The origins of the term Karava are still debated. The name might be a modified word of the Tamil Karaiyar, where "Karava" share the same root wordkara or karai meaning "coast" or "shore" in Tamil. The name "Karava" has also been proposed to be a corruption of the Sanskrit name Kaurava, following their origin myth. The first recorded instance is the Abhayagiri vihara terrace inscription dating from the 1st century BC denoting a Dameda Karava navika which means Dravidian or Tamil sailor. Other historical counts refer them and also the Karaiyars as Careas and Kaurawar.
History
Many Karava communities throughout Sri Lanka claim an origin from the Kuru kingdom and the Kauravas of the Hindu epic Mahabharata. Historical manuscripts such as the Mukkara Hatana indicate that there were migrations from the Kurumandalam coast of Tamil Nadu, South India, and that they were originally Tamil speakers. The Karavas north of Negombo are predomanantly Catholic and bilingual in Tamil and Sinhalese, whereas the Karavas south of Colombo are Buddhist and completely Sinhalized. The Mukkara Hatana describes that they won a three month siege against the Mukkuvars, under the sponsorship of Kotte kingParakramabahu VI in the 14th century AD. The Kotte KingBhuvanaikabahu VI was the son of a Karava chief who was adopted by Parakramabahu VI after the death of his father in the war mentioned in Mukkara Hatana. The Karava chieftains resisted the colonial Portuguese rule in 16th century. The Karava Prince of Uva, Kuruvita Rala, who also had his stronghold in Batticaloa, Wellawaya, Negombo and parts of Sabaragamuwa and Matara region, led his and the troops of Sitawaka Kingdom and revolted against the Portuguese. Kuruvita Rala also raided the Kandy Kingdom and drove the kingSenarat of Kandy out of his own capital. They were under Portuguese rule, along with the Karaiyar and Nair recruited as Lascarins and were converted to Catholicism. Large Catholic Karava communities exists ever since, who were Hindus prior to conversion. The Catholic Karava chieftains sided with the Kingdom of Kandy and the kingdom's Dutch allies against the Portuguese empire, and the King bestowed honors and titles to the Karava chieftains. The Karavas amassed wealth through commercial ventures such as in arrack, coconut, rubber, graphites etc. The Karavas formed the elites between 16th century and early 20th century. Numerous organization were formed by them such as Ceylon National Association, one of the predecessors of the Ceylon National Congress. James Peiris, a Karava lawyer and national leader, was an essential character in the Sri Lankan independence movement. Rohana Wijeweera and other Karava leaders formed in the 1960s the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna, a communist party and political movement, who were involved in two armed uprisings against the ruling governments in 1971 and 1987.
Traditional status
The Karavas were coastal people, who served in naval warfare and contributed as coastal chieftains and regional kings. Their chiefs were referred in Sinhalese as Patabendi or Patangatim, which is derived from the Tamil term Pattamkattiyar, which was also used by their equivalent Tamil Karaiyars.The Karavas were one of the fewSri Lankan communities traditionally entitled to use flags. A large number of these Karava flags have survived the ravages of time and many are illustrated in E. W. Perera's book Sinhalese Banners and Standards. The sacred usage of conch shell and tying of Nalapata was a common practice among Karavas, also mentioned in the Rajaveliya. The sun and the moon, pearl umbrella are traditional royal symbols used by the Karavas. The Makara, being an emblem of their clan, is the mount of their clan deity, the sea god Varuna. Insignia such as the pearl umbrella, flags, swords, trident, yak tail whisks, lighted flame torches and drums were previously widely used by the Karavas at their weddings and funerals. By the 1960s, such usage has been greatly reduced, whereas some places is it still practiced.
Ancestral names
The Karava's use the vasagama naming system. Vasagama, literally meaning "estate in which one resides", is a title or surname that is given to the patrilineal descendants. The most common clans among the Karavas are Kurukulasuriya, Varunakulasuriya and Mihindikulasuriya. Other clans are Koon Karavas and Konda Karavas. Names based on leadership or military activity include Aditya, Arasanilayitta, Arasa Marakkalage, Patabendige, and Thantrige. Names based on profession include Marakkalage and Vaduge.
