South Indian castes/ tribes (numerically small): D
This article is an excerpt from Government Press, Madras |
Dāindla —The name, denoting those who hid or ran away, of a sub-division of Māla.
Daivampati —Recorded in the Travancore Census Report, 1901, as a caste included among Ambalavāsis, and a sub-division of Nāyar.
Dakkala —Dakkala or Dakkali is the name of a class of mendicants who beg from Mādigas only. In the Kurnool district they are said to have divided the district with the Mushtis, and not to beg except within their own limits. The following story is told as regards the origin of the Dakkalas. A smith was asked to make a bottu (marriage badge) for Siva’s wedding, and for this purpose required bellows, fire-pot, hammer, etc. Jāmbuvadu called his eldest son, and prepared the various implements from sundry parts of the body, except the backbone. Being highly pleased at this, the gods endowed the backbone with life, and the son went to his father Jāmbuvadu, who failed to recognise him, and refused to admit him. He was told that he must live as a beggar attached to the Mādigas, and was called Dakkala because he was brought to life from a vertebral column (dakka).
The Dakkalas wander from place to place. They may not enter Mādiga houses, outside which meals are given to them by males only, as females are not allowed to serve them. Mādiga women may not tread on the footsteps of the Dakkalas.
Dakku (fear).—An exogamous sept of Māla.
Dammula —Recorded, in the Madras Census Report, 1901, as a small class of Telugu beggars, and priests in the temples of village goddesses.
Dandi (a staff).—A house name of Korava.
Dandu (army).—A sub-division of Īdiga, and an exogamous sept of Bōya and Kāpu. It has been suggested that the name is not Dandu but Dandē, meaning pole, in reference to the apparatus used by the Īdigas in climbing palm trees for the extraction of toddy. Dandu Agasa, indicating army washerman, occurs as a name for some Marātha Dhōbis in Mysore, whose forefathers probably accompanied armies in times of war.
Dāra (stream of water).—An exogamous sept of Māla. Darabala —Taken, in the Madras Census Report, 1901, as a sub-caste of Māla. It is a common house-name among many Telugu castes. Dārāla (thread).—An exogamous sept of Mādiga.
Darzi .—Darzi or Darjī is a Muhammadan occupational term, meaning tailor. “The east,” it has been said, “now sews by machinery. The name of Singer is known from the Mediterranean to the Pacific. In every bazaar in India one may see men—they are always men, not women—in turban or Mussalman cap, crouching over the needle-plate, and working the pedals.” The value of the imports of sewing-machines rose, in British India, from Rs. 5,91,046 in 1901–02 to Rs. 10,06,625 in 1904–05.
Dās .—The title of Jain immigrants from Northern India, most of whom are established as merchants, and also of the Mahants of the Tirumala (Tirupati) temple, e.g., Balarām Dās, Bhagavān Dās.
Dāsi (servant).—The name for a non-Brāhman female attendant upon a Nambūtiri Brāhman woman, which should not, as sometimes happens, be confused with Dēva-dāsi, (q.v.), which has quite another significance.
Dayyālakulam (devil’s family).—Recorded, at times of census, as a sub-caste of Gollas, who are wrestlers and acrobats.
Dedingi .—Recorded as a sub-division of Poroja.
Dēra .—Dēra, Dēndra, and Dēvara occur as synonyms of Dēvānga.
Dēsa .—A sub-division of Balija. Dēsadhipati, denoting ruler of a country, is a name assumed by some Janappans, who say that they are Balijas.
Dēsikar .—A sub-division and title of Pandāram.
Dēsūr .—The name of a sub-division of Kāpu, which is either territorial, or possibly derived from dēha, body, and sūra, valour.
Dēva .—Dēva or Dēvara, meaning God, has been recorded as a synonym of Dēvānga and Gāniga or Gāndla and a sept of Mogēr, and Dēva Telikulakali as a name for those who express and sell oils in the Vizagapatam district. Dēvara occurs further as a title of the Jangams. At the Madras Census, 1901, Dēvar was returned as the name of Telugu merchants from Pondicherry trading in glassware. Dēvar is also the title of Ōcchans, who are priests at temples of village deities. The title of Maravans is Dēvan or Tēvan. In South Canara, the Halepaiks (toddy-drawers) are known as Dēvaru Makkalu (God’s children), which, it has been suggested, is possibly a corruption of Tīvaru or Dīvaru Makkalu, meaning children of the islanders, in reference to their supposed descent from early immigrants from the island of Ceylon.
Dēvala (belonging to God).—An exogamous sept of Oddē. The equivalent Dēvali has been recorded as a sub-caste of Dēvādiga, and Dēvalyal as a division of the Todas.43 A division of the Irulas of the Nīlgiris, settled near the village of Dēvāla, is known by that name.
Dēvēndra —A name assumed by some Pallans, who claim to be descended from the king of the gods (dēvas).
Dhabba (split bamboo).—Dhabba or Dhabbai is the name of a sub-division of Koravas, who split bamboos, and make various articles therefrom.
Dhakkado —A small mixed class of Oriya cultivators, concerning whom there is a proverb that a Dhakkado does not know his father. They are described, in the Census Report, 1891, as “a caste of cultivators found in the Jeypore agency tracts. They are said to be the offspring of a Brāhman and a Sūdra girl, and, though living on the hills, they are not an uncivilised hill tribe. Some prepare and sell the sacred thread, others are confectioners. They wear the sacred thread, and do not drink water from the hands of any except Brāhmans. Girls are married before puberty, and widow marriage is practiced. They are flesh-eaters, and their dead are usually buried.”
In a note on the Dhakkados, Mr. C. Hayavadana Rao writes that “the illegitimate descendant of a Brāhman and a hill woman of the non-polluting castes is said to be known as a Dhakkado. The Dhakkados assume Brāhmanical names, but, as regards marriages, funerals, etc., follow the customs of their mother’s caste. Her caste people intermarry with her children. A Dhakkado usually follows the occupation of his mother’s caste. Thus one whose mother is a Kevuto follows the calling of fishing or plying boats on rivers, one whose mother is a Bhumia is an agriculturist, and so on.”
Dhakūr —Stated, in the Manual of the Vizagapatam district, to be illegitimate children of Brāhmans, who wear the paieta (sacred thread).
Dhanapāla .—A sub-division of Gollas, who guard treasure while it is in transit.
Dhangar —Dhangar, or Donigar, is recorded, in the Madras Census Report, 1901, as a Marāthi caste of shepherds and cattle-breeders. I gather, from a note45 on the Dhangars of the Kanara district in the Bombay Presidency, that “the word Dhangar is generally derived from the Sanskrit dhenu, a cow. Their home speech is Marāthi, but they can speak Kanarese. They keep a special breed of cows and buffaloes, known as Dhangar mhasis and Dhangar gāis which are the largest cattle in Kanara. Many of Shivāji’s infantry were Sātāra Dhangars.”
Dhaniāla (coriander).—An exogamous sept of Kamma. Dhaniāla Jāti, or coriander caste, is an opprobrious name applied to Kōmatis, indicating that, in business transactions, they must be crushed as coriander fruits are crushed before the seed is sown.
Dhāre .—An exogamous sept of Kuruba. In the Canara country, the essential and binding part of the marriage ceremony is called dhāre (see Bant).
Dharmarāja .—An exogamous sept of the Irulas of North Arcot. Dharmarāja was the eldest of the five Pāndavas, the heroes of the Mahābhāratha.
Dhippo (light).—An exogamous sept of Bhondāri. The members thereof may not blow out lights, or extinguish them in any other way. They will not light lamps without being madi, i.e., wearing silk cloths, or cloths washed and dried after bathing.
Dhoddi —Dhoddi, meaning a court or back-yard, cattle-pen, or sheep-fold, has been recorded as an exogamous sept of Dēvānga, Koppala Velama, Kama Sālē, Māla, and Yānādi.
Dhoddiyan name given by Tamilians to Jōgis.
Dhollo —Dhollo is recorded in the Madras Census Report, 1901, as the same as Doluva. A correspondent informs me that Dhollo is said to be different from Doluva.
Dhōma (gnat or mosquito).—An exogamous sept of Māla.
Dhondapu (Cephalandra indica).—An exogamous sept of Dēvānga. The fruit is one of the commonest of native vegetables, and cooked in curries.
Dhōni (boat).—An exogamous sept of Mīla and Oruganti Kāpu. In a paper on the native vessels of South India by Mr. Edge, published in the Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society, the dhōni is described as “a vessel of ark-like form, about 70 feet long, 20 feet broad, and 11 feet deep, with a flat bottom or keel part, which at the broadest place is 7 feet. “The whole equipment of these rude vessels, as well as their construction, is the most coarse and unseaworthy that I have ever seen.” The dhōni, with masts, is represented in the ancient lead and copper coinage of Southern India.
Dhor .—In the Madras Census Report, 1901, a few (164) individuals were returned as “Dhēr, a low caste of Marāthi leather workers.” They were, I gather from the Bombay Gazetteer, Dhors or tanners who dwell in various parts of the Bombay Presidency, and whose home speech, names and surnames seem to show that they have come from the Marātha country.
Dhūdala (calves).—An exogamous sept of Thūmati Golla.
Dhudho (milk).—A sept of Omanaito.
Dhuggāni (money).—An exogamous sept of Dēvānga.
Dhūliya —Dhūliya or Dūlia is a small class of Oriya cultivators, some of whom wear the sacred thread, and employ Boishnobs as their priests. Marriage before puberty is not compulsory, and widows can remarry. They eat flesh. The dead are cremated. The name is said to be derived from dhuli, dust, with which those who work in the fields are covered. Dhūliya also means carriers of dhulis (dhoolies), which are a form of palanquin.
Didāvi —A sub-division of Poroja.
Digambara (space-clad or sky-clad, i.e., nude).—One of the two main divisions of the Jains. The Digambaras are said to “regard absolute nudity as the indispensable sign of holiness, though the advance of civilisation has compelled them to depart from the practice of their theory.”
Dīvar —See Dēva.
Diyāsi .—An exogamous sept of Dandāsi. The members thereof show special reverence for the sun, and cloths, mokkutos (forehead chaplets), garlands, and other articles to be used by the bride and bridegroom at a wedding are placed outside the house, so that they may be exposed to it.
Dolaiya .—A title of Doluva and Odia.
Dolobēhara .—The name of headmen or their assistants among many Oriya castes. In some cases, e.g., among the Haddis, the name is used as a title by families, members of which are headmen.
Dondia .—A title of Gaudo.
Donga Oddē .—The name for Oddēs who practice thieving as a profession.
Dongayato —A sub-division of Gaudo.
Dongrudiya —A sub-division of Māli.
Dora .—Dora, meaning lord, has been returned as the title of numerous classes, which include Bōya, Ekāri, Jātāpu, Konda Dora, Mutrācha, Patra, Telaga, Velama, and Yānāti. The hill Kois or Koyis of the Godāvari district are known as Koi Dora or Doralu (lords). I am told that, in some parts of the Telugu country, if one hears a native referred to as Dora, he will generally turn out to be a Velama; and that there is the following gradation in the social scale:— • Velama Dora = Velama Esquire.
• Kamma Vāru = Mr. Kamma.
• Kapu = Plain Kāpu, without an honorific suffix.
In Southern India, Dorai or Durai (Master) is the equivalent of the northern Sāhib, and Dorasāni (Mistress) of Memsāhib. It is noted by Sir A. J. Arbuthnot that “the appellation by which Sir Thomas Munro was most commonly known in the Ceded districts was that of Colonel Dora. And to this day it is considered a sufficient answer to enquiries regarding the reason for any Revenue Rule, that it was laid down by the Colonel Dora.” Dorabidda, or children of chiefs, is the name by which Bōyas, who claim to be descended from Poligars (feudal chiefs) call themselves.
Drāvida —A sub-division of Kamsala. South Indian Brāhmans are called Drāvidas.
Dūbaduba .—Recorded, at times of census, as an Oriya form of Budubudukala.
Duddu (money).—An exogamous sept of Māla.
Dūdi —A title of Kurumos, who officiate as priests at the temples of village deities.
Dūdi (cotton) Balija.—A name for traders in cotton in the Telugu country, and an occupational sub-division of Kōmati.
Durga (fort).—A gōtra of Kurni.
Dūtan —Recorded, in the Travancore Census Report, as a synonym of Āri.
Dyavana (tortoise).—An exogamous sept of Mogēr.
References
1 Occasional Essays on Native South Indian Life.
2 The fruits of several species of Momordica are eaten by Natives.
3 Sidney Low. A Vision of India, 1906.
4 Manual of the North Arcot district.
5 Gazetteer of the Anantapur district.
6 Manual of the Tanjore district.
7 Calcutta Review, 1905.
8 Madras Mail, 1901.
9 John Company, a corruption of Company Jehān, a title of the English East India Company.
10 Manual of the South Canara district.
11 South Indian Inscriptions, Vol. II, part 3, p. 259.
12 Journey from Madras through Mysore, Canara and Malabar, 1807.
13 Elliott. History of India.
14 Brahmanism and Hinduism.
15 Evolution of Hinduism, 1903.
16 J. T. Wheeler. Madras in the Olden Time.
17 Notes from a Diary, 1881—86.
18 J. Michaud. Histoire des Progrès et de la Chûlte de l’Empire de Mysore, sons les Règnes d’Hyder-Aly et Tippoo Saib.
19 An Indian Olio.
20 Manual of the Bellary district.
21 Cyclopædia of India.
22 Journ. Anth. Soc., Bombay, Vol. II.
23 Journ. Anth. Soc., Bombay, 1891.
24 Manual of the North Arcot district.
25 Gazetteer of the Godāvari district.
26 See also collection of decisions on the law of succession, maintenance, etc., applicable to dancing-girls and their issues. C. Ramachendrier, Madras, 1892.
27 Indian Law Reports, Madras Series, XXIII, 1900.
28 Ibid., Vol. V, 1869–70.
29 Ibid., Vol. I, 1876–78.
30 Ibid., Vol. VI, 1883.
31 Ibid., Vol. I, 1876–78.
32 Ibid., Vol. I, 1876–78.
33 Ibid., Vol. XIX, 1896.
34 Ibid., Vol. XIII, 1890.
35 Ibid., Vol. XIV, 1891.
36 Ibid., Vol. XV, 1892.
37 Ganga Bai v. Anant. 13 Bom., 690.
38 Hindu Law and Usage.
39 Macnaghten, Digest.
40 Classified Collection of Tamil Proverbs, 1897.
41 J. S. F. Mackenzie. Ind. Ant., IV, 1875.
42 Madras Census Report, 1891; Manual of the South Canara district.
43 Breeks. Account of the Primitive Tribes and Monuments of the Nilgiris.
44 Section III, Inhabitants. Madras Government Press, 1907.
45 Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency, XV, Part I, 1883.
46 Yule and Burnell, Hobson-Jobson.
47 Tropical Diseases.
48 Madras Census Report, 1901.
49 Rev. H. Jensen. Classified Collection of Tamil Proverbs, 1897.
50 Madras Census Report, 1891.
51 G. Bühler on the Indian Sect of the Jainas, 1903.
52 Madras Census Report, 1891.
53 Man., 1901.
54 Jeypore, Breklum, 1901.
55 Gazetteer of the Vizagapatam district.
56 Man., 1902.
57 Ibid.
58 Money-lender.
59 Madras Census Report, 1891; Manual of the North Arcot district.
60 Notes on the Criminal Classes of the Madras Presidency.
61 Gazetteer of the South Arcot district.
62 M. Paupa Rao Naidu. History of Railway Thieves. 3rd Edition, 1904.
63 Calcutta Review, 1905.
64 Memoir of Sir Thomas Munro.
65 Manual of the North Arcot district; Madras Census Report, 1891.
66 Madras Census Report, 1901.
