Boya caste / Boya Naidu / Boyar Caste / Gangawaru Naidu
Nayak (title) 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.
Naidu Naidu (also spelt Nayudu or Naidoo) is a title used by
various social groups of the Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu states
of India. It is also used in Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Orissa
and Chattisgarh. It is a Telugu derivation of the Sanskrit Nayaka,
meaning "protector" or "leader". The word Naidu is etymologically
related to the Tamil Naicker, the Nair of Kerala, Marathi Naik and
Nayaks (Pattanayak) in Orissa.And it is considered one of the upper
caste in south india which they claim kshatriya according to the
varna system The term Naidu is the caste name and the title of the
Kapu caste(Telaga/Balija Naidu)of Andhra Pradesh which accounts for
about 28% of the population of Andhra Pradesh. Nayaka (Naidu) was
an honorary title that was used by the people belonging to the
other Telugu castes of Ekari (Pala Ekari) Boyar(warrior), Kamma,
Mudi Raju, Koppula/Polinati Velama,Ayyaraka,gangavar(Boyar) etc in
Andhra Pradesh and other states. It was used as a title denoting a
village or lineage headman. Medieval Andhra dynasties like the
Vishnukundins and Chalukyas and the recent ones like the
Vijayanagara Empire conferred the title Nayaka / Nayakudu to a
commander or Danda-nayaka (Army Commander) or a leader of a band of
soldiers. The Nayaka title was originally conferred upon Telugu
communities. In medieval times, the Kakatiya and Vijayanagara
Kingdoms had many prominent nayakas from various castes. During the
expansion of Vijayanagar Empire, the Nayak title was conferred upon
non-Telugu speaking communities who served in the same function in
Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. This title is also used by other
communities in Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
The Nayaka title was conferred upon warriors who received land
along with the title Nayaka as a part of the Nayankarapuvaram
system for services rendered to the court during the Kakatiya
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] The Nayankara system was
also used by the Vijayanagar empire [2] wherein land was granted to
a Nayaka or Palayakarrar (Polygar) on condition that they would
place their military service at the disposal of the king.[3] Many
communities later began using the Naick or Naidu surname. Edgar
Thurston (Castes and Tribes of Southern India Vol. 5; p. 138) noted
that "Naidu" or "Nayudu" title was in use by several Telugu castes
in colonial India (in alphabetical order): Balija, Bestha,
Boyar(warrior) caste, Ekari, gangawar(Boyar), Gavara,Kalingi,
Kamma, Kapu, Mudirajus, Velama, Odde, Tottiyan, Reddy, Telaga,
Uppiliyan, Idiga and Valmiki.
