Seniyan caste is surname of many people in southern India. Seniyan caste meaning is The name Seniyan is generally used to denote the Karna Sale weavers, but at Conjeeveram it is applied to Canarese Devangas. Elsewhere Canarese Devangas belong to the left-hand section, but at Conjeeveram they are classed with the right-hand section. Like other Devangas, the Conjeeveram Seniyans have exogamous house-names and gotras, which are interesting inasmuch as new names have been, in recent times, substituted for the original ones, e.g, Chandrasekhara rishi, Nilakanta rishi, Markandeya rishi. The Devangas claim Markandeya as their ancestor. The [363]old house-name Picchi Kaya (water-melon- Citrullus vulgaris) has been changed to Desimarada, and eating the melon is tabu. A list of the house-names and gotras is kept by the headman for reference. The Conjeeveram Seniyans are Lingayats, but are not so strict as the Canarese Lingayats. Jangams are respected, but rank after their own stone lingams. In the observance of death rites, a staunch Lingayat should not bathe, and must partake of the food offered to the corpse. These customs are not observed by the Seniyans. Until quite recently, a man might tie a tali (marriage badge) secretly on a girls neck, with the consent of the headman and his relatives, and the girl could then be given in marriage to no other man. This custom is said to have been very common, especially in the case of a mans maternal uncles or paternal aunts daughter. At Conjeeveram it was extended to girls not so related, and a caste council was held, at which an agreement was drawn up that the secret tali-tying was forbidden, and, if performed, was not to be regarded as binding. The priest of the Conjeeveram Seniyans is a Vellala Pandaram, who is the head of the Tirugnana Sambanda Murti mutt (religious institution) at Conjeeveram.
Seniyan 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. Seniyan caste name could indicate the type of work people belonging to the Seniyan 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
Seniyan 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.
Seniyan caste is also known as Seniyan 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.