Kodavas, A race that’s known
for the bravery, apperance and culture. A race that has a historical and
geographical evidence which is claiming their exhistance from time immemorial.
A race that’s dated back to a era where many religions didn’t even exhist.
Every indian incuding Kodavas themselves have their own version to explain the
origin of this beautiful and brave community.
Same claimed Kodavas maybe
the descendants of the brachycephalic stock who entered into the Indus Valley
during the Mohenjodaro period before the Aryans and later migrated to the Coorg
region (Hutton, as quoted by Balakrishnan in 1976).
Another theory says Kodava
culture resembles the culture of the ancient trading stock of Arabia (Moeling
1855).
Few others claim Kodavas are
descendants of Scythians (Connor 1870, Rice 1878). According to yet another but
similar view, the Kodavas belong to the Indo-Scythian race.
And the most advertised and
newly preached theory states uring the conquest of Alexander the Great, many of
his Indo-Greek soldiers, the Yavanas, stayed back in India. They migrated as
warriors down south, married the natives and settled down in the hilly areas of
the Western Ghats.
Above said theories don’t have
any stronge evidence to claim they are true. They are just speculations and imaginary
stories.
The Hindu ancient literature (Kaveri Purana of Skanda
Purana) state that Chandra Varma, a Chandravanshi Kshatriya (lunar dynasty
warrior) and son of the Emperor of Matsya Desha (the Fish Country), was the
ancestor of the Kodavas.
Kodava’s are the original inhabitants of the Kodava Land,
The Kaveri Purana clearly states the reason, why kodava women’s tradition way
of wearing saree is different from the entire south india.
The existence of Igguthappa temple dates back to 1153 and
the History itself claims Kodavas existed well before this temple was built.
The Bhagandeshwara temple at Bhagamandala belonged to Pattamada family even before
Tippu attacked the temple. Tala cavery also belonged to 2 Kodava family.
Kodagu was named after its original inhabitants that’s Kodavas.
The physical appearance of Kodavas are unique and appealing because of the life
style and the kind of food intake. Kodavas are meat lovers, their ancestors survived
fighting the wild and the nature in dense forest for centuries, the food habits
like meat, honey, shoots, leaves and fruits are definitely one of the main
reason to be well build and this is proved medically you really don’t have to
be from Greek.
I believe when history itself claims and proves that existence
of Kodavas dates back to the Vedic period the imaginary theories which is
spread across clearly indicates a larger conspiracy to prove Kodavas are
invaders. The younger generation of Kodavas needs to understand the history
well and it becomes the duty of the community, particularly the elder folks to preach
the right message so that next generation of kodavas know the truth and adore
the efforts of their ancestors. Kodavas are and will always be the original Inhabitants
of Kodava Land
