Vellala Gounder
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Kongu Vellala Gounder |
|---|
| Total population |
|
about 5,000,000 |
| Regions with significant populations |
| Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, Srilanka, Malaysia, Singapore, USA |
| Languages |
| Tamil |
| Religions |
| Hinduism |
| Related ethnic groups |
| Vellalar |
Vellala Goundar are a land-owning and a feudal caste of Tamil Nadu, India. They are also known as Kongu Vellalar and are a subdivision of the Vellalar caste.
Contents |
[edit] Ethnic roots
Vellala Gounder are considered to be native Tamil speakers of the Kongu Nadu, an ancient division of Tamilakam that was also Sanskritized as the Gangavadi region and included parts of northwest Tamil Nadu, portions of neighbouring Kerala, and the southern Mysore region of Karnataka.
The Kongu Vellalars were originally from the Chola empire and later migrated to the Karur, Salem, Coimbatore, and Erode districts in modern day Tamil Nadu owing to a conflict with the Chola rulers.
The Vellalar were warriors who supported the Cholas and the Cheras during the wars. They were of great assistance to the king in various positions and ranks in the army. The community enjoyed high reputation, influence, popularity and respect even from the Sangam age. They also got the title 'Kamindan' from the king for their meritorious service and loyalty. Later the title got modified to 'Gounder'.
[edit] Feudal past
The land was divided into 24 regions. These regions are often suffixed by the word "Nadu", such as Annamalai Nadu or Kangeya Nadu. Under their organizational system, the chiefs of the 24 regions would get together and decide on various political and social issues.
During different periods the area was under the overlordship of different dynasties: the Cholas, the Cheras and the Pandyas. The area was very strategic and full of resources and hence there was fierce competition to control the area. Even so, the Kongu leaders had so much freedom, independence, reverence and respect during all three periods, under the Pandyas, Cholas and Cheras, that they often acted as intermediaries in solving issues arising among the three dynasties. They also had the right to crown the kings of the Cheras, Cholas and Pandyas.
[edit] Clans or Kootams
Unlike other Vellalar, whose totemic clan and tribal origins have been eclipsed and totally erased by Sanskritisation, Kongu Vellalar still maintain their tribal and clan divisions.
The Tamil word kootam or "Kulam" is used to denote a clan. There are about 145 of them listed.
People belonging to the same kootam (kulam) usually do not intermarry. Each kootam has its own Kulaguru and Kuladeivam or deity. In temples, it is a common practice to pray to their 'idol' which is specific to a kootam.
Some kootams (kulam) betray a totemic origin, whereas others appear to be names of lineage founders or place names of the clan's original habitation. Others show other ethnic origins such as Kannadiga and Toda. From the clan names it appears that at some point in history many different people came together to coalesce into this social group.
Apparently some of these clan titles are common with Vettuva Gounder in the same area. The historical war between Vellala Gounder and Vettuva Gounders is mentioned in the mythical local Annamar-Appachimar story, in which the latter were defeated.
[edit] Surnames or titles
The people of the Kongu Vellala Gounder community have two titles in general:
1) The caste title which is Gounder or Goundan. Others use honorary titles like Mandradiar, Vanavarayar, Kalingarayar and Kangeyan.
2) The clan name, which is the surname really, like Perungudi, Manian etc.
Nowadays it's a common practise among the community not to use any titles.
So, a person by name Shakthivel, son of Shanmughanathan, of Erode of the Perungudi clan would traditionally have his name as "Erode Perungudi Sakthivel Gounder", though he may call himself "Sakthivel Shanmughanathan" or "S. Sakthivel".
[edit] Demography
The traditional Gounder belt is the area known as Kongu Nadu. The ancient area Kongunadu comprised 24 countries. This area now comprises the following districts in the western part of Tamilnadu: Erode, Coimbatore ,Tirupur, Pollachi, Udumalai, and Several parts of Dharmapuri, Ooty, Karur, northern Dindigul, western Tiruchirapalli, Salem, Namakkal, Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri and western Vellore. These districts have a Gounder population somewhere between 50 and 80%; and a secondary population, anywhere between 5 and 50%, can be found in the districts of Theni, Madurai, Villupuram, Perambalur, Thanjavur (all in Tamil Nadu), Palakkad (in Kerala), Kollegal, Mysore, Chamrajnagar, Kolar, Mandya, and Bangalore (all five in Karnataka).
They adopted family planning very early, even before the Indian Government started advising small families. For the last 30 years 90% of their families do not have more than 2 children. Today one can see single child families in thousands of their families.
[edit] Marriage customs
The marriage rites of Kongu Vellalar are ancient. Their marriage customs are unique amongst other communities in Tamil Nadu and usually do not accept the officiating of Brahmin priests.
Gounders marry outside their Kootam and are renowned for their elaborate three day-marriage extravagenzas.
The first day event is called ‘Naal virundhu’. On this day, close relatives of the bride and bridegroom host feasts for the bride’s and the bridegroom’s family respectively.
On the second day, marriage arrangements are done by bringing together all relatives. Events such as erection of pandhal, cutting of ‘Muhurtha Kaal’, hairdressing of bridegroom by Kudimagan, informing the marriage event to the village community by drum beating, hosting of feast for the relatives in the bride’s family as well as bridegroom’s family, bridegroom leaving for the bride’s house take place on the second day. The marriage event takes place in the bride’s house.
The mukurtham takes place on the third day. The bride and the bridegroom are seated on the marriage platform on the completion of appropriate rites. The Thaali (mangala naan) is tied by the bridegroom around the bride’s neck and "mangala vaazhthu" song is recited.
The marriage events come to a close with the serving of a grand feast to all relatives and friends. The marriage events are performed by a respected elderly person of the community who is called "Arumaikaarar". All the rites are performed in the Tamil language.
The Mangal Vaazthu song of the Kongu Vellalars is an extremely beautiful song in chaste Tamil and was written by the great poet Kamban in honour of the Kongu Vellalars.
For more information check the webpage below.
Extensive site on Kongu Vellala marriage customs
[edit] Culture
The Kongu culture and world view is reflected in its folklore. Folklore is an archive of human civilization. It consists of customs, beliefs, value systems, festivals and rituals of a community. It also reflects its greatness and short comings. "Kula Puranams" are the chief folkloristic expressions found in many communities in South India. 'Annanmar Kathai' is the national literature of Kongu Nadu. It tells the story of the historic war between the Vellalas and Vettuvans. It was popularized by Sakthikkanal at the regional level and by American Anthropologist Brenda E.F. Beck at the international level.
Kunnudiak Kavundan, Thamarai Naachiar, Poonar, Sangar and Thangam represent the kind of human beings we see in every age and in every society. The valour, heroism, social concern and the sacrifice of the brothers Ponnar and Sangar still inspire and guide thousands of people living in and outside Kongu region. Visiting Valanadu Fort - where the Brothers are believed to have lived and ruled, Virappur - where Peria Kandi Amman Temple the clan deity of Annanmars is located and Padugalam where the sister Thangam revived her dead brothers with her divine power is considered to be a holy task cutting across caste and creed.
[edit] Related groups
Some of the following groups are historically related but seldom intermarry now. It is also a comprehensive list of Tamil-speaking castes that use Gounder as a title.
[edit] Prominent Kongu Vellalar
[edit] References
- Extensive site on Kongu Vellala marriage customs
- History
- Kongunadu
- Ponnar Sangar - written by M. Karunanidhi
