The Billava people are an ethnic group of India. They are found traditionally in coastal Karnataka and engaged in toddy tapping, cultivation and other activities. They have used both missionary education and Sri Narayana Guru&rsquo;s reform movement to upgrade themselves.<br /> <br /> The Billawa, or Ilava (Tulu: ಬಿಲ್ಲವ , Kannada: ಬಿಲ್ಲವ) people make up one of the largest Hindu communities of the Tulu ethnic group in India. They are also found in the Kannada-speaking Kundapura region of Karnataka and some parts of Kerala, including the Kasaragod District. The Billawa were primarily engaged in martial arts (garadi) and practised Ayurveda; the community was reformed under Sree Narayana Guru&rsquo;s teachings.<br /> <br /> It is believed that