Vanniyar

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Veerappan was of Vanniyar origin
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Veerappan was of Vanniyar origin

Vanniyar, also Vanniar is the name given to a social group or caste, some of whose members were chiefs, rulers and former warriors in northern Tamil Nadu, southern Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.

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[edit] Ethnic roots

Vanniyars in Tamil Nadu are generally Tamil-speaking while in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka they speak their native Dravidian languages namely, Telugu and Kannada respectively.

[edit] Vanniyar Puranam

Vanniyar puranam narrates the story of Veera Vanniyan and Vanniyars are believed to be the descendants of Veera Vanniyan. Veera Vanniyan was born from the fire yaga of SambuMaharishi or JammuMaharishi (Sanskrit). This is known as Sambu miendhar(son) kappiyam or VannivarPuranam.

This Puranam is written by Saiva Sri VeeraPillai at Madurai Royal Court in the presence of King Sundara Pandian. Origin of Vanniya puranam was Agni Puranam or Aagneya puranam which is one of the 18 puranams written in Sankirit.

Like Vanniyars, Rajputs also called themselves as AgniKulaKshatriya and they are following the Same Agni Puranam as their Myth. Even some Gujarati communities called themselves Vaniya. You can find the Vaniya community in Gujarat.

The four Agnikula Rajput clans – Chauhans, Paramaras, Pratiharas and Solankis originated from Mt. Abu. The descendants of these warriors were to rule a large part of India. Pallavas are believed from Pratiharas Clans.

The VanniyarPuranam is first printed in 1858. Basically the Puranam is written in a song format. It was first written with the title "Vannia kula Suryodhayam" & printed in the year 1858. Along with this, Guga Sree Adigal(Saiva Pu. Pa. Rathina Sabapathy Naicker) has written text detail(urai) for the base song(moolam) on Palm leaf titled "Vanniyar Puranam".

Thiru K. Rathinam Naicker reprinted this book with detailed explanation in 2005

[edit] Symbols

Vanniyar sangam uses firepot as the symbol of vannivars.

[edit] Vanni Tree

Vanni Tree (Prosopis Spicigera) is a holy tree in Hindu tradition. However this is very rare and found only in a few places.

Vanni tree is worshipped on Vijaya Dasami since gave relief to Parvati by its shade when she was tired. Sri Rama, is said to have circumambulated vanni tree in his search for Sita. Also, Pandavas concealed their arms in a vanni tree when they had to lead their lives incognito.

Vanni tree in Brihadisvara Temple [1].
Vanni tree in Vayalur Murugan Temple [2].

[edit] Self styled Kshatriyas

Vanniya Kula Kshatriya in Tamil Nadu, Agni Kula Kshatriya in Andhra Pradesh and their ethnic brethren the Tigalas Vahni Kula Kshatriya in Karnataka have the same root. In Andhra they also claim Vannekshatriya origin and sport Vanne Reddy, Vanne Kapu or Vanne Palli sub titles.

[edit] Caste titles

In Tamil Nadu, Vanniyars use Padayatchi (Padayatchi is not only a title and it is also used to symbolize the caste name. The padayatchi title may be seen in other communities but the real padayatchis were the Vanniyar. In caste certificates too Vanniyars mention their caste as Padayatchis (sometimes without mentioning Vanniyar). None other than Vanniyars mention it as also their caste name as they are the sole holder of the title.), Gounder, Naicker, Vannia Reddiar, Kander/Kandar, Rayar (Mazhavarayar, Kalingarayar) and in some cases Pillai as a suffix to their names. In Karnataka,Tigala/Thigilaru is a Vanniar subcaste with common suffix of Gowda and Nayakar.In Andhra Pradesh, Vanniars are usually known as Palli and Agnikula Kshatriya and also as VanneReddy, VanneKapu along with Naik.

[edit] Demographic spread

As noted Vanniyars live in an area where three South Indian states meet. They currently predominate in northern Tamilnadu where as seizable numbers are found in southern Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. In these latter Indian states they are no longer the majority in the districts that they primarily live due to migration of other ethnic groups from outside.

[edit] Important cities

Important cities are Chennai, Bangalore, Salem, Thiruchirapalli, Vellore, Cuddalore, Thiruvannamalai, Tanjavur, Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri, Villupuram, Krishnamundry, Nellore, Thirupathi, and Pondicherry.

[edit] Vanniyar outside India

Vanniyar as a caste are no longer registered amongst northern Sri Lankan Tamils but just 50 years ago it was present singly in the North and North Central provinces and during the time it got assimilated as part of the local Vellalar castes along with other similar positioned castes. Many kings and chiefs with titles such as Vanni or Vannia had ruled in these areas termed as Vannimai during the Jaffna Kingdom days.

There is a local theory that derives these titles independent of Indian Vaniar caste amongst both Sri Lankan Tamils and Sinhalese from the Sinhalese word for forest, namely Vanna and a Vannia or Wannia as a person from the forest and Vannimais were large tracks of forest lands. (see Wanniyala-Aetto)

Vanniyar also migrated to South Africa, Malaysia, Singapore, Seyschelles, Mauritius and Fiji as part of the great Tamil diaspora. Variant Vanniyar titles such as Govendar, Naicker and Padayachee are used amongst their descendants.

[edit] Prominent Vanniyars

Some information in this article or section has not been verified and may not be reliable.
Please check for any inaccuracies, and modify and cite sources as needed.
  • Dr. S. Ramdoss - PMK founder president
  • Dr. Anbumani Ramdoss - Indian Health Minister
  • Mr. Krishnasamy - Tamil Nadu Congress Leader
  • Mr. Rangasamy - Chief Minister of Pondicherry, India
  • Veerapandi S Arumugam - Agriculture Minister of Tamil Nadu
  • Mr. Durai Murugan - Minister for Public Works. Tamil Nadu
  • Mr. MRK Pannerselvam - Tamil Nadu Backward Welfare Minister
  • Mr.S.Jagathratchagan - Renowned Educationalist and Industrialist / Former MP of Government of India
  • Shri Gingee N Ramachandran - MDMK leader and Former Minister of Government of India
  • Veerappan - India's infamous dacoit and brigand
  • Chengalvarayar Naicker- Famous Businessman and Educationalist
  • Kandasamy Kandar- Renowned Educationalist
  • Panruti Ramachandran - Former Minister of Tamilnadu,
  • (Late)S S Ramasamy Padayachi - Former Minister of Government of India / Tamilnadu
  • (Late)Vazhapadi Ramamurthy - Former Minister of Government of India, and a Congress leader/ Trade Union leader
  • Thangar Bachan - Cinematographer turned Director in Tamil mainstream movies
  • Murugesa Naicker- Renowned Industrialist, Constructed the First Largest Mansion and Office Complex in the Chennai.
  • (Late) Manickavelu Naicker - Founder of Working People's Party / Former Minister of Government of India / Tamilnadu
  • Mr. Chandrasekar - Election Commissioner of Tamil Nadu
  • Mr. P.R.Ramesh Tigala - Former Mayor of Bangalore
  • Mr.Murugavel Naicker - Founder of World's Largest Matrimonial Portal - Bharatmatrimony.com
  • A.P. Nagarajan - Director, One of the Legend of Tamil Cinema
  • Kempe Gowda I founder of Bangalore
  • Mr.G.Selvaraj - Founder of Vivasaya Makkal Katchi, Managing Trustee- Vanniyar Kalvi Kazhagam

[edit] See also

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