Castes in AP

Caste in Andhra Pradesh

The Hindu Telugu society is classified into a number of castes based on occupation.

Forward castes do not qualify for government reservations. Forward castes make up about 26% (NFHS 2007 survey) of the state population with the majority being Kapu (Balija, Telaga and Naidu) caste at 15% (although is some regions of the state they are classified as OBC).People of Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vysya are known as Aryas as they have celesitial thread(Jandyamu in Telugu). Though Velamas, Kapu, Reddy and Kamma belongs to Forward caste they do not have celesitial thread(Jandyamu in Telugu) they were not Aryas.

Brahmins (Priests, Teachers)

Smartha (Shaivulu, Vaidhikulu)

Vaishnava (Sri Vaishnava, Sathatha Sri Vaishnava)

Karanaalu (Niyogulu, Niyogi Karanaalu, 6000 Niyogi, Sistakaranam, Karana Kammulu)

Kshatriyas (rulers)

Raju (Rulers, Warriors, Zamindars)

Puragiri Kshatriya/Perika

Vysyas: (Businessmen)

Arya Vysya

Sudras

Velama (Rulers,Warriors,Landlords, Traders, Businessmen, Administrators)

Kamma (caste)/Chowdary/Kamma Naidu/Rayudu/Naicker|(Rulers, Warriors, Chieftains, Landlords, Farmers,Traders, Businessmen, Administrators)

Kapu (caste)/Naidu/Rayudu/Kapu Naidu(Rulers/Land lords/Traders/ Farmers/Businessmen/Zamindars)

Reddy (Village Administrators, Landlords, Farmers, Warriors, Traders, business men, Rulers )

Backward castes

 Some castes are classified as backward due to their financial, educational and/or political depression. They have government reservations to help uplift their status. They are predominantly artisans, small scale farmers and traders. Backward castes make up about 50% of the population.

Artisans

Viswabrahmins / Vishwakarmas (Priests, Engineers, Architects, Temple Builders)

Kammari (Black Smith)

Vadrangi (Carpenter)

Kanchari (Brass/Bronze Smith)

Silpi (Sculptor)

Kamsali-, Ausali (Gold/Silver Smith)

Salivahana / Kummari (Potter)

Surya Balija

Ganika (Dancer, singer, poet)

Kalavanthula

Shaman

Jogi (Religious mendicant and pedlar)

Joshinadiwalas (astrologer and village priest)

Other Kshatriyas

Puragiri Kshatriya/Perika (Kings,Agriculturists, Peasants, Warriors, Landlords,Zamindars)

Agnikula (Agnivanshi)

Vanniyakula Kshatriya/Vanniyar (Aquaculture, Fishermen, Farmers and Peasants.)

Bhavasara Kshatriya (Cloth traders)

Arya Kshatriya

Bukka in Telangana region {traders in Devotional materials} also belongs to Suryavamsha Kshatriyas

Srisayana Kshatriyas/Srisayana Segidis (Ganga Dynasty Kshatriyas, Warriors, Landlords)

Warrior/Hunters

Boyar caste/Boya

Boya/Nayak/Naidu

Boya Talwar/Talari

Traders

Perika Balija (Kings,Agriculturists, Peasants, Warriors, Landlords, Traders)

Gavara

Krishna Balija (Business, Agriculturists, Peasants, Warriors, Landlords)]

Dasari (Agriculturists, Warriors, Landlords, Traders, Administrators)

Sadhuchetty

Poosala [Business, Agriculturists, Peasants, Warriors, Landlords)]

Weaving

Achukatlavandlu

Dudekula

Devanga

Jandra

Kurni

Neelakanthi

Koshti

Nakkala

Patkar

Khartri

Padmashali

Kaikala

Karna Bhaktulu

Pattusali

Senapathulu

Thogata Sali

Thogataveera

Veerakshatriya Swakulasali

Narasimha caste

Ayyaraka Patrudu (Merchant, Farmer, Warrior,Soldiers,Drivers)

Rulers under Chalukyas

Gowda or Goud, Goud ( kalachuri dynasty)

Alcohol Brewing

Bhandari

Edigas

Idiga

Kalal, Kalace

Setty Balijas

Yatha

Animal Husbandry

Cattle Farming

Yadava

Golla

Bhatraju

Sheep Rearing

Kuruba

Kuruma

Hatkar

nayeebramana (Musicians,Surgeons,Ministers,Leads)

Bhajanthri

nayee

Mangala

Manthri

Nai

Nayi-Brahmin

niyogi nayeebramhana

Maruthuvar

Bamboo Workers

Kandra

Basket Weaving

Gundla

Goondla

Gadaba (Forest tribe)

Godaba

Medari

Meat Selling

Aare Katika (were warriors during Shivaji Period)

Katika

Cobbler

Chirakara

Giniyar

Muchi

Nakhas

Ceremony singers

Jakkali

watch&ward

Katipapala

Cotton Spining

Dudekula

Laddaf - Muslim

Noor Basha - Muslim

Pinjari - Muslim

Earthen Work

Odde

Oddilu

Uppara

Sagara[disambiguation needed]

Agnikula Kshatriya ((Aquaculture, Landlords, Farmers, Peasants and Warriors)

Fishermen

Jalari

Bestha/Besta (Fishermen in Telangana region )

Mudiraju (Fisherman Heads, farmers, warriors)

Mutrasi

Tenugollu

Neyyala

Pattapu

Vada Balija

Mali (vegetable and fruit growers)

Tailors, Dyers

Rangarez (Muslim)

Chippollu

Mera

Meru Darji

Gypsies (Tribal)

Banjara

Kanjara Bhatta

Lambada

Sugalis

Vanjara

Vanjari

shiva archka

Tammali

Jingara

Kachi (Vegetable-grower)

Nagavaddilu

Nagavasam

Nagavamsa

Oil Pressing

Gandla

Sajjana gandla

Ganiga

Deva Thilakula

Teli Kula

Sandlewood Workers

Agaru

Vaddi (stonecutters and well-diggers)

Vaddera

Vaddelu

Scheduled castes

They are engaged predominantly in menial and manual labor and make up about 10% of the population.

Adivasi

Anamuk

Bhajantri

Balasanthu

Bahurupi

Chandala

Chachati

Dandasi

Ellamalawar

Gudala

Godagali

Holeya Dasari

Holeya Haddi

Ghasi

Relli Chachandi

Chopemari

Hunter

Bedar Soldier and public service

Pedda Boya

Sindhollu

Chindollu

Kirataka

Nishadi

Pardhi (Weaving, carpentry)

Nirishikari

Passi

Talayari

Valmiki

Jaggali

Kaikadi (Basket-maker)

Korcha

Konda Reddies

Konda Reddi

Kunapuli

Leatherworker

Chamar

Chambar

Chamber

Dhor

Madiga

Mahadiga

Mahar (cotton-weavers)

Mala

Mala Hannai

Matangi

Mashti

Netkani

Poturaju (Shaman)

Madar

Mang

Mang Garodi

Mogaveera

Mashteen

Mandala

Kuruva(Caste)

Madari Kuruva:(Sheep Rearing, Begging, Sanchar)

Madasi Kuruva (Sheep Rearing, Begging, Sanchar)

Mithaayyalvar

Mondivaru

Banda

Mondibanda

Mondipatta

Mandula

Manual Labor

Adi Dravida

Adi Andhra

Arunthathiyar

Bada Jangam

Budga Jangam

Budabukkala

Bavuri

Byagara

Dakkal

Dokkalwar

Nekkar

Nokkar

Pamidi

Pambala

Pambada

Pambanda

Panchama Parih

Paky

Pariki Muggula

Peddammavandlu

Devaravandlu

Yallammavandlu

Mutyalammavandlu

Kolupulvandlu

Samagara

Samban

Sapru

Sweeper

Mehtar

Dommara

Dom

Domba

Moti Muchi

Mochi (Shoemaker)

Paidi

Pano

Thoti (Tribal)

Vamsharaj

Girijan (Beggars)

Kurru

Pitchigunta

Veeramusthi

Nettikotala

Veerabhadreeya

Vannar

Watchman

Yenity

Yarla

Scheduled tribes

They engage in hunting and gathering, the primitive type of agriculture known as shifting or slash-and-burn cultivation. They constitute 5% of the population.

Yanadi (Nellore (dt), Costal Andhra Pradesh, India)

Andha

Raghu

Bagata

Bhil (experts in guerrilla warfare)

Chenchu

Chenchuwar

Dhora

Mukha

Nooka

Reddi

Manna

Godadas

Gond

Rajgond

Kolam

Mannervarlu (Forest tribe)

Manne

Pardhan (tribal-priests)

Nayaks

Naikpad

Kotia

Goudu

Kammara (Tribal)

Kattunayakan

Konda

Dhoras

Kapus

Kondhs

Kuttiya

Dongria

Kodi

Kodhs Desaya

Reddies

Jatapus

Kotia

Bartika

Bentho Oriya

Dulia (bamboo-workers)

Holva

Paiko (Soldier, cultivator)

Putiya

Sidhopaiko

Koya

Rasha

Kottu

Bhine

Lingadhari

Rajkoya

Kulia

Porja

Parangiperja

Rona

Rena

Sanrona

Savaras (Munda-speaking tribes)

Maliya

Khutto

Kapu

Tikiria.