Kunchitiga

Kunchitiga are a community of people from Karnataka, India. They are concentrated mostly in Tumkur and the cities of Bangalore and Mysore. They are also found in the Chitradurga district.[1] They are classified under the General/Unreserved Category by the Central Government of India. [2]

Kunchitiga
Regions with significant populations
Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, India
Languages
Kannada
Related ethnic groups
Dravidian · Kannadiga

Origins and legends

While the exact origins of the community is disputed till date, there seems a consistent legend describing the migration of the community from the north to the south of India.

Legend has it that Kunchitigas were originally from northern parts of India and were forced to migrate south due to various circumstances prevailing in that region. In most legends concerning this migration a Muslim ruler is involved, who is said to have coveted the daughter of the community's chief.[3] Their leader/progenitor was one Undetharaya who whilst fleeing the said Muslim ruler, was unable to cross an overflowing river( Some legends claim the river to be Godavari and some as Ganges[3]) and was helped by a Kuruba Gowda called "Jaladhi Bapparaya" on the promise that the community would be named after him. He is said to have offered himself as sacrifice to the river goddess at which an easy passage was created for the fleeing people. Jaladhi Bapparaya was holding a Kuncha(cluster) used to weave woolen blankets in his hands, a symbol of his profession. Undetharaya is said to have named his community as Kunchitiga in his honour. Undetharaya is also said to have given his daughter in marriage to the corpse of the Kuruba Gowda, who was then revived by divine grace. Their union thus heralded the start of a new community.[3]

It is also believed that they are descended from the Pallavas. A group of Pallavas who settled in Udigere and Sidigere (Chitradurga District) after being ousted from Kanchipuram by the Cholas were called ‘kanchinatugar‘, which became kanchitiga and later kunchitiga. The first inscription(ಶಾಸನ) about kunchitiga was found in yaradukere (kalyanadurga taluk, AP).

They are also found in interior parts of Tamil Nadu. They were associated with Wodeyars of Mysore, among other rulers. Wodeyars were frequently battling Madurai Nayakars and had briefly won Dindigal and Theni after Chanda Sahib got rid of the Madurai Nayaka dynasty (1736). Mysore king also sent Hyder Ali to govern the land. (1755). Kunchitigas are believed to have gotten land grants in Dindigal and Theni then. They are also associated with expansion of Dindigal fort.


Sub Divisions

It is believed that Kunchitigas originally had 101 Gothras. Currently people of the following 48 gothras are found in the Karnataka region. Endogamous marriages within the same gothra are forbidden.[4]

1. Unde kunchitigaruThey were preparing and selling Vibhoothi unde
2. Janakal kunchitigaruThey were the merchants of (satekallu) Sanekallu
3. Arasu kunchitigaruThey ruled the Kingdom as kings.
4. Jalede kunchitigaruDescendants of Jaladhi Bapparaya who helped to cross the river
5. Rage kunchitigaruThey grow ragi and sold as merchants
6. Havina kunchitigaruThey are the descendants of Havinakamaraya He was a godly person
7. Atte kunchitigaruThe merchants to tamarian fruits.
8. Aluva kunchitigaruThose who established new provinces and ruled them
9. Dhanyada kunchitigaruThose who were looking after stores of food grains
10. Eradukere kunchitigaruThose who built two tanks at the same time and ruled the area.
11. Karadi kunchitigaruThose catching the bear and giving training to it to move and dance
12. Halu kunchitigaruCowherds who collected milk and sold it.
13. Sure kunchitigaruThey were worshipping the sun as their God.
14. Basale kunchitigaruThey grow basale plants and sold basale leaves.
15. Yamme kunchitigaruThey were tending buffalo.
16. Yere kunchitigaruThey were shifting "Asugalu "from one place to the other.
17. Huliyaru kunchitigaruThey were establishing tamarind gardens.
18. Shetti kunchitigaruThey were fully engaged in Business.
19. Goni kunchitigaruThey were weaving gunny bags and sold them.
20. Alpe kunchitigaruThey rendered their service in the army.
21. Belly kunchitigaruMerchants of silver.
22. Ande kunchitigaruThey were preparing utensils and sold them.
23. Jeerige kunchitigaruThey grew Jeerige and sold it.
24. Katara kunchitigaruThey were holding sword and fight.
25. Hona kunchitigaruThey established groups or cluster of trees or Gardens.
26. Kage kunchitigaruThey were worshiping crow as their God's incarnation
27. Manase kunchitigaruThey grow Pepper(Menasu in Kannada) and sold it.
28. Kambali kunchitigaruThey were weaving woollen blankets(Kambali in Kannada) and selling them.
29. Yele kunchitigaruThey were weaving Muthugada leaves for meals and selling
30. Mayi kunchitigaruThey grow mango Gardens.
31. Harale kunchitigaruThey grow cotton and sold it.
32. Garike kunchitigaruThey were worshiping "Garike" plant thinking it as "Benaka"
33. Saranga kunchitigaruThey are associated with the animal "Saranga".
34. Ravutha kunchitigaruThey rode horses.
35. Hutta kunchitigaruThey were worshipping Ant-hill (hutha).
36. Gudi kunchitigaruThey were marching in the procession in the holding flags.
37. Jari kunchitigaruThey believed centipede as God and do not kill it.
38. Gali kunchitigaruThey were catching fish using Hooks(Gala in Kannada)
39. Baduva kunchitigaruThey were beating drums on the forts and giving signals to the Army about the enemy.
40. Dasale kunchitigaruThey served in Army with their spear (Eeti in Kannada) & Shield (Gurani in Kannada).
41. Ulle kunchitigaruThey were growing plenty of Horsegram.
42. Aste kunchitigaruThey were helping staff to all the eight ministers of the king.
43. Shastra kunchitigaruThey were praising their kings in the palace with thousands of Descriptions.
44. Damagutti kunchitigaruThey were beating drum (Dhakke) in the palace
45. Kogge kunchitigaruThey were feeding birds and animals by the help of worm "Kogge"
46. Kakke kunchitigaruThey were worshipping plants called "kakke"
47. Meesalu kunchitigaruThey were preparing "Bhasinga" and Thondila.
48. Holakal kunchitigaruThey were sleeping at the time of dividing gothras and came at end.

The following gothras are found outside the Karnataka region.[3]

  1. Kallakanteyavaru
  2. Jakkeladavaru
  3. Thandadavaru
  4. Koddagerenavaru
  5. Saakuvalleru
  6. Kodehalliyavaru
  7. Kottagereyavaru
  8. Huttenavaru
  9. Kalledavaru
  10. Nimbenavaru
  11. Devanavaru
  12. Hallakattanavaru
  13. Uravinevaru (Uravinoru)

References
  1. K. Balasubramanyam; India. Superintendent of Census Operations, Mysore; India. Office of the Registrar General (1965). Mysore: handicraft survey monographs : crafts using wood as the chief raw material. Census of India, 1961. Manager of Publications.
  2. "Kunchitigas, Raju Kshatriyas request inclusion into OBC category".
  3. M, Puttaiah (1973) [1973]. Kunchitigara Samajada Charitre. Bangalore. p. 21.
  4. M, Puttaiah (1973) [1973]. Kunchitigara Samajada Charitre. Bangalore. p. 95.

This article is extracted from "Kunchitigara Parampare haagu Samaja Sudharakaru" by Dr V. Anjanappa. Published by "Vishwa Kunchitigara Parishath" (first edition-2009)

Sri S R Ravindra kumar swamiji Suryapura Mutt, koratagere taluk, tumakur District.

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