Svetlafz at 09:07, 13 January 2026

2026-01-13T09:07:08Z

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{{Short description|Temple servant community located in Karnataka, India}}
{{EngvarB|date=October 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2025}}
'''Devadiga''' ({{Langx|sa|देवाडिगः|Dēvāḍiga}}) also known as '''Moily''', '''Sherigar'''<ref name=":3" /> is a [[Hindus|Hindu]] community or caste. Devadigas were traditionally temple servants and musicians in Hindu temples. Devadigas are originally from the land stretching between Karwar in [[Uttara Kannada]] district of Karnataka and [[Kasaragod district]] of Kerala and some parts of Maharashtra in west-coast of India up to the [[Chandragiri River]] and many people live in Shivamogga and Chikmagalur too. It is believed that their two divisions, namely ''Kannada Devadiga'' (Moily) and ''Tulu Devadiga'' (Moily); were endogamous in the past.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":3">{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=Nagendra Kr |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Xcpa_T-7oVQC&q=Devadiga |title=Global Encyclopaedia of the South Indian Dalit's Ethnography |date=2006 |publisher=Global Vision Publishing House |isbn=978-81-8220-167-5 |language=en}}</ref>

== Demography ==
Devadigas are originally from the land stretching between Karwar in Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka and Kasaragod district of Kerala in west-coast of India up to the Chandragiri River and Many People live in Shivamogga and Chikmagalur too. The Tulu Devadiga speak Tulu, while the Kannada Devadiga speak Kannada within their respective family and kin groups. Both groups are conversant with each other's language. In Kerala, they speak Malayalam and Kannada languages with outsides. Both Kannada and Malayalam scripts are used.

== Etymology ==
In ''Kittel's Kannada-English dictionary'' book, authored by Rev. F. Kittel and published in the year A.D. 1894, on page 805, the word 'Devadiga' is defined as "'''''dēva-aḍiga. (Śmd. 239). an attendant upon an idol; a caste'''''".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kittel |first=F. (Ferdinand) |date=1968–1971 |title=Kittel's Kannada-English dictionary. Rev. and enl. ed. |url=https://dsal.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/app/kittel_query.py?page=852 |access-date=2023-12-15 |website=dsal.uchicago.edu}}</ref> In general the term "''Devadiga"'' is derived from ''deva'' (deity of the temple), and ''adiga'' (servants) i.e., ''Servant of God''.<ref name=":3" /> In other term ''Deva means Deity'' and ''Divine Spirits of servant'' of temple. Adiga or Aadiga means: a player or servant(in temple). One of the important work assigned to Devadiga in the temples is playing the role of official temple Spirit (holding a sword accompanied by shivering and dancing) dancing in front of the chief deity of the temple, while the deity is in the process of making divine rounds (known as ''bali'' or ''bali barpini'') around the temple precincts. They are also doing variety of additional jobs, such as cleaning, lighting arrays of earthen oil-lamps, and beating the kettle-drum (Nagari), Barrel drum (Chende) or Double drums (Mourii) and sometimes also playing musical instruments in the temple.

== History ==
The Devadigas are Canarese-speaking temple servants in [[South Canara]], concerning whom Mr. H. A. Stuart writes as follows. "This is a class of servants, chiefly musicians in Hindu temples. In the reign of Mayura Varma, who built a number of new temples, it was found that Brahmans could not perform all the services. It was, therefore, ordained by him that the puja or worship alone should be performed by the Brahmans, and that the [[Sthanika Brahmins|Stanika Brahmins]] and Devadigas should perform the other services in the temples. They returned eleven sub-divisions, but only one (Tulu) is numerically important. They are Vaishnavites, and Tulu Brāhmans are their priests.<ref name=":1">{{Citation |last=Thurston |first=Edgar |title=Dēvādiga |url=https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Castes_and_Tribes_of_Southern_India/D%C4%93v%C4%81diga |work=Castes and Tribes of Southern India |access-date=2023-11-06}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Castes and Tribes of Southern India Vol. II-C to J |url=http://indianculture.gov.in/rarebooks/castes-and-tribes-southern-india-vol-ii-c-j-0 |access-date=2023-11-09 |website=INDIAN CULTURE |language=en}}</ref>

[[Tulu language|Tulu]] is the main language spoken by Devadigas and follow the traditional [[Tulu people|Tulu]] system of [[Aliyasantana|matrilineal inheritance]] (Aliya Kattu) and have similar marriage ceremonies like [[Bunt (community)|Bunts]]. Some places in Karnataka (Uttara Kannada, Shimoga, Chikkamagaluru etc.) Devadigas speak Kannada and identifies themselves as Kannada Devadigas and follow the traditional Hindu system of [[Patrilineality|patrilineal inheritance]] (Makkala kattu) and have similar marriage ceremonies like Brahmins. They returned eleven sub-divisions, but only one (Tulu) is numerically important.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" />

== Social system ==
''kinship:'' The eight matrilineal clans (bari) that have been identified among them are ''Kundarannaya, Saliyannaya, bangerannaya, Kajjannaya, Kariannaya, Bhuthiannaya, Gujjarannaya and Kochatabettannaya.'' group endogamy and clan exogamy are the norms. They have exogamous ''ban'' (lineages) to regulate the marriage alliances. The ''baris'' are: ''Bangera, Shaliyan, Gujaran, Serian, Addiyar, Gundranna, Uppayana, etc.'' Surnames based on lineages are in usage. The self-perception of the community is medium and that of others about them is also medium.
<ref name=":3" />

== Administration and justice ==
The traditional caste council of ''Devadiga'' settles disputes among them. ''Gurikara'' is the head of the caste council. Those who violate caste norms are punished by imposition of fine. They have a caste association named as ''<nowiki/>'Devadiga Sudaraka Sangha''' which looks after the welfare of the group. The statutory panchayat plans the welfare and developmental activities such as providing drinking water, roads, etc., to various communities.<ref name=":3" />

== Religion and culture ==
The ''Devadiga'' profess ''[[Hinduism]].'' They worship ''kallutty, Guliga, Panjurily, bariray jaran-daya, rahu etc.,'' as family deities. They also worship ''Arasu manjoshnavar'' as village deity. They also worship ''Venkataramana, Rama, krishna, Shiva, Durga parameshwari.'' Their major sacred centres are ''kashi, Tirupati, Dharmastala, Sringeri etc.,''<ref name=":3" /> Kula Devata of Devadigas of Barkur Hobli is ''Shree Ekanatheshwari at Barkur'', known since Alupa rule. <ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-02-20 |title=First Annual Vardhunsava of Sri Ekanatheshwari Temple Held at Barkur {{!}} News Karnataka |url=https://newskarnataka.com/karnataka/coastal/udupi/first-annual-vardhunsava-of-sri-ekanatheshwari-temple-held-at-barkur/20022019 |access-date=2023-11-10 |website=newskarnataka.com |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Udupi: Palimar Swamiji lays foundation for temple, hails Devadiga community |url=https://www.daijiworld.com/news/newsDisplay.aspx?newsID=377533 |access-date=2023-11-10 |website=daijiworld.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-11-05 |title=Foundation Stone Laying Ceremony of Shri Ekanatheshwari Temple {{!}} |url=https://www.barkuronline.com/news/post/top-news/foundation-stone-laying-ceremony-of-shri-ekanatheshwari-temple |access-date=2023-11-10 |website=barkuronline.com |language=en-US}}</ref>

In the past, ''Gurikara'' (Head of the caste council) had role in sacred performances but now the ''Brahman'' have taken their place. The role of the sacred specialist is to perform marriages ceremony and worship. They celebrate Hindu festivals such as ''krishna Ashtami, Ganesha Chaturthi, Shivaratri, Vishnu and Deepavali,'' which have religious significance. Conversion to other religion has not taken place, and the people are not involved in ''socio-religious'' movements.<ref name=":3" /> Devadiga are [[Vaishnavism|Vaishnavites]], and Tulu Brahmans are their priests.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":1" /> [[Upanayana]] ceremony is reportedly performed in some sections of the community. Mainly in ''Kannada Devadiga'' (Patrilineal inheritance) families. {{Citation needed|date=November 2023}}

== Inter-community relation ==
The role of the ''Devadiga'' in temple services as drum beaters and musicians has given them an important position in the inter-community affairs. They accept food and water from the ''Brahman and Nayar.'' They exchange food and water with the ''Bunt, Bhillava, Kulal'' and others, but traditionally do not exchange the same with ''Ganiga, muslim, Christian, Marati, Pambada'' and other Scheduled Catses and Scheduled Tribe communities. They do not encourage intercaste marriages. They share wells and water sources with others. They visit the same religious shrines and participate in the traditional festivals and festivities which are of religious significance.They also have specific role in the temple as musicians. Cultivator-labour relationship exists. They are a few white-collor job-holders and teachers in their community.Political leadership is weak.<ref name=":3" />

== Varna classification ==
The traditional [[Varna (Hinduism)|varna]] system is largely not found in South India. ''Vadiraja Tirtha (ca. 1480 – ca. 1600)'', who lived for 120 years was a great Dvaita philosopher, poet, mystic and polymath. There is a belief in currency that he ordained ''carpenters, goldsmiths, and Devadigas to be treated as Brahmins during their period of stay in temple for doing temple duties by performing a sanctifying ritual.''
<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=K. S. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Jw9uAAAAMAAJ&q=Devadiga |title=India's Communities |date=1998 |publisher=[[Anthropological Survey of India]] |isbn=978-0-19-563354-2 |volume=6 |pages=786–787 |language=en |author-link=Kumar Suresh Singh}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Ravi Mundkur |first=Hosabettu Vishwanath |date=27 January 2018 |title=399. Devadigas and Sapaligas |url=https://tulu-research.blogspot.com/2018/01/399-devadigas-and-sapaligas.html |website=Tulu Research & Studies}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Devadiga.com |url=http://devadiga.com/news/details/839/devadiga |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200203170248/http://devadiga.com/news/details/839/devadiga |archive-date=3 February 2020 |website=Devadiga.com}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Tuluva]]
[[Category:Indian castes]]
[[Category:Hindu communities]]
[[Category:Social groups of Karnataka]]
[[Category:Social groups of Kerala]]
[[Category:Social groups of Maharashtra]]
[[Category:South Indian communities]]
[[Category:Tulu-language surnames]]

Devadiga - Revision history

Svetlafz at 09:07, 13 January 2026