Bhatraju

Bhatraju is an Indian caste of Telugu-speaking poets, ballad reciters, panegyrists, and religious musicians.[1][2][3] They are primarily found in the states of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, and also in smaller numbers in the neighbouring states like Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. They are also known as Bhatt Murtis or Bhatrajulu or Rai Bhats or Bhat Rajah or Brahma Kshatriya or simply Rajus.[4] The Bhatrajus were originally a caste of court bards, poets, eulogists, and reciters of family genealogy and tradition.[5] After the fall of indigenous kingdoms (historical claim: from the Bhatti Rajput clan of North-West India), they migrated downward to South Indian regions in the search of livelihood. During the reign of Kakatiya rulers, they were allowed to integrate into the society by contributing their literary knowledge of Sanskrit. Eventually they instilled pious positions by devoting their duties as temple coordinators, priests and they switched to singing religious songs,[6] poetry and praises of richer land lords and performing their respective Dharmic traditions in wedding and other auspicious occasions. They use Raju as their caste title.[3]They hold the primary Brahman Gothras like Bharadwaja, Kashyapa, Athreyasa, Srivasta etc. It is one of the few Brahmanic castes that has maintained the continuity of Sacred Thread called as Upanayanam. The Bhatrajus wear the sacred thread like the Brahmins and are well versed in sacred literature. They call themselves Rajus (Rajputs) claiming half-decent from ancient Kshatriya clans. Bhatrajus are classified under the Other Backward Classes in most states of Southern India, with less than 500,000 living in AP/TS regions today.[7][8][9]

History

Bhatraju population is concentrated in North Western part of Telangana and Rayalaseema region of Andhra Pradesh to where they were posited to have migrated from Northern Circars after the fall of Bhatti Rajput kingdoms. They were originally attached to the courts of the Hindu kingdoms as poets, bards or professional troubadours, reciting ballads in poetry in glorification of the wondrous deeds of local princes and heroes. They were described as, "having a wonderful faculty in speaking improvisatore, on any subject proposed to them. But their profession is that of chanting the exploits of former days in front of the troops while marshalling them for battle, and inciting them to emulate the glory of their ancestors."[3]

As progress concurrently happened they were well versed as Landlords in regions of North West Telangana, and Coastal Andhra Pradesh, credibly called as Patwaris and Patels.

By the erstwhile end of 1800s they established themselves into the Telugu society as Teachers, Poets and Government officials. As of now most of them are highly educated individuals working as Professionals in various Industries and Disciplines. Very less populace has still held onto the Poetical and Ballad lineage. While a majority of the older generation still practice those customs, and rely upon cultivation in rural areas.

Notable people

References
  1. Rajpramukh, K. E. (2013-08-13). Satellite Castes and Dependent Relations: Dalits in South India. Partridge Publishing. p. 38. ISBN 978-1-4828-1057-8.
  2. Journal of the Indian Anthropological Society. The Society. 1977. p. 134.
  3. Spurr, Michael James. "Sathya Sai Baba as Avatar: "His Story" and the History of an Idea" (PDF). University of Canterbury.
  4. Singh, Kumar Suresh (1992). People of India: Andhra Pradesh (3 pts.). Anthropological Survey of India. p. 339. ISBN 978-81-7671-006-0.
  5. Singh, Kumar Suresh (1992). People of India: Andhra Pradesh (3 pts.). Anthropological Survey of India. pp. xlii. ISBN 978-81-7671-006-0.
  6. Singleton, Mark; Goldberg, Ellen (2013-11-27). Gurus of Modern Yoga. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-937495-3.
  7. Central List of OBCs for the state of Andhra Pradesh, p. 4 (64 - Bhataraju)
  8. Department of Backward Classes Archived 2012-02-13 at the Wayback Machine, #8 - Bhatraju
  9. Central List of OBCs for the state of Tamil Nadu, p. 1 (12 - Bhatraju)
  10. Rao, A. Srinivasa. "A phenomenon called Sathya Sai Baba". India Today. Retrieved 2019-12-10.
  11. Srinivas, Tulasi (2010-06-10). Winged Faith: Rethinking Globalization and Religious Pluralism through the Sathya Sai Movement. Columbia University Press. p. 54. ISBN 978-0-231-52052-2.
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