Devendrakula Velalar

Devendrakula Velalar also known as Kudumbar, Vaikkaran, Kaladi, Pannadi, Pandyan, Pannikan, Palakan, Mooppan[1] is a Tamil speaking community prevalent in southern India. The community is mostly distributed in the Tirunelveli, Tuticorin, Tiruchendur, Thiruparankundram, Virudhunagar, Madurai, Thanjavur, Ramanathapuram, Tiruchirappalli, Pudukkottai, Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur, Coimbatore and Salem districts of Tamil Nadu.[2]

Devendrakula Velalar
ReligionsHinduism
LanguagesTamil
CountryIndia, Sri Lanka
Original stateTamil Nadu, Northern Province
RegionPandya Nadu, Chola Nadu, Kongu Nadu

Etymology

The term Devendrakula Velalar resp. Vellalar is used as an umbrella term for the castes which were related. The term means "farmer of celestial being" or "Devendra community farmer", connoting that they were created by the god Devendra resp. Indra.[3]

History

K. R. Hanumanthan is of the view they were an ancient community of Tamil Nadu who worked under the Pallavas as political chieftains with the title Kurumbar.[4]

Subcastes and divisions

The following is a list of seven subcastes of the Devendrakula Velalar:[5]

Devendrakula Velalar Nattars[6]
  • Kodai Valanattar
  • Seevantha Valanattar
  • Paruthikottai Valanattar
  • Sikka Valanattar
  • Seluva Valanattar
  • Veeranattar
  • Samudra Nattar

As irrigation is vital to the latter must have held a key position. Their occupation being seasonal thy have enjoyed greater mobility and had also served in the army of the Polygars.[6][7]

Devendrakula Velalar Chola kings
  • Tondaiman Ilantirayan
  • Kopperunarkilli

Poets have praised them as Mallar among Mallars.[8]

Inscription
  • An inscription of medieval period compares the Kudumbar with Pandya kings. According to it there was a severe famine in the Chera, Chola and Pandya countries.The Pandya king went to Devendra, sat on the same level with him, demanded equal privileges with him and came to earth with four devakanniar and cultivated sugar canes, plantain, palmyra and several varieties of paddy for which he brought from the heaven. He also dug twelve thousand wells in a single day and solved the problem of drought. In recognition of his services, he was given the title Devendra Kudumban and bestowed some privileges. This legend is useful to understand that the Devendrakula Velalar were experts in wet cultivation from time immemorial and responsible for the cultivation of wet crops like sugar cane, plantain and paddy.[9]

Silambam

The Devendrakula Velalar young mens excelled in some martial arts such as silambam. During festivals and other important occasions they simply thrilled the audience by exhibiting this skilful art. Other caste people learnt silambu from Devendrakula Velalar teachers. They were very industrious and generous.[10]

References
  1. Venkatasubramanian, T.K (1993). Societas to Civitas. Kalinga Publications Press. p. 74. ISBN 9788185163420.
  3. Venkatasubramanian, T. K. (1986). Political Change and Agrarian Tradition in South India, C. 1600-1801: A Case Study. Mittal Publications.
  4. Hanumanthan, K. R (1979). Untouchability: A Historical Study Upto 1500 A.D. : with Special Reference to Tamil Nadu. Koodal publisher. pp. 101–103.
  5. Venkatasubramanian, T.K (1993). Societas to Civitas. Kalinga Publications Press. p. 74. ISBN 9788185163420.
  6. "Chapter II - CASTE AND WOMEN" (PDF). Social conditions in Tamil Nadu: 104. 1996 – via INFLIBNET.
  7. Conference, South Indian History Congress (1982). Proceedings of the ... Annual Conference ..., Issue 3. The Congress Press. p. 172. ISBN 978052154885 Check |isbn= value: length (help).
  8. Parasher-Sen, Aloka (2004). Subordinate and Marginal Groups in Early India. Oxford university press. p. 130.
  9. Hanumanthan, K.R. pp. 102–103. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  10. Hanumanthan, K.R. The Pallas of Tamil Nadu. p. 173. ISBN 9788185163420.
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