Kaikolan

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Sengunthar or Kaikolan or Kaikolar are a large Tamil and Telugu socially backward caste^[1]^[2] of weavers in the states of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh in southern India. They have close ties of kinship with the Devadasi or Devaradiyars^[3]^[4]^[5] ^[6].

1 Origin
2 Ties of Kinship between Kaikolar and Devadasis
3 Community Legends and festivals
4 Gods/Goddesses
5 Kootam/kulam
6 Historical Personalities
7 Culture and Customs
8 Associations
9 References

[edit] Origin

The Kaikolars also called as Sengunthar, are a large Tamil and Telugu socially backward caste^[1]^[2] of weavers in the states of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh in southern India. Their name comes from a mythical hero and from the words "kai" (hand) and "koi" (shuttle). They consider the different parts of the loom to represent various gods and sages.

They are also known as Sengundar, which means a red dagger, which is traced to the legend of the earth being harassed by demons, which led to the people asking the god Shiva to help them. He was furious with the demonic giants and sent six sparks from his eyes. Parvati, his wife became frightened and retired to her chamber but dropped nine beads from her anklets. Shiva converted those beads into nine women, each giving birth to a hero, complete with moustache and daggers. These nine led by Subramanya, with a large army destroyed the demons. Kaikolans or Sengundar claim descent from one of the nine heroes. There are seventy-two subdivisions (nadu or desams).These legends were created at a time when the weaver community had lost its social status and the formuale were efforts at self-glorification^[5].

Traditionally, one girl in every family from the Sengundar/ Kaikolar caste was set apart to be dedicated to temple service and becomes a Devadasi (meaning female servant of god). In the temple, the girl is considered married to the temple deity but in practice becomes a prostitute, especially to the Brahmans and she learns traditional music and dancing^[7]^[8]^[9].

[edit] Ties of Kinship between Kaikolar and Devadasis

This research article talks about the relation between the Kaikolan musicians and the Devadasis ^[10] ^[11]

This research article explains the blood relation between the Devadasis and the Kaikolar. (Quoted from article: "Devaradiyar (dancing girls who have very close kinship ties with the Kaikkolar") ^[3]^[4].

This research article explains in vivid detail, the way the Kaikkolas used their women to enjoy special privileges in the Vijayanagar empire. (Text Quoted from article: "At least one woman in every Kaikkola household was, according to age-old tradition dedicated to the temple as a devaradiyar or devadasi. The devaradiyar enjoyed special privileges in the days of the Vijayanagar empire and were the only women permitted a direct audience with the king"^[5] ^[6].

This research article (along with references to an inscription) describes how a devaradiyar or devadasi won special privileges for the Kaikkolas from the King Deva Raya II (A.D 1433) ^[5] ^[12] ^[13]

The research articles clearly define Kaikolars as the Sengunthar-Kaikolars of the terinja-Kaikolar Padai of the Chola empire. There is absolutely no question of ambiguity regarding their identity.

Another reference book Donors, Devotees, and Daughters of God. Temple Women in Medieval Tamilnadu by Leslie C. Orr. gives ample references to inscriptions regarding the Kaikkolars being Devadasis in Tanjore temples during the Chola empire.

A link to another book that explains the status of Kaikolar women: http://books.google.com/books?q=%28kaikkolar%29+women+are+often+a+calling+not+shameful+to+them

This research article explains how Kaikola women still go into sacred prostitution^[7].

[edit] Community Legends and festivals

The Sura Samhara festival is a ritual tradition practised by the Kaikolars to sustain the myth of the divine origin of the weavers with the intention of exalting their caste in the face of actual social inferiority^[5]. According to the mythology of weaver community, the Kaikolars weavers were born out of nine gems that were scattered from Parvati's anklet. At the Sura Samhara festival, they dress up as the nine warriors of Virabahu, the lieutenant of Lord Karthikeya and enact the killing of the demon Narakasura^[5]. These legends were created at a time when the weaver community had lost its social status and the formuale were efforts at self-glorification^[5].

[edit] Gods/Goddesses

Kaikolars are predominantly Shaivites. They possess a Clan God as most of the castes in Tamil Nadu. Mostly, it is some form of Amman i.e Parvati or Murugan.

[edit] Kootam/kulam

Kootam defines birth from a single male ancestor. Kootam is transferred patrilineally i.e., via the father of a person. Hence people belonging to the same kootam are considered brothers and sisters. So marriage between a male and female belonging to the same kootam is prohibited however distantly they may be related.

Historically there were 72 kootams in Kaikolan. Each kootam had a leader. The head leader in Kanchipuram was the head for all these leaders. This was used to manage disputes within the community.

Nowadays, the kootams have merged into one another and there is no well defined leader for each kootam. It is used only for setting up marriage alliances.

A list of Kootam has been removed from this section awaiting authentication by accurate reference material.

[edit] Historical Personalities

Ottakoothar was a court poet of three Chola kings namely Vikrama Chola. Kulotunga-II and Rajaraja II. He wrote poems in praise of these three kings namely Vikrama Cholan Ula, Kulothunga Cholan Ula and Rajarajan Ula. Ottakoothar had also written Kulothungan Pillai Tamil in praise of Chola king Kulothunga II and Saraswathy Andhadhi in praise of Saraswathi the Goddess of learning. Sekizhar the minister of chola dynasty wrote periyapuranam his native is kundrathur near chennai kambar who wrote ramayana in tamil he is also from chola empire kamban veetu kattu tharium kavipadum

[edit] Culture and Customs

The culture and customs of the Kaikolans is similar to most Tamil. However there are differences in customs between the various kootams of Sengunthar. The significant difference is that some Sengunthars are more kootam conservative than other Sengunthar groups when it comes to marriage partners.