Divine and deity Sri
Jihveshwar, Shiva’s son, born through tongue of Shiva, was ordered by Jaganmata
Adimaya to prepare various types of costumes by weaving and designing them for protection
of body of entire gods and goddesses.
Fostered by
Jaganmata Sri Parvathi, fortunate Shri Jihveshwara being “constume designer
Brahma” in Kailasa performed his day to day routine. After getting Brahmopadesha from Lord Brahma
himself he completed his study of Vedas in order to attain spirituality and
Mukti.
Sri Jihveshwara is
the first scholar who invented not only the art of weaving strands available in
the nature such as cotton and silk with excellent concepts, fascinating
amalgamation of natural colours, with expertise of creating costumes in various
designs and styles, but also invented tools for preparing these costumes.
He married Ankini
and Dashankini, created by Brahma and Saraswathi, in the presence of all gods
and goddesses and followed Grahasthashrama.
He spread the weaving profession developed by himself through his sons throughout. Four sons of Ankini surrendered themselves in
service of Guru and six sons of Dashankini engaged in continuing the task of their
father. Various classes of Salis were
manifested through them only and spread all over the world as Sali gene. Those who design and weave various types of clothes
are ‘Sali Community’. Sons of Sri Jihvewshara
gradually came down to bhuloka and were introduced as ‘Swakulasali Samaj’,
preparing and distributing costumes to entire humanity. Swakulasalies are ‘Vastrakarma Brahmanas’
just like Vishwakarma Brahmanas, a semi-brahmin community, who are in the
traditional profession of sculpture and making ornaments. There are various gotras of leading
maharshis, who follow upanayana and upakarma rituals. They are yajurvedis and followers of
Apastanbha principle.
When Kailas was in
danger in the absence of Lord Shiva, Sri Jihveshwara wearing weapons, charioteered
Devaganas and killed evil forces.
Renowned as good warrior Sri Jihveshwara after enjoying worldly
grahastha dharma, he received sanyasa deeksha from his father, Parashiva, wore
kashambara and attained spiritual target.
He administered spirituality to his sons also.
When his parents
relaxed in Kashi kshetra as Vishwanath and Vishalakshi, he resided in Kashi in
the presence of Shiva as Kalabhairava as per blessings of Shiva, serving him
there. There is Sri Jihveshwara (Jihvaji) temple now also in
Goghat, wherein daily nanda deep, bhajan and pujas are going on. Though Sri Parameshwara is family deity of
Swakulasalis, there is no difference between Hari-Hara, the gods in mind. They are the worshippers of Sri Tulaja
Bhavani and Sri Dattatreya too. Without
confining to any creed, they are following Smarta rituals. They follow Warakari rituals of Pandharpur
also very sincerely. They celebrate all
Hindu festivals by devotion.
The Swakulasali
Community which migrated from Uttaranchal, Kashi origin has settled in Devagiri
and Pratistanpur (Paithan) of Maharashtra.
It may be observed that sarees of Paithani style are still famous. As they settled in Maharasthra for many
centuries original language of Swakulasalis became Marathi. But Swakulasalis
are not Marathas (Kshatriyas). When
Chatrapathi Shivaji’s father Shahajirao Bhonsle and Ghorpade warriors came to
south from Maharashtra for battles, Swakulasalis who accompanied them went
towards south and settled in Karnataka and Andhra regions. Though Marathi is their mother tongue they
have embraced regional languages affectionately for business and
education. Gradually, as they stayed
away from their original place and were lagging behind financially and
educationally, a few of them have also mixed with Maratha Kshatriyas changing
their food and formalities, without any commitment to their original
culture.
The birthday
celebration of Sri Jihveshwara by the Swakulasali Samaj brethren, understanding
the very gist of standard life,
spiritual thinking, profession and sincerity to religion guided by Sri
Jivehshwara and inculcating them in their life, is a meaningful
celebration. It has become their tradition
to perform special sixteen services of puja (shodashopachar), cradle function, lullaby
- singing songs to make him sleep, reading Swakulasali purana,
keertana-bhajana, chariot festival, distributing anna prasad, arranging functions for organizing the Samaj
etc., spearheading religious and cultural programmes appropriately.
This Swakulasali
Samaj is inseparable portion of Hindu religion.
Due to globalization, industrialization and modernization the profession
of weaving clothes has come to standstill resulting in severe threat to the
very existence of the Samaj. Suffered
from all these, the Samaj has become very poor, hesitating minded backward
community. They are so innocent that
they mingle with the local people and get localized easily. As Swakulasalis are Shaivas, they mingle in
the language and living styles of Lingayats of north Karnataka and live as
Veerashaivas without any difficulties. A
few of them because of their satvik nature and practice of vaidik formalities
they seem to be brahimins. In Andhra
Pradesh and Telangana there are people who forget their own Marathi language
following their daily performance while co-living with Telugu linguist. In Tamil Nadu we need others assistance to
recognize families of Swakulasali samaj.
So, the scattered Swakulasalai Samaj having become lowest population,
have depended on other professions going away from traditional weaving. In today’s competitive world, Swakulasali
Samaj brethren have to remain organized to retain their existence, for thorough
development of Samaj brethren, celebrate Bhagawan Sri Jihveshwar jayanthi
congregating in huge number through various Swakulasali oranisations
established in leading cities of the country. There are organizations at
national level and state level. Hostel
and community homes are established in Molakalmuru with the assistance of
Government. State level educational
institution, Gurupeetha and Sri Jihweshwar Mandir are also being established
there with the financial assistance of donors and well-wishers of the
Samaj. Assistance of Government is
sought for construction of Swakulaslai community homes in various cities of the
country. The Samaj is looking forward to
the helping hand of the Government to get land for suitable accommodation for
state level development schemes of the community in the capital.
Facing many challenges
in today’s competitive world, knowing
the speed, necessity and inevitability to cover the developmental path by the Swakulasali Samaj in various dimensions
in several fields like religious, political, educational, industrial,
commercial, technical, cultural, fine arts, sports, media, communication and
social service, the present youth are marching ahead towards achievement under
guidance of senior generation.
LINEAGE SURNAMES
One can come across
many Swakulsalis with surnames such as
Hukkarde, Divate, Sarode,
Manu,Dadmode, Firangi, Konge, Edake, Edke, Aakde, Ambekar, Amte, Agadkar,
Arcot,Pure,Dinde,Bargaje, Bhambale, Bichakar, Bhandare, Bhanse, Bhanuvanshi,
Bhopale, Dumale, Hirekar, Busavale, Chanodkar, Chillal, Devarmani, Dhokale,
Ghadveer/Ghadvir, Pendhare, Lahane, Darange, Datrange, Kale, Khamkar,
Kumbharkar, Jinde, Pargat, Pendharkar, Halubai, Kausale, Bhopale, Surasgar,
Dharankar, Men, Dalvi, Nichal, Ghavate, Gadikar, Kholapure, Kendoley,
Bavdhankar, Agedkar, Ashtekar, Jathaar, Jundare, Nagarkar, Misaal, Gonge,
Pandkar, Mankar, Mudgal, Pandre, Dhotre,Dhage, Ekbote, Dhorje, Rodge,
Nerkar,kalanke, nirmale, Dahotre, Ekbote, Ekkey, Jaikar, Javali, Jujare,
Kalburgi, Kamabhavati, Kamble, Kawadi, kapre, Khandate, Ksheersakar, Malekar,
Melgiri, Phatak, pissey, Pithe, Sagavkar, Sakaray, Sangale, Sapare, Sapar,
Savvasere, Shekatkar, Shelke,Shingade, Shipurkar, Kalyani, Somsole, Srikande,
Sure(Surey),Rokhade, Supe, Tagare, Tambe, Tannu, Tigade, Tonape, Ganthade,
Tryambake, Upare,Ugale, Vaidya, Vibhute, Wavhal,Dhore,Kapre, Jantre, Patekar,
Adhav, Deharkar, Jagtap, Gholak,Vanjre,Sagari Etc... all have taken their
surnames named after their particular native places in the region or the
villages where their Kuldevta/Kuldevi (family deity) is located OR the
profession in which they were engaged in. Mainly the swakulasalis could be
called in some areas like veera kshatriya swakulasalis because of wearing
janjams and by eating pure non-veg like kings in kingdoms.After
brahmana,kshatriya,vishya and the only one big caste is
swakulasali/sali/nelli/padmashali all are comes under sali. These caste people
uses swakul as their surnames in many regions.
