Joshi-Waghes & Murlis: Deccan
Joshi-Waghes & Murlis
This article is an extract from THE CASTES AND TRIBES OF H. E. H. THE NIZAM'S DOMINIONS BY SYED SIRAJ UL HASSAN Of Merton College, Oxford, Trinity College, Dublin, and Middle Temple, London. One of the Judges of H. E. H. the Nizam's High Court of Judicature : Lately Director of Public Instruction. BOMBAY THE TlMES PRESS 1920 Indpaedia is an archive. It neither agrees nor disagrees |
Childless Marathas, under vows for children, dedicate their first- bom, whether a boy or a girl, to Khandoba, an incarnation of Shiva, whose chief shrines are at Jejuri, Malegaon and Khanapur near Bidar. The boys, on being dedicated, are invested with a bag ot deer-hide and styled Waghes, from wag, meaning 'a tiger'. They lead the life of wandering minstrels, moving about in bands and sing- ing songs and ballads in praise of Khandoba. Occasionally, they attend on Murlis. Those who have no liking for music take to culti- vation, or follow some other calling.
The dedicated girls, when seven years old, are married to Khandoba and receive the name of Muilis (lit. flutes). On Somavati, or the full moon falling on a Monday in Magh (February) or Chaita (March), the girl is taken to the god's temple and made to stand before the idol. She is dressed in green and has her body smeared with turmeric, her forehead with kunkum (red aniline) and her head adorned with garlands of flowers. A cloth is held between her and the idol, lucky verses are chanted by the temple gurava (priest) and turmeric powder (bhandara) is sprinkled over their heads. A necklace of nine cowries is tied round the girl's neck and she is greeted as Khandoba's wife. The priest receives Rs. 1-4-0 as his fee. Although enjoined, by the rules, to live a celibate life, the Murlis are tfefitly allowed to associate themselves as prostitutes with members of their own or of higher castes. Some of them stay at Jejurl, but others, attended by Waghes, wander about making a livelihood by begging alms and singing songs. Some of them are skilful musicians and are often seen dancing to music jind, at the same time, picking up with their foreheads cowrie shells scattered on the ground. The Murlis are prohibited from wearing toe-rings, anklets or, the nose-ring. Their social disputes are settled by the gurava at Jejuri.
Waghes are allowed to marry the girls of the caste into which the illegitimate children of Murlis have formed themselves. They are, however, prohibited, on pain of social degradation, from cohabit- ing with Murlis. The marriage ceremony corresponds to that in use among the Maratha Kunbis.
In matters of inheritance, they follow their own customs. The sons of Waghes and Murlis inherit the property of their parents. Failing sons, the daughters take the property.
Waghes and Murlis are buried in a sitting posture. A Jangam officiates at their funeral ceremonies and receives presents on the third day after death. On the same day, a funeral feast is provided for the members of the sect.
Socially, they rank below the Maratha Kunbis, from whose hands they eat cooked food. They eat the flesh of sheep, goats, deer, hare and all kinds of fish and drink spirituous and fermented liquors, but do not eat the leavings of any caste.
Waghes and Murlis pay their devotion exclusively to Khandoba, whom they worship, with great pomp and circumstance, on the Sai holiday, the 6th of the bright half of Margashirsha (December). On this occasion, the Murlis are said to be possessed by the god and endowed with prophetic power. The Maratha Murlis are identical with the Joginis of the Carnatic and the Basavis of the Telaga people.
