Household Stone tools in Karnataka

Household Stone tools in Karnataka, India used for wet grinding, dry grinding, pounding etc. are Oralu Kallu also called Rubbo Kallu, Beeso Kallu, Dundagallu, Kutni,etc.

Pronunciation

In Kannada, the official and chief language of Karnataka,

Oralu Kallu is written as ಒರಳು ಕಲ್ಲು. Pronunciation of ‘lu’ in Oralu is not the same as ‘lu’ in Flu. 'Lu' of Oralu Kallu is depicted as ‘ḷu’ in equivalent English. Oralu is a Kannada word for Turn, which here describes the action of grinding. ‘Kallu’ is a Kannada word for stone. The alternate name Rubbo Kallu is written as ರುಬ್ಬೊ ಕಲ್ಲು. ‘Rubbu’ is a Kannada word for Grinding.

Beeso Kallu is written as ಬೀಸೋ ಕಲ್ಲು. Beesu is a Kannada word for dry grinding.

Dundugallu is written as ದುಂಡುಗಲ್ಲು. ‘Dundu’ is a Kannada words for Round which here describes shape of the stone. It is also called Rubbo dundi (ರುಬ್ಬೂ ದುಂಡಿ).

Kutni is written as ಕುಟ್ನಿ .‘Kuttu’ is a Kannada word for pounding.

Oralu Kallu

Description

Oralu Kallu or Rubbo kallu is a Household stone tool for wet grinding. It consists of two separate parts. The Grinding stone Gundukallu (ಗುಂಡುಕಲ್ಲು)/Gootada kallu (ಗೂಟದಕಲ್ಲು), a stout cylindrical stone of rounded ends with or without a handle and a base stone with a central well which matches the size of Gundukallu.

Wet Grinding

Gundukallu is placed in the well of base stone and rotated, usually with left hand while Right hand is regularly used to push ingredients towards the well of the base stone for grinding. Roles of hands keep interchanging with fatigue, duration and quantity of grinding. Also, Onake was used in yester years to pound millets into flour in it.

Uses

Current Scenario

Oralu Kallu was a standard fixture of yester years in every Household. They were laid in flush with Kitchen floor or inlaid into the Kitchen counters or as a separate stone unit within the House or outside the house. But, with the availability and utility of Mixer grinders, Food processors, Commercial wet grinders etc., Oralu Kallu has almost disappeared from urban areas and is on the decline in rural areas. However, it is generally observed that foods prepared using Oralu Kallu tastes better than foods processed in Mixer grinders.

Beeso Kallu

Description

Beeso Kallu is a Household stone tool for dry grinding of Millets to flour or making Masala powders. It is also called as Chakki (Stone mill) in Northern India. It consists of two thick circular flat stones on top of each other. The upper stone has a central hole which accommodates a small conical stone projection from the stone below about which it can rotate. Also, on the upper stone is another hole, peripherally situated which houses a wooden handle for rotating it.

Dry Grinding

Ingredients to be ground are poured through the central hole of the upper stone which then slips along sides of the stone projecting from below through the central hole and into the space between upper and lower stone. Here it gets ground to powder upon rotating the upper stone.

Uses

Current Scenario

This was the chief tool of yesteryears to grind millets into flour before the spread of commercial Grinding mill shops. Hitherto found in Rural areas these have now almost disappeared.

Dundugallu

Description

Dundugallu is a Household stone tool for wet grinding found mostly in rural areas. It is a very basic form of tool consisting of two separate parts, a circular or cylindrical or oval stone and another flat surfaced stone. It is seen in various sizes from small to large.

Wet Grinding

Before grinding, both parts are washed and cleaned. Ingredients to be ground are placed on the flat surface of stone. The heavy round or cylindrical or oval stone is rolled to and fro on the ingredients to grind.

Uses

Current Scenario

Hitherto found in rural areas these have now almost disappeared.

Kutni

Description

Kutni is a miniature Household stone tool for grinding small quantities of either dry or wet ingredients. It traditionally is made of stone. It consists of Kutni, a roughly boat or a circular shaped base stone with shallow upper surface and Kutto kallu (ಕುಟ್ಟೋ ಕಲ್ಲು) a roughly pear shaped small stone to pound/crush/grind.

Dry or Wet Grinding

Ingredients to be ground are placed in the Kutni and the Kutto kallu is used to crush/pound/grind.

Uses

Current Scenario

Kutni in the English world is known as Mortar and Pestle. They are available in various size and shapes. Traditionally they were made of stone. Currently they are made in various materials like Iron, Steel, Brass, Alloys, Wood, Marble stone, Granite, Plastic etc. They are prevalent in almost every home.

Miscellaneous

Arishina Kuttuva shastra

Arishina Kuttuva Shastra (ಅರಿಶಿನ ಕುಟ್ಟುವ ಶಾಸ್ತ್ರ) is an important Wedding ritual in Southern[4] India. Arishina is the Kannada word for Turmeric. In the ritual, whole Turmeric (Dried whole unbroken tuber) is placed in the Oralu Kallu. Ladies use Onake(Description below) and pound it. The Powdered turmeric is made into paste with water. The paste is applied on both the Bride and the Groom. In Northern India the Haldi[5] function is similar.

In another wedding ritual, instead of Turmeric various other grains like Rice, Jowar etc. are pounded in Oralu kallu by ladies and the Bride.

Onake

Onake is a long wooden pole/stick, about the length of an average person, used in yester years to pound millets into floor. The millet to be ground is placed in Oralu Kallu and pounded with Onake into flour. In present times its usage is limited to Arishina Kuttuva rituals in South Indian weddings. Onake is sometimes called Pestle in English.

The Historical brave lady, Obavva killed enemy soldiers with Onake in the battle at Chitradurga. She is revered as Onake Obavva and is quoted as an epitome of Women's courage alongside Kittur Chennamma in Karnataka.

Murders

Gundukallu, the Grinding stone of Oralu kallu has been used as a weapon in numerous murders[6][7][8][9]. Rarely in domestic quarrels or family feuds or fights with neighbours or in village fights etc in the region, a threat made by one individual to another can be heard, "Gundukallu yattak bidtini"(ಗುಂಡುಕಲ್ಲು ಯತ್ತಾಕ್ಬಿಡ್ತೀನಿ) which can be translated loosely as 'will lift the Grinding stone and throw on you'.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Arya Vysya Customs and Traditions - Wedding/Maduve". www.tasteofmysore.com. Retrieved 2016-12-04.
  2. ↑ "Godkal Shastra - Indian festivals". indianfestivals.wikidot.com. Retrieved 2016-12-04.
  3. ↑ vclickz works (2015-01-24), Arishina Preparation, retrieved 2016-12-04
  4. ↑ "Arya Vysya Customs and Traditions - Wedding/Maduve". www.tasteofmysore.com. Retrieved 2016-12-04.
  5. ↑ "Beautiful Significance of Haldi Ceremony in Indian Weddings". Retrieved 2016-12-04.
  6. ↑ Gowhar, Imran. "Man who killed wife, mother-in-law arrested". The Hindu. Retrieved 2016-12-04.
  7. ↑ Correspondent, Special. "Woman murders husband with grinding stone". The Hindu. Retrieved 2016-12-04.
  8. ↑ "Younger brother murders elder sibling with grinding stone - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 2016-12-04.
  9. ↑ "Woman kills husband with a grinding stone - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 2016-12-04.
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