Choliyal
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Cōļiya kula antaṇa (சோழிய குல அந்தணர்) or Sholiyar are group of Brahmins and are mainly Purohits, Advisers to the King, Landlords, Astrologers , Temple Priests and Many are Carnatic musicians. These group is one of the oldest Pancha-Dravida Brahmins.
The Name Choliyal itself is of very recent origin probably due to their settlement in Chola kingdom. They have many things in common with nambudiris in kerala.
Sholiyar during those days being referred to as anthanar, chaturvedins, or somayajin, vasantayajin,shadangavid,sarvakratuyajin , Nambis, Brahmarayan and Amatyar.
Choliyal brahmins believe themselves to be the kin of Chanakya (Kutiliya). This however is a moot point.These brahmins are very few in numbers and also going down by the same.
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[edit] Choliyal Brahmins
They Broadly divided into Choliya smarthas and Choliya vaishnavas.
[edit] Choliyal smarthas
This is one of the prominent groups of Iyer-brahmins in Tamilnadu in the Chola kingdom especially around Kumbakonamand Trichy and they all follow the Vedic culture and they mostly follow the advaita of Adi Shankara. According to Chandrashekarendra Saraswati, Paramacharaya of Kanchi, in Deivathin Kural Part5, Adishankaracharya's forefathers were Sholiyar.His disciple Padmapada is also Sholiyar. Many Nayanmars like Sambanthar, nambi andar nambi,are Choliyal, Saivite Saint Manickkavasagar was a urvat sikha brahmin.
They are further divided into Three. They are Five villagers (ஆதி மறையவர், ஐந்து கிராமத்தார்) Nine villagers (ōnpatu kirāmattār, ஓன்பது கிராமத்தார் ) and Eighteen villagers (18 kirāmattār, கிராமத்தார்).
[edit] Five villagers((ஆதி மறையவர், ஐந்து கிராமத்தார் )
This group of Brahmins have Purva Sikha (Mun`kuţumi, முன்குடுமி) and led a orthodox system of life as Similar to Kerala namboodiri,only difference is that this people perform Vedic Rituals rather than Tantric rituals of Namboodiri. The word "nambudiri" may have been a derivative of word nambi of old tamil.
Some of these People are believed to have been the first to be taken by Lord Parasurama to Kerala, when it was formed by him. These People now called as (illa Mana) Namboodiri distinguish from other groups of nambhoodiris who are held to have migrated from Karnataka and Andhra pradesh. Their Settlements are,
- Thillai chidabaram (muvāyiravar, முவாயிரவர்) Dikshitar
- ThiruvAnaikoil (āyiravar, ஆயிரவர்) Pandithar
- Avadaiyarkoil (muņņūrṛiōruvar, முன்னூற்றிஓருவர்) Nambimaar
- Woraiyur (virupashipuram)
- Poompuhar( Later Moved to Tiruvarur,since Their settlement in Poompuhar destroyed ).
These people Won't Marry with other groups of brahmin,especially the Dikshitar are completely endogamous right from the beginning.These people believe that they are Superior to others. Normally they do not take in converts from any other group.
All the Five villagers are believed to have come to Earth from Kailasam,due to the request of Chola emperors.Out of them Woraiyur and Poompuhar Settlements are those who are believed to have been associated with early and later Cholas to perform Vedic Rituals(yaagams) for the emperors and princes and other three are only Independent Priesthoods in Tamilnadu,similar to now non-existent banaras and mathura of north india. In ancient brahmins of this class were generally associated with cholas/pallavas.
[edit] Nine villagers ((ōņpatu kirāmattār, ஓன்பது கிராமத்தார் )
These People have Urvat Sikha(Uchikudumi, உச்சிகுடுமி).
- Thirukkatiyoor
- Madalur
- Visalur
- Puthalur
- Senganur
- Tiruchendur(Pandimars)
- Thiruperangundram
- KumbhaKonam
- Peraiyur
It was believed that on the desire of Lord Muruga some of these Choliyal went to Tiruchendur and Thiruperangundram in the Pandya kingdom, and settled there to be called the Pandimars.
These People are mainly Purohits.
[edit] Eighteen villagers (ஸாம வேத அந்தணர், 18 கிராமத்தார்)
Sama veda choliya's , had been found in the Eighteen villages about 400 families of around Cauvery banks of Trichy And Thanjavur during the Chola reign. Later, around 1234 A.D they migrated to Kerala. They are found in the villages of palakkad(palghat), especially in the villages of Kodunthirapully Agraharam, Ahaliyapandiyapuram. A few are also found in Nagercoil and Suchindrum. These people are especially Talavakara Sakha of the Sama Veda and they are mainly from Anbil, Kidamangalam, llayattangudi, Sesamulail, Sendalai, Tirunangur. Others who stayed in the banks of Cauvery adopted Srivaishnavam. These people are also Purva sikha choliyal.
Many of these are carnatic Musician like Chembai.
[edit] Choliya vaishnavas
There is another group of sholiyar,who adopted Srivaishnavam, which is also further divided into Two:
One is around the seven villages (ēļū kirāmam, ஏழூ கிராமம்) of Trichy.These include Yeavur, Kariyamanikam, Killiyanallur, Anthanallur, Puthur, Thruvellrai,Thitukkotiyur, Papakurichi, Uttamasili and Maanakaal(Anbil). Both PURVA SIKHA and URVAT SIKHAare common.
Another is found in seven villages (ēļū kirāmam, ஏழூ கிராமம்) of around Thirunelvalli These include Villages like Alvar Tirunagari, Tentirupperai (Tenkalai Vaisnavas) and Watrap; and at Karamanai and Tiruvettar near Trivandrum, .These people have PURVA SIKHA.
These Brahmanas are mostly Thenkalai and they follow Vishishtadvaita of Ramanuja. This group are Vaishnavites. All Brahmin Alvars, such as Madhurakavaialwar,Uyyakondanar,Thirukottiyur Nambi,Tondar adi podi Alvar were Choliyal. Periya Alwar , also known as villiputhur vishnuchittan , a confidante of pallava emperor kampavarman was Thenkalai Sholiyar. Sri Ramanuja's guru Thirukkoshtiyur Nambi, was a Choliyal.
[edit] Choliyal Beliefs
Choliyal believe themselves to be the kin of Chanakya (Kutiliya).So they follow Arthasastra of his.Manusmriti is also followed.
Common Gotra's found among choliyal are Atreya,Bharatvaj,Koundinya,Rowshayadana,Kowshika.
Rig, Yajur and Sama vedis are found , Mainly Yajur vedics Follow Baudhayana.Both recensions of rig veda including the rare kowsheethiki recension, are found.
Sama vedis belong to rare Talavakara Sakha .
