According to the anthropologist Kathleen Gough, “the Vellalars were the dominant secular aristocratic caste under the Chola kings, providing the courtiers, most of the army officers, the lower ranks of the kingdom’s bureaucracy, and the upper layer of the peasantry”.
What caste is Pillai?
Tamil inscriptions define the direct meaning of Pillai as “Child of King” (prince), denoting nobility. The title occur both as a single name or as a suffix to the name. This title has been in traditional use by the communities such as the Agamudayars, Isai Vellalars, Koviyars, Karaiyars, Nairs and the Vellalars.
Who are Pillai in Tamil Nadu?
Pillai is a feudal community that has originated from Tamil Nadu and Kerala and is divided into various sub castes. Some Pillai sub castes are Cherakula Vellular, Karkarthar, Karuneegar, Nanjil Vellalar, Nattampadi Vellalar, Paiyur Kottai Vellalar, Saiva Vellalar, Chozhia Vellalar and few others.
Is vellalar and mudaliar same?
Thuluva Vellala, abbreviation of Thondamandala Tuluva Vellala, also known as Agamudaya Mudaliars and Arcot Mudaliars, is a caste found in northern Tamil Nadu, southern Andhra Pradesh and southern Karnataka, India. …
What is pallar caste?
The Pallar, who prefer to be called Mallar, are an agricultural community from the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Today, they are the dominant Dalit community of southern Tamil Nadu and have developed a reputation for being assertive about their rights.
Is Pillai and Yadava same?
Then many Tamil Yadavas used Pillai instead of yadav. Pillai may refer to: Pillai (title), a title used by various social and religious groups of South India and Sri Lanka.
Is Pillai upper caste?
PILLAI/PILLAY is an upper caste name used in both Kerala & Tamil Nadu. In Tamil Nadu, PILLAI/PILLAY is a caste name used by the upper caste Vellalar land lords and agriculture workers.
Is vellalar a Kshatriya?
In the twofold division of the Vellala, the second category (e.g., Kavundar, Nangudi Vellala, Tuluva Vellala) falls clearly into the Kshatriya model. Thus the two Vellala categories occupy different structural positions in the social order.
Is Thuluva vellalar a mudaliar?
Thuluva Vellala, abbreviation of Thondamandala Tuluva Vellala, also known as Agamudaya Mudaliars and Arcot Mudaliars, is a caste found in northern Tamil Nadu, southern Andhra Pradesh and southern Karnataka, India. They were originally significant landowners.
Is pallar a low caste?
The Pallar caste is considered to be the highest caste among the lower or the Scheduled Castes and lower caste among the higher castes or the caste Hindus in Tamil Nadu. The Pallars (people belonging to the Pallar caste) constitute the largest among the 76 Scheduled Castes of Tamil Nadu.
Which is the richest caste in TamilNadu?
Nadars today They are financially strong and are politically influential in the Southern districts of Tamil Nadu.
Who is Saiva Vellalar?
The community of Saiva Vellalas were conferred the title ‘Mudaliar’ by the Travancore kings and they ruled Nanjil Nadu on behalf of the kings. Late poet Kavimani Desigavinayagam Pillai copied a few manuscripts in 1903. Chronicling a reality very different from the present, the manuscripts speak of wealthy Dalits.
What is the caste of nankudi Vellalar?
Nankudi Vellalar /Nangudi Vellalar or Sivakalai Pillaimar is a Tamil agricultural caste found in Tamil Nadu, India. They claim descent from the Velir clan of Irungovels The hereditary headman of the caste was always invested with the title Irungovel.
Who wrote the famous book Narkudi Velalar Varalaru?
Narkudi Velalar Varalaru is a book consisting of 1,035 Tamil poems by Arumuga Nayinar Pillai. It was published in 1920 by Sri S. Vala Subramaniya Pillai of Sivakalai. The book narrates the history of the Irungovel family, a branch of Pandya rulers who reigned for 201 generations from 3100 BCE to 1944 AD.
What language do the Vellala people speak?
The Vellala speak a dialect that is common among high-caste non-Brahmans in Tamil Nadu. It is different from the highly Sanskritized language of the Brahmans and also from the Language of the lowest castes. The Vellala of different districts flavor their speech with the local dialects.
Where do the Vellala live?
The Vellala live in all the districts of the state and in both urban and rural areas. In the latter, the settlement pattern is typically multicaste villages. Depending on the region, the Vellala may be the dominant caste, may share dominance with another caste, or may be a minority.
