The Community which gave up speaking Konkani Language in undivided South Kanara and Shimoga District.

The Community which gave up speaking Konkani Language in undivided South Kanara and Shimoga District.

Servegaras, Koteyawas, Ramakshathriyas or Ramarajakshathriyas 

are said to be a branch of the Konkan marathas and Gomantak Maratha of Konkan Region, from where they were invited by the Lingayat kings of Nagara, Karnataka to serve as warriors and to defend their forts ( 'KOTE' ) whence the alternative name of Koteyawa. 

As these community had close knitted with Kannada Kings, they adopted kannada as their mother tongue.

The mothertongue of the Servegaras of Undivided South Kanara is Kannada, while  in the north Kanara they have retained their mother tongue Konkani. 

They have now taken to cultivation, but some are employed in the Revenue and Police Departments and a few are shopkeepers. The name Servegara is derived from Kannada "Serve" meaning an army. They wear the sacred thread. They do not drink. Their titles are Nayak, Aiya, Rao and Sheregar.

Their original home is said to be Vijayadurga, one of the ancient forts north of Goa. And the men had enlisted largely in the armies of the Vijayanagara kings and also served the Lingayat and Nayaka Community kings of Nagara and Keladi chiefs and defended the numerous forts built by them in the Canarese country. They seem to have also served Hyder and Tippu and after their defeat by the British, settled down as cultivators."

Even though the Language has been given up. But still they follow Konkani style saree draping.

#Servegaras #Koteyawa #Ramakshathriya #Ramarajakshathriya

#Kote #kotekar