Home / Padmasaliyar History

The colonial period and its records

From Thurston’s account of 1909 to the Census and the gazetteers — what the old written notes say, and how they should be read.

Chapters (15)
  1. Who are the Padmasaliyar?
  2. Bhavana Rishi and the Padmasaliyar tradition
  3. The puranic tradition of origin
  4. Lotus, Padma and the weaving tradition
  5. Ancient homeland and migration
  6. Andhra, Telangana, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu
  7. The weaving trade and contribution to society
  8. Padmasaliyar in the age of kings
  9. Temples, religion and culture
  10. Social structure, gotras and divisions
  11. The tradition of the curse — a separate section
  12. The colonial period and its records
  13. Padmasaliyar in modern times
  14. The community around the world
  15. Conclusion
Chapter 12

The colonial period and its records

So far we have looked mostly at traditional stories and online accounts. In this chapter, for the first time, we read a primary source printed a hundred years ago, on the basis of what is actually in it. As it is a public domain work, anyone can read the original and check.

  • Kulapurana
  • Living community tradition
  • Written evidence
  • Yet to be verified

The work of Thurston and Rangachari

The article “Sale” — what Thurston recorded

The article “Sale”, on the Telugu weavers, was written on the basis of a note supplied by C. Hayavadana Rao. The main points from it:

The story in its 1909 form

The pause in weaving and the worship of Bhavana Rishi

The record of 1909 and the later position

The value of old records lies in the way they freeze and show the position at one particular time. Comparing that with today’s tradition shows how the community changed over time.

Feature1909 record (Thurston)Later / online accounts
Sacred threadThe Padma Sales did not wear itThe Padmasaliyar are said to wear it; the efforts of the Mahasabha (Chapters 9, 11)
GotraA single gotra, “Markandeya”; house names for marriage avoidance101 gotras (Chapter 10)
Wife of Bhavana RishiBhadravati (one)In some accounts Prasannavati and Bhadravati (two)
The 101 sonsAncestors of 100 Padma Sale + 1 Pattu SaleAncestors of the 101 gotras (Chapters 2, 10)
WorshipVenkateshwara the household deity; Bhavana Rishi the caste deity; village deitiesMarkandeshwara, Venkateshwara, Padmavati (Chapter 9)

There are other voices too

Other colonial records

To read the original

The article “Padma Sale” stands separately in the same work; its full text must be read directly to confirm the notes given here.

Other records to look for

  • The Census reports of the Madras Presidency for each decade (from 1871).
  • District manuals and gazetteers (North Arcot, Salem, Chingleput and others).
  • The Baramahal Records, and the notes on weavers in them.
  • Telugu caste books such as “Varuna Darpanam” (1907).
  • Old land deeds and trade accounts held by families.

Next chapter

13. Padmasaliyar in modern times — education, occupations, politics, associations, today’s challenges.