Patrudu

Patrudu (Telugu: పాత్రుడు) or Nagaralu (Telugu: నగరాలు) means dwellers in a city or nagaram, is a social community or caste found mostly in the south Indian state Andhra Pradesh. The Patrulu population is distributed mostly in the coastal city areas of Andhra Pradesh like Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, Anakapalle, Vizianagaram etc.

Patrudu or Chowdaries are community which took to town life and separated itself off from the parent stock. The caste title is Patrudu means Praiseworthy/Lord and indicates those who are appropriate to receive the gift.

History

Origin

Nagaralu means the dwellers in a 'Nagaram' or city which took to town life and separated itself off from the parent stock.^[1] Being said among the caste, that they migrated from the Nalanda Area of present Bihar State in around 10th century following a defeat in a war. The Royal family members took their heir and the other fellow followers including the loyal to the throne, accompanied the King's family. They roamed through the Konkan Coast line and finally sailed through the sea and reached the area between Visakhapatnam and Srikakulam. There they won the trust of the then Eastern Ganga kings of the Area for their skills in Warfare, Ayurveda Medicine etc. Thus they became local rulers under the Eastern Ganga Kings. Even some of the places where they anchored their boats and got settled were till known with their surnames followed by 'valasa' in the districts of Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram & Srikakulam. Their rule under Eastern Ganga, Gajapati Kings continued till the attack of Sri Krishna Deyaraya.^[2] Few others also included head of army in King Sri Krishna devaraya, who later were awarded small villages to rule and mixed themselves into the kshatriya community now known as Patrulu. Place near Visakhapatnam known as seven villages(edurlu) are direct discendants from these community and are still associated with Nagarlu caste.^[3] Patrudu was a cultivating caste & their primary occupation Ayurvedic medicine. In the 18th century their ancestors were asthana vaidyulu of Vizianagaram and rose to prominence as physicians.

Gothrams

The caste is divided into three (genuinely totemistic) sections or gōtras, viz., Nāgēsvara (cobra) Kūrmēsa (tortoise), and Vignēsvara or Mūshika (rat). The rat is the vehicle of the elephant god Ganēsa or Vignēsvara. It is further divided into exogamous septs or intipērulu (surnames).

1. Aswadanarayana
2. Aswadapatra
3. Aandonda
4. Appanna

1. Bharadhawaja

1. Gouthamasyya

1. Karpoora
2. Kaveri
3. Koudinya
4. Koudilya
5. Kurmavatana
6. Kurmala

1. Munneti

1. Nagula
2. Narasimha
3. Nakkeswara
4. Nageswara (cobra)
5. Nagendra
6. Nemalipuri

1. Pannakeswara
2. Palaku
3. Palaa(durgasi
4. Palesu / Paleswara
5. Paleti
6. Palesu
7. Paalavelli / Paala / Paali
8. Pippilipatra
9. Puleswara

1. Raavaku
2. Raavipala
3. Raavipilla

1. Sarveswara
2. Siva
3. Simhadri
4. Srikurmam (tortoise)

1. Tabelu (tortoise)

1. Vasishta
2. Vigneswara or Mushika (mouse)

1. Yagneswara
2. Yeteru

^[4]

Surname

Further divided into exogamous septs or intipērulu (surnames).