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Encyclopedia > Vellalar
For other uses, see Vallalar.

Vellalars are a dominant caste of Tamil agriculturalists of Tamil Nadu, Kerala states in India and Sri Lanka. They are also found amongst the Tamil diaspora around the world. Vallalar (1823-05-10 - 1873-01-23) was a Hindu saint. ... Caste systems are traditional, hereditary systems of social restriction and social stratification, enforced by law or common practice, based on endogamy, occupation, economic status, race, ethnicity, // 1555, a race of men, from L. casto chaste, from castus pure, cut off, separated, pp. ... Languages Tamil Religions Hinduism, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Jainism Related ethnic groups Dravidian people Brahui people Kannadigas Malayalis Tamils Telugus Tuluvas Gonds The Tamil people are a multi-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. ... , Kerala ( ; Malayalam: കേരളം; ) is a state on the Malabar Coast of southwestern India. ... The Tamil diaspora is a term used to denote people of Tamil Nadu and Sri Lankan Tamil origin who have settled in many parts of the rest of India and Sri Lanka, or in other regions, particularly Malaysia, Singapore, the Middle East, Réunion, South Africa, Mauritius, Fiji, Guyana, Trinidad...

Contents

Origin theories

From cultivation

The standard theory is that the word Vellalar is from Velanmai or to cultivate. Another one postulates it is derived from Vellam or flood (in Tamil) and "alar" (ruler or controller), so Vellalar means controller of floods. Sometimes they were also known as Karalar which means ruler of clouds in Tamil

From agro-pastoral warriors

A new theory derives the word from Vel, to win to control, to take, as well as a lance, an old and archaic Tamil weapon. Supposedly cultivation in South Asia was spread by force, people would move out into virgin land, which was used by hunter gatherer or tribal people for slash and burn agriculture or for hunting and convert into prime agricultural land.[1]


This was a honorific title of select few people who would organize such raids and settlements like chiefs who were also called as Vel which spread to all including that of all Ulavar which is Tamil for farmer, the actual Tamil name for cultivators. Today everybody uses it but once it was restricted to village headman or founding chief's lineage. (see also Velama)[1] Tamil ( ; IPA ) is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamils in India and Sri Lanka, with smaller communities of speakers in many other countries. ... This article or section contains self-references. ...

Assimilation of other castes

Most subcastes of Vellalar in general are believed to be the first of the group of Tamils to be Sanskritized. Sanskritisation is a term coined by late Indian sociologist M.N.Srinivas, to define the process by which castes placed lower in the caste hierarchy seek upward mobility by emulating the rituals and practices of the upper or dominant castes. ...

"Kallar, Maravar, Agamudai-yar mella- mella vanthu Vellalar anarkal"

is a popular Tamil proverb prevalent in India and Sri Lanka about the origin of Vellalars. That is Vellalar are a fusion of upwardly mobile members from castes such as Kallar,Maravar and Agamudaiyar according to the principles of Sanskritisation.[2] Look up proverb in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Mukulathar or Mukulathor also Mukkulathor is a relatively new name for related social groups or castes of south Tamil Nadu state of India. ... est This page is a candidate for speedy deletion. ... ... Sanskritization is a term coined by late M.N.Srinivas, the eminent sociologist from India, to define the process by which castes placed lower in the caste hierarchy seek upward mobility by emulating the rituals and practices of the upper or dominant castes. ...

Common titles

Common titles are Pillai, Mudaliar and Gounder. When southern parts of Tamilnadu came into the control of Telugu Nayak Chieftains, Vellalar were employed by them as accountants, hence they assumed the title Kanakku Pillai, in Kerala they use the title Karnam Pillai. Pillai, Pillay, Pulle or Pilli is a popular title of Tamil- and Malayalam-speaking people of India and others living in Sri Lanka, Singapore, Malaysia, South Africa and Fiji, mostly from Vellalar and Nair communities. ... Mudaliar also Mudaliyār, Mudali and Moodley in Tamil language literally means a person of first rank in a feudal society[1] in south India. ... Gounder:title origins: The title Gounder is used with various regional variations by distinct castes. ... Please wikify (format) this article or section as suggested in the Guide to layout and the Manual of Style. ...


Major divisions

Major subdivisions are

Main article: List of Vellalar sub castes

There are numerous other subcastes which claim Vellalar roots and identity. Some subdivisions might intermarry yet other will not. Following is a List of sub castes among Vellalar or Vellalas or Velalars Saiva Vellalars with titles such as Mudaliars and Pillais. ...


In Kerala and Sri Lanka

Main article: Sri Lankan Tamil Vellalar

In Kerala, there is a signifant population of Tamil and Malayalam speaking Vellalar population. They are believed to have migrated to work in courts of the Travancore kingdom as accountants. The introduction to this article provides insufficient context for those unfamiliar with the subject matter. ... , Kerala ( ; Malayalam: കേരളം; ) is a state on the Malabar Coast of southwestern India. ... Malayalam (മലയാളം ) is the language spoken predominantly in the state of Kerala, in southern India. ... Flag for former princely state of Travancore Travancore or Thiruvithaamkoor (Malayalam: തിരുവിതാങ്കൂര്‍ [], തിരുവിതാംകൂര്‍ [], തിരുവിതാങ്കോട് []) was a princely state in India with its capital at Trivandrum (Thiruvananthapuram). ...


The Vellalars of Jaffna have been chronicled clearly in the Yalpana Vaipava Malai and other historical texts of Jaffna kingdom. These Vellalar chiefs claim descent from traditional minor-kings and chiefs of Tamil Nadu. They have been commanders of Chola and Pandya armies as well as respected ministers and administrators. From the 13th century when migration of Vellalar chiefs to Jaffna took place, Tamil Nadu has seen a decline in the traditional power of Vellars except in Kongu Nadu.[3] Jaffna District. ... Yalpana Vaipava Malai is a book written by a Tamil poet called Mayilvagana Pulavar 1736 A.D. This book contains historical facts of the early Sri Lankan city of Jaffna. ... The remains of the facade of a Dutch building. ... The Cholas were the most famous of the three dynasties that ruled ancient Tamil Nadu. ... The Pandyan kingdom was an ancient state at the tip of South India, founded around the 6th century BCE. It was part of the Dravidian cultural area, which also comprised other kingdoms such as that of the Pallava, the Chera, the Chola, the Chalukya and the Vijayanagara. ... Kongu Nadu is the north western region of the state of Tamil Nadu in Southern India. ...


In Sri Lanka, they are currently estimated to form over fifty (50)% of the population of the Sri Lankan Tamils in the Northern Province and Jaffna. (See also Hinduism in Sri Lanka and Caste in Sri Lanka).[4] The Aaarunattu Vellar community also prevails in Sri Lanka. Sri Lankan Tamils also known as Eelam Tamils, Ceylonese or Ceylon Tamils and Jaffna Tamils are today a trans-national minority, and are Tamil people from Sri Lanka. ... Northern Province may refer to: North Province, Cameroon Northern Province, Sri Lanka Northern Province, Papua New Guinea Northern Province, Zambia Limpopo Province, South Africa, formerly named Northern Transvaal Northern Cape Province, South Africa, in line with reference to the former Cape Province as simply The Province, particularly in rugby. ... Jaffna District. ... Hindu temple, Colombo Hindus currently make up approximately 15% of the Sri Lankan population, and are almost all exclusively Tamil-speaking apart from immigrants from North India and Pakistan such as the Sindhis. ... The system of Caste in Sri Lanka is a division of society into strata, differing somewhat from the classic Varnas of North India but is similar in nature to the Jati system found in South India . ...


See the Ponnambalam-Coomaraswamy Family for the Ponnambalam-Coomaraswamy family centric rise of a Vellala elite in 19th century Sri Lanka. Traditionally the ‘Mudali’ in Sri Lankan history were royal military officials. ...


References

  1. ^ a b Spectres of Agrarian Territory by David Ludden
  2. ^ Untouchability and Inter Caste Relations in Rural India: The Case of Southern Tamil Villages by Ramaih
  3. ^ http://noolaham.net/library/books/02/101/101.htm
  4. ^ Caste in Tamil Culture

External links

 

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