DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.2374#0249
MYSORE, CANARA, AND MALABAR.
241
on in place of a duty, of four or five Fanams a year, that was for- CHAPTER
merly levied on every loom : by the weavers it is considered as k^^^j
heavier. 0ct'21'
The weavers called here Jadar are the same with those who in Jadar, acast
the country above the Ghats are called Telinga Devangas, and inter-
marry with those settled in Karndta. They still retain the Telinga
language. The greater part of those here wear the Linga. Some
of them, however, are followers of the Brahmans, and worship
Vishnu; but this difference in religious opinion produces no sepa-
ration of cast, and the two parties can eat together and intermarry.
Those who wear the Linga have a Guru, called Seranga DSvaru,
whose Mat am is at Cumbu Conu, in Tanjore. Once in four or five
years this Guru sends his agents to receive a small contribution.
When he comes in person, he bestows Upadesa. Under the Guru
are village Jangamas, who are married men holding their office by
hereditary right, and subsisting upon charity, which they receive
at all feasts and ceremonies. These Jangamas, and the Brahmans,
are by the Jadar considered as being equally portions of Iswara.
The Panchanga, or village astrologer, reads Mantrams at their mar-
riages, births, and fasts in commemoration of their deceased pa-
rents, both monthly and annual. The whole of the Jadar give
Dhana to the Brahmans, who inform them that their sins are thereby
expiated. The hereditary chiefs of the Jadar are called Shittigar ;
these, with the assistance of a council, settle all disputes, and for-
merly used to levy weighty fines on all those who transgressed the
rules of cast; but this authority has lately been curtailed. They
still, however, continue to excommunicate transgressors. They are
allowed to eat fowls, mutton, and the like; but ought not to drink
spirituous liquors. They bury the dead, and are allowed a plurality
of wives. The women continue to be marriageable after the age of
puberty, and widows may take a second husband without disgrace.
When a man commits adultery with another person's wife, and is
discovered, he takes her to live with him as a kind of concubine,
Vol. II. I i
241
on in place of a duty, of four or five Fanams a year, that was for- CHAPTER
merly levied on every loom : by the weavers it is considered as k^^^j
heavier. 0ct'21'
The weavers called here Jadar are the same with those who in Jadar, acast
the country above the Ghats are called Telinga Devangas, and inter-
marry with those settled in Karndta. They still retain the Telinga
language. The greater part of those here wear the Linga. Some
of them, however, are followers of the Brahmans, and worship
Vishnu; but this difference in religious opinion produces no sepa-
ration of cast, and the two parties can eat together and intermarry.
Those who wear the Linga have a Guru, called Seranga DSvaru,
whose Mat am is at Cumbu Conu, in Tanjore. Once in four or five
years this Guru sends his agents to receive a small contribution.
When he comes in person, he bestows Upadesa. Under the Guru
are village Jangamas, who are married men holding their office by
hereditary right, and subsisting upon charity, which they receive
at all feasts and ceremonies. These Jangamas, and the Brahmans,
are by the Jadar considered as being equally portions of Iswara.
The Panchanga, or village astrologer, reads Mantrams at their mar-
riages, births, and fasts in commemoration of their deceased pa-
rents, both monthly and annual. The whole of the Jadar give
Dhana to the Brahmans, who inform them that their sins are thereby
expiated. The hereditary chiefs of the Jadar are called Shittigar ;
these, with the assistance of a council, settle all disputes, and for-
merly used to levy weighty fines on all those who transgressed the
rules of cast; but this authority has lately been curtailed. They
still, however, continue to excommunicate transgressors. They are
allowed to eat fowls, mutton, and the like; but ought not to drink
spirituous liquors. They bury the dead, and are allowed a plurality
of wives. The women continue to be marriageable after the age of
puberty, and widows may take a second husband without disgrace.
When a man commits adultery with another person's wife, and is
discovered, he takes her to live with him as a kind of concubine,
Vol. II. I i