313. Mooltāna Alades in Tulunadu

The recent Kannada book  on Tulu culture by Dr. Indira Hegde, entitled Tuluvara mooltāna Adi Alade Paramrapare mattu Parivartane (Tuluvas Original Abode ‘Adi Alade’: Tradition and Transformation) [Navakaranataka,Bangalore,2012,p.408] is a welcome addition to the basic resources for understanding Tulu culture and traditions in better perspective. It focuses on the nature and status of ancient settlements known as Mooltana (or moolastāna) and Alade and the pattern of ancient religious beliefs that have been persisted in Tulunadu. She has compiled voluminous data based on extensive field works and interviews with people documenting currently available information on the subject.

 Dr Indira Hegde considers that Nagabanas and Alades are the original abodes (mooltanas) of Tuluvas. Thus she opines that the Mooltana  and Adi Alade are conceptually equivalents. Each community group has its independent Mooltana in Tulunadu. For example, Bakuda community of Kasargodu who call themselves Bhumiputras have 18 bari or bedagus with 18 mooltanas. Most of the communities living in the Tulunadu, including Stanika Brahmins, Achāris, and Gaud Saraswaths have their own independent mooltanas, however these have been kept out of the scope of book for convenience.   Traditional centres of worship ,the Alades as found during her extensive field studies,  generally consist of a cluster of five shrines dedicated to Spirit Deities, namely Bermer, Rekkesiri, Maisandaya, Nandigona and Naga. The Alades containing above mentioned Spirits are known as Brahma Alade or Brahmastana.

An idol of a five headed bison (Nandigona/ Mahishandaya). ( Dr Indira Hegde,2012)

The ancient Alades are mostly located near forests. Traditionally, the places of Naga (serpent) worship are located in areas with dense growth of trees known as Nagabana. However, under the guise of renovation and aesthetic modification, most of the forest trees around ancient Nagabana are being destroyed, and being replaced by modern concrete structures, with tacit approval from Astamangala oracles, laments Dr. Indira Hegde.

 Huttina Chitteri

Dr. Indira Hegde reports interesting data on Chitteris of Kundapur Taluk. A Chitteri refers to tomb structures comparable to Buddhist structures known as Chaitya. The Chitteri  or  Chittarige are also known alternately as Mudinja, stoopa or doope in Tulunadu. The obituary structures associated with Tuluva death ceremonies, traditionally known as Nir-nirel (water-shade) and pajji madal gunda (green frond dome) are similar to these chitteris. The Chitteris were also used as centres for birth ceremonies and thus acquired the name as Huttina Chitteris (Huttina [Kannada]= related to birth). The Place names like Chitrabail, Chitrakoota, (Chitrapu, Chitrapura ) etc apparently refer to village associated with such ancient tomb structures.( The equivalent term for Chitteri in Mangalore area is Gori.For example Gori gudda.)

Nāga

The cult of Nāga (serpent) worship has wielded powerful influence on Tulu culture. The Nāgabanas in Tulunadu were the parts of forests traditionally reserved and dedicated abodes of the holy serpents. Dr. Indira cites Devarakādu as equivalents of Nāgabana in Kodagu and other parts of Karnataka. In Tulunadu, various celebratory forms of Nāga worship ceremonies are known as Dakke Bali, Nāgamandala, Pānarāta and Kādyanāta.etc.

Tulu folklores (paDdanas) visualized that mating between the Narayana God and Deyyaru Mangude (Mongoose -female) produced numerous eggs which hatched to generate serpent families. Dr Indira has compiled 13 variations of the said folk lore widely prevalent in different regions of Tulunadu.

The term Mari in Tulu also represents the Nāga or the Serpent. Thus Marikāpu means Nāgabana and Marikal means the Naga stone. The term Kādya also means serpent and the Kādyanāta represents a form of Nagamandala.

Bermer

The Bermer (or Birmer or Bermeru) is a native cult according to Dr. Indira Hegde. She explains that the derivation of the term Bermer as a relative of the word perme, which means important or great one. The shrines dedicated to the Bermer are traditionally located in structures known as ‘gunda’, which is a modified pyramidal tomb structure like Mudinja or Chitteri or stoopa or dhoope. Dr. Indira Hegde reports several variants of Bermer deity prevalent in different parts of Tulunadu such as Lingaroopi (phallic form) Bermer, Ubhayalingi (bisexual) Bermer, Half-man and half serpent Bermer, Yaksha Brahma, KIrāta (Hunter) Bermer, Tingolu (Moon) Bermer, Uri (wild) Bermer, Chaturmukha (four headed)Brahma, Naga Bermer, Brihma-Lingeshwara (Bermer with phallic god)  etc. Interestingly, the Bakuda tribes of Kasargodu(Kerala) consider and worship Naga-Bermer in the form of two serpent brothers namely, Elyanner (Younger Brother) and Nelyanner(Elder brother).

An old photograph of Bermere Gunda that has been renovated now (Indira Hegde,2012).

 The Bermer in Vandse Chitteri is a stone idol of horse mounted Bermer. Horse mounted Bermer idols also can be found in many Garodis of Tulunadu  where traditionally the principal Spirit or Deity is the  Bermer. It is also observed that inside many Bermer gundas there are no idols, suggesting also  prevalence  of amorphous or formless deity worship in ancient Tulunadu.

Dr. Indira, on the basis of presently dominant and popular Nāga-Bermer cult, concurs with the opinion of certain Spirit dancers and infers that Bermer is another alternate form of Nāga.

Kadya/Kalasha

The earthen pot or the Kadya has special significance in traditional Spirit worship in Tulunadu. The Muri, Kalasha or Kumbha (ie earthen pot) filled with water usually also known as Murli or kadya or kandel has been used symbolically in Spirit shrines to represent sacred entities like Siri,  Bermer or other Spirits.

 Kambla: Fertility rites

Dr Indira Hegde provides interesting information on the tantric styled ancient practice in some places of Kambla (or Kambula, the Buffalo race) celebrations in Tulunadu, [cited earlier by Purushottama Bilimale] . Traditionally the Kambala was a fertility rite performed in dedication to Bermer and the attendant Deities. On the previous night of Kambala, native Koraga tribes perform a ceremony known as Pani kullunu. The Pani kullunu means sitting under the dew. On the appointed night, Koraga men women and children flock around the campfire in the open field. Koraga men under the leadership of their headman, called Mukhari, begin to dance to the beat of drums around the campfire. The tempo of the dance increases as they consume toddy and  kandelda adde ( a dish made from rice batter, fermented with toddy and baked within an earthen pot ).

Dr Indira points out that the Kandel or the earthen pot is a symbol of womb. As the tempo of the dance steps up, sexual motifs unfold among the dancers pulling at each others’ cloths, such that most of them are nearly naked. The dancers, mostly men, masturbate and wash their semen in the field, with water drawn from the Kambla field. The ceremony describes a primitive fertility rite, where the tribes traditionally visualized that insemination of the agricultural field improves the chances of bumper crops and prosperity. It is believed the crop   grown in the Kambla field is divine crop that ushers prosperity to the organizers.

Pookare poles (female decorated and male plain) in Kamble fields. (Courtesy: Indira Hegde,2012).

The symbolic poles planted in the Kambla field are known as Pookare pole. Usually there will be a pair of poles, one plain pole designated as male and the other decorated pole as female. The female pookare pole is decorated with flowers and flags as if a girl, whereas male pole is left as a simple pole of areca tree.

Pookare poles in Tulu traditional  Obituary ceremonies.(Courtesy: Indira Hegde,2012)

It is interesting to note that similar Pookare poles (decorated and/or plain) are also used in traditional death ceremonies in Tulu families.

Documentation

Dr Indira Hegde’s work on Mooltana and Alades is replete with extensive documentation of data gathered at field and folk level. Though, She has not deeper into analytical aspects from the angle of evolution of cults and concepts, the compiled data shall be of immense help to researchers pursuing  further detailed studies on evolution, growth and spread of various religious cults in Tulunadu.

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312. Thiyya -Belchada community : A conspectus

One of the communities that played significant role in the cultural evolution of Kerala and Tulunadu is of Belchadas or the Thiyyas.  Nowadays, the members of these communities have socio-economically progressive in the society. The community of Belchada (or Belchade) is more popular in Tulunadu, whereas they are known as Thiyyas (Tiyya) in Southern part of Dakshina Kannada.   According to Anthropologist L.A.K. Iyer   they are known as Tiyyas in North Malabar up to Calicut ; Ezhava or Izhava or Tandans in South Malabar ; and Chovas and Izhavas in Cochin and Travancore. The Izhuvans are also known as Iluvars.
They are considered to be equivalents to the Billavas of Dakshina Kannada district and also to the Tamil speaking Shanars of the Tinnalvelly District, Tamilnadu. Elsewhere theri equivalents include Halepaiks of Uttara Kannada district, and Ediga of Shimoga and Chikmagaluru district, Karnataka. They are also called Velans and Uralis, in some areas.  In Kerala the two castes of Thiyya and Ezhavas merged into one Community of Ezhavas sometime during the end of 19^th century or beginning of 20th century, though  some were not comfortable with this sort of equation. 

Thiyya

 It is commonly supposed that the Thiyyans and Izhuvans originally came from Ceylon. The Thiyyans were noted as Izhavan in documents concerning land, in which the Zamorin or some Brahman or Nayar grandee appears as landlord.  Legends prevailing in Malabar tradition tells us that some of these Dravidians migrated again from Iram or Ceylon northwards to Travancore and other parts of the West coast of India, bringing with them coconut or Southern tree (tengina mara= coconut palm) and being known as Tivars or Deevaru (=islanders, in Kannada) or Iravars, which names  have since been altered to Thiyyars & Ilavars. The Arabic word ‘nu tiyya’ is sailor, where nu or nau is boat. Possibly this suggests that the Thiyya were also professional sailors.
Dr Shyamalan opines that there is an identity crisis among the Thiyyas of Malabar who are being categorized with the Ezhava community in Kerala. He says that his DNA testing revealed that it matches with the Indo-Aryan race that came all the way from South Africa through Kyrgyzstan and the origin of the race goes back to 300 BC. According to him the name of the community Thiyya was derived from the Tien Shan Mountains in Kyrgyzstan.

“Thiyyan, Malayal Thiyyan or Tivan (pl. Thiyyar or Tivar): The name what may be called the third caste (in rank) of Malabar.  The word signifies ‘islander’ (from Mal. Tivu, Skt. Dvipa, an island); and the people have supposed to have come from Ceylon” (Hobson-Jobson Dictionary-1903, Henry Yule & A.C. Burnell, p. 924).

According Mr. F. Fawcett, (as quoted by Thurston) Thiyyans of Malabar “…. have been summed up as the middle class of the West Coast, who cultivate the ground, take service as domestics, and follow trades and professions anything but soldiering, of which they have an utter abhorrence……” (Castes & Tribes of Southern India, Vol. 7, e-book, pp. 3-9, # 37-115).

Toddy Tapping 
According to legends, the Thiyya tribes introduced the coconut palm in to West Coast and the art of toddy tapping. Extracting intoxicating liquids from plants and fruits, was a common practice by human beings right from hunting and food gathering stage of human evolution.  Such potable liquids or decoctions like ‘Soma rasa’ gained acceptance even in Vedic and other religious rituals.
Since antiquity, the Toddy is being offered to Divine Spirits and manes in rituals all over the world. The toddy tappers are considered to have been the natives of SriLanka.  During the historical past they appear to have migrated to coastal South India as toddy tappers and archers  possibly via Laccadives (Lakshadwipa) islands.  There are evidences of their migration to South India and back to Sri Lanka. Tapping Toddy mainly from Palmyra palm or the toddy palm in the West Coast,  is a profession carried on traditionally also by Biruvas (.> Billavas, the ‘archers’) in Tulunadu, and Edigas in Malnad Karnataka, which probably was inherited from the  Thiyyas and Ezhavas who are also known as. Maleyāli Billavas.
According to Sadasivan, the Ezhavas and Thiyyas were the original aborigines of Kerala who followed Buddhism. Subsequently after the influx of Nambuthiris and Nairs into Kerala the tenets of  Buddhism were destroyed and the roots of Hinduism were revived. 

The the special knife used by a traditional  toddy extractor for scarifying the palm trees is known as ‘Tier Cutti’ in Malayalam (Hobson-Jobson Dictionary, 1903, p. 919), and  ‘Tarkatti’ (ತರ್ಕತ್ತಿ) in Tulu (in coastal Kannada).  Tarkatti is a curved sickle used by toddy tappers. The etymology of the term ‘Tier Cutti’ and ‘Tarkatti’ could be, Tar(i)= to chop, katti = sickle in curved shape.

 V. Ananda suggests  the origin of the word ‘Thiyyar’ as ‘Thi (=fire) + eyer (one who throws) .  Thus the term "Thiyyar" may also represent  skilled archers, with arrow-tips specially fitted with combustible (fire-producing) elements.

Spirit dancing: 
  The Belchada or the Thiyya were also the traditional Spirit dancers, authorized to participate in the mass possession rituals of Spirits such as Vishnumoorthy Kola (Tulu Lexicon, p.2382). The Tulu  term ‘Bhuta’ (Spirit) is known as ‘Teyyam’ in Malayalam. The Dravidian Etymological Dictionary (p. 506; # 5544) describes Belchada as a devil dancer, possessed with Kāli. The Kannada words ‘deyya’ or ‘devva’ (=devil) apparently is synonym of the Malayalam usage Teyyam.
The Belchada were the conventional spirit dancers’, possessed with divine primordial energy, which is referred to by names like Durgā, Kāli, Bhagavati, Vishnu Moorthy, etc, in tune with event-specific incarnations. Walking on a bed of cinders has been an attendant ritual common in the annual celebrations of some Divine Spirits.

Traditionally, the Thiyyas have worshiped Goddess Bhagavati in small shrines known as kāvu. It contained a ‘māda’ or kalimāda, a sacred seat to keep the masks, swords and other objects of Spirit worship.

They are also known as ‘Belchappade or Belchapaade’ and Velicappatan in Malayalam. Its archaic usage is ‘Belchampade’, who were the ordained Pātri (priest) of Bhagavati Temples with ritualistic wearing of ‘kai bale or kadaga’ (bracelets) - as is in vogue with spirit impersonators.  They have to observe some ‘dos’ and don’ts for maintaining cleanliness and purity. [It is proverbial in Tulunadu when elders often rebuke youngsters for their refusing a work as: ‘Are you wearing a holy bracelet’?].

Mannanars: 
According to L.A.K. Iyer, the Thiyyas of Malabar are the offspring of Chirakkal Mannar Raja, who was the son of ex-communicated Nambuthiri lady from the Royal family of Chirakkal. ‘Mannan’ means ‘a king’. It is a title for a subordinate king in Malayalam. It corresponds to ‘Manneyaru or Manya> Mane in Kannada.
It is recorded in legends that a Thiyya Mannan (chieftain) took care of certain ostracized Nambuthiri women by either marrying them or treating them as sisters. As a gesture of appreciation, King of Chirakkal donated him land.

Ezhavas and  Tandan:
The members of the Ezhava and Tandan community are generally nestled in the natural environs, being traditionally  engaged in toddy tapping and agriculture.  In olden days some 'high' caste Hindus used to treat them as untouchables and were denied of modern education and employment.  The leader of the Ezhava community in a village was known as a tandan. (We can compare the word "tandan" with Tulu word "tandela" the leader of a group of Mogaveer community.
Thus under the erstwhile system of feudal lords and landed gentry, they were land-tenants or bonded laborers  working in agricultural fields.
However, some of them were well-versed in the traditional knowledge of application of medicinal plants for curing various ailments and were designated as Baida (or Vaidya ). The ancient knowledge of application of curative herbs and plants has with passage of time evolved into  the   Ayurvedic system of medicines.
Further, under a liberal Buddhism, they were open to Sanskrit learning.  This was initiated by Vagbhata, a Buddhist Teacher (6th-7th C.) from Sindh, who migrated to South when Buddhism lost its sheen in Northern India upon the decline of Mauryan Empire.

Thus, the Ezhavas were Buddhists to begin with but later joined mainstream Hinduism. In the earlier days, narrow minded concepts of certain high classes tended to consider these tribes as Scheduled Castes especially in Kerala.  

Etymology of Belchada

1. ‘ Bel’  in Tulu/Kannada/Malayalam appears to be an action word.  It gives a concrete meaning as ‘to offer into fire or with fire as ghee, animals, etc.
Beluve:  Oblation with fire, burnt offering;
Belamba: Destruction of human life in fire.
Velvi/Vezvi means ‘sacrifice’ in Malayalam.
Cetu (ಚೆಟು) = chip; Chekke/chakku (Tulu/Kannada) = cut pieces, trim or reduce by cutting away edge.
Chettuka (M) = Pare, curve.  Chettukaran = Toddy rapper. Cheytha (Adj) = made by.  Chey (V) = to do, make, create, cause.

In Telugu: Velucu = to put or throw on sacrificial fire; Vel(u)pu = God or Goddess, Deity, Divinity, a celestial, Demi-God;  Velpudu = worship. ( DED-5544).

‘Bel’ is also a qualifying word. It means ‘white’, speckless, spic and clean or virtuous. One who is without blemish in speech and deed is treated as ‘belia’, i.e. ‘Big or Great (person)’.  ‘Ecchi’ means ‘trance or possession’.  When a Divine Spirit possesses medium or impersonator, it is called ‘ecchidu barpuni’. Divine Spirit shows his/her identity or form through the medium.  The medium should be man of good character, to be called a ‘bel or belia’. The event of possession is called ‘belicchapadu’.  Impersonator becomes ‘Belicchapad’ or ‘Belchade’, commanding honour and respect.  The appellation ‘Belchade’ is gradually applied to whole community in general as ‘Poojari’ is to ‘Billava’.  Migrant Thiyyas imbibed the Tulu culture but to differentiate with Billavas, they preferred to identify themselves as ‘Belchada/Belchade’.

2. Other angle is to identify ‘Bel or Bol’ as a tribe or group.  It is a prefix in place names, as explained elsewhere in our Posts.  Dr. P. Gururaja Bhat made passing remarks in his Book ‘Tulu Nadu’, hinting at tribal signature.  Prefix ‘Bel/Bol’ in place names may not apply to the settlement of Belchades as a tribe or caste. Nevertheless, they are found in villages, having ‘Bel’ or ‘Bol’ as suffix in place-names (eg. Bolar, Bolnad, etc.  It is worth considering Bolinj locality in  West Virar, Maharashtra). Whether they are Bellas or Velalas is a matter of further studies.

3. The ethnonym, Belchada can also be analyzed as Bel+ch+Da, where ‘bel’ means white, which possibly represents the immigrant white skinned tribes.
To begin with, the prehistoric India was dominated exclusively by dark skinned tribes. In the course of progressive human evolution, people with white or fair skin were evolved during a specific phase due to certain genetic aberrations from the original dark pigmented skin. During a specific historical period, influx of white skinned tribes into India created wide spread awareness in the natives and the colonies of immigrants were denoted as ‘white’ villages and settlements, like: Bellara, Bellari, Belgaum, Belman, Belgumba, Belavadi, Belkunja(> Balkunje), Bellipadi, Belur, Bola, Bolar, Bolur, Bolman, etc. Similarly the white immigrant tribes were named Belchada, Bellara, Vellal, Bellala(>Ballal) etc.

Therefore,  the term 'Belchada' possibly meant one of the immigrant ‘bel’ (white skinned) tribes. The morpheme ‘cha’ is a pre-Dravidian Prakrit-Pali agglutinative meaning of or relevant to. (As in Paichār, Punacha, KomchāDi etc). The suffix Da means  area, tribe, etc. Thus, in overall analysis the term Belchada possibly represents a specific white skinned immigrant tribe who settled in Tulunadu and amalgamated with natives with passage of time.

Thiyyas of Kerala

 It is said that they were first brought to Tamil Nadu by Karaikala Chola when he conquered Sri Lanka.  He brought many families of soldiers and engaged them as security guards and bonded laborers at earthen-bunds/dams, constructed during his reign for agricultural purposes.  Unable to tolerate the excesses of King’s personal guards, they fled to hills and forests of Wayanad.  Being adept archers, they could overcome the menace of wild animals.  They led a life of hunters and toddy tappers.  Seeking greener pastures on plains and they started migrating to coastline in groups.  First they found a place in Kolattanadu (now Kannur).  Thence they started moving Northwards to Kasaragod and from there spread to fertile land of Tulu Nadu in plains and sea shores.  The early migrant Thiyyas joined Feudal Chieftains armies as archers and sacrificed their lives for enlarging the borders of their lords.  They spread from Kasaragod to Kalyanapura of Tulu Nadu, bordered by Seeta River on the North and Payaswini (Chandragiri) river on the South.

Wherever they went and settled, they did not forget their culture and customs.  They bought their Deity ‘Wayanada Kulavan’ (also known as ‘Thondachchamaran’).  The Periplus of ca. 1 st Century CE does not mention coconuts or its derivatives as an exportable item of Malabar. But coconut produce is mentioned in the Cosmas indicopleustes in 520-550 AD. It is also stated that in the copper plate grants that the Tiyyars were an organized guild of coconut plantation professional farmers.

Bari –Illam system

Thiyyas distinguish eight groups of ‘bari’ or ‘illam’ (equivalent of gotra).  The original house of the family is called a ‘Taravad’, (or ancestral house). The term Taravad appear to have been a relic of Buddhist period in the coastal history, being derived from Prakrit - Pali lingos. According to the matrilineal system followed in Tulu Nadu, similar to Tulu communities, each Thiyya Bari  in Tulunadu has its own Moolasthana. 

The eight clan names prevailing among the Thiyya communities (with  equivalents Tulu bari ) are: (1) NellikaThiyya (equal to Tulu Bari ‘Kunder’), (2) BaThiyya (=’Bangera’), (3) Padam kudiya (=’Kotian’), (4) Pullamchutti/PullamchiThiyya (=’Suvarna’), (5) KarakaThiyya (=’Karkera’), (6) Then kudiya/ Thenkudi Thiyya (=’Salian’/’Palan’), (7) Paimba kuriya / Paimba Thiyya (=’Kukyan’,’Uppiyan’) and (8) Nangudiya/Kuttiporatha (= ‘Amin/Gujaran’).

The present generation  of Belchadas prefer to put surnames of Tulu equivalents. These Clans are associated with four Taravads in Mangalore region, namely at (a) Kodialabailu, (b) Bolar near Ferry, (c) Jappu-Kudupadi and (d) Kadri-Kannabettu.
Ordained ‘Gurikaras’ (community leaders) guide the socio-religious activities of members of Taravads. The Gurikara system among the Thiyyas is similar to the one prevailing in communities of Tulu Nadu.

Language & Customs

Religious rituals and customs from birth to death are more or less the same as native Tulu people. They speak a corrupt Malayalam with more words of Tulu and Kannada. Their Malayalam dialect is different from the ‘Byāri Bhāse’ vogue in Tulunadu. They also speak in Tulu and Kannada fluently like others in the region.

Goddess Bhagavati

Thiyyas have inseparable connection to Goddess Bhagavati. Eighteen pilgrimage centres of Goddess Bhagavati are sacred to all Thiyyas.  Each Taravada member  offers oblations annually to Bhagavati temple.  Goddess Bhagavati is worshipped in all her various manifested forms with all her attendant Divine Spirits, Village Deities and also of Gods of Hindu pantheon.  So it is a complex centre of worship for Thiyyas and all other communities. These Sri Bhagavati Kshetra complexes are located at:  (1) Eriyakota,Kavugoli Chowki, P.O. Kudlu-671124 (Kasargod), (2) Patla, Kudlu, P.O. Patla-671124 (Kasargod), (3) Padi (Pullikaringali), Meethelepadikkal, Via Chengala, PO Edaneer-671541, (4) Mogral, PO Shiribagilu, Via Kudlu-671124, (5)Talangara, Kasargod-671121, (6) Kumbadaje PO, via Perdala-671551 (Styled: Sri Cheerumba Bhagavati Kshetra), (7) Padikaladka, Adoor Post Via Urdoor-671543 (Styled: Adoor Sri Aivvar Mahavishnu Thambarati Kshetra), (8) Kuttikkal PO, Via Chengala-671541 (Styled: Kuttikol Sri Thamburatti Bhagavati Kshetra), (9) PO Muliyar-671542 (Kasargod) (Styled: Kodavanji Sri Pullikaringali Bhagavati Kshetra), (10)Arikkadi, PO Kumbla-671321 (Pare Sri Padangara Bhagavati Alichamundi Kshetra), (11) Adka, Mangalpady, Kasargod-671324, (12) Uppala-671322, Kasargod, (13) Pattathoor, Ballangudelu. PO Majibail, Via Manjeshwara-671323, (Styled Sri Padangara Bhagavati Kshetra) (14) Kanila, B. Manjeshwar, Manjeshwara-671323, (15) Ullal, Dakshina Kannada-574159 (Styled: Sri Cheerumba Bhagavati Kshetra), (16) Kodialabail, Mangalore-575003 (Styled: Kudroli Sri Bhagavati Kshetra*), (17) Sasihitlu, Haleangadi PO-574146, and (18) Pullikunnu, Kasargod (Styled: Pulikunnu Sri Aivvar Bhagavati Kshetra).

Thiyyas of Mangalore

  Thiyyas further settled at the ancient port towns of Mangalore and Mulki. During British India, Mangalore was the District Head-quarters of South Canara, which included Kasargod and North Malabar, until States Reorganisation. 

 Initially, the Bhagavati Temple at Mangalore was located at Bokkapatna sea shore, Kudroli, which was the location of Ancient Mangalore Port during Vijayanagar Period.  Due to migration estuary and  sea erosion, it was shifted to Kodialabailu at a place, donated by Manjanna Nayaka, who was landed gentry of Kodialabailu. It was around 450 years ago.  The issueless land-lord was bestowed with a son thereafter, as was promised by the Deity in his dream.  The Temple is still called as Sri Kudroli Bhagavati Kshetra and popularly as ‘Guttyamma Kshetra’. The name Guttyamma might have been derived from the word Guttu or it might have been named after the Goddess of Chandrgutti,(Shimoga District) traditionally worshipped by Nayaka Chieftains. Land transfer registration is now made in the name of the Deity by Raghurama Rao couple, a scion of Manjanna Nayaka.

Legend of Goddess Bhagavati

According to Bhagavati Purana, Lord Shiva ordered Cheerumba Bhagavati and her attendants to remain on earth to protect the innocent people and punish cruel people.  First she appeared at Kodangallur, Thrissur (Kerala). Then proceeded northwards to Talangara (now Tallisseri, Kasargod) and then up to Mulki-Hejamadi and established Temples through Thiyya community at her will. The Bhagavati and her retinue returned to Kudroli and shown her presence as embodiment of other thirteen primordial energy manifestations, consisting of four manifestations of Sri Cheerumba Bhagavati (Sankritised as Sri Kuru Amba), five of Sri Padangare and another five of Sri Pulluraali.  It is, therefore, called ‘Kootakkala’ of Shakti, a complex of fourteen Deities enshrined in three Temples.  It happened at the beginning of Thirteenth Century, more than 800 years ago. (Source: Kootakkala Souvenir, 2005, Kudroli Sri Bhagavati Kshetra).

According to Bhagavati Purana, Darigasura (Darika+Asura) was a wicked Asura King of Darikapura in Pātāla (Nether world, supposed to be West Coast).  He became powerful with Lord Shiva’s boon on his doing a penance.  He became invincible in all three Worlds. Suffering defeat and disgrace and ill treatment, the celestials and sages complained to Shiva for redressing their problem. Swayed by pity on the plight of the people, tears trickled down from Shiva’s eyes.  He became angry and at the same time, a Divine Lady sprang out from a drop of tear.  The Lady was called Goddess Bhagavati (aka Cheerumba). (It may be noted that in ‘Bappanadu Sri Kshetra Mahime’, it was Lord Vishnu who created Sapta Matrikas/Durgas, i.e. Seven Divine Mothers, from his tears, which fell down on the earth).

Shri.Cheerumba Bhagavati (Courtesy: Kootakkala Souvenir)

The Goddess Bhagavati, sitting on the shoulder of her attendant Aadimela (aka Guliga), went to the kingdom of Darigasura.  Darigasura was then on his way to the river for taking bath as a routine before offering prayers to Shiva.  The Divine Lady in the guise of an old woman, begged for a meal.  He advised her to ask his wife at the palace.  On reaching the palace, the Goddess asked for his magic weapons given by Lord Shiva (Note that according to the other version, it is Lord Vishnu). Logically thinking, his wife refused to give the demanded weapons and called out her husband for clarification.  The King, as he was already late, got irritated on getting delayed.  So he shouted at the queen and told her to give whatever the old lady would ask.  On returning to Prayer Room, he could not find his weapons and other materials used for prayers.  He realized his mistake and was furious.  Sri Bhagavati appeared before the King in her real form, along with her other manifestations.  In the fierce battle, Bhagavati killed the tyrant and maintained peace and happiness on the earth. Shiva (or Vishnu) ordered her to settle down on the earth with her other manifestations to ensure peace and prosperity to her devotees. 

Goddess Bhagavati then set sail to the Earth in a Sandal wood boat and crossed Kasargod, Kumble, Uppala, Pattathur, Manjeshwara, Udyavara (South of Mangalore), Ullala and Kudroli.  The retinue halted at Sasihitlu near the estuary of Nandini and Shambhavi Rivers.  Taking offence on Bhagavati (elder sister) accepting tender coconut from a Thiyya, then considered as lower caste, other sisters left her behind at Sasihitlu.  Elder sister then settled down at Sasihitlu.  Durga Parameshwari emerged at the confluence of Nandini and Shambhavi and manifested formless to Bappa Byari, a marine trader, and settled down in Bappanadu in the form of a Linga, consecrated by Vedic rites in a Temple built by Bappa Byari with the help of local Samantha Chieftain.  Remaining retinue returned to Kudroli where the other elder Bhagavati with thirteen other incarnations, settled down to be worshipped by Thiyyas and other communities.

Brahmashri Guru Narayana Swami

Today, various sects of toddy tappers worship and follow the principles advocated by Brahmashri Guru Narayana Swami (1856-1928).  He was a great social reformer who declared equality of all human beings. He was a refined spiritual Guru,  born in a family of traditional Ezhava Ayruvedic Pandits.  He spearheaded movement of social justice for the down-trodden of Kerala.  He was respected and venerated by high and low and people from far and near.  He preached ‘oneness of Humanity under one Supreme God’, rejecting compartmentalization on the basis of castes and religions.  His thoughts are contained in his Sanskrit work ‘Advaita Deepika’. Guru Narayana built temples at Calicut, Tellicherry and Cannanore.
He is responsible for the inauguration of exclusive temple of Billawas in Mangaluru dedicated to Lord Shiva under the name of  Gokarnanatha, now renovated into a beautiful temple which has become a popular piligrimage and tourist destination. There is a commemorative idol of Guru Narayana at the  Gokarnanath Temple, located at Kudroli, Mangaluru.

Evolutionary trends

The Thiyya are widely considered to have immigrated to Kerala from an island like Srilanka or Lakshadweep in the remote past. Similarly, Ezhava are considered to have come from Iram or Srilanka. The members of the Thiyya, Ezhava and other related communities traditionally practiced the art of toddy tapping contemporaneously, along with Spirit dancing, teaching Kalari form of ancient Indian martial arts besides propagating the application of plant based Ayurvedic medicines. Some of them were also archers, soldiers and farmers.

The existence of independent bari or illam patterns among these different communities suggest independent origin and evolution of tribes even though they adapted similar professions in the due course. The language also played an important role in unifying or separating these tribes.

The Thiyya, Ezhava and other related communities followed Spirit worship and Buddhism that was prevalent in the Tulunadu-Kerala region in the early centuries of the Common Era. With the advent of Vedic Hinduism in the region, the cult of Goddess Bhagavati, came into prominence, imbibing the essence of Spirit cult combined with Vedic concept of Goddesses, in the background of dominant matrilineal system. The progressive outlook and the reforms preached and practiced by Guru Narayana (1856-1928) are responsible for progress in the status and outlook of these communities.

Genetic haplotype studies of 104 Ezhava samples by Parvathy Seema Nair (2011) showed pronounced genetic heterogeneity and also indicated European paternal derivation having similarity of genotypes with Jat-Sikhs and Turks. Similarly Dr. Nelliatt Shyamalan also suggested European (specifically Kyrgyzstan) genetic origin for Thiyyas based on limited DNA studies.

The genetic heterogeneity concluded by Seema Nair reiterates the antiquity of the tribes as well as extensive interbreeding among the contemporaneous tribes. More genetic studies would be essential to trace detailed evolution of various tribes that shaped our cultures and customs along the time line.

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*Notes:  “Ecological niche is ‘a way in which a species utilizes the resources of its environment’ and its relation to other species in a biological community in terms of a symbiosis or competition, predation or parasitism.  In a biological community, no two co-existing species share the same niche.  Similarly, no two castes have same traditional niche in rural India…” (Ecological Journey by Madhav Gadgil).

Tulu Proverb: ‘Tarkatti taarigu, parkatti keyiku’, which means,  Curved sickle for palm trees, sickle with teeth for paddy harvesting (Tulu Lexicon, p.1426) , signifies usage of different tools for different works.

Acknowledgement:  I am grateful to my friend and colleague Mr. B. Anand (Bajpe), Pune for providing me a copy of Souvenir-2005 on Kudroli Kootakkala.  brought out on the eve of Punar-Pratishta Brahmakalashotsava  of Kudroli Shri Bhagavati Kshetra, popularly known as ‘Kootakkala’.

References:

http://gurunarayana.blogspot.in/2010/03/zhava_13.html

http://thiyyahistory.blogspot.in/2012/11/normal-0-false-false-false-en-in-x-none.html

http://historicalleys.blogspot.in/2012/02/thiyyas-of-malabar.html
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3118723/
http://tulu-research.blogspot.in/2008/07/131-belman-to-bellarpadi.html

-Hosabettu Vishwanath, Pune

 With inputs from Ravi Mundkur