Tulu Bari List: What a Bari Is, Marriage Rules and Every Bari by Community

A bari (also written bali) is a family clan among Tulu communities such as Billavas, Bunts, Mogaveeras, Kulals, Devadigas and Gowdas. People of the same bari are treated as brother and sister, so they do not marry each other. In most of these communities the bari comes from the mother, through the old Aliya Kattu tradition. Below is what a bari is, how it works at marriage time, and the full list of baris by community.

What is a bari?

Think of a bari as a very large extended family. Everyone born into the same bari is considered related, even if the families have never met. The official South Kanara District Gazetteer (1973) puts it simply: the castes of the district are divided into septs called balis, members of the same bali traditionally cannot intermarry, and the bali follows the female line.

A bari is not a surname. Many families use their bari as a surname (Salian, Bangera, Kotian, Suvarna), but others use a title such as Shetty, Rai, Poojary or Hegde, which says nothing about the bari. Always ask for the bari itself.

Aliya Kattu: why the bari comes from the mother

Aliya Kattu (Aliyasantana) is the Tulu tradition of inheritance through the mother's line: the heir was traditionally the sister's son, not one's own son, and the family house and lineage passed through the women of the family. It was followed by Bunts (except the Parivara Bunts), Billavas, Jains, Devadigas, Mogaveeras and Kulals, among others.

Property today follows India's modern inheritance laws, but the bari is still passed from mother to children, so a child always has the mother's bari. Tulu Gowdas are different: the Gazetteer notes that they do not follow descent through the female line, so ask your elders how your family counts it.

How the bari works at marriage time

• Same bari, no marriage. A Suvarna-bari groom does not marry a Suvarna-bari bride.
• Some baris are linked. The Gazetteer notes that some balis are so closely connected that they count as one. Among Billavas, for example, Salian and Palan are treated as the same, and so are Kirodian and Mabian.
• The rule is usually applied within one community. The same name appears in several communities (Bangera, Salian and Puthran are found among Billavas, Mogaveeras and others), and families generally apply the rule within their own community. Ask your elders if you are unsure.
• Long and short forms. Bunt balis are often written in a long form: Bangera and Bangarannaya, Salian and Salannaya, Puthran and Puthurannaya.
• Brahmins use gotra instead, which comes from the father's line.

Families usually check the bari together with the horoscope; see kundali matching explained and the steps of a Tulu wedding.

The Tulu bari list

These lists follow the sources at the end of this article and were checked with community members. Spellings vary from family to family.

Common Tulu baris (Billava, Mogaveera, Kulal, Madiwala and others)

Amin, Anchan, Banan, Bangera, Chandan, Gujaran, Jathanna, Kabera, Kanchan, Karkera, Kirodian, Kotian, Kukkian, Kunder, Mabian, Maindan, Mendon, Mulyeranna, Mundan, Naika, Nayak, Palan, Pangal, Pergade, Pulyatan, Puthran, Rao, Salian, Sanil, Sapaliga, Shirodian, Shriyan, Suvarna, Thingalaya, Tholar, Upiyan.

Bunt balis

Aarya Bannaya, Ujjiti Bannaya, Uddarannaya, Upparannaya, Uli Bannaya, Karkatarannaya, Karmarannaya, Kanchannaya, Kundarannaya, Kuberannaya, Kellarannaya, Kochata Bannaya, Komati Bannaya, Gujjile Bannaya, Chalyannaya, Thingalannaya, Nala Bannaya, Pangalannaya, Puthurannaya, Pulyothannaya, Pergade Bannaya, Bangarannaya, Bhagyatavannaya, Barmetheri Bannaya, Bunnannaya, Salannaya, Hiri Bannaya, Siri Bannaya, Ammannya, Anchannaya, Chavadithannaya, Gondarannya, Gujjarannaya, Kongannaya, Kotirannaya, Nandarannaya.

Nadava (Nad Bunt) balis

Akkachchara Bali, Ajjara Bali, Kavachana Bali, Kanchana Bali, Kashya Bali, Garee Bali, Gangaara Bali, Chandi Bali, Haara Bali, Jaaji Bali, Chiththaan Bali, Jwaalara Bali, Tholaara Bali, Devara Bali, Naamada Bali, Pergade Bali, Baale Bali, Beegara Bali, Shrigaara Bali, Shetty Bali, Hattina Bali, Hangaara Bali, Haavina Bali, Siri Bali, Honnina Bali, Hole Bali.

Gowda baris (Tulu and Arebhashe Gowdas)

Bangara, Nandara, Malara, Salu, Hemmana, Kabru, Goli, Basruvogaru, Balasanna, Kabar, Gundana, Chalyera, Mulyera, Nayera, Karbannaya. Gowdas count 18 baris; these 15 are the ones published.

Devadiga (Moily) baris

Saliyannaya, Bangerannaya, Kajjannaya, Kariannaya, Bhuthiannaya, Kochatabettannaya, Shaliyan, Serian, Addiyar, Gundranna, Uppayana, plus Kundarannaya and Gujjarannaya.

Is your bari missing, or spelt differently in your family? Tell us through the contact page and we will add it.

How Kudla Matrimony helps with bari

• Add your bari to your profile under Religion, in the "Gotra / Bari" field.
• When you look at a profile from your own community with the same bari, we show a small "Same bari" note.
• In your partner preferences you can tick "Don't show profiles with my gotra / bari".

Frequently asked questions

Can two people of the same bari marry?

Traditionally no: the same bari is treated as brother and sister. It is a community custom, not a legal rule, but most Tulu families follow it.

Is bari the same as gotra?

It works the same way at marriage time, but a gotra comes from the father's line and is used by Brahmins, while a bari usually comes from the mother.

My surname is Shetty, Poojary or Rai. What is my bari?

Those are titles or surnames, not baris. Ask your mother or the elders of her family.

Is the same bari name in two communities the same bari?

Usually not: families apply the rule within their own community. When in doubt, ask the elders of both families.

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Sources: Karnataka State Gazetteer: South Kanara District (1973) · Aliyasantana · Bunts Daily, list of Bunt balis · List of Billava baris · Mogaveera · Tulu Gowda · Devadiga