Bhatraju

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Bhatraju
ClassificationOther Backward Classes
ReligionsHinduism
LanguagesTelugu
CountryIndia
Populated statesAndhra Pradesh, Telangana

Bhatraju (also transliterated as Bhatrazu) is an Indian caste of Telugu-speaking ballad reciters, panegyrists, and religious musicians.[1][2] 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.[2]

Bhatrajus were originally a caste of court bards, eulogists, and reciters of family genealogy and tradition.[2] 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.[3][4] They are typically non-vegetarians and bury their dead.[2]

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.[2]

History[edit]

Bhatraju 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.[2] Rama Raja Bhushanadu, a 16th century poet in the court of Rama Raya of Vijayanagara Empire, is believed to be a Bhatraju.[8][9][10]

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."[2] 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.[11][12]

Michael James Spurr researched on the community and analysed old census reports and other anthropological data. 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."[2] 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."[11]

In the present-day, Bhatrajus are also found in smaller numbers in the states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.[13][14] In December 2022, Government of Andhra Pradesh banned the phrase Bhatraju Pogadtalu (transl. Bhatraju paeans) in all spheres including media, film, TV, and political meetings. People using the phrase would be liable to legal action.[15]

Notable people[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Journal of the Indian Anthropological Society. The Society. 1977. p. 134. Archived from the original on 1 April 2023. Retrieved 19 February 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Spurr, Michael James (2007). "Sathya Sai Baba as Avatar: "His Story" and the History of an Idea" (PDF). University of Canterbury: 100–102. Archived (PDF) from the original on 29 November 2017.
  3. ^ Singleton, Mark; Goldberg, Ellen (27 November 2013). Gurus of Modern Yoga. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-937495-3. Retrieved 19 February 2022.
  4. ^ P. C. Venkatasubbaiah (30 December 2021). "Budubudakkalas, the Traditional Beggars in South India" (PDF). Skylines of Anthropology.
  5. ^ Central List of OBCs for the state of Andhra Pradesh Archived 2016-11-30 at the Wayback Machine, p. 4 (64 - Bhataraju)
  6. ^ "Guidance Bureau". Department of Backward Classes - Karnataka. Archived from the original on 15 April 2005.
  7. ^ Central List of OBCs for the state of Tamil Nadu Archived 1 May 2015 at the Wayback Machine, p. 1 (12 - Bhatraju)
  8. ^ a b G. Nagayya (1983). Telugu Sahitya Samiksha (in Telugu). Navyapariśōdhaka Prachuraṇalu. p. 163. రామరాజభూషణుని (క్రీ. శ. 1510–1580) అసలు పేరు మూర్తి. భట్రాజు కులము వాడగుటచే అతనిని భట్టుమూర్తి అందురు. శ్రీకృష్ణ దేవరాయల అల్లుడగు ఆళియ రామరాజు ఆస్థానమునకు భూషణ మగుటచే అతడు రామరాజ భూషణుడైనాడు. రామరాజ భూషణుడనునది బిరుదు నామము.
  9. ^ a b Vellanki Umakantha Sastri (1994). Sri Visvakalyana Bhagavatamu: Drusya Kavyamu (in Telugu). Visalandhra Publishing House. p. 11. అతను భట్రాజు కులంవాడు.
  10. ^ a b Kandukuri Veeresalingam (1949). "22. రామరాజ భూషణుడు". ఆంధ్ర కవుల చరిత్రము - రెండవ భాగము (in Telugu). హితకారిణీ సమాజము. p. 126. ఈ గ్రామమును కృష్ణదేవరాయలు కవిత్వమునందు బ్రవీణులై ప్రబంధాంకమువారని బిరుదుపొందిన యీతని పూర్వులగు బట్టురాజుల కిచ్చెను.
  11. ^ a b Spurr, Michael James (2007). "Sathya Sai Baba as Avatar: "His Story" and the History of an Idea" (PDF). University of Canterbury. pp. 100–102. Archived (PDF) from the original on 29 November 2017.
  12. ^ Thurston, Edgar; K. Rangachari (1909), "Bhatrāzu", Castes and Tribes of Southern India
  13. ^ Report of the Backward Classes Commission, Tamil Nadu, 1970. Government of Tamil Nadu. 1975. pp. 10, 11, 173. Archived from the original on 1 April 2023. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
  14. ^ "Guidance Bureau". Department of Backward Classes - Karnataka. Archived from the original on 15 April 2005.
  15. ^ Rao, Chandrasekhar (21 December 2022). "ఏపీలో ఆ పదం పలకడం నేరం- నిషేధించిన ప్రభుత్వం: సినిమాలు, సీరియళ్లల్లో కూడా..!!". Oneindia (in Telugu). Retrieved 1 May 2023.
  16. ^ Srinivas, Tulasi (10 June 2010). Winged Faith: Rethinking Globalization and Religious Pluralism through the Sathya Sai Movement. Columbia University Press. p. 54. ISBN 978-0-231-52052-2. Archived from the original on 1 April 2023. Retrieved 19 February 2022.
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