Dewa (people)


Dewa tribe of Sinhalese in Sri Lanka is the only ancient Sinhalese tribe which still could be recognize in the island who founded Sinhalese nationality. There family names bearing distinct "Dewage" as surname. Deva, Wahumpura, Wanshapurna are the other names. They are mountain dwelling people even at present.

Pre History

There were Several different indigenous clans lived in the island during the Pre Vijaya era. These clans believed that four main clans are Yaksha, Naga, Deva, and Raksha.
It is believed that these names were attributed metaphorically to indicate their profession. Yaksha tribe of people were believed to inhabit in the mountains where they had used monsoon wind to mould iron, Raksha people were supposed to be farmers who used the steel products of the yaksha tribe of people in their farming endeavors.
The name Raksha is derived from the two syllables Ra + Kus, in Sinhalese Kus means "stomach"; Rakus literally means the people who fulfill hunger or the people who provide rice, the staple food of the Sinhalese people. The Naga tribe of people were believed to be traders, the Deva tribe of people were the ruling, governance, military service, irrigation, trade, engineering, and agriculture.

Buddhist Heritage from Lord Buddha

According to the Mahavamsa, Gautama Buddha met the Deva people at Mahiyangana. Sumana Saman the king of the Deva tribe invited Lord Buddha to the Samanala Kanda. Lord Gautama Buddha left his foot print on the rock at the top of the mountain as a token of symbolic worship, in the absence of the Buddha. Sumana Saman became a stream-entrant after listening to the Buddha, who gave him a handful of hairs with which he erected the Stupa at Mahiyangana

Formation of Sinhalise Nationality

Vijaya and his 700 men were the first group of Aryans to enter Sri Lanka. Vijaya kissed the soil and planted the Lion Flag. He then met Yakkha princes Kuveni, conquered the Yakkhas and establish the Ariyan dynasty of Sri Lanka. In 504 BC Panduvas Deva became the king of the country. Abhaya, the eldest son, succeeded Panduvas Deva in 474 BC. His younger brother Tissa overthrew him after 20 years in 454 BC and ruled for 17 years. Tissa’s nephew and Panduvasudeva’s grandson Pandukabhaya captured power in 437 BC with the help of Yakkha, Naga, Deva, Raksha chieftains and united the tribes and ruled for 60 years. Researchers say that the Yakkha, Naga, Deva, Raksha tribes was gradually absorbed into the Sinhala nationality during the next few centuries. Pandukabaya shifted the capital of his principality to Anuradhapura which according to archaeological evidence was developing as a settlement since 900BC. Pandukabaya could be consider as the organizer of the four tribes to form the Sinhalese nationality.

Modern caste system with Kalinga Magha

Kulankayan Cinkai Ariyan or popularly named as ‘Kalinga Maga’ is a South Indian invader who ruled the island for 21 years. The invasion historically important migration of Vellalar Nattar chiefs from the Coromandel Coast of South India who made a new social reorganization in Sri Lanka in Sinhalese society. They reorganizing villages on the basis of the Hindu caste principles other than Buddhist social system which introduced by Arahath Mahinda Thero in 3rd century BC. This reorganization was also connected with the development with the system of monarchy with absolute power. Thus the development of the monarchy and the development of caste principle during this time transformed Sri Lanka into social organization which was based on caste. Thus the well organized Sinhalese Buddhist community was transformed into caste based new hierarchy when the Kandyan Era. While Vellalar caste became the top of Tamil caste system the shadow of Vellalar, the Sinhalese Govigama caste became the top of Sinhalese society.

Kandyan Era

Konappu Bandara Appuhamy or *Vimaladharmasuriya I from Yatinuwara at Ededuwa village in Peradeniya who was established the Kandyan Kingdom. His father Weerasundra Bandara of non royal, flourishing Govigama caste member and his mother Kosgolle Gedara Wimalu from Bathgama Caste was served to the Rajasinhe 1 of Sithawaka as Dukgannarala or royal meal certifier. 1582 an army from Rajasinghe 1 attacked Kandy and King Karalliyadde fled to Manner with his family, seeking the protection of the Portuguese and appointed Weerasundara Badara to the post of ajudicator.
But after a few days the king grew suspicious of Weerasundara Bandara, got him killed through subterfuge. Princess Kusumasana Devi daughter of King Karaliyadde, the heir to the Kandyan Kingdom as well as Yamasingha Bandara, a nephew of the King and Konappu Bandara, son of Weerasundara Bandara had fled to the Portuguese and lived under their protection.
At this point a Portuguese army was sent to Kandy under Don Juan. The Portuguese captured Kandy very easily and made Don Philip the King of Kandy. He died after a few months and Konnapu Bandara was appointed to the King. Then he gave leadership and betrayed Portuguese and rebelled against them and made Kandyan Kingdom.
Dewa people lost everything with their way of living so gone to high mountain regions and started to cultivate terrace rice fields and self sufficient life. In the regions where they live abounded with Fish Tale Palm Tree * Caryota so they start toddy tapping. Kandyan new non royal rulers and later Tamil * Nayaks of Kandy and their henchmen hinted them as Hakuro or Kande Aththo.

Dutch Rule

Under the Europian rule, Salagama caste created by Dutch to beat cinnamon. Karawa caste bond with shipping industry under Portuguese and Dutch. Durawa castes privileged under the Dutch and English for coconut alcohol business. Kalinga Maga creation of Govigama, Vellar caste uplifted as civil servants.

British Period

The British Governor Gordon and his predecessors effectively used divide and rule policies and created caste animosity among the native elite and finally confined all Native Headmen appointments only to the Govigama caste. The British Government Agent Layard was advocating this as an effective policy for easy governance. Mahamudliar Louis De Saram’s family of Dutch and Malay ancestry had Sinhalised and Givigamised itself during the Dutch period and had a strong network of relatives as Mudaliyars by the late 19th century. This “Govigama” Anglican Christian network expanded further with the preponderance of native headmen as Mudaliyars, Korales and Vidanes from the Buddhist Govigama section of the community

First king and last king of Sri Lanka from Deva tribe

Kingdom of Kandy lost to English and 1948 there was a Matale rebellion against the rule. It was led by a Dewa tribe leader call Gongalegoda Banda. He was crowned by the head monk of Dambulla, Ven. Giranegama Thera as "Sri Wickrama Subha Sarva Siddhi Rajasinghe". The first king of Sri Lanka Sumana Saman from Dewa tribe while the last king Sri Wickrama Sarwa Siddhi also from Dewa tribe.

Current political power

At present Dewa is the second influential and the significant population of Sinhalese misleadingly named as Hakuru caste but clearly recognizable as the ancient Dewa tribe predominantly from Sabaragamuwa Province, North Western province, Central, Western province and North Central province of Sri Lanka. But not represent Sri Lankan Parliament respectably due to lack of awareness among themselves.

Weeramunda Kankariya

Weeramunda Kankariya, Kande Deviyan Pidima could be identified as the ceremonial dances rooted in folk beliefs of Kandyan Deva tribe.

Migration to Kerala

Some Deva people migrated to of Kerala where they followed Buddhism before the advent of Brahmanism. Having their own complete social fabric and systems of precedence and worship, they dominated the area until their power was seriously undermined by the Brahmin lead power lobby. However, they still survive in Malabar and are known as *Ezhava or "Thiyya", a localization of the name "Deyva" equivalent to Deva.

Thiyyar dynasties in Kerala

Thiyyar dynasties such as the Mannanar, Chekavar existed in Kerala at the present day Kannur and Kasaragod districts of India. They may have had a Buddhist heritage. Chekavar is a warrior section within the Thiyyar community, served the army of the Chera dynasty. There were also renowned Kalaripayattu experts among Chekavars.

Kalaripayattu

Kalaripayattu also known simply as Kalari, is a martial art and fighting style that originated in modern-day Kerala. Kalaripayattu is held in high regard by martial artists due to its long-standing history. With its origin in the martial arts timeline dating back to at least the 3rd century BCE.

Theyyam Festival

The ancestor worship of Thiyyas springs from the fact that they consider themselves as descendants of "Deyva" or God. The ceremonial oracles, who represent the spirit of their ancestors of Lanka, in the temple are known as "Theyyam", originating from the word "Deyvam" meaning God.

A few prominent members of the Deva (Wahumpura) community

A.G. Sirisena - Provincial Council Member of central Province from SLFP