Karava Heraldry

The Karavas were the only Sri Lankan community traditionally entitled to use flags. British Government Agents studying Sri Lankan flags during the early 20th century have noted that not a single flag could be found even in the residences of Kandyan chiefs, the Radala nobility of the Kandyan Kingdom, as even they were not entitled to use flags.

A large number of Karava flags have survived the ravages of time and many are illustrated in E. W. Perera’s monumental book titled ‘Sinhalese Banners and Standards’. However despite the extent of the Karava collection of flags, he has scattered the Karava flags throughout the book and not given them a special chapter as they deserve. As such their significance is missed by most readers of his book.

The symbols on Karava flags are the sun, moon, stars, elephant, fish, white shield, pearl umbrella, swords, lotuses, ship etc. all of which were royal symbols in Sri Lanka’s past.

The Sun & Moon

The Sun and Moon sysmbols were the perpetual royal symbols of Sri Lanka.


The Makara
Beknopte History, 1688 describes a white flag charged with a red flag hoisted on royal ships (JRASCB XI No.38 106 & 109). And in the words of Valentine Francois, the 18th century Dutch Historian, “the Karawas displayed a white flag with the device of a particular fish in the centre". This could either refer to one of the many Karava flags with the fish symbol, or to the Makara flag which is widely used in Karava ceremonies. The Makara, is a composite dragon with a curious mythical structure. It symbolizes the house of Capricorn in the Zodiac to which it has given its name Makara in the Hindu calendar. It has the head of a crocodile, horns of a goat, the body of an antelope and a snake, the tail of a fish and feet of a panther. Makara is half animal half fish and it is sometimes described as having the head of an elephant and the body of a fish. It is generally large and regarded as living in the ocean rather than in lakes or streams.

Only Varuna, the spiritual ruler of the world has power over the Makara. It is Varuna’s vehicle in Hindu mythology. As most Karavas in southern Sri Lanka belong to the Karava Varunakulasuriya clan, the symbolism is extremely interesting. In mythology Varuna is the chief of the Adithyas. Remnants of the name Adithya from the medieval period can still be found in Karava family names. As Adithya is a synonym for Suriya (ie. the Sun). the Karava clan Varunakulasuriya too signifies Varuna-Adithya.

The Kokila Sandesha poem from the Kotte period refers to the Makara flag as follows:

Punsanda surindu sanda salakuna adina vara
Ban sonda telitudew tele tudeni mana hara
Min dada jaya virudu nada karana piya kara
An koda mediya tura topa sarivana pavara

The Elephant
The recurrent Elephant symbol may be from the Hastinapura of the Mahabharata (which meant Elephant city). It was the capital of the Kaurava kingdom. The great war narrated in the epic Mahabharata was fought over the throne of this city and most incidents in the epic take place in this city. The Sri Lankan chronical Rajavaliya states that the Elephant flag was prominent in King Mayadunne's son, prince Rajasinghe's battle at Mulleriyawa against the Portuguese.

The tombstone of Patangatim Francisco Piris’ wife from St. Thomas Church, Jinthupitiya illustrated here, shows that the Karava heraldic symbols: Pearl umbrella, Palm tree, caparisoned Elephant and Fish symbol were used even on tombstones (JRASCB XXII 387) See Karava Elephant flags for more

The White shield
The white shields known as sak paliha or conch shields were also important royal symbols in Sri Lanka's history. The Karava ancestral flag illustrated below displays two of them. The sak paliha was a white shield sometimes with the devise of a conch shell emblazoned on it and is referred to frequently as a royal symbol in many ancient Sinhalese texts. According to the Portuguese historian De Couto, it was also used by the king of Jaffna as a royal symbol ( JRASCB XX 187 ).


Usage by kin-groups in India
Across the Palk Strait, the kinsmen of the Karavas too have used similar insignia in the past. H. R. Pate describes a wedding as follows: A peculiar feature of the wedding is the procession to the bride’s house with virudus or banners supposed to be the insignia of the Kingly ancestors of the race. The emblems consist of 21 flags embroidered with representations of various objects, animate and inanimate, such as a Snake, a Peacock, a Palmyra, a Chank, the Sun and Moon an Elephant. A Fish and so on. In addition to these a large Umbrella, a Shield and other trappings are carried. The bridegroom wears a costume called KAPA resembling the state robes of Jathi Thalavi More and white cloths are spread before hi in his path. (Madras District Gazetteer 123 & 124)


The Chandra Kula Maalawa
An old document called the ‘Chandrakula Malawa’ from the Pitigal Korale enumerates the following 21 flags as belonging to the Kurukula (Karava) people. The text is quoted and reproduced in Kurukula Charitaya part II as well as E. W. Perera's Sinhalese Banners and Standards:

• Naga Kodiya (Cobra flag - the Cobra is illustrated on the main Karava flag shown below. The Cobra flag is included among the traditional insignia -illustrated above right - by some Karava communities)
• Kukulu Kodiya (Rooster flag)
• Monara Kodiya (Peacock flag)
• Talgaha bendi Kodiya (Talipot palm flag - see Karawe Arasakularatna flag illustrated below)
• Newa bendi Kodiya ( None have survived except the Arasakularatne flag with a central ship. Also see ship as an ancient royal symbol)
• Hakgediya bendi Kodiya (Chank flag) The Chank is illustrated on the main Karava flag shown below and other flags. The Chank flag is included among the traditional insignia -illustrated above right - by some Karava communities)
• Sippiya Kodiya (Sea shell flag)
• Kotiya bendi Kodiya (Tiger flag - illustrated on right)
• Sinhaya bendi Kodiya (Lion flag)
• Rajaliya bendi Kodiya (Eagle flag)
• Hansaya bendi Kodiya (Swan flag)
• Tanmetta bendi Kodiya (Kettle drum flag)
• Surya Kodiya (Sun flag)
• Chandrabendi Kodiya (Moon flag)
• Etha bendi Kodiya (Elephant flag)
• Gona bendi Kodiya (Bull flag - one of the royal flags of the Jaffna kingdom)
• Makaraya bendi Kodiya (Makara flag)
• Thel Hetta Kodiya (Chain mail flag - illustrated on Puran Appu stamp on right)
• Matsaya Kodiya (Fish flag) The royal fish symbol appears on many karava flags including the Sudu Etha flag, the Maha Kodiya and the Catholic flag. According to the Thisara Sandesha, victorious Min dada had fluttered over the kingdom of Kotte. The Kav Silumina cals them Muvara dada.
• Hanumantha Kodiya (Hanuma flag)
• Girava bendi Kodiya (Parrot flag)

-(E. W. Perera page 34, Kurukula Charitaya II 26)

All these symbols are found on the Karava flags illustrated here and in Kaurava Wansa Kathava of T. S. Dharmabandu.

When the Portuguese arrived in the 16th century, the Rooster Flag was the main flag used by the Karava kings who ruled the important trade port of Galle. Hence the Portuguese name for the port and city, derived from 'Galo' the Portuguese name for 'Rooster'

• Karava Maha Kodiya

   

  

  The ancestral flag of the Karava community from Manampitiya near Polonnaruwa. It displays many of the Karava rpyal insignia including Perl umbrellas (mutu kuda) White shields(sak paliha - white shields emblazoned with conch designs, Sun, moon, stars, yak tail whisks, royal sun shades (alawattam), fish and lighted torches together with Indra, the god of the Kshatriyas. See religious for more on Indra . Click for larger image.

• The White Elephant flag

   

  

  The ancestral White Elephant flag of the Karava community. Click for larger image

  See Karava Elephant flags for details.

   

• A Karava Catholic Flag

   

  

  The Elephant and cross flag of the Karava caste. This Portuguese period flag attempts to combine the Cross with the traditional royal symbols of the Karava including Indra, the traditional god of the Kshatriyas. Click for larger image

  It is extremely interesting that ,during this period , not one, but two ivory caskets sent a few years apart by the Karava king Bhuvanekabahu VII of Kotte to the king of Portugal , have an almost identical elephant with three riders carved on them. (see images on right)

  The above King Bhuvanekabahu VII was one of the three princes who sought refuge with a Karava patabenda during the palace coup of their father king Vijayabáhu VII (AD 1509 -1521)

   

   

   

• A Karava Makara Flag

   

  
  A Centuries old Makara flag of the Karava community. Click for larger image). The Makara symbol is used in ancient Sri Lankan royal architecture - at entrance to royal buildings and in royal arches.

• Another Makara Flag

  
  A 19th century representation of the Karava Makara Flag. See Gallery for zoomable image.

  The image of the mythical creature Makara is extensively used in ancient Sri Lankan royal architecture. This flag is one of the main flags still used by the Karavas at their ceremonies. The Mukkara Hatana, an ola leaf manuscript now in the British Museum states that King Parakramabahu IV granted it to the Karavas

• The Karava Arasakularatne flag

   

  

  The ancestral flag of the Karava Arasakularatne clan from Maggona. Note the central Tree and Ship symbolism. Click for larger image.

   

  

   

  A coin from the ancient Anuradhapura kingdom displaying similar tree symbolism.

  Details from the flag:

  

  
  The white elephant that appears on other Karava banners, bearing a series of flags representative of the many battle flags of the Karavas.
  

  A Karava king under a three tiered white umbrella and flanked by Sun / Moon and bearers of Alavattam (ceremonial shades as on other Karava flags as well) and other Karava royal symbol.

  The flag also illustrates the traditional 'four fold army' of the Kshatriyas consisting of infantry, war chariots, cavalry and elephants.

• The Karava Mihindukulasuriya_Flag

   

  

  .Karave Mihindukulasuriya flag from Chilaw and details from the flag: Click for larger image.

  

  The white elephant that appears on other Karava banners. On this flag, as on the Arcekularatne flag above, it bears a series of flags representative of the many battle flags of the Karavas. The fish bears the three tiered (pearl) white umbrella.

  The flag also illustrates the traditional 'four fold army' of this Kshatriya caste, consisting of infantry, war chariots, cavalry and elephants.

• Karava Garuda flag

  
  The Tamankaduwa Garuda flag of the Karava .

  Verse 151 of the Thisara Sandesha from the Kotte period refers to the Garuda flag as the royal flag of the Kote kingdom

   

• A Karava Lion flag

  
  
  An ancestral Simha (Lion) flag of the Karavas. Also see Karava Singhe dynasty of Jaffna and Lion Myth of Sri lanka

• A Karava Lion Flag from Ratalawewa

   

  
  Another Lion flag of the Karava caste from 'Karava of Ceylon" by M. D. Raghavan, 1961. This is a 'Kesara Simha' flag granted by king Rajasinghe II to the ancestors of the Karava community in Ratalaweva, Matale.

• A Royal battle flag

  
  

  The battle flag of Sri Lanka, captured by the British from Sri Wikrama Rajasinghe’s army. It displays the kettle drum which was beaten before battles and five weapons (panchaudha). In the past, a medallion with panchaudha symbols used to be tied on Karava infants for protection. The practice still survives in rural Sri Lanka and has been now adopted by other communities as well

  .

• Flag of the Karava Adithya clan

  

  The 'pancharanga' flag of the Karava ‘Thakura Arta-deva Adithya’ clan (Lindamulage de Silva family of Moatuwa) . The colors of the stripes are blue, gold, red , white and purple. This flag was made available to the flag committee by Mrs. G. J. R. de Soysa in 1882. Colonel Olcott’s design for the modern Buddhist flag was based on this flag

• A Karava Elephant flag from Ratalawewa

   

  

  Another Karava flag with the recurrent Sun, Moon, Stars and Elephant symbols. From 'Karava of Ceylon" by M. D. Raghavan, 1961

   

• A Karava flag from Manampitiya

   

  
  This Karava flag (click for a larger image) from Manampitiya too has the recurrent Sun, Moon, Stars, fish & elephant symbols of the Karavas. Additionally it has a central image of a deity which closely resembles the goddess Lakshmi coins of ancient Sri Lanka illustrated below:

  

   

• A Karava flag from Manampitiya

   

  
  A Catholic flag found in the ancient Karava flag collection of Manampitiya.

References :

Raghavan M. D. Colombo 1961 Karava of Ceylon, Society & Culture.

JRASCB - The Journal of The Royal Asiatic Society (Ceylon Branch)

Kurukula Charithaya part I 1968 Kurukula Vendar A. S. F. Weerasuriya

Madras District Gazetteer – Tinnevelly Volume I 1917 H. R. Pate

Perera E. W. Sinhalese Banners and Standards 1916

The Ceylon Antiquary and literary Register, July 1921

Wright. Arnold Twentieth Century Impressions of Ceylon : Its History, People, Commerce, Industries and Resources London, 1907

Above: The Karava Sun and Moon Flag symbolising the Solar and Lunar Dynasty origins of the community. This flag is also one of the main flags still used by the Karavas at their ceremonies and is another flag referred to in the Mukkara Hatana as granted to the Karavas by King Parakramabahu IV. However the Mahabharata states that the epic Kauravas from whom the Karavas claim decent used flags with the sun, moon and stars in the great Mahabharata war.

The ancestral royal insignia of the Karava community from a 19th century illustration. In addition to the above some Karava communities include a Cobra and Chank flag.

The funeral procesion of prince Mahasthana (Rajasuriya), son of King Wimaladharmasuriya and Maha Patabendige Dona Catherina, sole heiress of the kingdom of Sri Lanka. 23rd August 1612 (illustration from Baldaeus. Click for larger image). Note the use of flags and other insignia as done by the Karavas todate.

A Patangatim’s wife’s tombstone from the year 1691. It bears the Karava insignia: Pearl umbrella, Palm tree, caparisoned Elephant and Fish symbol. Click for larger image.

A representation of the ancient Karava 'Del Hetta' Kodiya (Chain mail armour flag) used by Veera Puran Appu as his coronation flag.

A 'Kotiya bendi kodiya' from Kandy- One of the Flags listed as ancient Karava flags in the Chandra Kula malawa ola manuscript (See above on left colunm and page 34 of E. W. Perera's Sinhalese Banners and Standards 1916 )

The above King Bhuvanekabahu VII was one of the three princes who sought refuge with a Karava patabenda during the palace coup of their father king Vijayabáhu VII (AD 1509 -1521)

Below:

Some of the flags listed in the Chandrakula Malava ola manuscript as a Karava flag

(See page 34 of E. W. Perera's Sinhalese Banners and Standards 1916 )

A old Hanuman flag from Sri Lanka. The Chandrakula Malava ola manuscript lists the Hanuman flag as a Karava flag. This is different from the flag the Navandanna caste calls it's flag. That flag has Vishwakarma the patron deity of artisans along with Hanuman and also has an anvil, the primary implement of all smiths.

Another Hanuman flag - One of the Flags listed as ancient Karava flags in the Chandra Kula malawa ola manuscript (See above on left colunm and page 34 of E. W. Perera's Sinhalese Banners and Standards 1916 )

A Swan flag- One of the Flags listed as ancient Karava flags in the Chandra Kula malawa ola manuscript (See above on left colunm and page 34 of E. W. Perera's Sinhalese Banners and Standards 1916 ) .

Another Swan flag- One of the Flags listed as ancient Karava flags in the Chandra Kula malawa ola manuscript (See above on left colunm and page 34 of E. W. Perera's Sinhalese Banners and Standards 1916 )

A Garuda Flag- One of the Flags listed as ancient Karava flags in the Chandra Kula malawa ola manuscript (See above on left colunm and page 34 of E. W. Perera's Sinhalese Banners and Standards 1916 )

An old flag with a Lion, Bulls and Parrots

A Peacock flag- One of the Flags listed as ancient Karava flags in the Chandra Kula malawa ola manuscript (See above on left colunm and page 34 of E. W. Perera's Sinhalese Banners and Standards 1916 )

An Eagle flag- One of the Flags listed as ancient Karava flags in the Chandra Kula malawa ola manuscript (See above on left colunm and page 34 of E. W. Perera's Sinhalese Banners and Standards 1916 )

Another Swan flag- One of the Flags listed as ancient Karava flags in the Chandra Kula malawa ola manuscript (See above on left colunm and page 34 of E. W. Perera's Sinhalese Banners and Standards 1916 )

A Rooster flag- One of the Flags listed as ancient Karava flags in the Chandra Kula malawa ola manuscript (See above on left colunm and page 34 of E. W. Perera's Sinhalese Banners and Standards 1916 ) The Rooster flag too apears to have been a battle flag of ancient Sri Lanka as it is the flag of the God of war, Skanda (Lord Murugan) whoes shrines are found in Kataragama in the deep south, Kandy and all over Sri Lanka. The Rooster flag may well have been the flag of the Karava rulers of Galle when Europeans arrived - as the Rooster (Gallo) has given rise to the name Galle and its heraldic emblem. References to 'Kukulu Kodi' are found in old Sri Lankan literature.

Another Leopard flag- One of the Flags listed as ancient Karava flags in the Chandra Kula malawa ola manuscript (See above on left colunm and page 34 of E. W. Perera's Sinhalese Banners and Standards 1916 )

Another old Lion flag- One of the Flags listed as ancient Karava flags in the Chandra Kula malawa ola manuscript (See above on left colunm and page 34 of E. W. Perera's Sinhalese Banners and Standards 1916 )

Be they rich or poor, the Karavas are the only community in Sri Lanka that uses royal insignia (Pearl umbrella known as the Mutu kuda, sword, trident, alawattam emblazoned with the sun and moon, sun & moon flag, makara flag, white foot cloths and lighted candles or traditional flame torches) at their funerals. The funeral procession below shows the contemporary adaptation of the Karawa royal insignia ( note the Sun, Moon and Makara flags) in rural Sri Lanka.