ABOUT (LATE) SRI CHANNABASAPPA PATEL OF POORIGALI
About (Late) Sri Channabasappa Patel Of Poorigali.
Poorigali village is a big village situated in the Boppgoudanapur Hobli of Malavalli Taluk of Mandya dt , of the Then Mysore State and now referred as Karnataka.
Sri Channabasappa was the Patel (Village Headman holding the post hereditarily) who used to look after the revenue collecton and other related fields. He was responsible for the maintaining the revenue collection account , law and order if any and send immeditae report to the Shiristadar under whose jurisdiction the village lies. The honourarium was not great but the position carried certain dignity and respect. The patel was helped by the village accountant (Shanbhog), one talayari (village police like designation who will give information about the happening in the villages like quarrel, birth or death, natural calamities like fire and flood, breach of tank, and so on and so forth to the Patel and the shanbhog. These posts carried very small honourarium but were given land grants long long ago. Patel’s forefathers were Patels for a long time. They were holding the post even when the revenue collection was guveb as a guft ti the Sivasamudram Jodidar for his having helped the British Govt (So called KUMPANI seemayavaru) on some occasion. Later on even when the Jodi was taken over by the Government of Mysore Channabasappa’s family to continued in the same post as Patels.. The Patel belonged to Banajiga Setty community a sub ethnic group among the Veerashivas and was a very orthodox in his habits. He never ever took any food item from other than orthodox Lingayats(veerashaivites) It seems He became quite bald when he was quite young and he was referred to as "Bolu Thalay Patelaru" behind his back.
He was in charge of three villages as I know. . They are Poorigali, Hullamballi and Krishnaiyengar Hundi. He had under him 2 shnbhogs and 3 talayaris. These talayaaris were usually from Dalit community. The shanbhogs were from HaleKarnatak community and ethnic group among brahmins..
On his own Patel was rich. He had a really big house which had a grannery to hold a minimum of 100 bags of paddy, with a cowshed which can accomadate about 20 cows at the rear of the house with spacious rooms kitchen and very big hall and a big pial. and a
well. This was in the centre of the Poorigali village. He had another house on the road at Poorigali which also had a well, where he used to stock paddy , barren cows , keep farm equipment ., bufffalows, bulls, haystock etc. this house had two good rooms in the front. One room was exclusively meant for the stay of our father!! When ever he used to visit . our father’s visit was not frequent. (Generally we the entire family used to camp for a month during harvest season at Aacharaiyanahundi or in the inspection Bungalow at Hullamballi.) This room was having a stock of rice dhall , salt, jaggery, dried chillli, tamarind etc with a set of vessels and a firewood oven.. On rare occsions our father used to camp at Poorigali. When ever the Patel used to visit mysore he used to invariably visit us. Mysore.. Some times when he was forced to stay at Mysore the Patel used to stay in the samll room on the pial of our house or the Veerashaiva hostel.. For his abolutions he used to go to the Veerashaiva hostel situated in the Tyagaraja Road He used to only take fruits and directly drink water from the tap in our house. he never used to take milk stating that the Milkmaid may have mixed water from her house to this milk!! If at all he used to go for breakfast and lunch he used to go to the Veeerashaiva hotel which was situated at the back of the Old Mothikhana building on the santhepet road of Mysore.. There the servers used to prominently wear the “Karadigay” (the silver container containing the shivalinga) without any shirt but only clad in Dhothi(Panche) and serve the dishes. On the cash counter was kept sacred ash in a gourd and the customers who do not adorn their forehead with the sacred ash were not served !! so this is one of the hotels preferred by Orthodox Veerashaivas.. after his second son joined hostel if was not difficult for the Patel to stay in the room of his son and have his breakfast and food there itself as the hostel ws run on the orthodox veerashaiva way..
The patel had 4 sons and one daughter. I remember the name of the second boy as Basavanna and name of the girl as Lakshmi. I don’t remember name of others.
The eldest after passing the S S L C examination was working as a primary school teacher nearby Poorigali. He along with his third and fourth brothers were taking care of the agriculatural and financial operations and after the death of Patel’s wife the daughter was taking care of the house hold along with the wife of the eldest son.
The second son was very good at studies and after finishing his intermediate course at Mandya he joined for the B A Course in Maharaja’s college Mysore..
Thisboy was staying in a veerashaiva Hostel situated in Old agrahar area of Tyagaraja Road Mysore. When ever he wanted any money due to late receipt of the money from his father he used to come to our house and borrow money from our father . this amount never exceeded Rs !0/-. And he used to make repayment as soon as he received fom his father.
One morning the patel appeared at our house and met our father and asked him to accompany him to the hostel. Our father accompanied him to the hostel. The hostel room in which Basavanna stayed was in a state s if some one has just left in a hurry. One or two books were opened and kept on the table, one pen with cap opened ws also on the table. None of the mateials had been stolen. His trunk contained some money and changes . the watch was also on the table.. The night watchman saw the door open when he arrived for his shift and did not find Basavanna. He thought that Basavana may have gone for a short walk. When he did not return even in the morning he did not know what to do and informed the warden who was staying in the next house.. The warden thought that Basavanna may have gone to his friends house and may attend the college that day.. He went to the college and went to his class. He did not find Basavanna. So he sent the peon of the hostel to Poorigali to inform his father. So by catching the early morning bus the Patel arrived. There was no letter farewell like or any other clues as to why Basavanna had left. The patel was inconsolable..
He consulted ocullists, astologers, holy men and some charltans also and spent large amount of money fro conducting poojas of various types. When ever some one mentions that they have seen a person similar to Basavanna at Varanasi, Haridvar, Rameswarm etc he used togother with a big retinue of his relative. On this account these relatives had a free holy trip at the cost of Patel. Patel spent nearly an year and spending about Rs 10.000/- which was a petty huge sum during those days. When some one pointed that he is spending lot of money for the search the Patel casually said “ Basavanna would have inherited much more than what I have spent for his search “. Due to this search I have visited some holy places. So I think that what I have spent is not a waste of money!!. At long last the Patel resigned to his fate and stopped further search.
After some years the Patel conducted the marriage of his third son at Nanjanagud. The girl was from the same lingayat community of a village nearby. The girl was very good looking . she had studied upto the 8th standard (Known during those periods as Rs5/- examination. May be the girl would have studied further if she had been allowed. Because the girl became mature she was not allowed to continue due to the orthodox restraints in the village.. The family of the girl were financially moderate.
All of our family attended the marriage . For us the Patel had made a separate room in the choultry. We were served many varieties of fruits, milk, dry fruits etc as we would not dine. Our father presented some money to the boy.
Later on it seems that some of the elders of the girls village started telling that the girl has been given in marriage to a “banajiga Setty community of Veerashaivas” even though the girl belongs to the higher caste of veerrashaivas sub group?.!! So how can the
younger sister of the girl find any suitable husband among their sub group? This came to the knowledge of the Patel. Immediately he went to the girls house and asked the father of the girl whether he is willing to give his second daughter in marriage to his youngest son and if so to fix up the date. He also told the father of the girl that he will shoulder all the expenses for the marriage . he also further told that whom evr he selects his youngest son who had sudied upto SSLC and who is really good looking will take that girl as a bride. The father of the girl and also the girl and also the mothe of the girl were all happy. They had seen this fourth boy during wedding and connected rituals. So this marriage also was celbrated with pomp with in 6 months after the marriage of his third son!
Our father was a staunch srivaishnavavite and Patel was a staunch veerashaivite. I knew that those who worship shiva don’t worship vishnu and vice versa. Still I was confounded with the problem as to how a veeerashaivaite can name his daughter as “lakhmi” in all my innocence one day I asked the Patel when I was very young as to how he has named his daughter as “Lakshmi”. He cooly told me that “Lakhmi” is none other than the sister of Lord Shiva and also Rama happens to be the devotee of Lord Shiva. So having the name of the wife of the devotee of Shiva is not against the custom. He also told me that the “Lord Of the Seven Hills” is known as Venkateswara” . The name actually ends with Easwara. Even now during certain poojas “Bilwa leaves” are used for the pooja at seven hills. Some of the “Banajiga Setty’s” have the first tonsure of their children at Tirumala.. at that period of time I did not have any reply.
After the demise of our father Patel came to our house to condole the death. He used to call me as “Chikka swamyavaru” though he was senior in age. He used to address me in honourifics. He told me and our mother that whenever we are in need of any money and any amount we can just send him a word or “Chikka swamy” can come in the morning to Poorigali and by the evening he will see to it that the money required is given!!
We did not know how to thank him. Me and our mother just told him that if and when required we shall definitely make use of his offer.. Our mother had in the meanwhile decided not to borrow from anyone under any circumstances, not to sell any property, and not to the mortgage of land for any loan..
This stance of her were adhereed to till the end until we wre forced to sell the land due to land reforms act.
When ever the Patel came to our house usually by the month of March we knew that the land tax is due. He used to make enquries about our welfare, our education and other general health and other subjects. He never used to raise the point of land revenue.
He used to sit on the long bench in the hall. Afte the talk he will take leave of us and before that he will hand over a folded paper to me. This paper was nothing but the receipt for the land revenue due. When I protested as to how hecan issue a receipt withut receiving the money he cooly replied that as “Sahukar Srirangachar” was his close friend and as he knew that we are finding it difficult to get back the dues from the loanee he is just doing his work as a friend of the family. We can make payment of the tax when ever it is possible for us. I jocularly told him suppose we don’t pay. For that also Patel had a reply. It was a Shiva given opportunity to repay some old dues to his friend’s family!!
Of course we never failed to pay the dues and immediately we used to pay the revenue.
If the shanbhog came for collection he usually used to be given some snacks and coffee . he will prepare the revcenue receipt and give it with a flourish to us. We used to give him the money and also present him with “Masi Kanike” (stationery charges and an honour). The Kanike cannot be just given in hand. This has to be acccompanied by a coconut, betel leaves and betel nut and the rupee coin prminently displayed and kept on a plate!! It was considered as a right by the Shanbhogs.
For the marriage of our sister Sou Pushpa we could not invite the Patel . when he came to know of it during his next visit to Mysore he told me and our mother that he was sad that he was not invited to the marriage. He got an assurance from our mother that he will definitely be invited to my marriage. After my joining the Engineering dept of Govt Of Tamilnadu my next brother kittnna started going to the villages to collect the produce and it disposal. Later on for sometime I think Raju my youngest brother went for collectin. Due to land reforms act brought by the then Mysore Government we started disposing off all our lands .
For my marriage the first invitaion ws sent to him!! The marriage was conducted at Vokkalagere Village of T narasipur taluk of Mysore dist. on 16th may 1960. The Patel attended the marriage. As I was aware of his orthodox ways I asked the brides people to ask a staunch Veerashaiva worker by name “Basavaayya” working in their household. to specially attend on the Patel.. The patel was taken to a separate room where Shivaayya showing his “Karadige” served him various fruits and also told Patel that the Jodidars hosehold do not purchase milk from outsiders and then offerd “Almond Milk “
The Patel remained until the marriage function was over and wishing me and my wife left the Hall.. ;Beofore he left he gave a good present. He told me that the burden of repaying the gift given to his third son during the marriage by our father has been repaid after a long long time.
That was the lost time I saw the Patel. As we had disposed off all of our lands there was no question of paying the land revenue nor going to the village arose .
I am sure that his progeny will be doing very well in life. now...
...
Poorigali village is a big village situated in the Boppgoudanapur Hobli of Malavalli Taluk of Mandya dt , of the Then Mysore State and now referred as Karnataka.
Sri Channabasappa was the Patel (Village Headman holding the post hereditarily) who used to look after the revenue collecton and other related fields. He was responsible for the maintaining the revenue collection account , law and order if any and send immeditae report to the Shiristadar under whose jurisdiction the village lies. The honourarium was not great but the position carried certain dignity and respect. The patel was helped by the village accountant (Shanbhog), one talayari (village police like designation who will give information about the happening in the villages like quarrel, birth or death, natural calamities like fire and flood, breach of tank, and so on and so forth to the Patel and the shanbhog. These posts carried very small honourarium but were given land grants long long ago. Patel’s forefathers were Patels for a long time. They were holding the post even when the revenue collection was guveb as a guft ti the Sivasamudram Jodidar for his having helped the British Govt (So called KUMPANI seemayavaru) on some occasion. Later on even when the Jodi was taken over by the Government of Mysore Channabasappa’s family to continued in the same post as Patels.. The Patel belonged to Banajiga Setty community a sub ethnic group among the Veerashivas and was a very orthodox in his habits. He never ever took any food item from other than orthodox Lingayats(veerashaivites) It seems He became quite bald when he was quite young and he was referred to as "Bolu Thalay Patelaru" behind his back.
He was in charge of three villages as I know. . They are Poorigali, Hullamballi and Krishnaiyengar Hundi. He had under him 2 shnbhogs and 3 talayaris. These talayaaris were usually from Dalit community. The shanbhogs were from HaleKarnatak community and ethnic group among brahmins..
On his own Patel was rich. He had a really big house which had a grannery to hold a minimum of 100 bags of paddy, with a cowshed which can accomadate about 20 cows at the rear of the house with spacious rooms kitchen and very big hall and a big pial. and a
well. This was in the centre of the Poorigali village. He had another house on the road at Poorigali which also had a well, where he used to stock paddy , barren cows , keep farm equipment ., bufffalows, bulls, haystock etc. this house had two good rooms in the front. One room was exclusively meant for the stay of our father!! When ever he used to visit . our father’s visit was not frequent. (Generally we the entire family used to camp for a month during harvest season at Aacharaiyanahundi or in the inspection Bungalow at Hullamballi.) This room was having a stock of rice dhall , salt, jaggery, dried chillli, tamarind etc with a set of vessels and a firewood oven.. On rare occsions our father used to camp at Poorigali. When ever the Patel used to visit mysore he used to invariably visit us. Mysore.. Some times when he was forced to stay at Mysore the Patel used to stay in the samll room on the pial of our house or the Veerashaiva hostel.. For his abolutions he used to go to the Veerashaiva hostel situated in the Tyagaraja Road He used to only take fruits and directly drink water from the tap in our house. he never used to take milk stating that the Milkmaid may have mixed water from her house to this milk!! If at all he used to go for breakfast and lunch he used to go to the Veeerashaiva hotel which was situated at the back of the Old Mothikhana building on the santhepet road of Mysore.. There the servers used to prominently wear the “Karadigay” (the silver container containing the shivalinga) without any shirt but only clad in Dhothi(Panche) and serve the dishes. On the cash counter was kept sacred ash in a gourd and the customers who do not adorn their forehead with the sacred ash were not served !! so this is one of the hotels preferred by Orthodox Veerashaivas.. after his second son joined hostel if was not difficult for the Patel to stay in the room of his son and have his breakfast and food there itself as the hostel ws run on the orthodox veerashaiva way..
The patel had 4 sons and one daughter. I remember the name of the second boy as Basavanna and name of the girl as Lakshmi. I don’t remember name of others.
The eldest after passing the S S L C examination was working as a primary school teacher nearby Poorigali. He along with his third and fourth brothers were taking care of the agriculatural and financial operations and after the death of Patel’s wife the daughter was taking care of the house hold along with the wife of the eldest son.
The second son was very good at studies and after finishing his intermediate course at Mandya he joined for the B A Course in Maharaja’s college Mysore..
Thisboy was staying in a veerashaiva Hostel situated in Old agrahar area of Tyagaraja Road Mysore. When ever he wanted any money due to late receipt of the money from his father he used to come to our house and borrow money from our father . this amount never exceeded Rs !0/-. And he used to make repayment as soon as he received fom his father.
One morning the patel appeared at our house and met our father and asked him to accompany him to the hostel. Our father accompanied him to the hostel. The hostel room in which Basavanna stayed was in a state s if some one has just left in a hurry. One or two books were opened and kept on the table, one pen with cap opened ws also on the table. None of the mateials had been stolen. His trunk contained some money and changes . the watch was also on the table.. The night watchman saw the door open when he arrived for his shift and did not find Basavanna. He thought that Basavana may have gone for a short walk. When he did not return even in the morning he did not know what to do and informed the warden who was staying in the next house.. The warden thought that Basavanna may have gone to his friends house and may attend the college that day.. He went to the college and went to his class. He did not find Basavanna. So he sent the peon of the hostel to Poorigali to inform his father. So by catching the early morning bus the Patel arrived. There was no letter farewell like or any other clues as to why Basavanna had left. The patel was inconsolable..
He consulted ocullists, astologers, holy men and some charltans also and spent large amount of money fro conducting poojas of various types. When ever some one mentions that they have seen a person similar to Basavanna at Varanasi, Haridvar, Rameswarm etc he used togother with a big retinue of his relative. On this account these relatives had a free holy trip at the cost of Patel. Patel spent nearly an year and spending about Rs 10.000/- which was a petty huge sum during those days. When some one pointed that he is spending lot of money for the search the Patel casually said “ Basavanna would have inherited much more than what I have spent for his search “. Due to this search I have visited some holy places. So I think that what I have spent is not a waste of money!!. At long last the Patel resigned to his fate and stopped further search.
After some years the Patel conducted the marriage of his third son at Nanjanagud. The girl was from the same lingayat community of a village nearby. The girl was very good looking . she had studied upto the 8th standard (Known during those periods as Rs5/- examination. May be the girl would have studied further if she had been allowed. Because the girl became mature she was not allowed to continue due to the orthodox restraints in the village.. The family of the girl were financially moderate.
All of our family attended the marriage . For us the Patel had made a separate room in the choultry. We were served many varieties of fruits, milk, dry fruits etc as we would not dine. Our father presented some money to the boy.
Later on it seems that some of the elders of the girls village started telling that the girl has been given in marriage to a “banajiga Setty community of Veerashaivas” even though the girl belongs to the higher caste of veerrashaivas sub group?.!! So how can the
younger sister of the girl find any suitable husband among their sub group? This came to the knowledge of the Patel. Immediately he went to the girls house and asked the father of the girl whether he is willing to give his second daughter in marriage to his youngest son and if so to fix up the date. He also told the father of the girl that he will shoulder all the expenses for the marriage . he also further told that whom evr he selects his youngest son who had sudied upto SSLC and who is really good looking will take that girl as a bride. The father of the girl and also the girl and also the mothe of the girl were all happy. They had seen this fourth boy during wedding and connected rituals. So this marriage also was celbrated with pomp with in 6 months after the marriage of his third son!
Our father was a staunch srivaishnavavite and Patel was a staunch veerashaivite. I knew that those who worship shiva don’t worship vishnu and vice versa. Still I was confounded with the problem as to how a veeerashaivaite can name his daughter as “lakhmi” in all my innocence one day I asked the Patel when I was very young as to how he has named his daughter as “Lakshmi”. He cooly told me that “Lakhmi” is none other than the sister of Lord Shiva and also Rama happens to be the devotee of Lord Shiva. So having the name of the wife of the devotee of Shiva is not against the custom. He also told me that the “Lord Of the Seven Hills” is known as Venkateswara” . The name actually ends with Easwara. Even now during certain poojas “Bilwa leaves” are used for the pooja at seven hills. Some of the “Banajiga Setty’s” have the first tonsure of their children at Tirumala.. at that period of time I did not have any reply.
After the demise of our father Patel came to our house to condole the death. He used to call me as “Chikka swamyavaru” though he was senior in age. He used to address me in honourifics. He told me and our mother that whenever we are in need of any money and any amount we can just send him a word or “Chikka swamy” can come in the morning to Poorigali and by the evening he will see to it that the money required is given!!
We did not know how to thank him. Me and our mother just told him that if and when required we shall definitely make use of his offer.. Our mother had in the meanwhile decided not to borrow from anyone under any circumstances, not to sell any property, and not to the mortgage of land for any loan..
This stance of her were adhereed to till the end until we wre forced to sell the land due to land reforms act.
When ever the Patel came to our house usually by the month of March we knew that the land tax is due. He used to make enquries about our welfare, our education and other general health and other subjects. He never used to raise the point of land revenue.
He used to sit on the long bench in the hall. Afte the talk he will take leave of us and before that he will hand over a folded paper to me. This paper was nothing but the receipt for the land revenue due. When I protested as to how hecan issue a receipt withut receiving the money he cooly replied that as “Sahukar Srirangachar” was his close friend and as he knew that we are finding it difficult to get back the dues from the loanee he is just doing his work as a friend of the family. We can make payment of the tax when ever it is possible for us. I jocularly told him suppose we don’t pay. For that also Patel had a reply. It was a Shiva given opportunity to repay some old dues to his friend’s family!!
Of course we never failed to pay the dues and immediately we used to pay the revenue.
If the shanbhog came for collection he usually used to be given some snacks and coffee . he will prepare the revcenue receipt and give it with a flourish to us. We used to give him the money and also present him with “Masi Kanike” (stationery charges and an honour). The Kanike cannot be just given in hand. This has to be acccompanied by a coconut, betel leaves and betel nut and the rupee coin prminently displayed and kept on a plate!! It was considered as a right by the Shanbhogs.
For the marriage of our sister Sou Pushpa we could not invite the Patel . when he came to know of it during his next visit to Mysore he told me and our mother that he was sad that he was not invited to the marriage. He got an assurance from our mother that he will definitely be invited to my marriage. After my joining the Engineering dept of Govt Of Tamilnadu my next brother kittnna started going to the villages to collect the produce and it disposal. Later on for sometime I think Raju my youngest brother went for collectin. Due to land reforms act brought by the then Mysore Government we started disposing off all our lands .
For my marriage the first invitaion ws sent to him!! The marriage was conducted at Vokkalagere Village of T narasipur taluk of Mysore dist. on 16th may 1960. The Patel attended the marriage. As I was aware of his orthodox ways I asked the brides people to ask a staunch Veerashaiva worker by name “Basavaayya” working in their household. to specially attend on the Patel.. The patel was taken to a separate room where Shivaayya showing his “Karadige” served him various fruits and also told Patel that the Jodidars hosehold do not purchase milk from outsiders and then offerd “Almond Milk “
The Patel remained until the marriage function was over and wishing me and my wife left the Hall.. ;Beofore he left he gave a good present. He told me that the burden of repaying the gift given to his third son during the marriage by our father has been repaid after a long long time.
That was the lost time I saw the Patel. As we had disposed off all of our lands there was no question of paying the land revenue nor going to the village arose .
I am sure that his progeny will be doing very well in life. now...
...
posted by N.S.Char at 11:47 PM
2 Comments:
Hi Nice to know about my relatives from purigali, I live in the next village called Ballagere.
Hello,
My aunt is married to one of his nephew. His daughter lives in mysore, her name is punitayamma. he was murdered by thieves during 30 years back by thieves at his home.
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