Community
The Origin of Billawas
In tulunadu {once well known as toulava rajya}, or in present Dakshina kannada
/ udupi district lion's share of population is Billawas or biruwas. Poojari
or Baida or Billawa are the different names of the same generation. The term
Biruwa comes from BHARGAVA who was preached by Maharshi Brigu. Parashurama
the son of Jamadagni was considered to be the leader of Bhargava community.
Toulava Rajya or Tulunadu is still often remembered as Parashurama srusti {
created by parashurama }
It is said that tulunadu is gifted as reclamation land by Parashurama. Bhargava
was known to have established the human race on this land for the first time
and hence first inhabitants were Bhargavas or the followers or students of the
Parashurama. Thus, surnames derives from Educational tradition or from ancestral
tradition like Vishwamitra gotra or Goutama gotra or Bharadwaja gotra or Kashyapa
gotra.
Gotra commences from grand children and remains until new gotra founder arrives
on the scenario. Maharshi Bida was born in Bhargava gotra and thereafter his
children and grand children were identified as from Bida gotra. Baidaru are hence
belonged to Bida vamsha. Bargavas are scattered all over India, however bidaru
are densely populated in southern coastal karnataka. Name of the places such
as Bidanoor or Baindoor throws some light on the history of these community
Brahmins were highly influential community in the tulunadu history. Their education,
penance and their relationship with kshatriyas perhaps made them so. Richika
maharshi [ parashuramas grand father] married gadiraja kaushikas sister and thus
Bhargavas became prominent. Thanks to parashuramas mighty wars and elimination
of kshatriya kings, Bhargavas advanced further to the prominence and kshatriyas
were frightened of Bhargavas. Thus, due to several reasons Bhargavas were considered
as pojarha or one who deserve to perform poojas. Hence poojara or poojari is
eroded form of poojara. Most of the community people put poojari as their surnames.
Billawas were the only people who used to perform poojas in temple and boothakola,
nemapooja, brahma pooja etc.
The term Biruva comes from Billawa. The meaning of Bila is break or defeating
and hence name indicates strong men of the community. Billawas kuladaiva is Brahma.
This Brahma is not one among trimurti. He is ashwavahana {seated on horse} and
is a sage. Religious centres of Billawas is known as GARADI which means educational
centres. Reading, writing and teaching of bows, arrows were the main activities
of this GARADI
It has been said that Billawas are neither dravidas nor aryans but the community
settled before them and are called adinivasi of tulunadu This was mentioned in
historian Dr gururajs book 'tulunadu . Billawas were large in number at Billadi.
Billawas were well known as doctors in ancient days. During KOTI CHENNAYA's time
their mother Deyibaidethi, Kanthanna baida, sayana baida were all doctors. Because
of vaidya profession they might be called as baidas or Baider.
In tulunadu, Billawas gradually lost political importence and as a result economically
struggled, exploited by upper class, lost social status and lost opportunity
of education and pushed downward. It is said that though Billawas strictly follow
the ALIYA SANTHANA kattu , 42 castes mentioned in this system does not include
Billawas but KSHATRIYAS. And ultimately this kshatriya community disappeared
and Billawas came to light...
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