Mysore and Coorg from the Inscriptions c10.37

c10.37

The Twelve Āyagār are mentioned in Si 41, 112. They form the primitive village corporation, who are entitled to certain land rent-free, or to fixed fees or dues of grain and straw at harvest time. A reference to the Eighteen castes, which form the ancient Right and Left hand factions, appears so far back as in 459 (DB 67), which shows that they are much more ancient than generally supposed. In one case (Hk 104) they are spoken of as the seven-and-a-half and eleven-and-a-half. The sections included in them are called phanas, and comprise the agricultural, artisan, and trading communities. The Balagai or Right Hand¹ are headed by the Banajigas, with the Holeyas at the bottom; the Yeḍagai or Left Hand are headed by the Panchālas, with the Māḍiga at the bottom.