Charodi (community)

Charodi, also referred to as Mestha(Mesta), Achari, Konkani Achari, Khandekar, or Nayak, is a community from Karnataka state in India.[1][2]

There is no caste called as Charodi in Hindu religion. They are believed to have migrated from Goa in four boats ('char' means four and 'hodi' means boat) which landed in four different places of Karnataka. Charodis were initially known as "Mestha" and after migration, they changed their names based on the location they landed. They are usually called Achari or Charodi in North Karnataka and Nayak or Mestha in South Karnataka.[3] They as per their tales, they migrated from Goa via a sea route to coastal Karnataka.[1][3]

During the British Raj they were included among the "Denotified Tribes" of India.[4] Their traditional work is carpentry.[1][3] They are included in other backward class communities of Karnataka in post-independent India.[4][5]

They are generally followers of Sringeri Matha.[3] They are also worshippers of Shiva, which is locally also known as Ravalnath. Charodi Mestha Samaj had their own temples in Goa, Mangalore, Kundapur, Gangolli, Shiroor, Honnavar, Sirsi, Karwar, Sagar and Shimoga.

References
  1. Karnataka by Kumar Suresh Singh, B. G. Halbar. Anthropological Survey of India. 2003. pp. 384–389. ISBN 9788185938981.
  2. Identity, ecology, social organization, economy, linkages and development process: a quantitative profile by Kumar Suresh Singh. Anthropological Survey of India. 1996. p. 113,144. ISBN 978-0-19-563353-5.
  3. Karnataka State gazetteer, Volume 13. Printed by the Director of Print, Stationery and Publications at the Govt. Press. 1973. p. 101.
  4. A socio-history of ex-criminal communities OBCs by Shyam Singh Shashi, P. S. Varma. Sundeep Prakashan. 1991. p. 188. ISBN 9788185067698.
  5. "Central list of OBCs for the state of Karnataka"
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