Glancing through the descriptions of foreign travelers to west Coast of India during the historical period, in Hobson Jobson dictionary, I chanced to stumble upon the word ‘Samani’ used by Rashidudeen during the end of thirteenth century CE.
Rashiduddeen
The entry on Rashiduddeen’s report on the West Coast of India during ca.1300CE is cited below:
c. 1300. -- "Beyond Guzerat are Konkan and Tána; beyond them the country of Malibár. . . The people are all Samanís (Buddhists), and worship idols. Of the cities on the shore the first is Sindabūr, then Faknūr, then the country of Manjarūr.
In the above passage, replace and read Gujarat (for Guzerat), Thana (for Tana), Malabar (for Malibar), Goa ( for Sindbur), Barakur (for Fakanur) and of course Mangalore (for Manjarur).The explanation for the word ‘Samanis’(=Buddhists) is presumably given by the editor of the dictionary.
The origin of the word ‘Samani’ is rather obscure with a random opinion that it is possibly of Polynesian origin. However, the Pali dictionary of proper names describes Samani as a princess. In Cambodia, neophytes to Buddhism were called Samanis or nens where as senior monks were designated as ‘bhikkus’. In Srilanka, the word Samani was applied to Buddhist nuns, specifically wandering female monks. Now the word Samani is also used by Jain nuns.
It appears that Rashiduddeen employed the word Samani to Buddhist monks in general.
A Surname: Samani
The significance of the word Samani lies in the fact that it is one of the surnames of a Tulu community, specifically the present day Bunts. Some surnames help us to trace episodes of historical evolution. It has been opined that during the course of time, the Buddhists of Karavali were not driven out but eventually assimilated with the local population.
The historical Jain-Bunt and vice-versa conversions in Tulunadu are rather well known so far. The present string of data adds to our knowledge that Tulu people also have vestiges of Buddhism in their historical heritage.
®
A heritage blog by: Ravindra Mundkur & Hosabettu Vishwanatha
Dear Ravi,
ReplyDeleteI know, Jains are called 'Shravans' (Savanur, Shravanabelagula and 'savanaru marulare?' - A Jain story I read in my sister's Kannada Text Book in early fifties). In Maharashtrian Jain Marwadis, surname 'savani' is common. There is a road transport by name: "Savani Transport". The trace of footprints of Budhisim in Tulunadu is established by your various Posts. So far, I was under the impression that Budhism did not flourish in Tulunadu, except upto Sidhapur. Cudos for your joining the slender threads of historical past.
This again shows dominant class (probably, merchant class) orientation of Buddhism and Jainism in South India. It is possible many of these Buddhist/Jain merchants converted to Islam and Christianity in the past as those two groups were dominant in commerce in Tulu and Malayala region.
ReplyDeleteDear Vish
ReplyDeleteThe analogy between Jain Savani and Buddhist Samani surnames is quite interesting! The present Jain nuns(seniors) are using the title of Samani also.
Religions and languages have grown by borrowing from each other!
Manju,
ReplyDeleteReligions had to depend on the rulers and the affluent class for growth and sustenance.Therefore,it is the rich who propagated the religions and cults in the real sense.These cults on their part used subtle techniques to impress upon the ruler and the affluent.One of the common strategy employed was to consider king as the incarnation of the deity.
2.Yes, conversions to Islam and Christianity have absorbed the earlier faiths and cults.