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| Their name comes from a mythical hero and from the words "kai" (hand) and "koi" (shuttle). They are also known as Sengundar, which means a red dagger, which is traced to the legend of the earth being harassed by demons, which led to the people asking the god ] to help them. He was furious with the demonic giants and sent six sparks from his eyes. ], his wife became frightened and retired to her chamber but dropped nine beads from her anklets. ] converted those beads into nine women, each giving birth to a hero, complete with moustache and daggers. These nine led by Subramanya, with a large army destroyed the demons. Kaikolans or Sengundar claim descent from one of the nine heroes <ref name=" http://globalindiamissions.org/newsletter/nwsltr0802.htm"> http://globalindiamissions.org/newsletter/nwsltr0802.htm</ref>. They consider the different parts of the loom to represent various gods and sages. There are seventy-two subdivisions (nadu or desams). | Their name comes from a mythical hero and from the words "kai" (hand) and "koi" (shuttle). They are also known as Sengundar, which means a red dagger, which is traced to the legend of the earth being harassed by demons, which led to the people asking the god ] to help them. He was furious with the demonic giants and sent six sparks from his eyes. ], his wife became frightened and retired to her chamber but dropped nine beads from her anklets. ] converted those beads into nine women, each giving birth to a hero, complete with moustache and daggers. These nine led by Subramanya, with a large army destroyed the demons. Kaikolans or Sengundar claim descent from one of the nine heroes <ref name=" http://globalindiamissions.org/newsletter/nwsltr0802.htm"> http://globalindiamissions.org/newsletter/nwsltr0802.htm</ref>. They consider the different parts of the loom to represent various gods and sages. There are seventy-two subdivisions (nadu or desams). | ||
| Traditionally, one girl in every family was set apart to be dedicated to temple service and becomes a ] (meaning female servant of god). In the temple, the girl is considered married to the temple deity, often the Hindu destroyer god ] but in practice becomes a prostitute, especially to the Brahmans and she learns traditional music and dancing<ref name="Contending identities: Sacred prostitution and reform in colonial South India Priyadarshini Vijaisri A1, A1 Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS), New Delhi, South Asia: Journal of South Asian Studies Publisher: Routledge, part of the Taylor & Francis Group Issue: Volume 28, Number 3 / December 2005 Pages: 387 - 411. http://journalsonline.tandf.co.uk/link.asp?id=jv31l27518262711">Contending identities: Sacred prostitution and reform in colonial South India Priyadarshini Vijaisri A1, A1 Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS), New Delhi, South Asia: Journal of South Asian Studies Publisher: Routledge, part of the Taylor & Francis Group Issue: Volume 28, Number 3 / December 2005 Pages: 387 - 411. http://journalsonline.tandf.co.uk/link.asp?id=jv31l27518262711</ref><ref name=" http://globalindiamissions.org/newsletter/nwsltr0802.htm"> http://globalindiamissions.org/newsletter/nwsltr0802.htm</ref><ref name="http://www.go2southasia.org/l_peoples.html">http://www.go2southasia.org/l_peoples.html </ref>. | |||
| ==Religion, Culture and Customs== | ==Religion, Culture and Customs== | ||
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Sengunthar - Kaikolar
The Sengunthar also called as Kaikolar, are a large Tamil and Telugu socially backward caste of weavers in the states of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh in southern India.
Origin
Their name comes from a mythical hero and from the words "kai" (hand) and "koi" (shuttle). They are also known as Sengundar, which means a red dagger, which is traced to the legend of the earth being harassed by demons, which led to the people asking the god Shiva to help them. He was furious with the demonic giants and sent six sparks from his eyes. Parvati, his wife became frightened and retired to her chamber but dropped nine beads from her anklets. Shiva converted those beads into nine women, each giving birth to a hero, complete with moustache and daggers. These nine led by Subramanya, with a large army destroyed the demons. Kaikolans or Sengundar claim descent from one of the nine heroes . They consider the different parts of the loom to represent various gods and sages. There are seventy-two subdivisions (nadu or desams).
Religion, Culture and Customs
Most of the Kaikolans practice the Hindu religion and are followers of the god Shiva and a few follow god Vishnu. They take part in the annual festival at Tirupati in honour of the goddess Gangamma. During the festival of Subramanya on Siva Samharam Day, they commemorate the legend of their origin and dress up to represent the nine heroes.
Other names
Kaikolar, Sengunthar, Karikalabhakthulu, Kaikali, Sengundam, Sangunther. Apparently there are a lot of tamil speaking sengunthars in Chittor district of AP.
Kootam/kulam
Kootam defines birth from a single male ancestor. Kootam is transferred patrilineally i.e., via the father of a person. Hence people belonging to the same kootam are considered brothers and sisters. So marriage between a male and female belonging to the same kootam is prohibited however distant they may be related.
citation needed
Ancestral origin and Gods/Goddesses of various Kootam/kulam
The ancestral origin and Gods/Goddesses of various kootams of Sengunthar are:
citation needed
| Kootam Name | Ancestral origin | God | Goddess | Temple Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kaanchan | Please enter | Please enter | Please enter | Please enter |
| ChinnanChetty | Erode District | Please enter | Please enter | Please enter |
| KulandaiChetty | Erode District | Palani Murugan | Kanchipuram Kamatchi Amman | Kavindapadi, Erode District |
| Veerabahu | Please enter | Please enter | Please enter | Please enter |
| kanoorar | Please enter | Please enter | Please enter | Please enter |
| kariyoorar | Please enter | Please enter | Please enter | Please enter |
| uhayanoorar | Please enter | Please enter | Please enter | Please enter |
| sevoorar | Please enter | Please enter | Please enter | Please enter |
| pulikutti | Please enter | Please enter | Please enter | Please enter |
| Annathana cholan | Please enter | Please enter | Please enter | Please enter |
| karumanda vathiayar | Please enter | Please enter | Please enter | Please enter |
| 24 nadu pattakarar | Please enter | Please enter | Please enter | Please enter |
| pasiyoorar | Please enter | Please enter | Please enter | Please enter |
| karuvalooran | Please enter | Please enter | Please enter | Please enter |
| Gunnathroorar | Please enter | Please enter | Please enter | Please enter |
| Sooriya Mudhali Kootam | Erode Dt | Please enter | Pon Parappi Amman | Please enter |
| Thadi Komban Kootam | Erode Dt | Please enter | Nalla Pulli Amman | Please enter |
| Vazhthu Mudhali | Erode Dt | Please enter | Please enter | Please enter |
| Samaya Mudhali | Erode Dt | Please enter | Please enter | Please enter |
| LastRow | LastRow | LastRow | LastRow |
Associations
There are many associations for Sengunthars.
They are:
Socio Economic Service Society (SES) in Nungambakkam - Chennai.
Sengunthar Mahajana Sangam.
Notable persons
EVKS Sampath? He belongs to EVR's family: EVR is Naicker.
Books
The warrior merchants : textiles, trade, and territory in South India by Mattison Mines