Castes and Tribes of Southern India. Vol. 3 of 7Thurston, Edgar
History
Castes and Tribes of Southern India. Vol. 3 of 7
Thurston, Edgar
Caste -- India, South; Ethnology -- India, South; India, South -- Social life and customs; Tribes -- India, South
special attendant, or driver, whose duties are to graze and worship
it. He belongs to the Maragala section of the Endar sub-division of
the caste. When he dies, a successor is appointed in the following
manner. Before the assembled castemen, puja (worship) is offered to
the sacred herd, and a young boy, "upon whom the god comes," points
out a man from among the Maragalas, who becomes the next driver. He
enjoys the inams, and is the custodian of the jewels presented to the
king bull in former days, and of the copper plates, whereon grants made
in its name are engraved. As many as nine of these copper grants were
entrusted to the keeping of a youthful driver, about sixteen years old,
in 1905. Most of them record grants from unknown kings. One Ponnum
Pandyan, a king of Gudalur, is recorded as having made grants of
land, and other presents to the bull. Others record gifts of land
from Ballala Raya and Rama Rayar. Only the names of the years are
recorded. None of the plates contain the saka dates. Before the annual
migration of the herd to the hills during the summer, a ceremony
is carried out, to determine whether the king bull is in favour of
its going. Two plates, one containing milk, and the other sugar,
are placed before the herd. Unless, or until the bull has come up to
them, and gone back, the migration does not take place. The driver,
or some one deputed to represent him, goes with the herd, which is
accompanied by most of the cattle of the neighbouring villages. The
driver is said to carry a pot of fresh-drawn milk within a kavadi
(shrine). On the day on which the return journey to the valley is
commenced, the pot is opened, and the milk is said to be found in a
hardened state. A slice thereof is cut off, and given to each person
who accompanied the herd to the hills. It is believed that the milk
would not remain in good condition, if the sacred herd had been in any
way injuriously affected during its sojourn there. The sacred herd is
recruited by certain calves dedicated as members thereof by people of
other castes in the neighbourhood of the valley. These calves, born
on the 1st of the month Thai (January-February), are dedicated to the
god Nandagopala, and are known as sanni pasuvu. They are branded on
the legs or buttocks, and their ears are slightly torn. They are not
used for ploughing or milking, and cannot be sold. They are added
to the sacred herd, but the male calves are kept distinct from the
male calves thereof. Many miracles are attributed to the successive
king bulls. During the fight between the Tottiyans and Kappiliyans at
Dindigul, a king bull left on the rock the permanent imprint of its
hoof, which is still believed to be visible. At a subsequent quarrel
between the same castes, at Dombacheri, a king bull made the sun turn
back in its course, and the shadow is still pointed under a tamarind
tree beneath which arbitration took place. For the assistance rendered
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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