong to the Kaundinya gotra, and the sixth one belongs to Kalabava gotra. The word Kalabava does not sound like the name of a gotra, though the Kalabavas are classed as a subdivision of Viswamitra. R, N. Nandi points out that Kalabava in Kannada and Kalabava in Malayalam means a species of shrub bearing edible black berries. Kalabava might be identical with Carissa Carancia and it was the totem or symbol of a section of the Boyas.
The Kalabava gotra thus contains a clue to the aboriginal origin of the Brahmin family. The foregoing account reveals that the donors in the above grants with 'boya' suffix or alias were in a fairly advanced stage of Brahmanisation.
Consistent with the Eastern Chalukyan policy, the officers in charge of the administration of the Boya Kottams gave the Boya Brahmins land grants to encourage them to settle down in different villages of Karmarastra almost adjacent to the Boya viharadesa as "a second line of defence 44" to the Eastern Chalukyan authority.
As we do not come across Boya Brahmins in the subsequent records of the dynasty, the only exception being that of the Bezwada grant of Chalukya Bhima, it may reasonably be assumed that they gradually lost their tribal identity and merged with the traditional Brahmin families of the region, thereby gaining equality with them in ritual purity. The village names which they had earlier used as aliases were retained or changed into their surnames. It may be noted that most of the present day Brahmin families of Andhra have village names as surnames.
Caste Hierarchy in Kakatiya society
According to a medieval inscription in the Kakatiya kingdom, there was considerable fluidity among half of the male titled population. An analysis of the variations listed confirms the existence of distinct social classes within which specific sets of titles circulated. One set are the secular
Brahmans, who used titles like 'Pregada', 'Mantri' and 'Raju' interchangeably. Only once did a person whose father have the status title 'Boya' enter into this exclusive category. A circumscribed royal or noble class in which the titles '
Maharaja' and '
Raju' rotated can also be distinguished. Two sons of 'nayakas' were able to be in this group, but ‘Setti’ (merchants-artisans) formed another fairly restricted set with just one case of crossover (a 'Setti' father with a 'boya' son). The most fluid of all were the 'Reddi', 'boya' and 'nayaka' categories. 'Nayaka' and 'Lenka' fathers, a military title for Kamma, could have 'Reddi' offspring, while 'nayaka' could come from 'Reddi', 'boya' or 'Kamupati' (Head of army) families.
The transverse of boundaries between these status groups also characterizes female donors in inscriptions. A woman had a father who was a 'nayaka', but was married to a 'Reddi'. Another had a 'nayaka' husband but was the daughter of a 'boya'. A third woman was the sister of a 'nayaka' and wife of a 'Reddi'. Marriage patterns indicate much interchange among members of the 'nayaka', 'Reddi' and 'boya' statuses. Additionally, several 'nayaka' daughters became the wives of 'Raju's', 'Maharajah's' and 'Rautus' or 'Rao's'.
[8]
SON
FATHER
MaharajaRajuNayakaReddiBoyaLenkaPregadaAmatyaBhattaBhaktaDasa
RajuMaharaja, NayakaBoya, Kamupati, ReddiNayaka, LenkaNayaka , SettiReddi, BoyaMantri, Raju , BoyaRajuPanditaSettiReddi, Raju
Inscriptions from the Kakatiya through Vijayanagar period in Andhra suggest an even more complicated picture in which occupational identity, an important component of caste, played a major role in the construction of social identities in ways that crosscut heredity. Thus, the title ‘setti’ was used to identify diverse merchants and artisan communities across the south, while ‘Boya’ was a generic title that indicated herder, warrior and chieftain. Today 'Setti' are called as 'Shetty', 'chetty' and 'chettiar'.
[
edit] Boya sub-titles as Bedar / Ramoshi / Nayak / Palaegar
According to the Rajguru of the
Sholapur princely state, Bedars or Boyas come from
Tamil Nadu, having migrated to Karnataka during Vijaynagar rule. Names of 14 ancestors are known to him but not their locations. The last was 'Goshti Pid Nayaka', a contemporary of
Shivaji Maharaj. This means that the history dates back to 800 years from Shivaji's known date of 1630 AD. Epigraphs from the 8th to 11th centuries mention 'Boya - Bedar', as they were from the Hunter - warrior community who were called as 'Nayaks'.
During Vijaynagar rule, these Nayak kings were assigned the duty of protecting the province of Tungabhadra. After the fall of Vijaynagar, the kings of Sholapur became independent and only came under Bijapur court in name. The Bijapur court was always afraid of Beda Nayak Kings.
Later, during the
Maratha -
Moghul conflict, Nayak kings played an important role. After the fall of Sambhaji and migration of Rajaram to
Gingee, the
Moghul-
Maratha conflict spread from
Narmada to Tamil Nadu and from the east to the west coast. Moghul Emperors realized that they were fighting with a hurt identity in 1695, but it was not possible for them to turn back. During this conflict, Bedar Nayaks also played an important role, as the families of all important Maratha Sardars and their treasury was in Vagana-gera (or Wakin-kheda), the capital of these Nayak kings. Therefore, King
Aurangzeb had to fight the last battle of his life against Bedar Nayaks of Vagana-gera during 1705 and 1706.
Today's Ramoshi in
Maharashtra was earlier called the Boya, Bedar and Vedan. (
[12]). Ramoshis of Maharashtra have come from mostly Karnataka and their surnames are the same as Bedar-Ramoshi of Karnataka. Their original language is southern and they first got settled in
Karnataka, later migrating to Maharashtra. The word 'Bhuyal' in the Bedar language seems to have originated from Boya. Though it is known in Maharashtra as Ramoshi-Bed, the name 'Ramoshi' is not older than 100–200 years.
1. Maharashtra -- Ramoshis are Bedars or Boyas and did not originate from 'Ram vamshi'. It is in use for only 200 years, before being called Boya or Bedar, as mentioned during rule of Peshawas.
2. Andhra Pradesh -- Boya, Boya Dora, Dorabidda and Nayakalu are the names in vogue. Dorabidda means sons of Sardars, which is what the Boya consider themselves, meaning warrior caste. In some texts they consider themselves as valmiki or valmikas, meaning hunters. Boyas were eminent bowmen and contributed to archery forces called Nishadas. Tradition identifies Nishadas as a form of Siva as mentioned by punjishthebhyo Nishadebhyascha Vo Namo Namah.
3. Karnataka -- Names Bedar(nayaka), Valmiki nayaka are in vogue. Bedar was the word used by Muslims either to show the dauntless quality or the inability to pronounce properly. Muslim books mention the Bedar as a powerful group.
4. Tamil Nadu -- Boyar, Naicker and
Naidu are in vogue. Boyars were revenue collectors of villages and towns and maintained local armies.
[
edit] Other titles
The Boya titles were split into Bedar, Nayak, Talwar, Nayakwadi, Nayakar, and Palaegar, each having a distinctive meaning in different regions.
1. Nayak and Nayakar - During Kakatiya and Vijayanagar rule in Andhra, a head of a region was called 'Nayak' and traditional 'vatandars' were called Nayakar. Akin to Deshmukh and Desais in Maharashtra were Palaegar and Nayakars. Many Bedars became Palaegar for their bravery. Nayak in Telugu means owner or head.
2. Nayakwadi - was the title of 'Killedar'. Those protecting the outer walls of forts were called 'Nayakvadi'.
3. Talwar / Taliari / Talari - was name of soldiers , guards and revenue collectors. For village policing and carrying the land revenue to treasury headquarters, the workers had to bear arms, so they were called 'Talwar', meaning sword.
4. Ganga Naik / Gangawaru - was the title given to Nayaks of the
Ganga Dynasty. Also, Ganga waru, or Gangaputra, means sons of Ganga. Dev Vrat (Bhisma) of Mahabharata was known as Gangaputra. Some sections of Boya, Gangaputra, Agnikula Kshatriya castes consider themselves as part of Mudiraj community in some regions of Andhra Pradesh. Gangimakkalu are the same as Gangaputras.
5. Boya Palaiyakkarar (Polygar) - were to administrate their Palaiyams (territories) from their fortified centers. Their chief function was to collect taxes, maintain law and order, run the local judiciary, and maintain a battalion of troops for the Kingdom.
6. Bhoyar / Bhoir - having titles such as '
Mahajan' and '
Patel' is a cultivating caste residing principally in the Betul and Chindwara Districts of Central India. The Bhoyar population are not found outside Central Provinces. They claim to be the descendants of a band of 'Panwar Rajputs', who were defending the town of Dharanagri or Dhar in Central India when it was besieged by
Aurangzeb. Their post was on the western part of the wall, but they gave way and fled into the town as the sun was rising, and it was shown on their faces. Hence they were called Bhoyar from a word "bhor" meaning 'Revealing on dawn', because they were seen running away in the morning. They were put out of caste by the other
Rajputs, and fled to the Central Provinces. The name may also be a variant of that of the 'Bhagore Rajputs'. And another derivation is from "bhora", a simple or timid person. Their claim to be immigrants from Central India has borne out by the fact that they still speak a corrupt form of the Malwi dialect of Rajputana, which is called after them 'Bhoyari', and their Birth or genealogy come from Malwa. But they have now entirely lost their position as Rajputs.
7. Boya palaegar - Palaegar meaning is tax collector and not palanquin bearers as in colonial time texts. The present
Bangalore and
Kolar Districts and their surrounding areas in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu were once ruled by
Vokkaliga Gowdas (Okkaliyar of utkal tribe) and Reddy's as Generals (Dalavayis), Boya Palaegars, Vassals and Nada Gowdas under Gangas, Chalukyas,
Nolambas, Rashtrakutas, Cholas, Hoysalas and Vijayanagar Emperors .
[
edit] Other references
Kirata or Kirant of Himalayas
In ancient times, the entire Himalayan region was known as the 'Kimpurusha Desha', a phrase derived from a
Sanskrit term used to identify people of Kirant origin or
Kirat. These people were also known as nep, to which the name 'Nepala' is believed to have an etymological link. The earliest references to the Kirant as principal inhabitants of the Himalayan region are found in the texts of Atharvashirsha and Mahabharata, believed to date to before the 9th century BC. For over a millennium, the Kirant had also inhabited the Kathmandu Valley, where they installed their own ruling dynasty. The Kirant population in the valley settled along with original Austro-Asiatic settlers. As time passed, those Kirant, now known as the
Rai,
Limbu,
Yakkha, and Sunuwar settled mostly in the present-day eastern Nepal and
Sikkim, their lands to the east called Kiratadesh.
Kirant refers to the Kiranti group or a Kirata confederation that includes the
Rai,
Limbu,
Yakkha and Sunuwar ethnic groups of Nepal. They were the earliest inhabitants of Nepal. The Kirant follow their own religion, Kirant Mundhum, which is distinct from Hinduism and Buddhism, and their holy book is the 'Kirat Mundhum'.
Kirant Rai people believe in a supreme male
deity 'Paruhang' and a supreme female deity 'Sumnima'. Other deities they worship include Sakela, Sakle, Toshi, Sakewa, Saleladi Bhummidev, Chayabrung, Yokwa, and Folsadar.
The Kirant 'Limbu' (meaning archer) people believe in the Supreme god 'Tagera Ningwaphuma', who is also known as the supreme knowledge. Ancestor goddess 'Yuma Sammang' and god of War 'Theba Sammang' are second most important deities. '
Limbu' clans and tribes are said to be divided into the 'Lhasa gotra', those from '
Lhasa' of
Tibet, and '
Kashi gotra', those from '
Benaras' of the
Ganges.
Kirata were believed to be a Lunar race, whose neolithic stones were associated with a cult of fertility, ancestor worship, and sacrifice and worship of 'Phallus' (Shiva Lingam). Yoni later associated them with saivate and
shakti cults in
Hinduism. One of the remarkable facts, which has not received recognition from authorities, is that of Kiratas religious doctrines and artistic ideas associated with megalithic cultures is greatly inspired by Jain, Buddhism, Hindu religion with philosophy and art. (
[13])
Religious text references
In
Yoga Vasistha 1.15.5,
Rama speaks of Kirateneva vagura, "a trap [laid] by Kiratas". By about 10 BC, Boya hunters were adept to be jungle trappers, digging pits to capture roving deer. The same text also speaks of King Suraghu, the head of the Kiratas, who is a friend of the Persian King 'Parigha' in the context of Mahabharata.
Boyas, or Bedars, were none other than Vanaras of the
Kishkinta kingdom of the
Ramayana times in Southern India. These were the 'Vanara warriors', who were controlled by 'Sri Rama' in the war against Demon '
Ravana' of
Sri Lanka to rescue
Sita. Boya and Valmiki are the names in vogue that they consider themselves as descendents of 'Valmiki', a Sanskrit writer.
The most famous Kiratas in
Hinduism are the 'Kirata avatar' of Lord
Shiva,
Lord Buddha and sage
Valmiki, writer of the
Ramayana.
Lord Shiva disguised as Boya hunter
Statue of Lord Shiva in 'Boya' Attire
During the reign of the sixth Kirat king Humati Hang, Arjuna, the son of Pandu of Indra Prastha, visited Indrakil Parvat, or the hills of the Eastern Kirat country. Bharawi has mentioned about a fight with a Kirat feudal chief in a hilly forest of Eastern Nepal. When Arjuna came to know that his combatant was as strong as Mahadev, or a great god, he addressed him as Mahadev and begged him for pardon for his mistake of taking him as an ordinary man and humbly prayed to him for blessings to acquire Pashupatastra. When Arjuna was late in returning from Indrakil Parvat, all of the Pandavas, accompanied by Draupadi and Dronacharya, came in search of him to the Himalayan region.
According to Hindu texts, a Boya hunter is the only form of Lord
Shiva in which he appeared black in color.
Arjuna wanted to get the peerless weapon "Pasupatastram" from Lord Shiva for the battle of
Mahabharata. He left the other four Pandavas, went to the forest and did austere tapas to get the boon of Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva was satisfied with his prayer and wanted to give the Pasupatastram to him, but also wanted entertainment. He took the form of a hunter, with Shakthi as a huntress. That time, a demon by the name of 'Mookasura', who was in the form of wild pig, came to kill 'Arjuna'. To kill the wild pig, Arjuna fired an arrow from the front, and at the same time the hunter, who is none other than Lord Shiva Himself, attacked it from the back and killed the pig. Arjuna mocked the Hunter for firing the arrow from the back. Having great pride of his valor, he was angry at the Hunter because he aimed at his prey. The Hunter responded that attacking an animal from the back is not against rules of hunting, causing an argument to break out. They decided to fight to decide which one of them was more valorous. The Hunter cut the string in Arjuna's bow with his arrow in the fight, causing Arjuna to start wrestling. He could not match the Lord, and the Lord enjoyed this fight. During the fight, the Hunter revealed his true identity, shocking Arjuna and leading him to plea for forgiveness. However Lord Shiva, pleased by his devotion, blessed him and gave him the invincible Pasupatastram. (In some books it is told that Arjuna could not fight with the Hunter, he started worshiping the Shiva
Lingam. To his astonishment, he found the flowers he offered to the Lingam on the head of the Hunter. Then he prostrated before the Hunter and Lord Shiva revealed Himself). Poet 'Bharavi' wrote a great poem in Sanskrit on this incident, which is called "Kiratarjuniyam".
Lord Shiva and a Boya devotee in Skanda Purana
Siva, who dwelled in
Kailasa (Kailas range in
Tibet), is mentioned as assuming the disguise of a Kirata and fighting with
Arjuna in the high-
Himalayas (3-39,49). Shiva sometimes assumes the form of Kiratas,
Pisachas and Savaras, or that of any
exotic tribes (13,14)
A Boya Hunter who owed money to his King went to the forest for hunting without paying his debt. There he set up traps and waited on the top of a tree. While waiting, he plucked the leaves and dropped them below. As time passed, four deers were trapped in the net and the Hunter was about to kill them. At that time, they all pleaded to let them off for that day and promised to return the next day. The Boya Hunter obliged their request and the animals returned the next day exactly as promised. The Boya Hunter was shocked and was so impressed with their honesty. But, at the same time was ashamed of himself, since he left the kingdom without paying his debt to the King. Years later, the Boya Hunter died and his soul reached Kailasam (Heaven), and he wondered about how he got there. A voice appeared and told him that he unknowingly plucked Bilva leaves from the tree and dropped them on the 'Shiva Lingam' below all night without taking any food or water on a Shivarathri night, and thus made it to 'Kailasam'.
Boya Kannapa or
Kannappa Nayanar
'Boya Tinnadu', who is also known as 'Bhakta Kannappa', is one of the Alwars in Shaivism. A youth from Boya caste became a great devotee of Shiva and attained such eminence as to join the galaxy of Nayanars. There stands a shrine for this great Bhakta in the magnificent temple at Sri
Kalahasti, on banks of
Swarnamukhi river.
Boya Temples
1. 'Boya' temple exists amidst Jain temples at Lunawa Nagar. It is believed that the temples were built in 14th century. Lunawa Nagar is situated at the foot of the Aravali range of mountains of
Rajasthan, 16 km east of
Falna railway station. (
[14])
2. ' Vijay eswara Swami ' Temple - The Vijayeswara temple is set on the Indrakiladri hill near
Vijayawada,
Andhra Pradesh. The installation of Vijayeswara is said to have been done by Arjuna to commemorate his victory with Lord Shiva in the form of 'Kirata' (hunter). (
[15])
3. ' Boyar Gudi ' (South East of the Aihole Village) at
Aihole-
Pattadakal, Bagalkot District, Karnataka was built in 14th century for the Boyar community worship. Many more temples were constructed in Andhra-Orissa region by Boya Chieftains. (
[16])
4. ' Jasma Devi ' Temple was built in the memory of Jasma Devi of the Ode Tribe. It was built in 12th century and is situated at Pattan railway station, near Baroda in
Gujarat State.
5. '
Boyakonda Gangamma' Temple is situated near Diguvapalli in the Chowdepalli mandal near Chittoor, Andhrapradesh. About centuries ago, ‘Boyas’ and ‘yelikas’ lived in the forest area around the hillock. They stood up and resented the repressive and rule of the nawabs, retaliating against the Muslim soldiers. Then, Golconda Nawab rushed additional troops to crush the revolt. Boya tribals could not withstand the onslaught of the Muslim army and fled into the forest, prostrating near the hillock and praying for the Almighty to save them. The spirit of the goddess ‘Shakti’ descended from the hillock and shielded the tribals, crushing the Nawab’s army.
The Boya cave temple in Thailand
In the early 6th century AD, the belief in
Hinduism was widespread in
South East Asia. All avatars of Lord
Vishnu and Lord
Krishna sculptures were discovered there. The encounter of sculptures is the indication of Hinduism influence which includes the belief in 'Siva-lingam' in the society. This belief was transmitted from ancient Khmer to Thailand through the northeastern route. It is not unusual to find Lord Shiva still being worshiped as in the Boya cave today.
'Guheshwara' is a name of 'Lord Shiva' and means Lord of the Caves. 'Lord Shiva' lived in a cave in the Himalayas on
Mount Kailash, so his presence within a cave is a way to pay respects to 'Lord Shiva'. In 'Wat Tham Boya' in '
Nakhon Sawan',
Thailand, the cave is known as Boya Cave and is located in
Khao Luang Forest Park, which has a large out-cropping of lime stone hills which are filled with many caverns. 'Wat Tham Boya' sits at the base of one of these hills with a very long staircase which ascends the steep hill and finally reaches the entrance to Boya cave. (
[17])
Replicas of Boya arrowheads
War Tactics of Boya warriors
The Boya were inducted into the armies of the Vijayanagar empire because of their skills in archery. They used two type of arrows; The ‘potu ammu’ (male arrow) for smaller range targets and the ‘penti ammu’ (female arrow) for longer range targets. Also, newer techniques were incorporated with the use of spears and sharp weapons, which were used only in hunting games.
Inscriptions about Boyas
An inscription in the Vijay eswara temple,
Vijayawada, of the 9th century AD, in the usual Telugu script is strangely recorded from bottom upwards. It says that a certain Thrikoti Boyi, or Trikoti Boya, the son of Kaliyama-Boya of Pechchevada, set up the pillar as a commemoration of his own fame in order to secure distinction for his race. The Thrikoti Boyi is identified in the inscription as a Guhyaka Yaksha, who in Dwaparayuga was directed by Indra to direct Arjuna to Indrakila hill, where Arjuna should worship the Lord Siva in order to obtain Pasupatha Astra from him.
Boyas often appear in kakatiya-period inscriptions as the people who are entrusted with livestock endowed to temples, donating perpetual lamp Nanda deepa and as
military chieftains. The meaning of Boya has changed considerably with the passage of time.(
[18])
In Addanki, near Nellore inscription of Panduranga (848 AD), the landscape and surrounding is mentioned as Boya Kottamulu. It is also called Boyavidu. In 15th century inscriptions, it is also mentioned as Boya vihara desamu.
During the 7th century, various inscriptions from Southern India mention Boya-Brahmans in the Kondanaaru grant of Vishnuvardhana-II, dated 673 AD. The boyas organized themselves into a massive social entity by sanskritising themselves and calling a few members boya-brahmans. This is indicative of not only the attempt of the boyas to organise into a sociological and political unit but also attempting to extend further into the plains and come into contact with neighbouring groups. As result of this interaction they claimed some of the Brahmanical values in neighbouring society to have superimposed in their community. (
[19])
During the Vijayanagar period, women incorporated the status titles of their husband into their names, such as with 'Peda Potana Boyusani', the wife of 'Peda Potana Boya', the aristocratic class.
By the 18th century, the label 'Boya' was used for the
Telugu speaking community in the
Kurnool-
Anantpur region, resembling the
Kannada speaking Bedars, who were associated with hunting and often served in local armies.
Political, Administration and Planning in 9 AD
Boya communal growth called for a settled way of life. Although they were primarily nomadic, they created political land units, like Rajya (kingdom), Desa (Province), Sima (region) and Vidu or Bidu (settlement). This indicates the entire Boya viharadesa was divided into twelve Boya Kottams, which could be found in the regions of the Nellore and Prakasam districts. The role of the simhasanaboyas was to be the ruling class.
Boya marriage tradition titles
Owing to promiscuous unions, the following classes spring into existence :
1. Swajathee Sampradayam: Pure Boyas, the offspring of parents who have been properly married in the proper divisions and sub-divisions.
2. Koodakonna Sampradayam: The offspring of a Boya female who is separated or divorced from her husband who is still alive, and who co-habits with another Boya.
3. Vithunthu Sampradayam: The offspring of a Boya widow by a Boya.
4. Arsampradayam : The offspring of a Boya man or woman, resulting from co-habitation with a member of some other caste.
The Swajathee Sampradayam should only marry among themselves. Koodakonna Sampradayam and Vithunthu Sumpradayam may marry among themselves or with each other. Both being considered illegitimate, they cannot marry Swajathee Sumpradayam, and would not marry Arsumpradayam, as these are not true Boyas and are nominally outcasts who must marry among themselves.
Books about Boyas
Gingee or Chenji Nayaks were Boyas. Chitradurga & Rayadurga Nayaks were also Boyas according to Andhra Pradesh Zamindaries and Samasthanams book written by 'Acharya Thoomati Donappa'.
Boyar Symbol
'
Boyar symbol' in
Russia is similar to
Mysore state symbol 'Ganda Berunda'
Gandaberunda image seen at
Lalitha Mahal Palace Hotel, Mysore
File:Boyar symbol.png
The Gandaberunda (also known as the Berunda) is a two headed mythological bird of
Hindu mythology thought to possess magical strength. It is used as the
official emblem by the
Karnataka government and it is seen as an intricately sculptured
motif in
Hindu temples.
A roof sculpture depicting a Gandaberunda is found on the roof of the Rameshwara temple in the temple town of
Keladi in
Shimoga District. The Gandaberunda was used by the
Odeyar or
Wodeyar dynasty of
Mysore as the Royal emblem. The Karnataka Government adopted this symbol as the state symbol.
[
edit] Boyar in medieval Europe as Landlords and Peasants
In
Europe, around 5th century, the Boyas migrated from the
Indus valley only to be find themselves as nomadic craftsmen, prisoners of war, or captive entertainers. Later they were inducted as soldiers. During various wars and raids they migrated into remote regions of the world and carried titles such as 'Boyari' in
Turkey, 'Boyash' in
Romania and
Serbia, and 'Boyar' in
Russia and
Bulgaria. Slowly, they became land owners, feudal lords and nobles. (
[20]) (
[21])
The Term 'Boyar' or Bolyar in
medieval Bulgaria,
Walachia, and
Moldovia denoted a community of the privileged upper class. The boyars were originally just military men, but as society became more settled they gradually became land holders. Boyar status did not necessarily denote great wealth, since petty Boyars existed as well as great ones. A boyar could own just a fraction of village, or ten villages. Great boyars occupied the highest military and administrative offices in the state, whereas petty boyars held lesser positions. They met in an assembly of the land to discuss important matters, and thus became sovereign or caretakers, who retained posts for a longer time to become upper class people of Bulgaria and the Romanian principalities. The peasants who did the actual work of farming paid boyars in crops, services, and sometimes cash.
The word "Boyar" is of Turkic origin, introduced to the Balkan peninsula by the Bulgarians in the 7th century. As the Turkic speaking Bulgar conquerors became Slavicized, they joined with the Slavic clan chiefs to form a single upper class known as Boyars. The Boyar word apparently entered Romania during the 9th-10th centuries when the ruling class dominated Dacia. In all of Europe, the only people who call their nobles Boyars are Bulgarians, Romanians, Lithuanians, and Serbians. These noble Boyars were very much recognized as aristocratic people and were members of the upper stratum of medieval Russian society and state administration during the 10th–12th century. Boyars constituted the senior group in the princes retinue (druzhina) and occupied the higher posts in the armed forces and in the civil administration. They also formed a Boyar council, or "Duma", which advised the prince in important matters of state.
The "Boyer" title and name owes a great deal to research originally developed in the book American Boyers, published by the Association of American Boyers, which was first published in 1915 and is now in its seventh edition. The more distant beginnings of the Boyer family have been traced to the Celtic tribes who wandered through Europe near the beginning of the Christian era. One of these tribes, known as the "Boii," settled in the area known as Cisalpine Gaul. In 2005, this was northern Italy, Austria and southern Germany. Along with their allies, the Helvetians, the Boii were conquered by the Romans; some attribute the work to Julius Caesar in 58 BC, others to Augustus in 15 BC. Apparently, the Boii were then allowed to settle in the land of the Aedui, who were other allies of the Helvetians in what is now the area of central to eastern France. Then they moved eastward, and in 488‑520 AD. they were reported along the valley of the Danube, possibly in what were known as the Roman provinces of Vindelicia and Noricum.
One account of the 'Boii' says they "were certainly a new and composite social aggregate." Most likely they were descendants of the Marcommanni, Quadi and Narisci tribes of the Suevic or Swabian race, with possibly an intermixture of Gothic or Celtic elements. They were called the Boiarii, Baioarii, Baiowarii, Bawarii, or Baiuwarii, words probably derived from Baja or Baya, Boya as corruptions of Bojer ( Boyer ), and given to them because they came from Bojerland or Bohemia (
Czechoslovakia). Of most lasting significance, it is said that the 'Boii' gave their name to Bavaria. The Bavarians and the Bayer are regarded as the same.
In the fighting over western Europe over the centuries, the Boiarii were said to owe allegiance to the Ostrogoths, then the Franks, then Charlemagne, and after his death to the kings of the Franks and the Germans. The first mention of the Bavarians occurs in a Frankish document of 520 AD.
In the ultimate dispersion of the Boiarii, the family name was given various spellings which continue down to this day. In Germany, the spellings include Bayer, Baier, Beyer, Beier, Byer and others. In Austria, it is Boiar. The Russian is Boyar, although that word appears to have referred primarily to the highest stratum of Russian nobility up to the 18th century and does not seem to have been a family name. In England, it is usually Bowyer. In Scotland, it is Boyers. In France, it is usually Boyer.
[
edit] Tradition and Culture
As per Hindu tradition the following rituals are compulsory,
Namakarana (Naming ceremony)Karnavedha (Ear-boring ceremony)Annaprashana (First solid food-feeding)Chudakarana (Tonsure; removing impure hair)Vidyarambha (Teaching alphabets)Vivaha (Marriage)Antyeshti (Last or funeral rites)
South Indian Wedding with ritualistic part involving a priest.
The Boyar caste consists of many Gotra's or Kulam's. The Kulam, Gotra or Illam are intended to mean the fathers family and ancestry. Marriage by members of the same gotra is traditionally prohibited. This custom is intended to prevent inbreeding as well as to broaden the influence of each gotra through marriage alliances. Gotras are used as surnames in Andhra region which gives quick identity.
Wedding events
Porutham (Horoscope - Matching) - Examination of the horoscopes of the bride and bride-groom makes it possible to ascertain whether there is agreement between the two, and the union will be propitious.
Betrothal ceremony - Once the agreement of both parties are over, an engagement or reception takes place in front of family members and close relatives.
A traditional wedding is usually performed in the presence of a
Hindu Priest who chants Sanskrit slokas. The main point of a typical wedding is the tying of Mangalsutra, a small gold ornament (the design can vary based on a number of factors - caste, region, community and family tradition) tied to a yellow thread or strung in a gold, silver or beaded chain, on the neck of the Bride. She will retain this until the end of her or her spouses life.
Muhurtham ( Lagnam ) - An auspicious time with respect to couples astrological sign and also with reference to 'Panchangam', the event that takes place with following programs:
' Panigrahanam ' - The brides hand is held by groom in a ceremony,
' Pratigna Karanam ' - Exchanging of solemn vows,
' Parikrama ' - Circum-ambulation of the Holy Fire or ' Agni ',
' Saptapathi ' (praying seven sages) or visualizing 'Arundathi' (worshiping sun) are all part of the elaborate ritualistic traditional south Indian Weddings. At the end, there is a grand lunch offered to the guests.
In general, the Boyar community worship
Tirupati Lord
Venkateshwara, Lord
Shiva, Lord
Subramanya, and
Mariamman, and primarily consider their blessings on all occasions.
[
edit] Boyar , Bhovi, Wadder Gotras
Gotra is a term applied to an ancestor or an originator through whom a particular family has originated. A Gotra is the lineage or clan assigned to a Hindu at birth. In most cases, the system is patrilineal and the gotra assigned is the gotra of the persons father.
Lineage segment within an Indian caste, indicating common descent from a mythical ancestor. Marriage by members of the same gotra is traditionally prohibited. The custom is intended to prevent inbreeding as well as to broaden the influence of each gotra through marriage alliances.
A common mistake is to consider gotra to be synonymous with cult or 'Kula'. A 'kula' is basically a set of people following similar rituals, often worshipping the same God (the Kula-Devata - the God of the cult). Kula has nothing to do with lineage or caste and it is possible to change ones Kula based on faith or ista devtha.
Boyar caste consists several Gotras(Kulams) which has same meaning in
Telugu and
Tamil language. These gotras are believed to be shared from
Kapu (caste).
[
edit] Gotras
In Telugu
The following are examples of exogamous septs among the Bhovi, Waddar, Vadder and Odes:
AlkuntaBurasu or Oorsu or Poola ( Flower )Bantula ( Soldier )Bandi ( Cart )Bandollu ( Rock )Cheemala ( Ants )Cheruku ( Sugar )Dandu ( Army )DeringulaGandikotaGampa ( Basket )Goddali ( axe )Idakotta ( Break-down )Janjapu or Kunchapu ( Sacred Thread )Jeri Bothula or jadebila ( Centipede )Kotala ( Fort )Koniali ( Clown )Mekala or Makali ( Herdsmen )Nalla Bothula ( Good )Peetalu ( Strength )Panthikottu ( pig-killer )Pasupu ( Turmeric )Rajulu ( Prince )Santhalu ( Fair )Thapta ( Drum )Thatichettu ( Palymra )Uppu tolla ( Salt )Vallapu or Bellappu ( Jaggery )Vemulu ( Neem )Thaalluri ( Landlords )
In Tamil
Aalam Kulam ( Banyan Tree )Eecham Kulam ( Palymra Tree )Dhandu Kulam ( Army )Dyarangam Kulam ( Tent )Karumbu Kulam ( Sugar cane )Komali Kulam ( Clown )Manjal Kulam ( Turmeric )Nallam Kulam ( Good )Poosam Kulam ( Flower )Raja Kulam ( Prince )Raasi Kulam ( Luck )Semavar Kulam ( Ants )Theku Kulam ( Teak Tree)Vembu Kulam ( Neem Tree)Uppu Kulam ( salt )
In Kannada
Akshantala (Rice grain)Arashina (Turmeric)Huvvina (flowers)Honna (gold)Uppu ( salt )
Common gotras found in other castes for example :-
Dandu (army) — A sub-division of Idiga, and an exogamous sept of Boya and Kapu.Gandikota. — A sub-division of Kamma.
[
edit] Boyar Caste Titles
Boya / Boyan / Boyar / Boyer
Boya Naidu / Nayakar / Nayaka / Naicken
Boya Palaegar / Palaiyakkarar / Palegara
Talwar-Boya / Talari Boya / Taliari Boya
Kirat Bhoi / Kirataka / Bhoi
Naidu Title
The
Naidu, or Nayudu, is a title used by many Telugu speaking community such as the Balija, Bestha, Boya, Gavara, Golla, Kapu, Mutracha and Velama. A Tamilian, when speaking of a Telugu person bearing this title, would call him
Naiker or Naicker instead of Naidu. However, Naidu essentially refers to
Balija, Gavara and
Kamma. Naidu is a community mainly concentrated in Vishakapatnam district of Andhra Pradesh.
Boyar sub-castes The Boyar caste is the oldest caste. There are many divisions and sub-divisions in Boya communities and in course of time many sub-communities and sub-groups have come out of their tribal boundaries and have mingled with the on-coming communities, namely Kshatriyas and Brahmans, as well as the business community (Vaishyas) brought in by the ruling dynasty from South and North, as explained in Kakatiya society.
Boya Brahmans : Boyas, after giving up their aboriginal habits and entering into the fold of the neighbouring Brahminical social order, gradually rising in the scale of civilization and social ranking and getting absorbed not only into the priestly class but into the ruling class and the trading and agricultural classes as well. During Vishnuvardhana II Reign (A. D. 673-81) 'Koil boya’s' were priests later they incorporated Brahmanism principles along with priestly functions in temples and became Brahmans. In Chalukya period the Boya Brahmans named their town settlements as Brahmadesham and Agraharams. Among these Boya Brahmins the most popular gotras are Kaundinya, Bharadwaja, Kashyapa and Parasara. Today they are just called as Dravida-Brahmans. (In Proceedings of Indian History Congress, Millennium session 2000,
Kolkata session). .(
[22]).
Boya Gauda : Holalkere in Karnataka was an important Jain settlement in 10th century. The present town seems to have been founded in 14th century by 'Boya gauda', under the protection of Chief Doddanna Nayak. Today they are called as 'Gowda'. Many Hyderabad - Karnataka and Bombay - Karnataka region gowdars were previously Boya - Bedars.(
[23])
Bhoi - The etymology of the word ‘
Bhoi’ is aboriginal tribe . It is supposed to be a telugu word derived from Boya. Generally they are water carriers. (
[24])
The Telugu Bhoi’s comprise two sub-castes, Besta and Gundlodu, It appears to have originally sprung from same stock, but have subsequently broken up into endogamous divisions by reason of their long occupation of different tracts of land.
In Maharastra, the Bhoi are the palanquin bearers or doli carriers there are altogether 22 sub-groups namely Zinga Bhoi, Pardesh Bhoi, Raj bhoi, Kahar Bhoi, Gadia Bhoi, Dhuria Kahar Bhoi, Kirat Machwa Bhoi, Hanzi, Jati, Kewat, Dhiwar, Dingar, palewar, Macchindra,Havadi, Halhar, Gadhav Bhoi, Khodi Bhoi, Khare Bhoi and Devra.
In Gujarat, the Bhoi consists of seven sub-groups; namely Bhoiraj, Dhiman, Zinga Bhoi or Kevat-Bhoi, Macchindra Bhoi, Paleshwar Kirat Bhoi, Kahar Bhoi, Pardeshi Bhoi and Shrimali Bhoi.
Beldar : Od, Sonkar, Raj, Larhia Karigar, Matkuda, Chunkar, Munurwar, Thapatkari, Vaddar, Pathrot, Takari. The term Beldar is generically applied to a number of occupational groups of more or less diverse origin, who work as masons or navvies, build the earthen embankments of tanks or fields, carry lime and bricks and in former times refined salt.
Bhovi : The Bhovi’s of Karnataka are actually a combination of three subgroups. The ‘Kallu Bhovi’ are the stonecutter caste, the ‘Mannu Bhovi’ are the earth working caste, and the ‘Uppar Bhovi’ are the salt and lime quarry workers. The Bhovis' main language is Telugu, but they can speak Kannada. They also engage in agriculture, though this is a secondary occupation. Very few of them are city dwellers.
For Bhovis, it is normal to marry ones cousin and for a Bhovi man to marry two sisters. The Bhovi peoples have their own patron deities and have their own guruji Siddha Rameshwara of Sholapur, Sri Sharanaswamiji of Bagalkote Bhovi peeta and Sri Immadi Siddarameshwaraswamiji of Chitradurga Bhovi peeta, a great reformers. Sri Sharanaswamiji of Bagalkote Bhovi peeta made many community developments from 14 century in building of tanks and shelters.
It is known that the Mudiraju / Mutracha people were engaged in guarding granite quarries during medieval times. The reason could be that these people were known to be good soldiers. It also appears that the Mudiraju people who had their origins in Bhil- Koli dravidian block of tribes were closely associated in stone cutting, stone grinding and other such jobs. Bhovis are closely related to Mudiraju in connectiong with fishing and granite mining. Pardhis / Parthians who are also variants of bhils too engage themselves in such jobs. The Bhovis are experts in cutting granite rocks and in almost all granite quarries in the state they work as bonded labourers. Bovis or Boyis are closely related to Bedars in their origins. The Telugu Boyas of Andhra, the Tamil Vedans of Tamil Nadu, are closely related to Bedars & Ramoshis of Maharastra. The Mogaveeras and bovis are also one and the same people in their origin and belonged to fishing community.
Ode : The word Vodde or Odde is said to be a corruption of the Sanskrit Odhra, the name for the country now called Orissa, and the people are ordinarily supposed to have emigrated from the Uriya country. Besides Telugu, they are said to speak a peculiar dialect among themselves.They are a strong and hard-working class.
About Ode settlement in south the following brief accounts are given in the Nellore, Coimbatore, and Madurai are: —
Nellore — Odes are called as 'Vaddera' are the tank-diggers, quarry owners and contractors. few are engaged in the trade.
Coimbatore — Odes are thickly populated , migrated for great demand in irrigation wells, ghat roads of Niligiri Hills and construction of houses. Today they are found to be contractors and traders.
Madurai — Odes are generally tank-diggers and earth-workers. They are Telugus, and are supposed to have come southward in the time of the Nayyakkans. Possibly
Thirumalai Nayakar invited them to dig out his great Teppakulam, and assist in raising gopurams of
Meenakshi Temple.
Karnataka - Migrated for great demand in construction of Dams, Hydro electric projects, Reservoirs, Check dams, Roads and Office buildings. Especially in construction of Krishnaraja sagar, Vani Vilas sagar , Bhadravathi, Hemavathi, Lakkavali, Chikhole, Shivanasamudra, Jog Falls, Almatti and Vidhana Soudha. People settled in the same places after completion of projects.
Vada Balija : A subcaste of the Balija based in
Visakhapatnam,
Srikakulam and
East Godavari district, a community of sea-faring traders and merchants. Some sections of Boya, Gangaputra, Agnikula Kshatriya castes consider themselves as part of Mudiraj community in some regions of Andhra Pradesh.
Viswa Karma Boyar : A community at Okkarai Village in between Thurayur and Sobanapuram 70 off km
Tiruchi in Tamil Nadu are experts in Stone carving, the craftsmen community settled more than two centuries ago, are specialised in the making of wooden temple cars. The artistic and brilliant panels containing figures of Gods and Goddess, which adorn the great temple cars are made and distributed to various temple in the region.
Boya sub-castes and gotra can also be found in
Lingayat,
Gowda,
Gounder,
Reddy,
Kuruba,
Kunbi, Besta,
Kamma,
Rajus,
Kapu,
Mudaliyar and
Chetty communities.
[
edit] Other Sub-Groups
During the medieval times, the state corresponding roughly with modern-day Orissa passed under the various names such as;
Utkala,
Kalinga, and
Odra (Udra) Desa. The state boundaries varied from time to time and were sometimes much larger. These land names are associated with peoples. The Okkala (Okkaliar), or Utkala , the Kalinga, and the Odra or Oddaka were mentioned in literature as tribes. Ancient Greeks knew the latter two as Kalingai and Oretes. Eventually, the names got identified with the territories later classified with occupation. The land was inhabited by semi-Hinduized tribes (shabaras) in the hinterland, a group of farming
Brahmins (halua brahmuna) who practised invincible Tantra method near Jajpur area (the place of Goddess Biraja), and people of other castes and trades as well. For centuries before and after the birth of Christ, Kalinga was a formidable political power, extending from the Ganges river to the Godavari river. Approximately between the 11th and 16th centuries, the name was twisted and the name Odra Desh was gradually transformed into Uddisa, Udisa, or Odisa, which in English became Orissa. The language of Odisa came to be known as
Oriya. The important Deity of Odes is 'Jasma devi'.
The Ode tribes migrated to
Gujarat around 12th century for construction of temples in which they are more specialized. People who supplied stone and lime for construction work of Temples, Tanks and Wells were termed as Bovi, Oddar,
Vaddera,
Uppara,
sagara and Waddar in Andhra, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. The word 'Bhovi' is a corrupt form of 'Bhavi' which means 'well' in Kannada, it also means 'earth-digger'. They have been involved in the digging of wells. There is a confusion of 'Boya' a 'Kshatriya' caste and 'Bovi' a 'shudra' caste mix-up there is no proper evidence in which period this has taken place, but some gotras are common. Many castes in Andhra pradesh have shared common gotras. This may be one of the reason for mix-up in remote regions in different periods. Thus various irrelevant castes has become sub-caste of Boya.
These may be part of Boyar communities also a sub-caste of other caste or community and some have common gotras / surname through out India.
Bhoi / Bhoir
Bhoyi / Boyi
Bhovi / Bovi
Bhoyar / Bhuyal
Beda / Beldar / Bedar / Bendar / Bendre
Besta Boya / Maratha Bhoi
Chauhan / Chavan
Odde / Ode / Oudh
Odde Raju / Odde Razu
Odeya / Ottan
Pawar / Powar
Vadde / Vaddera / Vaddi
Vadde Raju
Vada Balija
Vadde Reddy
Waddar / Wadkar / Waddera
In the Mysore Census Report of 1891, it was mentioned that the Odde caste divided itself into two main branches, the Kallu and Mannu Vaddas, between whom there is no social intercourse of any kind, or inter-marriage. The former are stone-workers and builders and are more robust than the latter, and are very dexterous in moving large masses of stone by rude and elementary mechanical appliances. They are hardy, and capable of great exertion and endurance. The Kallu Vaddas consider themselves superior to the Mannu Vaddas (earth diggers). Unlike the Kallu Vaddas, the Mannu Vaddas, or Bailu Vaddas, are a nomadic tribe, squatting wherever they can find any large earthwork, such as deepening and repairing tanks, throwing up embankments, and the like. They are expert navvies, turning out within a given time more hard work than any other labouring class.
The Madras Census Report of 1901, stated that the two main divisions of Boyas are called as Pedda Boya (big) and Chinna Boya (small) respectively, and, according to another account, the caste has four endogamous sections, Pedda, Chinna, and Myasa. Sadaru is the name of a subdivision of Lingayats, found mainly in the Bellary and Anantapur districts, where they are largely engaged in cultivation. Some Bedars who live amidst those Lingayats call themselves Sadaru. According to the Manual of the North Arcot district, the Boyas are a "Telugu hunting caste, chiefly found above the ghats. Many of the Poligars of that part of the country used to belong to the caste, and proved themselves so lawless that they were dispossessed. Now they are usually cultivators. They have several divisions, the chief of which are the Mulki Boyas and the Pala Boyas, who cannot intermarry.
According to the Mysore Census Reports, 1891 and 1901, "the Bedas have two distinct divisions, the Kannada and Telugu, and own some twenty sub-divisions, of which the following are the chief: Halu, Machi or Myasa, Nayaka, Pallegar, Barika, Kannaiyyanajati, and Kirataka.
At recent times of census, the following occupational sub-divisions were : — Kallu or Rati (stone-workers) and Mannu (earth-workers), Manti or Bailu (open space), between which there is said to be no inter-marriage. The endogamous sub-divisions Nata-puram and Uru (village men), Bidaru (wanderers), and Konga (territorial) were recorded. ' Beri ' was given as a sub-caste, and 'Odderazu' as a synonym for the caste name. In Ganjam, Bolasi is said to be a sub-division of the Oddes. The caste titles are Nayakan and Boyan.
[
edit] Epics
The Story of
Jasma Devi
The Story of
Kannappa Nayanar ( Bhakta Kannappa)
The Story of
Nayakas of Chitradurga Palaegar family and
Madakari Nayaka
[
edit] Boyar Today
The people of warrior race who were the erstwhile professional warriors lost their identity with the collapse of powerful local kingdoms. Those warrior soldiers who managed to retain their control over large tracts of lands became
zamindars, administrators, farmers, etc. The rest of them were gradually forced to become
Backward Class ( BC ) and Other Backward classes ( OBC) people without any fixed / organized profession in their hands.
Boya / Boyar caste comes under OBC in Central List. In Tamil Nadu & Kerala as BC, Andhra Pradesh as BC ( Group 'A') and Karnataka as BC ( Category I ).(
[25])
Today the estimated population of the Boyar community is more than 4 million people, spread mainly throughout India but also other countries. They comprise state leaders, administrative officers, politicians, scientists, entrepreneurs, industrialists, financiers, doctors , accountants, lawyers, professionals, engineers, academicians, businessmen and traders diversified in various professions with varying incomes.
[
edit] Registered Associations
BOYAR MUNNETRA SANGAM in Tamil Nadu State
Chennai, Coimbatore, Erode, Madurai, Trichy, Salem, Tirupur and Pollachi.
TNBMWT, JASMA BHAVAN, Opp Eachanari Temple, Chettipalayam, Pollachi Road, Coimbatore.
TNBMWT, S.A.P Residence Building, Municipal Office Road, Tirupur.
VADDERA YUVATHA ABHYUDAYA SAMITHI (
[26])
VYAS, Nagendra nagar, Habsiguda, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh,
KARNATAKA BHOVI WELFARE ASSOCIATION
KBWA, JASMA BHAVAN, Jasma Bhavan Road, Millers Road, Bangalore, Karnataka.
KBWA, JASMA BHAVAN, Austin town, Ashoknagar, Bangalore, Karnataka.
[
edit] References & Sources
Kingdoms of Ancient India
Exotic Tribes of Ancient India
Castes And Tribes of Southern India By Edgar Thruston
Castes And Tribes of Nizam Dominions By Syed Siraj Ul Hassan
Genetic Evidence on Caste Origins
Caste & Class Articulation of Andhra Pradesh
Gazetteer of Mysore By B. L. Rice
Encyclopedia of Indian Tribes By Shyam Singh Shashi
Precolonial India in Practice By Cynthia Talbot
Kiratas in Ancient India By G. P Singh
Criminal Tribes of India By Dr. K. Jamnadas
The Patrin Web Journal: Romani Culture and History
Vol.XXXVIII, Part IV V " 1986 Journal of the Andhra Historical Research Society By Dr. N. Venkataramanayya
நன்றி :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boyar_caste
