CHANNA AKA CHANNAIH THE VILLAGE BARBER
CHANNA AKA CHENNAIH THE VILLAGE HAIR DRESSER
Channa was the hair dresser of our ancestral village . Even though he was living in a village known aa Poorigali he was considered as the village barber..The reason being that the number of people who will get their hair dressed or shaved was not very remunerative. The remuneration for his completely one year service was about 40 litres of paddy per year per head for all males including babes in arm, 80 litres of paddy for all Brahmins who were married, even if it were to be a child bridegroom) and 40 litres of paddy for all the other boys and 40 litres of paddy for all the Brahmin widows whether they had their hair tonsured or not. In addition Channa used to get honourarium from the Brahmins during the first tonsuring ceremony CHOULA for boys, during sacred thread ceremony(Brahmopadesam), when the boys undergo head shaving in the morning before the start of the thread ceremony, and during marriage when on the morning the boys under go not only the head shave but also the entire body excluding the portion between the wrist and shoulder, back, and from ankle regain. Even the private parts will be shaved . If the barber finds any defects in the body(As he has seen the entire body) of the boy he is supposed to secretly inform the brides relatives and for this information (whether the boy is healthy or not) the brides ralatives also used to give honourarium. Honourarium for the last one was higher as it involved the shaving of the entire body of the boy including the private parts for the first time. Also the new clothes usually dhothis worn by the boys during the above ceremonies became the property of the barber. .
During death in the family of Brahmins almost all the relatives of the dead person used to attend the tenth day ceremony during which the male married members will get their entire body shaved except a small portion at the back of their head with with Juttu.. For this the honourarium was more depending upon the number of persons given shave.
When death occurs in Brahmins household the close male relatives were given shave in the cremation ground.. For this the honourarium was higher. whether the male close relatives gets the shave or not the sons were supposed to get the shave in the cremation ground and it was mandatory. In the olden days among Brahmins of our ancestral village there was an evil practice of shaving the head of the widow on the tenth day her her husbands death. Many of the child brides were also subjected to this evil practice. Channa never used to demand honourarium for this work. In fact he was against such a practice but used to do this as his durty.
Brahmins used to refer to the Almanac and send words to Chinna for their shave and hair cut at least a week in advance. Not many used to get the shave and hair cut during this visit as it was a taboo for brothers and father and son to have the hair cut on the same day. This did not prevent the Brahmins from announcing the date of arrival of the Barber to every household in the Brahmins locality. So early in the morning those who were in need of haircut and shave will be witing for Channa. Channa’s tools of his trade consisted of one short handle blade, one long handle blade, one sharp chisel like blade,one lump of alum(this used to take care of any nicks and cuts) and one mirror. As soon as channa used to arrive from the rear door entrance he will be made to wash his tools in water in which cow dung is mixed , and cows urine and then fresh water. He will start his work in full swing. The short handled blade was for the head and the long handled one was for body parts and the chisel like blade was cutting the nails both hands and toes. . He used to be given water for wetting purposes in a coconut shell. When the first person to get his hair cut and shave is ready the interconnecting door from the main house to the cow shed will be shut as the male will get his entire body shaved. After this is over the next person will visit. After all the male members had their hair cut and shave it was the turn of the widows. For them it was only shaving of their head only.
After this the males will go to cauvey river have bath change their sacred thread have their caste marks and drink a mixture of honey, cows urine, cowdung milk and ghee. And then return to cauvery for performing of their daily rituals. Widows used to take bath and drink the above mixture and wear the caste marks.
In case of other communities Channa used to carry only the short blade, mirror, alum
Lump and an old battered brass cup. . he will announce in advance the day when he will visit the village and ask those who are in need of to get the shave and hair cut to assemble in the shadow of “Peepal tree” near Ramamandira.
Some of the ladies of other communities even though their husband is alive sometimes used to offer their hair to the God of their choice and get their head shaved. This service was also done free by Chama.
All these ancient practice is no more.
Even though we had migrated to Mysore we had to give the village barber his dues without getting the service. After our fathers death Channa insisted that as our mother is a widow he has to be paid what is his due.
We sold all the lands and we were 100% absentee land lords. So my connectin with the village of our ancestors was lost.
I don’t think that Channa is alive now . I also do not know whether any of his children are carrying their trade. Let them all be happy where ever they are.
Channa was the hair dresser of our ancestral village . Even though he was living in a village known aa Poorigali he was considered as the village barber..The reason being that the number of people who will get their hair dressed or shaved was not very remunerative. The remuneration for his completely one year service was about 40 litres of paddy per year per head for all males including babes in arm, 80 litres of paddy for all Brahmins who were married, even if it were to be a child bridegroom) and 40 litres of paddy for all the other boys and 40 litres of paddy for all the Brahmin widows whether they had their hair tonsured or not. In addition Channa used to get honourarium from the Brahmins during the first tonsuring ceremony CHOULA for boys, during sacred thread ceremony(Brahmopadesam), when the boys undergo head shaving in the morning before the start of the thread ceremony, and during marriage when on the morning the boys under go not only the head shave but also the entire body excluding the portion between the wrist and shoulder, back, and from ankle regain. Even the private parts will be shaved . If the barber finds any defects in the body(As he has seen the entire body) of the boy he is supposed to secretly inform the brides relatives and for this information (whether the boy is healthy or not) the brides ralatives also used to give honourarium. Honourarium for the last one was higher as it involved the shaving of the entire body of the boy including the private parts for the first time. Also the new clothes usually dhothis worn by the boys during the above ceremonies became the property of the barber. .
During death in the family of Brahmins almost all the relatives of the dead person used to attend the tenth day ceremony during which the male married members will get their entire body shaved except a small portion at the back of their head with with Juttu.. For this the honourarium was more depending upon the number of persons given shave.
When death occurs in Brahmins household the close male relatives were given shave in the cremation ground.. For this the honourarium was higher. whether the male close relatives gets the shave or not the sons were supposed to get the shave in the cremation ground and it was mandatory. In the olden days among Brahmins of our ancestral village there was an evil practice of shaving the head of the widow on the tenth day her her husbands death. Many of the child brides were also subjected to this evil practice. Channa never used to demand honourarium for this work. In fact he was against such a practice but used to do this as his durty.
Brahmins used to refer to the Almanac and send words to Chinna for their shave and hair cut at least a week in advance. Not many used to get the shave and hair cut during this visit as it was a taboo for brothers and father and son to have the hair cut on the same day. This did not prevent the Brahmins from announcing the date of arrival of the Barber to every household in the Brahmins locality. So early in the morning those who were in need of haircut and shave will be witing for Channa. Channa’s tools of his trade consisted of one short handle blade, one long handle blade, one sharp chisel like blade,one lump of alum(this used to take care of any nicks and cuts) and one mirror. As soon as channa used to arrive from the rear door entrance he will be made to wash his tools in water in which cow dung is mixed , and cows urine and then fresh water. He will start his work in full swing. The short handled blade was for the head and the long handled one was for body parts and the chisel like blade was cutting the nails both hands and toes. . He used to be given water for wetting purposes in a coconut shell. When the first person to get his hair cut and shave is ready the interconnecting door from the main house to the cow shed will be shut as the male will get his entire body shaved. After this is over the next person will visit. After all the male members had their hair cut and shave it was the turn of the widows. For them it was only shaving of their head only.
After this the males will go to cauvey river have bath change their sacred thread have their caste marks and drink a mixture of honey, cows urine, cowdung milk and ghee. And then return to cauvery for performing of their daily rituals. Widows used to take bath and drink the above mixture and wear the caste marks.
In case of other communities Channa used to carry only the short blade, mirror, alum
Lump and an old battered brass cup. . he will announce in advance the day when he will visit the village and ask those who are in need of to get the shave and hair cut to assemble in the shadow of “Peepal tree” near Ramamandira.
Some of the ladies of other communities even though their husband is alive sometimes used to offer their hair to the God of their choice and get their head shaved. This service was also done free by Chama.
All these ancient practice is no more.
Even though we had migrated to Mysore we had to give the village barber his dues without getting the service. After our fathers death Channa insisted that as our mother is a widow he has to be paid what is his due.
We sold all the lands and we were 100% absentee land lords. So my connectin with the village of our ancestors was lost.
I don’t think that Channa is alive now . I also do not know whether any of his children are carrying their trade. Let them all be happy where ever they are.
posted by N.S.Char at 7:42 PM
3 Comments:
A good comprehensive.
I am doing research on widowhood in past. I want to know more about widow tonsure and the restrictions you may know. It will be useful for my thesis.
Dear Amit, My Dad passed away in 2009. This is the blog he wrote to during his last stages of battle with cancer. I value it very much since each and every word in this blog has come out with great effort. Unfortunately, that great soul is no longer here. My best wishes for your research. My Dad always encouraged students, hope you have gotten some value out of his writing. Best wishes. N.S.S.V's son
Sir, I want to know that if a female gets her hair shaved as an offering to God, is she still supposed to cover her head or is considered bad as her husband is alive and yet gone bald?? Is it considered taboo OR considered unacceptable according to south Indian customs? Waiting eagerly for your guidance, Sir. Thank you.
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