Chekavar

For the film, see Chekavar (film).

The Chekavar (also Chekava, Chekavan, Chevakan, Chon) are a caste with origins in southern India, including Sri Lanka, Kerala and some parts of Tamil Nadu. They are believed to be the founding fathers who as practitioners systemically developed the martial art of "Kalarippayattu" with the use of weapons thousands of years before the arrival of "Aryans & Chathurvarnya" to South India.^{[citation needed]}

They had strict rules of honour and combat living by the sword, as a matter of "Karma"; performing as required by tradition "Dharma" the holy labour of sacrificing themselves in "Ankam" (a duel) that was to indicate the divine will on justice.

The people^[1][2] belong to the Ezhava (Thiyya) caste. The "Vadakkan Pattukal" ("Malayalam" ballads of medievalSouth India ) describe the Saga of "Chekava -heroes" who made up the militia of local chieftains and kings. The songs glorify the "expert Chekavars" of Kalari Payattu.^[3] The saying goes, An Ezhavan(Thiyyan) is called a "Chekavan" after an "ankam" and from then on the Chekavar's food is believed to be earned by the tip of the sword. ^[4] ‘ Ankam’ is a duel, to the death, fought between two "Ankachekavar" to resolve the quarrels between local rulers . The ruler whose Ankachekavar survived was considered the winner. For centuries Kerala had quarrels between local rulers resolved by "Ankam". The legendary martial artists in the history of South India –like.. Puthooram Veettil Kannappa Chekavar, Puthooram Veettil Unnikkannan, Unniyarcha, Aromal Chekavar, Chandu, Aromalunni, Kannappanunni- were Chekavar. The King ( Cheraman Perumal ) was a chekavar who helped build the first Muslim Mosque in India.

They worshipped mostly Lord Shiva, pithrukkal (ancestors) and deities like Muthappan, Ayyan, Ayyappan, etc. According to their beliefs they were trained from Lord Siva on all these martial arts & weaponry methods and they treat "Siva" as their " Kula Guru" (Guru of the Race/ Family). That was why "Lord Siva" was worshiped very much in this region by almost all the people here in the ancient times. And they respect "Pithrukkal" to respect their sacrifice to the general people and to show their bereavement.These men were skilled assassins in the deadly art of war and represent the extreme masculine symbol from ever in the history which makes all others envy.

Etymology

The word 'Chevakar' is derived from Sanskrit word 'Sevakar' which means soldiers in service or soldiers in royal service. As per the English-Malayalm Dictionary of Hermann Gundert, the word meaning of chekavan are militiaman and warrior. As per Peyarakaraathi, a Tamil dictionary published from Jaffna, the word meaning of chekavan are aiyan(Respected person or teacher or ayyappan or sanstha), peyullipanividaikaran(war hero) and veeran. Some argue that this word might have derived from Sanskrit word Sevakan or sevaka.^[5][6] Another theory proposed says that it might have derived from local Malayalam language word Chavuka means die.^{[citation needed]} The first reference of the word chekava was found from inscriptions found in karapauram near cherthala which talks about an ayurveda medicinal plant collector who later became Ayurvedi physician Itty Achudan.^{[citation needed]}

Origin

As per Elamkulam P. N. Kunjan Pillai's Studies in Kerala history, they were decedents of or Villors or Villavar or Billavars ( according to "Maha Bharatha, the "Ekalavya" was from this cast) who were warriors and bravos. They were trained under Maravars, a Dravidian martial tribe, accepted Buddhism in later stage. Villu(in Tamil and malayalm) or Billu(in Tulu), means bow was the Symbol of Chera kingdom. As per his opinion, Chera kings were actually villavars.. However, they were degraded after arrival of Brahmins and after establishing Chatur Varna system. Thereafter, they were accredited as chekavars or chevakars.Vadakkan Pattukal, collection of Malayalam Ballads of medieval origin present saga of chekava heroes.^[7][8]

As per the sangam literature and hero stones found in Tamil Nadu, chekavars were engaged in combat often on behalf of a lord and in this hero stone, chekavars generally bear an image of an armed man along with a Shiva Linga. The hero stone built for these men who had fallen in battle on behalf of lord and villagers or cattle raids was tradition during sangam days.^[9]

As per some other historians, Chekavars(Ezhavas) came in to India ancient times, on account of their long inhabitations and similarities in religion that with natives. The tradition is that they came originally from Ceylon where they belonged to Military caste.^[10] Some folk song says they were natives of Ezhavathu Nadu(Local name for Ceylon) and another folk song about puthooram veedu says their ancestors were one of the eight fighter families sent by the king of Ezhavathu Nadu (Land of Ezhavas) to help the local rulers of Malayalam (Here the Malayalam refers to present day Kerala). Famous chekavars of south Kerala, Komalezhathu Chekavars's (which was originally komala ezhavathu) family name also stressing this notion.^[11][12]

Legends

Arattupuzha Velayudha Panicker, was an Ezhava warrior lived in the 19th century in Kerala who has also fought against the caste oppression by the upper castes. His original name was Kalisseril Velayutha chekavar. His grandfather Vallikadavil Perumal Chekavan(Perumalchekon or Perumalchan) was even proficient in Tulunadan kalari techniques which was not common in southern style of Kalaripayattu.^[13][14]

Legendary warrior figures of northern ballads Kannappa chekavar, Aromal Chekavar, Unniarcha, Unikkannan, Aromalunny etc. were chekavars from puthooram veedu in Malabar. Kottakkal Kanaran, the founder of the renowned CVN Kalari, was himself a Chekava.

In Central Travancore, there are families such as Punnasseril in Veloor whose roots are closely associated with these clans.^{[citation needed]} Komalezhathu Chekavars of the Alappuzha districts were fierce warriors of most of the central Kerala kingdoms before the emergence of Travancore as a powerful kingdom. Sree Moolam Assembly (Praja sabha) memebr Komalezhathu Kunju Pillai Chevakar and Ezhava leader T. K. Madhavan are from this family.

So is the case of Thadathil Chekavars. Thadathil Raman Chekavar Velayudhan, Former CEO, Coir Worker's welfare Fund Board and an astrologist, belongs to this family. Other chekavar families in Travancore include Valiya mundakkal chekavars of eastern kollam and Melathil chekavars of Kanyakumari. Majority of these families in South Kerala lost it mightiness after the emergence Travancore as powerful kingdom, except Melathil tharavdu which continued to serve the Travancore kingdom.^{[citation needed]}

In South Kerala members of Ezhavas are still being called chovan was createds (a maltreated derived version of chekavan) by other communities mainly upper caste.^{[citation needed]}

See also

• Kadathanadu
• Vadakara
• Thalassery
• Channar was created
• Thandan
• Izhathu Mannanars
• Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha

References

1. ^ A. Aiyappan, Social Revolution in a Kerala Village: A Study in Culture Change. (Asia Publishing House, 1965), Page 85
2. ^ Social Revolution in a Kerala Village: A Study in Culture Change.Page 85. (Asia Publishing House, 1965. http://books.google.com/books?lr=&q=Chekon+caste. Retrieved 2007-12-28. 
3. ^ Social Movements and Social Transformation.Page 23. (Macmillan, 1979. http://books.google.com/books?id=tZAiAAAAMAAJ&q=Chekor+kalari&dq=Chekor+kalari&lr=&pgis=1. Retrieved 2007-12-28. 
4. ^ Man in India.Page 27. A.K. Bose, etc.. 1921. http://books.google.com/books?id=Tc0ZAAAAMAAJ&q=chekavan&dq=chekavan&pgis=1. 
5. ^ Communal Road to a Secular Kerala.Page 30. Concept Pub.Co, 1989. ISBN 8170222826. http://books.google.com/books?lr=&q=Chekavan+. Retrieved 2007-12-28. 
6. ^ Religion and Social Conflict in South Asia.Page 27. (BRILL publications ,1976. ISBN 9004045104. http://books.google.com/books?id=xNAI9F8IBOgC&pg=PA27&dq=Chekavar+Sevakan&lr=&sig=2r0l1cDCehYy8Y4NOP09c2ES7C0. Retrieved 2007-12-28. 
7. ^ "Ezhava Thiyya charitra padanam". k.g.Narayanan. 1970. http://sathyangal.blogspot.com/. Retrieved 2008-06-30. 
8. ^ Elamkulam P. N. Kunjan Pillai, Studies in Kerala History.( National Book Stall, Kottayam, 1970), Page 111, 151, 152,15,154
9. ^ Women's Lives, Women's Rituals in the Hindu Tradition, Page 113. Oxford University Press. 2007. ISBN 0195177061. http://books.google.com/books?id=py50jfBsv_kC&pg=PA113&dq=cevakan&lr=. Retrieved 2008-12-13. 
10. ^ Letters from Malabar.Page 127. Oxford University press. 1862. http://books.google.com/books?id=LDUBAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA127&dq=chegos. Retrieved 05-12-2008. 
11. ^ Letters from Malabar, tr.: to which is added An account of Travancore.Page 127. 1862. http://books.google.com/books?id=LDUBAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA127&dq=chegos,&lr=. 
12. ^ Castes And Tribes Of Southern India.Page 137. Asian Educational Services. 2001. ISBN 9788120602885. http://books.google.com/books?id=u8vvtDI9kt0C&pg=PA137&dq=chegos,&lr=&sig=CILqXilAUCgcnO7UtMa7kPAZ3Fs#PPA137,M1. 
13. ^ "Ezhava Warrior From Central Travancore". haripad website. haripad web. http://www.haripad.com/velayudha_paniker.php. Retrieved 2007-05-05. 
14. ^ NR Krishanan IAS, Izhavar Annum Innum (Trissur: Seena Publications, 1967), p 119

External Links and Other References

• Ezhava Website was created
• http://www.sivagiri.org ( Ashram / Hermitage of "Chekavar"/"Ezhavar")
• Adhwaitha Vedantha ( Monism ) of "Chekavar" / "Ezhavar"
• KalariPayattu(Vadakkan)