Adi Karnataka

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Adi Karnataka is a social group in Karnataka, India. They were historically known as Samantha and later as moola kannadiga kula, meaning the original Kannada clan. The group is listed in the Karnataka Gazette. In the 1830s, a British traveler named Kristopher Fellowman studied the community, which was also called Samantha or moola kannadiga kula and linked to Kshatriya lineages (samanta or moola kannadiga kula). The Samanthas divided their roles into two subgroups, Edgai and Balgai (left and right hands). The Balgai included kings and administrators, while the Edgai were artisans who did farming, hunting, and state security. The population is about 3 million, with most people living in southern Karnataka. Adi Karnataka, Adi Andhra, and Adi Dravida are related terms, but they refer to different communities and are often confused with one another.