History of the Kapu Community

Origin

Kapu appear to be among the earliest inhabitants of the Deccan region, having migrated from the North, cleared forests for agriculture, and built towns across the Deccan. They are considered by some to be Aryan descendants who migrated to South India.

The Kapu community is believed to descend from migrants of the Kaampu tribe from Kampilya (near Ayodhya), and were among the earliest inhabitants of South India to clear forests and start agriculture in the Deccan and present-day Andhra Pradesh.

In ancient texts, the community is also referred to as the Kaampu tribe, which was also known as the Kossar tribe — some historians believe this tribe established the Satavahana and other ancient dynasties. The Kapu community shares a similar history with the Kurmi, Kunbi, and Maratha castes.

Gothrams & Titles

Common Gothrams found in the Kapu community include Janakula, Mahipala, Paidipaala, Raghukula, Kasyapa, Dhanunjaya, Athreya, and Achyuta, among many others.

• Naidu in Andhra refers to the Kapu / Telaga / Balija / Ontari / Turpu Kapu community.
• Balijas carry the titles Naidu and Setty.
• In Tamil Nadu and Karnataka they are called Balija Naidu; in the southern districts of Tamil Nadu, Balijas carry the title Naicker.
• Munnuru Kapus carry the titles Rao and Reddy in Telangana.
• Kapu / Balija / Telaga / Munnuru Kapu families carry the title Setty where their ancestors served as traders during the Kakatiya and Vijayanagar empires — surnames such as Bandreddy, Ramiesetty, Polisetty, Kalisetty, Muthamsetty, Kamisetty, Tirumalasetty, Rangisetty, Singamasetty, and Chennamsetty reflect powerful trading guild ancestry.
• Telaga / Kapu families in the Coastal Andhra region carry the title Reddy, indicating ancestors who served as village heads — surnames such as Maddireddy, Muthareddy, Kunapareddy, Katreddy, Kasireddy, Rayapureddy, Siddireddy, Dharapureddy, and Peddireddy reflect this.
• Some Kapu / Telaga surnames end in Neni, a derivation of Senani, indicating ancestors who served as commanders under the Kakatiya dynasty — surnames such as Samineni, Lakkineni, Padalaneni, Vallabhaneni, Chitikineni, and Kasineni reflect this.
• Kapu and Telaga communities in the Coastal and Rayalaseema regions carry the title Rayudu, a legacy of association with the Vijayanagar Empire.
• The Chola-Chalukyas used the titles Udayar or Odeyar for a period of time.

Occupation

The Kapu community primarily served as protectors of villages from bandits in the medieval ages, later taking on other roles such as village heads and farmers in times of peace. During times of war, they also served as soldiers, governors (Nayaks), and commanders in many Andhra dynasties — this is how the term Nayaka/Naidu became synonymous with the community.

The modern-day Kapu community is predominantly agrarian, with members diversified into business, industry, film, academia, and IT, among other fields.

Sub Castes

There are many sub-castes within the Kapu community, though most prefer to simply be called Kapu:

• Kapu
• Balija / Balija Naidu
• Munnuru Kapu
• Ontari
• Telaga
• Turpu Kapu
• Naidu

Kapu

The Kapu community is primarily concentrated in the coastal districts of Andhra. It is probably the oldest middle caste in Andhra, alongside the Yadava/Golla community, and forms a bedrock of the state. They carry the caste title Naidu, a derivation of Nayaka — the Nayaka/DandaNayaka title can be traced to the Vishnukundini dynasty of Andhra, which ruled from the Krishna and Godavari deltas during the 3rd century A.D.

"Kapu" is used to refer to landowning or agrarian communities in Andhra Pradesh. Today, landowners are called Kapu by agricultural labourers, while those who served as village heads were given the title Reddy — which is why the title Reddy is found among both the Kapu and Reddy castes. They are heavily concentrated in the coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh.

Kapu Branches

• Dhulipudi
• Mekala (also found in Kamma, Boya, Chenchus)
• Motati
• Mogali
• Mungaru
• Tungala
• Thorati
• Nagali
• Nerati or Neravati (also found in Reddy)
• Pakanati or Pakinadu (eastern territory; also found in Reddy, Golla, Kamsala, Mala, and Tsakala)
• Oruganti (also found in Mudiraju)
• Nagaralu / Patrulu
• Chalukya Kapu
• Challa
• Uggina
• Paggina
• Koraganji

Balija

Balijas are concentrated throughout Andhra and the Rayalaseema region, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka. This is the only sub-caste of Kapu that carries both the titles Setty and Naidu.

Balija is primarily a warrior/trading community by occupation, formed by a social change that occurred among some sections of the Kapu community. According to some historians, the original Balijas migrated from Balijipeta, Srikakulam district. Veera Balaingyas were mentioned in Kakatiya inscriptions as powerful and wealthy merchants who were highly respected in Kakatiyan society; the Balijas held the title Setty and were primarily tax collectors and merchants.

The following are among the major Balija ruling clans/dynasties that comprised the heart of the Vijayanagar Empire — it is also said that Emperor Krishnadevaraya had Balija/Kapu origins:

• Araveeti dynasty (the last dynasty of Vijayanagar; its ruler Ramaraya was a Kota Balija)
• Madurai Nayaks
• Tanjavur Nayaks
• Ceylon Khandi Kings
• Penukonda
• Kalyanadurg
• Rayadurgam
• Chandragiri
• Udayagiri

Kasturi Nayadu and Peda Koneti Nayudu of the Vasarasi family of the Balija caste ruled these provinces.

Most Balijas refer to themselves as Kapu/Telaga in Andhra and as Munnuru Kapu in Telangana. In the Rayalaseema area, however, they are not referred to as Kapu but as Balija/Setty Balija/Balija Naidu/Naidu — there, "Kapu" refers instead to Reddys, a different community. They retain the caste title Naidu regardless.

Balija Branches

• Setty Balija — the rich and powerful traders and merchants of the Kakatiya dynasty; historians note old trading guilds concentrated in Bellary, Karnataka, and suggest this was the first Balija branch.
• Balija Naidu — a derivation of "Balija Nayakulu," this sub-caste appears to have formed during the Kakatiya dynasty to protect Balija/Setty trading caravans from bandits. The present-day Anantapur and Nellore districts were ruled by Balija Naidu kings/families.
• Kota Balijas — the Araveedu dynasty of the Vijayanagar Empire descended from this lineage, as did the Madurai Nayaks and Tanjavur Nayaks.
• Gajula Balija / Sugavansi Balija — according to legend, Siva's wife Parvati did penance to look beautiful for Siva, and the person who brought her bangles riding a donkey was the ancestor of the Gajula Balija.
• Kavarai (Kavara Balija Naidu / Gavara Balija Naidu) — the name for Balijas (a Telugu trading caste) who settled in the Tamil country, per Thurston's Castes and Tribes of Southern India. Kavarais call themselves Balijas ("born from fire") and use the titles Naidu, Nayakkan, Chetti/Setti, and Nayak. Gajula Balija is the largest sub-division of Kavarais; its Tamil equivalent name, Valaiyal Chetti, reflects their historical work manufacturing and selling bangles.
• Rajamahendravaram Balija or Musu Kamma Balija — named after a special ear ornament worn by women.
• Gandavallu or Gundapodi Vandlu — reputed to have originally been Komatis.
• Odda (Vada) Balija — a sub-caste based in Visakhapatnam, Srikakulam, and East Godavari districts, a community of sea-faring traders and merchants.

Munnuru Kapu

Munnuru Kapus are primarily concentrated in the Telangana region of Andhra Pradesh and are farmers by occupation. The name Munnuru — meaning "three hundred" — appears to be of relatively recent origin. They were part of the Telaga community and served as the imperial guard of the Tanjore Nayaks. When the Nawabs of Hyderabad requested the Tanjore Nayaks send a battalion of their best infantry and cavalry for personal security, the Tanjore Nayak dispatched three hundred Telaga men and their families — the descendants of these three hundred families are now called Munnuru Kapu.

Munnuru Kapus have historically been associated with palace guard roles under various kingdoms, including the Tanjore Nayaks, Devarakonda, and the Nizam.

Telaga

The origin of the Telagas can be traced to the westward Chalukyan expansion into the Andhra region in the 6th century A.D. Telagas are among the most ancient warrior/agricultural clans of the Deccan and South India, specialised in warfare, and ruled over the Palnadu, Velanadu, and Renadu regions of Andhra Pradesh as feudatories and principal clans.

Some of the major and important Telaga dynasties include:

• Telugu Chodas
• Kona Kings
• Koppula Chiefs
• Musunuri Nayaks
• Korukonda Nayaks

The term Telaga is thought to derive from "Telingana" — Andhra was referred to as Telingana in ancient texts because the area contained three major Shivinsa-Aramas, hence "Tri-Linga," and the people there were called Telugus, speaking the Telugu language. The Telagas served as Nayakulu (governors), commanders, and vassals of the Western Chalukya rulers under Pulakesin — these commanders were also called Telugu Nayakulu, from which the community name may also derive.

They formed the bulwark of ancient Deccan and South Indian armies including the Cholas, Pallavas, Chalukyas, and Kakatiyas, and appear to have a connection with the Eastern Chalukyas. Vassals of the Chalukyas entered into matrimonial alliances that ultimately established the Chalukya–Chola dynasty; the Telugu Cholas are, in fact, the Telagas. The Telugu Cholas (Velanati Cholulu) of the Palnadu War supported Bramha Naidu in his conflict against Nalagam Raju, as did related dynasties such as the Renati Cholas, Konidena Cholas, Nannuru Cholas, and Nellore Chola kings.

Ontari

The Ontari community is concentrated mainly in Coastal Andhra and carries the titles Naidu and Dora. Ontari Kapus historically served as soldiers/special forces in Andhra kingdoms, specialising in individual weapons such as a sword or spear, primarily for special operations. Their surnames typically begin with a weapon name, such as Kattula (knife), Tupakula (pistol), or Kommula.

Turpu Kapu

"Turpu" means east in Telugu — Kapus living on the eastern frontier of Andhra Pradesh call themselves Turpu Kapus. Some rulers of coastal kingdoms came from this community. They are predominantly hard-working small and middle farmers, forming a majority community especially in Vizianagaram district, with many still holding feudal loyalty to the erstwhile Zamindars of Bobbili and Vizianagaram. In more recent times, political awakening within this caste group has led some representatives to become more politically active.

Naidu

The title's lineage traces: Nayaka → Nayudu → Naidu → Naicker → Naidoo, meaning "native captain" or "headman" — a title of honour among Hindus in the Deccan. Historically, "the kings of the Deccan also had a custom of honouring a man or rewarding his service by raising him to dignity and giving him the title of Nayak."

Many people carrying the Naidu surname had a remote ancestor who was a soldier promoted to "Nayaka," roughly equivalent to a Baron. They served as Nayaks under the Chalukyas, Kakatiyas, and Vijayanagar Emperors. The Kakatiya dynasty had many prominent Nayakas, several from a Kapu background, and the Vijayanagar kings also had several Nayakas of Kapu, Telaga, and Balija background.

Naidus, particularly of Kapu background, have migrated to several countries including the United Kingdom, South Africa, Mauritius, and the United States, and remain active in local Telugu and Tamil associations.