Sects : Devanga community was originally divided into two groups - the Gandoru and Namdoru. There were Saivite and Vaishnavite divisions among Devangas in the old days. Even to this day, the Devangas are either Saivites or Vaishnavites.
Varna : Brahmin
Language : Today there many languages are spoken by Devanga people. Accordingly, Devangas may be called as Kannada Devanga, Telugu Devanga, or Tamil Devanga. Some even speak Marathi in parts of Maharastra.
Regional Spread : Devangas are found in the states of Assam, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
Traditional Occupation : Earlier a majority of Devangas were weavers of silk clothes.
Food Habits : Northern Karnataka Devangas are vegetarians, while Southern Karnataka Devangas are non-vegetarians.
Marriage Preference : Devangas usually go in for arranged marriages within their own community. In a traditional Devanga marriage, bride and groom should not belong to the same sect (Saivite or Vaishnavite). Horoscope matching is considered important in a Devanga marriage.
History and Origin : Devangas are said to be of Brahmanical origin. They are Prakrut Brahmins (meaning brahmins by birth). A majority of them are weavers of silk clothes. There were also famous Devang kings like Boja Raja of Ujjain (Uttar Pradesh). Many Devangas were also warriors during Vijayanagar times, according to warrior stones found in Hampi, Karnataka. Their native state was the kingdom of Ujjain where even to this day they form the major community. As is typical with other castes, Devangas became an endogamous unit of weavers, either due to caste rules or due to typical social conditions of India.
About Devangas : Industrious Devanga community has made rapid progress. Today Devangas can be found in all walks of life.