Gomantak Maratha Samaj

Kalavantin (Gomantak Maratha Samaj)

Regions with significant populations
Primary populations in: Goa and Maharashtra, India Populations in: United Kingdom, United States, Canada
Languages
Konkani and Marathi
Religion
Hinduism

Kalavantins who self identify as Gomantak Maratha Samaj is a Konkani speaking community found in Indian state of Goa. They are known as Naik Maratha Samaj and Nutan Maratha Samaj in the Sindhudurg district of Maharashtra and Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka, respectively.

Origin

Gomantak Maratha is a relatively new ameliorative name adopted by a community of traditional Hindu temple servants. They were previously known by the following names:

Kalavant, Kulambini

• Those who participated in music and singing were known as Kalavantini, literally meaning an artiste, they enjoyed a high status in the community.
• Those who maintained the temple lamps, Palanquin, and held Chamara (Chavar in Konkani) were known as Bhavins, literally a pious lady.

The Kalavant women (sometimes called as Naikinn) as a custom became mistresses of Brahmin men who paid a huge sum of money to her mother.They also practiced prostitution.

Devli

Etymologically Devli, the word Devli is derived from the word Devul or Dev meaning God. So Devlis are those who were dedicated or devoted to the temple or to God. The duties of Devli males (Jyotkar) included lighting the temple lamps and mashal (torch), hold Devdanda, act as temple attendants (Katkars), and play the ritual musical instruments like Mahavadya, Panchavadya, Ranavadya.

Chedvaan, Chede, Bandi, Farjand

They were not always connected to the temple but with the Brahmin landlords (Bhatkars), at whose residences they performed all types of household work.

Perni

Their main occupation was acrobatics. They used to perform Jagar (a form of acrobatics) as the main source of their livelihood and held a lower status in the community.

History

The temple prostitution system was prevalent in Goa since times immemorial. The Kalawantin community finds references throughout Goan history. Hindu widows originally sought shelter in the temples if they did not commit Sati after the husband's death. These widows would then become the mistresses of the Brahmins. Any resulting illegitimate daughters would also be sold by their mothers to become mistresses of Brahmins, while the illegitimate sons would become temple servants and entertainers. The Portuguese called them "bailadeiras" (dancers) whereas the Dutch and the British called them Devalis (Devali means who comes from temple).

During British colonial rule, many Kalawantin community members moved to the city of Bombay and other areas of British India. Most of these emigrants followed Hindustani music gharanas to improve their art and talent. Those who remained in Goa began organizing themselves after the post-1910 Portuguese Republic period. In 1910, Rajaram Painginikar started Kalawantin Movement from Paingini Village of Goa. In 1917, Maratha Gayan Samaj (Maratha Singers Society) was formed in Kakode. At the turn of the twentieth century, the Gomantak Maratha Samaj (G.M.S.) was created in order to ensure devadasi's children the right to get their marriages officially recognized by other Hindus. In 1961, the G.M.S. was formally accepted by the Government of Goa as a Reserved category. The G.M.S. brings together the devadasis, the musicians and different ritualists of the temple into one single Dalit caste group. In 1937, under the leadership of Rajaram Panginikar Goa branch of G.M.S. was formed. The main functions of the G.M.S. are as follows:

• To promote the education of its members.
• To arrange marriages of their children within the community.
• Other community welfare activities for their community.

See also

• Konkani people
• Malvani