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Royal houses(removed from article)

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See also: Velirs

Throughout Kongu history, the four royal titled families have shaped the destiny of Kongu Nadu and its people. They are :

1) Sankaradamplayam Pattakkarar - (Periya Kulam)[1]

2) Puthur Pattakkarar - (Cenkannan Kulam)

3) Palayakottai Pattakkarar - (Payiran Kulam)

4) Kadaiyur Pattakkarar - (Porulanthi Kulam)[2]

The four titled families lived in the central part of the Kongu region. Kongu Nadu was largely autonomous even during the imperial times of the Chera, Chola and Pandiya empires and was self-governed by Kongu kings. The ruler of Ratnagiri and Sivalayam had the title "Arthanari Venadudayars" (அர்த்தனாரி வேணுடுடையார்) and he was also the Prime Minister of the Chola King Kulothunga Chola I. The Cenkannan (lit.: red-eyed) Kulam have the title Pallavarayar which translates "the slayer of the Pallava King's head in the battlefield", referring to the beheading of the Pallava King in the battle between Pallavas and Cholas. The title Kalingarayar means "the slayer of the Kalinga King's head in the battlefield" in the epic battle between Kalingas and Cholas. A Pandyan ruler, Veerapandian, made a Kongu chieftain named Kalingarayar his Prime minister. During this period, the famous Kalingarayan Canal was constructed by this visionary. It still continues to irrigate the fertile lands in the Kongu region.

The first of the many titles of Venadudayars is the Chetti Venadudayars which was bestowed after they were asked to bring their feudatories Chettinad back under the original Chola King, who then proceeded to make Chettis subjects of Venadudayars and granted the rights of tax collection and annual tributes to the Venadudayars. They usually carry a Regal staff and their word is taken as the final authority, which was traditionally much respected by the Kongu people. Their sovereignty over the independent country "Nadu" which they ruled was much respected and honored by all the Moovendar Chera, Chola, Pandiya Tamil Kings and also by the Dravidian Pallava and Vijayanagar empires of South India. The Sankaradampalayam Pattakkarar was also bestowed an honorific title by then Vijayanagar Kings in as late as the 16th century.[3]

The Kulaiyan Kulam ("Kings who wore stud") of Kongu Vellalars were the Kurunila Mannar of old Kulithalai region with their capital at Koiloor (near present day Aravakurichi). The feudal lords from Kulaiyan Kulam are called Deva Mandradiars. They were the herediatry receivers of the Moovendar Chera, Chola and Pandiya Kings when they visit Kongu Nadu but this honor later went to Periya Kulam after a minor accident. Kaadavarayar(Keechaka vamsam/kaadava dynasty/kaadai kootam whose kuladeivam at Keechakanoor (Keeranur) -the Kichakan of Mahabharatam.[4]

"The Vēļāļar of the Tamil country (the descendants of the Vēļir) have retained the honorific till this day in their names (c.f kaņţar, kavuņţan and 'gouņder' (the last two from Ka.gauda<ganda)"[5][6][7][8][9][10]

The Kadaiyezhu Vallal (Seven Great Patrons)

Oris (ruling Kollimalai region from Rasipuram, famous king Valvil Ori)

Malayaman Karis from Tirukoyiloor (rivals of Adiyaman and Cheras, probably the Kari kootam in Gounders of today, famous king Irumudi Kari who was a rival of the Chozas)

Begans (ruling from Vaiyavoor or Pazhani which originally was called Vaiyapuri, famous king is Viyavoor Began,belongs to Aviyar Clan)

Paris (ruling Mudiramalai or the Gobi -Sathy ghats from the Pariyur of today, famous king Parivallal)

Kumanan (ruling Kudiramalai region)

Killis (ruling the Mudiramalais)[11][12]

The Velir constituted a large and powerful ruling class in the early historical Tamil society. The frequent phrase ventar-um velir-um('the Kings and Chieftains') in the Cankam poems (e.g,patir,30,49,75,88) indicates the high position occupied by the Velir in the Tamil polity next only to the three great crowned kings.The Velir ruled the smaller principalities as Chieftains and also served at the court of the crowned Kings as nobles,Ministers and Generals. it is mentioned(Naccinarkkiniyar in Tol.Purattinai,79)that the Velir had the right to give their daughters in marriage to the Royal princes.The Velir chiefs known as Vallals were famous for their liberality and patronage of Tamil poets.The Velir of the Cankam Age,the Velir of the medival period,and the Velalar,the great mass of Tamil peasantry down to the modern times, all seem to belongs to the same stock.Naccinarkkiniyar(Tol.,Porul.,34)mentions that tha Vellalar were men at the command of the velir,and divides them into two classes,namely those who owned the land and those who actually cultivated it.The attachment of the Vellalar to the land is so proverbial that the word for agriculture in Tamil is velanmai(abstract noun formed from velal. The folklore of the Tamil Velalar still preserves the tradition that they are Gangeyas('Children of the Ganga river').[13]

Southern migration from the banks of the Ganga or from Dvaraka were ancient and widely shared by many of the Dravidian dynasties including the Chalukyas and the Hoysalas.[14]

Kongu Vellalar clans are from the four great tribes called the Malavar, Kocar, Konkar, Velir.

References to the community have been found in the Purananooru of the Sangam age, Koduval Kongar and Karungaik Kongar, meaning Kongars with battle sickles, Kongars with their physical feature of massive arms respectively) and Silappadhikaram Kongilam Kosar and Kudagak Kongar, meaning Kongars of the Kosar clan of the Kongu and Kongars of the Kudagu region respectively.[15]

It was from the name of their capital – Kosanputtur – that Coimbatore probably got its name.

In Tamil literature, Kosars were mentioned as west Vadukas with their origin as Kolhapur near Goa. Erattar were a branch of Kosars who became Maha Rattirar (Prakrit) or Maharashtrans (Sanskrit). Historian Burnell confirms this.

Kosars were called Nar Kosar or Nanmozhi Kosar in the third Sangam literature. Nannul or Tholkappiam notes them as Kannadam (Kannadigas), Vaduku (Tulu), Kalingam (Oriya) and Telugu people. Kamba-ramayanam Payiram says Kosars were Vadakalai (Prakrit), Thenkalai (Tamil), Vaduku and Kannada people. Kosars were truthful to their kings and were called ‘Vai-mozhi Kosar’ (truthful in keeping their words).

The Mathurai Kanchi 508-09 & 771-74 records them as: "Poyya Nallisai Niruththa punaithar, Perum peyar Maaran Thalaivan Aka, Kadanthadu vai val Elampal Kosar, Eyaneri Marabin Vai mozhi ketpa" and "Pazhayan Mokoor Avayakam vilanka Nanmozhi Kosar Thontri yanna".

The Chera dynasty's Nedunchezhian’s army head was Mohoor Pazhayan Maaran. Kosars were present in his army. They followed Maran’s words in battle and were honored for their job in his court.

Elampal Kosar (young Kosars) were present in the armies of the Cheras.

Silappatikaram says Kon kilam Kosar were present in the Kongu Army (Kongunadu).

The Prakrit form of Vai-mozhi Kosar is Saththiya Putthirar.

and Asokan inscriptions call the Vadukus by this name. The Akananooru 15, 2-7 records: "Thokai Kavin Thulu nattu anna Varunkai Vampalaith Thankum panpin Cherintha Seri Chemmal Moothur". (Then captured Kudaku Nadu and Erumai Nadu and settled in Tulu Nadu with Moothur as their capital).[16]

  1. ^ Irācu, Ce (1989). Muruṅkat Toluvu Periyakula varalāru [History of the Periyakulam clan of Vellalas from Kongu Region, Tamil Nadu]. Tiruppaņik Kuluvinar, Aruļmiku Vākaittolu Amman Kōyil.
  2. ^ Arnold, David (1986). Police power and colonial rule, Madras, 1859-1947. Oxford University Press.
  3. ^ கொங்கு வேளாளர் செப்பேடு, பட்டயங்கள் (in Tamil). 2007.
  4. ^ கொத்தனூர்க் காணியாளர், குழாயர்குல வரலாறு. 1998.
  5. ^ Mahadevan, Iravatham (1970). "Dravidian Parallels in Proto-Indian Script". Journal of Tamil Studies. 2 (1). International Association of Tamil Research: 157–276.
  6. ^ Mahadevan, Iravatham (2009). "Meluhha and Agastya : Alpha and Omega of the Indus Script" (PDF). Chennai, India. p. 16. The Ventar - Velir - Vellalar groups constituted the ruling and land-owning classes in the Tamil country since the beginning of recorded history.
  7. ^ Bhalchandra Deo, Shantaram (1996). Spectrum Of Indian Culture (Prof. S. B. Deo Felicitation Vol.). Vol. 1. Agam Kala Prakashan. ISBN 978-8173200229. ...Kongu Velir, a vellala prince of kongunādu,... {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  8. ^ Encyclopedia of world cultures, Volume 3 by David Levinson page 304:"There is fairly strong literary and archeological evidence linking core Vellala subcastes with a group of chieftains called Velir,..."[1]
  9. ^ Annual bibliography of Indian archaeology, Volumes 17-20 By Instituut Kern (Rijksuniversiteit te Leiden) page 111: "... the Irukkuvels are the immediate forefathers of the modern Vellalas."[2]
  10. ^ People of India: Tamil Nadu By K. S. Singh,R. Thirumalai,S. Monoharan: "...the Velir, who are identified with Vellalar..."[3]
  11. ^ On the history and social customs of Kongu Vellalas, etrhnic group of Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu,Irā Vaṭivēlan̲ India,Koṅku Vēḷir varalāṟu,Aruṇōtayam, 2003 ,Original from the University of Michigan
  12. ^ Epigraphia Indica, Volume 30,Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarkar, Archaeological Survey of India, India. Dept. of Archaeology, India. Archaeological Survey ,Manager of Publications, 1987
  13. ^ Agastya Legend and the Indus Civilization by கட்டுரையாளர் : ஐராவதம் மகாதேவன் Mahadevan, Iravatham கட்டுரையாளர் பணி : Retired I.A.S, his studies pertaining to the Indus Civilization கட்டுரைப் பிரிவு : Indus Valley Signs - சிந்துவெளி குறியீடுகள் ஆய்விதழ் எண் : 030 - December 1986 பக்கங்கள் : 024 - 037,page no 28,29
  14. ^ http://www.ulakaththamizh.org/JOTSpdf/030024037.pdf
  15. ^ Kodavas have been classed as Kshatriyas, as they were a warrior class.They have distinctive similarities with Kongu Vellala Gounders of Tamilnadu. There is a belief that when migrating from north during Aryan invasion, some stayed at Kodagu & many settled in Coimbatore region.
  16. ^ The Hindu Property Plus tried collecting details about the Kongu region and Coimbatore from the official records and the following is the information available in The Coimb atore District Gazetteer:

start discussion Porulur Poosan Kaviyarasu Gounder (talk)

Regarding culture

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In the marriage section, there is a point about child being married off to a grown woman, child’s father being considered husband etc.

It doesn’t have any source or citation. Please add source or citation for such an outrageous claim. 73.127.26.25 (talk) 19:08, 9 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]

Semi-protected edit request on 26 January 2022

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The first 2 lines in marriage section about marrying a child to an older woman, the boy's father taking the duties of husband and the woman freely associating is a false statement and probably added by a sock puppet account to defame. It's a libel. Kindly remove the 2 lines. Hellosamy (talk) 22:42, 26 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]

 Done Not even sure what "cross-cousing" is supposed to mean. Cannolis (talk) 02:10, 27 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Cannolis, I think it should have been cross-cousin. From the source for that line:[4] Introduction page 13 "The right communities all state a preference for marriage with the matrilateral cousin, while a few high-ranking left-division groups indicate the choice of a patrilateral cousin instead... This does not contradict their patrilateral cross-cousin marriage preference when it exists... I don't have access to the entire source, but based on what I was able to read, I would not be surprised if there was discussion of a married boy's father taking over the husbandly duties, although it was more likely in the context of some temple celebration or ritual. That said, who knows? This article has the problem that a lot of Indian history/caste related articles do, where much was written by editors with limited english proficiency, and a strong belief about castes and Indian history. ScottishFinnishRadish (talk) 11:50, 27 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Ah, I should have guessed that. Okay, yeah I think it would be reasonable to readd something about cross-cousin marriages, but the other stuff I'm not seeing support for - I signed up to get access to the book in question and skimmed through Chapter 5 which contains the content on marriages and on page 230 Beck writes "The fact that girls marry younger than men is more persuasive. They are considered to be eligible as brides at puberty, although many wait several years, perhaps until they are sixteen or seventeen. Men often do not marry until they are in their twenties." This directly contradicts the text from our article I removed, which claimed "which in older times often meant a child would be married to a grown woman." And I did not see anything to support the further claim that the woman would be able to "freely associate with any Kongu Vellalar she wanted" while the father is taking on the "duties of the husband". Yeah I suppose it's not surprising that so many of these caste articles are under some level of protection or another. Cannolis (talk) 18:17, 27 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]
I don't even know if the cross-cousin patrilateral matrilateral marriage stuff is WP:DUE. 95% of my caste knowledge comes from edit requests, and 5% comes from the Nepalese guy I work with, so all in all, I don't know shit. I'm happy with leaving it out, if you are. I'm sure we'll see another edit request here in a few months saying that it's outrageous to leave out cross-cousin marriage. ScottishFinnishRadish (talk) 18:22, 27 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]
I might go back into some of these sources and see what I come up with when I have the time - if cross-cousin marriages were very common for the region at the time then yeah it may be undue. I also have just about no background knowledge, the Beck piece seemed to be about all peoples of the Kongu region and I don't even know if everyone there was Vellalar or what. Cannolis (talk) 02:22, 28 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]

Pumpkin

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Suggestion of Pumpkin is the most important fruit for this caste. They farming pumpkins in all lands. It is national fruit for this caste. Veera vanniyan BJP fan (talk) 04:43, 23 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]

Gounder (Page should be modified)

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Kongu vellalar or Gounder is a cluster of various Gounders.[1] Gounder denotes "protector of the country or land". There are number of derivations for the title. One theory derives it from the Tamil word Kaamindan, meaning "noble protector of the country", later modified as Kavundan or Gounder.[1]

Note: Kongu vellalar have 16 subcastes. These all were endogamous. Nowadays, they do intermarry with other sub castes.[3][4] Phonex01 (talk) 12:25, 22 August 2022 (UTC)[reply]

 Not done for now: Which section would you like to add this? Also, regardless of where to add this, the Note doesn't comply with Wikipedia style guidelines. You can use WP:NOTES instead. Aaron Liu (talk) 23:07, 31 August 2022 (UTC)[reply]

References

  1. ^ Madhvan, Karthik (2 August 2008). "Steeped in history". Frontline. Chennai, India: The Hindu Group. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 22 January 2011.
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