Chapters (15)
- Who are the Padmasaliyar?
- Bhavana Rishi and the Padmasaliyar tradition
- The puranic tradition of origin
- Lotus, Padma and the weaving tradition
- Ancient homeland and migration
- Andhra, Telangana, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu
- The weaving trade and contribution to society
- Padmasaliyar in the age of kings
- Temples, religion and culture
- Social structure, gotras and divisions
- The tradition of the curse — a separate section
- The colonial period and its records
- Padmasaliyar in modern times
- The community around the world
- Conclusion
The puranic tradition of the origin of the Padmasaliyar
The stories a community tells about its own origin show its identity and its values. The Padmasaliyar Kulapurana is such a story. The rule of this site is to record it with respect and, at the same time, not to present it as historical evidence.
- Purana / Kulapurana
- Written evidence
- Yet to be verified
Which texts does the tradition point to?
Community websites and research notes name certain texts as the basis of the origin story. Here we have clearly separated the status of each.
| Text / source | What the tradition says | Our position |
|---|---|---|
| Kulapurana | The community’s traditional lineage purana; the primary source of the Bhavana Rishi story | A copy must be seen and quoted |
| Markandeya Purana | Community websites point to it | This text is real. But we have not yet verified whether it has a passage about Bhavana Rishi |
| Vishnu and Vayu Puranas | Some online accounts cite them as evidence | Such online accounts are of low reliability. They should not be taken as citations until verified chapter by chapter |
The parts of the story
1. Markandeya
2. The sacrifice and the appearance of Bhavana Rishi
3. The lotus fibre and the sacred garment
4. Veda, Shakha, Sutra
5. Brahmin customs before the Kali Yuga
How to read the puranic tradition
Evidence to be added
- A palm-leaf manuscript or printed edition of the Kulapurana, with its editor and year.
- If the Markandeya Purana has a passage about Bhavana Rishi, its chapter and verse number.
- Records of the family gurus about the Padma Veda and the Padma Shakha.
Next chapter
4. Lotus, Padma and the weaving tradition — the symbolism of lotus fibre, the meaning of the word “Sali”, and its relation to the names of South Indian weavers.
Have a comment or a correction?
If you find an error or a variant in anything here, or have more information, please tell us. Copies of the Kulapurana, old manuscripts, family traditions and village histories are very valuable. It helps if you send the source and the permission along with it.
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