Genesis of The Theory
Of the great mass of separate treatises that claims to form part of the Skanda Purana of the Brahmanical lore comparatively little has hitherto been published. Sir Hans Sloans in his Catalogue of printed Sanskrit books at the British Museum mentions fifteen separate titles under this heading. Most of them consistist of single kathas or mahatmyas contained on a few cadjan leaves. A few more treatises have been noticed and analyzed in Prof.Aufrecht's Catalog of the Bodleian Sanskrit Manuscripts. Among the collection of manuscripts in the Catalogue of La Figaniere and mentioned on p 162 is a "Livro da Seita dos Indios Orientaes E Principalmente os Malavares." Specified in book 3, Chap 11 numbered as 1820 is Fr.Jacobus Fenicio the author of this manuscript who had for the first time mentioned in passing the Aryan - Orarian theme. Purchas in his Pilgrimage mentions the name of this Spanish Jesuit priest from Naples in Italy then staying in India circa 1609 AD but never bothered to publish this work. This manuscript must have come into the collection of Sir Hans Sloans before 1753 AD the year of the latter's death. I may not be woefully wrong in suggesting that this document was first edited and translated from Latin by Finnish professor Jarl Charpentier who made a preliminary report on this manuscript in Bullettin of London's School of Orienal Studies in 1923. It was again translated into English by Rev. H. Hosten S. J. Principal of St. Josephs College Darjeeling. The translation was sent to T.K. Joseph for inclusion in Kerala Society Papers published from Trivandrum. Another admission that would make uncomfortable reading in academic circles is the discovery qf Col. Mackenzie's Collection of Manuscripts edited and published first by H.H. Wilson from Calcutta in 1828 and subsequently by Rev. William Taylor from Madras in 1862. This Collection also reiterates an engrossing description of Fenicio's version. Originally Jacobus Fenicio's statement found endorsed in London's prestigious Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies by Danish Indologist from Copenhagen Jarl Charpentier is once more found harped by Cochin's Dutch Chaplain Jacob Canter Visscher in his monumental Letters from Malabar (17117 - 1728) these original Dutch letters later found its way into English translation by Travancore's British Resident Major Heber Drury who it seems quite fortuitously stumbled upon the same from among Dutch Archival Records after British occupation of Cochin and he classified the same in Madras Press List for 1862. Hence Parashumara legend concerning Malayala Brahmin origins is thus found substantiated by weighty authorities viz. Francis Buchanan(1807) Canter Visscher(1862) Francis Day(1863) Sir W.W. Hunter(1872) Samuel Mateer(1883) Sir James Campbell(1883) William Logan(1887) John Sturrock(1894) E. Keys(1885) Edgar Thurston(1909) among others. Things remaining so data collected from aforementioned Indolological scholars provide robust optimism for circulating Fenicio's stand on Malayala Brahmin origins in the light of another fundamental truth Nambudri Brahmin illoms or habitats I find smack of a wild wizardry of words that spill a beguiling spell of narwhal turtle prawns and spawns. This I discovered during my extended stay at Moothedeth Palasseri Mana (a Nambudri illom) at Karikkad in Malappuram Disrict in 1985 - 1987 and my continuous association with "swajana sangamam" and "yogakshema sabha" from 1995 - 2000. Add to this the longevity and perpetuity of Yajur Vedic nuptial rite of fish- catching among Nambudri Brahmin weddings is what makes my book MALAYALA BRAHMIN AUTOCHTHON THEORY marathon monumental and unique.In the face of fresh insights on the Dhara form of marriage found exclusive to both these seemingly polarised communities any attempts to stiffle and strangulate Napolitean priest's observation by our fraternity of social scientists we only stay as Mummy - makers wrapping cotton around pupil's mouths. And it may also be said in parenthesis that by suppression of such inconvenient ideas in the name of protecting ethnic sentiments the nation will have to forget its own history. And so in due course the nation will have no history. J.Mallay at 10:39 PM  1 comment:  Swaminath kottayiDecember 16, 2009 at 10:56 PM I read the scholarly article of Mr. Mallay on Malayali Brahmins. It is highly informative and also historical. Keep writing. Reply  ‹ › Home View web version About Me  J.Mallay View my complete profile Powered by Blogger.
