Charodi (community)

Charodi also referred to as Mestha/ Achari / Konkani Achari / Khandekar[1] is a community from Karnataka State in India.[2][3] There is no caste called as Charodi in Hindu religion but they are originally from Goa. 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. It is obvious from the books that Charodi's were initially known as "Mestha" and after migration, they seemed to have changed their names based on the location they landed. They are usually called as Achari or Mestha in North Karnataka and Nayak or Charodi in South Karnataka.[4] They as per their tales, they have migrated from Goa via sea-route to coastal Karnataka.[2][4] They were during British Raj included among criminal tribes of India.[5] Their traditional work is carpentry and work as carpenters.[2][4] They are included in other backward class communities of Karnataka in post-independent India.[5][6] They are generally followers of Sringeri Matha.[4] They are also worshipers 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.