Siddh Samaj

A group of Siddh fire dancers. Image Credit: Sourabh Gaur

The Siddhs are a group of devotees of the saint Jasnathji who is the founder of a religious sect known as Jasnathi sampradai. The Siddh trace their ancestry back to his disciples who were mainly the Jats. It said that the Jat Chaudhuri of the village Katriastar in Marwar was not blessed with a child and so he undertook austere worship of Lord Siva. Being pleased with his tapasya Siva himself took birth as his son. The son Jasnathji, underwent tapasya and founded his own religious sect. He got disciples from the Jats who being followers of a stddh (one who attained divine grace), became known as Siddh. In course of time they became a closed endogamous community. They are distributed in the districts of Bikaner, Jodhpur, Churu, Ganganagar and Banner. They speak in Marwari with their kin and local people. They also speak in Hindi and use the Devnagari script. A Siddh man can be identified by his typical saffron coloured turban. The Siddh are purely vegetarian. Their staple cereals are bajri and wheat. Among the pulses moth, moony and chana are commonly taken. Lineseed oil and mustard oil are used in cooking. Vegetable consumption among the Siddh is moderate. Fruits are consumed only occasionally. They take milk and milk-products. Tea is a regular feature. Alcoholic drink is prohibited among them. In festivals they take rice and various sweet dishes. The Siddh are divided into a number of gotras. Some common gotras are Kokna, Godara, Jani, Manda, Jakhar, Satn, Maiya, Bhadu, Sau, Kalwania, Baniara, Shihag, Mari, etc. Gotras are strictly exogamous and all equal in social status. They being a religious community perceive themselves in a position something beyond the social hierarchy. Others put them in middle order in the local social hierarchy. Community endogamy and gotra exogamy are the rule followed in marital alliances. Child marriage is followed by gaona. Marriage by negotiation is the only mode of acquiring a mate. Monogamy is prevalent but polygyny is also permissible. Sindur (vermilion) and churia (bangles) are the marriage symbols for a woman. Dahej (dowry) is paid both in cash and in kind. Rule of residence after marriage is patrilocal. Dissolution of marriage is permissible. It happens only if the wife is found involved in adultery or any physical disability is reported afterwards. Woman have no right to divorce. Remarriage of a woman whether deserted or widowed is allowed. Marriage with detail rituals takes place in case of first marriage of a girl only. The common type of family among the Siddh is a joint one. Avoidance relationship exists between brother-in-law and sister-in-law and also between father-in-law and daughter-in-law. Property is inherited in the male line and male equigeniture is in practice. Succession is from father to the eldest son. Inter-family linkage are maintained in various social and religious occasions. Now-a-days nuclear families show an increase. Among the Siddh, women do not inherit their paternal property. They participate in agricultural operations in their own farm but do not hire their labour out on wage. Bringing potable water is a job of womenfolk. Besides, they are expected to do all the household work. In family as well as in society women are subordinate to men. The first delivery takes place in pryer (girl's father's place). Post-delivery pollution is observed for one month. During the pollution period the mother is not allowed to do physical labour and is confined to a room. Pollution ends with the worship of Sun. Naming ceremony is observed on tenth, fifteenth or on twenty seventh day. A pandit (Brahman) perform hawan (sacrificial fire) and name is selected on the basis of rashi (zodiac). Jarula (mundan ceremony) is done to the child irrespective of its sex. Sag ai (engagement) is observed at bride's place. Girl's father formally gives a coconut to the boy's father and his acceptance of it means the finalization of the alliance. On the day before marriage piti, the ceremony of besmearing of the bride and the groom with the paste of turmeric is observed. Marriage is solemnized at bride's place. The bride and the groom circumambulate the sacrificial fire for seven times. Phera is followed by kanyadan. A feast is arranged. Next day groom returns with his wife. Suhagraat (nuptial ceremony) is observed at groom's place on the second day. The Siddh bury their dead. They carry the corpse on a piece of cloth instead of a bier. The four corners of which are held by four persons called Jarga Jholi. The corpse is laid in the grave with its head to the north and feet towards the south. Death pollution is observed for twelve days.

Excerpt from People of India: Rajasthan by K. S. Singh