Balija.—The name is derived from the Sanskrit words bai, a sacrifice, and ja, born, signifying that the Balijas owe their origin to the performance of a yégam. Their legend describes how one Détchayam, daughter of a saint named Daétchaprajapathi, dissatisfied with the ornaments bestowed upon her by her father, desired more. Her father consulted Bramha as to how he might satisfy her, and the young woman was by the deity directed to perform a y4gam. With the assistance of a, Brahman she did this, and from the sacrificial flames issued a personage bearing glass bangles, turmeric, and other auspicious articles, which he bestowed upon the girl. She accepted and wore them, directing that all women for the future should use similar ornaments. The person who sprung from the ydgam became the ancestor of the Balijas, who are sometimes called Gouriputras, or sons of a woman, since their remote ancestor was the result of a woman’s yégam. Originally the caste would seem to have been solely employed in making bangles, pearl or coral ornaments, and other sorts of female adornments; but now the greater part engage in agriculture. The caste contains many sub-divisions, usually named after their ordinary occupations in times past. Thus the Gézula Balijas sell bangles, the Réllu or Rathndla Balijas sell precious stones, the Muttidla Balijas sell pearls, and the Pagadéla Balijas sell coral. One sub-division, the Mita Kammala Balijas, derive their name from the peculiarly-shaped earrings which they wear. A very inferior division of the caste is known as the Uppu or Perika Balijas, who generally carry about salt on donkeys in panniers (perika), but not many of these are found in North Arcot.
The vernacular of the caste is Telugu, and their worship is that of Vishnu combined with Gouridévi, their patron goddess. “Widow remarriage is disallowed, but flesh-eating and the drinking of spirits are freely permitted ; indeed the latter forms an important feature in their social ceremonies, and a common proverb says ‘ Balija bidda putta valle battai buddi kotta valle’ (if a man be born a Balija, he must crack the arrack bottle),
The caste affixes are Naidu and Chetty, the latter implying superiority and being justly claimable only by those who are descended from the heads of the caste, but many not strictly entitled to the distinction often assume it. The caste is regarded as rather a mixed one in North Aacot, as persons of impure descent are admitted into the society without scrupi:s A few families who have more recently come to the country from the north are more particular, and hold themselves aloof from other nominal Balijas.
The Chetties, also called Dés4i Chetties among them, are regarded with particular respect, not only by Balijas, but by Sudra castes belonging to the right-hand division. They are said to have been entrusted by the nabobs with powers similar to those described as possessed by some of the Linga Balija Chetties.
Kavvare.—This is simply the Tamil name for Tamilized Balijas, being a corrupt form of Gouri for Gouriputra. Gaurīputra (गौरीपुत्र).—Name of Kārtikeya. Gaurīputra (गौरीपुत्र):—[=gaurī-putra] [from gaurī > gaura] m. = -ja, Kārttikeya. They maintain the manners and customs of the Balijas, but often speak Tamil rather than Telugu, calling themselves Naiken.