Karava
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{{For|the Finnish freestyle skier|Anni Kärävä}}
{{EngvarB|date=January 2019}}{{Short description|Maritime martial Sinhalese caste in Sri Lanka}}{{infobox ethnic group
| group = Karava of Sri Lanka
| image = [[File:Karava Main Flag.jpg|200px]]
| caption = The Karava Maha Kodiya of the Karava Community.
| poptime =
| popplace = [[Sri Lanka]],
| langs = [[Sinhala language|Sinhala]] ([[Tamil language|Tamil]] also spoken by bilingual Karavas north of [[Negombo]].)
| rels = Significant Majority: [[Theravada Buddhism]], Minority: [[Roman Catholicism]], [[Protestantism]]
| related = [[Sinhalese people|Sinhalese]], [[Sri Lankan Tamils|Tamils]], [[Karaiyar]], [[Pattanavar]]
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
}}
[[Image:Royal Flag of Sri Lanka.jpg|thumb|right| The Karava Sun and Moon Flag symbolising the Royal [[Solar dynasty|Solar]] and [[Lunar dynasty|Lunar]] Dynastical origins of the community. This flag is also one of the main flags still used by the Karavas at their ceremonies.
]]
'''Karava''' ({{Langx|si|කරාවා|translit=Karāvā}}) is a [[Sinhalese people|Sinhalese]] caste of [[Sri Lanka]], whose ancestors migrated throughout history from the adjacent [[Coromandel coast]], claiming lineage to the [[Kaurava]] royalty of the old Kingdom of Kuru in Northern India. The [[Tamils|Tamil]] equivalent is [[Karaiyar]].{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CkAaAAAAYAAJ|title=Inscriptions of Ceylon Vol. I (3rd century BC to 1st century CE in the Early Brāhmī Script)|last=PARANAVITĀNA|first=Senerat|publisher=Department of Archaeology|year=1970|pages=7, 83 & 113|isbn=9789559159308}}{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Fb4LAAAAIAAJ|title=Tamil culture in Ceylon: a general introduction|last=Raghavan|first=M. D.|date=1971|publisher=Kalai Nilayam|pages=53, 138|language=en}}{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dCFRAQAAIAAJ|title=Cambridge South Asian Studies|date=1965|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=9780521232104|pages=18, 51|language=en}}{{Cite book|title=Dravidian Settlements in Ceylon and the Beginnings of the Kingdom of Jaffna|last=Indrapala|first=Karthigesu|date=1965|publisher=University of London|pages=109–110, 371, 373|language=en}}{{Cite book|last=Raghavan|first=M. D.|title=The Karāva of Ceylon: Society and Culture|date=1961|publisher=K.V.G. De Sīlva|pages=5, 13, 195|language=en}} Both groups are also known as the [[Timeline of the Kurukulam|Kurukula]] (Kuru clan).{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=URtDAAAAYAAJ&q=Journal+of+the+Royal+Asiatic+Society+of+Sri+Lanka,+Volumer+36-37|title=Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Sri Lanka, Volume 36-37|publisher=Royal Asiatic Society of Sri Lanka|year=1993|location=University of Michigan|pages=137}} [[Epigraphic]] evidence as well as the Janawamsaya, indicate some of the migration to the early historical era (though archaeology points to maritime links between the Island and the Coromandel coast from the [[protohistoric]] era).{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7pvpAAAAMAAJ|title=Ancient Anuradhapura: The Monastic City|last=Seneviratna|first=Anuradha|date=1994|publisher=Archaeological Survey Department, Government of Sri Lanka|isbn=9789559159025|pages=288|language=en}}{{Cite book|last=Somadasa|first=K.D.|title=Catalogue of the [[Hugh Nevill]] Collection of Sinhalese Manuscripts, Volume 5|date=1990|publisher=The British Library Publishing|pages=72–3|isbn=9780712306478|language=en}}{{Cite book|url=https://www.google.lk/books/edition/_/98XJWoz9AnUC?hl=en&gbpv=1 |title=Ships and the Development of Maritime Technology on the Indian Ocean |last= Barnes, Parkin |first= Ruth, David |date= 2015 |publisher=Taylor & Francis |isbn= 9781317793427 |pages=93, 98, 101 & 122|language=en}} Like the other coastal castes such as the [[Durava]]s and [[Salagama]]s, the majority of Karava migration to [[Sri Lanka]] happened between the 13th to 18th century from South India and are of historical [[Dravidian peoples|Dravidian]] ethnic origin.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=a8CxvhZfPYoC&q=Salagama+south+india&pg=PA103|title=From Culture to Ethnicity to Conflict: An Anthropological Perspective on International Ethnic Conflict|last=Eller|first=Jack David|date=1999-01-01|publisher=University of Michigan Press|isbn=0472085387|language=en}}
The last mass migration to Sri Lanka happened in the 15th century from [[Tamil Nadu]] to fight against the [[Mukkuvar]] confederation as mentioned in the [[Mukkara Hatana]]. They have also given great importance to [[trade]] and [[commerce]]. The elite families are involved in [[entrepreneurial]] activities including the development of plantation agriculture such as coconut, tea and rubber.{{Cite book|last=Roberts|first=Michael|title=Caste Conflict and Elite Formation|date=1982|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=9780521052856|pages=18,75, 81-8, 131-40, 300-20|language=en}}{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Q8ip5NofD98C|title=Caste and Family Politics Sinhalese 1947-1976|last=Jiggins|first=Janice|date=1979-06-07|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=9780521220699|pages=27|language=en}}{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EBbyJzBt-hoC|title=Spiritual Leadership in the Entrepreneurial Business: A Multifaith Study|last=Fernando|first=Mario|date=2007|publisher=Edward Elgar Publishing|isbn=9781847208613|pages=55|language=en}} They also played a leading role in advocating constitutional reforms and socialism prior to independence as well as in the emergence of Sinhala Buddhist nationalism in post-independent Sri Lanka.{{Cite book |last=Roberts |first=Michael |title=Caste conflict and elite formation: the rise of a Karāva elite in Sri Lanka, 1500–1931 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |year=1982 |isbn=978-0-521-23210-4 |pages=292–7}}{{Cite book |last=Guruge |first=Ananda |title=PEACE AT LAST IN PARADISE |publisher=Author-House |year=2011 |isbn=978-1463418373 |pages=213–14}}{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=50igCgAAQBAJ|title=Historical Dictionary of Sri Lanka|last=Peebles|first=Patrick|date=2015-10-22|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield|isbn=9781442255852|language=en}}{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_dByI_qil26YC|title=A History of Sri Lanka|last=Silva|first=K. M. De|date=1981|publisher=University of California Press|isbn=9780520043206|pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_dByI_qil26YC/page/n385 361]–362|language=en}}[http://www.sundaytimes.lk/040222/funday/2.html Working towards reform], [[The Sunday Times (Sri Lanka)]] Retrieved 23 April 2015 It is estimated that they form 10% of the Sinhalese population.{{Cite book |last=Bush |first=Kenneth |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TBqHDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA48 |title=The Intra-Group Dimensions of Ethnic Conflict in Sri Lanka: Learning to Read Between the Lines |publisher=Springer |year=2003 |isbn=978-0-230-59782-2 |pages=48}}
== Etymology ==
The origins of the term ''Karava'' are still debated. The name might have derived from the Tamil ''Karaiyar'', where "Karava" has the same root word ''kara'' or ''karai'' meaning "coast" or "shore" in [[Tamil language|Tamil]].{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rUsHAQAAIAAJ|title=International Journal of Dravidian Linguistics|last=|first=|date=1990|publisher=Department of Linguistics, University of Kerala.|isbn=|location=|pages=110|language=en}}[https://books.google.com/books?id=xc8oW6pedrwC&pg=PA137 ''Vaduga:'' Sri Lanka and the Maldive Islands, By Chandra Richard De Silva, p.111 & 137] The earliest recorded instance could be the [[Prakrit]] inscription at the [[Abhayagiri Vihāra]] dating from the 1st century BC denoting a ''Dameda karava navika'' which means Tamil Karava mariner. The name "Karava" has also been proposed to be a corruption of the [[Sanskrit]] name ''[[Kaurava]]'', following their origin story. According to the Janavamsaya, one of the oldest treatises about Sinhalese castes (dated to the 15th century), the term originates from Prince Karavanti, a descendant of the mythical king Upasāgara who accompanied the overseas voyage of [[Prince Vijaya]], the legendary king of Tambapanni.{{Cite book|last= Hussein |first= Asiff |title=Caste in Sri Lanka, From Ancient Times to the Present Day|date=2013|publisher=Neptune Publications|pages=58 - 61 |isbn=9789550028351|language=en}} Other historical counts refer to them and also the Karaiyars as ''Careas'' and ''Kaurawar''.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SSjjAAAAMAAJ|title=Kurukshetra|date=1983|publisher=Sri Lak-Indo Study Group|pages=78|language=en}}
== History ==
{{See also|Timeline of the Kurukulam}}
Many Kurukula communities throughout Sri Lanka and south India claim an origin from the [[Kuru (kingdom)|Kuru kingdom]] and the Kauravas of the Hindu epic ''[[Mahabharata]]''.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GV3abjkKdB4C|title=The Ceylon Journal of the Humanities|date=1970|publisher=University of Sri Lanka|pages=34–35|language=en}} For instance, Kurukulattaraiyan was the name ascribed to 'the prince who wore a golden anklet' that commanded the army of [[Vijayabahu I of Polonnaruwa|Vijayabahu I]] (11th century AD) to end Chola rule in Sri Lanka.
Apart from the Janavamsaya and inscriptions, studies on the establishment of the caste system in Sinhalese society tend to show that the history of the Karava caste may not go beyond the [[Transitional period of Sri Lanka#Kotte period (1412–1597)|Kotte period]] (15th–16th century AD).{{Cite journal |last1=Amarasinghe |first1=Jayantha |last2=Kariyakarawana |first2=Saman M. |date=December 2014 |title=Immigrated national identity: Karava and Sinhalese Mask Drama (Kolam) |url=http://ir.lib.seu.ac.lk/handle/123456789/999 |journal=Journal of Social Review |publisher=Department of Social Sciences, South Eastern University of Sri Lanka |volume=3 |issue=1 |pages=58}} However, typically only four castes were mentioned prior to this era and migrants were usually mentioned by their ethnicity.{{Cite book|title=The Feast of the Sorcerer: Practices of Consciousness and Power|url=https://archive.org/details/feastsorcererpra00kapf|url-access=limited|last=Kapferer|first=Bruce|date=1997-10-15|publisher=University of Chicago Press|isbn=9780226424132|pages=[https://archive.org/details/feastsorcererpra00kapf/page/n93 68]|language=en}}{{Cite book|title=The cult of the goddess Pattini|last=Obeyesekere|first=Gananath|date=1984|isbn=9780226616025|location=University of Chicago Press|pages=[https://archive.org/details/cultofgoddesspat0000obey/page/116 116–117]|language=en|url=https://archive.org/details/cultofgoddesspat0000obey/page/116}} Historical manuscripts such as the ''[[Mukkara Hatana]]'' indicate that there were migrations from the [[Coromandel Coast|Kurumandalam]] coast of Tamil Nadu, [[South India]], and that they were previously [[Tamil language|Tamil]] speakers.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZbP_AwAAQBAJ|title=Coup Theories and Officers' Motives: Sri Lanka in Comparative Perspective|last=Horowitz|first=Donald L.|date=2014-07-14|publisher=Princeton University Press|isbn=9781400854127|pages=33|language=en}} Oral traditions of some Karava families suggest that they migrated from South India as recently as the 18th century.{{Cite book |last=Kemper |first=Steven |url=https://archive.org/details/presenceofpastch00kemp/page/159/mode/1up?view=theater |title=The Presence of the Past: Chronicles, Politics, and Culture in Sinhala Life |publisher=Cornell University Press |year=1991 |isbn=978-0-8014-2395-6 |pages=159}} Nevertheless, recent migrants are known to have been incorporated by several castes, including the majority caste group.{{Cite book|last= De Silva, Wriggins|first=K. M., William Howard |title=J.R. Jayewardene of Sri Lanka: 1906-1956|date= 1988 |publisher=University of Hawaii Press |pages=21–5 |isbn=9780824811839|language=en}}{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=g29uAAAAMAAJ&q=Tanjore |title=The Pilimatalavuvas in the Last Days of the Kandyan Kingdom |last=Pilimatalavuva |first=Ananda |date=2004 |publisher=Stamford Lake Publication |isbn=9789558733646|pages=12–19|language=en}} The Karavas north of [[Negombo]] are predominantly Catholic and bilingual in [[Tamil language|Tamil]] and [[Sinhalese language|Sinhalese]],{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/cultofgoddesspat0000obey|url-access=registration|title=The cult of the goddess Pattini|last=Obeyesekere|first=Ganath|date=1984|publisher=The University of Chicago Press|isbn=9780226616025|pages=[https://archive.org/details/cultofgoddesspat0000obey/page/374 374]|language=en}} whereas the Karavas south of [[Colombo]] are [[Buddhism in Sri Lanka|Buddhist]]. It is evident that they had also patronised Mahayana Buddhism before its extinction in the Island.
The Mukkara Hatana describes that they won a three month siege against the [[Mukkuvar]]s, under the sponsorship of [[Kingdom of Kotte|Kotte king]] [[Parakramabahu VI of Kotte|Parakramabahu VI]] in the 15th century AD.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MTh4pixlifYC|title=Crucible of Conflict: Tamil and Muslim Society on the East Coast of Sri Lanka|last=McGilvray|first=Dennis B.|publisher=Duke University Press|year=2008|isbn=978-0822341611|pages=61}} The [[Kingdom of Kotte|Kotte King]] [[Bhuvanaikabahu VI of Kotte|Bhuvanaikabahu VI]] was the son of a Karava chief who was adopted by [[Parakramabahu VI of Kotte|Parakramabahu VI]] after the death of his father in the war mentioned in Mukkara Hatana.{{Cite web|url=http://www.infolanka.com/org/srilanka/hist/26.htm|title=Dona Catherina was the direct heiress by virtue of her heredity|last=Fernando|first=A. Denis N|website=Info Lanka}}[[Anton Sebastian|A. Sebastian]], ''A Complete Illustrated History of Sri Lanka''. Vijitha Yapa Publications, 2012. p 397. {{ISBN|9789556651492}} The [[Rajavaliya]] mentions that in the 16th century, the heirs to the throne - [[Bhuvanaikabahu VII of Kotte|Bhuvanaikabahu]] and [[Raigama Bandara|Pararajasinghe]] were under the care of the minister Karunadhipati, the Patabenda of Yapa-Patuna.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OjlyzQi6FTwC&q=75 |title=Rajavaliya, Or, a Historical Narrative of Sinhalese Kings|last=Gunasekara|first=B.|date=1995 |publisher=Asian Educational Services|isbn=8120610296|pages=75|language=en}}
The Karava chieftains resisted the colonial [[Portuguese Ceylon|Portuguese rule]] in 16th century. The Karava Prince of [[Uva (Sri Lanka)|Uva]], ''[[Kuruvita Rala]]'' (also known as Antonio Barreto{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TekcAAAAMAAJ|title=The Karāva of Ceylon: Society and Culture|last=Raghavan|first=M. D.|date=1961|publisher=K.V.G. De Sīlva|pages=36, 39, 143|language=en}}), who had his strongholds in [[Batticaloa]], [[Wellawaya]], [[Negombo]] and parts of [[Sabaragamuwa Province|Sabaragamuwa]] and [[Matara District|Matara region]], led his and the troops of [[Sitawaka Kingdom]] and revolted against the Portuguese.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vkwmAAAAMAAJ|title=Journal of the Ceylon Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society|last=Colombo|first=Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland Ceylon Branch|date=1946|publisher=Colombo Apothecaries Company|pages=210|language=en}} Kuruvita Rala also raided the [[Kandy Kingdom]] and drove king [[Senarat of Kandy]] out of his capital.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DUEKAQAAIAAJ|title=The Portuguese in Ceylon, 1617-1638|last=DeSilva|first=Chandra Richard|date=1972|publisher=School of Oriental and African Studies|location=University of London|pages=59–66, 83–84|language=en}}
They were under Portuguese rule, along with the [[Karaiyar]] and [[Nair]] recruited as [[Lascarins]] and were converted to [[Catholicism]].{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Y-xQ8qk9mgYC|title=Sri Lanka in the Modern Age: A History of Contested Indentities|last=Wickramasinghe|first=Nira|date=2006|publisher=University of Hawaii Press|isbn=9780824830168|pages=13|language=en}} Large Catholic Karava communities exists ever since, who were mostly [[Hindu]]s prior to conversion.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7smFAAAAIAAJ|title=Sri Lanka, a country study|last1=Nyrop|first1=Richard F.|last2=Studies|first2=American University (Washington, D. C. ) Foreign Area|last3=Army|first3=United States Dept of the|date=1986|publisher=Headquarters, Dept. of the Army|pages=106|language=en}} The Catholic Karava chieftains sided with the [[Kingdom of Kandy]] and the kingdom's [[Dutch Ceylon|Dutch allies]] against the [[Portuguese Ceylon|Portuguese empire]], and the King bestowed honors and titles to the Karava chieftains.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4ogmAQAAMAAJ|title=Fisheries in Sri Lanka: anthropological and biological aspects|last=Sivasubramaniam|first=K.|date=2009|publisher=Kumaran Book House|isbn=9789556591460|pages=136, 137|language=en}}
The Karavas amassed wealth through [[Commerce|commercial]] ventures such as in coastal navigation, fishing, carpentry, transportation, [[arrack]], coconut, rubber, graphite and other industries. The Karavas formed the [[elite]]s between 16th century and early 20th century.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=298Sa79fkRkC|title=A Treatise on Social Theory|last=Runciman|first=W. G.|date=1989-02-02|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=9780521369831|pages=43|language=en}} Numerous organization were formed by them such as ''Ceylon National Association'', one of the predecessors of the [[Ceylon National Congress]]. [[James Peiris]], a Karava lawyer and national leader, was an essential character in the [[Sri Lankan independence movement]].{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7smFAAAAIAAJ|title=Sri Lanka, a country study|last1=Nyrop|first1=Richard F.|last2=Studies|first2=American University (Washington, D. C. ) Foreign Area|last3=Army|first3=United States Dept of the|date=1986|publisher=Headquarters, Dept. of the Army|pages=111|language=en}} [[Rohana Wijeweera]] and other Karava leaders formed in the 1960s the [[Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna]], a [[Communism|communist]] party and political movement, who were involved in two armed uprisings against the ruling governments in 1971 and 1987.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Q8ip5NofD98C|title=Caste and Family Politics Sinhalese 1947–1976|last=Jiggins|first=Janice|date=1979-06-07|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=9780521220699|pages=127|language=en}}
== Traditional status ==
{{main|Karava heraldry}}The Karavas were coastal people and as such, skilled fisherman, sailors, boat builders, merchants, engaged in rudimentary agriculture and the production of salt, who served in naval warfare and contributed as coastal chieftains and regional kings. Their chiefs were referred in [[Sinhalese language|Sinhalese]] as ''Patabendi'' or ''Patangatim'',[https://books.google.com/books?id=m8_4bc7xEMgC&pg=PA208 ''Patangatin/Headmen of Chilaw baptised in 1606 at Malwana;'' Ceylon and the Portuguese 1505–1658, by Paulus Edward Pieris] which means the ones who wore the "Nala pata" the traditional grament worn on head by royal karavas. [[Tamil language|Tamil]] term ''Pattamkattiyar'' (meaning "crowned one"),{{Cite web|url=http://agarathi.com/word/%E0%AE%AA%E0%AE%9F%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%9F%E0%AE%99%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%9F%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%9F%E0%AE%BF|title=பட்டங்கட்டி {{!}} அகராதி {{!}} Tamil Dictionary|website=agarathi.com|others=University of Madras Lexicon|access-date=2017-08-13}} which was also used by their equivalent Tamil [[Karaiyar]]s.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=a0cqAAAAMAAJ|title=Modern Ceylon Studies|date=1975|publisher=University of Ceylon|language=en}}[[Image:Karava Makara Kodiya.JPG|thumb|right| A 19th-century representation of the Karava Makara Flag.]]The Karavas were one of the few Sri Lankan communities traditionally entitled to use flags.[https://books.google.com/books?id=1eExAAAAIAAJ ''In 1574 the Mahapatabenda of Colombo is beheaded and quartered by the Portuguese for treasonable communication with Mayadunne, the sannas grants of king Mayadenne to Sitavaka Tantula and Rajapakse Tantula of Ambalangoda for serving the interests of Sitawaka kings, Thamankaduwa, Diddeniya, Galagamuwa and Matale Karavas and their insignia''] The Karāva of Ceylon: Society and Culture, M. D. Raghavan pp.33–6,43,66,71–5 (K.V.G. De Sīlva ) ASIN: B0006CKOV2 A large number of these ''[[Karava Heraldry|Karava flags]]'' have survived the ravages of time and many are illustrated in [[E. W. Perera|E. W. Perera's]] book ''Sinhalese Banners and Standards''.
The sacred usage of conch shell and tying of ''Nalapata'' (royal forehead plate) was a common practice among Karavas, also mentioned in the [[Rajaveliya]]. The sun and the moon, pearl umbrella are traditional royal symbols used by the Karavas. The [[Makara (Hindu mythology)|Makara]], being an emblem of their clan, is the mount of their clan deity, the sea god [[Varuna]].{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=i2FhAAAAMAAJ|title=Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Sri Lanka|date=1993|publisher=Royal Asiatic Society of Sri Lanka|pages=137|language=en}} The clan name Warnakulasuriya, denotes their deity Varuna.
Insignia such as the pearl umbrella, flags, swords, trident, yak tail whisks, lighted flame torches and drums were previously widely used by the Karavas at their weddings and funerals. By the 1960s, such usage has been greatly reduced, whereas some places is it still practiced.
== Ancestral names ==
The Karava's use the {{lang|si-Latn|vasagama}} naming system. Vasagama, literally meaning "estate (gama) in which one resides", is a title or surname that is given to the [[Patrilineality|patrilineal]] descendants.{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/southasiasevenco0000malo|url-access=registration|title=South Asia; seven community profiles|last=Maloney|first=Clarence|date=1974|publisher=Holt, Rinehart and Winston|isbn=9780030118562|pages=[https://archive.org/details/southasiasevenco0000malo/page/64 64]|language=en}} The most common clans among the Karavas are ''Kurukulasuriya'', ''Warunakulasuriya'' and ''Mihindikulasuriya'' (formerly known as ''Arasakulasuriya'').{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=n-88AAAAIAAJ|title=Caste Ideology and Interaction|last=McGilvray|first=Dennis B.|date=1982-09-02|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=9780521241458|pages=18|language=en}} Other clans are [[Weerakoon|Koon Karavas]] and [[Konda Karavas]].
Name based on leadership include Arsanilatta (Royal authority), Aditya (Suryawanshi), Sellaperumage (minor prince), Illaperuma (local prince), Hennadige/Senadhige (house of the Commander) and Hewage (house of the soilder), show a traditional military heritage of the group. Some of the popular surnames, ''Beminahennedige'', ''Wachchi Hennadige, Weera Hennadige, Andra Hennadige and Warusa Hennadige'', Gardiya Hewage, Hewa Paththini, Arasa [[Marakkalage]] ("house of the Royal Mariners"), Patabendige (port chief / local headmen), and [[Thantri]]ge (also Tantulage or Thanthulage, "house of experts").[https://books.google.com/books?id=ughT3poi-9sC&dq=Patangatins&pg=PA26 Royal grant to a port Patangatin, Kingdom of Jaffanapatam, P.E. Pieris, p. 25-28]''The sword of Mahanaga Rajasinghe Kuruvira Adithya Arsanilaishta (1416 AD) – the oldest representation of the Makara knuckle-guard'': Ancient Swords, Daggers and Knives in Sri Lankan Museums, P.H.D.H. De Silva and S. Wickramasinghe, pp.82,90,101–5 (National Museums of Sri Lanka) {{ISBN|9789555780216}}
Names based on profession include Hettige and Hettiakandage (house of the merchant), [[Marakkalage]] (house of the ship/boat owners or sailors ), Mestrige (master carpenter), Gallappthi (joiner in boat-building), Malimage (sailor) and [[Vaduge]] (also Baduge; house of carpenters, ship, Silmaguruge & boat builders, also descendant of [[Nayak (title)|Vadugar]]).
== See also ==
*[[Caste in Sri Lanka]]
*[[Bharatakula]]
*[[Negombo Tamils]]
*[[Kastane]]
== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}
*RAGHAVAN, M. D., The Karava of Ceylon: Society and Culture, K. V. G. de Silva, 1961.
*Caste Conflict and Elite Formation, The Rise of the Karava Elite in Sri Lanka 1500–1931. Michael Roberts 1982, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press. {{ISBN|81-7013-139-1}}
*Social Change in Nineteenth Century Ceylon. Patrick Peebles. 1995, Navrang {{ISBN|81-7013-141-3}}.
== External links ==
{{commons category}}
*[http://www.karava.org Karava web site – Kshatriya Maha Sabha Sri Lanka]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20030728084953/http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2001/09/02/fea16.html Karava – the blue-blooded Kshatriyas ]
*[http://www.somasiridevendra.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=21&Itemid=21 The Maha Oruwa (The Last in the tradition of the Indigenous Sailing Ships): plate 5] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150224182517/http://somasiridevendra.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=21&Itemid=21 |date=2015-02-24 }}
*[http://www.indigenoussails.org/boat-types/oruwa-sri-lanka The Bala (Power) Oruwa: world's fastest traditional sailing canoe]
[[Category:Sinhalese castes]]
{{EngvarB|date=January 2019}}{{Short description|Maritime martial Sinhalese caste in Sri Lanka}}{{infobox ethnic group
| group = Karava of Sri Lanka
| image = [[File:Karava Main Flag.jpg|200px]]
| caption = The Karava Maha Kodiya of the Karava Community.
| poptime =
| popplace = [[Sri Lanka]],
| langs = [[Sinhala language|Sinhala]] ([[Tamil language|Tamil]] also spoken by bilingual Karavas north of [[Negombo]].)
| rels = Significant Majority: [[Theravada Buddhism]], Minority: [[Roman Catholicism]], [[Protestantism]]
| related = [[Sinhalese people|Sinhalese]], [[Sri Lankan Tamils|Tamils]], [[Karaiyar]], [[Pattanavar]]
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
}}
[[Image:Royal Flag of Sri Lanka.jpg|thumb|right| The Karava Sun and Moon Flag symbolising the Royal [[Solar dynasty|Solar]] and [[Lunar dynasty|Lunar]] Dynastical origins of the community. This flag is also one of the main flags still used by the Karavas at their ceremonies.
]]
'''Karava''' ({{Langx|si|කරාවා|translit=Karāvā}}) is a [[Sinhalese people|Sinhalese]] caste of [[Sri Lanka]], whose ancestors migrated throughout history from the adjacent [[Coromandel coast]], claiming lineage to the [[Kaurava]] royalty of the old Kingdom of Kuru in Northern India. The [[Tamils|Tamil]] equivalent is [[Karaiyar]].{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CkAaAAAAYAAJ|title=Inscriptions of Ceylon Vol. I (3rd century BC to 1st century CE in the Early Brāhmī Script)|last=PARANAVITĀNA|first=Senerat|publisher=Department of Archaeology|year=1970|pages=7, 83 & 113|isbn=9789559159308}}{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Fb4LAAAAIAAJ|title=Tamil culture in Ceylon: a general introduction|last=Raghavan|first=M. D.|date=1971|publisher=Kalai Nilayam|pages=53, 138|language=en}}{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dCFRAQAAIAAJ|title=Cambridge South Asian Studies|date=1965|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=9780521232104|pages=18, 51|language=en}}{{Cite book|title=Dravidian Settlements in Ceylon and the Beginnings of the Kingdom of Jaffna|last=Indrapala|first=Karthigesu|date=1965|publisher=University of London|pages=109–110, 371, 373|language=en}}{{Cite book|last=Raghavan|first=M. D.|title=The Karāva of Ceylon: Society and Culture|date=1961|publisher=K.V.G. De Sīlva|pages=5, 13, 195|language=en}} Both groups are also known as the [[Timeline of the Kurukulam|Kurukula]] (Kuru clan).{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=URtDAAAAYAAJ&q=Journal+of+the+Royal+Asiatic+Society+of+Sri+Lanka,+Volumer+36-37|title=Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Sri Lanka, Volume 36-37|publisher=Royal Asiatic Society of Sri Lanka|year=1993|location=University of Michigan|pages=137}} [[Epigraphic]] evidence as well as the Janawamsaya, indicate some of the migration to the early historical era (though archaeology points to maritime links between the Island and the Coromandel coast from the [[protohistoric]] era).{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7pvpAAAAMAAJ|title=Ancient Anuradhapura: The Monastic City|last=Seneviratna|first=Anuradha|date=1994|publisher=Archaeological Survey Department, Government of Sri Lanka|isbn=9789559159025|pages=288|language=en}}{{Cite book|last=Somadasa|first=K.D.|title=Catalogue of the [[Hugh Nevill]] Collection of Sinhalese Manuscripts, Volume 5|date=1990|publisher=The British Library Publishing|pages=72–3|isbn=9780712306478|language=en}}{{Cite book|url=https://www.google.lk/books/edition/_/98XJWoz9AnUC?hl=en&gbpv=1 |title=Ships and the Development of Maritime Technology on the Indian Ocean |last= Barnes, Parkin |first= Ruth, David |date= 2015 |publisher=Taylor & Francis |isbn= 9781317793427 |pages=93, 98, 101 & 122|language=en}} Like the other coastal castes such as the [[Durava]]s and [[Salagama]]s, the majority of Karava migration to [[Sri Lanka]] happened between the 13th to 18th century from South India and are of historical [[Dravidian peoples|Dravidian]] ethnic origin.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=a8CxvhZfPYoC&q=Salagama+south+india&pg=PA103|title=From Culture to Ethnicity to Conflict: An Anthropological Perspective on International Ethnic Conflict|last=Eller|first=Jack David|date=1999-01-01|publisher=University of Michigan Press|isbn=0472085387|language=en}}
The last mass migration to Sri Lanka happened in the 15th century from [[Tamil Nadu]] to fight against the [[Mukkuvar]] confederation as mentioned in the [[Mukkara Hatana]]. They have also given great importance to [[trade]] and [[commerce]]. The elite families are involved in [[entrepreneurial]] activities including the development of plantation agriculture such as coconut, tea and rubber.{{Cite book|last=Roberts|first=Michael|title=Caste Conflict and Elite Formation|date=1982|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=9780521052856|pages=18,75, 81-8, 131-40, 300-20|language=en}}{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Q8ip5NofD98C|title=Caste and Family Politics Sinhalese 1947-1976|last=Jiggins|first=Janice|date=1979-06-07|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=9780521220699|pages=27|language=en}}{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EBbyJzBt-hoC|title=Spiritual Leadership in the Entrepreneurial Business: A Multifaith Study|last=Fernando|first=Mario|date=2007|publisher=Edward Elgar Publishing|isbn=9781847208613|pages=55|language=en}} They also played a leading role in advocating constitutional reforms and socialism prior to independence as well as in the emergence of Sinhala Buddhist nationalism in post-independent Sri Lanka.{{Cite book |last=Roberts |first=Michael |title=Caste conflict and elite formation: the rise of a Karāva elite in Sri Lanka, 1500–1931 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |year=1982 |isbn=978-0-521-23210-4 |pages=292–7}}{{Cite book |last=Guruge |first=Ananda |title=PEACE AT LAST IN PARADISE |publisher=Author-House |year=2011 |isbn=978-1463418373 |pages=213–14}}{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=50igCgAAQBAJ|title=Historical Dictionary of Sri Lanka|last=Peebles|first=Patrick|date=2015-10-22|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield|isbn=9781442255852|language=en}}{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_dByI_qil26YC|title=A History of Sri Lanka|last=Silva|first=K. M. De|date=1981|publisher=University of California Press|isbn=9780520043206|pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_dByI_qil26YC/page/n385 361]–362|language=en}}[http://www.sundaytimes.lk/040222/funday/2.html Working towards reform], [[The Sunday Times (Sri Lanka)]] Retrieved 23 April 2015 It is estimated that they form 10% of the Sinhalese population.{{Cite book |last=Bush |first=Kenneth |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TBqHDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA48 |title=The Intra-Group Dimensions of Ethnic Conflict in Sri Lanka: Learning to Read Between the Lines |publisher=Springer |year=2003 |isbn=978-0-230-59782-2 |pages=48}}
== Etymology ==
The origins of the term ''Karava'' are still debated. The name might have derived from the Tamil ''Karaiyar'', where "Karava" has the same root word ''kara'' or ''karai'' meaning "coast" or "shore" in [[Tamil language|Tamil]].{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rUsHAQAAIAAJ|title=International Journal of Dravidian Linguistics|last=|first=|date=1990|publisher=Department of Linguistics, University of Kerala.|isbn=|location=|pages=110|language=en}}[https://books.google.com/books?id=xc8oW6pedrwC&pg=PA137 ''Vaduga:'' Sri Lanka and the Maldive Islands, By Chandra Richard De Silva, p.111 & 137] The earliest recorded instance could be the [[Prakrit]] inscription at the [[Abhayagiri Vihāra]] dating from the 1st century BC denoting a ''Dameda karava navika'' which means Tamil Karava mariner. The name "Karava" has also been proposed to be a corruption of the [[Sanskrit]] name ''[[Kaurava]]'', following their origin story. According to the Janavamsaya, one of the oldest treatises about Sinhalese castes (dated to the 15th century), the term originates from Prince Karavanti, a descendant of the mythical king Upasāgara who accompanied the overseas voyage of [[Prince Vijaya]], the legendary king of Tambapanni.{{Cite book|last= Hussein |first= Asiff |title=Caste in Sri Lanka, From Ancient Times to the Present Day|date=2013|publisher=Neptune Publications|pages=58 - 61 |isbn=9789550028351|language=en}} Other historical counts refer to them and also the Karaiyars as ''Careas'' and ''Kaurawar''.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SSjjAAAAMAAJ|title=Kurukshetra|date=1983|publisher=Sri Lak-Indo Study Group|pages=78|language=en}}
== History ==
{{See also|Timeline of the Kurukulam}}
Many Kurukula communities throughout Sri Lanka and south India claim an origin from the [[Kuru (kingdom)|Kuru kingdom]] and the Kauravas of the Hindu epic ''[[Mahabharata]]''.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GV3abjkKdB4C|title=The Ceylon Journal of the Humanities|date=1970|publisher=University of Sri Lanka|pages=34–35|language=en}} For instance, Kurukulattaraiyan was the name ascribed to 'the prince who wore a golden anklet' that commanded the army of [[Vijayabahu I of Polonnaruwa|Vijayabahu I]] (11th century AD) to end Chola rule in Sri Lanka.
Apart from the Janavamsaya and inscriptions, studies on the establishment of the caste system in Sinhalese society tend to show that the history of the Karava caste may not go beyond the [[Transitional period of Sri Lanka#Kotte period (1412–1597)|Kotte period]] (15th–16th century AD).{{Cite journal |last1=Amarasinghe |first1=Jayantha |last2=Kariyakarawana |first2=Saman M. |date=December 2014 |title=Immigrated national identity: Karava and Sinhalese Mask Drama (Kolam) |url=http://ir.lib.seu.ac.lk/handle/123456789/999 |journal=Journal of Social Review |publisher=Department of Social Sciences, South Eastern University of Sri Lanka |volume=3 |issue=1 |pages=58}} However, typically only four castes were mentioned prior to this era and migrants were usually mentioned by their ethnicity.{{Cite book|title=The Feast of the Sorcerer: Practices of Consciousness and Power|url=https://archive.org/details/feastsorcererpra00kapf|url-access=limited|last=Kapferer|first=Bruce|date=1997-10-15|publisher=University of Chicago Press|isbn=9780226424132|pages=[https://archive.org/details/feastsorcererpra00kapf/page/n93 68]|language=en}}{{Cite book|title=The cult of the goddess Pattini|last=Obeyesekere|first=Gananath|date=1984|isbn=9780226616025|location=University of Chicago Press|pages=[https://archive.org/details/cultofgoddesspat0000obey/page/116 116–117]|language=en|url=https://archive.org/details/cultofgoddesspat0000obey/page/116}} Historical manuscripts such as the ''[[Mukkara Hatana]]'' indicate that there were migrations from the [[Coromandel Coast|Kurumandalam]] coast of Tamil Nadu, [[South India]], and that they were previously [[Tamil language|Tamil]] speakers.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZbP_AwAAQBAJ|title=Coup Theories and Officers' Motives: Sri Lanka in Comparative Perspective|last=Horowitz|first=Donald L.|date=2014-07-14|publisher=Princeton University Press|isbn=9781400854127|pages=33|language=en}} Oral traditions of some Karava families suggest that they migrated from South India as recently as the 18th century.{{Cite book |last=Kemper |first=Steven |url=https://archive.org/details/presenceofpastch00kemp/page/159/mode/1up?view=theater |title=The Presence of the Past: Chronicles, Politics, and Culture in Sinhala Life |publisher=Cornell University Press |year=1991 |isbn=978-0-8014-2395-6 |pages=159}} Nevertheless, recent migrants are known to have been incorporated by several castes, including the majority caste group.{{Cite book|last= De Silva, Wriggins|first=K. M., William Howard |title=J.R. Jayewardene of Sri Lanka: 1906-1956|date= 1988 |publisher=University of Hawaii Press |pages=21–5 |isbn=9780824811839|language=en}}{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=g29uAAAAMAAJ&q=Tanjore |title=The Pilimatalavuvas in the Last Days of the Kandyan Kingdom |last=Pilimatalavuva |first=Ananda |date=2004 |publisher=Stamford Lake Publication |isbn=9789558733646|pages=12–19|language=en}} The Karavas north of [[Negombo]] are predominantly Catholic and bilingual in [[Tamil language|Tamil]] and [[Sinhalese language|Sinhalese]],{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/cultofgoddesspat0000obey|url-access=registration|title=The cult of the goddess Pattini|last=Obeyesekere|first=Ganath|date=1984|publisher=The University of Chicago Press|isbn=9780226616025|pages=[https://archive.org/details/cultofgoddesspat0000obey/page/374 374]|language=en}} whereas the Karavas south of [[Colombo]] are [[Buddhism in Sri Lanka|Buddhist]]. It is evident that they had also patronised Mahayana Buddhism before its extinction in the Island.
The Mukkara Hatana describes that they won a three month siege against the [[Mukkuvar]]s, under the sponsorship of [[Kingdom of Kotte|Kotte king]] [[Parakramabahu VI of Kotte|Parakramabahu VI]] in the 15th century AD.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MTh4pixlifYC|title=Crucible of Conflict: Tamil and Muslim Society on the East Coast of Sri Lanka|last=McGilvray|first=Dennis B.|publisher=Duke University Press|year=2008|isbn=978-0822341611|pages=61}} The [[Kingdom of Kotte|Kotte King]] [[Bhuvanaikabahu VI of Kotte|Bhuvanaikabahu VI]] was the son of a Karava chief who was adopted by [[Parakramabahu VI of Kotte|Parakramabahu VI]] after the death of his father in the war mentioned in Mukkara Hatana.{{Cite web|url=http://www.infolanka.com/org/srilanka/hist/26.htm|title=Dona Catherina was the direct heiress by virtue of her heredity|last=Fernando|first=A. Denis N|website=Info Lanka}}[[Anton Sebastian|A. Sebastian]], ''A Complete Illustrated History of Sri Lanka''. Vijitha Yapa Publications, 2012. p 397. {{ISBN|9789556651492}} The [[Rajavaliya]] mentions that in the 16th century, the heirs to the throne - [[Bhuvanaikabahu VII of Kotte|Bhuvanaikabahu]] and [[Raigama Bandara|Pararajasinghe]] were under the care of the minister Karunadhipati, the Patabenda of Yapa-Patuna.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OjlyzQi6FTwC&q=75 |title=Rajavaliya, Or, a Historical Narrative of Sinhalese Kings|last=Gunasekara|first=B.|date=1995 |publisher=Asian Educational Services|isbn=8120610296|pages=75|language=en}}
The Karava chieftains resisted the colonial [[Portuguese Ceylon|Portuguese rule]] in 16th century. The Karava Prince of [[Uva (Sri Lanka)|Uva]], ''[[Kuruvita Rala]]'' (also known as Antonio Barreto{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TekcAAAAMAAJ|title=The Karāva of Ceylon: Society and Culture|last=Raghavan|first=M. D.|date=1961|publisher=K.V.G. De Sīlva|pages=36, 39, 143|language=en}}), who had his strongholds in [[Batticaloa]], [[Wellawaya]], [[Negombo]] and parts of [[Sabaragamuwa Province|Sabaragamuwa]] and [[Matara District|Matara region]], led his and the troops of [[Sitawaka Kingdom]] and revolted against the Portuguese.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vkwmAAAAMAAJ|title=Journal of the Ceylon Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society|last=Colombo|first=Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland Ceylon Branch|date=1946|publisher=Colombo Apothecaries Company|pages=210|language=en}} Kuruvita Rala also raided the [[Kandy Kingdom]] and drove king [[Senarat of Kandy]] out of his capital.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DUEKAQAAIAAJ|title=The Portuguese in Ceylon, 1617-1638|last=DeSilva|first=Chandra Richard|date=1972|publisher=School of Oriental and African Studies|location=University of London|pages=59–66, 83–84|language=en}}
They were under Portuguese rule, along with the [[Karaiyar]] and [[Nair]] recruited as [[Lascarins]] and were converted to [[Catholicism]].{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Y-xQ8qk9mgYC|title=Sri Lanka in the Modern Age: A History of Contested Indentities|last=Wickramasinghe|first=Nira|date=2006|publisher=University of Hawaii Press|isbn=9780824830168|pages=13|language=en}} Large Catholic Karava communities exists ever since, who were mostly [[Hindu]]s prior to conversion.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7smFAAAAIAAJ|title=Sri Lanka, a country study|last1=Nyrop|first1=Richard F.|last2=Studies|first2=American University (Washington, D. C. ) Foreign Area|last3=Army|first3=United States Dept of the|date=1986|publisher=Headquarters, Dept. of the Army|pages=106|language=en}} The Catholic Karava chieftains sided with the [[Kingdom of Kandy]] and the kingdom's [[Dutch Ceylon|Dutch allies]] against the [[Portuguese Ceylon|Portuguese empire]], and the King bestowed honors and titles to the Karava chieftains.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4ogmAQAAMAAJ|title=Fisheries in Sri Lanka: anthropological and biological aspects|last=Sivasubramaniam|first=K.|date=2009|publisher=Kumaran Book House|isbn=9789556591460|pages=136, 137|language=en}}
The Karavas amassed wealth through [[Commerce|commercial]] ventures such as in coastal navigation, fishing, carpentry, transportation, [[arrack]], coconut, rubber, graphite and other industries. The Karavas formed the [[elite]]s between 16th century and early 20th century.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=298Sa79fkRkC|title=A Treatise on Social Theory|last=Runciman|first=W. G.|date=1989-02-02|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=9780521369831|pages=43|language=en}} Numerous organization were formed by them such as ''Ceylon National Association'', one of the predecessors of the [[Ceylon National Congress]]. [[James Peiris]], a Karava lawyer and national leader, was an essential character in the [[Sri Lankan independence movement]].{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7smFAAAAIAAJ|title=Sri Lanka, a country study|last1=Nyrop|first1=Richard F.|last2=Studies|first2=American University (Washington, D. C. ) Foreign Area|last3=Army|first3=United States Dept of the|date=1986|publisher=Headquarters, Dept. of the Army|pages=111|language=en}} [[Rohana Wijeweera]] and other Karava leaders formed in the 1960s the [[Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna]], a [[Communism|communist]] party and political movement, who were involved in two armed uprisings against the ruling governments in 1971 and 1987.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Q8ip5NofD98C|title=Caste and Family Politics Sinhalese 1947–1976|last=Jiggins|first=Janice|date=1979-06-07|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=9780521220699|pages=127|language=en}}
== Traditional status ==
{{main|Karava heraldry}}The Karavas were coastal people and as such, skilled fisherman, sailors, boat builders, merchants, engaged in rudimentary agriculture and the production of salt, who served in naval warfare and contributed as coastal chieftains and regional kings. Their chiefs were referred in [[Sinhalese language|Sinhalese]] as ''Patabendi'' or ''Patangatim'',[https://books.google.com/books?id=m8_4bc7xEMgC&pg=PA208 ''Patangatin/Headmen of Chilaw baptised in 1606 at Malwana;'' Ceylon and the Portuguese 1505–1658, by Paulus Edward Pieris] which means the ones who wore the "Nala pata" the traditional grament worn on head by royal karavas. [[Tamil language|Tamil]] term ''Pattamkattiyar'' (meaning "crowned one"),{{Cite web|url=http://agarathi.com/word/%E0%AE%AA%E0%AE%9F%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%9F%E0%AE%99%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%9F%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%9F%E0%AE%BF|title=பட்டங்கட்டி {{!}} அகராதி {{!}} Tamil Dictionary|website=agarathi.com|others=University of Madras Lexicon|access-date=2017-08-13}} which was also used by their equivalent Tamil [[Karaiyar]]s.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=a0cqAAAAMAAJ|title=Modern Ceylon Studies|date=1975|publisher=University of Ceylon|language=en}}[[Image:Karava Makara Kodiya.JPG|thumb|right| A 19th-century representation of the Karava Makara Flag.]]The Karavas were one of the few Sri Lankan communities traditionally entitled to use flags.[https://books.google.com/books?id=1eExAAAAIAAJ ''In 1574 the Mahapatabenda of Colombo is beheaded and quartered by the Portuguese for treasonable communication with Mayadunne, the sannas grants of king Mayadenne to Sitavaka Tantula and Rajapakse Tantula of Ambalangoda for serving the interests of Sitawaka kings, Thamankaduwa, Diddeniya, Galagamuwa and Matale Karavas and their insignia''] The Karāva of Ceylon: Society and Culture, M. D. Raghavan pp.33–6,43,66,71–5 (K.V.G. De Sīlva ) ASIN: B0006CKOV2 A large number of these ''[[Karava Heraldry|Karava flags]]'' have survived the ravages of time and many are illustrated in [[E. W. Perera|E. W. Perera's]] book ''Sinhalese Banners and Standards''.
The sacred usage of conch shell and tying of ''Nalapata'' (royal forehead plate) was a common practice among Karavas, also mentioned in the [[Rajaveliya]]. The sun and the moon, pearl umbrella are traditional royal symbols used by the Karavas. The [[Makara (Hindu mythology)|Makara]], being an emblem of their clan, is the mount of their clan deity, the sea god [[Varuna]].{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=i2FhAAAAMAAJ|title=Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Sri Lanka|date=1993|publisher=Royal Asiatic Society of Sri Lanka|pages=137|language=en}} The clan name Warnakulasuriya, denotes their deity Varuna.
Insignia such as the pearl umbrella, flags, swords, trident, yak tail whisks, lighted flame torches and drums were previously widely used by the Karavas at their weddings and funerals. By the 1960s, such usage has been greatly reduced, whereas some places is it still practiced.
== Ancestral names ==
The Karava's use the {{lang|si-Latn|vasagama}} naming system. Vasagama, literally meaning "estate (gama) in which one resides", is a title or surname that is given to the [[Patrilineality|patrilineal]] descendants.{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/southasiasevenco0000malo|url-access=registration|title=South Asia; seven community profiles|last=Maloney|first=Clarence|date=1974|publisher=Holt, Rinehart and Winston|isbn=9780030118562|pages=[https://archive.org/details/southasiasevenco0000malo/page/64 64]|language=en}} The most common clans among the Karavas are ''Kurukulasuriya'', ''Warunakulasuriya'' and ''Mihindikulasuriya'' (formerly known as ''Arasakulasuriya'').{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=n-88AAAAIAAJ|title=Caste Ideology and Interaction|last=McGilvray|first=Dennis B.|date=1982-09-02|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=9780521241458|pages=18|language=en}} Other clans are [[Weerakoon|Koon Karavas]] and [[Konda Karavas]].
Name based on leadership include Arsanilatta (Royal authority), Aditya (Suryawanshi), Sellaperumage (minor prince), Illaperuma (local prince), Hennadige/Senadhige (house of the Commander) and Hewage (house of the soilder), show a traditional military heritage of the group. Some of the popular surnames, ''Beminahennedige'', ''Wachchi Hennadige, Weera Hennadige, Andra Hennadige and Warusa Hennadige'', Gardiya Hewage, Hewa Paththini, Arasa [[Marakkalage]] ("house of the Royal Mariners"), Patabendige (port chief / local headmen), and [[Thantri]]ge (also Tantulage or Thanthulage, "house of experts").[https://books.google.com/books?id=ughT3poi-9sC&dq=Patangatins&pg=PA26 Royal grant to a port Patangatin, Kingdom of Jaffanapatam, P.E. Pieris, p. 25-28]''The sword of Mahanaga Rajasinghe Kuruvira Adithya Arsanilaishta (1416 AD) – the oldest representation of the Makara knuckle-guard'': Ancient Swords, Daggers and Knives in Sri Lankan Museums, P.H.D.H. De Silva and S. Wickramasinghe, pp.82,90,101–5 (National Museums of Sri Lanka) {{ISBN|9789555780216}}
Names based on profession include Hettige and Hettiakandage (house of the merchant), [[Marakkalage]] (house of the ship/boat owners or sailors ), Mestrige (master carpenter), Gallappthi (joiner in boat-building), Malimage (sailor) and [[Vaduge]] (also Baduge; house of carpenters, ship, Silmaguruge & boat builders, also descendant of [[Nayak (title)|Vadugar]]).
== See also ==
*[[Caste in Sri Lanka]]
*[[Bharatakula]]
*[[Negombo Tamils]]
*[[Kastane]]
== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}
*RAGHAVAN, M. D., The Karava of Ceylon: Society and Culture, K. V. G. de Silva, 1961.
*Caste Conflict and Elite Formation, The Rise of the Karava Elite in Sri Lanka 1500–1931. Michael Roberts 1982, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press. {{ISBN|81-7013-139-1}}
*Social Change in Nineteenth Century Ceylon. Patrick Peebles. 1995, Navrang {{ISBN|81-7013-141-3}}.
== External links ==
{{commons category}}
*[http://www.karava.org Karava web site – Kshatriya Maha Sabha Sri Lanka]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20030728084953/http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2001/09/02/fea16.html Karava – the blue-blooded Kshatriyas ]
*[http://www.somasiridevendra.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=21&Itemid=21 The Maha Oruwa (The Last in the tradition of the Indigenous Sailing Ships): plate 5] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150224182517/http://somasiridevendra.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=21&Itemid=21 |date=2015-02-24 }}
*[http://www.indigenoussails.org/boat-types/oruwa-sri-lanka The Bala (Power) Oruwa: world's fastest traditional sailing canoe]
[[Category:Sinhalese castes]]
