Ganiga or Gandla caste is surname of many people in southern India. Ganiga or Gandla caste meaning is The name Ganiga is derived from the Telugu ganuga, meaning an oil-mill. The Ganigas are said9 to be the oil pressers of the Canarese people, corresponding to the Telugu Gandla and the Tamil Vaniyan. This caste is sub-divided into three sections, none of whom eat together or intermarry. These sections are the Hegganigas, who yoke two oxen to a stone oil-mill; Kirganigas, who make oil in wooden [264]mills; and Ontiyeddu Ganigas, who yoke only one animal to the mill. They are collectively known as Jotipans or Jotinagarams (people of the city of light). In addition to pressing oil, they also make palm-leaf umbrellas, cultivate land, and work as labourers. They employ Brahmans to perform their ceremonies. Their guru is the head of the Vyasaraya mutt at Anegundi. Early marriage is practiced. Widow remarriage is not allowed. They eat fish, mutton, and fowls, but do not drink liquor. Chetti is their title. In the Madras Census Report, 1891, it is stated that the guru of the Ganigas is the head of the mutt at Sringeri, and that they employ Havig Brahmans for their ceremonies. Sringeri is the name of a Smarta (Saivite) mutt or religious institution at several places, such as Tanjore and Kumbakonam; and there is a town of this name in Mysore, from which the mutt derives its name.
Concerning the Ganigas of the Mysore Province, Mr. V. N. Narasimmiyengar writes as follows.10 The account locally obtained connects this caste with the Nagartas, as forming the leading communities of the left-hand faction, in opposition to the Lingayats and other castes composing the right-hand faction. Caste supremacy is ever associated in India with preternatural mythology. If the average Brahman traces his nobility literally to the face of Brahma, according to the Vedic Purusha Sukta, every other castelet claims a patent of superiority in a similar miraculous origin. The Ganigas allege that they immigrated from the north at a time beyond living memory. A Mysore noble, named Mallaraje Ars, established and first peopled the pete (market town) of Bangalore, when the Ganigas first came there, [265]followed by the Nagartas, who are said to have been co-emigrants with the Ganigas. Mallaraj made Sattis and Yajamans (headmen) of the principal members of the two castes, and exempted them from the house-tax. The Ganigas are both Vaishnavites and Saivites. Their guru is known as Dharmasivacharsvami in the Madras Presidency, and certain gotras (family names) are said to be common to the Ganigas and Nagartas, but they never eat together or intermarry. The Ganigas claim the peculiar privilege of following the Vishnu image or car processions, throughout the province, with flags exhibiting the figures of Hanuman and Garuda, and torches. These insignia are alleged to have been aboriginally given to an ancestor, named Siriyala Satti, by Rama, as a reward for a valuable gem presented by him. The Ganigas call themselves Dharmasivachar Vaisyas like the Nagartas, and the feud between them used often to culminate in much bitter unpleasantness. The order includes a small division of the linga-wearing oilmongers, known as Sajjana (good men), whose population is a small fraction of the community. The Sajjanas, however, hold no social intercourse of any kind with the other sub-divisions.
The Ganigas of Sandur, in the little Maratha State of that name, returned Yenne (oil) and Kallu (stone) as sub-divisions. The average cephalic index of these Ganigas was very high, being 80.5 as against 77.6 for the Ganigas of Mysore city.
The oil-mill of the Ganigas is, Mr. W. Francis writes,11 a sort of large wooden mortar, usually formed out of the heart of a tamarind tree, and firmly imbedded in the ground. A wooden cylinder, shod with iron, fits [266]roughly into the cavity. A cross beam is lashed to this in such a way that one end is close to the ground, and to this a pair of bullocks or buffaloes are fastened. By an arrangement of pullies, the pressure of the cylinder can be increased at pleasure. As the bullocks go round the trough, the seeds are crushed by the action of the cylinder, so that the expressed oil falls to the bottom, while the residuum, as oil-cake, adheres to the side of the mortar.
The following note refers to the Onteddu (single bullock) Ganigas, who claim superiority over those who employ two bullocks in working their oil-mills. The former belong to the right-hand, and the latter to the left-hand faction. Among them are various sub-divisions, of which the Deva and Onteddu may intermarry, while the Kasi, Teli (gingelly- Sesamum), and Chandanapu are endogamous. Like other Telugu castes they have gotras, some of which are interesting, as there are certain prohibitions connected with them. For example, members of the Badranollu and Balanollu gotras may not cut the tree Erythroxylon monogynum. In like manner, members of the Viranollu and Viththanollu gotras are forbidden to cut Feronia elephantum, and those of the Vedanollu gotra to cut Nyctanthes arbor-tristis. Members of certain other gotras do not cultivate turmeric, sugarcane, or the millet (Panicum miliare).
The Onteddu Ganigas are Saivites, and disciples of Lingayat Brahmans (Aradhyas). Some, however, wear the sacred thread, and others bear on the forehead the red streak of the Vaishnavites. In some places, their special deity is Chaudeswara, who is the god of some of the weaving classes. In the Kistna district they claim Mallikarjunasvami as their deity.[267]
Their primary occupation is oil-pressing, but some are traders in cotton, oil-seeds, etc, or cultivators. In some localities, the animal which works the oil-mill is not blindfolded, while it is in others, because, it is said, it would otherwise fall down after a few revolutions. Crushing gingelly oil is, according to the Shastras, a sinful act, but condoned inasmuch as Devatas use this oil for lamps, and men in temples. For the removal of the oil-cake, or turning the seeds in the mill, the left hand only is used. Burning the tongue with a piece of gold, as a means of purification after some offence has been committed, is a common practice.
Ganga bride and bridegroom.
Ganga bride and bridegroom.
The marriage rites conform, for the most part, to the Telugu type. But, while the wrist thread is being tied on, common salt is held in the hand. A dagger (baku) is then given to the bridegroom, who keeps it with him till the conclusion of the ceremonies. On the wedding day, the bridegroom wears the sacred thread. The tali is not an ordinary bottu, but a thread composed of 101 thin strings, which is removed on the last day, and replaced by a bottu. On the third day, the bride and bridegroom worship a jammi tree (Prosopis spicigera), and the latter, removing his sacred thread, throws it on the tree. Five young men, called Bala Dasulu, also worship the tree, and, if they are wearing the sacred thread, throw it thereon. The dead are as a rule buried, in a sitting posture if the deceased was an orthodox Saivite. If a young man dies a bachelor, the corpse is married to an arka plant (Calotropis gigantea), and decorated with a wreath made of the flowers thereof. The final death ceremonies are performed on the eleventh day. Food is offered to crows and the soul of the dead person, who is represented by a wooden post dressed with his clothes. The bangles of a widow are broken [268]near the post, which is finally thrown into a tank or stream.
Ganiga further occurs as an occupational name for Lingayat oil-vendors, and for Mogers who are employed as oil-pressers.
Ganiga or Gandla caste is one of the many castes subcastes of India.
India has thousands of castes and subcastes, they are in existence and practice since the Vedic times. They were created to solve the problem of division of labor. Ganiga or Gandla caste name could indicate the type of work people belonging to the Ganiga or Gandla caste do or did in earlier times. Many last names in India indicate the place the person originally belongs to. All castes sub castes are primarily divided into 4 categories:
1.Brahmins – The learned or priestly class
2.Khastriyas – The warrior class or those with governing functions
3.Vaishyas – The trader, agriculturalists or cattle rearers class
4.Shudra – The class that serves other three categories
Ganiga or Gandla caste belongs to one of the above 4 categories. Indian caste system is the best system to solve the problem of division of labor. In earlier times there was no rigidity in caste system. Indian caste system is still the best solution for the problem of division of labor, the only change that is needed as per changed times is that rather than having a vertical hierarchical system with Brahmins on top and Shudras at bottom, it would be good to have a horizontal socialist system with Brahmins, Khastriyas, Vaishyas and Shudras all at same level.
The caste system of India is in ruins at present. It is also cause of bloody quarrels in certain parts of the rural India. People of backward castes have reservations in government jobs, this facility is widely misused in India. Many of the backward caste people have become rich and still use the facility for their benefit. Many in India believe reservation in jobs should be given on the basis of poverty rather than caste because there are many poors in upper castes as well.
Many criticize the Indian caste system because of bad material condition of lower castes but if they observe in an unbiased way they would find that there are many in upper castes with bad material conditions. The problem lies in power not in castes, power can corrupt anyone be it from upper caste or lower caste.
All cultures, all countries, all religions have caste system in one form or the other. Christians have different churches depending on the region or language or skin color of people. Muslims have a priestly class that tries to control everything. Arab Muslims before the oil boom were so much divided among tribes that if you drank water from a well of a different tribe you could be shot dead. Tribal divisions still exists among Muslims. You can also see the caste system in a different form in your corporate companies. I had seen different food and drinking facilities for people at different levels.
Ganiga or Gandla caste is also known as Ganiga or Gandla Gotra.
Caste situation is quiet different in urban India, people in urban areas especially youngsters don?t bother about castes. Inter caste, inter religious, inter lingual marriages are quiet common in urban India. Inter caste, inter religious and inter lingual marriages in rural areas attract severe criticism and many times people are expelled from community for not marrying as per religious and caste rules.