Page:Castes and Tribes of Southern India.djvu/312

BĒDAR OR BŌYA At Hospet the Bēdars have two buildings called chāvadis, built by subscription among members of their community, which they use as a meeting place, and whereat caste councils are held. At Sandūr the Ūru Bēdars submit their disputes to their guru, a Srīvaishnava Brāhman, for settlement. If a case ends in a verdict of guilty against an accused person, he is fined, and purified by the guru with thīrtham (holy water). In the absence of the guru, a caste headman, called Kattaintivadu, sends a Dāsari, who may or may not be a Bēdar, who holds office under the guru, to invite the castemen and the Samaya, who represents the guru in his absence, to attend a caste meeting. The Samayas are the pūjāris at Hanumān and other shrines, and perform the branding ceremony, called chakrānkitam. The Myāsa Bēdars have no guru, but, instead of him, pūjāris belonging to their own caste, who are in charge of the affairs of certain groups of families. Their caste messenger is called Dalavai.

The following are examples of exogamous septs among the Bōyas, recorded by Mr. Mainwaring:—

Mukkara, nose or ear ornament. Majjiga, butter-milk. Kukkala, dog. Pūla, flowers. Pandhi, pig. Chilakala, paroquet. Hastham, hand. Yelkamēti, good rat. Mīsāla, whiskers. Nemili, peacock. Pēgula, intestines. Mījam, seed. Uttarēni, Achyranthes aspera. Puchakayala, Citrullus Colocynthis. Gandhapodi, sandal powder. Pasula, cattle. Chinthakāyala, Tamarindus indica. Āvula, cow. Udumala, lizard (Varanus). Pulagam, cooked rice and dhal. Boggula, charcoal. Midathala, locust. Potta, abdomen. Ūtla, swing for holding pots. Rottala, bread. Chimpiri, rags.