Bengaluru (Bangalore)

Bengaluru is the best-documented Vaishya trading centre in this region. Rice's 1897 Mysore Gazetteer, Vol. II, Bangalore District population chapter: 'Besides the above the following are important trading classes: - Nagarta (5,289), Komati (4,766), and Mudali (1,625); also 161 Baniya, the latter being all in the Civil and Military Station of Bangalore.' (1891 census, Bangalore District.) Rice's Vol. I (pp. 246-247) gives state-wide figures: 'The Komati (29,054) and Nagarta (22,964) are principally found in towns and large trade centres. Both claim to be Vaisyas, and the former are specially considered to be such. The Komati subdivisions are Kannada, Myada, Setti, Trikarma, Tuppada, and Yavamanta. The majority are worshippers of Siva and a few of Vishnu, but the chief object of reverence is the goddess Kanyaka Paramesvari. All eat together and intermarry. They deal in cloth and, except spirits, in all kinds of merchandise, especially money and jewels, but never cultivate the ground nor become mechanics.' The same page subdivides the Nagarta into Ayodhyanagara (39), 'all in Bangalore District'; Bheri (229), nearly all in Kolar District; Namadhari (15,428), mostly Shimoga and Kadur; and Vaisya (2,971), 'most numerous in Bangalore and Kolar Districts'. Thurston (1909) confirms Komatis 'are further found in the Mysore State'. IMPORTANT DISTINCTION for genealogy: two different Vaishya groups appear in the Bengaluru record - the Telugu-speaking Komati / Arya Vysya, and the Kannada Nagartha (Nagarta), a separate trading caste that also claims Vaishya status and that gave its name to Nagarthpet. They must not be conflated. Population 8,443,675 (2011 census, city).