The Tulu people or Tuluvas are an ethno-linguistic and ethno-cultural group from Southern India. They are native speakers of the Tulu language and the region they traditionally inhabit is known as Tulu Nadu. This region comprises the districts of Dakshina Kannada, Mangalore, and Udupi district in Karnataka, part of Kasaragod district in Kerala,
Etymology
According to
Keralolpathi, the name
Tuluva comes from that of one of the Cheraman Perumal kings of
Kerala, who fixed his residence in the northern portion of his dominions just before its separation from Kerala, and who was called
Tulubhan Perumal.
Mythology
According to mythology,
Tulu Nadu was reclaimed by
Parashurama from the sea. According to the 17th-century
Malayalam work
Keralolpathi, the lands of
Kerala and Tulu Nadu were recovered from the
Arabian Sea by the axe-wielding warrior sage
Parasurama, the sixth avatar of
Vishnu (hence, Kerala is also called
Parasurama Kshetram 'The Land of Parasurama'
[S.C. Bhatt, Gopal K. Bhargava (2006) "Land and People of Indian States and Union Territories: Volume 14.", p. 18]). Parasurama threw his axe across the sea, and the water receded as far as it reached. According to legend, this new area of land extended from Gokarna to
Kanyakumari.
The land which rose from sea was filled with salt and unsuitable for habitation; so Parasurama invoked the Snake King Vasuki, who spat holy poison and converted the soil into fertile lush green land. Out of respect, Vasuki and all snakes were appointed as protectors and guardians of the land. P. T. Srinivasa Iyengar theorised, that
Senguttuvan may have been inspired by the
Parasurama legend, which was brought by early Aryan settlers.
People and identity
Tulu speakers are divided into various castes. The major Tulu speaking castes are:
Mangalorean Protestants are also Tulu speakers.
Culture
Tuluvas follow a
matrilineal system of inheritance known as
Aliyasantana, where inheritance is from uncle to nephew, except for
Brahmins,
Tulu Gowda, Shettigar caste and Vishwakarmas.
It is similar to the
Marumakkathayam of
Kerala.
[Page 35-39 Kandamathu Kudumba Sangamam Published by K. K. N., Neyyattinkara, S. India 1995][Jeffrey in the Decline of Nayar Dominance in Travancore, See notes under C V Raman Pillai] Other distinctive features include the rituals of
Yakshagana,
Bhuta Kola,
Nagaradhane and
Kambala.
is similar to
Theyyam in
North Malabar region.
Tuluva New Year, called Bisu Parba, falls on the same day as Baisakhi, Vishu and the Thai New Year.
Paddanas are sung narratives, which are part of several closely related singing traditions in Tulu language. They are sung during occasions which describe the evolution of Tulu tribes and Tulu culture.[ Peter J. Claus, "Variability in Tulu Padannas". Retrieved 2011-03-09.]
Buta Kola
( or 'soul worship'; a or is a supernatural creature, or spiritual entity, especially of ancestors)
, who may be considered local deities, can be animistic as in Panjurli (boar) or (tiger). A second variety can be representatives of characters taken out of the Puranas like Bermer (Brahma), Lekkesiri (Raktesvari, Kali) or Vishnumurti. A third category is deified human beings like Gulige, Annappe, and Koti-Chananye. The fourth kind is strictly local characters like Male-Chandi (from the male-Nadu), Ullaldi (from Ullal), and Malaraye (from the Ghats). Then there are that provide comical relief during nemas, namely Marlu-Jumadi (crazy Jumadi) or Potte (mute–deaf demigod). Newer also have been added, like (new demigod), Vokku-Ballala, and Muttappe.
The 2022 film Kantāra, directed and acted by Rishabh Shetty depicts the ritual, as well as cites the importance of Kul Devtās (Clan Deities)
Demand for a Tulu Nadu state
From India's independence and following the reorganization of states, the Tuluvas have been demanding national language status for Tulu
and a separate state for themselves called
Tulu Nadu ('land of Tuluvas'), based on their language and distinct culture. Though somewhat subdued for a while, this demand has grown stronger in recent years. Several organizations like the Tulu Rajya Horata Samiti have taken up the cause of the Tuluvas, and frequent meetings and demonstrations are held across towns in Tulunadu (such as
Mangalore and
Udupi) to voice their demands.
[Tulu Rajya Horata Samithi has urged that the region comprising Tulu speaking people should be given the status of a separate state.]["Now the time has come for all Tulu natives to pressurize the union government with the demand for a separate Tulunadu state", said renowned Tulu litterateur and Yakshagana artiste Kudyady Vishwanath Rai.]
Prominent Tuluvas
See also
Further reading
External links
