Aiyarika Patrulu

Aiyarakulus are a community of Telugu cultivators mostly found in The INDIAN state of Andhra Pradesh.

Etymology

The term Aiyarakulu is derived from "Aiya" and "rikam" and denotes the act of being an "Aiya" or a "respectable person".

Origin

The Aiyarakulus, according to C. Hayavadana Rao, were to be Kapus who rose in the social scale and claimed to be a separate community.Several Historians and Authors seem to have been confused by this Argument since there are no Matrimonial Allinaces between Patrulu and Kapu SubCastes which is genarally the rule of thumb used to Associate Sub-Castes.

This was a generic term which was used in the Medieval Ages to Associate all communities who were Agragrain/Military by Profession So Non Kapu Communities like Patrulu,Reddy,Velama were also called Kapu in the Medieval Ages along with Telagas,Munnuru Kapu,Turpu Kapu which are Kapu Sub-Castes).

Patrulu were appointed as Administrators and Soldiers and rose to Good positions in the Vijayanagaram Dynasity which ruled from North Coastal Andhra Pradesh.

Infact there is a Legendary taleof Patrulu Women folk defending the fort from Invasaion of an Enemey kingdom when all the men were went to battle leaving the Fort Defenseless.

Traditional beliefs

According to Aiyarakulu tradition, they formed the bulk of the Vijayanagar army which invaded the state of Golconda. When the Sultan of Golconda, after the successful defense of his kingdom, invaded Vijayanagar resolving to put an end to the kingdom, he met tough resistance from a brigade of Aiyarakulu women dressed as men, forcing him to flee. In return for their gallantry, the Raja allowed the women of the community to wear silver bangles. They retained this practice well into the 20th century.

Sub-divisions

The Aiyarakulus are divided into totemistic gotras such as naga and tabelu and further into exogamous septs called "intiperulu". Some of the Aiyarakulus have the surname "Raju" and wear the sacred thread. Most Aiyarakulus have the surname "patrudu".