Transient Communities: A Search for Identity through Ethnicity (Page 4)

By -

Ideology of Nagaraviduthi: Viduthis in the ancestral Villages of Chettinad Were extensions of major Nagarathar Village temples Conceived primarily as places of Stay. Viduthis in Chennai Were primarily meant to provide trade links and facilitate money transfers. Incidentally, they also housed members of the transient Community. The Viduthis established at Chennai, by transient Chettiar migrants Were of two types: Nagara Viduthis established for business based migrants in Coral Merchant Street and the Viduthi established at Thiruvottriyur for religion based needs of the transient Community.

Nagaraviduthis in the context of Chettinad (Place of origin): NakaraVituthis (Vitutis belonging to Nakarattars) were ostensible community - supported lodging houses located adjacent to Nakarattar - that supported temples to which they are affiliated. It takes care of the administration of the temples as well. These institutions also performed two other functions: the facilitation of information and Credit transfers, and the resolution of conflict. All the Nakarattar families in the villages paid for the Viduthis, although the major cost was borne by the dominant, wealthy family or families.

Every Chettinad Village has a temple either of Lord Vinayaga or Muruga or Amman. Amongst these, the nineclan temples are of much significance because of the ritualistic importance of the clans who are affiliated to these temples. Therefore, the Viduthis attached to these clan temples also gets their greater significance. Nakarattar clan temples (nakarakkovil) all had their own Vitutis paid for by the clan members; there were separate witutis for men and women and in some Cases, additional Vitutis for Sub-Clans. Ilayatrankudi Nagarathar Viduthi affiliated to Kailasanathar temple, Illupakkudi Nagarathar Viduthi affiliated to Thanthondreeswarar temple, Surakudi Nagarathar Viduthi affiliated to Desikanathar temple, Mathur Nagarathar Viduthi affiliated to Ainootreeswarar temple to name a few are Viduthis established in Connection to the major nine-clan temples. Nakarattars, visiting the temples for business, such as to register a forthcoming marriage in the family or to pay arrears of temple dues, used these Vitutis as lodging houses.
(continue...)

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Transient Communities: A Search for Identity through Ethnicity (Page 1)

By -
Image
From evidences of migrant communities, presence or absences of the ethnic traces help to identify their continuity or break in tradition and culture from their place of origin through time and space. The search for ethnicity in this article is discussed with the case of the Chettiar Community in transit' in erstwhile Madras in the process of migration and establishing trade links overseas. This transient community through the establishment of 'Viduthis' on Coral Merchant Street creates social institutions in the new place of residence while preserving the ideology of the traditional 'Viduthi’ attached to temples in their hometowns. RB Mandal, in defining migration, states that "migration is known as the movement of people from one permanent residence to another permanent or temporary residence for a substantial period of time by breaking social and cultural ties''. Contrary to Mandal, in the analysis of Indonesian settlements, Waterson discusses that mi
Read more

Transient Communities: A Search for Identity through Ethnicity (page 5)

By -
Image
When disputes between Nakarattars arose due to private misunderstanding, Nakaravitutis along with temples and Saivite monastries (matams), provided venues for extraordinary meetings of the Community to resolve disputes. These meetings Were held under the jurisdiction of a respected elder or elders in the Concerned Community and were called Panchayats - on the pan (Indian model) - although disputes were typically mediated or arbitrated by a single person. Besides Nagarathars from different places get together attemple festivities making their affiliation to the temples and the bonding to their Pangalis stronger. These Nagarathar pilgrims stay in the Viduthis by paying any minimal amount feasible to them, as Mahamai. The Viduthis hold an Undiyal (Hundi- money Collection box), in which the pilgrims deposit their Mahamais which is used for the running of the Viduthi. Spatial vocabulary of Nagaraviduthis in Chettinad: In the traditional context of Chettinadu, the edifice of Vidut
Read more

Transient Communities: A Search for Identity through Ethnicity (Page 2)

By -
Image
Thus, in analysing the impact and consequence of migration on the tradition and culture of the migrant community, a contradiction prevails between the two notions: One states that there is a break in Cultural and traditional ties from that of the homeland, and the other, states the existence of continuity of tradition and Culture of migrant community. Historical Background: The British founded Madras in the 17th century as a trading Centre. By 1674, three distinct areas of the town of Madras was recognisable: the Inner Fort, containing the factory house; the outer Fort or white Town, the European quarter with 118 houses; and the Black Town to the north of the Fort, an Indian residential area of 750 houses already dotted with bazaars and markets. In the Course of 17th century, the East India company encouraged the Armenians and Jews, who were experienced merchants to move to Black Town from other parts of the country to assist the British in establishing trade networks." One suc
Read more