BALIJA/KAPU/TELAGA/ONTARI

Balija is a social group of the  Indian  states of  Andhra Pradesh ,  Tamil Nadu ,  Karnataka , and  Kerala . In Karnataka, they are known as Banajigas. ORIGINS: Variations of the name in use in the medieval era were Balanja, Bananja, Bananju, and Banijiga, with probable cognates Balijiga, Valanjiyar, Balanji, Bananji and derivatives such as Baliga, all of which are said to be derived from the Sanskrit term Vanik or Vanij, for trader. Beginning in the 11th century, references are found in inscriptions throughout the Kannada and Tamil areas to a trading network, which is sometimes referred to as a guild, called the  Five Hundred Lords of Ayyavolu . From the 13th century, inscriptions referring to "Vira Balanjyas" (warrior merchants) started appearing in the Andhra country. The Vira Balanjyas, whose origins are often claimed to lie in the Ayyavolu, represented long-di...