Intermarriages between the Okkas

In Kodava society, Okka exogamy is a fundamental customary principle, whereby marriage within one’s own Okka is traditionally prohibited because all members of an Okka are regarded as descendants of a common ancestor. Beyond this, there are certain pairs or groups of Okkas between which marriages have traditionally been avoided, even though they are distinct clans.

These customary restrictions arose for a variety of historical, social, religious, and genealogical reasons. Some Okkas share a common ancestral origin and later branched into separate lineages. Others became closely related through customs such as Kuthik Nippo or Mannk Nippo, where an individual adopted the identity of another Okka to preserve its lineage. In some instances, Okkas became permanently linked through ceremonial obligations, adoption, shared ancestral property, or longstanding family alliances. Certain restrictions also originated from historical events, vows, or customs that were accepted and preserved by the community over generations.

These traditions were maintained not only to respect established kinship relationships but also to preserve clear genealogical boundaries, uphold customary law, and avoid marriages between families considered to share a close ancestral or social connection. The Aruvas and village elders played an important role in preserving these customs by ensuring that marriages complied with the accepted traditions of the Kodava community.

The following Okkas are traditionally recognised as having such customary restrictions on intermarriage. These customs form an important part of Kodava social history and reflect the community’s long-standing emphasis on lineage, kinship, and the preservation of ancestral relationships.

Allapanda – Mukkatira (Kedamullur)

Aiyaneravanda – Kottrangada

Alamengada – Mapangada

Ballachanda – Iychettira

• • Utha Nayaka of Beppunad (who was given King Dodda Virappa’s daughter Neelammaji in marriage) set fire to the Ichettira ainmane because of enmity. Two infants of the Ichettira okka were saved by servants and taken to the Ballachanda house where they were brought up. They revived the Ichettira okka, since the ancestors of the Ichettira okka and of the Ballachanda okka were like brothers. Therefore, there are no intermarriages between these two Okkas.

Battiyanda – Cheyyanda

Battakalanda – Elthanda

Biddanda – Kadira

• one Biddanda lady was married to Kadira ooka and her husband died there and Biddanda ajja adopted her family so from then no intermarriage,

Boppanda – Kullettira

• Kulletira, Ammanḍa and Boppanḍa ajjas were great friends and would sometimes stay in the Kulletira house. Once, in a mad frenzy, Kulletira Ponnaṇṇa ajja killed Boppanḍa Kuttannajja (son of karaṇava Uthayya). Kuttannajja became a kuḍi beera.

Buttianda – Kambeeranda

Berera – Mundachadira

Berera – Cholanda

Berera – Bairetira

Chenanda – Palanganda

• When the members of the Palanganda okka in Kirndad  were killed by the Raja, only one pregnant woman who was not in the ainmane survived. Chenanda Madayya kuthik nindiya (makka paraje) and their children revived the Palanganda okka. Palanganda people join during festivals celebrated here The Palanganda in Kirndad (they have no ainmane now, only kaimada) therefore have two Karanavas, one is Chenanda and the other is Palanganda. For this reason, there are no intermarriages between Chenanda and Palanganda Okka.

Chowrira – Kongettira

Codanda – Mathanda

• Subedar Codanda Madiah’s brother Appayya was an able man with long arms extending upto his knees. He was a “Khasa Munshi ” with very good knowledge. Wicked neighbours,jealous of his position decoyed him to Beerangolly Forest in Thomara on a plea of hunting and killed him. The relatives of the dead man resorted to cursing the ones who took for hunting and swore that none of the family memebers  from Codanda Okka will have social connection with them for ever

Codanda – Ballachanda

• Subedar Codanda Madiah’s brother Appayya was an able man with long arms extending upto his knees. He was a “Khasa Munshi ” with very good knowledge. Wicked neighbours,jealous of his position decoyed him to Beerangolly Forest in Thomara on a plea of hunting and killed him. The relatives of the dead man resorted to cursing the ones who took for hunting and swore that none of the family memebers  from Codanda Okka will have social connection with them for ever

Iychettira – Bachettira

• For some reasons, the Paleyagaras burnt the thatched ainmane of Bachettira Okka which was in Kadanga Murur. Everyone was killed in this incident except one ajja who had gone for hunting. To take revenge, this ajja killed 8 of the Nayaka’s Okka, but later he was killed in the encounter. Only one girl from the Okka who was married to Iychettira Okka came back to her son and started this Okka again. Hence there is no intermarriage between Bachettira and Iychettira Okkas.

Iychettira – Ballachanda

• Utha Nayaka of Beppunad (who was given King Dodda Virappa’s daughter Neelammaji in marriage) set fire to the Ichettira ainmane because of enmity. Two infants of the Ichettira okka were saved by servants and taken to the Ballachanda house where they were brought up. They revived the Ichettira okka, since the ancestors of the Ichettira okka and of the Ballachanda okka were like brothers. Therefore, there are no intermarriages between these two Okkas.

Jammada –Muruvanda 

• All the men in the Okka were captured and killed by Tipu’s Sodiers. The only male left in the Okka died by a tiger attack when he had gone to cut both for Kavery Sankramana. His last daughter was married to a Muruvanda man who adopted the Jammada manepedha following the custom of okka paraje and continued this Okka. Therefore there is no intermarriage between Jammada and Muruvanda Okkas.

Karthanda – Meriyanda 

• When Karthanda Okka was becoming extict, Merriyanda Bheemaiah married the last Karthanda girl and became Mannk Nindiya for this Okka. His son Nanjunda had seven sons and four daughters who were bought up by Meriyanda Okka. Hence there are no intermarriages between these two Okkas

Ketolira- Bachamanda

Kookanda – Madrira

Madrira – Maneyapanda

Mallangada – Chepudira

Mandepanda – Kopuda 

• A man from Porimanda family married a lady from Mandepanda okka.They had only one daughter named somavva who later on became the Karanachi of Mandepanda okka. She was married to Kopuda Belliappa. She gave birth to three children and became a widow. Later somavva returned to Mandepanda land, her mother’s house was destroyed. so she became a foster daughter to Mandepanda Muthanna.  Muthanna died as a bachelor and later muthanna’s brother subbaiah gave a portion of land and helped them to build a house. Hence there are no intermarriage between Mandepanda and Kopuda Okka

Mukkatira (Kunjalgeri) – Paradanda 

Mundachadira – Cholanda

Nambudumada – Kanjithanda

Puttichanda – Kodira

Pattada – Achappanḍa

Udiyanda – Kandanda

Kuttanda (Kavadi) & Baduvamanda

Karineravanḍa & Pattacheravanḍa