South Indian castes/ tribes (numerically small): C
This article is an excerpt from Government Press, Madras |
Canji (gruel).—An exogamous sept of Padma Sālē. Canji is the word “in use all over India for the water, in which rice has been boiled. It also forms the usual starch of Indian washermen.” As a sept of the Sālē weavers, it probably has reference to the gruel, or size, which is applied to the warp.
Chacchadi.—Haddis who do scavenging work, with whom other Haddis do not freely intermarry.
Chadarapu Dhompti (square space marriage offering).—A sub-division of Mādigas, who, at marriages, offer food to the god in a square space.
Chākala.—See Tsākala.
Chakkān.—Recorded in the Madras Census Report, 1901, as “a Malabar caste of oil-pressers (chakku means an oil-mill). Followers of this calling are known also as Vattakkādans in South Malabar, and as Vāniyans in North Malabar, but the former are the higher in social status, the Nāyars being polluted by the touch of the Vāniyans and Chakkāns, but not by that of the Vattakkādans. Chakkāns and Vāniyans may not enter Brāhman temples. Their customs and manners are similar to those of the Nāyars, who will not, however, [2]marry their women.” Chakkingalavan appears as a synonym for Chakkān
Challa.—Challa, meaning apparently eaters of refuse, occurs as a sub-division of Yānādis, and meaning buttermilk as an exogamous sept of Dēvānga. Challakūti, [15]meaning those who eat old or cold food, is an exogamous sept of Kāpus.
Chamar.—Nearly three hundred members of this Bengal caste of tanners and workers in leather were returned at the census, 1901. The equivalent Chamura occurs as the name of leather-workers from the Central Provinces.
Chandāla.—At the census, 1901, more than a thousand individuals returned themselves as Chandāla, which is defined as a generic term, meaning one who pollutes, to many low castes. “It is,” Surgeon-Major W. R. Cornish writes,11 “characteristic of the Brāhmanical intolerance of the compilers of the code that the origin of the lowest caste of all (the Chandāla) should be ascribed to the intercourse of a Sūdra man and a Brāhman woman, while the union of a Brāhman male with a Sūdra woman is said to have resulted in one of the highest of the mixed classes.” By Manu it was laid down that “the abode of the Chandāla and Swapaca must be out of the town. They must not have the use of entire vessels. Their sole wealth must be dogs and asses. Their clothes must be the mantles of the deceased; their dishes for food broken pots; their ornaments rusty iron; continually must they roam from place to place. Let no man who regards his duty, religious and civil, hold any intercourse with them, and let food be given to them in potsherds, but not by the hand of the giver.”
Chandra (moon).—An exogamous sept of Kuruba. The name Chandravamsapu (moon people) is taken by some Rāzus, who claim to be Kshatriyas, and to be descended from the lunar race of kings of the Mahābhārata
Chanipoyina (those who are dead).—An exogamous sept of Orugunta Kāpu.
Chāpa (mat).—An exogamous sept of Bōya.
Chappadi (insipid).—An exogamous sept of Jōgi.
Chapparam (a pandal or booth).—An exogamous sept of Dēvānga.
Chaptēgāra.—The Chaptēgāras or Cheptēgāras are described by Mr. H. A. Stuart as “carpenters who speak Konkani, and are believed to have come from the Konkan country. Caste affairs are managed by a Gurikar or headman, and the fines collected are paid to the Sringēri math. They wear the sacred thread, and employ Karādi Brāhmans as purōhits. Infant marriage is practised, and widow marriage is not permitted. The dead are burned if means allow; otherwise they are buried. They are Saivites, and worship Durga and Ganapati. They eat flesh and drink liquor. Their titles are Naik, Shenai, etc.” It is noted, in the Madras Census Report, 1901, that Sāraswat Brāhmans will eat with them. Choutagāra has been recorded as a corrupt form of Chaptēgāra.
Charamūrti.—A class of Jangams, who go from village to village preaching.
Chārōdi.—The Chārōdis have been described as “Canarese carpenters corresponding to the Konkani Cheptēgāras (or Chaptēgāras), and there is very little difference in the customs and manners of the two castes, except that the former employ Shivalli and Konkanashta Brāhmans instead of Karādis. Their title is Naika.” In the Madras Census Report, 1901, Mēsta is returned as a Konkani-speaking sub-caste of Chārōdi.
Chātla (winnow).—An exogamous sept of Mādiga. Chātla Dhompti occurs as a sub-division of Mādigas, who, at marriages, place the offering of food, etc. (dhompti), in a winnow.
Chatri.—Recorded, in the Madras Census Report, 1901, as an equivalent of Kshatriya. It occurs also as the name of an exogamous sept, meaning umbrella, of the Holeyas.
Chaturākshari.—A sub-division of Sātānis, who believe in the efficacy of the four syllables Rā-mā-nu-ja.
Chaudari.—Chaudari, or Chowdari, is recorded as a title of Haddi, Kālingi, and Kōmati.
Chāya (colour) Kurup.—A class of Kollans in Malabar, who work in lacquer.
Chēli (goat).—An exogamous sept of Bottada and Mattiya.
Chēlu (scorpion).—An exogamous sept of Kuruba. The equivalent thēlu occurs among the Padma Sālēs.
Chembian.—A name assumed by some Pallis or Vanniyans, who claim that they belong to the Chōla race, on the supposition that Chembinādu is a synonym for Chōla. Chembillam (chembu, copper).—An exogamous section of Mukkuvan.
Chempakarāman.—Recorded, in the Travancore Census Report, 1901, as an honorific title of Nāyars.
Chēnu (dry field).—An exogamous sept of Kamma.
Chēppāt.—A sub-division of Mārān.
Chērukāra—Recorded, in the Travancore Census Report, 1901, as a sub-division of Nāyar.
Cheruppu-katti (shoemaker).—Said to be a Malayālam synonym for Mādiga.
Chevvula (ears).—An exogamous sept of Bōya and Golla.
Cheyyakkāran.—A Malayālam form of the Canarese Servēgāra.
Chikala (broom).—An exogamous sept of Tōttiyan.
Chikka (small).—A sub-division of Kurni.
Chikkudu (Dolichos Lablab).—An exogamous sept of Mūka Dora.
Chilakala (paroquet).—An exogamous sept of Bōya, Kāpu and Yānādi.
Chilla (Strychnos potatorum: clearing-nut tree).—An exogamous sept of Kuruba, and sub-division of Tōttiyan.
Chīmala (ant).—An exogamous sept of Bōya and Tsākala.
Chimpiga (tailor).—Recorded, in the Madras Census Report, 1901, as a Lingāyat sub-caste of Rangāri. In the Mysore Census Report, 1901, Darjis are classified as follows:—”(1) Darji, Chippiga, or Namdev; (2) Rangāre.” The first three, known by the collective name of Darji, are professional tailors, while the Rangāres are also dyers and calico printers.
Chimpiri (rags).—An exogamous sept of Bōya. Chinērigādu.—A class of mendicants connected with the Padma Sālēs. (See Dēvānga.)
Chinda.—Recorded, in the Madras Census Report, 1901, as a small caste of Oriya cultivators in Ganjam and Vizagapatam.
Chinna (little).—A sub-division of Bōya, Kunnuvan, Konda Dora, Pattanavan, and Pattapu, and an exogamous sept of Māla. Chinna, chinnam, and chinnada, denoting gold, occur as exogamous septs of Kuruba, Padma Sālē, Toreya, and Vakkaliga.
Chintala (tamarind: Tamarindus Indica).—An exogamous sept of Ghāsi, Golla, Mādiga, and Māla. Chintyakula, or tamarind sept, occurs among the Kōmatis; chintaginjala (tamarind seeds) as an exogamous sept of Padma Sālēs, and of Panta Reddis, who may not touch or use the seeds; and Chintakai or Chintakayala (tamarind fruit) as an exogamous sept of Bōyas and Devāngas.
Chirla (woman’s cloth).—An exogamous sept of Kamma.
Chitikan.—A synonym of Mārān, indicating one whose occupation relates to the funeral pyre. A Chitikan, for example, performs the funeral rites for the Mūssads.
Chiti Karnam. —A name of the Oriya Karnam caste. A vulgar form of Sresta Karnam (Sreshto Korono).
Chitravaliar.—A synonym of Alavan.
Chōgan.—See Izhava.
Chōlapuram or Shōlavaram.—A sub-division of Chetti.
Chōliya Pattar.—A name for Pattar Brāhmans in Malabar.
Chondi.—See Sondi.
Chōutagāra.—A corrupt form of Chaptēgāra.
Chōvatton.—Priests of Mūttans and Tarakans.
Chuditiya.—See Kevuto.
Chunam (lime).—A sub-division of Toreyas, who are manufacturers of lime. Chunam, made from calcined shells, limestone, etc., is largely used for building purposes, and the chunam plaster of Madras has been long celebrated for its marble-like polish. Chunam is also chewed with betel.
Chuvano.—Recorded, in the Madras Census Report, 1901, as a small Oriya cultivating caste, supposed to be of Kshatriya parentage.
References
1 Yule and Burnell. Hobson-Jobson.
2 Manual of the North Arcot district.
3 The bark of the āvaram plant is one of the most valuable Indian tanning agents.
4 Voyage to the East Indies, 1774 and 1781.
5 Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies.
6 Manual of the Tanjore district, 1883.
7 Manual of the Madura district. 8 Monograph of Tanning and Working in Leather, 1904.
9 Pratilōma, as opposed to an anuloma union, is the marriage of a female of a higher caste with a man of a lower one.
10 Madras Census Report, 1901.
11 Madras Census Report, 1871. 12 Madras Police Gazette, 1902. 13 I. No. 4. 1908, Vellore. 14 Criminal Tribes of India, No. III, 1907. 15 Criminal Classes in the Bombay Presidency.
16 Manual of the South Canara district. 17 Manual of the South Canara district.
18 Journal Asiatic Society, XXV, 1857.
19 Journey through Mysore, Canara, and Malabar.
20 Journal Royal Asiatic Society, VIII, 1846.
21 Fauna, British India, Mammalia.
22 Cassia auriculata.
23 Marriage chaplet worn on the forehead.
24 Wrist-threads dyed with turmeric.
25 Madras Census Report, 1891.
26 Monograph, Eth. Survey of Cochin, No. 6, 1906.
27 Manual of Malabar.
28 Calcutta Review, 1900.
29 Madras Police Report, 1904.
30 Gazetteer of the Malabar district.
31 Malabar and its Folk, 1900.
32 Karunakara Menon, Madras Mus. Bull., V. 2, 1906.
33 Madras Mail, 1908.
34 S. Appadorai Iyer.
35 Calcutta Review, 1900.
36 One fanam = four annas eight pies.
37 Madras Mail, 1895.
38 Ind. Ant., VIII, 1879.
39 Native Life in Travancore.
40 A mulikka is the collective name for a present of five betel leaves, one areca nut, and two tobacco leaves. 41 Gazetteer of the Trichinopoly district.
42 Rev. H. Jensen, Classified Collection of Tamil Proverbs, 1897.
43 Madras Mail, 1904.
44 Gazetteer of the Nilgiris.