Book Title: Indian Antiquary Vol 57
Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Charles E A W Oldham, Krishnaswami Aiyangar
Publisher: Swati Publications
View full book text
________________
SEPTEMBER, 1928)
THOMAS CANA
163
the custom of bestowing these grants; and were accepted from the Rajah with the ceremonies of offering flowers and sprinkling of water.106
" These privileges likewise exempted them from all punishments ; that is, from the tribunal of the higher powers consisting of Maudumbenaurs107, Noblemen or Princes, Rajahs, Hindu temple governments, and of the Town administrators, but in case of any offences com. mitted by them, they were tried by the elders or members of the eighteen castes, [Footnote:-) Punjanar108
.. Pariars. Paunen ...
..Tailors. Villen ..
.. Bowmen. Tachen ..
..Sawyers. Yerravekolen
.. Inferior smiths. Thundaun ..
.. Wood cutter. Savouracauren
..Barbers. Veirootian ..
.. Village mendicant. Mullis Chitty .. Pullivaula Chitty .. 4 descriptions of Chetties. Komana Chitty .. Cunnichemaullau Chitty Head Munnigraummu. .. Sooders or Nairs. matcheen or Manika
vassel's disciples. Elaven
. ..Toddymen. Cummaulen . ..Smiths. Maumasa u or Nassaranees. Syrians. Oravaulen .. .. Moochymen, or Scabbard makers.
106 When anything is granted as a permanent possession the donor gives the donee a document relating to the gifts, and pours (not sprinkles) water and flowers into the hand of the donse. This is an ancient custom.
107 Mdfampimár aro petty chiefs. The five mentioned hero, viz., kings, chiefs (kaimmals), petty chiefs (mafampimdr), temple governments, and town administrators seem to have had the right of taking cognizance of crimes.
Members of the eighteen castes is a mistranslation for lords over or masters of the eighteen (low) castes. The Syrian Christians were the acknowledged lords over eighteen low castes as stated in Portuguese records. It is on account of this high position that they are even to-day addrossed by low castes on certain occasions 85 pacinenparisha Mâlor or-Achchanmar (i.c., lords of eightoon castes). See footnotes 108 and 109.
108 There are several lists in Malayalam) of those eighteen castes. But their real names and identity have not yet boen ascertained. Eighteen castes-patinen kufimai-aro spoken of in Tamil also.
I shall comment on the names in the present list. (1) Påklanar: Pariah, (2) Påpan: tailor, (3) Villan: bow-maker, () Tachchan : carpenter, (5) Traukolli: washerman, (6) Tanţân: wood-cutter and tree climber, (7) Kshaurakkaran : barber—there are two castes called ampaffan (lower) and vilakkittalavan (higher), (8) Viratiyân: a casto of mendicants who go about singing ballads about Thomas Cana and the 73 privileges. Papang, No. 2, also do tho same. They are said to have ben specially set apart for the purpose by Chéraman Perumal. (9) Chofties, four kinds not identified, (10) Mapigramattachchan : Syrian Christian. He is wrongly included, for he is lord of the eighteen castes. One old cadjan MS. explicitly says that seventeen (sic) castes were subjected to the Syrian Christians. (11) Tlavan: toddy maker, a Ceylonese casto (12) Kammálar: artisans viz., carpenters, brass-founders, goldsmiths, blacksmiths and copper-smithe, (13) Mamodisakkâr : tho newly baptisod converts from low castos (Mamodisa=baptism in Syriac), (14) Uravalan: scabbard maker.
Wo havo altogether seventeen low costoa loro, taking the two kinds of barbers and the four kinds of Chetties separately, and the Kammalas a ono. And, including Vishamapti Kurukkel mentioned in the vadjan MS. referred to abovo, wo get eightoon castes. But it is not know what this last caste is. (See foot-notes 107 and 109).
