Indian Antiquary Vol 61

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Charles E A W Oldham, S Krishnaswami Aiyangar, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarka
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 128

Ilt
THE IXDIAX IXTIQUIRY
JUNE, 1912
Tirkkalum kandu tosutavarum Tirumukham nêrittu bôdhippichchu Kammålarkulla pirayum ti ttu
Annûtottulla gajavirutu Negrippattavum nerukalpůvu
Pàvåța tammel pakal vilakku
Kuittuvilakkume pandakkura
Frukutayum tannittundu Tôranam nálume tannittundu Ponnum pallakkume tannittundu Irippum nafappum orárppukaļum Panchavadyavum nadavediyum Chennâlaviteyirippânâyi Tandâyma31 stânavum tannittundu Vittayma stanavum undu nokku Kettum kisiyumorangn tattum ivakayokkêyum tannittundu Chêkôn pataviyum tannu nôkku Chêran perumalu tamburânum Nira parayum vilakkum vechchu
"And, bowing to him, "Addressed the Peruma! in person; "And thus ended the penalty30 attaching to
the Kammálans. "The honours attaching to us from that day, "Tiara for the forehead and floral decoration
for the crown of the head; "The cloth spread on the street to walk on,
and the lamp by day; "The lamp and the garland torch with the
brass handle. "Seven umbrellas too have been given, "Four triumphal archways, "The golden litter or palanquin, "Processions with great pomp. "The five kinds of music and firing of salutes. "To enable us to settle, "Headship has been conferred on us, "And we have full household rights. "The sigam fighting platform. "All these honours have been bestowed on us, "And the rank and status of chêkôrs, “Chêraman Perumal tambûrân "Placing a lighted lamp and a moasureful of
rice
Aditya chandrane sakshiyaki Avidunnu yâtra vanannippōnnu Kaguttenar nâțtilum vannevaru Naduväri kôlôttum vannarare Cheppu kudam onnu kârchchavechchu
“With the sun and moon as witnesses. “There they took leave of the tambûrân, "Reached Karuttenar, " Approached the naduvai of the place, - Presented him with a gift of one of the copper
vessels, "And the tambûrân accepted the gift, “And gave us Puttûram house and kalari, "Gave us on documentary pos.39sion, " While we were thus flourishing,
Kärchchayeduttallo tamburânum Puttûram vidum kalari tannu Attippêrûyi33 efutittannu Annane irikkunna kálattallo
80 Penalty for having left their home (Malabar) in a body and migrated to Ceylon. The song embodies the tradition according to which the Kamm Alans or artisans left the country fearing Perumal's wrath, as chey remonstrated aguinst his action in allowing a washerman to marry one of their daughters. The Perumal had considerable diffion'ty in persuading them to return home. The tradition is dowcribed at length on pages 106-114 of Thurston's Castes and Tribes of S. India, vol. VII.
The fact is that the artisaus came in the wake of or along with the Tiyar, for in their first settlement at Kodungallur (Cranzanore), the artisans (the five kinds of artificers). washerman, etc., are mentioned as having nettled at the samo place, along with the islanders or Tiyars, vide copper-plate grants of the Jews and Syrian Christians, published at pages cxviii to oxxii of Logan'a Malabar, vol. II.
31 The rank of tanddu or loaders of the community. The rank used to be conferred on cortain families by the local chieftains or rájns. The use of the word is now confined to 8. Malabar, where the tandan is the hereditary headman of the village. He used to be appointed by the senior Rånt of the Zamorin's family, or other local chieftain. He decides all caste disputes, and has & voice in all the social ceremonies of the caste. Ho controls thó castes which serve the Tiyars, such as the washerman and the barber. He also officiates 4t marriage of the artisan castos. The name is however practically unheard of in X. Malabar, though there is evidence to show that the tanddu was in fornier days in existence there also
$The light and the heaped measure of rice amo indispensable to all ceremoning in Mainhar. 33 Afripperdyi, complete purchase of freehold property.