Devadiga (Sanskrit: देवाडिगः, romanized: Dēvāḍiga) also known as Moily, Sherigar [1] is a Hindu Community or Caste.
Devadigas are originally from the land stretching between Karwar in Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka and Kasaragod district of Kerala and some parts of Maharashtra in west-coast of India up to the Chandragiri River and Many People live in Shivamogga and Chikmagalur too.
[2][1] Devadigas are originally from the land stretching between Karwar in Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka and Kasaragod district of Kerala in west-coast of India up to the Chandragiri River and Many People live in Shivamogga and Chikmagalur too.
They are also doing variety of additional jobs, such as cleaning, lighting arrays of earthen oil-lamps, and beating the kettle-drum (Nagari), Barrel drum (Chende) or Double drums (Mourii) and sometimes also playing musical instruments in the temple.
The Devadigas are Canarese-speaking temple servants in South Canara, concerning whom Mr. H. A. Stuart writes as follows.
In the reign of Mayura Varma, who built a number of new temples, it was found that Brahmans could not perform all the services.
[4][5] kinship: The eight matrilineal clans (bari) that have been identified among them are Kundarannaya, Saliyannaya, bangerannaya, Kajjannaya, Kariannaya, Bhuthiannaya, Gujjarannaya and Kochatabettannaya.
The baris are: Bangera, Shaliyan, Gujaran, Serian, Addiyar, Gundranna, Uppayana, etc.
The statutory panchayat plans the welfare and developmental activities such as providing drinking water, roads, etc., to various communities.
They worship kallutty, Guliga, Panjurily, bariray jaran-daya, rahu etc., as family deities.
[6][7][8] In the past, Gurikara (Head of the caste council) had role in sacred performances but now the Brahman have taken their place.
They celebrate Hindu festivals such as krishna Ashtami, Ganesha Chaturthi, Shivaratri, Vishnu and Deepavali, which have religious significance.
[citation needed] The role of the Devadiga in temple services as drum beaters and musicians has given them an important position in the inter-community affairs.