Francis in connection with the census, 1901, it was In a letter submitted, from Coimbatore, to Mr. The name Kartākkal (governors) was returned by those who claim to be descendants of the Nāyak
The members of the caste none of them now wear the sacred thread, or follow the Vēdic ritual. They are a mixed community recruited from these and other Telugu castes. This Kshatriya descent is, however, not admitted by other castes, who say that Balijas are an offshoot of the Kammas or Kāpus, or that Others trace their ancestry to the Kauravas of the Mahābhārata. The descendants of the Nāyak or Balija Kings of Madura and Tanjore claim to be Kshatriyas and of the Kāsyapa (a rishi) gōtra, while the Vijayanagar Rais say they are lineal descendants of the sage Bhāradwāja. In the Tamil districts Balijas are known as Vadugans (Telugu people) and Kavarais.
The first of these includes those, whose ancestors are supposed to have been the Balija (Nāyak) kings of Madura, Tanjore and Vijayanagar, or provincial governors in those kingdoms and to the second belong those, like the Gāzulu (bangle sellers) and Perike (salt- sellers), who live by trade. It is said to have two main sub-divisions, Dēsa (or Kōta, a fort) and Pēta (street). Francis * as being "the chief Telugu trading caste, scattered throughout all parts of the Presidency. Balija.- The Balijas are described by Mr.