CHAPTER III

THE HISTORY DEVANGAS -

A l t h o u g h Devanga i s o n e o f t h e o l d e s t c a s t e s i n

t h e I n d i a n c a s t e s y s t e m , much is n o t known a b o u t i t s

h i s t o r i c i t y . C l t i n g some r e f e r e n c e s t o t h e w e a v i n g

p r o f e s s i o n i n g e n e r a l and Devanga c a s t e / c o m m u n i t y i n

p a r t i c u l a r i n t h e Veda. U p a n i s h e d , P u r a n a e t c . ~t is

a r g u e d t h a t t h e c a s t e o r i g i n a t e d i n t h e p r e - v e d i c

p e r i o d . T h e r e is a l m o s t o n l y o n e s o u r c e t o e x p l a i n t h e

o r i g i n a n d Deve lopment o f t h e Devanga c a s t e i n t h e f o u r

y u g a a a n d t h a t s o u r c e i s c a l l e d Davanga P u r a n a . I t s

Kannada a n d T e l u g u v e r s i o n s a r e p r i n t e d o n l y a b o u t 80

y e a r s a g o b u t t h e o r a l t : r a d l t l o n u T t h e D e v a n c j a ~

b e l i e v e s t h a t t h e o r i g i n a l Devanga P u r a n a i s p a r t o f t h e

Brahmanda p u r a n a which was o r i g i n a l l y c o m p i l e d /composed

by t h e g r e a t s a g e V e d a v y a s a . T h i n g s b e i n g s o u n c l e a r ,

a n e f f o r t w i l l b e made i n t h i s c h a p t e r t o t r a c e t h e

o r i g i n o f t h e Devangas ds i n d i c a t e d i n t h e Devanga

P u r a n a , t o e x p l a i n t h e g r o w t h o f vevdnga-communi ty by

e x p a n d i n g i t s e l f i n t o d i f f e r e n t . s e c t i o n s , s e p t s a n d

G o t r a s a n d t o n a r r a t e r n b r i e f t h e e f f o r t s o f t h e

Devangas made i n r e c e n t y r a 1 - s t o establish a s e p a r a t e

Gurumatha e x c l u s i v e l y f o r t h e m s e l v e s . T h i s c h a p t e r ,

a c c o r d i n g l y i s d i v i d e d i n t o t h r e e p a r t s a n d e a c h p a r t

~ l l s c u s s e s e a c h one (,r l l i r s c r t h r e e ;is~t~.c.l !; or t h e I f i s t o r y

o f Devar ig i~s .

Part 1 -.

The Origin of the Devanqas - According to the Devanga Purana the Devangamata

in Kaliygua originated from one great sage by name

Devala Maharshi. This Devala Maharshi incarnated seven

times to propagate the philosophy and the profession of

Devangas. It is he who manufactured the'thread and the

cloth for the first time in the world. He only started

the tradition of wearing the three stringed thread on

the body called Yajnopaveeta and in that sense has been

the originator of all Brahminical rituals. Devanga not

only created a band of weavers but also a group of

dyers. From him all the weaving activities of this

earth started. The present day Devangas claim that

Devala/Devanga is their originator, Ramalingeshvara/

Chowdeshvari is their Kuladevata, and Devanga Purana is

their religious scripture.

The Oriqin of Devala:

The Devanga Purana consists of two parts. Part-I

is headed as "Moolastambana". It narrates in brief how

the threads and clothes were manufactured in the three

previous yugas of the Hindu Calender namely Kritayuga,

Tretayuga Yuga and Dwapara Yuga. Part I1 of the Purana

consists of the text or the subject matter of the

Devanga Purana. It is contained in the 29 chapters all

of whom describe how the Devala Rishl was originated,

how h e i n c a r n a t e d s e v e n t imes , what a l l h e d i d and how

h i s p e d i g r e e expanded e t c . e t c .

I n t h e b e g i n n i n g o f t;he c r e a t i o n , gods and men

were naked and t h e y were l e a d l n g a n a t u r a l l i f e d e v o i d

o f c l o t h s j u s t l i k e t h e a n i m a l s and b i r d s . But soon t h e y

began t o f e e l ashamed and a l s o began t o f a c e p rob l ems

d u e t o h e a t , wind and c o l d . A s s u c h . o n e d a y t h e y

a p p r o a c h e d Lord Mahadeva a n d e x p l a i n e d t o him t h e i r

p rob lem. A t t h e i r i n s t a n c e , Mahadeva c r e a t e d Devpla

f rom h i s own C h i j y o t i a n d a s k e d him t o m a n u f a c t u r e t h e

t h r e a d a n d t h e c l o t h s f o r t h e u s e o f Gods and men. He

a l s o i n d i c a t e d t o Deva l a f r o m where t o g e t f i b r e s and

how t o p r o c e e d w i t h h i s work. Me t h e n h i n t e d t o him

t h a t a f t e r c o m p l e t i n g h i s work , h e s h o u l d r e t u r n t o

him a t t h e end o f t h e Yuga. A c c o r d i n g l y i n t h e

b e g i n n i n g o f K r i t a y u g a Deva la s t a r t e d h i s work and

c o n c l u d e d it a t t h e end o f t h a t Yuga. S i m i l a r t h i n g

r e p e a t e d i n K r i t a y u g a and Dwapara Yuga a s w e l l . ( v i d e

Vedokta Moolastarnbana p a r t o f t h e Devanga P u r a n a ) .

When t h e K a l i Yuga s t a r t e d , o n c e a 9 a l n t h e Gods

a n d Men found t h e m s e l v e s nakcd and t h e y began t o f e e l

ashamed. When t h i s p rob l em o f c l o t h l e s s n e s s assumed

p r o p o r t i o n s and became a c c u t e , o n e d a y Lord Brahma went

t o Lord Mahadeva and e x p l a i n e d t o him t h e p rob lem o f

c l o t h l e s s n e s s o f Gods and Men. Brahma t o l d Mahadeva t h a t

a l t h o u g h he h i m s e l f (Brahrna) had c r e a t e d t h e whole of

this world, he was unable to create a weaver of cloths.

At the time of the creation of the world there was

neither the necessity of cloths nor was the raw material

for cloths available. And now he could not create a

weaver because such a person had attained Sayujya in the

previous Yuga with Shiva only. As such, under the

circumstances only Isvara could do some thing (and none

others) to solve the problem of Gods and Men. He

requested Isvara to be kind enough to do some thing in

this matter. This argument, cum-request of Brahma

appealed to Lord Mahadeva who became pleased by it and

agreed to do some thing to solve that problem. Then

Lord Mahadeva went into'great Samadhi (transcendental

deep meditation) and created a Jyoti which appeared in

the form of a man before him and prostrated before him.

Then Lord Mahadeva called that person as "Devala"

and assigned to him the responsibility of manufacturing

the thread and the cloths for the Gods and Men.

Mahadeva also indicated to Devala that he will have to

incarnate seven times and after his work is completed he

could return to Mahadeva and this is how, the originator

of the Devanga matha. Devala Rishi was born.

Devala is also known by yet another name

"Devanga". Hc is called Devala because he is created at

the request of Gods/Goddesses. He is described as

Devanga because he is born from the Anga/Limb of the

God, It is he who helped Gods and Men to cover their

bodies and limbs by t-,hc cloth. He is called Devanga in

this sense as well.

Devala/Devanga, then went ahead with his

assignment. He obtained fibres from the cotton trees

and manufactured threads from them. He gave these

thread with due mantropadesha of Gayatri to Brahmins who

in their turn passed it on to Kshatriyas and they in

turn to Vaishyas. When in this way Devala distributed

threads with duemantropadesa it became a tradition. It

ia with the help of theae threads only that all the

Brahminical rites and rituala are performed even today.

From this point of view Devala may be considered as the

starter of a Brahminical tradition of wearing

Ya jnopaveeta.

When Devala/Devanga started manufacturing the

threads, it did not take much time for him to weave

cloths from those threada. He started with weaving

simple cloths but soon mastered the art of manufacturing

the cloths of different material, texture and design.

He alao, in the course of time, developed the art of

dying them with different colours. Devala not only

manufactured the cloths by himself but he alao taught

that art to all his followers. As a result he created a

band of weavers and dyers. When these weavers began to

follow the philoaophy of Devala in all matters, they

identified themsclve~ as Devangas. This is how the

preeent day Devangas descended from the their progenitor

Devala Rishi.

Devala's Avataras: Although Devala/Devanga was created

for the twin purposes of manufacturing the threads and

the clothe for the use of Gods and Men, and for this

purpose he was made to incarnate seven times, Devala did

not stop at that point only. Apart from weavlng the

cloths, he ruled over a Kingdom with its capital in

Amodaganagar and preached Religion and philosophy to all

his followers. He even went one step further and wrote

a number of treatises on religion and philosophy.

Looking to the voluminous scriptural literature

produced by him in each of his seven avatar6,it appears

that he was born more to be a founder of a Dharma than

to be a simple weaver of cloths. The following is the

details of the works attributed to Devala in each of hia

seven avataras.

1 . Devala/Devanqa:

2. Vidvadhara Avatara:

1. Rig- Bhashya 2. Manu Sutra

3. Sandhya Sutra 4. Manu Smriti

5. Devalopanidhi 6. Devaraja Chandas

7. Deval-Jemini Vada 0 . Varnashrama Mahodadhi

9. Brahma Sutra Nighantu 10. Manu Jnana Sikhamani

3. Pushpadanta Avatara:

1 , Sivamahimna Stotra 2. Meru Charitra

3 . V e d a n t a k u s h 4 . Brahmopadesh S i d h a n t a

5. D e v i B h a g a v a t 6 . Deva R a t n a k a r a

7. D e v a r a j a S e k h a r a 8 . Uttara Meemamsa

9 . S u j n a n a D e e p i k a

4 . Betala A v a t a r a :

1. C h a t u h u S h a s t h i k a l a S u t r a

2 . D h a n u s h a s t r a 3 . B e t a l a P a n c h a t a n t r a

4 . B e t a l a k h y a n a 5 . Dhoo S u k t a

6 . Smara S h a s t r a 7 . M a l l a s a d h a n a N i r n a y a

8. M a h a b h a i r a v a S u k t a 9 . M a n t r a S h a s t r a

5. V a r a r u c h i A v a t a r a :

1. P r a k t i r a P r a k a s h a 2 . S u t r a Tatwa N i g h a n t u (Grammer b o o k )

3. Ka tha G a n i t a S h a s t r a 4 . Chandra S i d h a n t a

5 . S u r y a S i d h a n t a 6 . ' T r i l i n g a d a t t a Meemamsa

7 . S r u t i s h a t S u t r a N i r n a y a 8 . Kaumudi Shabda S h a s t r a

9. V a s t a v y u N i r n a y a 1 0 . Bhaga S h a s t r a

11. Yoni T a n t r a 1 2 . P i n d o t p a t t i S h a s t r a

1 3 . Chandojnam 1 4 . S a n d h i S u t r a m

15. Kanasanyaya B o d h i n i 1 6 . Nara P i n g a l i S h a s t r a

1 7 . L a k s h a n a D a r s h a n a 1 0 . Swara S h a s t r a

1 9 . Vedangarnalayurveda 20 . Y e t a d v i m s h a t i S h a s t r a

6 . D e v a s h a l i A v a t a r a :

1. Pramanya Vadah 2. S u j n a n a D e e p i k a

3. J n a n a Man j a r i 4 . S u j n a n a Ratnarnala

5. S a d v a d a J n a n a M a n j a r i 6 . P a n c h a s i k h a N i r n a y a

7. Devakalpatmadarpana 8. Purvapara Prayoga

9. Deva Rahasya 10. Satkarma Jnana Prabodhaka

7. Devadasa Avatara:

Vachanas in Kannada written with his pen name

"Ramanatha". All his vachanas are not available

now.

From this it appears that in addition to -the

avataras as mentioned above Devala/Devanga incarnated

yet another time with a name Chitrayogi. During this

Chitray~gL -- Avatara he is believed t o have

written/composed the following works:

1. Manukalpa 2. Mantra Shastra

3. Nigamanta Mahodadhi 4. Sri Devala Jayastambha

5. Manusilpa 6. Sad Vedanta Kathara

7. Devalakhyana 8. Shambhusikha Sut-ra

9. Gayatri Baahpa 10. Devasmrityonkara Sukta

11. Sandhya Bhashya 12. Devi Mahatmyakam

13. Hudra Bharata 14. Girijodvahmityete

15. Panchayajna Nirnaya 16. Yajnopaveeta Sukta.

I t may a l s o be n o t e d f rom t h e above c i t e d S l o k a

f rom Brahmanda F1urana t h a t V idyadha ra A v a t a r a t o o k p l a c e

i n t h e f i r s t p a r t o f Dwapara Yuga, Pushpadan ta Avatara

i n t h e Middle o f t h e Dwapara Yuga and B e t a l a A v a t a r a

b e l o n g e d t o t h e l a s t p a r t o f t h e Dwapara Yuga. The

remaining f o u r a v a t a r a s o f V a r a r u c h i , C h i t r a y o g i ,

D e v a s h a l i and Devadasa , however , t o o k p l a c e i n Kali

Y uga . From t h i s it becomes i m p e r a t i v e t h a t t h e

o r i g i n a t o r o f t h e Devangamata waa known by d i f f e r e n t

namee i n d i f f e r e n t Yugas a l t h o u g h h e i s p o p u l a r l y known

a s Devanga t o d a y . The Yugas and t h e name by which t h e

p e r a o n w a s known a t t h a t t i m e may be summarized an

u n d e r :

1. K r i t a Yuga Deva la

2 . T r e t a Yuga Devanga

3. Dwapara Yuga V i d y a d h a r a , Pushpadan ta and B e t a l a .

4 . Kali Yuga V a r a r u c h i , C h i t r a y o g i , D e v a s h a l i and Devadasa and a l s o a s Devanga.

I n c i d e n t a l l y , i t may a l s o be ment ioned h e r e t h a t

some o f t h e S a r v a j n a Vachanas i n d i c a t e t h a t S a r v a j n a i s

a l s o one i n t h a t ser ies . For i l l u s t r a t i o n , t h e

f o l l o w i n g Vachanas may be c i t e d :

In a book entitled "Sarvajna Vachanagalu"

Kavibhushana Betageri Krishna Sharma (Editor, "Jayanti"

Monthly) has written a poem entitled "Hiriya Jeeva"

(meaning great life) in which he has supported this

(we do not know whose curse it is on Sarvajna. Is he

not eternal Pushpadanta Gandharva?). In this matter

some more research is urgently needed1

Part I1 --

The Growth of Eevanqas

Growth of Devanqa Caste

According to the Devanga Purana Devala was the

original person of the Devanga mata. This Devanga mata

started to spread with the family expansion of Devanga

on the one hand and with the incarnations of Devanga on

the other hand.

The family expansion of Devanga took place like

this. Devanga married his first wife from Devaloka.

Her name was Devadat ta and s h e was t h e a i s t e r of Lord

Surya . From t h i s D e v a d a t t a , Devala g o t t h r e e s o n s

namely Divyanga, Vimalanga and Dhavalanga. The second

w i f e of Devanga came from N a g a l o k a / P a t a l a l o k a . She was

t h e d a u g h t e r of Naga King Adisesha . Her name was

Chandra Rekha. From h e r , Devanga g o t o n l y one son by

name Sudharma. Then Devanga m a r r i e d a t h i r d w i f e a l s o ,

t h i s t i m e from Mar tya loka . Her name was Padmini. She

was t h e d a u g h t e r o f t h e Asura Ki.ng Vaj radamsh t ra . A s

t h i s m a r r i a g e took p l a c e a t t h e i n s t a n c e of Agni ,

Padmini i s a l s o known a s A g n i d a t t a . Prom t h i s t h i r d

w i f e Devanga g o t t h r e e more s o n s by name S h a l a , Bala and

Hala. I n t h i s way from h i s t h r e e w i v e s , Devanga g o t

t o t a l l y seven s o n s and from t h e s e seven s o n s t h e

Devangamata s t a r t e d t o s p r e a d (Presumably i n t h e

p r e v i o u s Yugaa, e a r l i e r t o K a l i Yuga) .

E x p l a i n i n g t h e expans ion of t h e Devanga Kula i n

Ka l iyuga , t h e Devanga Purana g i v e s t h e f o l l o w i n g

d e s c r i p t i o n . Devadasa was t h e 7 t h and t h e l a s t a v a t a r a

of Devanga. T h i s Devadas had one son by name Ekorama

and from t h i s Ekorama Rudra was born and t h i s Rudra

gave b i r t h t o Kalasena . T h i s g r e a t g rand son ( K a l a s e n a )

of Devadasa d i d n o t have any o f f s p r i n g f o r a p r e t t y long

t i m e . H e had m a r r i e d one thousand wives and even w i t h

t h a t , when he d i d n o t g e t c h i l d r e n , he worshipped Lord

S iva w i t h s p e c i a l d e v o t i o n . When h i s e f f o r t s became

s u c c e s s f u l a t l a s t h e g o t t e n t h o u s a n d sons f rom h l s

1.000 w i v e s . When t h e s e s o n s came o f a g e , K a l a s e n a

a r r a n g e d f o r t h e i n i t i a t i o n o f a l l o f them. Fo r t h e

Upanayana o f t h e s e s o n s , h e s o l i c i t e d t h e s e r v i c e s of

g r e a t R i s h i s a n d wha t s o e v e r R i s h i P r e a c h e d

Man t ropadesha t o t h e s e s o n s , became t h e G o t r a - P u r u s h a o f

t h a t g r o u p o f s o n s . T h i s i s how t h e Devangas g o t a

l a r g e number o f G o t r a s a n d by m a r r y i n g among t h e m s e l v e s

b u t o u t s i d e t h e i r own Gotra t h e y a l l fo rmed o n e Kula .

I n t h e b e g i n n i n g t h e r e were o n l y 102 Gotras among them.

Bu t i n t h e c o u r s e o f t i m e , t h e y i n c r e a s e d t o 1,500. Out

o f a l a r g e number o f Devanga f a m i l i e s , members of 3,150

f a m i l i e s w e r e i n i t i a t e d by t h e D i v i n e Sage Narada a n d

t h e y a l l became V a i s h n a v i t e s by R e l i g i o n . The r e m a i n i n g

f a m i l i e s c o n t i n u e d t o b e s a i v i t e s ( V i d e C h a p t e r 29

"Devanga Vamsha Ka thana" i n Kannada Devanga Pu rana

1 9 7 8 ) .

B e s i d e s t h i s , t h e Devanga Kula a l so s w e l l e d i n

s i z e by t h e s u c c e s s i v e a v a t a r a s o f t h e Deva la /Devanga .

Growth of Devanga Community:

Endoqamous D i v i s i o n s / S e c t & ~

When t h e Devanga s o c i e t y expanded t h e f o l l o w i n g

endogamous s e c t i o n s a p p e a r e d i n it.

1. S i v a c h a r a Devanga; 2. Kannada Devanga;

3. T e l u g u Devanga; a n d 4 . H a t a g a r a . . . .

S i v a c h a r a Devangas a r e t h e Devangas f o l l o w i n g t h e

L i n g a y a t t r a d i t i o n s . They a r e L i n g a y a t s by R e l i g i o n .

A c c o r d i n g t o t h e m , t h e y h a v e b e e n so s i n c e b e g i n n i n g .

B u t o t h e r s e c t i o n s o f t h e Devangas d o n o t a g r e e w i t h

t h i s v i e w a n d t h e y a r g u e t h a t S i v a c h a r i s a r e c o n v e r t s t o

L i n g a y a t i s m i n h i e t o r l c a l t imes. What p r e c i s e l y is a

f a c t i s n o t c l e a r l y known u p t o t h i s d a y .

Kannada Devangas a r e t h e Devangas o f K a r n a t a k a .

They a r e d i v i d e d i n t o two s u b - s e c t i o n s v i z .

1. S i r y a d a v a r u a n d 2 . H a d i n e n t u m a n e y a v a r u

S i r y a d a v a r u a r e t h e Devanga f a m i l i e s m i g r a t e d

f r o m S i r a (Tumkur D i s t r i c t ) a n d t h e r o u n d a b o u t p l a c e s .

H a d i n e n t u m a n e y a v a r u , o n t h e o t h e r h a n d , are a

g r o u p o f f a m i l i e s b e l o n g i n g t o t h e o r i g i n a l 18 f a m i l i e s

who h a d a s e c e s a i o n f r o m t h e m a i n g r o u p o f t h o s e who

a d o p t e d some h e t e r o d o x p r a c t i c e s .

The T e l u g u D e v a n g a s a r e o b v i o u s l y t h e Devangas o f

Andhra P r a d e s h whose m o t h e r t o n g u e h a s b e e n T e l u g u .

They e v e n t o d a y £011

are p r o u d o f t h a t .

R e g a r d i n g t h e

ow Andhra c u s t o m s a n d t r a d i t i o n s a n d

" H a t a g a r a " s e c t i o n o f t h e Devangas .

two i n t e r p r e t a t i o n s a r e g i v e n . A c c o r d i n g t o o n e v e r s i o n

t h e y a r e t h e handloom w e a v e r s . A c c o r d i n g t o

a n o t h e r v e r s i o n t h e y a r e s t u b b o r n p e o p l e . E x p l a i n i n g

t h e m a t t e r s t i l l f u r t h e r , Nanjundayya and L.K.A. I y e r

(1930 pp. 1 2 1 - 1 2 2 1 t e l l u s t h a t " a t one t l m e , a l l

Devangas were L ingaya tu . S u b s e q u e n t l y one of t h e i r

members became a r e l i g i o u s p r e a c h e r and he induced them

t o g i v e u p t h e wear ing of Linga and wear t h e Sac red

t h r e a d i n s t e a d . Those who o b s t i n a t e l y s t u c k t o t h e new

form o f r e l i g i o n were known a s H a t a g a r a r u . Some o f t h e

H a t a g a r a s , however, a p p e a r t o have gone back l a t e r on t o

L ingaya t i sm because t h e r e a r e L ingaya t H a t a g a r a s and

Non-Lingayat H a t a g a r a s among t h e same g roup of Ha taga ra

s e c t i o n of Devangas".

When f i e l d work f o r t h i s s t u d y was c a r r i e d o u t i n

K o l l e g a l , i t h a s come t o t h e n o t i c e of t h i s Reeea rche r

t h a t t h e p r e s e n t day Devanga S o c i e t y c o n s i s t s o f n o t

o n l y t h e s e s e c t i o n s , b u t a l s o many more l i k e t h e

Channapatnadavaru , P a l a n i Devanga e t c . These a g a i n

r e p r e s e n t t h e f a m i l i e s h a i l i n g from Channapatna, P a l a n i

e t c . , who f o r t h e i r own obv ious r e a s o n s became

endogamous g roups i n c o u r s e o f t ime .

Even when t h e contemporary Devanga s o c i e t y i s

d i v i d e d i n t o a number of s e c t i o n s and t h e a u b - s e c t i o n s

a s d e s c r i b e d above , t h e r e a l d i v i s i o n i s between Kannada

Devangas and t h e Andhra/Telugu Devangas. A few hundred

y e a r s a g o such d i v i s i o n s were n o t known, a few decades

ago t h e y were s imply l i n g u i s t i c d i v i s i o n s . But today

they have crystal

among the Devangas

ized into hard core endogamous groups

Exoqamous Septs/Gotras:

If the endogamous divisions and section9

highlight one aspect of the growth of the caste and the

community of Devangas, exogamous Septs, Gotras, Bedagus

and family names highlight another aspect of the same

phenomenon.

The following is a list of Septs of Kannada

Devangas and the Telugu Devangas. It shows that the

Devanga Society is today divided into a number of Septs

or exogamous groups.

List 1

List of Septs of Devanqas

Septs of Kannada Devanqas:

1. Ambali Gruel

2. Arivana A pot

3. Banna Colour

4 . Basapatra ... 5. Bale

6. Belli

7. Benne

Plantain

Silver

Butter

8. Chokkamaru ... 9. Dabbe Bamboo

10. Doddatale Large head

11. Guddina . . .

12. Hosakere

13. Kal lukote

14. Kanakana

15. Kadaga

16. Kachchoru

17. Koranalli

18. Machche

19. Mande

20. Madeva

21. Muchchala

22. Muremme

23. Muttu

24. Ondu Matu

25. Ontemme

26. Pettige

27. Punagu

28. Roddagarru

29. Sappe

30. Sanje

31. Sobagu

32. Totlu

33. Vambale

Name of a place

Name of a place

... Wristlet

. . a

... A mole or mark

Head

. . . Lid

Three She-buffaloes

Pearl

One word

Single she-bufallo

Box

Civet

. . . Incipid

. . . Ornamentation

Cradd 1 e

Areca Flower

(Nanjundayya and L.K.A. Iyer Vol. 111 pp. 122-123)

Septs of Telugu Devanqae:

1. Akasarn Sky

2. Anumalu Seeds of Do1 i c h u s Lablab

3. Boggula

4. Bandla

5. Chintakai

6. Challa

7. Chapparam

8. Doddi

9. Dhuggani

10, Yerra

11. Konda

12. Kaththi

13. Bhandari

14. Busan

15. Dhondapu

16. Elugpti

17. Gattur

18. Paidam

19. Gonapala

20. Gosu

21. Jigala

22. Katta

23. Kornpala

24. Konangi

25. Katikala

26. Kaththri

27. Moksham

2 8 . Pusupala

29. Pidakala

Charcoal

Rock or Card

Tamarind Fruit

Butter milk

Pandal/Booth

Cattle Den

Money

Red

Mountain

Knife

Treasurer

Grain

Cephalandra indica

Assembly

Bank or mound

Money

Old Plough

Pride

Pith

A dam

Houses

Baf foon

Collyrium

Scissors

Heaven

'Turmeric

Dried Cow-dung cake

30. Pothula

31. Pachi-Powaku

32. Padavala

33. Pouzala

34. Pammi

35. Thalakoka

36. Thutia

37. Utla

38. Vasthrala

39. Matam

40. Madvia

41. Medam

42. Masila

43. Olikala

44. Prithvi

45. Peraka

46. Panjula

47. Pinjala

48. Pichchiga

49. Sika

50. Sandala

51. Santha

52. Sajje

Male

Green tobacco

Boat

A bird

Clay lamp

Female cloth

Hole

Roles for hanging pots

Clothes

Monastery

Liquor or heap of earth

Fight

Dirt

Funeral pyre and ashes

Earth

Tile

Cock or Male

Cotton cleaning

Sparrow

Kudumi/tuft of hair

Lanes

A fair

Setari

(Thurston and Rangachari, 1909 pp 154-166)

In addition to these Septa, there are also the

Gotras, Bedagus and the family names into which the

Devanga Society has grown in the course of time. The

following lists give the details.

List 2

Gotras -- and the Bedaqus of Kannah Devanqas

No. Name of the Gotra Bedagus

1. Agachchadeva Rishi

2. Agastya Rishi

3. Akshyadeva Rishi

4. Anjanadeva Rishi

5. Ashritdeva Maha Rishi

6. Bakadalbhya Rishi

7. Bharadwaja Rishi

8. Bharga Muni

9. Bhaskaradeva Rishi

10. Bhaskara Muni

11. Bhavaja Rishi

12. Bhringadeva Rishi

13. Bhringa Manyu Rishi

14. Bhrigudeva Maha Rishi

15. Bhrindadeva Maha Rishi

16. Chandrayana Riahi

17. Dalbhyadeva Rishi

18. Devadatta Rishi

19. Devarshi

Rodda, Mudgala, Adaga, Gangevatti, Muttala, Mundoka . Konge, Muttu, Kattemane

Doddatale, Belageri

Nanya, Bangara, Ratna

U j ja/Uggi

Shobhana, Sambara, Jeerige

Maradabhartru, Kamala Madhura, Sikakola, Khadga, Mudgar.

Manjari, Gutti

Gandha, Punagina, Byala, Anka.

Asi, Pavala

Binnala, Ginnala

Adike, Katagi, Tulasi

Kakandi, Nidagundi

Mande,Nidagundi

Chanikal, Kannadi

Shakuna, Rajata, Matanchara

Sobagu, Soge, Sabhina, Gundakallu.

Nema, Mayur, Kulajeeva

P a t h / Simhasana, Mohana

20 . Dhoomrabindu R i s h i

21 . Dwaipayana R i s h i

2 2 . Dwandwadeva R i s h i

2 3 , Galavadeva R i s h i

24 . Gargeya R i s h i

25 . Hararnuni

2 6 . H a r i t r a R i s h i

2 7 . Indradyumna R i s h i

2 8 . Indradyumnadeva

2 9 . J a m b h a r i Muni

30 . Kamuka R i s h i

31. Katyayanadeva Maharsh i

3 2 . Kaus ika R i s h i

33 . Kindama R i s h i

3 4 . M a i t r a d e v a R i s h i

3 5 . Maitradyumna R i s h i

36. Malkadeva R i s h i

37 . Mantradeva R i s h i

3 8 . Mandvya R i s h i

3 9 . Mal ladeva R i s h i

40 . Matsya R i s h i

4 1 . M r i t y u n j a y a R i s h l

P r a d h a n i , K a l a , P a t t a

P u t t o d d e , P a t t e

Raga, T a l a , B e t t a , T i t t i

Benne, Chappa ra , M a n t r a g a r a , Rahanya, Bhooshana. Aagaaa, Samsa ra , S a r a e w a t a , M a v i l a , P i t a k a

Sappe , Kamhha

K i c h a d i , Baga lur

B i l a s u r , J o l l y e , Keahanur , T e j a . Uddu

A l l i , Amarava t i , Deva loka , Gowda Hal l i

Basava P a t r i

R a n j a n a , Mundana, K a n t i , Tumbaraguddi , K a t l i , D i n g a r i

Matanga, I r a s a l a , Yoga, S a d a r i n a Mele. Gange Tandavaru . H u y a r i , T o g a r i , Kornara, Kodanyi . Masana. J a j i

Ch ikka , Benaka, Be laku

A n j a l i , Kudhala , S a j j a n a , K a l l u

Koravan j i , P a r o p a , A l l a

Ghan te , Bhagya

Dashanya , Dhoopa

S a r i g e , Bana. Bhak ta , Mal ika

Minchu, Kanchu, Y a n j a l a . S e e t a l a . T o l a g a , J u j a l a , P r a s a n g a , Bha rana , B e l l i .

Honnu, Honnungura, Basanuru

Ane, Kudure

S h a g o o r i , Channoor , K a r l a

42. Mukhamuni

4 3 . Nagaradeva Rishi

44 . Naradadeva Maharshi

4 5 . Patanjala Rishi

4 6 . Pippaladeva Maha Rishi

47 . Ritwija Rishi

4 8 . Rugvadeva Rishi

4 9 . Sachchidanand Rishi

5 0 . Sadananda Rishi

5 1 . Sanagara Rishi

5 2 . Sankhyayana Rishi

5 3 . Satwika Rishi

5 4 . Shatananda Rishi

5 5 . Shiladaya Maha Rishi

5 6 . Showanaka Hahadeva Rishi

5 7 . Somakadeva Rishi

5 8 . Shringadeva Maha Rishi

59 . Tamraparna Rishi

6 0 . Valakhilya Rishi

6 1 . Varatantra Rishi

62. Vedavyasa Haha Rishi

6 3 . Vishvamitra Rishi

6 4 . Yajnyadeva Rishi

Karawala, Sahana

Datti. Mundasa, challe

Gudda, Hasike, Papatala, Musala, Bajja

Kadaga, Kade, Karana, Malka chinna, Honnaputti

Sadwika, Ganevathar, Kallukote, Megote, Bandhu- motta, Ondumatu, Sannavathar

Ull j

Jabbila, Bijjala, chibbala

Hasabe, Kotagi, Karadi

Doddamane, Beerane . Hiremane, Manana

Bellulli

Shoorane. Kadagola

Ungura, Konduvi, Tondehoo, Tatwa, Bodana, Pende, Bhojana

Suragi, Surime

Moolagonda, Malaka

Kanaka, Dumme, Dubbara

Banna, Bannadasara

Muchchala, ~ a d d i , Kadapi

Gange, Midi

Ganjiholu, Bhandara

Varatantra, Matsya, Pada

Ajji, Darji, Jivhaji

Hamparagondi, Kanda, Sri Rama

Sanna Akki

List 3

Gotra and the Family Names of Teluqu Devanqas ---

No. Name of the Gotra -

Agastya Rishi

Agasya

Atri Rishi

Bhaskara Rishi

Bhaskara Deva Rishi

Bharaganda Rishi

Bhrigu Rishi

Bhrimgi Rishi

Chandrakula Rishi

Charvana Rishi

Chaturmukha Brahma Rishi

Dadhichi Rishi

Devara ja Rishi

Deva Rishi

Doorvasa Rishi

Gala Rishi

Galava Rishi

Garyeya Rishi

Gautama

Indra Rishi

Kalika Rishi

Family Name

Achchagalu, Chunchal, Pasupula

Aagasa

Kempula, Ampajattini, Alla

Gadda

Baada

Narada

Koshan, Madakuti, Arakota, Munegala, Boggila, Kerimela

Gavvala

Rasukuntla

Saache

Aatru

Katake

Cuggula

Saadhu

Nimmala, Setty, Duppati, Bomrna

Aagasa

Piduku

Puchchaglntala, Bhooshana, Baalavallu

Bommettu, Kottara

Devaloka

Pachcha

K a p i l a R i s h i

Kashyapa R i s h i

Katyayana R i s h i

K a t y a y a n i R i s h i

Kaundinya R i s h i

Kausa lya R i s h i

Krauncha lya R i s h i

Kumbha Sambhava R i s h i

M a i t r e y a R i s h i

Mandvya Maha R i s h i

Mangalya R i s h i

Manu R i s h i

Manmaha 1Manuna) R i s h i

Manu Brahma R i s h i

Maudgalya R i s h i

Narada R i s h i

P a r a a h a r a R i a h i

P a r v a t a Maha R i s h i

P a l a k i R i s h i

P a t a n j a l i R i s h i

P i p a l a k a R i v h i

Ra ibhya

Sadananda R i s h i

Sankhyayana R i s h i

P i l l a r i

B a t t a l a , V i d y a v a s t u , M u r a r i , A l a g e , Tumma

Chayu

Muktapura

A l a s a y y a , E r r a

T o t t a n t i

Ma t t a

B a l l a

Parasurn, P a n d l u , N a l l a v a l l u , G u d i . O n t e . Uddendi , Chin tambe , A r a k o t a , Gunne

Yarram, J a l l i , Medum. Boodanur

Ragimanu

P u t t e , D a e e t t y

G o j j a l a , N i l e g a l a

Kamini

Reddy, J e e d a , Robbi , C h i n t a

Manakur i , Manakula

P a a a a , Paachcha , Devi

S a j j a

Jonna

Karna , S r i n g a r i

s h i r a n t i

id ad ale

Raacja

Chachakka l a

S h a l i d e v a R i a h i

S h a n d i l y a R i s h i

Shankadeva R i s h i

S h a n k i n i R i s h i

Shaunaka R i a h i

Shuka Brahma R i s h i

Somaka R i s h i

Somakula R i s h i

Somodbhava R i s h i

S u r y a Vamsha R i s h i

T r i n a b i n d u R i s h i

V a l a k h i l y a R i s h i

V a r t a t u R i s h i

Vasudeva R i s h i

Vedavyasa R i s h i

Vemula R i s h i

V i a h v a m i t r a R i a h i

V i s h v a v a s u R i s h i

V r i s h a b h a R i s h i

Walmiki R i s h i

Yogabindu R i s h i

B e e r a n a v a r u

P e d d u s a , Sunna

C h a c h a k k a l a , Kodakala

C h i n t a g i n j a l a

B h a n g a r i

Ramayana

P o o l a

J e e n a g a

B a i l e , C h i n t a k a y a l u , B a d i g e , Addi

Gopa 1 a

Seeme

Bhanda ra , Benaka, Vamrni

Channa

Y e r r a , K o t t a p e t e , Gadde Kondega l a

E l u g o t i

Aambe

C h a t t a , K o o g a t i . Kumdum, T i rumana

T a p a s i

Baana

Aare

N i d a d a l e --

I t may be o b s e r v e d f rom t h e a b o v e two l is ts t h a t

1 6 G o t r a a l i k e A g a s t y a , B h a s k a r a , B h a s k a r a d e v a , B h r i g u ,

D e v a r s h i , G a l a v a , G a r g e y a , Ka tyayana , Mandvya, Na rada ,

P a t h a n j a l i , Sadananda , Sankhyayana , Somaka, Vedavyasa

and Vishvamitra are found in the list of Kannada

Devangas as well as Telugu Devangas. Except these 16

there are 48 Gotras which are to be found only among the

Kannada Devangas, and 50 Gotras which belong exclusively

to the Telugu Devangaa.

Other Classes of Devanqas:

The history of Devangas does not become complete

unless something more is said about three more minor

classes of people among them. 1 ) Dancing girls; 2 )

Singadavaru/ Singamvallu Devangaa and 3 ) Chinerigadu.

Just like other left hand castes, Devangas have their

own class of dancing girls called Jathi-biddavalu.

These girls are prohibited from dancing at the

assemblies of rival groups of castes. The male

children of these dancing girls do the work of printing

the design on the cloths. The dancing girls are invited

to give performance of their art at the time of Marriage

of rich families among the Devangas and the Religious

functions of the community. They cannot be compared

either with the court-dancers of the Rajas and Maharajas

or with the Devadasis. The dancing girls of Devangas

are respectable and their services are limited to only

Devanga families. Under the modern conditions this

minor class of the Devangas is shrinking fast and is

likely to disappear totally in the near future.

Yet another minor class among the Devangas is

that of Sinqadavaru/Sinqarnvallu. Singadavaru are

actually a clasa of dependents who are said to be the

repository of the history and tradition of the Devangas.

In this respect they are comparable to Bhats(Nanjundayya

and L.K.A. Iyer 1930 p.129).

Concerning the origin of the Singamavadu

(Singadavaru), there is one legend. When Devala was

fighting with Asuras, one Asura hid himaelf behind the

ear of the lion on which Goddess Chowdeshvari was

riding. When the war ended, this asura came out and

begged pardon. The goddess took pity on him and

ordained that he be excused and he be treated as servant

and supported by entire caste. The descendants of this

Asura are known as Singamvadu/Singadavaru. Singadavaru

beg from Devanga familier only. They have the privilege

of locking the doors and carrying away the food remains

soon after the community lunch/dinners are over. Once

upon a time, in the assemblies of Devangas, the hand of

these beggars served as a spittoon. They convey the

news of births and deaths to the families in other

places and in that way act as messengers. Traditionally

they have an insignia of office a horn called thuthuri

or Singam (Edgar Thurston and K. Rangachari, 1909, pp

154-166). But in recent years many aspects of their

life and their role in the Devanga society have changed.

Bordering very closely on the Singamvallu, there

is Chineri-. It is said that once in twelve years, a

Devanga leaves his home and joins the Padmasalis. He

begs from them telling them that he is not a stranger

but belong to their own caste. Inspite of his

entitlement to be supported by them, if alms are not

forthcoming, he enters their house and carries off

whatever he may be able to pick up. This is not

considered as stealing because a Chinerigadu is not an

outsider. The origin of this class of Chinerigadu is

not known but it has been suggested that the Devangas

and the Sales were originally one caste, and that the

former separated from the latter when they became

Lingayats. A Devanga becomes a Chinerigadu only when he

is advanced in age and will eat the remains of food

left by Padmasalis on their plates. Interestingly a

Chinerigadu is on the death buried by the Sales (Edgar

Thurston and K. Rangachari, 1909 pp 154-166).

Part 111 -.

The History of Devacz Gururnath

Although Devanga ia one of the oldest

castes/communities in the Indian Society it did not have

a separate Gururnath exclusively for itself till

recently. The available literature concerning the

Devangas givea information about other aspects of this

caste. But it is silent about the Gurumaths. It seems

even during the days of Vijayanagar Empire the situation

was more or less like this only. According to one

legend, in the Vijayanagar King's Court one day a

discussion arose about whether Devangamatha was a

Sanatana Dharma or not. It seems one Sri Phanigowda of

a village near Gangavathi argued before the king that

Devanga was a Sanatana Dharma, that it had a Kula Daiva,

Kula-Guru and Kula Purana. It has its own customs,

traditions etc. When the discussion gained momentum,

all his arguments appeared convincing. But regarding

the Guruparampara, his argument did not satisfy the

King. As such the Emperor of Vijayanagara aaked

Phanigowda to come out with more substantial evidence

and still more convincing points of argument. Then

Phanigowda wandered here and there in search of some

Guru and at last he met one such person by name

Muddusangaswamy. Phanigowda and Muddusangaswarny

together once again appeared in the court of the

Vijayanagar Emperor on the Shalivahana Seke 1293,

Paridhavinama Samvatsara, Margasheersha Shuddha Panchami

(Thursday) and argued their point successfully. After

this event with the Royal Support the Gayatri Peeth of

Hemakuta Devanga Math, Harnpi came into existence wlth

Muddusanga swamy a s its (first?) Guru. It 1s also n a r d

that Muddusangaswamy who argued the point in the Royal

court did not become the (first) Guru of the Devanga

Math. Infact he selected one relative of Phanigowda,

trained him, initiated him with Brahmopadesha, gave him

a new name "Muddusangaswamy" and made him as the

(first?) Guru of the Hampi Hemakuta Math. Started in

this way, the Guruparampara continued for some years and

went into obscurity for unknown historical reasons.

Then for a few centuries Devangas did not have

any Guru or Jagadguru of their own with an established

Gurumath. When many other castes and communities had

their own Gurumaths and Devangas did not have any, this

fact began to pinch the Devanga leadership. Out of such

a situation, the "Devanga Dharma Prasaraka Samaja" came

into existence in 1904 in Belgaum. Its main objective

was to regain/rejuvenate the lost Guru Peeth, and

Guruparampara. This Samaja. under the leadership of

Devanga Kula Bhushana Shankrappa Banappa Sakri of

Bagalkot collected funds and selected Srikantha Swamy

and designated him as the next Jagadguru of the Hampi

Hemakuta Devanga Math. As a part of the Crowning

Ceremony of this new Jagadguru, first Akhlla Bharata

Devanga Maha Sammelana was organized on 22nd May 1910.

Unfortunately this Srikantha Swamy did not live long.

He died a premature death.

Not d e t e r r e d by t h e u n e x p e c t e d t u r n o f e v e n t s ,

t h e "Devanga P r a s a r a k a S a m a j a " s e l e c t e d a n o t h e r p e r s o n

by name S r i J a m b u n a t h Swamy a n d p r e p a r e d i t s e l f t o crown

him. B u t u n f o r t u n a t e l y he a l s o e x p i r e d q u i t e

u n e x p e c t e d l y .

Then i n 1 9 2 1 , a d e s c e n d a n t o f Phanigowda f a m i l y

was s e l e c t e d a s a t h i r d a t t e m p t t o s e a r c h f o r a Devanga

J a g a d g u r u a n d t h i s p e r s o n was s e n t t o o n e S r i Shambunath , .

Swamy o f Kashmir f o r p r e l i m i n a r y / p r e p a r a t o r y t r a i n i n g

a n d i n i t i a t i o n . A l t h o u g h t h i n g s moved smom

p r o b l e m a p p e a r e d t o b e y o l v e d , a t t h e l a s t

d e s i g n a t e d Guru r e f u s e d t o a d o p t S a n y a s a .

h a p p e n e d , e v e n t h i s t h i r d a t t e m p t t o i n s t a l

i n t h e G a y a t r i P e e t h a o f Hampi Hemakuta

f a i l e d m i s e r a b l y .

0 t h a n d t h e

moment, t h i s

When t h i s

1 a J a g a d g u r u

Devanga Math

T h e r e a f t e r f o r some d e c a d e s , t h e e f f o r t s f o r

s e a r c h i n g a Devanga J a g a d g u r u w e r e s t o p p e d . I n 1 9 8 8 ,

o n c e a g a i n s u c h e f f o r t s s t a r t e d . T h i s t i m e , t h e Devanga

S a m a j a s e l e c t e d o n e S r i D a t t a t r e y a Swamy a n d s e n t him t o

S r i T i r u c h i Swamy o f K a i l a s a Ashrama i n R a j a R a j e s h v a r i

N a g a r , B a n g a l o r e f o r t r a i n i n g a n d t h e S a n y a s a d e e k s h a .

T h i s D a t t a t r e y a Swamy a d o p t e d S a n y a s a o n 2 9 t h J u l y 1 9 8 8

a n d c h a n g e d h i s name a s S r i S r i S r i Swamy Dayananda

P u r i . T h i s S r i S r i S r i Swamy Dayananda P u r i w a s

u l t i m a t e l y c rowned a s t h e J a g a d g u r u o f G a y a t r i P e e t h a o f

Hampi Hemakuta Devanga Matha o n 3 0 t h A p r i l 1 9 9 0 . T h i s

i s how t h e Devanqas g o t t h e i r J a g a d g u r u a n d r e s t a r t e d

t h e i r o l d b u t d i s c o n t i n u e d G u t u p e e t h a n d Guru P a r a m p a r a .

N o w , t h i e Devanga J a g a d g u r u S r i S r i S r i Swamy Dayananda

P u r i i s t o u r i n g d i f f e r e n t p l a c e s a n d c r e a t i n g a w a r e n e a a

among t h e people a b o u t t h e i r los t and r e g a i n e d

t r a d i t i o n . Aa a t p r e a e n t h e is t h e o n l y J a g a d g u r u of

t h e Devangae , a n d t h e G a y a t r i P e e t h o f Hampi Hemakuta

Math i s t h e o n l y Devanga J a g a d g u r u P e e t h / G u r u m a t h of

d e v a n g a a .

REFERENCES

1970 Devanga Puranavu (Kannada) B a n g a l o r e , Devanga Sangha.

Nanjundayya, H . V . 1928- The Myaore T r i b e s and C a s t e s and I y e r , Anantha 1931 V o l s . I 1 t o IV, Mysore, Kriahna L.K. U n i v e r s i t y P r e s s .

, . T h u r s t r o n , Edgar and 1909 C a s t e s and T r i b e s o f Rangachar i , K . S o u r t h e r n I n d i a , Vole. I t o V ,

Madras, Governemnt P r e , ( R e p r i n t : D e l h i , Cosmo P u b l i c a t i o n s , 1 9 7 5 ) .