Key Facts about Muthuvan Tribe

About Muthuvan Tribe:

• The Muthuvans, or Mudugars, live in the Western Ghats mountains in Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
• The Muthuvan language is a special language spoken by the Muthuvan people. It belongs to the Dravidian language family.
• There are two different groups among the Muthuvan, and they speak slightly different dialects. Hence, they call each other Malayalam Muthuvan and Pandi Muthuvan.
• They are known for coexisting with the wildlife with their traditional knowledge and understanding of hills.
• They have expertise in traditional medicines, which are very effective, and these medicines and the medicine men are confidentially preserved and passed on to the generations.
• Social Organization:
  • The Muthuvan have six clans known as Koottams. Each koottam is again divided into sub-clans.
  • The functions of these divisions are mainly for marriage alliances, to keep up the social status, and to indicate descent and ancestry.
  • The Muthuvan adhere to community endogamy and clan exogamy.
  • These tribal people follow a unique system of governance called the ‘Kani System’.
  • The law and order in the community is handled by a council of elders under the leadership of the Kani, the headman.
  • The elders select the kani. They have various penal codes for breaking their traditions and moral standards.
• Religion and Beliefs:
  • They are animists and spirit worshippers and also worship the forest gods.
  • Nowadays, the Hindu gods and goddesses of the plains are also being worshipped, one of the effects of cultural infiltration.
• Occupation:
  • Virippukrishi (a form of shifting cultivation) is their traditional means of livelihood, and they cultivate a wide variety of food grains that are used only for consumption.
  • Ragi (Little Millet), Maize (Sorghum), Thina (Italian Millet), Varagu, Chama Rice, Tomato, Carrot, Sweet Potato, Potato, Cheeni Vala, Toppi, Mocha, etc., are principal food crops cultivated by the Muthuvan community.