Padmashali
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Padmashali or Padmasali is a Telugu weavers' caste or social group found largely in the state of Andhra Pradesh in India. They are identified by different names in various regions through out India.
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[edit] Origin
There are two interpretations for the origin of the word "Padmashali". Some anthropologists believe it is derived from the Sanskrit.
However, linguistic construction of Dravidian languages traces its root to Proto-South-Dravidian word saal. In Tulu, Saalye or Taalye means "spider". Also, saali means spider in Telugu. Probably, symbolising the weaving activity with the spider's web, this word was coined for weavers. In Tamil, it's Saalikan or Saaliyan. In Kannada, it is Shaaliga or Shaaliya. In Malayalam, Chaaliyan. In Telugu, it's Saalodu or Saalollu.
The word Padmashali has very deep meaning in Hindu mythology. In essense the word Padmashali is coinaage of two words, viz., padma and shali. The word "Padma" is sahasradala padma, meaning the highest order of human intelligence. In body chakras "Padma" refers to sahasrara. The word "Shali" in Sanskrit is 'be holder'. Thus "Padmashali" literally means holder of sahasrara. In physical term it means intelligence.
Another mythological story relates to the Padmavathi, wife of Sri Srinivasa. It is believed that Padmavathi of Mangapura of Tirupati declares that she was the daughter of Padmashali. Hence, the name Padmashali. There exists writing in Tirupati to evidence the statement of Padmavathi as daughter of Padmashali's. Another aspect of Padmashali, Padma also refers to Lotus. The Lotus also refers to the intelligence or awakening of sahasrara.
Thus, Padmashali name as caste carries highest meaning the it is caste of braminical not by birth but by deeds.
Like braminical class, the Padmashali's relates their origin to Vrushis, sages as gothras. Each family has separate gothras and like in brahminical following, in marriage sagothras are barred. That apart the families also carry family names, the family name and gothras will be referred at the time of marriage and sagothras and like family name are barred in going in for marriage.
It is to be noted that it is likely the only caste that has a parasite leanage of families who live praising the Padmashali heritage and they are called as "Pogadaraju", meaning, (Pogada = praising and Raju = king,)in praising the family is king. These Pogadaraju during the course of time are now known as padagaraju. These Padagaraju circuits to families of Padmashali and praises padmashali by bahuparak (Praises) refering the origin of Padmashali from Brugu maharshi to bhavana maharshi.
[edit] History
The Padmashalis are the third largest community in Andhra Pradesh. They are spread all over the world, but have a visible tendency towards urbanization since the occupation of weaving and marketing cloth becomes easy from urban and semi-urban centers. This community produces cloth from cotton and animate yarn (silk).
Caste communities involved in the leather and wool-based household industries - which perhaps have an older history than cloth weaving - have developed an integrated process of production of raw material and its conversion into commodities. But unlike them, the Padmashalis developed exclusively cloth-weaving skills. They produce cloth as a marketable commodity, without having any organic links or skills in the production of the raw material. The Padmashali men have no expertise in ploughing and their women lack seeding and crop-cutting skills. Thus, their skill structure, over a period of time, became one-dimensional. By the time the British arrived, the Padmashalis were producing huge quantities of cloth and controlled a leading cottage industry of India.
The introduction of the railways - starting 1853 - by the colonial British government helped penetrate the selfsufficient rural economy. With the forced introduction of machine manufactured goods, especially finished cotton goods from the factories of Birmingham (making use of advances from the Industrial Revolution) etc., from imperial Britain, the domestic textile industry suffered losses. Being an important node in the rural economy, the Padmashali community also naturally felt the impact. Today, many urban Padmashalis have abandoned their ancestral profession and have diversified into other activities. One can see an increasing number of Padmashalis become engineers, doctors, politicians, bureaucrats, businessmen, advocates professionals etc .
[edit] Characteristics
Perhaps because they largely stay indoors, or because of characteristic genes, community members have developed reddish skin and are hence known as erra kulamu (red caste) among the OBCs. The Padmashali caste is highly Sanskritised, with all the men wearing the sacred thread (Yajnopavitam/Gayatri dharan). In terms of social consciousness, it is more Brahminic than any other OBC caste in Andhra Pradesh & some of them in Maharashtra also. In spite of all these Brahminic characteristics, this caste did not get integrated into ritual Brahminism and remained uneasily within the broad Shudra[1] category.
[edit] Different names
It is not same caste, the weavers of different groups have different names. The Padmashali sources its origin to Brugu Maharshi, followed down to Markandeya, Bhakta Markandeya, the chiranjeevi who wins the life from yama. Further the technic of weaving came from ayoni putra, Sri Bhavana maharshi.
The caste in weavers sources their origin do different aspects.
The Shettigars who are mainly settled in South Canara region generally refer themselves with Padmashalis. However, in Kinnimulki,a taluk near Katil, in near Udupi, the Padmashalis are known as padmashalis and not as Shettigars.
The weavers in Andhra Pradesh has following names (as per the OBC list of central government - List no 155,) they are all not Padmashalis. But the weavers, depending upon on the nature of basic material used in the earlier times, the name of caste originated.
In Karnataka, there are nearly 30 grous of castes in weavers and Padmashalis are one of the weavers, independent of other group castes, with their culture practice based on vedic principles.
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In Tamilnadu Padmashali = Mudaliyar [As per History 600 yerars long ago Mudaliyars and Mudirajas same caste, so Mudirajas likes Padmashali] and aslo Devangas = Lingayats
| S.No | Name |
|---|---|
| 1 | Padmashali / Mudaliyar |
| 2 | Devanga / Lingayat |
| 3 | Jaandra |
| 4 | Thogata |
| 5 | Thogata Veerakshathriya |
| 6 | Patkaaru |
| 7 | Karni Bhakthula |
| 8 | Karakala Bhakthula |
| 9 | Swakula saali |
| 10 | Neeli saali |
| 11 | Nala Kandhi |
| 12 | Nessi |
| 13 | Kurni |
| 14 | Kurmishetti saali |
| 15 | Kaikaala |
| 16 | Kaikolan |
| 17 | Senguwaakam |
| 18 | Pattusali |
| 19 | Shettigar |
[edit] Noted Padmashalis
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This section does not cite any references or sources. (March 2008) Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed. |
[edit] Freedom Fighters/Politicians/Social Activists
- K.C.Kondaiah, MLC, Bellary, Ex MP (Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha), He paved the way and was instrumental in Smt. Sonia Gandhi's win from Bellary Lok Sabha Constituency in 1999.
- Konda Laxman Bapuji (prominent socialist politician), who fought for freedom during Nizam's period, later served as Deputy Speaker of Andhra Pradesh assembly. Is instrumental in forming Akhila Bharat Padmashali Sanga at Hyderabad, which has membership from state bodies from all over India, wherever Padmashali's are there. Is also champion of Backward castes.
- Late Pragada Kotaiah, Ex.M.L.A. and Ex-M.P.(Rajya Sabha) Leader of Handloom Movement.
- Ale Narendra [Also called Tiger Narendra] Member of Parliament, Medak Dist.
- Gangadharpanth Kuchan, Ex. Member of Parliament, Sholapur, Maharashtra
- Dharmanna Sadul, Ex.Member of Parliament, Sholapur, Maharashtra
- Vannala Shriramlu, Ex-MLA, Wardhannapet, Warangal, Convener, BJP Weavers Cell.
- Devarakonda Vittal Rao (Member of Parliament representing Mahbubnagar Constituency)
- Puli Veeranna, Currently M.L.A.Former Minister of Handlooms in A.P.Government.
- L.Ramana - Ex M.L.A, and Ex. MP and Khadi Board Chairman
- Urvashi Sarada, Ex.MP (TDP) from Tenali
- Murugudu Hanumantha Rao - M.L.A & Minister for Sarvas Siksha Abhiyan, DPEP, Adult Education, Open Schools, Public Libraries, Jawahar Bal Bhavan, Mahila Samata Society, State Institute of Education Technology. AP Government Portal.
- Kumble Sunder Rao Ex. MLA, SURTHKAL, Karnataka
- Rumandla Ramchandriah, Ex. MP (Rajya Sabha Member), Ex. Convener, First Sub-Committee of the Committee of Parliament on Official Language (CPOL), Ex. President, State BC Cell, TDP
- Goli Gopala Rao - First Municipal Chairman, Mangalagiri(1971 - 1976)
- Late Goli.Veeranjaneyalu Ex.MLA Mangalagiri
- Panchumarthi Anuradha - former Vijayawada Mayor
- Nimmala Kishtappa - Animal Husbandry minister
[edit] Industrialists/Businessmen
- Chandana Mohan Rao (Founder of Chandana Brothers, CMR Mall)
- Nalli Kuppuswami Chetti of Nalli Silks, Chennai
- Suresh Muragalla - Founder of Fusion Global Solutions, US Based Software & IT Services Company
- Nandam Krishna Mohan - Founder and CEO of India's third largest share registrar - Bigshare Services Pvt. Ltd., Mumbai http://www.bigshareonline.com/
- Singanamala Madhav-Chairman and MD, Bellary Steels and Alloys Limited, a listed company of BSE/NSE http://www.bsal.in/
- Bojja Dharmaraju, Kakinada Businessman(Winner of Prime Minister award for 'Best Business Practices'-1972
- D.V.Manohar ( Founder of Shri Shakti Gas & hotel Manohar )
[edit] Media/Entertainment/Film Industry/Painters
- Urvasi Sarada - Actress
- Late V (Vanakuduru/Vankudre) Shantaram (Filmmaker & Actor), was awarded Dadasaheb Phalke Award, 1985 Padma Vibhushan in 1992.
- Gundu Hanmantha Rao - Actor/Comedian
- Suddala Ashok Teja - Lyricist (won National Film Award for Best Lyrics)
[edit] Intellectuals/Academicians/Literary Field
- Guru Padmasree Bharatakalaprapoorna Dr.Nataraja Ramakrishna, A famous dance theory proponent; He has designed the famous " Perini Siva Thandavam". His parents lived in Bali islands. He had received many awards like Nataraj at his 18th year, Padmasree: by the Government of India, Bharatakalaprapoorna, Bharatakala,Kala Sagar Award, Savyasaachi, Kalaprapoorna, Kala Saraswathi, Best Natyacharya of South India, Prestigious Award 1991: Rajya Lakshmi Foundation Award,Rajeev Gandhi Foundation Award in 1995, Visishta Puraskar: By Sri Potti Sriramulu Telugu University, Hyderabad in 2000,Bharat Cultural Integration Award: Spirit of Unity Concert, Chennai in 2001)
- Prof.Ravva Srihari- Former Vice Chancellor, Drawidian University, Kuppam
- Prof.N.Gopi, Poet and former Vice-Chancellor of Potti Sree Ramulu Telugu University (prestigious Ugadi Puraskaram in Telugu Literature for this year by the Government of A.P)
- Sada Siva Master, Adilabad. A noted writer and literary critic in Urdu, Marathi and Telugu.
[edit] Musicians
- Vidwan V.Ramaiah, Violinist, AIR Mysore and Bangalore and Mysore Palace.
[edit] Sports
- P. T. Usha - popular Indian athlete (Padma Shri and Arjuna Award winner)
