Berava (caste)
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{{Short description|Social group or caste in Sri Lanka}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{Disputed|date=March 2011}}
{{Original research|date=March 2011}}
}}
'''Berava''' are a [[social group]] or [[Caste system in Sri Lanka|caste]] amongst the [[Sinhalese people|Sinhalese]] of [[Sri Lanka]]. Like the [[Paraiyar]] of the neighboring [[Tamil people|Tamil]] ethnic group in Sri Lanka as well as [[Tamil Nadu]] state in [[South India]], they were segregated from the mainstream society, yet played and still play an important and vital role in the religious rituals of the mainstream community. In Maharashtra the Berava belongs to maratha(Kshatriya)
==Origins==
As the mainstream Sinhalese speakers claim [[North Indian]] ethnic origins the presence of many South Indian type [[Jatis]] like the Beravas indicate a complex migration history from India to Sri Lanka. Beravas do not indicate any tribal origins like the other formerly untouchable caste of [[Rodiyas]]. They are part and parcel of the caste structure albeit with a primary function associated with Tom Tom or drum besting in all ritual occasions. Yet they are also used as agricultural workers, weavers and domestic help throughout the country.
===South Indian roots===
Some [[anthropologists]] believe that the early society of Sri Lanka has looked to neighboring South India for manpower to fulfill functional needs as land was cleared and many new villages found. Berava are believed to be descended from [[Paraiyar]] like caste of South India who also play an important role in Tom Tom or Drum or Bera beating
===Colonial period===
The powerful [[Sri Lankan Mudaliyars|Mudaliyar]] class created by the British in the 19th century attempted to keep this caste and all other Sri Lankan castes out of colonial appointments. They also used all possible means to economically and socially marginalise and subjugate all other communities. The oppression by the Mudaliars and connected headmen extended to demanding subservience, service, appropriation of cultivation rights and even restrictions on the type of personal names that could be used by this community. Continuous oppression and prejudices created by the [[Siyam Nikaya|Buddhist monastic establishment]] has made it difficult for this community to progress.
==Etymology of Bera==
The [[etymology]] of the word Berava is ultimately the Sinhala word 'Bera' meaning drum. The word inturn derives from Sanskrit Bherī (भेरी), meaning "kettle-drum".
==Sub divisions==
There are many subdivisions within the caste, some of which are ''Badgam Berava'' and ''Gahala Berava'' indicating drumming specializations. They denote Temple drummers who occupied and cultivated ''Bathgam'' (rice producing villages) as [[tenant farmers]] and [[Executioner]]'s drummers respectively. It may indicate diverse origins for this caste as for all castes in India.
==Role in folk religion==
Although great many Sinhalese purport to profess the conservative [[Theravada]] [[Buddhism]] there is a thriving belief in [[demons]], spirits, [[Hindu]] [[deity|gods]] and connected rituals such as [[spirit possession]], [[Curse|cursing]] ceremonies throughout the country also referred as the Spirit Religion or Folk Tradition. Some of these are facilitated by [[shamans]], [[magician (paranormal)|sorcerers]], and native priests and astrologers. Berava perform the needed role as sorceress in some villages and also gain respectability by building cultic shrines to attract devotees from other castes.
==References==
* The Feast of the Sorcerer: Practices of Consciousness and Power – by BRUCE KAPFERER. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press, 1997.
*Performing Respectability: The Beravā, Middle-Class Nationalism, and the Classicization of Kandyan Dance in Sri Lanka by Susan A. Reed Cultural Anthropology May 2002, Vol. 17, No. 2, pp. 246–277 Posted online on October 29, 2004.
* The Musical Gift: Sound, Sovereignty and Multicultural History in Sri Lanka by Jim Sykes, Ph.D. dissertation, University of Chicago, 2011.
*Servants of Globalization: Women, Migration, and Domestic Work, and: The Kitchen Spoon's Handle: Transnationalism and Sri Lanka's Migrant Housemaids (review) by Tiengtrakul, Chanasai NWSA Journal - Volume 15, Number 2, Summer 2003, pp. 195–199
* Turner, Ralph Lilley (1969–1985) “bheri”, in A Comparative Dictionary of the Indo-Aryan Languages, London: Oxford University Press, page 548
==External links==
*[http://www.rootsweb.com/~lkawgw/berava.htm The role of Berava exorcists in Sorcery]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20051108072524/http://www.nucleus2000.de/srilanka/features/kasten/kasten02.htm Singhalesische Kasten German article]
*[http://www.country-data.com/cgi-bin/query/r-13181.html Caste amongst the Sinhalese]
*[http://www.rootsweb.com/~lkawgw/cotton.html Weaving traditions of the Berava]
*[http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/kariyawasam/wheel402.html Buddhist Ceremonies and Rituals of Sri Lanka by A.G.S. Kariyawasam]
*[http://www.aisls.org/pdfs/2005prob-prospects.pdf Prospects and Problems in Sri Lankan Studies]
[[Category:Sinhalese castes]]
{{Multiple issues|
{{Disputed|date=March 2011}}
{{Original research|date=March 2011}}
}}
'''Berava''' are a [[social group]] or [[Caste system in Sri Lanka|caste]] amongst the [[Sinhalese people|Sinhalese]] of [[Sri Lanka]]. Like the [[Paraiyar]] of the neighboring [[Tamil people|Tamil]] ethnic group in Sri Lanka as well as [[Tamil Nadu]] state in [[South India]], they were segregated from the mainstream society, yet played and still play an important and vital role in the religious rituals of the mainstream community. In Maharashtra the Berava belongs to maratha(Kshatriya)
==Origins==
As the mainstream Sinhalese speakers claim [[North Indian]] ethnic origins the presence of many South Indian type [[Jatis]] like the Beravas indicate a complex migration history from India to Sri Lanka. Beravas do not indicate any tribal origins like the other formerly untouchable caste of [[Rodiyas]]. They are part and parcel of the caste structure albeit with a primary function associated with Tom Tom or drum besting in all ritual occasions. Yet they are also used as agricultural workers, weavers and domestic help throughout the country.
===South Indian roots===
Some [[anthropologists]] believe that the early society of Sri Lanka has looked to neighboring South India for manpower to fulfill functional needs as land was cleared and many new villages found. Berava are believed to be descended from [[Paraiyar]] like caste of South India who also play an important role in Tom Tom or Drum or Bera beating
===Colonial period===
The powerful [[Sri Lankan Mudaliyars|Mudaliyar]] class created by the British in the 19th century attempted to keep this caste and all other Sri Lankan castes out of colonial appointments. They also used all possible means to economically and socially marginalise and subjugate all other communities. The oppression by the Mudaliars and connected headmen extended to demanding subservience, service, appropriation of cultivation rights and even restrictions on the type of personal names that could be used by this community. Continuous oppression and prejudices created by the [[Siyam Nikaya|Buddhist monastic establishment]] has made it difficult for this community to progress.
==Etymology of Bera==
The [[etymology]] of the word Berava is ultimately the Sinhala word 'Bera' meaning drum. The word inturn derives from Sanskrit Bherī (भेरी), meaning "kettle-drum".
==Sub divisions==
There are many subdivisions within the caste, some of which are ''Badgam Berava'' and ''Gahala Berava'' indicating drumming specializations. They denote Temple drummers who occupied and cultivated ''Bathgam'' (rice producing villages) as [[tenant farmers]] and [[Executioner]]'s drummers respectively. It may indicate diverse origins for this caste as for all castes in India.
==Role in folk religion==
Although great many Sinhalese purport to profess the conservative [[Theravada]] [[Buddhism]] there is a thriving belief in [[demons]], spirits, [[Hindu]] [[deity|gods]] and connected rituals such as [[spirit possession]], [[Curse|cursing]] ceremonies throughout the country also referred as the Spirit Religion or Folk Tradition. Some of these are facilitated by [[shamans]], [[magician (paranormal)|sorcerers]], and native priests and astrologers. Berava perform the needed role as sorceress in some villages and also gain respectability by building cultic shrines to attract devotees from other castes.
==References==
* The Feast of the Sorcerer: Practices of Consciousness and Power – by BRUCE KAPFERER. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press, 1997.
*Performing Respectability: The Beravā, Middle-Class Nationalism, and the Classicization of Kandyan Dance in Sri Lanka by Susan A. Reed Cultural Anthropology May 2002, Vol. 17, No. 2, pp. 246–277 Posted online on October 29, 2004.
* The Musical Gift: Sound, Sovereignty and Multicultural History in Sri Lanka by Jim Sykes, Ph.D. dissertation, University of Chicago, 2011.
*Servants of Globalization: Women, Migration, and Domestic Work, and: The Kitchen Spoon's Handle: Transnationalism and Sri Lanka's Migrant Housemaids (review) by Tiengtrakul, Chanasai NWSA Journal - Volume 15, Number 2, Summer 2003, pp. 195–199
* Turner, Ralph Lilley (1969–1985) “bheri”, in A Comparative Dictionary of the Indo-Aryan Languages, London: Oxford University Press, page 548
==External links==
*[http://www.rootsweb.com/~lkawgw/berava.htm The role of Berava exorcists in Sorcery]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20051108072524/http://www.nucleus2000.de/srilanka/features/kasten/kasten02.htm Singhalesische Kasten German article]
*[http://www.country-data.com/cgi-bin/query/r-13181.html Caste amongst the Sinhalese]
*[http://www.rootsweb.com/~lkawgw/cotton.html Weaving traditions of the Berava]
*[http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/kariyawasam/wheel402.html Buddhist Ceremonies and Rituals of Sri Lanka by A.G.S. Kariyawasam]
*[http://www.aisls.org/pdfs/2005prob-prospects.pdf Prospects and Problems in Sri Lankan Studies]
[[Category:Sinhalese castes]]
