Karava

The origins of the term Karava are still debated. The name might have derived from the Tamil Karaiyar, where "Karava" has the same root word kara or karai meaning "coast" or "shore" in Tamil.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rUsHAQAAIAAJ|title=International Journal of Dravidian Linguistics|last=|first=|date=1990|publisher=Department of Linguistics, University of Kerala.|isbn=|location=|pages=110|language=en}}[https://books.google.com/books?id=xc8oW6pedrwC&pg=PA137 Vaduga: Sri Lanka and the Maldive Islands, By Chandra Richard De Silva, p.111 & 137] The earliest recorded instance could be the Prakrit inscription at the Abhayagiri Vihāra dating from the 1st century BC denoting a Dameda karava navika which means Tamil Karava mariner.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7pvpAAAAMAAJ|title=Ancient Anuradhapura: The Monastic City|last=Seneviratna|first=Anuradha|date=1994|publisher=Archaeological Survey Department, Government of Sri Lanka|isbn=9789559159025|pages=288|language=en}} The name "Karava" has also been proposed to be a corruption of the Sanskrit name Kaurava, following their origin story. According to the Janavamsaya, the term originates from Prince Karavanti, a descendant of the mythical king Upasāgara who accompanied the overseas voyage of Prince Vijaya, the legendary king of Tambapanni.{{Cite book|last=Somadasa|first=K.D.|title=Catalogue of the Hugh Nevill Collection of Sinhalese Manuscripts, Volume 5|date=1990|publisher=The British Library Publishing|pages=72-3|isbn=9780712306478|language=en}} Other historical counts refer to them and also the Karaiyars as Careas and Kaurawar.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SSjjAAAAMAAJ|title=Kurukshetra|date=1983|publisher=Sri Lak-Indo Study Group|pages=78|language=en}}

{{See also|Timeline of the Kurukulam}}

Many Kurukula communities throughout Sri Lanka and south India claim an origin from the Kuru kingdom and the Kauravas of the Hindu epic Mahabharata.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GV3abjkKdB4C|title=The Ceylon Journal of the Humanities|date=1970|publisher=University of Sri Lanka|pages=34–35|language=en}} For instance, Kurukulattaraiyan was the name ascribed to 'the prince who wore a golden anklet' that commanded the army of Vijayabahu I (11th century AD) to end Chola rule in Sri Lanka.

Studies on the establishment of caste system in Sinhalese society show that the history of the Karava caste does not go beyond the Kotte period (15th–16th century AD).{{Cite journal |last=Amarasinghe |first=Jayantha |last2=Kariyakarawana |first2=Saman M. |date=December 2014 |title=Immigrated national identity: Karava and Sinhalese Mask Drama (Kolam) |url=http://ir.lib.seu.ac.lk/handle/123456789/999 |journal=Journal of Social Review |publisher=Department of Social Sciences, South Eastern University of Sri Lanka |volume=3 |issue=1 |pages=58}} However, typically only four castes were mentioned prior to this era and migrants were usually mentioned by their ethnicity.{{Cite book|title=The Feast of the Sorcerer: Practices of Consciousness and Power|url=https://archive.org/details/feastsorcererpra00kapf|url-access=limited|last=Kapferer|first=Bruce|date=1997-10-15|publisher=University of Chicago Press|isbn=9780226424132|pages=[https://archive.org/details/feastsorcererpra00kapf/page/n93 68]|language=en}}{{Cite book|title=The cult of the goddess Pattini|last=Obeyesekere|first=Gananath|date=1984|isbn=9780226616025|location=University of Chicago Press|pages=[https://archive.org/details/cultofgoddesspat0000obey/page/116 116–117]|language=en|url=https://archive.org/details/cultofgoddesspat0000obey/page/116}} Historical manuscripts such as the Mukkara Hatana indicate that there were migrations from the Kurumandalam coast of Tamil Nadu, South India, and that they were originally Tamil speakers.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZbP_AwAAQBAJ|title=Coup Theories and Officers' Motives: Sri Lanka in Comparative Perspective|last=Horowitz|first=Donald L.|date=2014-07-14|publisher=Princeton University Press|isbn=9781400854127|pages=33|language=en}} Some Karava families migrated from South India as recently as the 18th century.{{Cite book |last=Kemper |first=Steven |url=https://archive.org/details/presenceofpastch00kemp/page/159/mode/1up?view=theater |title=The Presence of the Past: Chronicles, Politics, and Culture in Sinhala Life |publisher=Cornell University Press |year=1991 |isbn=978-0-8014-2395-6 |pages=159}} The Karavas north of Negombo are predominantly Catholic and bilingual in Tamil and Sinhalese,{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/cultofgoddesspat0000obey|url-access=registration|title=The cult of the goddess Pattini|last=Obeyesekere|first=Ganath|date=1984|publisher=The University of Chicago Press|isbn=9780226616025|pages=[https://archive.org/details/cultofgoddesspat0000obey/page/374 374]|language=en}} whereas the Karavas south of Colombo are Buddhist. It is evident that they had also patronised Mahayana Buddhism before its extinction in the Island.

The Mukkara Hatana describes that they won a three month siege against the Mukkuvars, under the sponsorship of Kotte king Parakramabahu VI in the 14th century AD.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MTh4pixlifYC|title=Crucible of Conflict: Tamil and Muslim Society on the East Coast of Sri Lanka|last=McGilvray|first=Dennis B.|publisher=Duke University Press|year=2008|isbn=978-0822341611|pages=61}} The Kotte King Bhuvanaikabahu VI was the son of a Karava chief who was adopted by Parakramabahu VI after the death of his father in the war mentioned in Mukkara Hatana.{{Cite web|url=http://www.infolanka.com/org/srilanka/hist/26.htm|title=Dona Catherina was the direct heiress by virtue of her heredity|last=Fernando|first=A. Denis N|website=Info Lanka}}A. Sebastian, A Complete Illustrated History of Sri Lanka. Vijitha Yapa Publications, 2012. p 397. {{ISBN|9789556651492}} The Rajavaliya mentions that in the 16th century, the heirs to the throne - Bhuvanaikabahu and Pararajasinghe were under the care of the minister Karunadhipati, the Patabenda of Yapa-Patuna.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OjlyzQi6FTwC&q=75 |title=Rajavaliya, Or, a Historical Narrative of Sinhalese Kings|last=Gunasekara|first=B.|date=1995 |publisher=Asian Educational Services|isbn=8120610296|pages=75|language=en}}

The Karava chieftains resisted the colonial Portuguese rule in 16th century. The Karava Prince of Uva, Kuruvita Rala (also known as Antonio Barreto{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TekcAAAAMAAJ|title=The Karāva of Ceylon: Society and Culture|last=Raghavan|first=M. D.|date=1961|publisher=K.V.G. De Sīlva|pages=36, 39, 143|language=en}}), who had his strongholds in Batticaloa, Wellawaya, Negombo and parts of Sabaragamuwa and Matara region, led his and the troops of Sitawaka Kingdom and revolted against the Portuguese.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vkwmAAAAMAAJ|title=Journal of the Ceylon Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society|last=Colombo|first=Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland Ceylon Branch|date=1946|publisher=Colombo Apothecaries Company|pages=210|language=en}} Kuruvita Rala also raided the Kandy Kingdom and drove king Senarat of Kandy out of his capital.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DUEKAQAAIAAJ|title=The Portuguese in Ceylon, 1617-1638|last=DeSilva|first=Chandra Richard|date=1972|publisher=School of Oriental and African Studies|location=University of London|pages=59–66, 83–84|language=en}}

They were under Portuguese rule, along with the Karaiyar and Nair recruited as Lascarins and were converted to Catholicism.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Y-xQ8qk9mgYC|title=Sri Lanka in the Modern Age: A History of Contested Indentities|last=Wickramasinghe|first=Nira|date=2006|publisher=University of Hawaii Press|isbn=9780824830168|pages=13|language=en}} Large Catholic Karava communities exists ever since, who were mostly Hindus prior to conversion.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7smFAAAAIAAJ|title=Sri Lanka, a country study|last1=Nyrop|first1=Richard F.|last2=Studies|first2=American University (Washington, D. C. ) Foreign Area|last3=Army|first3=United States Dept of the|date=1986|publisher=Headquarters, Dept. of the Army|pages=106|language=en}} The Catholic Karava chieftains sided with the Kingdom of Kandy and the kingdom's Dutch allies against the Portuguese empire, and the King bestowed honors and titles to the Karava chieftains.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4ogmAQAAMAAJ|title=Fisheries in Sri Lanka: anthropological and biological aspects|last=Sivasubramaniam|first=K.|date=2009|publisher=Kumaran Book House|isbn=9789556591460|pages=136, 137|language=en}}

The Karavas amassed wealth through commercial ventures such as in coastal navigation, fishing, carpentry, transportation, arrack, coconut, rubber, graphite and other industries. The Karavas formed the elites between 16th century and early 20th century.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=298Sa79fkRkC|title=A Treatise on Social Theory|last=Runciman|first=W. G.|date=1989-02-02|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=9780521369831|pages=43|language=en}} Numerous organization were formed by them such as Ceylon National Association, one of the predecessors of the Ceylon National Congress. James Peiris, a Karava lawyer and national leader, was an essential character in the Sri Lankan independence movement.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7smFAAAAIAAJ|title=Sri Lanka, a country study|last1=Nyrop|first1=Richard F.|last2=Studies|first2=American University (Washington, D. C. ) Foreign Area|last3=Army|first3=United States Dept of the|date=1986|publisher=Headquarters, Dept. of the Army|pages=111|language=en}} Rohana Wijeweera and other Karava leaders formed in the 1960s the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna, a communist party and political movement, who were involved in two armed uprisings against the ruling governments in 1971 and 1987.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Q8ip5NofD98C|title=Caste and Family Politics Sinhalese 1947–1976|last=Jiggins|first=Janice|date=1979-06-07|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=9780521220699|pages=127|language=en}}

{{main|Karava heraldry}}The Karavas were coastal people and as such, skilled fisherman, sailors, boat builders, merchants, engaged in rudimentary agriculture and the production of salt, who served in naval warfare and contributed as coastal chieftains and regional kings. Their chiefs were referred in Sinhalese as Patabendi or Patangatim,[https://books.google.com/books?id=m8_4bc7xEMgC&pg=PA208 Patangatin/Headmen of Chilaw baptised in 1606 at Malwana; Ceylon and the Portuguese 1505–1658, by Paulus Edward Pieris] which is derived from the Tamil term Pattamkattiyar (meaning "crowned one"),{{Cite web|url=http://agarathi.com/word/%E0%AE%AA%E0%AE%9F%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%9F%E0%AE%99%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%9F%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%9F%E0%AE%BF|title=பட்டங்கட்டி {{!}} அகராதி {{!}} Tamil Dictionary|website=agarathi.com|others=University of Madras Lexicon|access-date=2017-08-13}} which was also used by their equivalent Tamil Karaiyars.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=a0cqAAAAMAAJ|title=Modern Ceylon Studies|date=1975|publisher=University of Ceylon|language=en}}Image:Karava Makara Kodiya.JPGThe Karavas were one of the few Sri Lankan communities traditionally entitled to use flags.[https://books.google.com/books?id=1eExAAAAIAAJ In 1574 the Mahapatabenda of Colombo is beheaded and quartered by the Portuguese for treasonable communication with Mayadunne, the sannas grants of king Mayadenne to Sitavaka Tantula and Rajapakse Tantula of Ambalangoda for serving the interests of Sitawaka kings, Thamankaduwa, Diddeniya, Galagamuwa and Matale Karavas and their insignia] The Karāva of Ceylon: Society and Culture, M. D. Raghavan pp.33–6,43,66,71–5 (K.V.G. De Sīlva ) ASIN: B0006CKOV2 A large number of these Karava flags have survived the ravages of time and many are illustrated in E. W. Perera's book Sinhalese Banners and Standards.

The sacred usage of conch shell and tying of Nalapata (royal forehead plate) was a common practice among Karavas, also mentioned in the Rajaveliya. The sun and the moon, pearl umbrella are traditional royal symbols used by the Karavas. The Makara, being an emblem of their clan, is the mount of their clan deity, the sea god Varuna.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=i2FhAAAAMAAJ|title=Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Sri Lanka|date=1993|publisher=Royal Asiatic Society of Sri Lanka|pages=137|language=en}} The clan name Warnakulasuriya, denotes their deity Varuna.

Insignia such as the pearl umbrella, flags, swords, trident, yak tail whisks, lighted flame torches and drums were previously widely used by the Karavas at their weddings and funerals. By the 1960s, such usage has been greatly reduced, whereas some places is it still practiced.

The Karava's use the {{lang|si-Latn|vasagama}} naming system. Vasagama, literally meaning "estate (gama) in which one resides", is a title or surname that is given to the patrilineal descendants.{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/southasiasevenco0000malo|url-access=registration|title=South Asia; seven community profiles|last=Maloney|first=Clarence|date=1974|publisher=Holt, Rinehart and Winston|isbn=9780030118562|pages=[https://archive.org/details/southasiasevenco0000malo/page/64 64]|language=en}} The most common clans among the Karavas are Kurukulasuriya, Warunakulasuriya and Mihindikulasuriya (formerly known as Arasakulasuriya).{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=n-88AAAAIAAJ|title=Caste Ideology and Interaction|last=McGilvray|first=Dennis B.|date=1982-09-02|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=9780521241458|pages=18|language=en}} Other clans are Koon Karavas and Konda Karavas.

Name based on leadership or armoured military office (Sannaddha/Sannadi) include Hennadige, show a traditional military heritage and confirms the military origins of the group as claimed by Karava origin stories and family histories. Some of the popular surnames, Beminahennedige, Wachchi Hennadige, Weera Hennadige, Andra Hennadige and Warusa Hennadige , Arasa Marakkalage ("house of the Royal Mariners"), Patabendige ("house of the local headmen"), and Thantrige (also Tantulage or Thanthulage, "house of experts").[https://books.google.com/books?id=ughT3poi-9sC&dq=Patangatins&pg=PA26 Royal grant to a port Patangatin, Kingdom of Jaffanapatam, P.E. Pieris, p. 25-28]The sword of Mahanaga Rajasinghe Kuruvira Adithya Arsanilaishta (1416 AD) – the oldest representation of the Makara knuckle-guard: Ancient Swords, Daggers and Knives in Sri Lankan Museums, P.H.D.H. De Silva and S. Wickramasinghe, pp.82,90,101–5 (National Museums of Sri Lanka) {{ISBN|9789555780216}}

Names based on profession include Marakkalage (house of the ship/boat owners or sailors ) and Vaduge (also Baduge; house of carpenters, ship, Silmaguruge & boat builders, also descendant of Vadugar).

• Caste in Sri Lanka
• Bharatakula
• Negombo Tamils
• Kastane

{{Reflist|30em}}

• RAGHAVAN, M. D., The Karava of Ceylon: Society and Culture, K. V. G. de Silva, 1961.
• Caste Conflict and Elite Formation, The Rise of the Karava Elite in Sri Lanka 1500–1931. Michael Roberts 1982, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press. {{ISBN|81-7013-139-1}}
• Social Change in Nineteenth Century Ceylon. Patrick Peebles. 1995, Navrang {{ISBN|81-7013-141-3}}.

{{commons category}}

• [http://www.karava.org Karava web site – Kshatriya Maha Sabha Sri Lanka]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20030728084953/http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2001/09/02/fea16.html Karava – the blue-blooded Kshatriyas ]
• [http://www.somasiridevendra.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=21&Itemid=21 The Maha Oruwa (The Last in the tradition of the Indigenous Sailing Ships): plate 5]
• [http://www.indigenoussails.org/boat-types/oruwa-sri-lanka The Bala (Power) Oruwa: world's fastest traditional sailing canoe]

Category:Sinhalese castes