Sengunthar or Kaikolan or Kaikolar are a large Tamil and Telugu socially backward caste ^[1][2] of weavers in the states of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh in southern India. They have close ties of kinship with the Devadasi or Devaradiyars^{[3][4][5] [6]}. It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with sengunthar. ... Sengunthar or Kaikolan or Kaikolar are a large Tamil ] socially backward caste // The Kaikolars also called as Sengunthar, are a large Tamil socially backward caste[1][2] of weavers in the states of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh in southern India. ... Languages Tamil Religions Hinduism, Christianity, Islam, Jainism Related ethnic groups Dravidian people Brahui people Kannadigas Malayalis Tamils Telugus Tuluvas Gonds The Tamil people are an ethnic group from the Indian subcontinent with a recorded history going back more than two millennia. ... Please wikify (format) this article or section as suggested in the Guide to layout and the Manual of Style. ... Tamil Nadu (தமிழ் நாடு, Land of the Tamils) is a state at the southern tip of India. ... Andhra Pradesh  : (Telugu: ఆంధ్ర ప్రదేశ్, Urdu: آندھرا پردیش, IPA: ), is a state in South India. ... This article includes a list of works cited but its sources remain unclear because it lacks in-text citations. ...

Origin

The Kaikolars also called as Sengunthar, are a large Tamil and Telugu socially backward caste^[1][2] of weavers in the states of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh in southern India. Their name comes from a mythical hero and from the words "kai" (hand) and "kol" (shuttle used in looming or spear). They consider the different parts of the loom to represent various gods and sages. Languages Tamil Religions Hinduism, Christianity, Islam, Jainism Related ethnic groups Dravidian people Brahui people Kannadigas Malayalis Tamils Telugus Tuluvas Gonds The Tamil people are an ethnic group from the Indian subcontinent with a recorded history going back more than two millennia. ... Tamil Nadu (தமிழ் நாடு, Land of the Tamils) is a state at the southern tip of India. ... Andhra Pradesh  : (Telugu: ఆంధ్ర ప్రదేశ్, Urdu: آندھرا پردیش, IPA: ), is a state in South India. ...

They are also known as Sengundar, which means a red dagger, which is traced to the legend of the earth being harassed by demons, which led to the people asking the god Shiva to help them. He was furious with the demonic giants and sent six sparks from his eyes. Parvati, his wife became frightened and retired to her chamber but dropped nine beads from her anklets. Shiva converted those beads into nine women, each giving birth to a hero, complete with moustache and daggers. These nine led by Subramanya, with a large army destroyed the demons. Kaikolans or Sengundar claim descent from one of the nine heroes. There are seventy-two subdivisions (nadu or desams).These legends were created at a time when the weaver community had lost its social status and the formuale were efforts at self-glorification^[5].

Ties of Kinship between Kaikolar and Devadasis

Traditionally, one girl in every family from the Sengundar/ Kaikolar caste was set apart to be dedicated to temple service and becomes a Devadasi (meaning female servant of god). In the temple, the girl is considered married to the temple deity but in practice becomes a prostitute, especially to the Brahmans and she learns traditional music and dancing^[7][8][9]. It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Kaikolar. ... Sengunthar or Kaikolan or Kaikolar are a large Tamil ] socially backward caste // The Kaikolars also called as Sengunthar, are a large Tamil socially backward caste[1][2] of weavers in the states of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh in southern India. ... This article includes a list of works cited but its sources remain unclear because it lacks in-text citations. ...

This research article talks about the relation between the Kaikolan musicians and the Devadasis ^{[10] [11]}

This research article explains the blood relation between the Devadasis and the Kaikolar. (Quoted from article: "Devaradiyar (dancing girls who have very close kinship ties with the Kaikkolar") ^[3][4].

This research article explains in vivid detail, the way the Kaikkolas used their women to enjoy special privileges in the Vijayanagar empire. (Text Quoted from article: "At least one woman in every Kaikkola household was, according to age-old tradition dedicated to the temple as a devaradiyar or devadasi. The devaradiyar enjoyed special privileges in the days of the Vijayanagar empire and were the only women permitted a direct audience with the king"^{[5] [6]}.

This research article (along with references to an inscription) describes how a devaradiyar or devadasi won special privileges for the Kaikkolas from the King Deva Raya II (A.D 1433) ^{[5] [12] [13]}

The research articles clearly define Kaikolars as the Sengunthar-Kaikolars of the terinja-Kaikolar Padai of the Chola empire. There is absolutely no question of ambiguity regarding their identity.

Another reference book Donors, Devotees, and Daughters of God. Temple Women in Medieval Tamilnadu by Leslie C. Orr. gives ample references to inscriptions regarding the Kaikkolars being Devadasis in Tanjore temples during the Chola empire.

This research article explains how Kaikola women still go into sacred prostitution^[7]. A link to another book that explains the status of Kaikolar women: http://books.google.com/books?q=%28kaikkolar%29+women+are+often+a+calling+not+shameful+to+them

Community Legends and festivals

The Sura Samhara festival is a ritual tradition practised by the Kaikolars to sustain the myth of the divine origin of the weavers with the intention of exalting their caste in the face of actual social inferiority^[5]. According to the mythology of weaver community, the Kaikolars weavers were born out of nine gems that were scattered from Parvati's anklet. At the Sura Samhara festival, they dress up as the nine warriors of Virabahu, the lieutenant of Lord Karthikeya and enact the killing of the demon Narakasura^[5]. These legends were created at a time when the weaver community had lost its social status and the formuale were efforts at self-glorification^[5].

Gods/Goddesses

Kaikolars are predominantly Shaivites. They possess a Clan God as most of the castes in Tamil Nadu. Mostly, it is some form of Amman i.e Parvati or Murugan. Sengunthar or Kaikolan or Kaikolar are a large Tamil ] socially backward caste // The Kaikolars also called as Sengunthar, are a large Tamil socially backward caste[1][2] of weavers in the states of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh in southern India. ... Saivite: of Saivism; belonging to Saivism, the Hindu denomination that worships God Siva as the Supreme God. ... For other meanings, see Amman (disambiguation) and Ammann. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article may require cleanup. ... Muruga (also Murugan) (Tamil: ) is perhaps the most popular Hindu deity amongst Tamils of Tamil Nadu state in India, Sri Lanka and in the Tamil diaspora. ...

Kootam/kulam

Kootam defines birth from a single male ancestor. Kootam is transferred patrilineally i.e., via the father of a person. Hence people belonging to the same kootam are considered brothers and sisters. So marriage between a male and female belonging to the same kootam is prohibited however distantly they may be related.

Historically there were 72 kootams in Kaikolan. Each kootam had a leader. The head leader in Kanchipuram was the head for all these leaders. This was used to manage disputes within the community. It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with sengunthar. ...

Nowadays, the kootams have merged into one another and there is no well defined leader for each kootam. It is used only for setting up marriage alliances.

A list of Kootam has been removed from this section awaiting authentication by accurate reference material.

Warrior Clans

During Chola rule Kaikolars served as soldiers and were called "Terinja kaikolar padai". (Terinja means "known" in Tamil and Padai means "regiment"), so "terinja-kaikolar padai" were the personal bodygurads. Kaikkolars who were intially weavers were militarised during the Chola empire and formed a major part of the Chola army from 8th century to 13th century. There were no Kaikolar army before or after the Chola empire. This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...

They formed many regiments in the Chola army. Some of those regiments are:

Singalantaka-terinda-Kaikkolar (a regiment named after Singalantaka i.e. Parntaka I)

Virasola-terinja-Kaikkolar

Kodandarama-terinja-Kaikkolar

Danatonga-terinja-Kaikkolar

Parantaka-terinia-Kaikkolar

Muttavalperra-Kaikkolar - (meaning the "recipient of the pearl ornamented sword" in Tamil)

Samarakesarit-terinja-Kaikkolar

Vikramasingat-terinja-Kaikkolar

Adityapanma-terinda-Kaikkolar

Karikala-Chola-terinja-Kaikkolar

Arumolideva-terinja Kaikkolar

Parttivasekarat-terinja-Kaikkolar

Gangadaditta-terinja-Kaikkola

Madurantaka-terinja-Kaikkolar

Pirantaka-terinja-Kaikkolar

The link below indicates that Kaikolars were prominent members of Tamil society even during the 10th century AD during Chola rule.

http://www.whatisindia.com/inscriptions/south_indian_inscriptions/volume_19/inscription_of_parakesarivarman_no_85.html

Weaving Clans

The end of Chola rule brought the end to Kaikolans role in the army. Reasons are unknown, but Kaikolars took up weaving on a mass scale or continued their weaving business exclusively for pretty much the next six to seven centuries. Even though there may have been a few rich Kaikolans doing various businesses including agriculture, the vast majority of Kaikolans were involved in weaving which was not a profitable business due to the industrial revolution. It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with sengunthar. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with sengunthar. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with sengunthar. ...

Historical Personalities

Ottakoothar was a court poet of three Chola kings namely Vikrama Chola. Kulotunga-II and Rajaraja II. He wrote poems in praise of these three kings namely Vikrama Cholan Ula, Kulothunga Cholan Ula and Rajarajan Ula. Ottakoothar had also written Kulothungan Pillai Tamil in praise of Chola king Kulothunga II and Saraswathy Andhadhi in praise of Saraswathi the Goddess of learning. Sekizhar the minister of chola dynasty wrote periyapuranam his native is kundrathur near chennai kambar who wrote ramayana in tamil he is also from chola empire kamban veetu kattu tharium kavipadum

Culture and Customs

The culture and customs of the Kaikolans is similar to most Tamil. However there are differences in customs between the various kootams of Sengunthar. The significant difference is that some Sengunthars are more kootam conservative than other Sengunthar groups when it comes to marriage partners. It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with sengunthar. ...

Associations

There are many associations for Sengunthars.

They are:

Socio Economic Service Society (SES) in Nungambakkam - Chennai.

Sengunthar Mahajana Sangam.

Tiruppur Kumaran Tiruppur Kumaran (1904 - 1932) was a Indian revolutionary, who participated in the Indian independence movement. ...

CN Annadurai C.N.Annadurai (1909 to 1969), popularly called Anna (which means elder brother in Tamil language) was the first non Congress Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, India. ...

EVKS Sampath? He belongs to EVR's family

P. S. Veerappa villan actor

ANANDRAJ villan actor

Thillairajan

Vellaivaarananaar

Bharathidasan Bharathidasan (April 29, 1891 - April 1, 1964; also spelt Bharatidasan) was a twentieth century Tamil poet and rationalist whose literary works handled mostly socio-political issues. ...

Pulavar Govindhan: Former Speaker of Tamil Nadu Assembly.

Kennedy alias vikram actor

Thiagarajan actor

P.S.veerappa actor

Pammal sambanda mudaliar

kirubanandha varriar

perumal mudaliar national pictures

Vallal sabapathi mudaliar: vallal sapabathy mudaliar educational trust.

ethiraj mudaliar: Chairman, Binny Group, partner Ramachandra medical college.

K.s.Ravikumar director

R.k.Selvamani director

References

1. ^ ^{a b} http://www.tn.gov.in/bcmbcmw/bclist.htm
2. ^ ^{a b} http://ncbc.nic.in/backward-classes/ap.html
3. ^ ^{a b} http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=devaradiyar+who+have+close+kinship
4. ^ ^{a b} Artisans in Vijayanagar Society, Vijaya Ramaswamy, Indian Economic & Social History Review, Vol. 22, No. 4, 417-444 (1985), http://ier.sagepub.com/cgi/content/citation/22/4/417, register here for free->http://www.sagepublications.com/sjofreeaccess/
5. ^ ^{a b c d e f g} Weaver Folk Traditions as a Source of History, Vijaya Ramaswamy, Indian Economic & Social History Review, Vol. 19, No. 1, 47-62 (1982), http://ier.sagepub.com/cgi/content/citation/19/1/47?ck=nck, register here for free->http://www.sagepublications.com/sjofreeaccess/
6. ^ ^{a b} http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=at+least+one+woman+kaikkoli+household+devaradiyar+devadasi
7. ^ ^{a b} Contending identities: Sacred prostitution and reform in colonial South India Priyadarshini Vijaisri A1, A1 Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS), New Delhi, South Asia: Journal of South Asian Studies Publisher: Routledge, part of the Taylor & Francis Group Issue: Volume 28, Number 3 / December 2005 Pages: 387 - 411. http://journalsonline.tandf.co.uk/link.asp?id=jv31l27518262711
8. ^ http://globalindiamissions.org/newsletter/nwsltr0802.htm
9. ^ http://www.go2southasia.org/l_peoples.html
10. ^ http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=dasi+kaikolan+musician
11. ^ The Erotic Sculptures of India Y. Krishan Artibus Asiae, Vol. 34, No. 4 (1972), pp. 331-343, http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0004-3648(1972)34%3A4%3C331%3ATESOI%3E2.0.CO%3B2-2
12. ^ http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=devaradiyar+won+special+privileges+for+the+kaikkolas+deva+raya+II
13. ^ Some Enquiries into the Condition of Weavers in Medieval South India, Indian Historical Review, Vol. VI, Nos. 1 and 2>