Lingāyat sub-caste of Balija. In a note on Lingāyats, Mr. R. C. C. Carr records that the Linga Banjigs or Banajigas are essentially traders, though many are now cultivators, and that Telugu Lingāyats often call themselves Linga Balijas.
The following legendary account of the origin of the "Linga Bhojunnalawaru " is given in the Baramahal Records.*[1] " Para Brahma or the great god Brahma created the god Pralayakala Rudra or the terrific at the day of destruction, a character of the god Siva, and he created the Chatur Acharyulu or four sages named Panditaraju, Yekcoramalu, Murralaradulu, and Somaluradulu, and taught them mantras or prayers, and made them his deputies. On a time, the Asuras and Devatas, or the giants and the gods, made war on each other, and the god Pralayakala Rudra produced from his nose a being whom he named Muchari Rudra, and he had five sons, with whom he went to the assistance of the devatas or gods, and enabled them to defeat the giants, and for his service the gods conferred upon him and his sons the following honorary distinctions: —
- A flag with the figure of an alligator (crocodile) portrayed on it.
- A flag with the figure of a fish portrayed on it.
- A flag with the figure of a bullock.
- A flag with the figure of an eagle.
- A flag with the figure of a bell.
- A bell.
- A modee ganta, or iron for marking cattle.
- The use of burning lamps and flambeaus in their public processions during the day.
- The use of tents.
- ↑ • Section III, Inhabitants, Madras Government Press, 1907.
