Castes and Tribes of Southern India/Sāliyan
Sāliyan.— The Saliyan weavers of Kornād and Ayyampet, in the Tanjore district, are a Tamil-speaking class, who must not be confused with the Telugu Sālēs. They afford an interesting example of how a limited number of families, following the same occupation, can crystallise into a separate caste. They claim to have a Purānam relating to their origin, which is said to be found in the Sthalapurānam of the Nallādai temple. They believe that they are the descendants of one Sāliya Mahā Rishi, a low-caste man, who did service for one Visākar, who was doing penance near Nallādai. Through the grace of the rishi Visākar, Sāliya became a rishi, and married two wives. The Sāliyans are said to be descended from the offspring of the first wife, and the Mottai Sāliyans from the offspring of the second.
The Sāliyans have taken to wearing the sacred thread, engage Brāhman purōhits, and are guided by Brāhman priests. They are said to have had their own caste priests until a Brāhman from Sendangudi, near Mayāvaram, accepted the office of priest. It is reported that, in former days, the Sāliyans were not allowed to sell their goods except in a fixed spot called māmaraththumēdu, where they set out their cloths on bamboos. High-caste people never touched the cloths, except with a stick. At the present day the Sāliyans occupy a good position in the social scale, and employ Brāhman cooks, though no other castes will eat in their houses.
A curious feature in connection with the Sāliyans is that, contrary to the usual rule among Tamil castes, they have exogamous septs or vīdu (house), of which the following are examples: —
| Mandhi, black monkey. | Ozhakkan, a measure. |
| Kottangkachchi, cocoanut shell. | Thondhi, belly. |
| Thuniyan, cloth. | Mungināzhi, bamboo measure. |
| Kachchandhi, gunny-bag. | Ōdakkazhinjan, one who defæcated when running. |
| Vellai parangi, white vegetable marrow. | Kamban, the Tamil poet. |
| Ettadiyan, eight feet. | Ōttuvīdu, tiled house. |
| Thadiyan, stout. | Kalli, Euphorbia Tirucalli. |
| Kazhudhai, donkey. | Sirandhān, a noble person. |
| Thavalai, frog. | Thambirān, master or lord. |
| Sappaikalan, crooked-legged. | Kollai, backyard. |
| Malaiyan, hill. | Mādīvīdu, storeyed house. |
| Kaththan, an attendant on Aiyanar. | Murugan, name of a person. |
The Sāliyans have further acquired gōtras named after rishis, and, when questioned as to their gōtra, refer to the Brāhman purōhits.
The Sāliyan weavers of silk Kornād women's cloths, who have settled at Mayāvaram in the Tanjore district, neither intermarry nor interdine with the Sāliyans of the Tinnevelly district, though they belong to the same linguistic division. The Tinnevelly Sāliyans closely follow the Kaikōlans in their various ceremonials, and in their social organisation, and interdine with them. Sāliya women wear three armlets on the upper arm, whereas Kaikōla women only wear a single armlet. The Sāliyans may not marry a second wife during the lifetime of the first wife, even if she does not bear children. They may, however, adopt children. Some of the Tinnevelly Sāliyans have taken to trade and agriculture, while others weave coarse cotton cloths, and dye cotton yarn. In the Census Report, 1901, Ataviyar is recorded as "a synonym for, or rather title of the Tinnevelly Sālēs." Further, Pattāriyar is described as a Tamil corruption of Pattu Sāliyan, returned by some of the Tinnevelly Sālēs. The Adaviyar or Pattalia Settis are Tamilians, probably an offshoot of the Kaikōlans, and have no connection with the Telugu Pattu Sālēs, who, like the Padma Sālēs, retain their mother-tongue wherever they settle. It is recorded *[1] in connection with the Sāliyar of the Chingleput district, many of whom are Kaikōlans, that "a story is current of their persecution by one Salva Naik (said to have been a Brāhman). The result of this was that large bodies of them were forced to flee from Conjeeveram to Madura, Tanjore, and Tinnevelly, where their representatives are still to be found."
The Adaviyars follow the Tamil Purānic type of marriage ceremonies, and have a sirutāli (small tāli) as a marriage badge. The caste deity is Mukthākshiamman. The dead are always cremated.
- ↑ * Manual of the Chingleput district,