The Historical Origins of the Aitharaju Family
The origins of the Aitharaju family ridden with multiple speculative theories can finally be put to a conclusion using historically valid referential sources to ascertain the fact that the Aitharajus have their origin a little further up the River Munneru from the village of Vallabhi in Mudigonda Mandal, leading to the very nearby Aithavaram which is also on the banks of River Muneru, barely an hour away from Vallabhi but now lies in the Nandigama Taluq of Krishna District. By utilizing the standard Niyogi Brahmin naming scheming put forward by historian Cynthia Talbot, we can arrive at this conclusion. Aitharajus hailed from Aithavaram, who later on got the suffix of Raju for their service as army generals, administrators, and prime ministers during the East Chalukayan period.
There are two previous theories regarding the origins of the Aitharaju family put forward by my grandfather Dr AP Ranga Rao. He speculated that our village name Vallabhi had some links with the Vallabhi Empire in Gujarat Saurashtra, thus Aitharajus would have some links to that place as well. He also proposed after discovering an inscription in Alampur Jogulamba Temple where the name Pradhan Aithanna was written, that Aithanna (bestowed upon the royal service title of Raju) worked as an administrator for the Mudigonda Chalukyas (And since Mudigonda being a close village to Vallabhi the present homeland of the Aitharajus).
Going through historical references, both theories seem improbable. For starters, the kingdom of Vallabhi in Gujarat lasted from 475 to 776 CE. According to the historical work of The Administration of Guntur District by Robert Eric Frykenberg, Niyogi Brahmins came into existence from 1144, when a minister in Condaveedo Seema insulted by Arava/Tamil Karnamas vowed to establish the dominance of Niyogi Brahmins as ministers, army generals, and village revenue chiefs for as long as the Sun and Moon endure. As I wrote in my previous work on the origins of Niyogi Brahmins citing Kota Venkatachalam Garu’s Agnivanshapu Kshatriyulu Leda Niyogi Brahmana Rajulu, Niyogis have had their origin in the Telugu land, Aaruvela Niyogis as their name indicates particularly in the Aaruvelanadu (the region between Krishna River, Godavari and Penna Rivers, what forms the present-day region of Andhra Pradesh). This was written by historian Siraj Ul Hassan in Heh Nizam Dominion’s List of Castes and Tribes.
Aitharajus being part of the Aaruvela Niyogi caste, it is highly improbable therefore they migrated from Gujarat after 755 CE, and randomly started a village near Mudigonda in the Khammam region. Like the rest of the Aaruvela Niyogis, they must have some connection with the Aaruvelanadu (we shall see this example hold true as we analyze Niyogi surnames).
Another accurate historical reference that confirms this theory is, the map of Khammamett (Khammam District) in 1854, which indicates no sizeable village called Vallabhi. It is only after 1854, therefore Vallabhi became a settlement. Vallabhi is a Jain/Buddhist name, considering it is very close to Jagayyapeta where multiple Buddhist stupas were excavated by the archaeology department in the 90s. It is highly improbable that Vallabhi was an abandoned hamlet of Jains/Buddhists after they were annihilated by Kakatiyas and Niyogi Brahmins. Where it settlement took place after 1854. And the Aitharaju clan migrated here sometime after 1854.
A historical work titled Inscriptions of the Minor Chalukya Dynasties of Andhra Pradesh by Kolluru Satyanarayana Garu indicates no inscription of Mudigonda Chalukaya in Alampur Jogulamba with even the remotest mention of Aithanaraju or Aithanna Pradini.. Thus there is no chance of connection between Mudigonda and the Aithanna mentioned in the inscription mentioned in Alampur. Thus the Pradhan Aithanna (literally meaning priest Aithanna) inscription in Prakrit has no connection with the Aitharaju clan or Mudigonda-Vallabhi region, he neither has any Niyogi origins and his timing predates the inception of Niyogis, gazing through the history of Alampur. He must have been a Kannadiga priest considering Aithanna is an old Kannada name.
Since both past theories stand demolished. I propose a new alternative theory. Discovering the origins of the Aitharajus through the Niyogi Brahmin surname system.
According to historian Cynthia Talbot, the suffix “Raju” or “Mantri” or “Pragada” was used by Niyogi Brahmins who held royal titles or offices of ministers, army general, and administrators during and after the East Chalukayan Period. Otherwise most surnames we will see originate from the village of the origin of the family. We know through Frykgenberg that Niyogi Brahmins were active army generals as well. Siraj Ul Hasan, the Nizam Historian in HEH Nizam Dominion List of Castes and Tribes also tells us that Aaruvela Niyogis come from the Aaruvela Region. Let us use both clues to decipher some common Niyogi surnames.
- Bhogaraju
Raju is a royal title. But there is a village called Bhogavaram in West Godavari (which again lies in the Aaruvelanadu Region of Vengi Desha).
Bhandaru.
This surname too takes its roots from a village called Bandarulanka (literally meaning the island of Bandarus) in West Godavari district (Again in the Aaruvelanadu region).
Chaganti
The surname comes from a village in Guntur district (Again in the Aaruvelanadu region).
Turlapati
Pati literally means “Of” in a form of Prakrit and Old Gujarati Forms of Prakrit. Turlapadu is a village in Guntur region (Again a village in the Aaruvelanadu Region).
Pampulaparti
Parti literally again means “From” in Prakrit of the Satavahana era. There is a literally called Pampula Parti in Medak (but its meaning ends up meaning the village of people from Pamula indicating Pamula is another place). Pampula Lanka (the Island of Pamulas) is another village in Krishna District (Again a village in Aaruvelanadu).
Note these are a few examples of surnames. There is a long list of surnames I know I can cite endlessly. Pure Aaruvela Niyogi Brahmin surnames all have some form of connection to the Aaruvelanadu Region and this can be easily proved through their surnames.
Applying this logic, now. We can ascertain. Aithavaram is the original village of Aitharajus, for their service as army generals and administrators during the East Chalukayan period they were bestowed upon the title of “Raju”.
Aithavaram is roughly 47 kilometers from Vallabhi. Aithavaram lies on the same River Munneru, which flows from Vallabhi to Aithavaram eventually merging into the Krishna River near Kankipadu. Being so extremely close as well, the migration would have been easier and accurate as a theory.
Historical Sources:
THE CASTES AND TRIBES OF
H. E. H. THE NIZAM’S DOMINIONS BY SIRAJ UL HASSAN.
Temples, Donors, and Gifts: Patterns of Patronage in Thirteenth-Century South India by Cynthia Talbot.
Inscriptions of the Minor Chalukya Dynasties of Andhra Pradesh — Kolluru Suryanarayana
The Administration of Guntur District With Special References to Local Influences of Revenue Policy 1837–1848 by Robert Eric Frykenberg.
Niyogi Surname List (Credits to Family and Friends).
Map of Circar of Khammmett (1854) Pharoah.
