CHAPTER

III

THE HISTORY
Although
the

Devanga i s o n e o f t h e o l d e s t

castes

c a s t e s y s t e m , much i s n o t known

Indian

historicity.

Clting

profession i n
particular
argued

DEVANGAS

references

g e n e r a l and

in

that

some

t h e Veda.
the

caste

Devanga

to

the

weaving

caste/community

originated

in

the

Kannada
years

t h a t s o u r c e i s c a l l e d Davanga

and

but

the

oral

t:radltlon

Purana.
about

the

uT

is

pre-vedic

and Telugu v e r s i o n s a r e p r i n t e d only

ago

in

~t

Upanished, Purana etc.

o r i g i n a n d Development o f t h e Devanga c a s t e i n t h e
yugaa

its

about

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

period.

in

the
four
Its

80

Devancja~

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
B r a h m a n d a p u r a n a w h i c h was o r i g i n a l l y c o m p i l e d / c o m p o s e d
by t h e g r e a t s a g e Vedavyasa.
an

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

effort

origin

of

Purana,

the

Devangas d s i n d i c a t e d

t o e x p l a i n t h e growth of

expanding
Gotras

itself

and

Devangas

to

i n t o different.
narrate rn brief

to
in

exclusively

the

sections,
the

f o r themselves.

~ l l s c u s s e se a c h one

Devarigi~s

(,r

llirscr three

septs

efforts

the

Devanga

vevdnga-community

of

by
and
the

separate

This

chapter,

is divided i n t o t h r e e p a r t s and

accordingly

unclear,
trace

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

Gurumatha

of

Things being s o

;is~t~.c
!;. l

or

each

part

t h e Ifistory

Part 1

The Origin
According
in

Kaliygua

of the Devanqas

to the Devanga Purana the

originated

Devala Maharshi.

from one great

by

name
seven

and the profession of

It is he who manufactured the'thread and

cloth for the first time in the world.

the

sage

This Devala Maharshi incarnated

times to propagate the philosophy

Devangas.

Devangamata

He only

tradition of wearing the three stringed

the body called

started

thread

on

Yajnopaveeta and in that sense has been

the originator of all Brahminical rituals.

Devanga

only

created

the

dyers.

From

earth

started.

band of weavers but also

group

him all the weaving activities

Devala/Devanga

The present day

is

their

Devangas

originator,

not
of

of

this

claim

that

Ramalingeshvara/

Chowdeshvari is their Kuladevata, and Devanga Purana

is

their religious scripture.

The Oriqin

of

Devala:

The Devanga Purana consists of two parts.

is headed as "Moolastambana".
the

It narrates in brief

threads and clothes were manufactured in the

previous
Tretayuga
consists

yugas of the Hindu Calender namely

of

the

text or the

subject

how
three

Kritayuga,

Yuga and Dwapara Yuga. Part I 1 of the

Devanga Purana.
of

Part-I

of

the

It is contained in the 29 chapters

all

whom describe how the Devala Rishl

matter

Purana

was

originated,

h e i n c a r n a t e d seven times, what a l l h e d i d and

how

how

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

were

b e g i n n i n g o f t;he c r e a t i o n , g o d s

and

n a k e d a n d t h e y were l e a d l n g a n a t u r a l l i f e

men

devoid

of 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
due

t o f e e l ashamed a n d a l s o b e g a n t o

to

heat,

approached
problem.

wind and c o l d .

Lord

A s such.

Mahadeva a n d e x p l a i n e d

A t t h e i r instance,

Mahadeva

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

face
one

problems
day

they

him

to

their

created

Devpla

manufacture

the

He

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 a n d men.
also
how
that
him

i n d i c a t e d to Devala from where t o g e t

to

M
e then hinted

p r o c e e d w i t h h i s work.

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

the

end

of t h e

Yuga.

he should

of

Kritayuga Devala s t a r t e d

concluded

it

a t t h e e n d o f t h a t Yuga.

his

and
him

to

return

Accordingly

beginning

repeated

fibres

to

in

the

work

Similar

and
thing

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

(vide

V e d o k t a Moolastarnbana p a r t o f t h e Devanga P u r a n a ) .
When
and

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

Men f o u n d t h e m s e l v e s n a k c d a n d t h e y b e g a n t o

feel

ashamed.

When

t h i s problem of

clothlessness

assumed

p r o p o r t i o n s a n d became a c c u t e , o n e d a y L o r d Brahma
to

Lord

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

problem

went
of

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

although

he himself

(Brahrna)

had c r e a t e d t h e whole

of

this world, he was unable to create a weaver of

At

the

time

of the creation of the

world

cloths.

there

was

neither the necessity of cloths nor was the raw material

for

cloths

available.

And now he could not

create

weaver because such a person had attained Sayujya in the

previous

Yuga

under

the

circumstances only Isvara could do some thing (and

none

others)

to

with

solve

Shiva only.

As such,

the problem of

Gods

and

Men.

He

thing

in

requested Isvara to be kind enough to do some

this

matter.

appealed

argument,

cum-request

Mahadeva went into'great

that

the form

and
Then

(transcendental

which appeared

in

of a man before him and prostrated before him.

Lord

Mahadeva

called that

person

and assigned to him the responsibility of

the

Brahma

problem.

Samadhi

deep meditation) and created a Jyoti

Then

of

to Lord Mahadeva who became pleased by it

to do some thing to solve

agreed
Lord

This

thread

and

the

cloths

for

the

as

"Devala"

manufacturing

Gods

Mahadeva also indicated to Devala that he will

and

Men.

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
"Devanga".
the

also

known

by

yet

another

name

Hc is called Devala because he is created at

request

Devanga

is

of

because

Gods/Goddesses.

He

is

described

he is born from the Anga/Limb

of

as
the

God,

It is he who helped Gods and Men to

bodies and limbs by t-,hc cloth.

cover

their

He is called Devanga

in

this sense as well.

Devala/Devanga,
assignment.
and

then

went

ahead

He obtained fibres from the

manufactured

threads

from them.

with

his

cotton

He

trees
these

gave

thread with due mantropadesha of Gayatri to Brahmins who

in

their

turn

turn passed it on to Kshatriyas and

to Vaishyas.

When in this way Devala

they

in

distributed

threads with duemantropadesa it became a tradition.

ia

with

the help of theae threads only

that

It

all

Brahminical rites and rituala are performed even

the

today.

From this point of view Devala may be considered as

starter

of

Brahminical

tradition

of

the

wearing

Ya jnopaveeta.
When
threads,
cloths

Devala/Devanga

it

from

started

manufacturing

did not take much time for

those threada.

He

him

started

to

with

the

weave

weaving

simple cloths but soon mastered the art of manufacturing

the
He

cloths of different material, texture

alao,

dying

them

with different colours.

Devala

the cloths by himself but he

that art to all his followers.

band of weavers and dyers.
the

design.

in the course of time, developed the

manufactured

follow

and

As

art

not

alao

of

only
taught

a result he created a

When these weavers began

philoaophy of Devala in all

matters,

to

they

t h e m s c l v e ~ as Devangas.

identified

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

the

clothe

for the use of Gods and Men, and

and

for

this

purpose he was made to incarnate seven times, Devala did

not

stop

cloths,

at that point only.

he

Apart from

ruled over a Kingdom with

weavlng

its

the

capital

in

Amodaganagar and preached Religion and philosophy to all

his followers.
a

number

Looking

of
to

He even went one step further and

treatises
the

on

religion

voluminous

and

philosophy.

scriptural

literature

produced by him in each of his seven avatar6,it

that

wrote

appears

he was born more to be a founder of a Dharma

to be a simple weaver of cloths.

The

following

than

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. Vedantakush

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 Deepika

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. Dhanushastra

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. Mallasadhana Nirnaya

8. Mahabhairava S u k t a

9. Mantra 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
(Grammer b o o k )
3. K a t h a G a n i t a S h a s t r a

2. S u t r a Tatwa Nighantu

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

4.

Chandra S i d h a n t a

7 . S r u t i s h a t S u t r a N i r n a y a 8 . Kaumudi S h a b d a 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. Y o n i T a n t r a

12. Pindotpatti Shastra

1 3 . Chandojnam

14. Sandhi Sutram

15. K a n a s a n y a y a B o d h i n i

1 6 . Nara P i n g a l i S h a s t r a

17. Lakshana Darshana

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. Devashali Avatara:
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. Panchasikha Nirnaya

7. Devakalpatmadarpana

8. Purvapara Prayoga
10. Satkarma Jnana
Prabodhaka

9. Deva Rahasya

7. Devadasa Avatara:

Vachanas in Kannada written with his pen name

"Ramanatha".

All his vachanas are not available

now.

From
avataras
yet

this

it appears that in

as mentioned above

addition

Devala/Devanga

another time with a name Chitrayogi.

Chitray~gL
--

Avatara

he

is

believed

to - t h e

incarnated
During

this

to

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.

It

may a l s o b e n o t e d f r o m t h e a b o v e c i t e d

Sloka

f r o m Brahmanda F1urana t h a t V i d y a d h a r a A v a t a r a t o o k p l a c e
in

t h e f i r s t p a r t o f Dwapara Yuga, P u s h p a d a n t a

Avatara

in

the

Avatara

M i d d l e o f t h e Dwapara Yuga a n d

belonged

four

remaining

Devashali
Y uga

t h e l a s t p a r t of t h e

to

and
From

originator

avataras

Dwapara

it

Yuga.

Vararuchi,

Devadasa, however, took

this

of

of

Betala

becomes

Chitrayogi,

place

imperative

t h e Devangamata waa known

by

in

Kali

that

the

different

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
as

Devanga t o d a y .

peraon

known

The Yugas a n d t h e name by w h i c h

known

was

The

a t t h a t t i m e may

be

the

summarized

an

under:
1. K r i t a Yuga

Deva l a

2 . T r e t a Yuga

Devanga

3. Dwapara Yuga

Vidyadhara, Pushpadanta
and B e t a l a .

4.

Vararuchi, Chitrayogi,
D e v a s h a l i a n d Devadasa
and a l s o a s Devanga.

Kali Yuga

I n c i d e n t a l l y , i t may a l s o b e m e n t i o n e d h e r e

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

one

in

that

series.

f o l l o w i n g V a c h a n a s may b e c i t e d :

For

illustration,

that
is

the

In

book

entitled

"Sarvajna

Vachanagalu"

Kavibhushana Betageri Krishna Sharma (Editor, "Jayanti"

Monthly)

has

written a poem

(meaning

great

entitled

life) in which he

has

"Hiriya

Jeeva"

supported

this

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

Is

not

matter

eternal

Pushpadanta Gandharva?).

In

this

he

some more research is urgently needed1

Part
-I1
The Growth

of

Eevanqas

Growth of Devanqa Caste

According

to the Devanga Purana Devala

original person of the Devanga mata.

started

This

was

the

Devanga mata

to spread with the family expansion of

Devanga

on the one hand and with the incarnations of Devanga

on

the other hand.

The
this.

family expansion of Devanga took place

Devanga

married his first wife

from

like

Devaloka.

Her

name was D e v a d a t t a and s h e was t h e a i s t e r

Surya.

From

this

D e v a d a t t a , Devala

got

Divyanga, Vimalanga a n d Dhavalanga.

namely

of

Lord

three

sons

The

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 .

the

daughter

Chandra

of

Rekha.

name Sudharma.

Naga King

was

marriage
is

Padmini

was

name

was

son

Then Devanga m a r r i e d a t h i r d w i f e

took

place a t

She

Vajradamshtra.

the

instance

a l s o known a s A g n i d a t t a .

Prom

by

also,

Her name was Padmini.

t h e d a u g h t e r o f t h e Asura Ki.ng

this

Her

She

From h e r , Devanga g o t o n l y o n e

t i m e from M a r t y a l o k a .

this

Adisesha.

second

As

of

Agni,

this

third

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 , B a l a and

Hala.

In

totally

t h i s way f r o m h i s t h r e e w i v e s ,

seven

Devangamata

sons

and

started

to

from

these

spread

Devanga

seven

got

sons

the

in

the

(Presumably

p r e v i o u s Yugaa, e a r l i e r t o K a l i Y u g a ) .
Explaining
Kaliyuga,

the

t h e e x p a n s i o n of t h e Devanga Kula
Devanga

Purana

gives

in

following

the

description.

Devadasa was t h e 7 t h and t h e l a s t

avatara

of

T h i s Devadas had one s o n by

Ekorama

Devanga.

and

from

name

t h i s Ekorama Rudra was born and

gave b i r t h t o Kalasena.

this

Rudra

T h i s g r e a t grand son (Kalasena)

o f 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 l o n g

time.

H e had m a r r i e d o n e t h o u s a n d w i v e s a n d even

with

that,

when h e d i d n o t g e t c h i l d r e n , he w o r s h i p p e d

Lord

Siva

with

special devotion.

When h i s

efforts

became

at

successful

When t h e s e s o n s came

wives.

1.000

arranged

for

Upanayana
great

l a s t h e g o t t e n t h o u s a n d sons
of

from

age,

Kalasena

t h e i n i t i a t i o n o f a l l of them.

of t h e s e s o n s , he s o l i c i t e d t h e

Rishis

and

what

so

ever

hls

For

the

services

Rishi

of

Preached

M a n t r o p a d e s h a 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
that

group

T h i s i s how t h e

of sons.

Devangas

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

got

themselves
one

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 G o t r a s among

them.

but

o u t s i d e t h e i r own Gotra t h e y a l l f o r m e d

B u 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.
o f a l a r g e number o f Devanga f a m i l i e s , members o f
families

w e r e i n i t i a t e d by t h e D i v i n e S a g e

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 .
families

continued

"Devanga

Vamsha

to

be s a i v i t e s

Kathana"

in

3,150

Narada

and

The r e m a i n i n g

(Vide

Kannada

Out

Chapter

Devanga

29

Purana

1978).

Besides

t h i s , t h e Devanga K u l a a l s o

swelled

in

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 D e v a l a / D e v a n g a .
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 e x p a n d e d t h e

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. Hatagara....

following

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
Lingayat

traditions.

According
But

They a r e L i n g a y a t s

t o them, t h e y have been so

other

by

since

s e c t i o n s of t h e Devangas do n o t

Religion.
beginning.
agree

with

t h i s view and 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
Lingayatism

i n h i e t o r l c a l times.

What p r e c i s e l y

is

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

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

Karnataka.

viz.

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

Siryadavaru

are

t h e Devanga

families

migrated

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 .
Hadinentu

maneyavaru, o n t h e o t h e r hand,

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
who

had

a s e c e s a i o n from t h e main g r o u p o f

are

families
those

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 Telugu Devangas a r e o b v i o u s l y t h e Devangas of
Andhra

Pradesh

whose m o t h e r t o n g u e

has

been

Telugu.

T h e y e v e n t o d a y 011 ow A n d h r a c u s t o m s a n d t r a d i t i o n s a n d

are proud o f t h a t .
R e g a r d i n g t h e " 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 .
they
another

are

the

handloom

According t o one v e r s i o n
weavers.

version they a r e stubborn

According

people.

to

Explaining

the

m a t t e r s t i l l f u r t h e r , Nanjundayya and

(1930

pp.

Devangas

t e l l us t h a t

121-1221

were

Lingayatu.

"at

one

Subsequently

Iyer

L.K.A.
tlme,

one

of

all
their

members became a r e l i g i o u s p r e a c h e r and h e i n d u c e d

to

give

up t h e wearing of Linga and

thread instead.

wear

the

them
Sacred

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

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

new

Some o f

the

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

Lingayatism

because

t h e r e a r e Lingayat

Hatagaras

Non-Lingayat

H a t a g a r a s among t h e same g r o u p o f

and

Hatagara

s e c t i o n o f 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
Kollegal,

i t h a s come t o t h e n o t i c e of t h i s

that

the

p r e s e n t d a y Devanga S o c i e t y c o n s i s t s

only

these

sections,

Channapatnadavaru,

but

Palani

also

many

Devanga

Reeearcher

more

etc.

of

not

like

the

These

again

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 C h a n n a p a t n a ,

Palani

etc.,

became

who

for

their

own

obvious

reasons

endogamous g r o u p s i n c o u r s e o f t i m e .
Even
divided

when

t h e c o n t e m p o r a r y Devanga

i n t o a number of s e c t i o n s and t h e

society

is

aub-sections

a s d e s c r i b e d a b o v e , t h e r e a l d i v i s i o n i s between Kannada
Devangas and t h e A n d h r a / T e l u g u Devangas.
years
ago

A few

hundred

a g o s u c h d i v i s i o n s were n o t known, a few

decades

t h e y were s i m p l y l i n g u i s t i c d i v i s i o n s .

But

today

they

have crystal ized into hard core endogamous

groups

among the Devangas

Exoqamous Septs/Gotras:
If

the

endogamous

divisions

and

section9

highlight one aspect of the growth of the caste and

community of Devangas, exogamous Septs, Gotras,
and

family names highlight another aspect of

the

Bedagus
the

same

phenomenon.
The
Devangas

following
and

a list of

is

the Telugu Devangas.

Septs

of

It shows

Kannada
that

Devanga Society is today divided into a number of

or exogamous groups.
List

List of Septs of Devanqas

Septs of Kannada Devanqas:

1. Ambali

Gruel

2. Arivana

A pot

3. Banna

Colour

4.

Basapatra

5. Bale

...
Plantain

Belli

Silver

7. Benne

Butter

8. Chokkamaru

...

9. Dabbe

Bamboo

6.

10. Doddatale

Large head

11. Guddina

...

the

Septs

12. Hosakere

Name of a place

13. Kal lukote

Name of a place

14. Kanakana

...

15. Kadaga

Wristlet

16. Kachchoru

. . a

17. Koranalli

...

18. Machche

A mole or mark

19. Mande

Head

20. Madeva

. ..

21. Muchchala

Lid

22. Muremme

Three She-buffaloes

23. Muttu

Pearl

24. Ondu Matu

One word

25. Ontemme

Single she-bufallo

26. Pettige

Box

27. Punagu

Civet

28. Roddagarru

...

29. Sappe

Incipid

30. Sanje

...

31. Sobagu

Ornamentation

32. Totlu

Cradd 1 e

33. Vambale

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

Charcoal

4. Bandla

Rock or Card

5. Chintakai

Tamarind Fruit

6. Challa

Butter milk

7. Chapparam

Pandal/Booth

8. Doddi

Cattle Den

9. Dhuggani

Money

10, Yerra

Red

11. Konda

Mountain

12. Kaththi

Knife

13. Bhandari

Treasurer

14. Busan

Grain

15. Dhondapu

Cephalandra indica

16. Elugpti

Assembly

17. Gattur

Bank or mound

18. Paidam

Money

19. Gonapala

Old Plough

20. Gosu

Pride

21. Jigala

Pith

22. Katta

A dam

23. Kornpala

Houses

24. Konangi

Baf foon

25. Katikala

Collyrium

26. Kaththri

Scissors

27. Moksham

Heaven

2 8 . Pusupala

'Turmeric

29. Pidakala

Dried Cow-dung cake

30. Pothula

Male

31. Pachi-Powaku

Green tobacco

32. Padavala

Boat

33. Pouzala

34. Pammi

Clay lamp

35. Thalakoka

Female cloth

36. Thutia

Hole

37. Utla

Roles for hanging pots

38. Vasthrala

Clothes

39. Matam

Monastery

40. Madvia

Liquor or heap of earth

41. Medam

Fight

42. Masila

Dirt

43. Olikala

Funeral pyre and ashes

44. Prithvi

Earth

45. Peraka

Tile

46. Panjula

Cock or Male

47. Pinjala

Cotton cleaning

48. Pichchiga

Sparrow

49. Sika

Kudumi/tuft of hair

50. Sandala

Lanes

51. Santha

52. Sajje

Setari

bird

fair

(Thurston and Rangachari, 1909 pp 154-166)

In
Gotras,

addition to these Septa, there are

Bedagus

and the family names

into

also

the

which

the

Devanga

Society has grown in the course of

time.

The

following lists give the details.

List 2
Gotras and the Bedaqus
No.

Name of the Gotra

1. Agachchadeva Rishi

of

K a n n a h Devanqas
Bedagus

Rodda, Mudgala, Adaga,

Gangevatti, Muttala,
Mundoka

2. Agastya Rishi

Konge, Muttu, Kattemane

3. Akshyadeva Rishi

Doddatale, Belageri

4. Anjanadeva Rishi

Nanya, Bangara, Ratna

5. Ashritdeva Maha Rishi

U jja/Uggi

6. Bakadalbhya Rishi

Shobhana, Sambara, Jeerige

7. Bharadwaja Rishi

Maradabhartru, Kamala Madhura,

Sikakola, Khadga, Mudgar.

8. Bharga Muni

Manjari, Gutti

9. Bhaskaradeva Rishi

Gandha, Punagina, Byala,

Anka.

10. Bhaskara Muni

Asi, Pavala

11. Bhavaja Rishi

Binnala, Ginnala

12. Bhringadeva Rishi

Adike, Katagi, Tulasi

13. Bhringa Manyu Rishi

Kakandi, Nidagundi

14. Bhrigudeva Maha Rishi

Mande,Nidagundi

15. Bhrindadeva Maha Rishi

Chanikal, Kannadi

16. Chandrayana Riahi

Shakuna, Rajata, Matanchara

17. Dalbhyadeva Rishi

Sobagu, Soge, Sabhina,

Gundakallu.

18. Devadatta

Nema, Mayur, Kulajeeva

19. Devarshi

Rishi

P a t h / Simhasana, Mohana

2 0 . Dhoomrabindu R i s h i

Pradhani, Kala, P a t t a

2 1 . Dwaipayana R i s h i

Puttodde,

2 2 . Dwandwadeva R i s h i

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

23, Galavadeva R i s h i

Benne, Chappara, M a n t r a g a r a ,
Rahanya, Bhooshana. Aagaaa,
Samsara, Saraewata, Mavila,
Pitaka

24. Gargeya R i s h i

S a p p e , Kamhha

2 5 . Hararnuni

Kichadi, Bagalur

26. Haritra Rishi

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

27.

A l l i , Amaravati, Devaloka,
Gowda H a l l i

Indradyumna R i s h i

28. Indradyumnadeva

Patte

Basava P a t r i

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

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

3 0 . Kamuka

M a t a n g a , I r a s a l a , Yoga,
S a d a r i n a Mele. Gange
Tandavaru

Rishi

31. K a t y a y a n a d e v a
Maharshi

H u y a r i , T o g a r i , Kornara,
K o d a n y i . Masana. J a j i

32. Kausika R i s h i

C h i k k a , Benaka, B e l a k u

3 3 . Kindama R i s h i

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

34. Maitradeva R i s h i

Koravan j i ,

3 5 . Maitradyumna R i s h i

G h a n t e , Bhagya

3 6 . Malkadeva R i s h i

D a s h a n y a , Dhoopa

37. Mantradeva R i s h i

S a r i g e , Bana. B h a k t a , M a l i k a

3 8 . Mandvya

Minchu, Kanchu, Y a n j a l a .
S e e t a l a . Tolaga, J u j a l a ,
Prasanga, Bharana, B e l l i .

Rishi

Paropa, Alla

39. Malladeva R i s h i

Honnu, Honnungura, B a s a n u r u

4 0 . Matsya R i s h i

Ane, Kudure

41.

S h a g o o r i , Channoor, Karla

Mrityunjaya R i s h l

42. Mukhamuni

Karawala, Sahana

43.

Nagaradeva Rishi

Datti. Mundasa, challe

44.

Naradadeva Maharshi

Gudda, Hasike, Papatala,

Musala, Bajja

4 5 . Patanjala Rishi

Kadaga, Kade, Karana, Malka

chinna, Honnaputti

46.

Pippaladeva Maha
Rishi

Sadwika, Ganevathar,
Kallukote, Megote, Bandhumotta, Ondumatu, Sannavathar

47.

Ritwija Rishi

Ull j

4 8 . Rugvadeva Rishi

Jabbila, Bijjala, chibbala

4 9 . Sachchidanand Rishi

Hasabe, Kotagi, Karadi

5 0 . Sadananda Rishi

Doddamane, Beerane
Manana

5 1 . Sanagara Rishi

Bellulli

5 2 . Sankhyayana Rishi

Shoorane. Kadagola

5 3 . Satwika Rishi

Ungura, Konduvi, Tondehoo,

Tatwa, Bodana, Pende, Bhojana

5 4 . Shatananda Rishi

Suragi, Surime

5 5 . Shiladaya Maha Rishi

Moolagonda, Malaka

5 6 . Showanaka Hahadeva

Kanaka, Dumme, Dubbara

. Hiremane,

Rishi
5 7 . Somakadeva Rishi

Banna, Bannadasara

5 8 . Shringadeva Maha

Muchchala, ~ a d d i ,Kadapi

Rishi
59.

Tamraparna Rishi

Gange, Midi

6 0 . Valakhilya Rishi

Ganjiholu, Bhandara

6 1 . Varatantra Rishi

Varatantra, Matsya, Pada

6 2 . Vedavyasa Haha Rishi

Ajji, Darji, Jivhaji

6 3 . Vishvamitra Rishi

Hamparagondi, Kanda, Sri Rama

6 4 . Yajnyadeva Rishi

Sanna Akki

List 3
Gotra
and
the Family Names of Teluqu Devanqas
No.

Name of the Gotra

Family Name

Agastya Rishi

Achchagalu, Chunchal, Pasupula

Agasya

Aagasa

Atri Rishi

Kempula, Ampajattini, Alla

Bhaskara Rishi

Gadda

Bhaskara Deva Rishi

Baada

Bharaganda Rishi

Narada

Bhrigu Rishi

Koshan, Madakuti, Arakota,

Munegala, Boggila, Kerimela

Bhrimgi Rishi

Gavvala

Chandrakula Rishi

Rasukuntla

Charvana Rishi

Saache

Chaturmukha Brahma
Rishi

Aatru

Dadhichi Rishi

Katake

Devara ja Rishi

Cuggula

Deva Rishi

Saadhu

Doorvasa Rishi

Nimmala, Setty, Duppati,

Bomrna

Gala Rishi

Aagasa

Galava Rishi

Piduku

Garyeya Rishi

Puchchaglntala, Bhooshana,
Baalavallu

Gautama

Bommettu, Kottara

Indra Rishi

Devaloka

Kalika Rishi

Pachcha

Kapila Rishi

Pillari

Kashyapa R i s h i

B a t t a l a , Vidyavastu, Murari,
A l a g e , Tumma

Katyayana R i s h i

Chayu

Katyayani R i s h i

Muktapura

Kaundinya R i s h i

Alasayya, Erra

Kausalya R i s h i

Tottanti

Kraunchalya R i s h i

Matta

Kumbha Sambhava
Rishi

Balla

Maitreya Rishi

Parasurn, P a n d l u , N a l l a v a l l u ,
Gudi. Onte. Uddendi,
C h i n t a m b e , A r a k o t a , Gunne

Mandvya Maha R i s h i

Yarram, J a l l i , Medum.
Boodanur

Mangalya R i s h i

Ragimanu

Manu R i s h i

Putte, Daeetty

Manmaha 1Manuna)
Rishi

Gojjala, Nilegala

Manu Brahma R i s h i

Kamini

Maudgalya R i s h i

Reddy, J e e d a , Robbi, Chinta

Narada R i s h i

M a n a k u r i , Manakula

Paraahara Riahi

P a a a a , P a a c h c h a , Devi

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

Sajja

Palaki Rishi

Jonna

Patanjali Rishi

Karna, S r i n g a r i

Pipalaka Rivhi

shiranti

Raibhya

id ad ale

Sadananda R i s h i

Raacja

Sankhyayana R i s h i

Chachakkala

Shalideva Riahi

Beeranavaru

Shandilya Rishi

P e d d u s a , Sunna

Shankadeva R i s h i

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

Shankini Rishi

Chintaginjala

Shaunaka R i a h i

Bhangari

S h u k a Brahma R i s h i

Ramayana

Somaka R i s h i

Poola

Somakula R i s h i

Jeenaga

Somodbhava R i s h i

Baile, Chintakayalu,
B a d i g e , Addi

S u r y a Vamsha R i s h i

Gopa 1a

Trinabindu Rishi

Seeme

Valakhilya Rishi

B h a n d a r a , B e n a k a , Vamrni

Vartatu Rishi

Channa

Vasudeva R i s h i

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

Vedavyasa R i s h i

Elugoti

Vemula R i s h i

Aambe

Viahvamitra Riahi

C h a t t a , K o o g a t i . Kumdum,
Tirumana

Vishvavasu R i s h i

Tapasi

Vrishabha Rishi

Baana

Walmiki R i s h i

Aare

Yogabindu R i s h i

Nidadale

-I t may b e o b s e r v e d f r o m t h e a b o v e two l i s t s

that

16 Gotraa l i k e Agastya, Bhaskara, Bhaskaradeva,

Bhrigu,

Devarshi,

Narada,

Pathanjali,

G a l a v a , G a r g e y a , K a t y a y a n a , Mandvya,
Sadananda, Sankhyayana,

Somaka,

Vedavyasa

and

Vishvamitra

Devangas

are

found

in

the

list

as well as Telugu Devangas.

of

Except

Kannada
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.

of

Other Classes

Devanqas:

The history of Devangas does not become

unless

something

classes

of

people

Singadavaru/
Just
own

more is said about three

among them. 1 )

3)

These

of dancing girls

girls

assemblies

of

are

prohibited

rival

groups

called
from
of

girls;

have

2)

their

Jathi-biddavalu.
dancing

castes.

at
The

children of these dancing girls do the work of

the design on the cloths.

minor

Chinerigadu.

like other left hand castes, Devangas

class

more

Dancing

Singamvallu Devangaa and

complete

the
male

printing

The dancing girls are invited

to give performance of their art at the time of Marriage

of

rich families among the Devangas and

functions

of

the community.

the

They cannot

Religious

be

compared

either with the court-dancers of the Rajas and Maharajas

or

with the Devadasis.

are

of

Devangas

respectable and their services are limited to

Devanga
minor

The dancing girls

families.

class

Under the

modern

conditions

of the Devangas is shrinking fast

likely to disappear totally in the near future.

and

only
this
is

Yet
that

another

minor class among the

Sinqadavaru/Sinqarnvallu.

of

actually

Devangas

is

Singadavaru

a clasa of dependents who are said to

are

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

the

Singamavadu

When

Devala

was

with Asuras, one Asura hid himaelf behind

the

(Singadavaru), there
fighting
ear

of

the

riding.
begged

lion on

When

origin

of

is one legend.

which

Goddess

Chowdeshvari

the war ended, this asura

pardon.

The

goddess took

was

came

out

and

on

him

and

pity

ordained that he be excused and he be treated as servant

and supported by entire caste.

The descendants of

Asura are known as Singamvadu/Singadavaru.

beg from Devanga familier only.

this

Singadavaru

They have the privilege

of locking the doors and carrying away the food

remains

after the community lunch/dinners are over.

soon

Once

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

these
news

beggars
of

births

served as a spittoon.
and deaths to the

They

families

places and in that way act as messengers.

they
or

convey

Singam (Edgar Thurston and K. Rangachari,

But

the

other

Traditionally

have an insignia of office a horn called

154-166).

in

of

in recent years many aspects

thuthuri
1909,
of

pp

their

life and their role in the Devanga society have changed.

Bordering very closely on the Singamvallu,

is Chineri-.
Devanga

there

It is said that once in twelve years, a

leaves his home and joins the

Padmasalis.

begs

from them telling them that he is not

but

belong

to

entitlement

to

forthcoming,

he

whatever

may

he

their

own

caste.

stranger

Inspite

of

his

are

not

carries

off

be supported by them, if alms

enters
be

their house

able to pick

and
up.

He

This

is

not

considered

as stealing because a Chinerigadu is not

an

outsider.

The origin of this class of

is

Chinerigadu

not

known but it has been suggested that

and

the Sales were originally one caste, and

former

separated

Lingayats.
is

advanced

left

from

the

latter

when

Devangas
that

they

the

became

Devanga becomes a Chinerigadu only when he

in age and will eat the

by Padmasalis on their plates.

Chinerigadu

the

remains

of

food

Interestingly

is on the death buried by the Sales

(Edgar

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

Part -111
.
The History of D e v a c z Gururnath
Although

Devanga

ia

one

of

the

oldest

castes/communities in the Indian Society it did not have

a

separate

recently.
Devangas

Gururnath

The

exclusively

available

for

literature

itself

till

concerning

the

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

legend,

or
in

less like this

the

discussion

According

Vijayanagar King's

arose

about

Sanatana Dharma or not.

a

only.

whether

Court

one

Devangamatha

to

one

day

was

It seems one Sri Phanigowda

of

village near Gangavathi argued before the

king

that

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

Kula-Guru

and

traditions

It has

Kula Purana.

etc.

its

When the discussion

all

his arguments appeared convincing.

the

Guruparampara,

King.

As

such

his argument

the

Emperor

to come out with more

and

more convincing

still

Phanigowda
Guru

wandered

and

at

last

Muddusangaswamy.
together

once

Vijayanagar

momentum,

But

regarding

satisfy

Vijayanagara
substantial

points

of

he met

one

again

appeared
on

the

such

aaked

argument.

person

and
in

the

evidence

here and there in search

Phanigowda

Emperor

customs,

gained

did not

of

Phanigowda

own

Then

of

some

by

name

Muddusangaswarny
the

court

Shalivahana

of

Seke

the

1293,

Paridhavinama Samvatsara, Margasheersha Shuddha Panchami

(Thursday) and argued their point successfully.
this

event with the Royal Support the Gayatri Peeth

Hemakuta

Devanga Math, Harnpi came into

Muddusanga swamy
that

After

as

its (first?) Guru.

existence
It

1s

also

Muddusangaswamy who argued the point in the

of

wlth
nard

Royal

court

did

Math.

not become the (first) Guru of

Infact he selected one relative

the

of

Devanga

Phanigowda,

trained him, initiated him with Brahmopadesha, gave

him

the

new

name

(first?)

"Muddusangaswamy"

and

made

him

Guru of the Hampi Hemakuta Math.

as

Started

in

this way, the Guruparampara continued for some years and

went into obscurity for unknown historical reasons.
Then
any

for a few centuries Devangas did

Guru or Jagadguru of their own with an

Gurumath.

When many other castes and

not

have

established

communities

had

their own Gurumaths and Devangas did not have any,

fact began to pinch the Devanga leadership.

this

Out of such

a situation, the "Devanga Dharma Prasaraka Samaja"

into
was

existence in 1904 in Belgaum.

to

regain/rejuvenate

Guruparampara.
Devanga
Bagalkot

Kula

This

the

Its main

lost

Guru

Samaja. under the

Bhushana

Shankrappa

Devanga

Ceremony

of this new Jagadguru,

Devanga

Math.

As a

part

Peeth,

Sakri

of

of

first

the

the

He died a premature death.

of

Hampi

Crowning

Akhlla

this Srikantha Swamy did not

of

Swamy

Bharata

Maha Sammelana was organized on 22nd May

Unfortunately

and

leadership

Srikantha

and designated him a s the next Jagadguru

Hemakuta

objective

Banappa

collected funds and selected

came

live

1910.
long.

Not
the

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

of

events,

"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

person

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 c r o w n
him.

But

unfortunately

he

also

expired

quite

i n 1 9 2 1 , a d e s c e n d a n t o f Phanigowda

family

unexpectedly.
Then

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 S h a m b u n a t h
.
Swamy o f K a s h m i r 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
and

initiation.

A l t h o u g h t h i n g s moved smom0 t h

and

the

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 moment,

this

When

this

designated

Guru

refused t o adopt Sanyasa.

happened, even t h i s t h i r d a t t e m p t t o i n s t a l 1 a Jagadguru

in

the

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

Devanga

Math

f a i l e d miserably.
Thereafter
searching

for

some d e c a d e s ,

the

efforts

a Devanga J a g a d g u r u w e r e s t o p p e d .

once a g a i n such e f f o r t s s t a r t e d .

In

for
1988,

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
Nagar,

Bangalore for t r a i n i n g and t h e Sanyasa

Rajeshvari
deeksha.

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
and
Puri.

changed
This

h i s name a s S r i S r i
Sri

Sri

Sri

Swamy

Sri

Swamy

Dayananda

1988

Dayananda
Puri

was

u l t i m a t e l y crowned a s t h e J a g a d g u r u of G a y a t r i Peetha of
Hampi

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

This

is

how t h e D e v a n q a s g o t t h e i r J a g a d g u r u

and

restarted

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 and Guru Parampara.

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 and c r e a t i n g

awareneaa

Now,

among

the

tradition.
the
Math

people

about

their

lost

Aa a t p r e a e n t h e is t h e o n l y

Devangae, and t h e G a y a t r i P e e t h of
t h e o n l y Devanga J a g a d g u r u

is

devangaa

and

regained

Jagadguru
Hampi

of

Hemakuta

Peeth/Gurumath

of

REFERENCES

Nanjundayya, H . V .
and I y e r , Anantha
Kriahna L.K.

1970

Devanga Puranavu (Kannada)

B a n g a l o r e , Devanga S a n g h a .

19281931

The Myaore T r i b e s and C a s t e s

V o l s . I 1 t o IV, Mysore,
University Press.

, T h u r s t r o n , Edgar and 1 9 0 9
Rangachari, K .

C a s t e s and T r i b e s o f
S o u r t h e r n I n d i a , Vole. I t o V ,
Madras,
Governemnt
Pre,
(Reprint:
Delhi,
Cosmo
Publications, 1975).