Summary
Gramanya (Devanagari:ग्रामण्य,Grāmaṇya) refers to a dispute or discussion related to castes in Maharashtra in the past few centuries that related to supposed violation of the Brahmanical ritual code of behavior.
Overview edit
Gramanya is a crystallisation of conflicts between two castes of individuals belonging to the same caste, and the same group, about observance of certain religious practices vis-a-vis, other members of the society or of the particular caste group. There are two types of Gramanyas inter-caste, and intra-caste. Records mention that Gramanyas took place in Maharashtra in late 18th and 19th century and various castes were involved in many disputes. There are also recorded instances of Gramanyas between Gaud Saraswats and the Chitpawans, CKPs and Chitpawans, Pathare Prabhus and the Chitpawans and the Shukla Yujurvedi Deshastha Brahmins and the Chitpawans. The intra-caste disputes involved the supposed violation of the Brahmanical ritual code of behavior. Verdicts of Gramanyas were given by arbitrators(religious councils or religious leaders) that decided the ritual status of the caste.[1][2][3]
Citations edit
- ^ Gokhale, Sandhya (2008). The Chitpwans. Shubhi Publications. p. 204.
The jati disputes were not a rare occurrence in Maharashtra. There are recorded instances of disputes between jatis such as Chandraseniya Kayastha Prabhus and the Chitpawans, Pathare Prabhus and the Chitpawans, Saraswats and the Chitpawans and Shukla Yajurvedi and the Chitpawans. These intra-caste dispute involving the supposed violation of the Brahmanical ritual code of behavior was called Gramanya in Marathi.
- ^ Israel, Milton; Narendra K. Wagle (1987), Religion and society in Maharashtra, pp. 145–171
- ^ V. Gupchup, Vijaya (1983), Bombay: social change, 1813–1857, p. 172
Further reading edit
- Thākare, Keśava Sitārāma (1919) (in Marāṭhī), Grāmaṇyācā sādyanta itihāsa arthāta nokarśāhīce banḍa, Mumbai