Golconda Vyapari Brahmin

Golconda Vyapari Brahmin (also referred as Vyapari Brahmins), is a Telugu Brahmin subcaste native to the Indian states of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, but are also found in Maharashtra and other parts of South India. In the Telangana region they served as Karanams (Village accountant) and in Andhra Pradesh region they served as Karanams/Kombattulas (Village accountant) and other higher officials under Qutb Shahis of Golconda and Nizams of Hyderabad.^[1]

Golconda Vyapari Brahmin

Regions with significant populations
Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh
Languages
Telugu
Religion
Hinduism (Vaishnava)
Related ethnic groups
Deshastha Brahmin • Niyogi Brahmin

History

Golconda Vyaparis are believed to be a branch of Niyogi Brahmins who got separated after their conversion to Vaishnavism.^{[citation needed]} But they consider themselves as a separate group and have their own caste organizations.^{[citation needed]} Golconda Vyaparis are also closely related to Deshastha Brahmins and have intimate relations with them. Marriages between Golconda Vyaparis and Deshastha Brahmins are very common.^[2]

During the times of the Golconda Sultanate, Deshastha Brahmins who already were serving as high-level administrators under Qutub Shahis replaced Niyogis at the village level as revenue officers with the help of Golconda Vyaparis.^[3]

In 1579 Khasa Rayarao, a Deshastha Brahmin who was the Commander-in-Chief of Ibrahim Quli Qutb Shah captured Kondaveedu Fort. After that, Khasa Rayarao was made the Governor of the Kondaveedu Sima (present Guntur district) by changing its name to Murtazanagar Sircar and kept the financial administration of this region in his hands. Khasa Rayarao appointed many Deshastha Brahmins, Golkonda Vyaparis like Karnams/kombattulas, and Kammas as Deshmukhs and Chowdarys.^[4][5]

Religion

Golconda Vyaparis are Vaishnavas and have both Madhvas and Sri Vaishnavas among them. Majority of them are followers of Madhva Sampradaya of Madhvacharya, but there are also a few among them who follow Sri Vaishnavism of Ramanuja.^[6]

References

1. Pandey, Alpana (2015-08-11). Medieval Andhra: A Socio-Historical Perspective. Partridge Publishing. p. 34. ISBN 978-1-4828-5017-8.
2. Indo-British Review Volume 10. Indo-British Historical Society. 1983. p. 44. Deshastha Brahmans, and Golkonda Vyaparis with whom they were linked by marriage, came to power during the time of the last Bahmani Diwan, Mahmud Gawan (d. 1481).
3. Itihas Volume 5. Director of State Archives, Government of Andhra Pradesh. 1977. p. 65. Desastha Brahmins who held the important position of authority in the Deccan, and also Golconda Vyaparis with whom they have intimate connections. Thus at the village level, the old Niyogis who, for several centuries, had built up their power were slowly replaced by the Desastha Brahmins.
4. Coenraad M. Brand (1973). State and Society: A Reader in Comparative Political Sociology. University of California Press. p. 112. ISBN 9780520024908.
5. "Revealing the missing links". Hans India. 24 July 2016.
6. Y. Subhashini Subrahmanyam (1975). Social Change in Village India: An Andhra Case Study. Prithvi Raj Publishers. p. 71. The Madhwas or Golconda Vyapari Brahmins follow the teachings of their Guru Madhwachari who preached Dvaita in contrast to Sankaracharya's Advaita which believes that the Jivatma (soul of the individual) and Paramatma (cosmic soul) ...