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Namadhari Naik/Nayak (Kannada:ನಾಮಧಾರಿ ನಾಯ್ಕ ''Nāmadhāri Nāik'') is a Hindu Vaishnava community predominantly found in Uttara Kannada, Udupi, Daksina Kannada District of Karnataka State in India and are numerically a majority community in the district. They have sub castes - Dasa Pantha & Bhakti Pantha. Known to be the followers of Sri Raamanujachaarya.Originating from Melukote of Mandya district. They are an agricultural community, though agriculture once formed an important source of income. The people of the community use Naik (ನಾಯ್ಕ), Nayak (ನಾಯಕ), and Namadhari (ನಾಮಧಾರಿ) as surnames . The community considers the Lord of Tirupati as their deity, apart from the local gods as family deities depending on the place of their origin . ==Etymology== The word Namadhari seems to be of later origin attributed to their Vaishnavite allegiance .People wearing "Naama" on their forehead. Hence the term ''Namadhari''. It can be noted here that among the Vokkaligas to there is a grouping called Namadhari Gowda which has similar origin . This has been referred to by the greatest poet of modern Kannada, Kuvempu in his magnum opus Malegalalli Madumagalu. Halepaika in Kannada means ''Hale-old'' (paika-cast ). In the Vikramarjunavijaya (ವಿಕ್ರಮಾರ್ಜುನ ವಿಜಯ ) of Adikavi Pampa dating back to the 10th century there is a reference to the houses of Halepaika in the new capital of Yudhishthira, the Indraprastha.〔Pampana samastha bharata kathamruta, Dr.L.Basavaraju〕 This indicates the prominence enjoyed by Halepaika during that time . And to refer them as "old casters" during that time should convey the fact that Halepaika formed one of the earliest martial settlers in this part of country . This fact can be compared with another similar community in the region, the Komarapaiks which means 'junior soldiers' in Kannada and are said to have migrated during the 12th century .〔Bombay gazetteer in Karnataka: Dharwad,Belgaum,Bijapur and Kannara districts, Venkataramgo Katti〕 There is a reference to a regiment of Halepaika (sainya'' ) in one of the paintings of Mysore Palace. Kanthirava Narasaraja Vijaya (ಕಂಠೀರವ ನರಸರಾಜ ವಿಜಯ), the 17th century panegyric of Mysore Wodeyar king Kanthirava Narasaraja I by Govinda Vaidya describes a battle scene where in the Halepaik troops were in action against the invading Bijapur Sultanate army.〔Karnataka Janajeevana, Betgeri Krishnasharma〕 There is a reference in a Nagamangala inscription (Mysore Dist)to a 'Halikera' (ಹಳಿಕೇರ) (Halepaik??) chief 'Lakhana Nayaka' making a landgrant of a plot containing 400 arecanut trees to 'Shrivaishnava Koneriyayya' in Devalapura in obeisance to Ramanuja (1471 A.D) 〔Inscriptions of Mysore District, Epigraphia Carnatica, B.L.Rice〕 It is known that the community served as soldiers (), mercenaries and commanders. ''Nayaka'' or ''Naik'' in Kannada or Sanskrit means commander. Halepaiks seem to have served almost all the important Kannada dynasties right from the Chutu satakarni and Kadambas to Vijayanagar kingdom and later Keladi Nayakas. The term ''Deeva'' finds mention in the great epic ''Mahabharata'' as to one involved in the naval occupation and to denote islanders. It could also mean torch-bearing soldiers for night warfare (Deevige (ದೀವಿಗೆ)= Torch). Since ancient times the armies equipped themselves for battles in dark. Torch bearing infantrymen were one of the ploys employed. Adikavi Pampa in his Vikramarjunavijaya (ಪಾದಚರರ್ಗೊಂದೆನೆ ದೀವಿಗೆಗಳ್ಲ್) 〔5,Dwadashashwasam,Vikramarjunavijaya, Pampa〕 and Kumaravyasa in his 15th century masterpiece Karnata Bharata Kathamanjari attests to this fact (ದೀವಿಗೆ ಹೊತ್ತ ಭಟರುಗಳು.).〔Karnata Bharata Kathamanjari,Kumaravyasa〕) In all probability the terms ''Deeva'' and ''Idiga'' are used to indicate the occupation of toddy tapping which the Halepaiks resorted to,and cannot be used to indicate ethnicity or origin. In this aspect the term ''Halepaik'' stands out prominently and holds the key to the origin of the community. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Namadhari Naik」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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