Devendra Kulathan

Devendra Kulathan also referred to as Devendra Kulam[1] is a Hindu agricultural caste of India. Devendra Kulathan is a subcaste of the Devendrakula Velalar community. The territorial divisions among the Devendra Kulathan are Cholan, Kongan, Pandiyan, Kudumban, Eshwaran, Devendra.[2]

Devendra Kulathan
ReligionsHinduism
LanguagesTamil
CountryIndia
Original stateTamil Nadu
RegionPandya Nadu, Chola Nadu, Kongu Nadu

Organisation

They have their own caste headman and panchayat to settle disputes among them. In fact, they are a well organised community with the hereditary headman.

Kongu Nadu
  • At Coimbatore, the headman is called Pattakaran, he is assisted by various subordinate officers and caste messenger called Odumpillai.
  • At Salem, the headman called Palakan, a chief guru called Camiar or Karumapuram, a priest called Valluvan and messenger called Odumpillai.

Chola Nadu
  • At Trichy, they generally have 3 or more headman for each village, over whom is the Nattu Muppan. Each village also has a peon calledOdumpillai.

The village councils are attended by the Muppan and the Nattu Muppan.

  • At Karur, between the Nattu Muppan and the ordinary Muppans, there is Puli Muppan.

Pandya Nadu
  • At Madurai district the headman is called Kudumban whose assistant is called Kalati and messenger Variyan.[3]

Marriage

Clans regulate marriage alliances. Their clans namely Masaniamman Kulam, Karupparaayan Kulam, Ankalamman Kulam, Adi Kaliamman Kulam, Maduraiveeran Kulam and Kamakshiamman Kulam. Each kulam is affiliated to a deity.[4]

Inscription

Two inscriptions assigned to the seventeenth century one from Karivalamvanthanallur (Sankaranainarkoil Taluk, Tinnevelly District), and another from Srivilliputhur (formerly with Tinnevelly District and later with Ramanathapuram District) referred to them as Devendrakudumban.[5]

References
  1. Pulparampil, John. Nation Building and Local Leadership: A Study from South India. p. 118. ISBN 9781545718315.
  2. Singh, Kumar Suresh (1992). People of India:India's communities,Volume 4. Anthropological Survey of India. p. 793. ISBN 0195633547.
  3. K.Rangachari, Edgar thurston (2001). Castes and Tribes of Southern India, Volume 1. Asian educational services. p. 478. ISBN 9788120602885.
  4. Singh, Kumar Suresh (1992). People of India:India's communities,Volume 4. Anthropological Survey of India. p. 793. ISBN 0195633547.
  5. Venkatasubramanian, T.K (1986). Political Change and Agrarian Tradition in South India, C. 1600-1801: A Case Study. Mittal Publications Press. p. 52.

[[Category:Agricultural castes]

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