Another legend connected with the origin of panjiri Yeravas is also interesting and important. The Panjiri Yeravas I consider themselves as descendants of three gods, pu:kari mage, karicate and ka:lappe. While calling the respective gods, they ask the kañala:i (Head of the Panjiri Yeravas) to sing the song and request the god to get their wishes fulfilled. The song narrates the story of an intelligent child kuñi tambira, his growth, his education and his marriage. The kuñi tambira gets different types of education from different teachers. He gets the education of writing from eutacce, the reading education from cu:dacce and singing by pa:acce. The purpose of learning these three skills needs to be noted |
kannaa na:a |
kannaa eutine |
eudi bauguanu |
cu:dra na:a |
cu:dra ba:ku |
cu:dra ba:kune |
cu:di bauguanu |
maaaa na:da |
maaa pa:une |
pa:i pa:nguanu |
|
According to this song, kufli tambira learns Kannada writing of Kannada Nad, Cudra reading of Cudra Nad, and Malayalam songs of Malayalam Nad. |
It may be noted that this song is not of recent origin. This is a song closely linked with a religious ritual of fundamental importance to the tribe. The recognition of the importance of the language skills-reading and writing-by a preliterate tribe in surrounding literary languages is worth noting. This recognition however has not led to spread of literacy among the Yeravas. The song reveals the realization of the tribal group that they are people living in an area where Kannada and Malayalam are spoken or required for their survival. It is however not possible for the investigator to say anything regarding the reference to Cudra Nad. Only a detailed analysis of folk literature of both the Yerava groups can throw light on the tambira referred to by Paniya Yerava legend and kuñi tambira referred to by Panjiri Yerava legend. |
The demarcation of land as Waynad, Kodagu, etc., is merely a political line drawn on a geographical continuum. And since the recorded history to date, Yeravas are confined to one particular track of Kodagu, that is, Virarajapet taluk area which is adjacent to irpu (a place) and since they are not at all mobile, they can be identified as people of that land, may be aborigins of that area which is a geographical continuum and not a political boundary. |
|
|
|