Topic suggested by Raj on Thu Mar 4 03:44:59 .
All times in EST +10:30 for IST.

Kurukulams in Sri Lanka

Topic suggested by Raj on Fri Feb 26 07:26:54 .
All times in EST +10:30 for IST.


About 10% of Sri Lanka's poppulation is made up of Kurukulams who call themselves variously as Kaurava, Karava, Kurukulathar etc. They speak either Tamil or Sinhala and are accordingly classed as Tamils or Sinhalese. they all claim descent from the Ksatriyas of the Mahabharata.

The clan names are Kurukulasuriya, Manukulasuriya, Mihindukulasuriya, Barathakulasuriya, Warnakulasuriya, Wijayakulasuriya etc.


Can anyone give inforation on related groups in India or Malaya ?

Also visit web site

http://www.freetown.com/TheWaterFront/HarborHighway/1076

Thanks

Raj

Responses:

• Old responses
  
• From: Raveen (@ h66-59-174-253.gtconnect.net) on: Mon Jan 19 17:45:19 EST 2004
  
  "We formed a normal society with classes with some people being or higher castes and others of lower. "
  
  In a 'normal society" of coastal people in South India (especially that of the ancient Tamilaham -Tamil Nadu/Kearala) there was no castes but class, clan and tribal differences. Only with the penetration of Vedic and other North Indian religions like Jainism/Buddhism did polllution based caste became overlaid on the tribal/clan system.
  
  "the caste system in Sri Lankan Sinhala society woas not very much different from North India "
  
  That is not true, in North India nominally the so called Kshatriyas were at top but in the south it was the Shudras (like Velalas in Tamil Nadu, Nairs in later day Kearla, Vokkaliga in Karnataka, Reddys in Andhra) who were on top of the society. In Sri Lanka the Govi were considred as Shudras unfit for kingship although they controlled the land on behalf of the kings forcing the Sinhalese to go to South India to get their kings when a family became issueless.
  
  There are Jain era inscriptiosn dating to 3rd century before christ in Tamil Nadu which mention Parava Cheifs giving land to Jain monks. Ma Paravan was thetitle.
  
  Paravas form an intergral part of the Sinhalese Karave caste so are the Mukkuvas and Karaiyars and many other indian immigrant groups. It is a composite identity that any Tamil/Malayalee migrant from South India could easily adopt.
  
  It is not to say that some have not become Govi too with money and power.
  
  Other Tamil derived castes are Durave and Salagama
  
  
• From: R (@ h66-59-174-253.gtconnect.net) on: Mon Jan 19 17:49:59 EST 2004
  
  "Tamil fishermen only have KARAI. Did the Mukkuvans and other Indian fishing castes came from any other planet? "
  
  Karthi,
  
  Mukkuvas in Negambo call themselves Arya Kula Kashtriyas from North India :-)))))))))
  
  
• From: nirendra (@ ) on: Sun Jun 6 12:28:42
  
  I belive that no one is pure unless he is born again Through JESUS,
  by birth u will not be a king fisherman or what ever. but only a SINNER
  
  

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