Nankudi Vellalar (Nangudi Vellalar or Sivakalai Pillaimar), is a Tamil sub caste of Vellalar found in Tamil Nadu, India. These group of people are considered to be proper believers and followers of Shaivism (Religion that preaches Lord Shiva as the Supreme God). They come under the Suryakula Kshatriya Clan as per the ancient Indian Varuna System[1].They also claim descent from the Velir hereditary of Irungovels[2] The hereditary headman of the caste was always invested with the title Irungovel. Their origination is from Melaselvanur in Ramanathapuram District. As per the documentations and proofs submitted by Dr. Chidambaram Pillai in 1920 to the High Court of Judicature at Madras, Madras Presidency, British India, it is considered that the Nankudi Vellalars are the direct lineage of 201st Pandiya King “Poitidia Irungovel Pandiya Thevar”, who ruled the Pandiya Kingdom with Korkai as its capital. The story, how these Maravars became Nankudi Vellalars is unknown. Their original stronghold seems to have been southern districts of Tamil Nadu, viz. Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli, Korkai, Ambasamudram, etc. Some of them migrated to Srivaikuntam during the course of time and came to be known as Kottai Vellalar or Kottai Pillaimar as they built and lived in forts.[3]
Yajamanar , Mudhalali, Nachiyar | |
|---|---|
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Tamil Nadu: Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli, Ambasamudram, Korkai, Srivaikuntam | |
| Languages | |
| Tamil | |
| Religion | |
| Shaivism | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Tamil people |
H.R Pate (1917), the former district collector of Tirunelveli describes them as great Administrators, Agriculturists, Merchants and Traders and as a remarkably prosperous and an energetic community.[4]
Etymology
editNankudi Vellalar is derived from the words Nar(good), Kudi (community) and Vellalar (farmers), so they were essentially a good community of farmers.[citation needed]
Caste structure
editThe caste is made of a number of matrilineal exogamous clans called Kilais or branches descending from the female line.[5][6]
References
editCitations
- ^ Ramanathan (1969), p. 327
- ^ Ramanathan (1969), p. 341
- ^ Ramanathan (1969), p. 331
- ^ Ramanathan (1969), p. 340
- ^ Ramanathan (1969), p. 338
- ^ Goody & Tambiah (1973), p. 136
Bibliography
- Ramanathan, P. (1969), Iruṅkoveḷ and the Koṭṭai Veḷāḷar--The Possible Origins of a Closed Community.Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, 32(2), 323-343.
- Sinnakani, R., Tamil Nadu State: Thoothukudi District, Band 1, Government of Tamil Nadu, Commissioner of Archives and Historical Research, 2007
- Goody, Jack; Tambiah, S.J. (1973), Bridewealth and Dowry, CUP Archive, 1973
● The history of Nankudi Vellalar was described in a tamil book named நற்குடி வேளாளர் வரலாறு (நூல்)
