Karuneegar
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Contents |
[edit] Introduction
Karuneegar is a caste in TamilNadu, India. They are sometimes called as "kanakku pillai" which means "accountant" or "book keeper" in Tamil.
[edit] Divisions
It has following divisions
Sri Karuneegar
Sarattu Karuneegar
Kaikatti Karuneegar
Madhuvazhi Kanakkar
Sozhi Kanakkar
Sunnambu Karuneegar
[edit] Beliefs
Karuneegars believe that they are descendants of Chitragupta. His wife is Karnagi Amman. [1]. Karuneegars are part of Kayatha family. The history of the Karuneegars are recorded in Karuneegar Puranam. There is a temple for Chitra Gupta in Kanchpuram.
[edit] Locations
They are mainly concentrated in Tamil Nadu. But they are also located in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and other states.
Tamil Nadu: Karuneegar Population varies in different districts of Tamil Nadu. It is believed that Karuneegars are more concentrated in northern districts of Tamil Nadu. The south Tamil nadu have many Pillai but they are not thought to belong to Karuneegars.
Andhra :
In Andhra Pradesh, they are called Karnams. They speak Telugu as well as Tamil esp. Chittoor region.
Karnataka: Some Karuneegars are predominantly found in Southern Districts of Karnataka.
Kerala: They are also found in Kerala. Typically Menons are Karuneegars of Kerala.
Other States: They also inhibit various parts of India like mumbai, delhi and other states of India.
World Wide: There are also Karuneegars who live in US,UK,Australia and other countries.
[edit] Occupation
Occupation varies by people. Karuneegars mostly followed Accountancy/Mathematics in old times. These days they are in different occupations. Mathematics is natural in blood. Some of the subcaste named 'kanakkar' which is meaned in tamil as " Mathematician "
[edit] Ancestry
Kayastha:
Kayastha is the mother caste of Karuneegar. There are also striking similarities like worship of chitragupta etc. Both Kayastha and Karuneegar caste believe that they are descendants of Chitragupta (Please see Beliefs listed above). Kayastha's origin are believed to be brahmins who practiced kshatriya by occupation. Karuneegar Sangams has articles which confirm Karuneegar caste's lineage in Kayastha.
There are indirect conclusions which can be drawn based on certain references. The Karuneegars are known as Karnams in Andhra Pradesh. There is a caste named Karanam or Karana in Andhra Pradesh and Orissa whose primary jobs are village head or village accountants. This Karana is part of Kayastha according to Kayastha community and Karana community. The surnames of Karana are Patnaik etc. which are recognized as part of Kayastha community.
Saiva Pillai:
It is claimed that Karuneegar is a part of Saiva Pillai. Saiva Pillai is a part of big Pillai community. But there are also claims that Karuneegar itself a separate community of Pillai instead falling under Saiva Pillai. See Pillai, Karuneegar & Matrimony below
Pillai, Karuneegar & Matrimony:
Karuneegar Pillai is one of the classifications of Pillai according to matrimonial services. The listing is seen as Pillai--> Karuneegar, eg. KM Matrimony (Kalyanamaalai).
Pillai, Karuneegar & Kayastha:
It is said that pillai itself a part of Kayastha which is questionable to some people. Pillai started as title but it became a separate community. There are controversies whether whole pillai community is part of kayastha. Some people said, only karuneegar is part of kayastha which received 'pillai' title (the honorary title) name in old times resulting as a community name 'Karuneegar Pillai'.
[edit] Legends & Personalities
Vallalar :
Vallalar is also known as ramalinga swamigal. Vallalar was a great saint who lived in Tamil Nadu.
Malleswari is the first woman olympic medallist of India and only Indian medallist in the Sydney Olympics 2000.
[edit] Books
Karuneegar Puranams
[edit] References
Karuneegar caste and its Divisions ( Schedule I, Part A, No:53 )- Tamil Nadu State And Subordinate, http://www.tn.gov.in/acts-rules/pandar/tnsssr.web.htm
Kayastha - Welcome to Kayastha Parivar, http://www.kayasthaparivar.org/index.htm
Kayastha Locatiions( Pillai Verification ), Place mouse over SouthIndia & Tamil Nadu points of this india map - Welcome to Kayastha Parivar, http://www.kayasthaparivar.org/our_community.htm
http://saivaneri.org/who_are_saiva_vellalars_or_saivapillais.htm
