Yakki’ and ‘Kuruthi’ – A Study of the Female Offices of Pre-Perumal Period

  • കവിത ശിവദാസന്‍
Keywords: Yakki’ and ‘Kuruthi’, Pre-Perumal Period, Female Offices, marginalization, patriarchical society

Abstract

It is rather difficult to reconstruct a fully fledged, tangible history of Pre-modern Kerala. The lack of concrete evidences have created a big gap in the historical scenario of the period. In the backdrop of existing sources what we have is only a history focused on temple as the nerve centre. The history of the marginalized, especially the representation of women in pre modern times is more or less concealed and no solid research has been made which focuses on women in the light of sources.  The paper tries to explore such marginalization in the influx of patriarchical society in the light of land deeds.

References

1. The spread and implications of writing has been discussed
in detail by Dr. Rajan Gurukkal. See Rajan Gurukal, Social
Formations of Early South India, New delhi, 2010, pp.272-
287.

2. Many of the inscriptions of like Tiruvalla Copper plates,
Chitaral, Chembara etc. speak of women granting lands,
gold etc. to temples and receiving land and rice as part of
their services.

3. Travancore Archaeological Series Vol 4, Trivandrum, 1999
(Reprint) pp. 146-148.

4. Travancore Archaeological Series Vol 1, Trivandrum, 1988
(Reprint) pp. 284-8

5. M.R. Raghava Warrier, Jainamadham Keralathil, Kottayam,
2012, p.21

6. Elamkulam Kunjan Pillai, Studies in Kerala History,
Trivandrum, 1970, p.268.
7. For more details on Chattas and Bhattas see Elamkulam
op.cit., pp. Also Kesavan Veluthat, Brahmin Settlements in
Kerala, Calicut, 1978, pp.102-111.

8. M.G.S. Narayanan quotes from a Jain work of 8th c Composed by Udyotanasuri that the work presents Chattars
impoliteness towards women which gives a hint that unlike
the jain educational centres which honour Kurattis, Chattas
in salais were rather impudent towards women. See M.G.S.
Narayanan, Perumals of Kerala, Calicut, 1996, p.192.

9. Padamulam may be temple servants. They were mentioned
in some of the inscriptions especially pertaining to Jains.

10. T A S Vol. IV Part-II p.148.

11. Puthussery Ramachandran, Keralacharitrathinte
Adistanarekhakal, Thiruvanthapuram, 2007, pp.244-299

12. V.V. Haridas give two interpretations to the label of yakkan
and yakki in inscriptions. The term either suggest the
extent of the popularity of Yaksha- Yakshi concept during
the period or Yakas may be a group of devotees of Yaksha
and Yakshi who used this label. See V.V. Haridas, Yakshi
Sankalpam , Kottayam, 2016, p.61.

13. T A S Vol. 2, 1992, (Reprint), p.151

14. T A S Vol. II p. 149.

15. Each Tirthankara has their own Yaksha and Yakshi for
Published
2019-12-11
How to Cite
കവിത ശിവദാസന്‍. (2019). Yakki’ and ‘Kuruthi’ – A Study of the Female Offices of Pre-Perumal Period. മലയാളപ്പച്ച, 5(5), 288 - 296. Retrieved from https://mrjc.in/index.php/malayalapachcha/article/view/81