Vanniyar

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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.

Vanniyars are the Southindia Emperors, who ruled the Entire South India for more than 2000 years and they are still dominanting in the region. They are in Tamil Nadu,- while in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka they speak their native Dravidian languages namely, Telugu and Kannada respectively.

Vanniars or Palli, a majority people in the southindia. As per the Census,

35% of Pondicheery population

15% of TamilNadu population

5% of Andhra population

10% of Karnataka population belongs to this great community. Totally, the Vanniar population is more than 20 Million in the SouthIndia.

Contents 1 Great Kshatriyas 2 Ethic roots 2.1 Vanniyar Puranam 3 Caste titles 4 Demographic spread 4.1 Important cities 5 Vanniyar outside India 6 Symbols 7 Vanni Tree 8 Prominent Vanniyars 9 Professionals 10 See also 11 References

[edit] Great 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] Ethic roots

The pre dominant caste in northern tamilnadu, southern Karnataka and Andhra. Once they ruled the vast land in between the north of cauvery and south of north pennar. They are descendents of Pallavas and cholas. Their principal chieftains known as sambuvarayas,Kadavarayas,Mazhavarayas, Kachirayas.

[edit] Vanniyar Puranam

Vanniyar puranam narrates the story of one mythological 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 Veera Pillai 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.^{[citation needed]}

Basically vanniyars are considered are descendents of Palli tribe of Dravidian race.

Vanniyar, a only ruling class had its own puranam in the Southindia.

[edit] Caste titles

In Tamil Nadu, Vanniyars use various titles i.e. Padayatchi, Gounder, Naicker/Nayagar, Vannia Reddiar, Kander/Kandar, . 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 Vanne Reddy, Vanne Kapu 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 in-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] Symbols

Vanniyar sangam uses firepot as the symbol of vanniars. Firepot is the symbol of pallava empire who used the symbol in the rock cut temples.

Vanniar or Palli, a native dravidan tribe who ruled the entire southindia for more than 2000 years.

From 240 AD to 943 AD - Pallava Empire

From 943 AD to 1313 AD - Chola Empire

From 1313 AD to 1798 AD - Sambuvarayar, Kadavarayar, Pallavarayar, Kalingarayar Dynastry

From 1798 AD to 1947 AD - Brithish Rule, but most of the villages & towns are under the direct rule of Vanniar Gounder, Naicker, Reddiar and Padayachi.

From 1947 AD to still date - Working People's Party, PMK who ruled some parts of North Tamil Nadu

[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] Prominent Vanniyars

• See List of prominent Vanniars

[edit] Professionals

Younger generation of vanniya community are concentrating in professional fields like doctors, software engineers,lawyers,IAS, IPS etc.

Recent survey showed that 60 percent of the professionals in tamilnadu are from vanniya community.

[edit] See also

• Tigala A Karnataka branch
• Gounder A caste title used
• Padaiyatchi A caste title used
• Vanniyar Forum http://www.vanniyar.net - Discussion Board for the Vanniyars
• Vanniyar Portal http://www.vanniaronline.com - Complete Portal for the Complete People
• Tamil diaspora For Vanniars outside Tamil Nadu
• Pattali Makkal Katchi Working Peoples Party

[edit] References