Talk:Saliya

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[edit] Telugu Padmashalis

Somebody has added Telugu Padmashali details to this article. Please start a new article for this community as many cultural aspects are different for Malayalee weavers and other weavers. Thanks.

Manjunatha (21 Apr 2006)

[edit] Myth of origin part

Well, I absolutely don't have any idea how to order it. I have deleted it from the main article. As of now, there is not much study on any of these. So, I think it's better left untouched.

[edit] Myth of origin

One of the myths surrounding this community is that their ancestors were priests of royal household or they were Brahmins. A part of this myth also talk about the tradition of wearing sacred thread in the past. Few community members believe the loss of sacred thread is symbolized in a tradition during the Onam festival in the community temple by breaking the three strands of thread.

The origin of the above myth and its original form is lost in the history. The present opinion generally look at these stories as an aspiration of declared lower caste people to have the dignity of upper caste. However, more research is needed for the proper understanding of these myths taking into consideration the time of their origin and the existing social situation.

The only available record is that of John Fryer. John Fryer who visited India in 1670 observed that Kammalans or artisans of Kerala disputed the supremacy of Brahmins and considered themselves equal to them.

It was during the medieval times that caste rules were enforced in the society and Brahmins declared themselves as the highest caste. It looks like as Brahmins claimed highest caste position many artisan communities in South India disputed this claim. The strong financial status of weavers and goldsmiths in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh in fact enabled them to create their own priest system modeled after Vedic system which was part of the establishment.

The Salagama community of Sri Lanka, supposedly migrated to the island nation around 13th century and which also claims Brahmin origins might show the Brahmin claims of caste superiority was immediately countered since the caste system of Kerala was (supposedly implemented between 12-15th century CE...?but certain historians say that the Brahmins had come to Kerala from the Karnataka region in the 8th century & formed the elite society & ordered the caste system)But if they had arrived between 12-15th century, the later myth of "we were Brahmins before" could have just "if the highest are Brahmins; then we are also Brahmins" beginnings. It has also been observed that artisans were not really endogamous communities during medieval times. Taken together it could be argued that the claim was purely individualistic in its origin.

How ever there is also significant evidance which indicates the connection between the Salagama community & the Namboodiri Brahmins of Kerala,some of the Salagama family names commence with Nanediri,(e.g.)Nanediri Senanayake,etc.. according to their folklore for many generations they believe their ancestors were Namboodiri Brahmins from Kerala brought to srilanka for a coronation ceromany of a King there is a very ancient copper plate given by the King indicating the names of some of the Brahmins who came (Alaimuni,Walaimuni,Weerakkodai,Paramuttu,Vediasaran,Valliammai,Malliam,) & mentioning that they hail from a very high caste subsequently when they wished to return to Kerala, the King offered them maidens of royalty, & their names were Nimalhamy,Ranhamy etc...& were married at the royal courts,the some of the Salagama names ends with "Muni" which is used only by the Brahmins,(e.g.)Edirimuni,Walimuni, etc...& the name Brahmana appears in areas they live (e.g.)"Brahmana watte" of Balapitiya etc...some of their Brahmin ancestors would have taken to weaving as there weren't enough jobs in temples,during one epoch the Srilankan weavers were only weaving a material which was called "Bala Kapu",& were not skilled enough to weave high quality cloth destined for Kings using gold thread,& the Srilankan King brought down weavers from Kerala who were renowned for weaving high quality cloth,& they too settled down in Srilanka & got integrated into the first group of Keralites as they had a commen origin,it should be noted that the Ahampadaiyar (Mercenary Soldiers from Kerala) also got integrated into the Salagama sub caste the hevapanne,& the name became Agampodi, perhaps the Salagama community is a admixture of Brahmins, Royalty,Weavers,& Warriors.

However, the spirit of equality in the past does not negate the ground reality that artisans generally lived/and still living a marginal life in a strongly feudal South Indian society,but fortunately the new modern young generation of Indians, tend to increasingly surpass the caste barriers.

Yet another story is associated with Kannaki and Kovilan of Silapathikaram. Kovilan belongs to Andhra trading community, who travelled to southeren parts of Tamilnadu. He was with outher members of his tribes and Kannaki. While staying at Madurai and doing business, he met the tragic end. Kannaki, a devotee of Bagavati, burned Madurai in revenge and moved to Kerala with the remaining members of the community. They settled in Kodungallur. Later the community members settled in 24 places in Kerala - Kannur, Ernakulam and Trivandrum. These settlements are known as Theru, where weaving and trading in handloom is legendry.

Manjunatha (5 Sept 2006)