Bhatraju is an Indian (sub continent) caste of Telugu origin. Bhatrajus were originally a caste of Scholars, Soldiers, Ministers, Poets. Bhatraju caste claims to be one of the subcastes of the Kshatriyas. They are primarily found in the states of

Andhra Pradesh Andhra Pradesh (, abbr. AP) is a state in the south-eastern coastal region of India. It is the seventh-largest state by area covering an area of and tenth-most populous state with 49,386,799 inhabitants. It is bordered by Telangana to the ...

and

Telangana Telangana (; , ) is a States and union territories of India, state in India situated on the south-central stretch of the Indian subcontinent, Indian peninsula on the high Deccan Plateau. It is the List of states and union territories of India b ...

and also in smaller numbers in the neighbouring states. They are also known as ''Bhatturaju'' or ''Bhataraju'' or ''Bhatrajulu''. The Bhatrajus were originally a caste of Ministers and Poets. After the fall of indigenous kingdoms, they switched to Teaching & Poetry. They use Raju as their caste title. The Bhatrajus wear the sacred thread like the Brahmins and are well versed in sacred literature. They call themselves Rajus (Rajputs) claiming half-decent from ancient Kshatriya clans. Bhatrajus are classified under the

Other Backward Classes The Other Backward Class is a collective term used by the Government of India to classify castes which are educationally or socially backward. It is one of several official classifications of the population of India, along with General castes, S ...

in most states of Southern India.

History

Bhatraju population is concentrated in

Rayalaseema Rayalaseema () is a geographic region in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It comprises eight south western districts of the State namely, Kurnool, Nandyal, Anantapur, Sri Sathya Sai, YSR, Annamayya, Tirupati and Chittoor districts ...

region of Andhra Pradesh to where they were posited to have migrated from

Northern Circars The Northern Circars (also spelt Sarkars) was a division of British India's Madras Presidency. It consisted of a narrow slip of territory lying along the western side of the Bay of Bengal from 15° 40′ to 20° 17′ north latitude, in the pr ...

. Bhattu is the most ancient race.These Bhattura Rajs are the descendants of Rajjalu, the son of Bhattara Harishcham, who ruled the Ghurja kingdom earlier. However, some of them became Kshatriyas due to their inclination towards Kshatriya Dharma, and Brahmins due to their inclination towards Brahminism. Like the Brahmins, they wear the Jandyam on their shoulders and dominated traditional literature. The Bhatta tribe originated under the name 'Brahmarava Bhatta' during the Gupta period. Later the Bhatta caste - Brahma Bhatta, Maharaj, Bhatta, Bhatta Charya expanded into 5 branches. At present there are 5 important branches of the Bhatta caste with 89 sage tribes among the Bhattu kings. The Bhatta kings were a caste of Brahmin sub-castes. Therefore, they also have Brahmin tribes, 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." 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." 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."

Notable people

Sathya Sai Baba Sathya Sai Baba (born Ratnakaram Sathyanarayana Raju; 23 November 192624 April 2011) was an Indian guru. At the age of fourteen he claimed that he was the reincarnation of Shirdi Sai Baba, and left his home to serve his devotees. Sai Baba's b ...

* Dr. Shobha Raju * Astadiggaja Rama Raja Bhushanadu *

Nannayya Nannaya ''Bhattaraka'' (sometimes spelled Nannayya or Nannaiah; ca. 11th century) was a Telugu poet and the author of the first '' Andhra Mahabharatam'', a Telugu retelling of the Sanskrit-language ''Mahabharata''. This work, which is rendered ...

Bhattaraka (Bhakti Movement Poet).

References

{{reflist Indian castes