252 MAHARASHTRA : LAND AND ITS PEOPLE

different family and hence has to respect Vansa (Nananda), her

husband’s sister. In Maharashtra, Vansa-Vahini relation has hardly
remained congenial. On the contrary it is vice-versa.
In Maharashtra, Kinship terms are bi-sexual, masculine and
feminine. For example, Mavasbhau and Mavasbahin (maternal
brother-sister), Putanya-Putani (Nephew-Neice), Bhatija-Bhatiji
(Hindi impact), Sala-Sali (Hindi Impact), etc. From the list, some
Marathi Kinship terms look different and peculiar. Mother’s home
i.e. Maher is similar to Maika (Hindi belt) and Mothers Father’s Home
is known as Aajol similarly Sasar is called for home of husband after
marriage. Maherwasin and Sasurvasin used for the same girl because
she goes to her husband’s home after marriage and becomes member
of that home only.
From the composite point of view Maharashtra still cherishes to
have joint family system. The relations among the families are
identified from two to three generations, and keep each other closer
contact among them. The families keep on conginial relation with
distant relatives— ‘ Sage’ (who are not joined by marital relation) and
immediate relatives — ‘ Soyare’ (who are joined by relation), on
occasions of ritual ceremonies and in difficulty all these extend a
helping hand to each other.
APPENDIX*
Marathi Kinship Terms
The kinship terminology is arranged as follows. First, general terms
indicative of the family as a whole and its different groups of relations
are given. Then follows a list of individual terms of reference and
address which is arranged into blood relations and relations by
marriage by generations.
(A) General.
Family: Ghar, Gharane, Kutumba, Kula, Vamsha. All these are
derived from Sanskrit and have slightly different meanings.
Ghar: (Sans. Griha)-a house, used for the family in certain expression
e.g. Amche Ghar basale—our family in certain expression e.g. Amche
Ghar basale—our family came into dire want.
Gharane: derived from above used for a family with its extension
in time and into several branches generally patrilineally. The word is
also used for a definite line of teachers and pupils especially for vocal
music with peculiarities of that particular “house of music”.
Kutumba: (Sans. Kutumba does not appear to be originally Sanskrit).
Most often used for a family joint or non-joint living under one roof
but is also used for a whole patrlineage, e.g. Karve Kutumba may mean
a big extended family called Karve or it may mean one small unit
living together.
* This Appendix is reproduced from Iravati Karve, Maharasthra : Land and Its People, Bombay,
1968, p. 177-181.
 MARRIAGE, FAMILY AND KINSHIP 253

Kula or Kuli : (Sans. Kula) is used for one paternal branch. The words
donhi kuli (both lineages) are often used ot refer to (a) paternal and
maternal lineage or (b) husband’s lineage and father’s lineage. Then
word Kuli is used among many castes to indicate a patrilineal mostly
totemic exogamic division of a caste. Kulachar (Sans. Kula achara)
are special religious performances of a patrilineage.
Vamsha : (Sans. Vamsha). A patrilineage loosely, The word is not
as freqently used as the others though it is not rare.
Relations by blood : bhau-band or Bhavaki (Sanskrit : Bhratru-brother).
These are only male relations belonging to one’s partrilineage.
Relations by marriages: Soyare (singular Soyara), Pavane (singular
Pavana), Sans, Svashuraka belonging to father-in-law’s house and
Praghurnaka a late word meaning ‘guest’). These words are also used
for male persons and families related by marriage.
Woman or women born in a house, ‘daughters’ of the house :
Maherwashin (singular) Maherwashini (plural). San. Matru-mother,
grisha-house, living in mother’s house.
Women or women married into the house, “brides” of the family :
Sasurwashin (Sans. from Svashur-father-in-law) living at the house
of father-in-law.
A generation : Pidhi.
Upper generation : Varachi pidhi.
Lower generation : Khalchi pidhi.
Step-father : Savatra Bapa.
Step-mother : Savatra Ai or Mawashi.
Any relation by blood or by marriage, if it is a relation of such a
type can be expressed by the term Savatra prefixed to it, e.g., Savatra
Suna-step-daughter-in-law, Savatra mama-mother’s step-brother etc.
A particular distant relation by marriage is expressed accurately
by suffixing the terms for marital relations to terms for blood relations
e.g., Mame-Sasu=husband’s mother’s brother’s wife. Ate-jau=husband’s
father’s sister’s son’s wife etc.
(B) Blood relations.
Above father’s generation :
Terms of reference Terms of address
1. Father’s father . . Aba, Thorla Bap . . Ajoba,
2. Father’s father’s father . . Panja ..
3. Mother’s father . . Aja . . Ajoba,
254 MAHARASHTRA : LAND AND ITS PEOPLE

4. Mother’s father’s father. . Panja . . Ajoba

5. Father of 2 and 4 . . Nipanja, Khaperpanja
6. Wife of 2 . . Aji, Thorli Ai . . Aji.
7. Wife of mother’s father . . Aji . . Aji.
8. Wife of 2 and 4 . . Panji ..
9. Wife of 5 . . Nipanji, Khaperpanji
Father’s generation
10. Father . . Bapa, Bapu (Archaic) Baba
11. Mother . . Aai . . Aai
12. Father’s brother . . Chulta, Kaka . . Kaka
Elder . . Thorla chulta-ba . . Kaka
Younger . . Dhakta chulta-ba . . Kaka
13. Mother’s brother . . Mama . . Mama-Mavla
14. Father’s sister . . Atya-Mavlan . . Atya-Atyabai
15. Mother’s sister . . Mawashi, Mausi . . Mawashi
Ego’s generation
16. Brother . . Bhau . . Bhau
Elder . . Thorla Bhau . . Dada etc.
Younger . . Dhakta Bhau . . Bapu etc.
17. Sister . . Bahina .. ..
Elder . . Thorli Bahina . . Akka, Tai
Younger . . Dhakti Bahina . . Mai
18. Father’s brother’s son . . Chulata Bhau .. ..
19. Father’s brother’s . . Chulata Bahina .. ..
daughter
20. Mother’s brother’s son . . Mame Bhau, .. ..
Mehuna (rare)
21. Mother’s brother’s . . Mame Bahin, .. ..
daughter Mehuni (rare) .. ..
22. Father’s sister’s son . . Ate Bhau, .. ..
Mehuna (rare)
23. Father’s sister’s . . Ate Bahin, .. ..
daughter Mehuni (rare)
24. Mother’s sister’s son . . Mawas Bhau .. ..
25. Mother’s sister’s . . Mawas Bahin .. ..
daughter
 MARRIAGE, FAMILY AND KINSHIP 255

Children’s generation
26. Son . . Lake, Lyoka, Mulga, Puta
Elder . . Thorla ’’ Name not used in
olden days.
Younger . . Dhakta ... ’’ ...
27. Brother’s son . . Putanya, Lyoka .. ...
(man speaking)
28. Brother’s son . . Bhacha .. ...
(woman speaking)
29. Sister’s son . . Bhacha .. ...
(man speaking)
30. Sister’s son . . Lyoka, Put, .. ...
(woman speaking) Bhacha (rare)
31 Brother’s daughter . . Putani, Dhvadi
(man speaking)
32. Brother’s daughter . . Bhachi .. ...
(woman speaking)
33. Sister’s daughter . . Bhachi .. ...
(man speaking)
34. Sister’s daughter . . Lek .. ...
(woman speaking)
Children’s children as below
35. Son’s son . . Natu .. ...
36. Daughter’s son . . Natu .. ...
37. Son of 35 . . Panatu .. ...
38. Son of 36 . . Panatu .. ...
39. Son’s daughter . . Nata .. ...
40. Daughter’s daughter . . Nata ..
41. Daughter of 39 . . Panati .. ...
42. Daughter of 40 . . Panati .. ...
43. Son of son’s son’s son . . Nipanati, .. ...
Khaparpanati
44. Son of daughter’s . . Nipanati, .. ...
daughter’s daughter Khaparpanati
45. Daughter of son’s son’s . . Nipantu,
son Khaparpanatu
256 MAHARASHTRA : LAND AND ITS PEOPLE

46. Daughter of daughter’s . . Nipanti,

daughter’s daughter Khaparpanati
Relations by marriage Above ego’s generation
Father’s brother’s wife . . Chulati . . Kaku, Kaki
Mother’s brother’s Wife . . Mami, Mavlan, Mami
Father’s sister’s husband . . Mawla (among some castes)
Mother’s sisters husband . . Mausa
Husband’s father . . Sasra, Mamanji, Mavla . . .
Husband’s mother . . Sasu, Mawlan, Mami . . .
Wife’s father . . Sasra, Mama ...
Wife’s mother . . Sasu, Mami ...
Husband’s father’s . . Aje Sasra ...
Wife’s father .. Sasara ...
Husband’s father’s . . Aje Sasara ...
Wife’s mother .. Sasu ...
Ego’s generation
Sister’s husband . . Mehuna
Brother’s wife . . Bhavjaya
Elder brother’s wife . . Vahini
Younger brother’s wife . . Name plus vahini
Co-wife . . Savata, Bahina (Sometimes)
Husband . . Navra, Pati, Ghardhani (Karbhari in
some castes).
Groom . . Navra-mulga, vara
Wife . . Bayako, Ghardhanin
Bride . . Navari-mulgi, vadhu
Husband’s brother . . Dir . . Bhauji, Daji
Elder . . Bhavaji (archaic) Do.
Younger . . Dir . . Do.
Wife’s brother . . Sala, Mehuna . . Younger by name
Hunband’s brother’s wife . . Jau
Hunband’s elder brother’s . . Thorli Jau . . Bai
wife.
 MARRIAGE, FAMILY AND KINSHIP 257

Husband’s younger . . Name plus bai or only name

brother’s wife
Wife’s brother’s wife . . Salai, Salkai (literature) Mehuni
Husband’s sister . . Nananda, Vansa
Husband’s elder sister . . Do. . . Vansa
Husband’s younger sister’s . . Do. . . name plus vansa
Husband’s sister’s husband. . Do. . . Nandoi
(among some castes)
Wife’s sister . . Mehuni ...
Wife’s sister’s husband . . Sadu, Sadhu

Children’s generation
Husband’s brother’s son . . Putnya, Lyoka ...
Husband’s sister’s son . . Bhacha ...
Wife’s brother’s son . . Bayakocha Bhacha ...
Wife’s sister’s son . . Do. Do.
Son’s wife . . Suna Sunabai or name.
In olden days.
name not uttered
for oldest son’s
wife.
Daughter’s husband . . Javai ...
Son’s wife’s father . . Soyra, Sambandhi ...
Daughter’s husband Vyahi
Son’s wife’s mother . . Vihina ...
Daughter’s husband’s
mother . . Vihinbai ...

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