Perike/ Perika: Deccan
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Perike
The section below is an excerpt from Government Press, Madras |
This word is defined, in the Madras Census Report, 1901, as meaning literally a gunny bag, and the Perikes are summed up as being a Telugu caste of gunny bag (goni) weavers, corresponding to the Janappans of the Tamil districts. Gunny bag is the popular and trading name of the coarse sacking and sacks made from the fibre of jute, much used in Indian trade. It is noted, in the Census Report, 1891, that the Perikes claim to be a separate caste, but they seem to be in reality a sub-division, and not a very exalted sub-division, of Balijas, being in fact identical with the Uppu (salt) Balijas. Their hereditary occupation is carrying salt, grain, etc., on bullocks and donkeys in perikes or packs. Perike is found among the sub-divisions of both Kavarai and Balija. Some of them, however, have attained considerable wealth, and now claim to be Kshatriyas, saying that they are the descendants of the Kshatriyas who ran away (piriki, a coward) from the persecution of Parasurāma. Others again say they are Kshatriyas who went into retirement, and made hills (giri) their abode (puri).” These Perike ‘Kshatriyas’ are known as Puragiri Kshatriya and Giri Rāzu. The Periki Balijas are described, in the Vizagapatam Manual, as chiefly carrying on cultivation and trade, and some of them are said to hold a high position at ‘the Presidency’ (Madras) and in the Vizagapatam district.
Perike women appear to have frequently committed sati (or suttee) on the death of their husbands in former days, and the names of those who thus sacrificed their lives are still held in reverence. A peculiar custom among the Perikes is the erection of big square structures (brindāvanam), in which a tulsi (Ocimum sanctum) is planted, on the spot where the ashes of the dead are buried after cremation. I am informed that a fine series of these structures may be seen at Chīpurapalli, close to Vizianagram. As a mark of respect to the dead, passers-by usually place a lac bangle or flowers thereon. The usual titles of the Perikes are Anna and Ayya, but some style themselves Rao (= Rāya, king) or Rāyadu, in reference to their alleged Kshatriya origin.
For the following note on the Perikes of the Godāvari district, I am indebted to Mr. F. R. Hemingway. “Like some of the Kammas, they claim to be of Kshatriya stock, and say they are of the lineage of Parasu Rāma, but were driven out by him for kidnapping his sister, while pretending to be gunny-bag weavers. They say that they were brought to this country by king Nala of the Mahābhārata, in gratitude for their having taken care of his wife Damayanti when he quitted her during his misfortunes. They support the begging caste of Varugu Bhattas, who, they say, supported them during their exile, and to whom they gave a sanad (deed of grant) authorising them to demand alms. These people go round the Perike houses for their dues every year. The Pīsu Perikes, who still weave gunny-bags, are said not to belong to the caste proper, members of which style themselves Rācha Perikes.
“The Perikes say that, like the Kōmatis, they have 101 gōtras. Their marriage ceremonies are peculiar. On the day of the wedding, the bride and bridegroom are made to fast, as also are three male relatives, whom they call suribhaktas. At the marriage, the couple sit on a gunny-bag, and another gunny, on which a representation of the god Mailar is drawn or painted, is spread between them. The same god is drawn on two pots, and these, and also a third pot, are filled with rice and dhāl (Cajanus indicus), which are cooked by two married women. The food is then offered to Mailar. Next, the three suribhaktas take 101 cotton threads, fasten them together, and tie seven knots in them. The bride and bridegroom are given cloths which have been partly immersed in water coloured with turmeric and chunam (lime), and the suribhaktas are fed with the rice and dhāl cooked in the pots. The couple are then taken round the village in procession, and, on their return, the knotted cotton threads are tied round the bride’s neck instead of a tāli.
Some Perikes style themselves Sāthu vāndlu, meaning a company of merchants or travellers.
Perike Muggula is the name of a class of Telugu mendicants and exorcists.
Periya (big).—Periya or Periyanān has been recorded as a sub-division of Kāralan, Kunnuvan, Ōcchan, and Pattanavan. The equivalent Peru or Perum occurs as a sub-division of the Malayālam Kollans and Vannāns and Perim of Kānikars. Periya illom is the name of an exogamous illom of Kānikars in Travancore.
Perika
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 |
Perika, Perike Shetti — a Telugu caste of gunny bag weavers. The word Perike is said to be derived from the Sanskrit word Vyaparak, meaning traders, but the literal meaning of the word is bullock-saddle.
Origin
Regarding their origin, the Perikas say that, originally, they were Kshatriyas, but when Parshuram commanded the slaughter of the Kshatriya race, they saved themselves from the avenging Brahmin by declaring that they were traders.
Internal Structure
There are no endogamous divisions of the caste, but they have 101 gotras or exogamous sections, of which some are given below : —
The suffix Malu is supposed to be a diminutive form of Mallanm, the patron deity of the caste. In addition to the gotras, the Perikas have family names which are almost all of the territorial type, but have no bearing upon the regulation of their marriages.
Sankerwaru. Achiwaru.
Balliwaru. Anakatwaru.
In marriages the Are tree {Bauhinia racemosa) is worshipped by keeping a burning lamp on one of its branches.
Marriage
A man can marry two sisters, but two brothers can- not marry two sisters. A niece may be taken in marriage. Exchange of daughters takes place. Outsiders are not admitted into the caste. Infant marriage is the rule of the caste. Girls are not dedicated to temples or gods. A girl is sent to her husband's house immediately after her marriage by performing the ' Vapagintha ' ceremony. Poly- gamy is permitted. The marriage ceremony is of the standard type and includes : — "Worship of Veeramalu, Idamma, Venkateah, Parthanam . and Vadibiyam. *
"Kotnam Gone Puja — or worship of a bag of flax'. "Ravireni Puja — or the worship' of mother earth.^ They light a sacred lamp in the house and keep it burning near the
consecrated earthen pots for 16 days. " Myalapoh, Lagnam, Kan^adan, Jiraguda, Padghattan, Nilapu- salu, Kankanam, Brahmamodi, Bashingam, Arundhatidarshan — Snake worship. Pasupota — On this day the bride and the bridegroom are seated each on a bullock-saddle, designated respectively Ganta and Tara and besmeared with turmeric and oil. " Lagnam : — The bridegroom ties round the bride's neck a small black bead necklace and puts rings on her toes. On the Nagoelly day the milk post ' Polu ' is circumambulated by the wedded pair. The boy is equipped with a net and a stick, which symbolise his occupation of catching fish and the girl has an earthen pot placed on her head. A well, or a tree, is approached, where the boy and the girl exchange betel-leaves and areca-nuts. Clothes are presented to the bridegroom by his father-in-law on the Nagvdly day. Previous to maniage, the Perikas observe the follow- ing ceremony : — Five married men observe a fast for a whole day. Next day a goni (the badge of the caste) is worshipped and the five men are feasted. The father of the bridegroom presents a turban and Rs. 5 to the bride's father. Widow marriage is not allowed, but divorce is permitted. A woman accused of adultery with a man of low caste is punished by expulsion, but with one of higher caste by a small fine. They follow the Hindu Law of inheritance. In default of male issue the property descends to females.
Religion
They are either Vibhutidharis or Namdharis. An Aradhi Brahmin is the Guru of Vibhutidharis. Men take spiritual advice from AradKi Brahmins. Mahadeva is their tutelary deity. Malr lanna and Veer'amalu are specially worshipped with offerings of sweet meats. Almost all the gods of the Hindu pantheon are worshipped. The Gonr* gunny bag, is regarded with special reverence and wor- shipped in marriages and at the Divali festival. Minor deities, as Pochamma and Ellamma, are also appeased. Implements of their occupation are worshipped op, the Ganesh Chouth (the 4th day of the light half of Bhadrap'ad). No priests are employed for the wor- ship of the gods, but the functions are discharged by the elder members of the household. Smartha Brahmins are called in at marriage and funeral ceremonies.
Disposal of the Dead
Married persons after death are burnt and the unmarried are buried, with the head pointing to the south. The ashes and bones of those burnt are thrown into a river. Mourn- ing is observed 19 days for the married, 5 days for the unmarried and 3 days for infants. On the 10th day after death the caste people are feasted. Jang<Jms, Brahmins and Satanis are offered rice in the name of the departed. Tirmanidharis perform the annual Sradha. A Satani Is called" in and offered food in the name of the dead, and water in which his feet have been washed is drunk by all the mem- bers of the household.
Occupation
The original occupation of the caste is that of making ropes and gunny bags. They were also engaged as grain and salt carriers. At the present day they have taken to trade and deal in cows and bullocks. Some of them are cultivators and contractors and deal in forest wood and mahua flowers. A few are small bank- ers, advancing money at interest.
Social Status
They do not wear the sacred thread. In social status they rank with Velmas, Kapus and Mutrasis. They eat from the hands of Komatis, Brahmins, Jangams, Satanis, Baljas and Kapus, while all castes, except Brahmins, Komatis and Balijas, eat 'kachi' from their hands. They eat the flesh of sheep, goat, wild pig, fowls, fish and indulge in strong drink. Women wear all kinds of ornaments except the ' pusti.'
