gottumukkala family of chinaamiram: about kshatriya caste power and kshatriya seva samithi

ABOUT CULTURE OF KSHATRIYAS

The Kshatriyas are the forerunners of Indian cultural heritage and chivalry. They have a rich tradition of cultural values dating back to several centuries. The Kshatriyas form a culturally advanced and forward-looking community. They have been following the time-tested customs and traditions of their ancestors with a modern touch.

The traditional values and heritage of Kshatriyas embody the cultural ethos of the country in general and the community in particular. Their rituals and festivals have played a vital role in the evolution of Indian culture. The Kshatriya women of the past performed many religious festivals and cultural rituals with fervour and devotion. Even to this day, these traditional practices are meticulously being adopted by the Kshatriyas wherever they may be located. They are the guiding spirit for the new generation.

The fairs and festivals of Kshatriyas are very unique in nature and content. Their marriage ceremonies, rituals and practices are quite different from that of others. They continue to practise them without detracting from the guidelines handed down by their gotrams from time immemorial. Many of the cultural activities of Kshatriyas are religion-oriented. They are basically Vaishnavites, although they perform Shaivite rituals too. They pay much attention towards the celebration of all Hindu religious festivals.

Apart from being culturally sound, Kshatriyas have also excelled in social and literary fields. They have contributed much to Indian literature in general and to the bhakti genre in particular. The Kshatriya men are basically sons of warriors. Their inborn warrior-like qualities and attributes enabled them to boldly stand up against adharma and oppression during alien rule in India at different stages in its history. A large number of Kshatriyas took part with exemplary commitment and courage in the nation’s struggle for independence. Hundreds of them were imprisoned during the National Movement.

Saturday, December 12, 2009

about kshatriya caste power and kshatriya seva samithi

the word kshatriya is derived from a Sanskrit word ksatra which means "dominion,power and government".

Raju Kshatriya is the name of a small but prominent community in Andhra Pradesh.They are considered to be descendants of ancient kings. The Kshatriyas, with a population of about half a million, live mostly in the coastal region of Andhra Pradesh.They are also found in certain other parts of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. There is a sprinkling of Rajus all over the world.

The Kshatriyas are traditionally known to be compassionate and kind to fellow beings.As much as we are a largely successful community, we have among us many that are less fortunate and need our support to get back into the mainstream.

Realising this need, some of our visionary elders launched the Rajaputra Samajams first in Visakhapatnam and Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh way back on 20 December 1910. They had the missionary objective of providing the much-needed leadership and support to the less privileged sections of our community.

The Samajams first focused on helping the youth to get a proper education. The scope of the organisation widened when the then Chief Minister of Madras State (now Tamil Nadu), Poosapati Kumara Swamy Raja, amalgamated their activities and titled them. Thus was established the “Kshatriya Seva Samithi, AP (KSS-AP)” in 1961.

The Samithi floated the Sarala Educational Society in 1979 to provide educational and vocational training to needy students. This was followed by an Industrial Training Institute. Several such steps have helped better the cause of the underprivileged.

Today the Samithi undertakes many development activities in several key areas to help the needy and less fortunate. These include health and medical care, scholarships and education, pension for widows, self-employment and shelter for students/visitors.We have taken further strides on this mission in tune with the changing times by instituting and launching a broader online platform with wider objectives in the form of the Federation of Kshatriya Seva Sanghams (FKSS).

This Website supports the philanthropic activities of volunteer Kshatriyas, known as the Rajus, who have fanned out to nine states in India to contribute to this noble social cause. This online venture to reach out to larger numbers of people in the community was sponsored by the family of Late Sri Byrraju Satyanaranaya Raju and that of Sri P.R. Ramasubrahmaneya Rajha of Rajapalayam.