Nayak (title)
Encyclopedia
Nayak, Nayaka, Nayakar, Nayakkar, Naik, Naiker, Naicker, Naickan, Naiken, Nayakkan, Naidu, Nayudu or Naidoo is a common title used by various caste and ethnic groups across India
. They are all derivatives of the original Sanskrit Nayaka, meaning a leader. The community history of various groups that use this title differs from place to place.
The origin of the Sinhalese Naickers in Sri Lanka can be traced to the Kandy Kings who descended from the Madurai Nayak dynasty. They adopted Buddhism and changed their surname to Sinha. The suffix Boya
used by the Sinhalese in Sri Lanka is a caste of the Naickers well known for their fearsome brutality in battle. In Tamil Nadu they are called Boyan. The name Nayagam used by the Jaffna Tamils is directly related to the Sri Lankan Sinhalese Nayakes and Boyar, a close genetic link.
Thus the term Amaranayakara may be taken to refer to a military chief who was granted land, yielding a fixed revenue for the sovereign.
period and was conferred to whoever served as a commander in the military. Its use spread throughout the Deccan during the expansion of the Vijayanagar Empire, the title was conferred upon individuals who served as commanders or governors. It was predominant during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries in Vijayanagar dynasty in southern India
The provincial three level administration of the Vijayanagara empire consisted of:
The first division of administration was the royal family who held ultimate power. In the second type of provinces, the administration was done by the feudal vassals, variously called Samanta, Nayaka, etc. The system of administration of the kingdom through these feudal vassals (Nayakas) is known as the Nayankara system in the Vijayanagara times. This system resembles somewhat the feudal system of medieval Europe. The king being the owner of the soil granted lands to some persons as a reward. They were called nayakas and ruled over the territory under their charge with great freedom. In return they had to pay a fixed amount as tribute to the king besides maintaining a prescribed number of troops for the service of the sovereign during war. On ceremonial occasions, these Nayakas offered the king great presents of money and costly gifts or presentations. Failure to conform to these obligations was liable for punishment.
The governors were required to submit regular accounts of the income and expenditure of their charges to the central government and render military aid in times of necessity. They maintained an agent at the imperial capital to keep themselves informed of the happenings at the court. In case of oppressive and tyrannical governors, the central government used to transfer them from one place to another. The autonomy enjoyed by these governors later led to the disruption of the empire under incompetent rulers.
The position of Nayaka was quite different from that of the Governor. He was merely a military vassal who had been assigned a district in lieu of certain military and financial obligations. He was not transferable and his office was personal but later on became hereditary, when the kings at the centre became weak. The Nayakas maintained two agents, one military and the other civil, representing their masters interests at the imperial city. The Nayankara system had its own merits and demerits. It was because of this system of administration, new settlements were formed, irrigation facilities were extended, new hands were brought under cultivation and Hindu culture and civilization was fostered and developed. However the amount of autonomy which the Nayakas enjoyed gave them sufficient opportunity to engage themselves in local wars and mutual feuds. They even defied at times the central authority. In spite of its inherent weaknesses, it served its purpose tolerably well.
into Andhra country during the 7th Century. The Nayaka / Danda Nayaka term started being used during the Vishnukundina
dynasty which ruled from the Krishna and Godavari deltas during the 3rd Century A.D. Little is known about the title usage prior to that.
In Tamil Nadu
, Naicker title is used to denote persons of Telugu
or Kannada origins who moved into Tamil lands with the expansion of Vijayanagar
empire. They were also referred to as Vadugar or Northerners. Both titles carry the same meaning.
In the medieval times, the title Naidu was associated primarily with the people who served as commanders under various Andhra dynasties, such as Chalukya, Kakatiya
, etc. However, during the expansion of the Vijayanagar kingdom into Southern India, the title was conferred upon other non-Telugu speaking communities who served as Commanders, Barons or Governors under the Vijayanagar emperors in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka—hence the widespread usage of the surname Naidu among many non-Telugu speaking communities in states like Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and Orissa.
The word Naidu is used by the older writers in southern India in several senses, of which the following example given by Yule and Burnell may be cited:
Though originally not meant to be a heredity title, by modern times, the Nayaka / Naicker / Naidu title had been inherited by many, although they no longer were governors, army commanders or tax collectors.
origins, whereas the title Naicker is used by both Tamil
and Telugu
speakers. Both titles carry the same meaning.
A section of Vanniars use Naicker as title in northern parts of Tamil Nadu and southern parts of Karnataka.
In South Africa
a variant spelling of "Naidoo" is used amongst its Telugu citizens. The usage may not denote Telugu ancestry any longer as intermarriages had diluted such identities. In Mauritius
it is a common surname of Tamil populations. In Fiji
, Trinidad and Tobago
and Guyana
, it is a surname of the broader Indian diaspora. In Malaysia it is used by Telugus to denote their Telugu ancestry.
Naicker
It is used as a title in Sri Lanka
and the people of Tamil origin of South Africa
. It is used in Malaysia, Singapore
, Mauritius
and Réunion
as common surname amongst Tamil citizens of these countries. The Nayake surname and title is used by the Sinhalese people of Sri Lanka.
Others
The protector groups in the Afghan Pashtunwali
system are called Naiks.
--203.153.221.14 (talk) 18:37, 12 November 2011 (UTC)--203.153.221.14 (talk) 18:37, 12 November 2011 (UTC) nayakkar,origin Andera through Thanjayur(marukur)throug mooththavinayagar Nallur,jaffna(thiravedar famili)
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. They are all derivatives of the original Sanskrit Nayaka, meaning a leader. The community history of various groups that use this title differs from place to place.
Title Usage in North India
- Naik or Naik-Gond [in Maharashtra]: They are agriculturists and agricultural labourers.
- Nayak [in Chhattisgarh]: they are Manva KurmiKurmiThe Kurmi are a Hindu agricultural Jāti in India.The group has been associated with the Kunbi, though scholars differ as to whether the terms are synonymous. In 2006, the Indian government announced that Kurmi was considered synonymous with the Kunbi and Yellam castes in Maharashtra...
Kshatriyas, having large presence in Raipur, Durg, Ranjnandgaon and Dhamtari regions of Chhattisgarh. - Nayak [in Gujarat]: are performers of bhavais (religious dramas) and inter-marry with Bhojaks (pujaris). They are a subunit of Targala [Brahmin] (or Bhavaiya), are practicing JainsJainismJainism is an Indian religion that prescribes a path of non-violence towards all living beings. Its philosophy and practice emphasize the necessity of self-effort to move the soul towards divine consciousness and liberation. Any soul that has conquered its own inner enemies and achieved the state...
[3]. - Nayak [in Gujarat]:is a title used by the Audichya brahmins.
- Naik-Nayak [in Gujarat]: is a title used by the Anavil brahmins.
- Nayak [in Gujarat]: is a low or middle caste of Gujarat together with the Kanbi-Leva, Lohana, RajputRajputA Rajput is a member of one of the patrilineal clans of western, central, northern India and in some parts of Pakistan. Rajputs are descendants of one of the major ruling warrior classes in the Indian subcontinent, particularly North India...
and Baraiya [7]. - Naik [in Gujarat]: is a title used by the Pattidars of Central Gujarat.
- Nayaka [in Gujarat]: is an aboriginal tribe. The headman amongst the Lambadis is called Naik.
- Nayak [in Himachal Pradesh, Haryana and Punjab]: is also called Aheri, Ahori or Aheria, Heri, Thori or Turi.
- Naik or Naik [in Uttar Pradesh]: is a BanjaraBanjaraThe Banjara are a class of usually described as nomadic people from the Indian state of Rajasthan, North-West Gujarat, and Western Madhya Pradesh and Eastern Sindh province of pre-independence Pakistan...
tribe. In the former United Provinces, Behar and the Kumaon region. - Naik [in Orissa and central province]: family name used by a small non-aryan caste, Taonia, derived principally from the Khond tribe [8].
- Nayak [in Delhi]: Nayak are in OBC in Delhi.
- Nayak [in Rajasthan]: Nayak are in ST in Rajasthan.
- Naik, Nayak and Nayaka [in Madhya Pradesh]: a title used by Jijotiya Descendants of King Harshavardhana brahmins.
- Naik [in Bihar]: a caste similar to the Mahato and Munchi.
- Naik [in Eastern India]: is a title, like Rally, taken by the Ghasi and Nag (Naga peopleNaga peopleThe term Naga people refers to a conglomeration of several tribes inhabiting the North Eastern part of India and north-western Burma. The tribes have similar cultures and traditions, and form the majority ethnic group in the Indian state of Nagaland...
). - Naik [in Bengal]: is the name of a low agricultural caste and is another name for the BedarBédarBédar is a municipality of Almería province, in the autonomous community of Andalusia, Spain.-Demographics:-External links: - Sistema de Información Multiterritorial de Andalucía - Diputación Provincial de Almería...
caste. - Naik [in central provinces]: a title such as Raja, PradhanPradhanPradhan is a high, generally ministerial, title of Sanskrit origin in cultures of Hindu tradition, mainly in and around the Indian subcontinent. Pradhan literally means "Prime"...
or Povar (Pawar), Mankar or Chaudhri taken by the BhilBhilBhils are primarily an Adivasi people of Central India. Bhils are also settled in the Tharparkar District of Sindh, Pakistan. They speak the Bhil languages, a subgroup of the Western Zone of the Indo-Aryan languages....
s. - Naik and Nayak [in Orissa]: is the title of various Oriya KhandayatKhandayatWith pass of time education became prominent part of life and those educated people depicted kshytriyas next to them in literature and books. After Muslim invasion of India Kshyatrias lost their power and dominance and mostly concentrated in cultivation to survive...
/ warrior castes. They trace their lineage from the Kshatriya rulers of Orissa. Many notable personalities of the trading castes were also appointed to key positions as Nayakas in the military of Kalinga. - In south Kanara of Karnataka state the 96 kuli Maratha people(also known as marathi in the area) using common term Naik insted of using their sirnames like More jadhav, yadhav,Madhav,shevade like on there are more than hundreds of surnames,they are having now they are also getting the scheduled tribe benefit although they belongs to kshatriya caste nayak in up brahmins.
Title usage in South India
- Nayak or Nayaka [in KarnatakaKarnatakaKarnataka , the land of the Kannadigas, is a state in South West India. It was created on 1 November 1956, with the passing of the States Reorganisation Act and this day is annually celebrated as Karnataka Rajyotsava...
and Andhra Pradesh]: is a title used by the Bedaru, Cheptegara, Charodi, Kannadiyan, ValmikiValmikiValmiki is celebrated as the poet harbinger in Sanskrit literature. He is the author of the epic Ramayana, based on the attribution in the text of the epic itself. He is revered as the Adi Kavi, which means First Poet, for he discovered the first śloka i.e...
, Servegara, Siviyar, Toreya, Boyar (caste)Boyar (caste)A boyar, also spelled boya, meaning Hunter or Warrior, denotes the leader of a group or head of a territory. They constitute the Kshatriya or Warrior class of India and are believed to have originated from an ancient people called the Kirata , a generic term in Sanskrit literature for people who...
, gangawar, Palegar, Ramoshi, Vedan and VokkaligaVokkaligaThe Vokkaligas are an Indian caste or social group found mainly in the Old Mysore Region of southern Karnataka state. In Tamil Nadu they are known as Okkaligar and use Gowder as a title...
. - Nayak and Naik [in KarnatakaKarnatakaKarnataka , the land of the Kannadigas, is a state in South West India. It was created on 1 November 1956, with the passing of the States Reorganisation Act and this day is annually celebrated as Karnataka Rajyotsava...
and Goa]: is a surname used by the Konkani speaking GSB and RSBRajapur Saraswat BrahminsRājāpur/Bhālāvalikar Gauda Sāraswat Brāhmins , as they are known, belong to the "Pancha Gauda Brahmana" groups or "Gaudadi Panchakas". Rājāpur Sāraswat Brahmins are a branch of the saraswat brahmins, who were supposed to have resided on the banks of the legendary Saraswati River. They migrated to...
community people. It is a title used by the Tulu speaking Nadavas or Bunts and their kannada speaking counterparts in adjoining Uttara KannadaUttara KannadaUttara Kannada also known as North Canara or North Kanara, is a district in the southern Indian state of Karnataka. It is bordered by the state of Goa and Belgaum District to the north, Dharwad District and Haveri District to the east, Shimoga District and Udupi District to the south and the...
district. Mogers in some parts of South Canara prefer the title Naiker instead of the caste title of Marakaleru. The title is also used by Kannada speaking people settled in the MalnadMalnadMalenadu is a region of Karnataka state in South India. Malenadu covers the western and eastern slopes of the Western Ghats, roughly 100 kilometers in width. Malenadu covers portions of the Shimoga, Chikmagalur, Uttara Kannada, Kodagu and Hassan districts....
region of KarnatakaKarnatakaKarnataka , the land of the Kannadigas, is a state in South West India. It was created on 1 November 1956, with the passing of the States Reorganisation Act and this day is annually celebrated as Karnataka Rajyotsava...
. - Naicker [in Tamil Nadu]: used by various castes such as Vanniyar Naicker, Tholuva Naicker (Tulava Naicker), boya naicker, gangawar naicker, Vettalakara Naicker, Thottai Naicker. It is also a title used by the Telugu speaking people who settled in the Tanjore Madura regions [9]. Thottia Naickers such as Rajakambalam, Gollavar, Sillayar, Thokalavar and Tholuva Naicker use the title Naicker. Rajakambalam or Gollavar are found in Tiruppur District, Sathyamangalam and Gopichettipalayam of Erode District and in the Southern States of Tamil Nadu. It is also used by the Pallis, Irulas and Vedans.
- Naidu [in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu]: According to Edgar Thurston (Castes and Tribes of Southern India Vol. 5; p.138) "Naidu" or "Nayudu" is a title used by several Telugu castes (in alphabetical order): Balija, Bestha, Boyar caste, Ekari, gangawar(boyar), Gavara, Golla, Kalingi, Kamma, Kapu, Mudirajus, and Velama. It is also used as a caste title by other communities such as the Odde, Tottiyan, ReddyReddyReddy is a social group or caste of India, predominantly inhabiting Andhra Pradesh. They are enlisted as a forward caste by the government. Traditionally, they are a high-caste community of nobility, warriors and cultivators. According to academics, they were a warrior caste in the remote past and...
, TelagaTelagaTelaga is a community of Andhra and concentrated primarily in the coastal areas of Andhra Pradesh. The Telagas are one of the ancient Warrior Clans and Feudal Landlords of India who had links to all the major Ruling Dynasties of South India like Chalukya,Chola,Kakateeya and Vijayanagar...
, Uppiliyan, IdigaIdigaIdiga or Ediga is a Hindu community of people concentrated in south central areas of Karnataka. Idigas are involved in soma and Ayurvedic medicine developers in ancient days who are classified as Somavanshi Kshatriyas. In some parts of Karanataka they also called deevaru which means islanders...
and ValmikiValmikiValmiki is celebrated as the poet harbinger in Sanskrit literature. He is the author of the epic Ramayana, based on the attribution in the text of the epic itself. He is revered as the Adi Kavi, which means First Poet, for he discovered the first śloka i.e...
. - Nair [in Kerala]: is said to be the corruption of the word Nayak in Malayalam.
- Naicker [in Kerala]: is a title used by the Jen Kurumbas (jungle folk) in Wynad.
- Naik [in Maharashtra and Goa]: is a kul (clan) of the Gabits who call themselves Konkani Marathas [4].
- Naik [in Goa and Konkan]: Satarkars and Naik castes performed rituals in hamlets. After the arrival of the Maratha tribe, they named both of them as Naiks and some of them formed a separate caste named BhandariBhandariFor other uses, see Bhandari .Bhandari caste is among the sea-faring warrior castes of ancient and medieval India. They migrated southward from Rajputana in early 1100 and subsequently spread over different parts of India...
with toddy tapping as profession. Mundaris in some villages in Goa were also named Naik [16].
Title usage in Sri Lanka
- The suffix Nayaka or Nayake was used in titles denoting leadership. Examples of this are Gajanakaya (LordLordLord is a title with various meanings. It can denote a prince or a feudal superior . The title today is mostly used in connection with the peerage of the United Kingdom or its predecessor countries, although some users of the title do not themselves hold peerages, and use it 'by courtesy'...
in charge of the Elephant CavalryCavalryCavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...
in a Kingdom), Dissanayaka (Lord in charge of a province - roughly equivalent to a DukeDukeA duke or duchess is a member of the nobility, historically of highest rank below the monarch, and historically controlling a duchy...
), and Basnayaka (Lord in charge of temple duties).
The origin of the Sinhalese Naickers in Sri Lanka can be traced to the Kandy Kings who descended from the Madurai Nayak dynasty. They adopted Buddhism and changed their surname to Sinha. The suffix Boya
Boya
Boya may refer to:*Boya, Western Australia, locality on the Darling Scarp, in the Shire of Mundaring, Western Australia*Boya, Nepal*Boya people, an ethnic group in Sudan*Boyar caste, Boyar caste of India*Casati Boya, paint manufacturer in Turkey...
used by the Sinhalese in Sri Lanka is a caste of the Naickers well known for their fearsome brutality in battle. In Tamil Nadu they are called Boyan. The name Nayagam used by the Jaffna Tamils is directly related to the Sri Lankan Sinhalese Nayakes and Boyar, a close genetic link.
Etymology in South India
As a conferred title:- The term Nayankara is an abbreviation of Amaranayenkara, composed of three syllables, Amara, Nayaka and ara.
- Amara literally stands for a command of a thousand foot soldiers.
- Nayaka stands for the military chief who held land from the king.
- Kara probably means an office.
Thus the term Amaranayakara may be taken to refer to a military chief who was granted land, yielding a fixed revenue for the sovereign.
- Medieval Andhra dynasties like the Vishnukundins and Chalukyas conferred the title Nayaka / Nayakudu to a commander or a leader of a band of soldiers.
- A title bestowed (to usually warriors) who had received land and the title as a part of the Nayankarapuvaram system for services rendered to the court during the KakatiyaKakatiyaThe Kakatiya dynasty was an Indian dynasty that ruled most parts of what is now Andhra Pradesh, India from 1083 CE to 1323 CE, with Orugallu , now Warangal , as its capital. Orugallu is also called 'Eka Sila Nagaram'...
dynasty. Nayaka was one among approximately 25 titles used by the Kakatiyas to create a new political infrastructure to undercut the authority of heredity regional elites. [1].
Nayankara System in South India
The first widespread use of the title Nayaka appeared during the KakatiyaKakatiya
The Kakatiya dynasty was an Indian dynasty that ruled most parts of what is now Andhra Pradesh, India from 1083 CE to 1323 CE, with Orugallu , now Warangal , as its capital. Orugallu is also called 'Eka Sila Nagaram'...
period and was conferred to whoever served as a commander in the military. Its use spread throughout the Deccan during the expansion of the Vijayanagar Empire, the title was conferred upon individuals who served as commanders or governors. It was predominant during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries in Vijayanagar dynasty in southern India
The provincial three level administration of the Vijayanagara empire consisted of:
- Hereditary Kings
- Imperial provinces: They were directly administered by the emperor through his representatives and were generally referred to as Rajas or Mandaleshwars or sometimes as Chavidis. The distinguished members of the royal family were appointed as governors. At times when suitable members were not found in the royal family or when a capable and trustworthy officer of the central government was required to administer a troubled area, such a person was appointed as governor. Generally the king used to appoint governors after consulting his ministers.
- Vassal states: They were administered through the Nayakas (or Samantas).
The first division of administration was the royal family who held ultimate power. In the second type of provinces, the administration was done by the feudal vassals, variously called Samanta, Nayaka, etc. The system of administration of the kingdom through these feudal vassals (Nayakas) is known as the Nayankara system in the Vijayanagara times. This system resembles somewhat the feudal system of medieval Europe. The king being the owner of the soil granted lands to some persons as a reward. They were called nayakas and ruled over the territory under their charge with great freedom. In return they had to pay a fixed amount as tribute to the king besides maintaining a prescribed number of troops for the service of the sovereign during war. On ceremonial occasions, these Nayakas offered the king great presents of money and costly gifts or presentations. Failure to conform to these obligations was liable for punishment.
The governors were required to submit regular accounts of the income and expenditure of their charges to the central government and render military aid in times of necessity. They maintained an agent at the imperial capital to keep themselves informed of the happenings at the court. In case of oppressive and tyrannical governors, the central government used to transfer them from one place to another. The autonomy enjoyed by these governors later led to the disruption of the empire under incompetent rulers.
The position of Nayaka was quite different from that of the Governor. He was merely a military vassal who had been assigned a district in lieu of certain military and financial obligations. He was not transferable and his office was personal but later on became hereditary, when the kings at the centre became weak. The Nayakas maintained two agents, one military and the other civil, representing their masters interests at the imperial city. The Nayankara system had its own merits and demerits. It was because of this system of administration, new settlements were formed, irrigation facilities were extended, new hands were brought under cultivation and Hindu culture and civilization was fostered and developed. However the amount of autonomy which the Nayakas enjoyed gave them sufficient opportunity to engage themselves in local wars and mutual feuds. They even defied at times the central authority. In spite of its inherent weaknesses, it served its purpose tolerably well.
Origins (in South India)
Nayaka's origins can be traced to the expansion of the Western ChalukyasWestern Chalukyas
The Western Chalukya Empire ruled most of the western Deccan, South India, between the 10th and 12th centuries. This dynasty is sometimes called the Kalyani Chalukya after its regal capital at Kalyani, today's Basavakalyan in Karnataka and alternatively the Later Chalukya from its theoretical...
into Andhra country during the 7th Century. The Nayaka / Danda Nayaka term started being used during the Vishnukundina
Vishnukundina
The Vishnukundina Empire was an Indian imperial power controlling the Deccan, Orissa and parts of South India during the 5th and 6th centuries, carving land out from the Vakataka Empire. It played an important role in the history of the Deccan during the 5th and 6th centuries CE...
dynasty which ruled from the Krishna and Godavari deltas during the 3rd Century A.D. Little is known about the title usage prior to that.
Usage (in South India)
Naicker, Nayaka and NaiduIn Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
, Naicker title is used to denote persons of Telugu
Telugu people
The Telugu people or Telugu Prajalu are an ethnic group of India. They are the native speakers of the Telugu language, the most commonly spoken language in India after Hindi and Bengali...
or Kannada origins who moved into Tamil lands with the expansion of Vijayanagar
Vijayanagara Empire
The Vijayanagara Empire , referred as the Kingdom of Bisnaga by the Portuguese, was an empire based in South Indian in the Deccan Plateau region. It was established in 1336 by Harihara I and his brother Bukka Raya I of the Yadava lineage. The empire rose to prominence as a culmination of attempts...
empire. They were also referred to as Vadugar or Northerners. Both titles carry the same meaning.
In the medieval times, the title Naidu was associated primarily with the people who served as commanders under various Andhra dynasties, such as Chalukya, Kakatiya
Kakatiya
The Kakatiya dynasty was an Indian dynasty that ruled most parts of what is now Andhra Pradesh, India from 1083 CE to 1323 CE, with Orugallu , now Warangal , as its capital. Orugallu is also called 'Eka Sila Nagaram'...
, etc. However, during the expansion of the Vijayanagar kingdom into Southern India, the title was conferred upon other non-Telugu speaking communities who served as Commanders, Barons or Governors under the Vijayanagar emperors in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka—hence the widespread usage of the surname Naidu among many non-Telugu speaking communities in states like Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and Orissa.
The word Naidu is used by the older writers in southern India in several senses, of which the following example given by Yule and Burnell may be cited:
- It denoted a Commander or a Governor.
- Native captain or headman.
- Title of honor among Hindus in the Deccan. "The kings of deccan also have a custom when they will honor a man or recompence their service done, and raise him to dignity and honor. They give him the title of Nayak." (Linschoten).
- The general name of the Kings of Vijayanagar.
- Naidu, Naickan, Naicker, Nayak or Nayakkan has also been used by Tamil communities like Pallis, boyar,gangawar, Vanniars, Irulas, Vedans apart from various Kannada and Telugu speaking Communities.
Though originally not meant to be a heredity title, by modern times, the Nayaka / Naicker / Naidu title had been inherited by many, although they no longer were governors, army commanders or tax collectors.
Tamil Nadu
Many communities use the title Naidu / Nayaka/ Naicker. And most of them are sometimes referred to as subcastes of Naidu which is not correct as they are different communities. The title Naidu is used only by people of TeluguTelugu people
The Telugu people or Telugu Prajalu are an ethnic group of India. They are the native speakers of the Telugu language, the most commonly spoken language in India after Hindi and Bengali...
origins, whereas the title Naicker is used by both Tamil
Tamil language
Tamil is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. It has official status in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and in the Indian union territory of Pondicherry. Tamil is also an official language of Sri Lanka and Singapore...
and Telugu
Telugu language
Telugu is a Central Dravidian language primarily spoken in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India, where it is an official language. It is also spoken in the neighbouring states of Chattisgarh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Orissa and Tamil Nadu...
speakers. Both titles carry the same meaning.
A section of Vanniars use Naicker as title in northern parts of Tamil Nadu and southern parts of Karnataka.
Kerala
In Kerala there are just about 5000 Naidu families spread all over Kerala state. Their ancestors migrated around 200 years back from Madurai region. Some families came from Tirunelveli region. They are mostly Gavara Balija. In Kerala, this group was in the OBC list in the 1950s and 60's. But later on it was removed from the list and the community no longer receives concessions. Earlier their marriages were solemnised for four days. There were different Telugu songs for each ceremony of the marriage. These songs are in corrupted form due to inheritance by word of mouth and are no longer in practice now. In Kerala the two major sub-sects of the Balijas are Gajulu Balija and Kavarai Balija.Usage abroad
NaiduIn South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
a variant spelling of "Naidoo" is used amongst its Telugu citizens. The usage may not denote Telugu ancestry any longer as intermarriages had diluted such identities. In Mauritius
Mauritius
Mauritius , officially the Republic of Mauritius is an island nation off the southeast coast of the African continent in the southwest Indian Ocean, about east of Madagascar...
it is a common surname of Tamil populations. In Fiji
Fiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
, Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago officially the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago is an archipelagic state in the southern Caribbean, lying just off the coast of northeastern Venezuela and south of Grenada in the Lesser Antilles...
and Guyana
Guyana
Guyana , officially the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, previously the colony of British Guiana, is a sovereign state on the northern coast of South America that is culturally part of the Anglophone Caribbean. Guyana was a former colony of the Dutch and of the British...
, it is a surname of the broader Indian diaspora. In Malaysia it is used by Telugus to denote their Telugu ancestry.
Naicker
It is used as a title in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
and the people of Tamil origin of South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. It is used in Malaysia, Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
, Mauritius
Mauritius
Mauritius , officially the Republic of Mauritius is an island nation off the southeast coast of the African continent in the southwest Indian Ocean, about east of Madagascar...
and Réunion
Réunion
Réunion is a French island with a population of about 800,000 located in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar, about south west of Mauritius, the nearest island.Administratively, Réunion is one of the overseas departments of France...
as common surname amongst Tamil citizens of these countries. The Nayake surname and title is used by the Sinhalese people of Sri Lanka.
Others
The protector groups in the Afghan Pashtunwali
Pashtunwali
Pashtunwali or Pakhtunwali is a non-written ethical code and traditional lifestyle which the indigenous Pashtun people from Afghanistan and Pakistan follow. Some in the Indian subcontinent refer to it as "Pathanwali". Its meaning may also be interpreted as "the way of the Pashtuns" or "the code of...
system are called Naiks.
--203.153.221.14 (talk) 18:37, 12 November 2011 (UTC)--203.153.221.14 (talk) 18:37, 12 November 2011 (UTC) nayakkar,origin Andera through Thanjayur(marukur)throug mooththavinayagar Nallur,jaffna(thiravedar famili)
External links
- http://nfwa-kerala.com/ABOUT.HTM
- http://www.telugudiaspora.com/telugu_publications_article9.htm