Sourashtram (or Su Rashtram), meaning "good kingdom", was one of the largest kingdoms ruled by King
Souraseni in ancient India. Sourashtrians migrated from Sourashtram and thus got the name
Sourashtras. In present-day India, Sourashtras lived in Somnath in Gujarat before their migration.
Sourashtras are experts in silk weaving. Hence, many kings invited Sourashtrians to settle in their
territories for their silk weaving skills. Their silk garments were used to adorn the deities in
temples also.
Sourashtrians migrated from Somnath to Devagiri in Maharashtra in 1024 CE (Common Era) due to Mughal
invasaion. In 1312 CE, they migrated to Vijayanagaram in Andhra pradesh to escape from Malik Kafur's
invasion.
Around 1532 CE, Govinda Dikshtidar, a minister of the King Sevappa Nayak, took a large number of
Sourashtrians to Tanjore. Around 1650 CE, King Thirumalai Nayak, invited the Sourashtrians to
Madurai and helped them settle there.
King Serpathi of Ramanathapuram invited the Sourashtrians and helped them settle in Paramakudi.
The Travancore king also invited Sourashtrians and helped them settle around Ariyankavu in Kerala.
Click here to know more about Sourashtrians History
Sourashtrians live in Tamilnadu, Karnataka and Andhra.
In Tamilndau, most Sourashtrians live in Madurai. Sourashtrians also live in Paramakudi, Emaneshwaram,
Tirunelveli, Veeravanallur, Kottaru, Ariyankavu, Dindigul, Trichy, Tanjore, Kumbakonam, Thirubuvanam,
Coimbatore, Salem, Arni, Arcot and Chennai.
The population of Sourashtra living in the Madras presidency is nearly estimated to 104,000 in 1891.
(Reference : A history of Sourashtras in Sourthern India - By Graves Cookson & Co., 1891)
Although there are no official records, the population of Sourashtrians in Madurai may be between
350,000 and 400,000. The total Sourashtrians in Tamilnadu may be 800,000 plus.
The year Sourashtrians migrated to Vijyanagaram, i.e, 1312 CE, is marked as Sourashtra Vijayaptham.
One of the meanings of "aaptha" (आप्त) in Sanskrit is "reaching to". Thus, Sourashtra Vijayaptham
can be loosely translated as "Arrival of Sourashtrians in Vijayanagaram". Sourashtra Vijayaptham
can also be translated as the "Beginning of the Victory of the Sourashtrians" upon reaching
Vijayanagaram. As of 2023, it has been 711 years since Sourashtra Vijayaptham began. This
Sourashtra Vijayaptham year is still referred in every Sourashtra Marriage invitation.
Sourashtra is not a caste. Sourashtra is a race similar to Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannadam, Thulu etc.,.
The Sourashtras, like other races, are divided into four divisions, viz., Brahmana, Kshatriya,
Vaisya and Sudras. The Vaisyas and Sudras are to be found in almost all towns and villages, especially
at Arni, Kottar, Palani, Palayamkottah, Vilangudi and Veeravanallur. (Reference : Page 15 - A history of
Sourashtras in Sourthern India - By Graves Cookson & Co., 1891).
While Brahmins, Vaisyas and Sudras were migrating, the Kshatriyas stayed at Somanath to fight against
the Mughal invasion.
According to Mandsaur Pillar inscriptions, in CE 473 the Sun temple built by silk weavers was renovated
by king Bandhuvarman who ruled Dasapura. From this we can understand that Sourashtrians are Sun
worshippers. Even today many Sourashtrians can be seen worshiping the Sun in the morning.
Sourashtras religion is Hinduism and they are originally Madhvas. However, after settling down in
Tamilnadu, they were converted into Saivaites and Vaishnavaites. (Reference : Page 13 - A history of
Sourashtras in Sourthern India - By Graves Cookson & Co., 1891).
Most Sourashtras in Madurai are actually Brahmins. In CE 1705, Josyam Vengatarangaiyer, an officer of
the Nayakkar palace, arrested 18 Sourashtras who were renewing the sacred thread (Poonool) on Avani
avittam, on the grounds that Sourashtras had no rights to follow Brahmin rituals.
The 18 Sourashtras were summoned in a religious council in Srirangam Temple where they explained about
their Vedas, Smrithis, Varnashrams and Sasthras they follow. Based on the council's recommendations,
Rani Mangamma, issued a Jaya Pathrika (a decree or an order) that Sourashtras could follow the rituals
of Brahmins.
Even today, Sourashrians can be seen renewing Poonool (Jenjem in Sourashtra) on Avani avittam. They
celebrate this day, called Sounaal in Sourashtra, in a grand manner. They perform this rituals at
common places like Sourashtra School, Obula Padiththurai (Vaigai river bank) etc.,
In every Sourashtra Marriage invitation, Sourashtrians refer to themselves as either Iyer (Shaivist) or
Iyengar (Vaishnavite). It is very unfortunate that they have lost their traditions over centuries and
do not realize themselves as Brahmins.
Yes. Starting from Agasthya to Srivathsa, Sourashtras have a total of 64 Gothras. All Sourashtrians fall
under one of these 64 Gothras. They also have Pravarars. They also have House name (Gheru naav). Their
house name is derived based on their occupations. Sounaga gothra has highest number 99 house names.
Sourashtras do not marry within the same Gothra to avoid genetic disorders. Click here to know more
about
Refer point 43 to 51 of Sourashtrians History
Bhaulas or Bhoguluvas means briefing one's lineage. It is a centuries-old tradition followed in the
Sourashtra engagement ceremony. During this ritual, first the groom's side narrate their history starting from
Somnath in Sourashram to their present location. They describe the places where they lived like Nagara,
Devagiri, Somapuri and Vijayanagaram. They also narrate about the Gothram they belong to.
After groom's side finishes, the bride's side will begin their narration. The relatives gathered around
will say "Bhala" meaning "Ok, good", for evey statement.
If even after 1000 years of migration, Sourashtrians are able to remember their origin, it is because
of this Bhaulas ritual only.
Click here and
refer point 16 to 29 to know more about Bhaulas.
Sourashtras have been living in Tamil Nadu for centuries. Hence, Rice is the staple food of most Sourashtrians.
It is generally eaten during lunch. Instead of Sambar, Sourashtrians use their traditional stew Amti / Avunty /
Gojju. Miri kolkar (Pepper gravy) and Losanu kolkar (Garlic gravy) are used occasionally in place of Amti / Gojju.
Baltinu kolkar is a special garlic gravy made for postnatal mothers.
Bhajji char, made from spinach, is a special Sourashtrian gravy used in place of Sambar. Thakkali Char (Tomato
stew) and Nalar dood (Coconut stew) also frequently used.
Sourashtrians love to eat variety rice such as Tamarind rice, Tomato rice, Lemon rice etc.,. Most Sourashtrians
love Ambat Bhaath or the Tamarind rice with boiled chovlo (red cowpea) as side dish. Sourashtrians are also
known for the Thoop Pongal (Ghee Pongal). They also cook Dhaura Pongal (Temple pongal) on special occasions.
Idli with Thakkali Amti (Tamarind gravy) is a popular breakfast for Sourashtrians. But when variety rice is
cooked, it is eaten both for breakfast and lunch. Pangara pan bhairi (a small poori made from Indian Coral
spinach) and Dholo (rice dumplings) are Sourashtrians popular snacks.
The ingredients of Amti / Kolkar powder are urad, dhania, turmeric, fenugreek and red chillies. Hence, it is very
nutritious. The ingradients of Amti powder are dried in hot sun and roased for long shelf life.
The answer is No.
Gujarathi is considered relatively young, given that its origins can be traced to as late as the 12th
century C.E. But, Sourashtra can be traced back to 5th Century. Sourashtrians cannot understand Gujarathi.
For instance, "shum bhaav?" in Gujarathi means "what is the price?" which is "kaai mol?" in Sourashtra.
So, Both are different languages that are not closely related to each other.
However, since Sourashtrians lived in Maharashtra for 300+ years and Andhra for 300+ years, the current
Sourashtra language has many Marathi and Telugu words.
Few examples, Onion is "kando" in Sourashtra and "kaandaa" in Marathi. Sand is "vaLu" in Sourashtra,
"vaaLu" in Marathi. Eye is "doLo" in Sourashtra and "DoLaa" in Marathi, "Knot" is "gaaT" in Sourashtra
& Marathi. Similarly, "pilla" (child), "addam" (mirror), "aDDam" (across), "kundelu" (rabbit) etc., are
few Telugu words in Sourashtra.
These words are so blended that most Sourashtrians are not even aware of it.
Yes. Sourashtra language has its own script. Many people think that Sourashtra is only a spoken language
but but no written language. It is not correct. Sri. Tho.Mu. Ramarai created the script for Sourashtra
Language way back in 1900. Hence, Sourashtra script is called "Ramarai script" after his name.
There are lot of texts available in Ramarai scripts. Very few people know how to read and write Ramarai
script.
Now, Sourashtra Ramarai script is also available on computers in unicode font called "Saurashtra".
Sourashtra has a ISO 639-3 language code saz and Unicode range U+A880 to U+A8DF.
All modern browsers and mobile phones support Sourashtra font.
Click here to know more about Sourashtra Script
Ramarai script or Sourashtra script is mostly taught privately by Sourashtra volunteers. Summer camps are
conducted every year in many places like Madurai, Coimbatore, Tanjore, Tiruchy, Thirubvanam where Sourashtra
script is taught. Sourashtrians, especially school children, participate enthusiastically and get themselves
certified in reading and writing Sourashtra scripts.
For Sourashtra script online courses, click here and select the menu "Online Course".
dhannu in Sourashtra means "Thanks" or "Thank you" and
jhukku dhannu means "Thanks a lot" or "Thank you so much".
mindin mellaththe means "Saying thanks" and
thungo more mindin means "My thanks to you" .
For more Sourashtra sentences click here
siyen in Sourashtra means "See you" and
avus / avuya / jeeli avus means "Bye" or "Bye Bye" or "Good bye".
For more Sourashtra sentences click here
namaskaar in Sourashtra means "Hello".
soLaphaar namaskaar in Sourashtra means "Good morning".
dhuvaar namaskaar in Sourashtra means "Good afternoon".
veeL namaskaar in Sourashtra means "Good evening" and
raath namaskaar in Sourashtra means "Good night".
For more Sourashtra sentences click here
naav kaayo in Sourashtra means, "What is the name?".
thore naav kaayo in Sourashtra means, "What is your name?" and
thure naav kaayo means to ask someone respectfully "What is your name?"
For more Sourashtra sentences click here
thogo kaai paje or simply kaai paje in Sourashtra means, "What do you want?" and
thungo kaai paje in Sourashtra means to ask someone respectfully "What do you want?"
For more Sourashtra sentences click here
thu kOn? in Sourashtra means "Who are you?" and
thumi kOn? in Sourashtra means to ask someone respectfully "Who are you?".
For more Sourashtra sentences click here
In Sourashtra, kOno se? or sauryam ya? or kOnak sauryam ya? all literally means
"How are you?".
For more Sourashtra sentences click here
kaai kerariyo? in Sourashtra means to ask a boy or man "What are you doing?",
kaai kerarithe? means to ask a girl or woman "What are you doing?" and
kaai kerariyo? is also used to ask someone respectfully "What are you doing?"
For more Sourashtra sentences click here
khayesya? in Sourashtra means to ask a boy or man "Did you eat?" or "Have you eaten?",
khayisya? means to ask a girl or woman "Did you eat?" or "Have you eaten?" and
khayaasya? means to ask someone respectfully "Did you eat?" or "Have you eaten?"
kaai khayeyo? in Sourashtra means to ask a boy or man "What did you eat?" and
kaai khayiththe? means to ask a girl or woman "What did you eat?"
kaai khaariyo? in Sourashtra means to ask a boy or man "What are you eating?" and
kaai khariththe? means to ask a girl or woman "What are you eating?"
For more Sourashtra sentences click here
mii thogo praama poDaras in Sourashtra means a boy or man saying "I love you" and
mii thungo praama poDaris means a girl or woman saying "I love you" .
For more Sourashtra sentences click here
mogo thogo opparas in Sourashtra means "I like you" and
mogo thogo jhukku opparas means "I like you very much"
For more Sourashtra sentences click here
mogo thogo opparani means "I do not like you"
mii thogo rosaras in Sourashtra means, a boy or man saying "I hate you" and
mii thogo rosaris means, a girl or woman saying "I hate you"
For more Sourashtra sentences click here
more premi in Sourashtra means "My sweet heart" or "My Lover" or "My Darling",
more praama bedko means my "My boyfriend" or "My Lover" and
more praama bedki means my "My girlfriend" or "My Lover"
For more Sourashtra sentences click here
mogo horaaD kerlai ya? in Sourashtra means "Will you marry me?".
For more Sourashtra sentences click here
nandinun in Sourashtra means "Wishes" or "Congratulations".
sonthOsh hoye ujje dinnu nandinun means "Happy birthday wishes".
sonthOsh hoye saTvan ujje dinnu nandinun means "Happy 60th birthday wishes".
sonthOsh hoye divaLi nandinun means "Happy Diwali wishes".
sonthOsh hoye horaaDu dinnu nandinun means "Happy wedding anniversary wishes".
ture padavi unnathik nandinun means "Congratulations on your promotion".
For more Sourashtra sentences click here
mogo konni kaLaanaa in Sourashtra means, "I do not know anything".
thogo konni kaLaanaa means, "You do not know anything".
thungo konni kaLaanaa means telling someone respectfully, "You do not know anything".
avngo konni kaLaanaa means "We do not know anything".
thego konni kaLaanaa means "He / She does not know anything".
For more Sourashtra sentences click here
mogo konni kaLaarani in Sourashtra means, "I do not understand anything".
thogo konni kaLaarani in means, "You do not understand anything".
thungo konni kaLaarani means telling someone respectfully, "You do not understand anything".
avngo konni kaLaarani means "We do not understand anything".
thego konni kaLaarani means "He (She) does not understand anything".
For more Sourashtra sentences click here
chokkad in Sourashtra means " Good".
chokkad sE in Sourashtra means " It is good".
chokkad geeth means "Good song".
bheLi chokkad or jhugu chokkad means "Very good" and
bheLi chokkad sE or jhugu chokkad sE in means "It is very good".
For more Sourashtra sentences click here
bheLi shrEsTu or jhugu shrEsTu in Sourashtra means "Very nice".
bheLi shrEsTukan sE or jhugu shrEsTukan sE means "It is very nice" and
shrEsTukan ivar keryaas means "Nicely explained".
For more Sourashtra sentences click here
pisaveLu in Sourashtra means "Mad" or "Lunatic" or "Insane" or "Crazy".
jaara pisa in Sourashtra means saying a boy or man, "Go away, you madman" and
jaava pisi in Sourashtra means saying a girl or woman, "Go away, you madwoman".
For more Sourashtra sentences click here
duhkhu poDatte in Sourashtra means "Sorry" or "Feeling sorry" or "Feeling remorse".
vichaar poDatte also means "Sorry" or "Feeling sorry" or "Feeling remorse".
mii jhukku duhkhu poDaras in Sourashtra means a boy or man saying "I am very sorry ".
mii jhukku vichaar poDaras in Sourashtra means a boy or man saying "I am very sorry ".
mii jhukku duhkhu poDaris in Sourashtra means a girl or woman saying "I am very sorry ".
mii jhukku vichaar poDaris in Sourashtra means a girl or woman saying "I am very sorry ".
For more Sourashtra sentences click here
kshamo or savan in Sourashtra means "Forgiveness".
kshamo keraththe or savan keraththe in Sourashtra means "To Forgive".
kshamo kEruvo in Sourashtra means "Excuse me" or "Forgive me" or "Pardon me".
For more Sourashtra sentences click here
maap in Sourashtra means "Apology".
more maap in Sourashtra means "My apology".
thure visEshuk avnaththego more maapun means "My apologies for not attending your party".
maap magaththe in Sourashtra means "I apologize" or "I apologise".
chaleththego mii maap magaras means a boy or man saying "I apologize for what happened".
chaleththego mii maap magaris means a girl or woman saying "I apologise for what happened".
maap maai in Sourashtra means "Apologize to me".
more joval maap maai also means "Apologize to me".
thego joval maap maai means "Apologize to him" or "Apologize to her".
maap kEruvo in Sourashtra means "Forgive" or "Condone".
mogo maap kEruvo means "Forgive me" or "Condone me"
For more Sourashtra sentences click here
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