[Reader-list] aravani community in madurai

[mahmood farooqui]

Is it possible that the word jamad, since its a Hyderabadi usage, could
emerge from the word jamat, which means a group, especially an organised
group...hence the jamat-e islami, tableeghi jamat etc...interesting in that
case that the word jamat in the Indo-Muslim circles is restricted to modern
forms of political organisations whereas here in this case it refers to the
self organisation of a particular sect of caste/professionals implying that
its local, small and apolitical...

On 09/04/07, priya babu <priyababu_sudar at yahoo.co.in> wrote:
>
> Documentation of Aravaani Community in Madurai District Priyababu   The
> presence of Draupadi temples around Madurai, Paramakudi, Kumbakonam,
> Palayamkottai and Veeravanallur in Thirunelvelli came into existence during
> the reign of Thirumallai Nayakar and Krishnadeva Raayar. In Madurai itself
> the temple was established as a full-fledged place of worship in 1884.
> Within the Saurashtra Ghetto in Madurai there are three temples for Draupadi
> and each of these has a sanctum for Aravan. All these temples are
> administered by the community trusts. On the Aravan of Vaikasi month the
> festival is inaugurated and Villi Baratham is recited. The demographic count
> of this community, according to them, is about a third of the population of
> Madurai. As per their belief they claim that Aravaan has promised to stay
> with the losing party so that they may recover victory. Therefore during the
> Kurushetra war to keep Aravaan from join the Kauravas, Krishna plans his
> killing in the name of sacrifice. But the aravaani community does not
> patronize these temples as much as those existing in the Vanniyar belts.
> Aravan in these temples are worshipped on an everyday as any other deity.
> Aravaanis seem to frequent Aravaan temples around the areas like Pandikoyil,
> Madappuram Kalli Koyil, and Thaayamangalam. Members of this community reside
> in Munichchaalai, Avaniyapuram, Usilampatti, Thirubuvanam, Kalluppatti,
> Karmaathur, Therkkuvaasal, Bibikullam, and Thiruparamkundram in Madurai
> district. Most of them are involved in performing traditional folk art forms
> like Karakaattam, Oyil Attam, Oppari and Therukuttu. Some of them are chefs.
> Techniques that are exclusive to this community are breaking coconut on the
> head, chopping raw banana, swirling flaming torches while doing Karakaattam
> [dancing with a pot [karagam] on the head]. The Jamad system is very similar
> to the one in Hyderabad, which is referred to as Bade Haveli and Chotte
> Haveli. Jamad is almost like a regulatory body for the community, but
> frequented by members of the community and those adopted from the 'normal'
> society as pseudo-family members.
>
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