Bhatraju (also transliterated as Bhatrazu; Telugu: భట్రాజు) is an Indian caste of Telugu-speaking ballad reciters, panegyrists, and religious musicians.[1][2][3] They are primarily found in the states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana and also in smaller numbers in the neighbouring states. They are also known as Bhatturaju or Bhataraju or Bhatrajulu or Jathikirthulu.[4] Bhatrajus are classified under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) in most states of Southern India.[5][6][7] They use Raju as their caste title.[3]
The Bhatrajus were originally a caste of court bards, eulogists, and reciters of family genealogy and tradition.[4][8] After the fall of indigenous kingdoms, they became mendicants or switched to singing religious songs and praises of richer communities and their traditions in weddings and death ceremonies.[9][10][11] They are typically non-vegetarians.[3]
History
Bhatraju population is concentrated in Rayalaseema region of Andhra Pradesh to where they were posited to have migrated from Northern Circars.[12] They were originally attached to the courts of the Hindu princes as bards or professional troubadours, reciting ballads in poetry in glorification of the wondrous deeds of local princes and heroes.[12] Rama Raja Bhushanadu, a 16th century poet in the court of Rama Raya of Vijayanagara Empire, is believed to be a Bhatraju.[13][14][15]
Bhatrajus 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] Castes and Tribes of Southern India (1909) notes that Bhatrazus were the only non-Brahmin caste, except Jangams and Pandārams, which performs the duties of guru or religious instructor.[3][12]
In Madras Census Report, 1871, they were described as, "a wandering class, gaining a living by attaching themselves to the establishments of great men, or in chanting the folklore of the people." Madras Census Report, 1891, describes them as, "being a class of professional bards, spread all over the Telugu districts. They are well versed in folklore, and in the family histories and legends of the ancient Rājahs. Under the old Hindu Rājahs the Bhatrāzus were employed as bards, eulogists, and reciters of family genealogy and tradition. Most of them are now cultivators, and only a few are ballad-reciters."[3] In the present-day, Bhatrajus are also found in smaller numbers in the states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.[16][6]
In December 2022, Government of Andhra Pradesh banned the phrase Bhatraju Pogadtalu (Template:Translation) in all spheres including media, film, TV, and political meetings. People using the phrase would be liable to legal action.[17]
Notable people
- Rama Raja Bhushanadu (Template:Flourished), Telugu poet in the Vijayanagara court[13][14][15]
- Sathya Sai Baba (1926–2011), spiritual guru[3][18][19]
References
- ↑ Satellite Castes and Dependent Relations: Dalits in South India{{#if:Rajpramukh|, Rajpramukh}. Partridge Publishing(13 August 2013). ISBN 978-1-4828-1057-8
- ↑ Journal of the Indian Anthropological Society{{#if:|, }. The Society(1977)
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 Sathya Sai Baba as Avatar: "His Story" and the History of an Idea, Spurr, Michael James. University of Canterbury.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 People of India: Andhra Pradesh (3 pts.){{#if:Singh|, Singh}. Anthropological Survey of India(1992). ISBN 978-81-7671-006-0
- ↑ Central List of OBCs for the state of Andhra Pradesh Template:Webarchive, p. 4 (64 - Bhataraju)
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Guidance Bureau. Department of Backward Classes - Karnataka.
- ↑ Central List of OBCs for the state of Tamil Nadu Template:Webarchive, p. 1 (12 - Bhatraju)
- ↑ People of India: Tamil Nadu{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}. Affiliated East-West Press [for] Anthropological Survey of India(1997). ISBN 978-81-85938-88-2
- ↑ Gurus of Modern Yoga{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}. Oxford University Press(27 November 2013). ISBN 978-0-19-937495-3
- ↑ Budubudakkalas, the Traditional Beggars in South India. Skylines of Anthropology({Template:Date).
- ↑ Report of the Backward Classes Commission{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}. National Commission for Backward Classes(1955)
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 Bhatrāzu(1909).
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Telugu Sahitya Samiksha{{#if:G. Nagayya|, G. Nagayya}. Navyapariśōdhaka Prachuraṇalu(1983)
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Sri Visvakalyana Bhagavatamu: Drusya Kavyamu{{#if:Vellanki Umakantha Sastri|, Vellanki Umakantha Sastri}. Visalandhra Publishing House(1994)
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 ఆంధ్ర కవుల చరిత్రము - రెండవ భాగము{{#if:Kandukuri Veeresalingam|, Kandukuri Veeresalingam}. హితకారిణీ సమాజము(1949)
- ↑ Report of the Backward Classes Commission, Tamil Nadu, 1970{{#if:|, }. Government of Tamil Nadu(1975)
- ↑ ఏపీలో ఆ పదం పలకడం నేరం- నిషేధించిన ప్రభుత్వం: సినిమాలు, సీరియళ్లల్లో కూడా..!!, Rao, Chandrasekhar. Oneindia(21 December 2022). Retrieved 1 May 2023.
- ↑ A phenomenon called Sathya Sai Baba, Rao, A. Srinivasa. India Today. Retrieved 2019-12-10.
- ↑ Winged Faith: Rethinking Globalization and Religious Pluralism through the Sathya Sai Movement{{#if:Srinivas|, Srinivas}. Columbia University Press(2010-06-10). ISBN 978-0-231-52052-2