Thigala
 |
This article includes a list of references, related reading or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. Please improve this article by introducing more precise citations. (June 2011) |
 |
This article may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards. (Consider using more specific cleanup instructions.) Please help improve this article if you can. The talk page may contain suggestions. (September 2011) |
Thigalas,also known as Thigalaru it is a relatively new name of an endogamous social group or caste of people native to southern Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and border regions of Tamil Nadu.The Name Thigala takes comes from Thee and Kula Meaning fire and clan respectively.
Contents |
[edit] Description
According to the Madras Census Report, 1901, as a Canarese synonym for the Tamil Palli ; applied also by the Canarese people to any Tamil Sudras of the lower castes. In parts of the Mysore country, the Tamil language is called Tigalu, and the Canarese Madhva Brahmans speak of Tamil Smarta Brahmans as Tigalaru. Some of the Tigalas, who have settled in Mysore, have forgotten their mother-tongue, and speak only Canarese, while others, e.g.^ those who live round about Bangalore, still speak Tamil. In their type of cranium they occupy a position intermediate between the dolichocephalic Pallis and the sub-brachy cephalic Canarese classes. The difference in the type of cranium of the Tigalas and Tamil Pallis is clearly brought by the following tabular statements of their cephalic indices.
The Tigalas have a headman, whose office is here ditary, and who is assisted by a caste servant called Mudre. Council meetings are usually held at a fixed spot, called goni mara katte or mudre goni mara katte, because those summoned by the Mudre assemble beneath a goni [Ficus mysorensis) tree, round which a stone platform is erected. The tree and platform being sacred, no one may go there on wearing shoes or sandals. The members of council sit on a woollen blanket spread before the tree.
Like the Pallis or Vanniyans, the Tigalas call themselves Agni Vanni, and claim to be descended from the fire-born hero Agni Banniraya. In connection with the Tigalas who have settled in the Bombay Presidency, it is noted * that ' ' they are a branch of the Mysore Tigalas, who are Tamil Palli emigrants from the Madras Presidency, and, like the Palli, claim a Kshat- riya origin." The Tigalas possess a manuscript, said to be a copy of a sasana at Conjeeveram (Kanchi), from which the following extracts are taken. " This is a Kanchi sasana published by Aswaththa Narayanswami, who was induced to do so by the god Varadaraja of Conjeeveram. This sasana is written to acquaint the descendants of the Mahapurusha Agni Banniraya- as per Monograph, Eth. Sun'ey, Bombay, No. 93, Tigala, 1907
the origin, doings, and gotra of their ancestor Banniraya. This Banniraya sprang from fire, and so is much beloved by Vishnu the many-armed, the many-eyed, and the bearer of the chank and chakram, and who is no other than Narayana, the lord of all the worlds great and small, and the originator of the Vedas and Vedanta . . . . All those who see or worship this sasana relating to Agni Banniraya, who obtained boons from the Trimurthis, Devatas, and Rishis, and who is the ancestor of the Tigalas, will be prosperous, and have plenty of grain and children. Those who speak lightly of this caste will become subject to the curses of Banniraya, Trimurthis, Rishis, and Devas. The glory of this sasana is great, and is as follows : — The keeping and worshipping of this purana will enable the Tigalas of the Karnataka country to obtain the merit of sura- padavi (the state of Devas), merit of doing puja to a thousand lingams, a lakh of cow gifts, and a hundred kannikadanams (gifts of virgins for marriage)." The sasana is said to have been brought to the Canarese country because of a quarrel between the Pallis and the Tigalas at the time of a Tigala marriage. The Tigalas were prevented from bringing the various biruthus (insignia), and displaying them. The sasana was brought by the Tigalas, at an expenditure of Rs. 215, which sum was subsequently recovered from the Pallis.
[edit] Divisions
Thigalas are divided into following sub-divisions:
- Tigal:who abstain from using the fruit or leaves of the thonda plant.
- Thumma: Literally Babul is an exogamous sect of Mala and Padmashali. The bark, pods, and leaves of the babul tree are used by tanners in the preparation of hides and skins, or as a dye.
- Thumu:meaning iron measure for measuring grain is an exogamous sect of Mutracha.
- Thupa:(Ghee orclarified butter) An exogamous sect of Kuruba.
- Thurpu:(eastern),A sub-division of Yerukala and Yanadi.
- Thuta:(hole),An exogamous sept of Devanga.
Further a sub-divisions also occur:
- Tikke (gem):A sub-division of Kurni.
- Ti (fire) Kollan: A sub-division of Kollan.
- Tinda (polluting): A sub-division of Kanisan.
- Tinda Kuruppu, meaning a teacher who cannot approach, is a synonym of the Kavutiyan barber caste.
[edit] Occupations
The Tigalas are kitchen and market gardeners, and culivate the betel vine.They apparently have three divisions, called Ulli (garlic or onions), Ele (leaf), and Arava (Tamil).
[edit] Religion
They adhere to folk Hinduism worship local deities Lakkammam, Ellamma,Tota devaru (garden god),Dodda devaru (big or chief god),Dodda Narasayya,Dodda Nanjappa,Muddanna,Sidde devaru.
