Part 1.6 - Bhutala Pandya Aliyasantana

[Full title: Bhutala Pandya Aliyasantana (Matrilineal Tradition) & Pandyan Dynasty Connection]

(This story could be taken as assumption, as no concrete evidences are found as yet, only for the similar named merchant existing in the Tulunadu)

Aliyasantana—Known as the son of the sister of the lineage, was a patrilineal heritage system practiced by the tuluva community in the coastal districts of Karnataka, India.

Myth of origin

According to the Tuluvas, Aliya Santana was adopted at the request of a king named Bhutala Pandya. Narrative of the story says that a demon king wanted to sacrifice his son, who did not quite disagree with their queens and their children, who are not ready to sacrifice. The difficult situation led the king's sister to offer her son. However, the demon shows pity and finally decides not to sacrifice the son. By way of advice, the king declares his nephew as his true heir.

Exceptional features:

1) The child belongs to the matrilineal lineage.

2) The inheritance of lineage identity in the form of gotra or through the ancestral home must go through the mother. Intragamy "Gotra" was forbidden.

3) The matrilineal inheritance prevails, although the husband must be considered as the head of the house (Tuluvas practiced the patriarchal system of life).

4) The uncle of the mother, the matrilineal uncle must be known as "Gurikare" which means yajamana in Kannada, and most often the male head of the family.

5) The Tuluva culture refers to the maternal uncle to administer the land of the matrilineal family in the name of his sister.

Matrix communities:

1) Billava.
2) Bunts, Jain Bunt included.
3) Kulala.
4) Devadiga.
5) Mogaveera.

How Aliyasantana is connected to Bhutala Pandya:

Aliyasantana refers to a system of inheritance of female line attributes.

Legend Aliyasantana (unlike Makkala-santana) goes back all the way to Bhuta Pandya in 78 AD Legend has it that when Deva-Pandya launched his newly built sea tour boat was running outside with Mr. demons, Kundodara. The devil demanded that the king give him one of his sons for a sacrifice. This was very reprimanded by the queens of kings. As an offering, the king's sister, Satyavati, offers one of his sons, Jaya-Pandya, as a sacrifice. Welcoming this act, Kundodara honors the boy and sends him back to his father's Jayantika realm. Later, the same request that not only was rejected again by the queen, but also led her to give up her position as queen, then your child's right to acquire a property of the king was launched. Furioso, Kundodara orders the king, Deva-Pandya, to disinherit their children and to make his nephew (the son of his sister) is his legal heir. Jaya-pandya received the name of Bhutala-Pandya and was on the throne for 75 years. Therefore, the above gave birth to Aliyasantana, where the nephew becomes the legal heir to the property of the uncle (the mother's brother). The exact period during which the practice has become predominant is uncertain.

The system of the matriarchal family gave more importance to the mother's side. In this respect, the respect given to maternal uncles is much greater than the respect given to paternal uncles. A common reason for the existence of this practice is the notion of keeping the family property intact. Therefore, the practice was called "Aliya'-Santana" and everyone followed her with the belief that it was an old practice. Although controversial, argues that the existence of this practice dates back 800 years.

Heritage Matrilinea—Aliya santana

The majority of non-Brahmin communities in Tulu nadu follow a family property inheritance system, in which succession is followed along the female line. Called aliya santana, it is similar to marumakkatayam which is followed in some classes of people in Kerala. This is a law that has been followed mainly by the Bunt community and the Jains. It is well established that the leaders of the states of feudatarios (like Chautas, Bangas, Savantas, ajilas and Tolahas), who were for the most part Jains, followed the system santana aliya of the inheritance. There is also evidence that the Alupas, before the advent of the Vijayanagara Empire, followed the matriarchal system.

The law was recognized by the modern courts of British India in 1843. The rules of santana Aliyah was first published as an English translation in 1864 by the German Press Mission in Mangalore (printed in Madras Journal of Literature and science).

The commandments of Aliya Santana were adopted by a legendary figure of unknown antiquity, Bhutala Pandya (77 AD) His uncle called Deva Pandya was the rule, when a heavy load with a newly built naval fleet was thrown into The king of demons, Kundodara, demanded the sacrifice of the king's son if he wanted protection from the precious cargo that was in the sea. The king's wife refused to part with one of her seven children, and Deva Pandya was in distress. Satyavati, the king's sister, finding her brother alone and depressed, offered her own son Jaya Pandya for the sacrifice. The demon Kundodara was impressed by this sacrifice. He not only saved the life of the youth, but also gave him the kingdom of Pandya father Jaya, Veerapandya in the city called Jayantika. The demon also gave Bhutala Pandya the name to the brave young man and sat him on a throne.

Later, another similar request was made by the demon, when Deva Pandya's ships stranded in Kalyanapura. To quench the devil's thirst for human sacrifice, the king asked his wife to forgive one of his children. But his wife refused to comply again and publicly renounced all kingdom inheritance for his own children and left the kingdom to live with his parents. Bhutala Pandya was summoned by people who wisely led the demon Mahishasura Kundodara as, and built a permanent Someshwara home. Kundodara then asked that Pandya Deva disinherit all his children and named his nephew Bhutala Pandya as his successor.

Bhutala Pandya ruled for seventy-five years in peace and his subjects were prosperous. He had twelve women with whom he had many children, boys and girls. He ordered all his subjects to follow the example of his uncle of the matrilineal system of Aliyasantana [Aliya-santana], and the laws of inheritance were written, as dictated by the demon Kundodara. Subsequently, his nephew Vidyadyumna Pandya came to power and it is said that the aliya santana system has since been followed. The offspring of Bhutala Pandya through aliya santanaruled for seven generations for a total of 259 years.

Of course, there is no historical record of the authenticity of the Bhutala Pandya story. The first section that refers to the Aliya-santana system dates from the tenth century, suggesting that the system was followed at that time, when a reference was made in one of the inscriptions. After that, several epigraphic inscriptions of the following centuries systematically refer to the system and the practice was undoubtedly very frequent. There is ample evidence to suggest that Aliya Santana was followed by large segments of the population between the 12th and 16th centuries in Tulu nadu.