A History of the Mahrattas v1.c5.s3.25

v1.c5.s3.25

‘As we pass northwards into the Deccan, the totemistic grouping is found to survive in a less vigorous form, as exemplified by the devaks of the Marāthā and Marāthā occupational groups. This devak, which seems in origin to correspond to the bali, is usually a plant or group of five plants, worshipped at the time of marriage or when entering a new house. Those who have the same devak do not usually intermarry. It is true that Marāthās of the upper class, i.e. Marāthās proper, claim to belong to one of eighty-four families or kuls, and that in their case the kul is more important as regulating intermarriage than the obsolescent or obsolete devak. Yet the survival of these devaks is of no little significance. It seems to lend support to the theory that there are among the Marāthās of all degrees traces of a kindred social organization to that of the Kolīs and other aboriginal units.