299. Ata tribes in Tulunadu

We have realized in the older posts herein that many of the ancient place names in Karavali-Tulunadu are paleo-ethnonyms signifying the presence of presently forgotten tribes that made a living in the remote past in this land. To this list of forgotten tribes of Karavali and other parts of India we may add the Ata or Atha tribes. Presently, Ata are one of the Austro-Asiatic tribes living in parts of Phillipines like Mindanao. However, the details of origin and global migration paths of these Ata tribes are not clearly known at present.

Atrādi

Atrādi (Athrādi) is a village in Kundapura taluk of Udupi District. The place name Atrādi can be analysed as Atra+aDi or habitation of the ‘Atra’ people.

Atrabailu

A rural hamlet near Kulur Mangalore is known by the name of ‘Atarabailu’ or ‘Atrabail’. The Atrabail can be recognized as a ‘bayal’( =open field )named after the Ata’ tribes in the remote past.

Attāvara

In earlier posts we explained the place name Attāvara in Mangalore as open field (‘avara’) on the other bank (‘atta’ =that side, in Kannada). Probably the correct explanation would be Ata+avara or the open field named after the Ata tribes.

Atur, Attur

Similarly the place names, Ātur ( suburb near Karkal town known for a famous church) and Attur (near Haleangadi, Mangalore Taluk) are places named after the ancient Ata tribes.

Atrijāl

Atri is a surname derived from Ata tribes. Similarly the place name Atrijal refers to an open field (‘jāl’) named after the Ata , Atar or Atri tribes.

Atharvana Veda

One of the Vedas based on ancient techniques of sorcery known as ‘Atharvana’ Veda is said to have been composed by a sage known as Atharvan or Atarva. It appears that proper name Atharvan bears relationship with the ethnonym Atar or Atharva. The age of composition of Atharvan Veda ca.1000 BC may help decide the period of existence of these tribes in India.
Attar
Attar ( ಅತ್ತರ್)  is one of the clan names of Bunts.  ಅತ್ತಾರ್ರು/ಆತ್ತಾರು is a priest-cum-impersonator in some Bhoota shrines.(p.87-88 of Tulu Lexicon.)

Adamar

Ada and Adi appear to a subsequent variant of Ata tribe. Adamar, Adavani,  etc place names apparently represent these variations.

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