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SAVITHA MAHARSHI Written By Venkatachalapathi. P.B. Davangere.

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Chapter -14 Savitha Maharishi In many regions of India, the barber community—traditionally known as Nai —is collectively identified as Savitha Samaja , a name that traces its sacred origin to Savitha Maharishi , the mythological progenitor and revered ancestor of the barber community. According to traditional belief, Savitha Maharishi was divinely appointed to serve Ayushkarma —the sacred act of health care, grooming, and well-being—to the gods themselves. Through this divine service, the profession of barbering acquired ritual sanctity and social importance. The term “Savitha” holds profound philosophical and spiritual meaning. It is associated with Lord Vishnu , the preserver and protector of the universe. At the same time, Savitha also signifies the Sun (Savitru) —the cosmic force responsible for creation, nourishment, and the sustenance of life. Just as the sun is indispensable for the survival of all beings, the services rendered by the Savitha Samaja are considered essential f...
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HADAPADA APPANNA Written By Venkatachalapathi. P.B. Davangere.

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Hadapada Appanna      Hadapada Appanna: A Pillar of the Kalyana Kranti and Vachana Movement The Kalyana Kranti (Kalyana Revolution) of the 12th century CE and the flowering of Vachana Sahitya stand among the most remarkable socio-religious transformations in world history. Emerging from the heart of present-day Karnataka, this movement challenged entrenched hierarchies of caste, ritual, and economic exploitation, and offered a bold vision of equality, dignity, and spiritual democracy . At the forefront of this awakening stood Jagajyothi Basavanna , whose revolutionary ideas redefined religion as ethical living rather than ritual observance. Among Basavanna’s most trusted associates was Hadapada Appanna , a Sharana whose life and service embodied the ideals of the Kalyana Kranti. Historical Context: The Spirit of Kalyana Kranti Basavanna’s greatest institutional innovation was the Anubhava Mantapa , often described as the world’s first spiritual parliament . It was ...
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IMMADI BIJJALA Written By Venkatachalapathi. P.B. Davangere.

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Immadi Bijjala Immadi Bijjala  of Kalyana  Immadi Bijjala II was one of the most significant political figures of 12th-century South India , ruling the Kalachuri dynasty of Kalyana approximately from 1130 to 1167 CE . His reign marks a crucial transitional phase in Deccan history, characterized by political realignment, social reform movements, and religious ferment. Though his rule was relatively brief, its impact—especially in Karnataka and adjoining regions—was deep and long-lasting. Origins of the Kalachuri Dynasty The Kalachuris were an ancient and widespread dynasty with roots going back to at least the 6th century CE . Early Kalachuri rulers, such as King Soma I , established control over vast territories including Malava (central India), Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Konkan, Maharashtra, and parts of the Deccan . The name Kalachuri is often interpreted symbolically: kala meaning moustache or time, and churi meaning a sharp sword—together signifying valo...
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KHANDOJI & THIMMOJI. Written By Venkatachalapathi. P.B. Davangere.

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Chapter -25 Khandoji & Thimmoji         The Barber Leaders of the Vijayanagara Empire The Vijayanagara Empire, founded in 1336 CE by the brothers Harihara and Bukka of the Sangama dynasty, emerged as one of the most powerful and culturally vibrant empires in Indian history. For more than a century and a half, it dominated large parts of South India, acting as a formidable bulwark against repeated foreign invasions while simultaneously nurturing art, architecture, literature, temple-building traditions, and efficient systems of administration. After the Sangamas, the empire briefly came under the Saluva dynasty for about two decades, followed by nearly eighty years of rule under the illustrious Tuluva and later the Aravidu dynasties. Among the Tuluva rulers, Sri Krishnadevaraya occupies a towering position in history. His reign marked the zenith of Vijayanagara power, territorial expansion, and cultural prosperity. The empire extended over most of South India, an...
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SHIVA KASID Written By Venkatachalapathi. P.B. Davangere.

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Shiva Kashid The Siege of Panhala and the Supreme Sacrifice of Shiva Kashid The killing of Afzal Khan in 1659 CE by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj marked a decisive turning point in Deccan politics. Following this historic victory at Pratapgad, Shivaji Maharaj captured several strategic forts, including Panhala Fort (also called Panhala or Panhala Gad ), located about 20 kilometers northwest of present-day Kolhapur . This success deeply humiliated the Adil Shahi Sultanate of Bijapur , which now sought revenge at any cost. The Adil Shahi Counter-Offensive In 1660 CE , the Adil Shahi ruler Ali Adil Shah II , determined to crush Shivaji Maharaj, dispatched his most experienced and ruthless general, Siddi Johar (Siddi Jauhar) , to lay siege to Panhala Fort. Siddi Johar, originally from the region corresponding to present-day Andhra Pradesh, commanded a massive force—estimated in traditional sources to number in the hundreds of thousands , including infantry, cavalry, artillery, and sieg...
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JIVAJI MAHALE Written By Venkatachalapathi. P.B. Davangere.

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Jivaji Mahale            Jivaji Mahale: The Loyal Shield of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jiva Mahale (also known as Jiva Mahala or Jivaji Mahale) occupies an honored place in Maratha history as the trusted bodyguard and life-saver of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj , the founder of the Maratha Empire. His courage, presence of mind, and unmatched loyalty during one of the most decisive moments in Indian history changed the course of the Deccan and ensured the survival of Swarajya. Early Life and Association with Shivaji Maharaj Jiva Mahale belonged to the Navik (Nai or barber) community , a group traditionally associated not only with grooming but also with martial service, intelligence gathering, and personal protection in medieval India. Members of this community often served as palace attendants, messengers, guards, and body-servants—positions requiring absolute trust. According to tradition, Shivaji Maharaj first noticed Jiva Mahale during a social gath...
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ACHARA UPALI Written By Venkatachalapathi. P.B. Davangere.

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Acharya Upali        Upāli was born into a barber family in Kapilavastu , the capital of the Shakya kingdom in ancient India. During this period, society was rigidly divided by caste, and Śūdras and service communities were generally denied access to formal education . As a result, Upāli’s parents guided him into the hereditary profession of barbering so that he could earn a livelihood with dignity. Upāli mastered his profession with exceptional discipline, humility, and precision. His skill and integrity earned him a position as a barber in the royal palace of Kapilavastu , where he served the Shakya princes for many years. Though socially considered inferior, Upāli developed inner refinement through sincere work, self-control, and service. When Prince Siddhartha Gautama attained enlightenment and became the Buddha , he later returned to Kapilavastu to share the Dhamma. On one occasion, the Buddha summoned Upāli for barber service. Obeying the Buddha’s request, Up...
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THE NANDA DYNESTY Written By Venkatachalapathi. P.B. Davangere.

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The Nanda Dynasty: Rise of the “Barber Kings” of Magadha In the fourth century BCE , the powerful kingdom of Magadha —one of the most influential Mahājanapadas of ancient India—came under the rule of the Nanda dynasty , a lineage that occupies a unique and controversial place in Indian history. Several Indian literary traditions, Puranic sources, Buddhist texts, and Greek historians describe the Nandas as rulers of humble social origin , often identifying them with the barber (Nai) community . For this reason, the Nanda rulers are sometimes remembered as the “barber kings” of ancient India. Origins and Founder: Mahāpadma Nanda The founder of the dynasty, Mahāpadma Nanda , is traditionally dated to around 345 BCE (some sources place his reign slightly earlier, c. 403–329 BCE). According to the Puranas , Mahāpadma Nanda overthrew the last ruler of the Śiśunāga dynasty , commonly identified as Kakavarna (or Kalāśoka) , and exterminated the remaining royal family, thereby establishing ...
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KARPURI THAKUR -Barber to Chief Minister. By Venkatachalapathi.P.B. Davangere

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   KARPURI THAKUR-Barber to Chief Minister -       K Jananayak Karpuri Thakur: The Architect of Subaltern Assertiveness Introduction: The Barber Who Scaled the Peak of Power Karpuri Thakur was not merely a politician; he was a phenomenon. Rising from the Nai (barber) community—a group historically marginalized even within the hierarchy of backward classes—he dismantled the monopoly of upper-caste hegemony in Bihar. Known as Jananayak (Leader of the People), his legacy is the cornerstone of modern identity politics in Northern India. 1. The Crucible of Struggle (1924–1952) Born into the humble household of Gokul Thakur in Samastipur, Karpuri’s early life was a constant negotiation with poverty and caste-based exclusion. The Nationalist Spark: While a student at CMC College, Darbhanga, he plunged into the 1942 Quit India Movement . His 26-month incarceration in Bhagalpur Camp Jail served as his political baptism, where he transitioned from a student agitat...
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