File:Castes and tribes of southern India. Assisted by K. Rangachari (1909) (14783078942).jpg

Identifier: castestribesofso03thuruoft (find matches)
Title: Castes and tribes of southern India. Assisted by K. Rangachari
Year: 1909 (1900s)
Authors: Thurston, Edgar, 1855-1935 Rangachari, K
Subjects: Caste -- India Madras (Presidency) Ethnology -- India Madras (Presidency) India -- Social conditions
Publisher: Madras Government Press
Contributing Library: Robarts - University of Toronto
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN

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proceed to thehouses of the goldsmith and potter, and bring backthe bottu (marriage badge) and thirteen marriage pots,on which threads (kankanam) are tied before they areremoved. A Brahman purohit ties the thread roundone pot, and the Kapus round the rest. The pots areplaced in the room along with the Ganga idol. Thebottu is tied round the neck of a married woman whois closely related to the bridegroom. The contractingcouple are seated with the ends of their clothes tiedtogether. A barber comes with a cup of water, and atray containing rice dyed with turmeric is placed on thefloor. A number of men and women then scatter riceover the heads of the bride and bridegroom, and, afterwaving a silver or copper coin in front of them, throwit into the barbers cup. The barber then pares thefinger and toe nails of the bridegroom, and touches thetoe nails of the bride with his razor. They then gothrough the nalagu ceremony, being smeared with oiland Phaseolus Mungo paste, and bathe. After the bath
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237 KAPU the bridegroom, dressed in his wedding finery, proceedsto the temple. As he leaves the house, a Madiga handshim a pair of shoes, which he puts on. The Madiga isgiven food placed in a basket on eleven leaves. At thetemple worship is performed, and a Bhatrazu (bard andpanegyrist), who has accompanied the bridegroom, tiesa bashingham (chaplet) on his forehead. From thismoment the Bhatrazu must remain with the bridegroom,as his personal attendant, painting the sectarian markson his forehead, and carrying out other functions. Inlike manner, a Bhogam woman (dedicated prostitute)waits on the bride. The tradition, Mr. Stuart writes, is that the Bhatrazus were a northern caste, whichwas first invited south by king Pratapa Rudra of theKshatriya dynasty of Warrangal (i295-1323 A.D.).After the downfall of that kingdom they seem to havebecome court bards and panegyrists under the Reddiand Velama feudal chiefs. From the temple the bride-groom and his party come to the marriage pandal, and,

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