Castes and Tribes of Southern India. Vol. 7 of 7

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

42997

Title

Castes and Tribes of Southern India. Vol. 7 of 7

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

Edgar Thurston's final volume offers a definitive anthropological survey of Southern India's diverse castes and tribes, from the Nilgiri Toda to the coastal Yānādis. Rich with ethnographic detail, this text illuminates unique customs, religious practices, and social structures across Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Andhra Pradesh.

Summary up to 500 words

Volume VII of Edgar Thurston's *Castes and Tribes of Southern India* offers a comprehensive ethnographic survey of groups designated T through Z, capturing the social fabric of Southern India at the turn of the 20th century. The volume begins with an exhaustive examination of the Toda people of the Nilgiri Hills, detailing their unique nomadic lifestyle, distinctive social organization, and cremation practices where the deceased are carried on foot to burial sites. Thurston explores the complex caste dynamics of the Udaiyans, Nattamans, Malaimans, and Sudarmans, tracing their origins to a Chola dynasty legend involving three wives. He also documents the Vāriyar temple servants, who specialize in garland-making and sweeping, highlighting their Saivite devotion and specific marriage customs like marumakkathāyam inheritance. Significant attention is given to the Mannān washermen, whose ritual duties include providing sacred dress for Nāyar life events and performing purification ceremonies. The text further describes the Vannāns, who perform devil-dancing ceremonies known as teyyāttam to drive out evil spirits, often involving dramatic rituals with Chāmundi figures. Thurston documents the Yānādis of Sriharikota, noting their herbal medicine knowledge, hunting skills, and reputation for thievy, alongside the distinct but often confused Yānāti cultivators of Ganjam. Further entries describe the Vanniyan oil-pressers, the Yāta toddy-drawers, and various other occupational groups like the Pishārati flower-sellers and Kabbāra musicians. Throughout the volume, Thurston integrates census data, local gazetteers, and missionary accounts to paint a vivid picture of Southern Indian society. He captures diverse cultural practices, from buffalo sacrifices in Mangalam to the intricate marriage rites of the Yāta caste. The text provides deep insights into the lives of these communities, preserving their traditions, beliefs, and social structures for future generations.

LLM editorial rating

4.5/5

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Categories

• Ethnology
• Social Life and Customs