Several people have asked about Ravi's culture, where in India his family is from, and how it differs from other Indian cultures. Because India is one of the most diverse countires in the world, the states of India often seem like their own countries. I found a most excellent article on the Rajus in India, which is the specific Indian culture Ravi is from. Sometimes the word "Telugu" is used to describle Ravi's culture -- this is the language spoken in Ravi's particular Raju culture. Ravi's family is from a state called Andhra. If you do a bit of searching, or traveling, in India you will experience quite a different culture among the Rajus versus the Gujuratis, versus the Kerelans, versus UP Brahmins, etc. Dependent on the state, language spoken, and the sociocultural norms, the list of diversity seems to go on forever in India. Enjoy reading about the Raju warriers!
Raju is a Telugu variation of the Sanskrit word Raj and Raja meaning King, Prince or Lord. Rajus (Rajulu in Telugu) is used to refer to a prominent and influential Telugu Kshatriya Caste in Andhra Pradesh. Kshatriya Rajus are said to be descendents of ancient Royal dynasties like Eastern Chalukyas, Chalukya-Cholas, Vishnukundina, Gajapati, Chagi, Paricheda and Kota Vamsa.
Over the centuries they have been called by various alternative names that signified their military status. During the British Raj they were known as Ratsas and Rajavars, which means of or belonging to the caste of Ratsawars (Raja Caste), using the title of Raju.
They are around 1.2 percent of the Telugu population, concentrated mainly in the Coastal Andhra region with pockets in the Rayalaseema, North Arcot and Rajapalayam of Tamil Nadu, Bellary of Karnataka and Ganjam of Orissa. In last few decades significant population of Rajus have migrated and settled in US and UK.
Rajus use Raju or Varma in the Andhra regions and Deo in the Orissa regions as an agnomen for their last name. Varma in Sanskrit means Armor, Protection and Deo in Sanskrit means God or Lord.
There have been varying accounts about the origins of the Raju community. Some include them among the military tribes of Rajput descent.
Regarding this community Edgar Thurston in his seven volume Castes and Tribes of Southern India writes…The Maharajas of Vizianagaram claim to be Kshatriyas from the Rajputana and the leaders of the people of gotrams said to have come to the Northern Circars centuries ago.
It is noted in connection with the battle of Padmanabham(in present Visakhapatnam district) in 1794 AD that Rajputs formed a rampart round the corpse of Vijay Rama Raju. Padmanabham will long be remembered as the Flodden of the Rajputs of Vizianagaram…as a class they are the handsomest and best developed men in the country and differ so much in feature and build from other Hindus that they may usually be distinguished at a glance…they are mostly Vaishnavites, and their priests are Brahman.
Rajus of course assume the sacred thread, and are very proud and particular in their conduct. Brahmanical rites of Punya Havachanam (Purification), Jata Karma (Birth ceremony), Nama Karanam (Naming ceremony), Chaulam (Tonsure), and Upanayanam (Thread ceremony) are performed…at weddings the Kasi Yatra (Mock flight to Benares) is performed…at their wedding they worship a sword, which is a ceremony usually denoting a soldier cast.
Historically South Indian royal families of Kshatriyas (Rajus) had marital relationship with Central and North Indian royal families, like Rajas of Vizianagaram, Salur and Kurupam had marital relationships with the Rajputana royal families.
The history of South India and the Puranas reveal that the Andhra Kshatriyas descended from the Aryavarta (northern India) to the south due to internal conflicts, foreign invasions, famine etc. Vayu Purana, Buddhist and Jain literatures mention about migration of Ikshvakus Kshatriyas to southern India.
Rajus traditional accounts claim descent from Ikshvaku, Vishnukundina, Chalukya, Paricchedi and Kota Vamsa.
Some historians and traditional accounts link Rajus to ancient Andhra Ikshvakus, which was the first Kshatriya kingdom in Andhra which ruled during 2nd and 3rd Centuries CE and are purportedly linked to ancient Ikshvakus of Kosala.
According to most historians and by the inscriptional evidences of Paricchedi and Chagi ruling clans, during 4th – 5th century AD few Suryavanshi Kshatriyas of four clans travelled from northern India to the south, where they initially worked as feudatories of Vakatakas before establishing the Vishnukundina Kingdom. While Chandravanshi Kshatriyas of Andhra are said to be descendents of Eastern Chalukyas and few other Kshatriya dynasties.
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