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The caste system in Sri Lanka traditionally governed not only social roles and occupation but also marriage alliances. Inter-caste marriages were often restricted, with individuals typically marrying within their own caste or specific castes that were considered compatible. However, the norms and practices related to caste-based marriages have ...
The timawa were the feudal warrior class of the ancient Visayan societies of the Philippines. They were regarded as higher than the uripon (commoners, serfs, and slaves) but below the tumao (royal nobility) in the Visayan social hierarchy. They were roughly similar to the Tagalog maharlika caste.
The caste systems in Sri Lanka were organized in a similar manner to the Jāti systems found in South India. The history of the caste system in Sri Lanka is unclear since there is very little historical evidence and much research carried out into the subject has been criticized as being biased. [ 2 ]
Sinhala may be considered a combination of sinha (සිංහ), literally "lion", and la (ල), for "slayer" or "taker", hence Sinhala may mean "lion-slayer". [26] The story of the derivation of Sinhala is told in Mahāvaṃsa , and it is believed to be a reference to the founding legend of Sri Lanka; the island was conquered by a descendant ...
Marriages between Sinhalese (Sinhala people) and Chetties are very common and therefore many were Sinhalised. [10] [11] The Chetties of Northern Sri Lanka especially in Jaffna were mainly absorbed by the Vellalar caste, although, some still remain separate. [5]
Govigama is derived from the Sinhala word Goyigama meaning farm-land, in reference to their traditional occupation as farmers and land owners. [ 9 ] [ 10 ] Early Sinhalese texts such as the 13th century Pujavaliya mention a caste system of the Sinhalese society; the Raja (rulers), Bamunu ( Brahmins ), Velanda (traders) and the Govi (Farmers).
The social organization of the people of the Jaffna kingdom was based on a caste system and a matrilineal kudi system similar to the caste structure of South India. [72] [73] The Aryacakravarti kings and their immediate family claimed Brahma-Kshatriya status, meaning Brahmins who took to martial life. [74]
One of the results of this trend was the distortion of the original meaning of maharlika. Maharlika does not actually refer to the "royalty" class as is claimed, but refers to the vassal warrior class. The maharlika were also more or less unique to the Tagalog caste system and that of its neighboring tribes. [7]