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354
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
hand of Vyasan, and from that day a right hand is the crest on the Rishis' banner." Such is the story of the origin of right and left hand castes as given in this book.
There is a book in German, not so well known as it deserves to be, from which I translate a passage àpropos to this subject, viz.:-"The castes of the right and of the left hand in Śriringa patam deserve notice. The left hand consists of the following nine castes: (1) The Panchâ la r, which includes the five classes of mechanics or artificers; (2) the Chettis or merchants, who say they belong to the Vaisya caste: (3) Weavers; (4) Oilmillers who drive their mills with two bullocks; (5) the Gollar caste,-people who are employed to carry money; (6) the Paliwan lu caste, (7) the Palavantu caste, both cultivators but not belonging to the Karnataka; (8) Hunters; (9) Tanners and Shoemakers. The Panchalar command the entire body, but the Tanners are their warmest supporters in all difficulties, because in matters of dispute they are very adroit. The right-hand division consists of eighteen castes, viz: (1) The Bamgaru caste. This embraces many occupations and many Hindu sects. They are mostly traders or shopkeepers. (2) The Wodigaru caste, Sudra cultivators; (3) Oilmillers who drive their mill with but one ox; (4) the Tailors; (5) the Sandar a caste: these are Muhammadan artizans; (6) the Gujarati caste, -merchants from that district; (7) the Ka mâțigâru caste= people of the Vaisya caste; (8) the joiner or Jaina; (9) Shepherds and Weavers, especially weavers of woollen blankets; (10) Potters; (11) Washermen; (12) Palankeen-bearers; (13) the Padma Shalaya vâḍû caste, a class of weavers; (14) the Barber caste; (15) the Tank-diggers; (16) Painters; (17) the Gull &ru caste.-people who herd cows and buffaloes; (18) the Whalliâru caste,-these are the warriors of this division; they commonly speak of themselves (in the Tamil country) as Vallangais, but are the well-known Pariahs.
[DECEMBER, 1876.
The right-hand claim exclusive right to have a pandál, under which to perform their marriage ceremonies; and they maintain that the left-hand have no right, in their marriage processions, to ride a horse, or to carry a flag upon which there is an image of Hanuman. The left-hand assert a right to all these, and appeal to the copper plate already mentioned, and they further assert that to them belongs the higher rank, because the goddess placed them on her left side, which in India is the place of honour." Thus far I quote from our German author.
It is difficult to say what the origin of the division was, but it does appear in have been caused by some person or persons who were strangers to Southern India: and from the fact that Muhammadan artizans form a portion of the right-hand division, we may conclude that it cannot boast of very great antiquity. These Muhammadans were a necessity to the right-hand, because m time of fighting no Panchâlar would work for them. JAMES F. KEARNS, Missionary, S. P. G.
THE PHRASE PANCHA-MAHASABDA.' (See Ind. Ant. vol. V. p. 251.).
It may be of some interest to Sir Walter Elliot to know that although samadhigata-pancha-mahásabda is obsolete as a royal title, the term pachasabda is still in use, and is of frequent occurrence in the modern literature of Braj. Thus in the Rámayana of Tulsi Dâs, Book I., immediately after the 324th dohd, in the passage describing the festivities connected with Rama's wedding, occurs the line Panch-sabd-dhuni mangal gâná,
which is literally the noise of the five kinds of music and auspicious songs. A very useful commentary on the poem, published under the auspices of the Maharaja of Banâras, gives the following explanatory couplet:
Tantri, tal, sujhânjh, puni.jâno nagâra châr; Pancham phûnke so baje panch-sabd prakår, in which the five kinds of music are specified as the tantri, or sitára, the tál, the jhanjh, the nakára, and fifthly the trumpet, fife, or other wind instrument. This enumeration, or one differing from it in no essential respect, is popularly known; and I do not think that any pandit in this part of India would hesitate about the meaning of the title samadhigata-pancha-mahúsabda, but would at once explain it as denoting that the king had a brilliant and auspicious court, in which all kinds of music were constantly being played. It may also be as well to observe that the Hindi text of Chand is by no means so explicit as to the custom of having a royal band play five times a day as would appear
The origin of the division of the Hindus into right and left hand is overlaid with fable. The oldest Hindu account attributes it to the goddess K&li at the founding of Kanche veram; and it is said that the pagoda there contains a copper plate having upon it an inscription that accounts for this division of castes. Both sides refer to this plate, but neither side has ever produced it, and therefore its existence may be doubted.
"The castes of which both sides are composed are in no way bound by any mutual obligation of religion or of relationship. The great idea that keeps them together appears to be to attain more dignity. Ostindien seine Geschichte, Cultur, und seine Bewohner, von Philipp van Mokern.
