Nagartha
| Namadhari Nagartha | |
|---|---|
| Classification | Merchant |
| Religions | Hinduism |
| Languages | Kannada, Telugu language |
| Country | India |
| Populated States | Karnataka, Andhra |
| Region | South India |
| Endogamous | Yes |
| Subdivisions | Námadhári, Śiwáchár, Lingayatha |
| Disputed grouping | Vaishya |
| Status | Backward |
The Nagartha or Nagarta are a Hindu caste of south India of merchants or agriculturalists. The Nagartha are rich and powerful people and also covered under OBC and BC categories which entitles the community reservations for jobs and political representation.The poorer members of the community have benefited immensely by such government policies and bringing economic equality with in the community. Traditionally the Nagartha were merchants and sometimes farm owners who did not work their own land. Now, in addition to being merchants, Nagartha are bankers and work in the private sector.
The Nagartha live in Karnataka and Andhra.[1] Most Nagartha live in urban areas nowadays most of them have migrated to city township.
The Bramhins consider them as Vaishyas and perform the Vedic rituals conducted as per the rites of Bramhins and Vaishyas. Nagartha consider themselves Vaishya and for this reason they practice Brahmin marriage and funeral rites. The honorific suffix added to their personal names is Setty.
Subdivisions
The Nagartha are divided into two main sects and a number of smaller sects. The Námadhári sect worship the god Vishnu and the Śiwáchár or Lingadhari worship Shiva. The Śiwáchár wear a lingam.
Traditionally the Nagartha culture practices endogamy, and marriages are within the specific sect, except that a Śiwáchár man may marry a Námadhári woman who then forsakes her family and culture. It was not culturally acceptable for Śiwáchár women to marry a Námadhári man. Modern practices are more flexible, particularly between Śiwáchár and Námadhári intermarriages. Námadhári eat only in the houses of Brahmins and Śiwáchár only in the houses of Jangams and Aradya Brahmins. Marriage's between Śiwáchár and Iyers and similarly between Iyengars and Námadhári's occur in rural areas to an extent and less in the urban areas.
Nagartha were sometimes known as Ayodhyanagaradavaru since they migrated to southern India from Ayodhya a long time ago, although its use is now infrequent. While they are known as Námadhári Nagartha in Karnataka, in Tamil Nadu they are known as Ayiravaishyar, and the Tamil speaking Beri Nagartha are found in Andhra Pradesh Telugu speaking.
References
- ↑ "Nagarta Peoples Map" (PDF). Joshua Project . Retrieved 23 January 2012.
Further reading
- Iyer, L.K.A.K.; Nanjundayya, H.V. (1935). The Mysore Tribes and Castes 4. University of Mysore.