Gotras of Yellapus

• ·         Aadi -Potlashila
  
  
  ·         Aindla- Pasupunuri
  
  
  ·         Angarakula-Cherukuneeru
  
  
  ·          Akireddy-Janapala
  
  
  ·          Allenki- Chandanala
  
  
  ·          Aregala-Vishnuveni
  
  
  ·          Arkala- Pydipala
  
  
  ·          Anabheri - Shivanama
  ·          
  ·          Aparaju 
  ·          
  ·          Avari 
  ·          
  ·          Basa - Janakula
  
  
  ·          Basani-Nishachara
  
          Bashetty-Cherukunurla
  
  
  ·          Beerpur -
  ·          
  ·          Bhirishetty -Pasunuri
  ·          
  ·          Bonagiri - Kashyapa 
  ·          
  ·          Balasankula -Dasharatha
  ·          
  ·          Bethi-Janakanuru
  
  
  ·         Chadala- Pasupunuri

    
  ·          Chanda -Sheshapavanaya
  ·          
  ·          Chataraju -Parkila
  ·          
  ·          Cherukuthota-kausalya
  ·          
  ·          Chetti- pasupunilla
  ·          
  ·          Chintharapu
  
  
  ·         Chinthapandu- Pasupunuru
  
  
  ·          Dadi- Sripala
  
   Darishetty- Yagneshwara
          
          Dakshinadi - Andugula
  
         Dasari- Naminuri
  
  
  ·         Edla- Bharadwaja
  
  
  ·          Gadapa -Srivatsa

  
  
  ·          
  ·          Gade- Janakula
  ·          
  ·          Gali -Pydipala
  ·          
  ·          Gandhe-- Mudugula
  ·          
  ·          Ganta- Punyakula
  
  
  ·          gargula
  ·          
  ·          Gujjeti -Visnuridda
  
  
  ·          Jajala- Adonda

          
          Jangal- Vasista

  
  
  ·          Jampala
  
  
  ·          Jakkula- Pasupuleti

  
  
  ·          Jangeti-Velagapudi
  ·          
  ·          Jangili-Velagadapa
  
  
  ·          Jangal- Palakula
  
  
  ·          Jinukala- Palakila
  ·          
  ·          Kailasa -Manikanta
  ·          
  ·          Kandunuri - Tirumala
  ·          
  ·          Kaluvala - Pulastya
          Kashetty- palakaya
            
  ·          Kondu -Thotakula
  
  
  ·          kodimala- Gargeya maharushi
  
  
  ·          Karnavattula- Ashriya
  
  
  ·         Kola- Komala
  
  
  
  ·          Korukanti -Repala
  ·          
  ·          Kosna
  ·          
  ·          Koppula - Pydipala
  ·          
  ·           Kotte- Pydipala
  
  
  
  ·         Katta- pasupuneeti
  
  
  ·          Katakam- bharadwaja
  ·          
  ·          Kamatam 
  ·          
  ·          Koodala -Bharadwaja
  ·          
  ·          Lakkakula - Pachipala
  ·          
  ·          Lakkam 
  ·          
  ·         Madapathi- Bharadwaja
  
  ·          
  ·          Madasu- Sheshirekha
  ·          
  ·          Malka- Bharadwaja
  ·          
  ·          Maidam 
  ·          
  ·          Manepalli -Janakanuri
  ·          
  ·          Muppala
  ·          
  ·          Namani - Ramanuja
  ·          
  ·          Naradasu- Palakaya
  ·          
  ·          Nanvala- pydipala
  
  
  ·          Oudari- Cherukunoori
  ·          Pagadala
  ·          
  ·          Padala- Haripala
  ·          
  ·          Palle-Pasunuri
  ·          
  ·          Paruvelly –Janakula,Japa
  
  
  ·         Pudari- Suvarna
  
  
  ·          Puram -Palakaya
  ·          
  ·          Puramshetti- Devendra
  ·          
  ·          Pedda
  ·          
  ·          Penchala- Bharadwaja,Pasupunati, Sheshashaila

  
  
  ·          
  ·         Perka- Brungi

  
  
  ·          
  ·          Puppala- Sikkula,Pashupati,Janapala
  ·          
  ·          Poosala 
  ·          
  ·          Ramneni -Raginuru
  ·          
  ·          Rachakonda-Cherukunuri
  ·          
  ·          Ramshetti -Mudugula
  ·          
  ·          Rapolu - Bharadwaja, Pydipala
  
  
  ·          Ravula- ukkunotti
  
  
  ·          Saini -Janakula
  ·          
  ·          Salvaji -Adonda
  ·          
  ·          Shetti - Pasupunuri
  
  
  ·          Srigiri -Pasunoori
  
  
  ·          Shriramshetty
  
  
  ·          Sthambam- Baradwaja
  ·          Sunkara -Bharadwaja
  ·          
  ·       Sunki- Palakaya
  
  ·          Telu- pasupunilla
  ·          Thoom -Janakula
  ·          
  ·          Thota -Bharadwaja
  ·          
  ·          Tula- Janakula
  
  
  ·          Thula- Janakula ,Bharadwaja,Kausika, Pasupunuri.
  
  
  ·         Thati- Palakaya
  
  
  ·         Vodnala- Shekarla, pasupunuri
  
  ·          
  ·          Vadnala -Adonda
  ·          
  ·          Veeramalla-Prameya
  ·          
  ·          Veerla -Srisaila,Haripala, Dasharatha
  
  
  ·          Vaida- Pasunuri
  
  
  
  ·          Velmula - Pramila, Vishnu, Visnukula
  
  
  ·           Velpula- Pashupala
  .  Vulese-Janakula
  . Yellanki- Chandrakula

Vyshya relations of Yellapus

Vyshyas are integral part of Yellapu families since Rajasthan days. Basically, yellapus are warrior community providing safety to many other communities, in addition to participating in wars. Vyshyas are also one such community, which require the safety to their products/material and them. This safety use to be provided by the yellapus. Also some yellapus also did business.

        As per the opinion of elders of yellapu community, they married the vyshya girls in olden days. They preferred to have meals in the vyshya families than velamas and reddys.Interestingly, some yellapus people were vegetarians till recent decade, supporting my view. Also these people are closely connected with Vyshyas. 

       Here, I am dealing the historical relations between yellapus and vyshyas and the reasons for relations and the rationality behind it is as follows:

      It was already told that Anabheri is corrupt form of Ranabheri. It is a drum like instrument used during the war to terrify the enemies and it is also used to indicate the starting the war. Here, we can find the Bhairu shetty families in yellapus. It is a corrupt form of Bherishetty. It indicates that their profession is to sell the Bheris. Here, I want to deduce two things. Anabheri families are end users of Bheris. The sellers of Bheris were also along with them in the form of Bherishetties. As per Micheal Katten, Bhairushetty (Bheri Komati) men were out during the Bobbili war on business engagement. It clarifies that they were continuing their business. Bheri Komati women during the war has killed about 200 soldiers using the stones in special way. It is discussed in the caste and in North coastal area that yellapu women are skilled in warfare. Especially, it is told in case of Anabheri women. Hence, the women of Anabheri families may be also present along with Bheri Komati sthris during the war of Bobbili. Micheal Kattam might not mention the Anabheri sthris, due to unable to distinguish between Bheri Komati sthris and Anabheri sthris. It may be at the time of gathering the information.

        There are Basa families in yellapu community. They might take a Oath during the war. It may require some special items, which is again to be supplied by Vyshyas only. Hence, there are Bashetty families in yellapus. It may be corrupt form of Basa shetty. The materials sold by Bashetty families to Basa families are not known.

       There are Dadi and Dadishetty families in yellapus. Dadi families played vital role in community right from North to down south in Tamilnadu. There are many villages on the names of Dadi families / family members. They also played vital role during kakatiyas.To that effect inscriptions are also available. During the Vijayanagara also they played vital role. It is clarified by the village names on their families in south also. The Dadi shetty families may be following the Dadi families from the North. They might be also supplying the war material, requirements etc., to all the Dadi families.

      There are puram and puram shetty families. Puram means town in Sanskrit. When the people of same community living in town and rural areas, Puram surname is given to town people. The business people in town get the surname of puramshetty.

     There are Ramneni and Ramshetty families in yellapus. Ramshetty is famous surname in Rajasthan. Hence, both these families would have migrated from Rajasthan. Ramneni families are feudatories of kings and Ramshetty families are business persons and may be suppliers to Ramneni families. However, as per the evidences available, the Ramshetty families are also able warriors. It is proved in the unofficial war between Bandalalingapur Samsthan and Metpally. One Ramshetty Venkanna (famous as Jamedar Venkanna) fought against Metpally forces valiantly and forced them to retreat, while later was trying to take over lands, as per the court orders. Healso played very vital role in the administration of samsthan.

     We also here about chetty and shetty families. Shetty families are business people of North. Where as chetty families are business people in the Sourth, especially in Tamilnadu. There is one chettykulam village in Tirunalvelvi District near Avaraikulam and Vellakulam villages, revealing the influence of chetti families in that village.

    There are no conclusive proofs of doing business by some families such as Akula, Lakkakula and chinthapandu families. But comparatively these people are intelligent and money saving. I have also observed the Polishetty, Bolishetty and Kolishetty families in the Telagas in Nalgonda and Coastal area. The Polineni family is also observed in same community in same areas. Hence, all the evidences prove that Vyshyas are very much part of yellapu families and they have maintained matrimonial relations too from times immemorial. If we count the Gavaras as sub-caste of Vyshyas, the relations further increases. But the Gavara relations are separately dealt in a separate blog.

On analysis of gotras of the vyshyas,the following similar gotras can be found in both the castes of yellapus and vyshyas are as follows:

1.Kashyapa
2.Bharadwaja
3.Kausika
4.Vasista
5.Srivatsasa
6.Suvarna

On analysis of Sankethanamams of Vyshya community we will find some more similar Gotras in the both communities as follows:

1.Janakula
2.Thirumala
3.Palakula
4.Chandakula

On analysis of sankethanamams of vyshyas ,we can find two surnames of yellapu community as follows:
1.Betha shrestakula( Bethi)
2.Byrusistakula( Byrushetti)

The analysis of sankethnamam of vyshas had revealed an astonishing things that it consists of yelasistakula or velasistakula, who might be merged from yellapu/ vellapu families, beyond any doubt that yellapus were also called yelladhulipulu( as per Dr.V.S.Rao).

Hence, it is very clear that yellapus and Vyshyas  had very close relations from the historical period.

References:
1. Oral stories told by caste elders.
2.Personal observations of author on present trends.
3.Yellapu surnames .
4. Making Caste In Nineteenth Century India: A History Of Telling The Bobbili Katha.-Micheal katten
5.http://www.vysyamala.com/arya-vysyas/gothras.aspx
5.Karimnagar district history.

Villages names on Yellapu community

The surnames, gotrams provide valuable information of migration of a particular caste. Even in case of yellapu caste history, the probing of history was done on the basis of family names and gotras in addition to the oral history. After publishing of Gavara relations of Yellapus, one sri.Yellapu Mukunda Ramarao, an elder person of Gavara Community and who has been doing research had sent an appreciation on my research and provided the valuable information.

 There is one yellapuvanipalem village near vishakapatnam.As per him, Yellapus lived there long back and name of the village is on that caste dominance. I have also tried to contact the villagers through the face book. The reply is awaited. But now there are no yellapu person is staying there. The address and accessibility of the village is as follows: Yellapuvanipalem is a small village in Chinagadila Mandal in Visakhapatanam District in Andhra Pradesh State. Chinagadila, Anandapuram, Bheemunipatnam, Pendurthi, are the near by Towns to Yellapuvanipalem . Yellapuvanipalem is reachable by Vishakapatnam RailWay Station , Marri Palem Hal RailWay Station , Simhachalam RailWay Station , Simhachalam Nor RailWay Station , . Its main Village Panchayat is Bakkannapalem Panchayat .

 There is one other village called vellapalem. It is also possibly on the name of the yellapu caste.But the details are to be ascertained. The address and accessibility of the village is as follows: Vellapalem is a small village in Peda Bayalu Mandal in Visakhapatanam District in Andhra Pradesh State. Peda Bayalu, Hukumpeta, Munchingi Puttu, Paderu, are the near by Towns to Vellapalem . Vellapalem is reachable by Padua RailWay Station ,

 The similar village names of vellapalayam is existing in Erode, Nagapattinam, Madurai districts.This may be also due to the influence of the caste in those days of vijayanagara kingdom in Tamilnadu.I have already mentioned the village name of Vellakulam on the name of this caste, existing in Tirunalvelvi district.

 Vellapalayam is a small village in Sembanar Koil Taluk in Nagapattinam District in Tamil Nadu State. Sembanar Koil, Mayiladuthurai, Sirkazhi, Nadungadu, are the near by Towns to Vellapalayam . Vellapalayam is reachable by Anandtandavpur RailWay Station , Vithisvarankol RailWay Station , Nidur RailWay Station , Mayiladuturai J RailWay Station , . Its main Village Panchayat is Mudikandanallur Panchayat .

 The address and accessibility of the villages are as follows: Address Post Office Vellapalayam B.O (Branch Post Office), ERODE , Dist. : ERODE , State: TAMIL NADU , PIN - 638315 Postal Divison ERODE Office Description Branch Post Office TALUK ERODE Postal Circle TAMILNADU District ERODE PIN Code 638315 OFFICE Vellapalayam B.O Postal Region COIMBATORE State TAMIL NADU

 Pariyur Vellapalayam is located in Madurai district that comes under Tamil Nadu, India. Pariyur Vellapalayam is a popular place of Madurai district. The clear evidence of village names on the surnames, which I have already mentioned is Avaraikulam, Chettikulam.As per the Gavara website, the villages on the name of dadi surname also exists in Tamilnadu and Karnataka.

Chatarajpally village is a small village in Parakal Mandal in Warangal district. The name of the village is formed on the name of Chatraj families living in the village.Most of the people are from this family.They are also dominant in administration.Hence, the village name is on their family name.

In the recent past after transferring to khammam, I found that one Kalvala village is existing near ksamudram in Warangal district.This is in the route of migration of Yellapu families from Bobbili to Bonagiri.Hence,it is the village name on the Yellapu family.The people of that village is living in Khammam town.This may make Sri.Kalvala Karunakar Rao and his family members.Another important point of happiness to this family is that one Karanam family( sub-caste of Brahmins and claimed as Kshatriya) is existing with Kalvala surname.Interestingly, they have also worked under Nizam like yellapus including relatives of kalvala families.

Also, there are villages named with Kalvala in other districts as follow:

1. Kalvala Nagaram - Pinapaka Mandalam-Khammam District

2. Kalvala Palem - Vemulapally mandalam-Nalgonda District

3. Kalvala            - Narya mandalam-Mahbubnagar District

and several kalvala named villages in Punjab,Himchal pradesh, Punjab province in Paskistan etc.the first two villages  mentioned are in the route of migration of yellapus from Bobbili to Bonagiri.It is also learnt that some yellapus also migrated to mahabubnagar district.

I have been watching a village name yallagiri ,between pochampally           X road and chautuppal in nalgonda district. The hills of the Rachakonda starts at that point.I have been thinking whether it has  any relation with the caste of yellapu.

The name of vellapu caste has changed to yellapu only after leaving the Warangal.Again it is vellapu in tamilnadu.Yellapus have moved from Rayalaseema to North coastal area.Then from there they moved to tamilnadu.Hence, there is some confusion,when this has altered.Otherewise ,we have to understand that it has been interchanging to both words.

However, yallagiri means the hill in the front.In the instant case the first hill is generally termed as adigiri ,or something else, but shall not be yallgiri.After the down fall of Warangal some yellapu people worked at Rachakonda.To protect from the onslaught of Golkonda, the soldiers might be kept at this place by king of Rachakonda. out of these soldiers, yellapus may be large in number and  village would have got name on these people. Also, if my assumption is correct, the name of vellapu has started altering from the Rachakonda.This is also clarifies that this is also a village on the name of Yellapus.

On my recent visit to Hanumakonda i have observed a place called Puppalagutta area.It is a small hill,where one temple exists.It is definitely named after the puppal families existing and possibly warrior class presence or more number of these families would be the reason for the name of the hill on that family.The puppala families are one of the famous warrior families among the yellapus and kapus.It proves the presence of yellapus in the kakatiya kingdom in addition to the oral stories told by elders.

Interestingly,there are only some clues are available about the migration to Rayalaseema area during the vijayanagara period.Now , i could find two villages on the name of yellapu families namely puppala and puram villages in ananthapur district in yadiki mandal.This mandal is between tadipatri and goothy.There is another village Rayalacheruvu.Thus ,it can be presumed that this villages are named after yellapu families during the vijayanagara period.in the recent past, it is revealed by yellapu elders and sri.praveen, advocate that polasa kingdom was established by yellapus.

One king by name jaggadeva had established jagityal town.its earlier   name may be jaggadevapuram.hence, jagityal is established and on the name  of yellapu ancestor.

also, in the same dynasty one Medaraju was defeated by kakatiya prataparudra.consequently, meda raju fled to his son in law pagidigiddaraju, in forest areas of warangal district.the village medaram may be on his name obviously.sammakka is the daughter of medaraju.Hence, medaram is also on the name of yellapu ancestor

 Hence, it is clear that there are villages on the name of Yellapu community and their surnames in Andhrapradesh, Tamilnadu and Karnataka. It is also required to bring it to the notice, when it is noticed

Yellapus at elagandula fort

Yellapus stayed at elagandula fort after migrating from the Nalgonda district. The reason for the migration is employment again. It is also clear that migrations were not at once. The available evidences are that many yellapu persons were working as officers incharge of weighing the grain. They are called thula . It is a name of a job and later crystallized as family name. This is the reason why there are many gotras in the Thula surname. For this work also they have got lands from the king nizam. In that way also Yellapus have become the land owners and land lords to certain extent.That is the reason the thula families of Bommakal, Dhammannapet, mormoor got the land holdings from the Nizam. The staying village names, possible old surname and their gotras of Thula surname people are as follows:

 S.No      Village name         Gotra            Old surname(Possible)
1. Mormoor, Bommakal    Bharadwaja          Rapole
2. Not obtained                  Kausika            Not obtained
3. Gullakota                       Janakanuri              Basa
 4. Dhammannapeta            Pasupunuri         Not obtained

 The rationality behind my finding and to substantiate the same i state that Mormoor is settled by Rapole families only and their surnames is Bharadwaja only.Hence, it is clear that Rapole families have joined in the service of Nizam and worked as officer responsible for grain weighing. Similarly, The Thula families are nothing but from other families of the castes.

 The evidence also available at this fort for the existence of yellapus at this place is Salvadi Bavi and idol of veera.This idol is worshiped by salvadi and their relative families only. Even now also the worship takes place before marriage of that family member.

Elagandula fort was a famous textile centre in the ancient days.In the later days many weaving families were migrated from there to Khammam and suryapet in nalgonda district, as per the information available to me.In the recent past ,in Khammam, I met one sri.Elagandula Ramakrishna, correspondent of a school.He explained that they were also belongs to warrior class.They were very much acquainted with Ayurveda.His body is also well built resembling the soldier.

Hence, I presumed following information.The padmashalis were also a warrior class.They took up the textile work may be in the peaceful times at elagandula.The ayurveda profession was continued with them till present generations means, yellapus would have also very good relations with them at elagandula as both are of warrior class and who are aquainted with ayurveda.

Home towns of Yellapus

I have got motivation to write this blog because Raj yagnik , a young man from karimnagar was trying to collect the surnames and their home towns. I assured him to write blog on the same content.Instanteneously I have given some surnames. Earlier,I have given some surnames in my blogspot. However, it is a compiling work of all the surnames and their home towns.It should pave way for collecting the Gotras also.In the later stages, my Brother-in -Law Sri.Ganapathi Rao has provided information on Gotras and native villages of Yellapu community,especially in the surroundings of Khanapur.

 • Khanapur- Bonagiri, Balasankula, Basa, Chintapandu, Ganta, Chetti

. • Sattenpally- Koodala

 • Bhavapur- Lakkakula, Bonagiri

 • Rajura- Gargula, Chetti,karnavattula, Kondra, Kola, Ravula, Aindla

. • Surjapur – Velmula,chintapandu, puppala, Veeramalla, Bashetty

 • Dharmojipet- Veeramalla, thoom,vulise.

 • Adilabad- chetti, Ganta, Basa, Saini, Kola, Pudari, Vulise, Penchala, Veeramalla, Kudala, Aregela, Thula.

 •Gimma- Thoom, Saini, Pudari

 • Revojipet- Veeramalla,Madasu

•  Indanpally- Salvaji, Akula

 •  Gosampalle- Nune, telu

•  Bhutkur- Akula, Jangal.

•   Bellal- Telu.

   

 •   Dasturabad- Chanda

  •   Maddipadaga- Penchala

 •    Morriguda- Kola,Akula.

  •  Thimmapur- Aregela, Akula

   • Mamidipally- Thoom, Aregela

 • Rechini- kondu, Veerla,Kola,Onna

 • Naspoor- Rachakonda, Mekala.

•Mancheryal- Rachakonda,Kailasa

 • Jannaram- koodala,Veeramalla, karnavattula, kola, padala, Jajala, Cherukuthota, Gargula, Saini.

 • Oudyaram-Salvaji, Balasankula, Bonthala,Aregela,Rachakonda.

 • Bommakal-Tula, Rachakonda, Karnavathula

 • Nagunoor- Bonagiri, Penchala,Sunki

• Kalvakota- Thoom,Thula

• Ailapur-Rachakonda, Vulise

• Tadicherla-Malka

 • Manakondur- Vaida,Kotte,Puramshetty,Bethi, Madapathi.

• Mohanraopet- Veeramalla

 • Polampally- Anabheri

• Bhavpeta- Salvaji, Gandla

 • Mulangur- Kosnam

 • Nagulamalyala- Lakkakula

 • Narayanpur- Rachakonda,vurigonda.

 • Garimillapally- Vydhas,Perkari

 • Bandala Lingapur- Ramshetty

 • Wallampahad- vodnala

 • Vemnoor- Rapole

 • Mormoor- Rapole, Onna,Cherukuthota, Tula, Veerla, Konda.

 • Peddapally - Chirumalla

• Chiluvakoduru-Gandhe

 • Israjpalle-Gandhe

 • Vengalapuram - Gandhe

• Munjampet-Gandhe

•Mirjampet-Puppala

• Chaulamaddi-Basa

 • Gullakota- Gandhe, kaluvala,Beerpur.

 • Vemulawada-Bhairushetti

• Kistampet-Akireddy

 • Velichala-Veerla

• Dhammannapet-Thula

 • Chamanpally-Velpula

• Venkatapuram- Bonthala, Salvaji, Vodnala,angarakula.

• Sircilla- Karnavathula,angarakula,Velmula.

• Poshettypalle- Veeramalla.

• Ootpally- Velmula.

 • Jainapeta- koodala, Gandhe

 • Elagandula- Thula,Salvaji.

 • Padakanti- Rapole

 • Madaka- Rapole

 • Garrepally- Bethi,katta

 • Madhapuram- Thota

 • Edlapally- Thota

•Rekonda- Chinthapandu,Rachakonda

 • Maredugonda- Kandunuri

• Kodimyala- Veerla

• Kachapur- Kudala

•Dhammannapet- Tula

•Gambiraopet- Nanuvala

• Pydipalli- Saini

• Velchala-Veerla

• Chengerla- Madapally

•Godhur- Rachakonda,Basa, Karnavattula.

• Jagadevpet- Parpelli

 • Motlapally- Tula

 • Ratnapur-Malka

 • Ibrahimpatnam-Ganta

•Huzurabad- Arakala 

 • Warangal- Jinkala,kandula,Akula.,Jangili,Padala.

• Nizamabad- Thula, Saini,

•Lakkora-Chadala

• Simhampeta- Veeramalla, Puppala

 • Mothkur- Kaluvala, Devineni, Devineni, Polineni,Gandham, Konatham, Gaddam, Duscherla, Adapa

  I know that i have missed some towns and some surnames.Feel free to mail them to me. It is not ending but it is starting................

Velama relations as told by Madhurima Vodnala

Madhurima. Vodnala, daughter of Vodnala. Narender rao and Jangili Shobharani from karimnagar, who Currently live in Newyork with her husband Dr. Narayan Rao. Inuganti read the blog on Yellapu history.

  she has given following information......

 I was married to a velama, Dr. Narayan Rao. Inuganti from Srikakulam. In my inlaws family to a great surprise I heard most of our yellapu surnames in and around Srikakakulam, Vijayanagaram......esp in a village called Palakonda.

 I enquired about this with grand elders in my inlaws family. To surprisingly they know very very well about our Yellapu caste details and they were speaking great about Yellapu's honesty, loyality and bravery. Esp about yellapu women. It was said by one old person that.......velmas and yellapus were like relatives in ancient days and many matrimonials were in between velmas and yellapus which suggest the presence of our yellapu surnames in velmas of Srikakulam.

 After the downfall of bobbili ........velmas along with yellapus, made their agricultural lands around Palakonda and lived together happily. and it was said that Yellapu girls were most beautiful, multitalentedl among those times for which Velamas preferred to marry yellapu girls it seems.she has appreciated the research I made.

The following are my logical conclusion on the information provided by her. 

The velama and yellapu castes relations were started from the kakatiya period. Prataparudra -2 gave a lot of priority to velamas. It caused irritation among the other castes.At the time of last  war with Delhi sulthans in 1332, other people did not cooperate.But, Yellapus and Velamas fought valiantly. This has improved the relations between both castes. (Elucidated in other blog"Origin and History")
After kakatiya downfall, many yellapu families moved to Rachakonda dynasty to work under the velamas.Yellapus were present on the borders of Rachakonda, as there are villages on the surnames and caste name such as yellagiri, malkapur . This clearly reveals the service by yellapus in Rachakonda Velamas. 

During the vijayanagara times, yellapus, Velamas and Gavaras moved to Tamilnadu. The surnames of kotta/kottai  and Naidu in velamas and yellapus suggest the mutual relations in TN also.

After vijayanagara period , Yellapus worked under Bobbili.  I heard the information of stay of yellapus in vijayanagaram and srikakulam district is learnt from other friends also. It requires the consolidation of surnames and compare them to substantiate the view.I try to collect during my Stay at bobbili.Koppula is a famous surname both exists in Yellapus and velamas of North coastal area.The other surnames common among the both castes are Bethi, Jampala,Kaluvala,Oruganti,Muppala ,Saini and Recherla. These names reveal the relations between both castes.

 On one hand the relations of these castes have been cordial in north coastal area , as they know the value of valor, honesty of yellapu people. More particularly the extraordinary talent shown by the bairushetty and other women belongs to yellapu caste during the war,which may be still alive in the minds of velamas of North coastal area. These women killed about 200 soldiers with stones, as per micheal katten.

On the other hand, in telangana, velamas down played the yellapus and not regarded for their honesty, though provided Jobs in their Gadis. However, some elderly persons regarded the honesty. There were matrimonial relations between these castes in two places. But most of the higher level persons among the Yellapus merged with velamas only, since the ages of kakatiyas up to the times of Bobbili. This merger also transferred the some cultural aspects of Rajasthani origin disseminated in to Velamas and followed widely, though velamas are originally belongs to Bihar area.

It is believed in the caste by elders that tandra papanna, brother of queen of Bobbili is yellapu only. So many of his loyal soldiers are from telagas.

Hence, the yellapu surnames are naturally present in Velamas. This is also one of the reasons for the less number of yellapus. During and after the bobbili war, migrations of yellapus were taken place to telangana area. Some people migrated independently. It is elucidated in the blog "from bobbili to bonagiri unveiled ".Some people migrated with velamas and most of them reached karimnagar in the end.

The independently migrated persons stayed in Warangal and Nalgonda district. Some of them lately reached the Karimnagar district. However, some people of both these castes are dispersed to the different parts of srikakulam and vijayanagaram districts after Great War of bobbili.On the other hand the people who lost their employment and could not get any lands, etc. are still living nomadically.

 Marrying the Girls of yellapus is a great technique to merge yellapus in to their castes. It is not only due to their beauty but also to make use of their valor for their safety.During the needy times Velamas claim that both the velama and yellapu castes are related and one same.Hence, yellapus has to serve for their cause.However, there are cordial relations are existing in many places between these people.

 The most important thing I observe is that the people living in U.S and other countries are showing great interest in providing information to build the history than people living in a.p.She is the first women to evince interest on the history of yellapus and to provide information.

Some people have misconception that Yellapus are telagas migrated from north coastal area to telangana area. But still the yellapus have been maintaining their identity both in north coastal area and telangana, though some people are merged with telagas, kapus and velamas and maintaining good relations including matrimonial relations.It is clarified by the information provided by madhurima.


References:
1.Story informed by Madhurima vodnala
2.Oral stories told by elders of both yellapu and Velamas.
3.Velama website
4.

Gavara relations of Yellapus

             During my recent visit to vizag to participate in a international conference on Slum Free Urban India held in Novotel hotel, I found one Yellapu Suribabu, belongs to the telugudesam party. I started thinking once again about the caste after a long time. The name of the surname has further changed to Yellapu from the Yellapu, which has long phonetic in telangana area. Earlier also I learnt from one of my friends belongs to Anakapally that the pronounciation is Yellapu only. Moreover they are belongs to Gavara community.

             Interestingly, Gavaras and kapus are dominant castes in the Anakapally town. But Yellapus have merged with the Gavaras only. After the war of Bobbili did they fear to some one of extermination? Did the yellapus found it easy to continue the business with the help of Gavaras?Is it a terminating point to loose the relationship with kapus in north coastal area? One fact is that the existing yellapus along with other malla,dadi and konathala families are no more yellapu. They may do not like to know the history or identify themselves. But we have to unearth the history.I could not get the time to go to Anakapally.But I have to know it from the known persons. I may have to visit them all the way.

         On the other hand I have to visit vijayanagaram district also to know about yellapi community, who are still leading nomadic life. The visit of bobbili may be the best option to serve the purpose.

         The merger of yellapu families in to Gavara community may be due to following historical event: The yellapu families maintained separate entity during and after bobbili war.Their men were involved in the business also, in addition to the warfare. It is also learnt from the elders and stories told in north coastal area that women of yellapu were equally competent in warfare. As per Micheal katten, the yellapu men, especially bhairushetty families were went outside on business work at the time of War of bobbili.At this time many women were killed, when these women pelted the stones in special way and killed about 200 soldiers of opposite camp. On the other hand many women and children were killed by their own people to save from the humiliation. Some people migrated else where along with Velamas.Some people lost employment and continuing as nomads.Some families migrated to telangana area during the war time and after also. That is why there may be shortage of women and forced the yellapu families including konatham, malla,dadi to join in to gavara community, as both of these families are well acquainted with one other in business and both are minority castes.

         The reason for upkeeping the surnames and caste name is to marrying of Gavara women by yellapu men. The information available in the inscriptions revealed about the Gavaras tells that dadi familes were under the service of kakatiyas.Similarly, yellapus and dadi families have also worked under kakatiyas.Hence, these castes may have known each other since many centuries and that facilitated easy merger.

         The Gavaras are called Gavara Naidus. It may be due to merger of some Naidu families in to Gavaras. These Naidus may also include Yellapu families. Gavaras spread to the areas of Karnataka and Tamilnadu, as per the Gavara website.In those areas there are places like dadinayakanpalaya,dadikkombu,dadithota,etc, which testifies to the authority as well as dominance of the dadi families in those area.

        Intersetingly the yellapus have migrated to tamilnadu during the period of krishnadevaraya.This clarifies that yellapus and Gavaras have very good relations during this period also. The Gavara dominant areas of Rayapalayam and the yellapu/Nadar dominant areas of Avaraikulam, chettikulam are in near by areas.It is already mentioned that yellapus came back from those areas and some people would have stayed there itself.But, these migrations during the period of krishnadevaraya to fight against the father of vishwanatha Naika in Tamilnadu has developed close relations between Yellapus and Gavaras.

         In the later stages, after the Bobbili war the merger of Yellapu families in to Gavara community is completed. Another interesting thing is that both the yellapu and Gavaras are migrated from the Near by areas of Delhi.The yellapus migrated from the delhi and meerut districts.where as Gavaras are from ahichchatra, a near by place of delhi and meerut.Delhi to meerut is 65 k.m. and delhi to ahichchatra is 250 k.m. Thus, these people would have close contacts from ancient days.and that may be fecilitated in the close relations and merger of yellapu families in to Gavara caste.

The yellapus have merged with Gavaras.The question now is which family members have possibly merged with them? Usually the family name changes frequently in migrating communities.But the gotram is almost constant. The Pydipala is the Gotram of Yellapu families in Gavaras.So, the following families have the same Gotram.

  

•  Arkala- Pydipala
• Koppula - Pydipala
•   Kotte- Pydipala 
•   Nanvala- pydipala
•   Rapolu -  Pydipala
•  

Hence, it is clear that Kotte,koppula,Arkala,Nanvala,Rapole families or all the families having above surnames would have merged with Gavaras after Bobbili war.Other Yellapu families might have also merged in small number and upkeeped the same Gotram or we do not have information about it.I also informed the same to sri.Yellapu mukunda Ramarao, a gavara researcher.

Let us also examine the other substantiating factors for merger,which are not mentioned above that Kotte families migrated to Tamilnadu as a part of Vijayanagara army and many Gavara families also migrated there and came back.Thus, they have historical relations. It might have fecilitated merger.