Aliya Kattu

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Part of a series on
Hinduism
Aum

History · Deities
Denominations
Literature

Dharma · Artha · Kama
Moksha · Karma · Samsara
Yoga · Bhakti · Maya · Puja
Mandir

Vedas · Upanishads
Ramayana · Mahabharata
Bhagavad Gita · Purana
others
Related topics

Hinduism by country
Gurus and saints
Reforms · Ayurveda
Calendar · Criticism
Festivals · Glossary
Jyotisha

Hindu swastika

This box: view • talk • edit

Aliya Kattu (Tulu: ಅಳಿಯ ಕಟ್ಟು) (Nephew lineage) in Tulu or Marumakkatayam in Malayalam was, a matrilineal system of property inheritance practiced by many communities in coastal Karnataka and Kerala.

Contents

[edit] Origins

Some anthropologists believe matrilineal societies were common among early primitive human societies(See Marija Gimbutas). In India, South Indians were believed to be the last communities to become patriarchal. However, mostly Malabar region of Kerala and Karnataka remained matrilineal even today. But there were people in this region who were patriarchal.

[edit] Myth of Origin

Tuluvas believe Aliya Kattu was adapted at the behest of a king called Bhootala Pandya. The story goes like this. A demon wanted the king to sacrifice his son. However, none of his queens and sons were ready to be sacrificed. Seeing the difficult situation, king's sister offers her son. However, the demon shows mercy and lets him off. On his part, the king declares his nephew as his true inheritor.

[edit] Other theories

In Kerala's matrilineal system of inheritance was believed to have come into existence after many families lost many a men during Chola-Chera wars. However, this is being disputed and no longer viewed as a credible explanation.

Main article: Marumakkathayam

[edit] Salient features

  • The children are part of the mother's family.
  • After marriage the wife would stay at her mother's place and husband would "visit" her. For the Bunt community, the wife would stay with her husband and return to live with her matrilineal family after the husband's death.
  • The inheritance of lineage identity in the form of gotra (bali or bari or balli or illam) or in the form of ancestral house (Tharavadu or Guttu) is through mother. Marriage between the persons belonging to the same illam was prohibited.
  • Among the rulers the heir apparent was the son of the sister.
  • The property of the mother is divided among the children in such a way that female children would inherit the major share depending upon number of children they have. A son would get only his share. There were no clear rules for the father's property. Probably, in the earlier times it might have gone solely to nephew. However, it was observed in the later period even though the mother's property distribution would always follow matrilineal inheritance rules (sometimes at the expense of sons), father was free to distribute his property according to his wish.
  • Women had the rights to divorce and re-marry.
  • The maternal uncle is generally the male head of the family and was known as Karanavar in Malayalam or Yajamana in Tulu/Kannada. Among Bunts the brother would manage the matrilineal family land on behalf of his sister.

[edit] Matrilineal Communities

Some communities were more prominent and owned land. This section lists few communities who practiced matrilineal system of inheritance. It's not a very exhaustive list.

[edit] Tulu people

[edit] Malayali people

[edit] Tamil

Few Tamil communities were partially matrilineal.


[edit] See also

[edit] References

  • Notes on Love in a Tamil family by Margret Trawick, Berkley Publications
  • Bunt history