Kaibarta (caste)

[Jay Dee Lee]

Kaibarta(caste) -The Kaibartas are found to be one of the aboriginal
ethnic groups that inhabited in Orrisa, Bengal and Assam from unknown
past. The most established theory is that the Kaibartas are Dravidians
or they belong to Dravidian stalk. They were the makers of
civilization in the Indus valley at Harrappa and Mohenjodaro-the
developers of Indian writings, township and drainage and central
heating system before 2500BC.

Contents
1 The people
2 Origin
3 Chaiti Ghoda Dance of Orissa
4 'Gangas ,Kaibarttas and tambura clan:'
5 Western Gangas
6 Kaibartas of Midnapur:
7 References

[edit] The peopleThese people were of a royal tribe. Historians such
as Jagabandhu Singh have referenced the Padma Purana and the
Brahmavaibarta Purana and have come to the conclusion that Mahishyas
and Kaivarttas (Kaibarttas) are the same caste. In general terms, "the
child born of a Kshatriya father and Vaisya mother is called a
Kaivartta or Mahisya". For whatever reason, the Mahishyas migrated
from Ayodhya and entered what is now Midnapore through the Chota
Nagpur Plateau. Biharilal Kalye believes that the founder of the Ganga
Dynasty of Orissa, Anantavarma belonged to the Mahishya race. The
Mahishyas, like the Kaibarttas, were originally fishermen, but today
they are engaged in agriculture. There are two sects of Kaibarattas -
the Jele Kaibarttas (fishermen) and Hele Kaibarttas (farmers).
www.nazi.org.uk/indo-aryans%20pdfs/EthnographyCastesTribes.pdf

[edit] OriginIn Sanskrit, the word 'kaivartta' means one who depends
on water, in other words, the community that earns its livelihood from
related occupation. Anthropologically, they belong to the Dravidian
origin. According to historical documents, the Kaivarttas were living
in Kamrup even before the 9th-10th century AD. They came to Mjauli in
mid 17th century tempted by the conditions conductive to their fish
earning occupation. The Kaivarttas of Majuli have extended valuable
contribution to its political, social, economic and cultural life.

The people are spread through a geographic location extending from
modern-day Maharashtra, Chattisgarh, and Orissa. The Bengali historian
Sevananda Bharati is of the opinion that the ancient home of the
Mahishya race is near the present day Ratnavati on the bank of the
Narmada River, which was then known as Mahishamati. The people having
surname GANGI mong Mudiraj seems be descended from professional
fishermen background. They could be the people who are some times
known as Gangi Makkalu. They seems to be the people descended from
Western Gangas who assumed the title of Muttarasa. Some of them still
claim to be Mudiraju, to be more specific, they call themselves as
Gangi Makkalu Mudiraju. The people having surname Gangireddy could
also the people of Western Ganga race.

N.N. Basu, who has translated the inscriptions of the imperial Gangas
has mentioned that the first Ganga king Ananta-varman and his
descendants, who ruled over Gangabada or Gangabadi were also called
Rudhi Ganga. 19 It may be mentioned here that the word radhi or rudhi
was applied to the Kaivarttas who inhabited the entire east coast
region stretching from the mouth of river Ganges to the river Godavari
in the South. It has been mentioned earlier that apart from the Ganga
dynasty another dynasty called Ganga Vamsa has been living at
different places of India. They are identified as kaivarttas, Keutas
and Dhivaras.

Trying to identify them, E.Thurston has said, the Jallaries are Telugu
Fishermen, Palanquin bearers and cultivators. 'Jallaries' is derived
from Jala, a net. Some are fresh water fishermen, while other fish
with a cast-net (Visuru Valalu) from the sea shore or on the open sea.
They bear the name Ganga Vamsamu, or people of Ganga, in the same way
that a division of the Kabbera fishing caste is called Gangimakkalu.
In caste Organisation and ceremonials, the Jalaries coincide with the
Milas. They are called Noliyas by the Oriyas of Ganjam. Speaking about
the Kabberas mentioned above, Thurston has said elsewhere:
Gangimakkalu or Gangaputra meaning children or sons of the Ganga, the
Goddess of water is the name a subdivision of Kabbera . The allied
Gangavamsamu or people of Ganga is a name for Jalaris. The Kabberas
are a caste of Canarees fishermen and cultivators. The Keutas worship
especially Dasaraja and Gangadevi.

Kalabhras => Kalabras => Kalbaras => Kalberas => Kabberas Kabberas=>
Kabbelas =Kabbeligas => Kabbaligas

It is widely believed that Mudirajas are the descendants of Kalabhras.
It is a well known fact that huge population of Mudirajas are kolis
spread into South India. Kabbaligas are also known as kolis in
Karnataka. Today Kabbaligas demanding Scheduled Tribe status in
Karnataka. Saint Purandara das who migrated from Maharastra to
Karnataka during Vijayanagar rule once told that he was a Kabbaliga
(Koli Nayak). Kabberas seem to be either Kalabhras or related to
Kalabhras, who invaded to South India uprooting the well establish
kingdoms of Chola, Chera and Pandyan.

In Karnool district, various persons actually belonging to communities
such as Maddi (dying ofcloths) , Bestha (fishing), Sunnapollu (lime
manufacturing), Gangi Makkalu Mudiraju (agri), Kabbera, which are
Telugu Caste group are to be known as "Bariki" are having marital
relationships with all other non-Scheduled Caste Communities of
various "Telugollu" Caste groups. Tenugus are a subcaste of Mudiraj in
Telangana.

They were given Barika Inam lands for their services rendering menial
services to the officials visiting the villages and in due course they
came to be known as Barikas.The Maddi, Kabboar, Gangi Makkalu, Telugu
and similar communities also have to be known as Barikas They are
neither un-touchables nor do they suffer from discrimination in regard
to access to public places. The Barikas are not SCs and entirely
different from the Community denoted by the term Bariki included in
the list.

[edit] Chaiti Ghoda Dance of OrissaThis folk items is connected with
the Sakti cult of coastal Orissa confined to the people of Kaibarta
caste only. This festival is observed by the Kaibartas in the month of
Chaitra from the fool moon day to eight day of Vaisakha in honour of
their caste deity Vasuli devi. A horse ridden man with the head of a
horse well-dressed and trunk built of bamboo, dances to the tune of
Dhola and Mahuri accompanied by songs composed by the local poets. The
dancing party consists of two dancers, one male and one female, a
drumer and a piper. The Kaibarta song of Achutananda Das, (one of the
poets of Pancha Sakha group flourished in the sixteenth century) is
believed to be only religious text of the Kaibartas. The origin of
this dance goes back to the hoary past.

The goddess Vasuli is held very high among the Kaibartas. Here it may
be mentioned that the goddess has a wide distribution in Orissa, but
is considered to be the oldest in Puri where Raja of Puri provided
land grants for regular worship of the deity. Vasuli in many places is
taken to be one of the manifestations of the Durga and one of sixty-
four Yoginis.

The horse dance is very popular and attracts a large audience. The
performing group consists of three main characters- Rauta, Rautani and
the Horse dancer, besides the drummer and the piper. The songs recited
in the performace consists of the episode from mythology. Rautani is
Rauta's Co-dancer and Co-singer.

[edit] 'Gangas ,Kaibarttas and tambura clan:'Dr. Nagaswamy, in his
Mutharayar - defines them (Mutharays) as Ganga Kings of Kongani
belonging to Tamil Mudhu Velir kudi.

After obtaining an easy victory over the Ganga king Muttarasa ruling
in Gangavadi, Govinda III, the son and successor of Dhruva led
victorious campaigns in Central and Northern India. The Rastrakuta
family produced several great conquerors, who boldly invaded north and
south India and achieved memorable victories. Dhruva (A.D. 780—793)
was the first among them.

Kings of Ganga dynasy claimed their descent from solar race kings. The
Madalapanji and Korni copperplate inscription of Chodaganga Dev that
the Gangas are the descendants of a king or an individual named
Gangeya who belonged to the solar dynasty. Gangeya was Bhisma and the
son of Ganga. Ganga was born in a Kaivartta hamlet on the Ganges
Valley. Ganga devi was a fisher-woman and beloned to Mahishya or a
Kaivartta. When her relationship with Santanu was severed, she, along
with her eighth child, had returned to the same Kaivartta hamlet and
reared him up. Later on this child came to be known as Gangaputra (son
of Ganga) or Gangeya. Since Santanu was from solar race, gangeya was
recognized as suryavamsi and hence chodaganga claimed descendancy from
solar race. The origin of the Ganga royal dynasty and that of the
common people of Ganga dynasty were one and the same and all of them
belonged to the Kaivartta or Mahishya community. Hence we can say that
the Ganga dynasty has originated from the tradition rich, glorious and
ancient Dasa-Kaivartta race or community.

We find two major dynasties in South India, over the period, known as
the Eastern Gangas and the Western Gangas. The empires spread from
Karnatak, to Orissa, to Andhra Pradesh. The Southern Gangas histories
state that they came south from North India. About 500 CE, led by
leader Vishnugupta. They were originally from the land between the
Ganga and the Jumna /Yamuna rivers. They are linked to Ahichtra and
Ayodhyapur in the Ganga/Jumna basin.

In the Andhavaram copperplate inscription of Indravarman III of Ganga
dynasty, the Gangas are described as the descendants of the `Tumbura'
dynasty. It is mentioned in the Vayu Purana that at the foot hills of
the Vindhyas, there was a Janapada (human habitation) named Tumura,
Tumbura. The Janapadas such as Tosali, Kosala, Tripura, Vidisha,
Tumura, Tumhura, Nishadha, Anupa, Sundhikera, Vitihotra and Abanti are
at the foot of the Vindhyas. This implies that all these Janapadas are
to the north of the Vindhyas.

Mr. Dubey has identified the Tumbura-race with Mashyas. Quoting
evidences from the Padma Purana and Brahmavaibarta Purana, the
historian Jagabandhu Singh has established that the Mahisyas and the
Kaivarttas are virtually the same. In his opinion, the child born of a
Kshatriya father and Vaisya mother is called a Kaivartta or Mahisya.
According to the Bengali historian Sevananda Bharati, the primary
abode of the Mahisya-race was located in the northern bank of river
Narmada, which originated from the foot hills of the Vindhyas. The
present day Ratnavati on the bank of river Narmada is perhaps another
name of the ancient city Mahishimati. It was the old capital of the
Mahishyas. Therefore, it had the name Mahishimati Nagari (the city of
Mahishimati). Mahishmati was the capital of Chedis (Haihayas) and
ancestors of Kalachuris and Kalabhras.

Several theories have A few inscriptions state they belogned to
Jahnaveya kula and Kanvayana gotra prompting some historians to
believe the Gangas were immigrants from the Northern India and
descendants of the Kanva dynasty.Others believe they hailed from Kongu
Nadu in present day Tamil Nadu since some Tamil inscriptions call them
Konganiyarasa[3][4] Other inscriptions state they were descendents of
Andhra Ikshvaku dynasty who came to power after the fall of the
Satavahana empire during the 3rd century. Hence it is argued they
earlier must have ruled in Andhra Pradesh as successors of the
Satavahana.

Mahishya often also spelled as Mahisya, is a Hindu caste. Members of
this caste are traditionally found in the Indian states of West Bengal
and Orissa. Mahishyas are one of the predominant castes in West Bengal
especially in the southern districts of Howrah. Mahishyas and
Kaivarttas (Kaibarttas) are the same caste. the child born of a
Kshatriya father and Vaisya mother is called a Kaivartta or Mahisya.
Kaivarttas are spread through a geographic location extending from
modern-day Maharashtra, Chattisgarh, and Orissa. The ancient home of
the Mahishya race is near the present day Ratnavati on the bank of the
Narmada River, which was then known as Mahishamati. Biharilal Kalye
believes that the founder of the Ganga Dynasty of Orissa, Anantavarma
belonged to the Mahishya race.

[edit] Western GangasA 10th century Pallava inscription calls them
descendents of two princess from Ayodhya who founded a kingdom in
Cuddapah with Perur as their capital before the 4th century later
moving their capital to Kolar and finally in 466 to Talakad in present
day Karnataka. Talakkad was patronized by the Western Gangas in the
first millennium CE. The history of the ancient temple city of
Talakad, a pilgrimage site, has become lost in time. The illustrious
and powerful Western Gangas ruled from 350 to 1050 AD until they were
overthrown by the Cholas in the 11th century.

The area they controlled was called Gangavadi and primarily included
the present day districts of Mysore, Chamrajanagar, Tumkur, Kolar,
Mandya and Bangalore. At times they also controlled small areas in
Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. In their early years they were
feudatory to Pallavas and directly ruled Kolar and the Kongu Nadu on
their behalf and at other times independently. Hence the region was
also known as Nollambavadi. They continued to rule until the 10th
century as feudatories of Rashtrakuta and Chalukyas.

It is known from the Vizagpattanam & Korni copperplate inscriptions of
Chodaganga Dev that by 5th century A.D., eighty kings of the Ganga
dynasty had ruled over Gangabadi of Kolahalpur. In this context we may
mention that historians have agreed that the Mahabharata war was
fought in 9th century B.C. This means the Ganga dynasty had appeared
and achieved renown much before the events described in the epic
Mahabharata. It has been noted above that Sevananda Bharati has
established ancient Tamralipta or Modern Tamluk as the primary abode
of the Ganga dynasty. The inscriptions of the imperial Gangas has
mentioned that the first Ganga king Ananta-varman and his descendants,
who ruled over Gangabada or Gangabadi were also called Rudhi Ganga. It
may be mentioned here that the word radhi or rudhi was applied to the
Kaivarttas who inhabited the entire east coast region stretching from
the mouth of river Ganges to the river Godavari in the South.

Rudhi => Radhi => Redhi => Reddi => Reddy

The Jallaries are Telugu Fishermen, Palanquin bearers and cultivators.
'Jallaries' is derived from Jala, a net. Some are fresh water
fishermen, while other fish with a cast-net (Visuru Valalu) from the
sea shore or on the open sea. They bear the name Ganga Vamsamu, or
people of Ganga, in the same way that a division of the Kabbera
fishing caste is called Gangimakkalu. In caste Organisation and
ceremonials, the Jalaries coincide with the Milas. They are called
Noliyas by the Oriyas of Ganjam. Gangimakkalu or Gangaputra meaning
children or sons of the Ganga, the Goddess of water is the name a
subdivision of Kabbera. The allied Gangavamsamu or people of Ganga is
a name for Jalaris. The Kabberas are a caste of Canarees fishermen and
cultivators. The Keutas worship especially Dasaraja and Gangadevi.
First, the Kaivarttas were divided in to two parts. Those who resorted
to cultivation were called Halias (cultivators). Those who earned
their livelihood with nets were called Jalia or Jalua (fishermen).

Kabberas => Kabbelas => Kabbalas => Kabbaligas

Kabbaligas are fishermen of Karnataka in the region that falls under
erstwhile ganga dynasty. They claim to be the Mudiraj or equivalents
of Mudiraj.

Mother Ganga, the water Goddess, is their chief deity and they claim
that they are the descendants of Ganga. They think that the famous
Ganga kings of Kalinga belonged to the different branches of their
race. Kaivarttas belonging to Ganga dynasty and living in the coastal
areas call themselves Jajari. They are seen in the entire east coast
region starting from Midnapur to Rameswar in the south. The Jalari
fishermen living in Ganjam (Orissa) and Andhra Pradesh have different
names like Jalari, Nolia, Barakotia, Satakoshia, Panerundu kotala,
Edukotala, Jona, Buguri, Bauri, Behera, etc. The Jalaris of Ganga
dynasty claim that they had built the famous ports of kalinga namely
Peddapatna, Visakhapatna, Revalpatna and Vimilipatna. They invite the
people of their own caste living in these places to their marriage
ceremonies. The chief occupations of these Kaivarttas were
cultivation, fishing and maritime trade and expedition. The maritime
trade of ancient Kalinga for which the Oriyas are proud was virtually
controlled by the Kaivarttas. The adventurous Kaivartta sailors were
sailing in the sea in their boats for months together and were
carrying on trade in the distant islands in the sea.

Kaivaratta people were acting as Dalapati (leader) of the Navy of the
Gajapati kings of Ganga dynasty. From this it appears that they had
relationship with Ganga dynasty. From ancient times Bashuli (Basheli),
the tutelary deity of the Kaivarttas continues to be worshipped in the
palace of the Gajapati king of Puri with pomp & ceremony. t appears
that in the ancient days these Kaivarttas and their tradition had
close relationship with the kings of Ganga dynasty. Twelve kalinga
coins of the time of king Anantavarma Chodaganga Dev have been
discovered from Kalingapatna, a place near Mukhalinga, which was once
upon a time the capital of Kalinga. On one side of the fifth coin,
there is the impression of a boat. The Life Style of the Fisherman of
the Chilika Region, has mentioned that the fishermen or the Kaivarttas
of Chilika region worship Goddess Ganga. These Kaivarttas are
identified as Vaisyas from the point of view of their nature,
activities and occupation.

The Dasas (Dasa) belong to the class of Dhibaras or Keutas
(fishermen). The Ganga dynasty is the part of a great ancient
Kaivartta or Dasa dynasty. Their original abode was located in the
basins of rivers such as Sindhu, Saraswati, Saraju, Yamuna, and the
sacred Ganga flowing in the north western frontiers of India. The
mouth of river Ganga identified as Gangaridai was included in the
above regions. For this reason, even after the rise and fall of a long
historical period, they feel proud today by identifying themselves
with Ganga dynasty or by calling themselves sons of Ganga. They have
been worshipping mother Ganga as the primordial mother. Mount Kailash
was the prime place of worship of the Linga worshippers or the
devotees of Lord Shiva. The Hindus believe that the river Ganga had
emerged from the matted hair of Shiva. Therefore, Ganga is treated as
the most sacred river of India. Possibly for this reason the people of
Ganga dynasty have thought it proper to identify Ganga as the
primordial mother even though they lived in the basins of different
rivers in the past.

The Gola caste is an important branch of Go-oda or Gauda caste. Like
the Keutas or Kaivarttas they claim that they belong to Ganga dynasty
and that mother Ganga or Gangamma is their mother (Goddess). The icon
of Gangamma is carved in the walls of their houses. The face and eyes
of this icon are round and it has neither limbs nor body. They think
one of their branches had conceived the image of Lord Jagannath. One
of their branches is called Gangaudu or Gangidu. From the above
description it is obvious that apart from the Ganga dynasty, a
community called Gangavamsa lived in different parts of India. They
are identified as Kaivartta, Keutas or Dhibara. It will be reasonable
to say that the Ganga Dynasty had originated from the Kaivarttas
belonging to the Ganga race.

It is known from history that these Kaivarttas have been living in
large numbers in areas stretching from the mouth of river Ganges, the
Gangaridai region through the entire eastern coast of Kalinga up to
Rameswaram in Tamilnadu. Besides they are also living in large numbers
in the basins of the rivers namely, Ganga, Yamuna and Saraju of
Northern India. They also live in Maharashtra, Mysore and the Vindhya
regions. The people of Madras originated from the ancient Tamralipta
race. The Kaivartta-race and the Mahishya-race are basically one and
the same.

The Gangas were an important ruling dynasty of ancient Karnataka. They
are also known as Western Ganga dynasty to distinguish them from the
Eastern Ganga dynasty. They ruled as a sovereign power during 350 -
550 period initially from Kolar later moving their capital to Talakad
on the banks of the Kaveri River in modern Mysore district.
Relationship with the Chalukyas and later the Rashtrakutas. Their rule
over Southern Karnataka resulted in the construction of fine monuments
in Shravanabelagola and Kambadahalli. They patronised fine arts due to
which literature in Sanskrit and Kannada flourished.

According to one inscription the Ganga dynasties of Karnataka and
Kalinga had come from Northern India. In the opinion of Dr. N. K.
Sahu, both the western and eastern Ganga dynasty belong to one and the
same dynasty and they came from North India in 5th century A.D. and
established new kingdoms in Kalinga and Karnataka respectively.

The Western Gangas ruled in Mysore state (Gangavadi) from about AD 250
to about 1004. The Eastern Gangas ruled Kalinga from 1028 to 1434–35.
These two dynasties were distinct but remotely related. The first
ruler of the Western Ganga, Konganivarman, carved out a kingdom by
conquest, but his successors, Madhava I and Harivarman, expanded their
influence by marital and military alliances. They encouraged scholarly
work, built some remarkable temples, and encouraged cross-peninsular
trade.

The Western Gangas and the Kadambas of Banavasi founded, almost
coevally, in the middle or second half of the 4th century A.D., the
first two sovereign kingdoms of Karnatkaka, by virtues of their
location in between the Tamilian and Karnataka powers, the Gangas
served as an effective buffer state and theri inscriptions provide
enough data on the close contacts they had established with the
powers, people and cultures both to the north and the south.

[edit] Kaibartas of Midnapur:The early history of Midnapur centres
round the ancient town of Tamluk, which was in the beginning of the
5th century an important Buddhist settlement and maritime harbour. In
the middle of the 7th century, Hiuen Tsiang, the celebrated pilgrim
from China, describes Tamliik as a great port, with ten Buddhist
monasteries, a thousand monks, and a pillar by King Asoka 200 feet
high. According to the earliest Hindu legend, it was distant from the
coast about 8 miles ; and so steadily has the process of land-making
at the mouth of the Hiigli gone on, that at present it is fully 60
miles from the sea. The earliest kings of Tamluk belonged to the
Peacock dynasty, and were Kshattriyas by caste. The last of this line,
Nisankha Narayan, died childless ; and at his death the throne was
usurped by a powerful aboriginal chief named Kalu Bhuiya, who was the
founder of the line of Kaibartta or fisher-kings of Tamluk. The
Kaibarttas are generally considered to be descendants of the
aboriginal Bhuiyas, who have embraced Hinduism. The present Kaibartta
Raja is the twenty-fifth in descent from the founder.

www.mandirnet.org/toi/bengal/m7.htm

orissa.gov.in/e-magazine/Journal/Journal2/pdf/ohrj-03.pdf [1] [2] [3]
[4] [5] [6] [7]




[edit] References

^ Gaude Brahmana-Mahima Ch. Mazumdar
^ Tribes and castes of Bengal-Sir Harbert Risley
^ Imperial Gazetteers of India, Vol. 1
^ Utkalre Bauddha yugara Itihasa O’ Anyanya Prabandha-Birupaksha Kar
^ Wilson’s World History
^ The Kaibarttas in Assam-Ms. Dibya Das & P. Hazarika
^ Ethnography (castes and tribes) 1912- Sir Athelstane Baines