Devadiga
Devadiga also known as Moily, Sherigar is a 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 and Tulu Devadiga ; were endogamous in the past.
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.. an attendant upon an idol; a caste". In general the term "Devadiga" is derived from deva, and adiga i.e., Servant of God. In other term Deva means Deity and Divine Spirits of servant of temple. Adiga or Aadiga means: a player or servant. One of the important work assigned to Devadiga in the temples is playing the role of official temple Spirit dancing in front of the chief deity of the temple, while the deity is in the process of making divine rounds 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, Barrel drum or Double drums 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 Stanika Brahmins and Devadigas should perform the other services in the temples. They returned eleven sub-divisions, but only one is numerically important. They are Vaishnavites, and Tulu Brāhmans are their priests.Tulu is the main language spoken by Devadigas and follow the traditional Tulu system of matrilineal inheritance and have similar marriage ceremonies like Bunts. Some places in Karnataka Devadigas speak Kannada and identifies themselves as Kannada Devadigas and follow the traditional Hindu system of patrilineal inheritance and have similar marriage ceremonies like Brahmins. They returned eleven sub-divisions, but only one is numerically important.
Social system
kinship: The eight matrilineal clans 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 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.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 asReligion 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., Kula Devata of Devadigas of Barkur Hobli is Shree Ekanatheshwari at Barkur, known since Alupa rule.In the past, Gurikara 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. Devadiga are Vaishnavites, and Tulu Brahmans are their priests. Upanayana ceremony is reportedly performed in some sections of the community. Mainly in Kannada Devadiga families.