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| India: Chettinad region of Tamil Nadu, Chennai, Sri Lanka, Burma, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong |
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Tamil people, Dravidian people, Vaishya, Forward caste (Tamil: வைசியர்) |
The Ariviyur Nagarathars (also known as Ariviyur Nagarathar Chettiars) (Tamil:அருவியூர் நகரத்தார் செட்டியார்) is a Nagarathar community under Chettiar caste in Shaivism (Tamil: சைவ சமயம்) that originated in Kaveripoompattinam under the Chola kingdom of India. They are a prominent mercantile Vaishya, (Tamil: வைசியர்) caste in Tamil Nadu, South India. They are a community with very rich cultural heritage, known for their philanthropy; building temples and schools, and maintaining them throughout India and Asia.
Ariviyur Nagarathars are referred in general as Nagarathars or Nagarathar Chettiyar until 706A.D. Later in 707A.D. Nagarathar were divided in to three major groups named as Nattukottai Nagarathar (Tamil: நாட்டுக்கோட்டைச் செட்டியார்), Ariviyur Nagarathar (Tamil: அருவியூர் நகரத்தார் செட்டியார்), SundaraPattina Nagarathar (Tamil: சுந்தரபட்டின செட்டியார்).
Ariviyur Nagarathars founded their non profit society named Ariviyur VadakkuValavu Nagarathar Education Development Society (Tamil அருவியூர் வடக்குவளவு நகரத்தார் கல்வி வளர்ச்சி கழகம்) (also known as Ariviyur VadakkuValavu Nagarathar KalviValarchi Kalagham - AVNK) on 16th Jan 1982 by Mr. A. L. Murugan and National Best Teacher Mr.N.Thirunavukkuarasu at Piranmalai, Tamil Nadu. This organisation is formed to mainly to cater to the educational needs of the Ariviyur Nagarathar community members by providing educational scholarships for the needy.
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Ariviyur VadakkuValavu Nagarathar Education Development Society (Tamil அருவியூர் வடக்குவளவு நகரத்தார் கல்வி வளர்ச்சி கழகம்) (also known as Ariviyur VadakkuValavu Nagarathar KalviValarchi Kalagham - AVNK) is a non profit educational society/organisation of Ariviyur Nagarathar. This organisation is formed to mainly to cater to the educational needs of the Ariviyur Nagarathar community members by providing educational scholarships for the needy. Ariviyur VadakkuValavu Nagarathar Education Development Society have their 12 branches located in Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai, Tiruchirappalli, Thanjavur, Dindigul, Ponnamaravathi, Kottampatti, Sirugudi, Sokkampatti, Kirukkan Kottai, Pulithipatti.
Ariviyur VadakkuValavu Nagarathar Education Development Society also publishes a Bi-Monthly magazine named Ariviyur Nagarathar Kural from Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu from the year 1997 which is a non profit magazine mainly circulated for the community development purposes.
Ariviyur Nagarathar Kural (Tamil: அருவியூர் நகரத்தார் குரல்) is a Tamil community bimonthly magazine of Ariviyur Nagarathar published by Ariviyur VadakkuValavu Nagarathar Education Development Society, in publication since 1997 based in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu.
Ariviyur Nagarathar Kural started their first publication in the year 1997 in Ponnamaravathi, Pudukkottai district of Tamil Nadu by editor So.Vaithiyalingam.
It is generally a 50 page magazine published Bi-Monthly (Jan, Mar, May, July, Sep, Nov of every year). This magazine is a controlled magazine in terms of circulation. Circulated to the Ariviyur Nagarathar members upon an annual membership of Indian rupee 60.00. Currently this community magazine is published from Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu from Ariviyur Nagarathar Kalagham, Coimbatore.
The very important purpose of this magazine is to regularly update the Ariviyur Nagarathar community whose ethnic culture and history dating back to 1310 B.C. mainly for non profit self less services of the Ariviyur Nagarathar community which includes educational, employment related updates, matrimonial updates/services etc.,.
In Brief: In 707 A.D. Nagarathar community was further subdivided into Nattukottai Nagarathar and Ariviyur Nagarathar. So the origin and history of Ariviyur Nagarathar remained the same as that of until 706 A.D. A complete detailed revised book (343 pages) named Namadhu Samuthayam written by So. Vaithiyalingam in Oct 2010 explains clearly about the complete history of chettiyar's from 2897B.C. to 2010A.D with several references mentioned below.
Book References: The first book on print to come out about Nagarathar history is in 1894 called "Thanavaisya Nattukottai Nagarathar". With the help of scriptures from Poongondrai Velangudi at Thulavoor Mutt, the book was requested and examined by VR. L. Chinniah Chettiar of Devakottai. The permission granted by eminent persons such as M. AL. AR. Ramanathan Chettiar and AL. AR. RM. Arunachalam Chettiar the edition were printed by Sadavadanam Subramania Iyer of Tanjore at the Desabimani Press at Tanjore. The second edition came in 1904.
In 1911, Pandithamani Kathiresan Chettiar wrote a book called "Nattukottai Nagarathar Seerthirutham" (changes) and in 1919 Chockalinga Ayya of Karaikudi wrote a book called "Nattukottai Nagarathar Marabu Valakkam" (description of their ways). Both wrote separate books on Nagarathar history. In 1953, the compilation by A. Ramanathan Chettiar of Vayinagaram and the edition of that by Pandithamani was called "Nattukottai Varalaru" (history). In 1970 A. Shesadiri of Varagur wrote "Nattukottai Nagarathar Varalaru", which came out in the form of a book.
After this many researchers on Nagarathars have written many research essays on their past history. Certain notable essays are those written by Kamban Adipodi Sa. Ganesan, Dr. V. SP. Manickanar, Dr. SP. Annamalai and Dr. T. Chockalingam. Based on the above we can classify the old history of the Nagarathars as below: .
Initially the Vaishyas lived in Sandhyapuri of the Sambu Islands in Naganadu. This borders the present state of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. They were of Chandrakula Gothiram. Later they embraced Saivism. There is actually a question over when the Nagarathars joined Saivism and when they would renounce Saivism? "When the sun and the moon were born on this earth the Nagarathars became Saivaites and when they are no more they would renounce Saivism." v According to Pandit Kathiresan Chettiar. At that time they were saivaites, praying to Maragatha Vinayagar, doing trade in precious stones and having the equal respect like the king. Naganadu is near Andhra. Later, an earthquake, according to DR. V. SP. Manickanar destroyed this Naganadu.
During the Kaliyuga year 204 (2897 BC) the Vaishyas could not bear the harassment of the Naga king and they came down to Thondaimandalam, namely Kanchipuram. At Kanchipuram the king welcomed them with a warm heart and royalty. He gave them land to build temples and mutts, They continued their devotion towards Maragatha Vinayagar and continued their trade with gems till the Kaliyuga year 2311 (790 BC) and lived happily.
During the Kaliyuga year 2312 (789 BC), Prathaparasa the king who ruled Kanchipuram imposed unjustified severe fines and punishments. Hence, the Vaishyas from there went to Cholanadu. They settled along the banks of River Cauvery at Kaveripoompattinam. Manuneedhicholan, the king of that time requested the Vaishyas to live in three streets, East, West and South streets. He gave the Vaishyas three honorable rights. One was the coronation of the king, the second was to have an independent lion flag of their own and the third was to have golden kalasams in the bungalows they lived in. When they got these rights the Nagarathars were called "Rathina Maguda Thanavaisyar". They continued their prayers towards Maragatha Vinayagar.
In the Kaliyuga year 3775 (674 AD) Poovanthicholan who was ruling at that time harassed and imprisoned all the womenfolk. Hence, the 8000 Vaishyas leaving behind all their assets, 1502 boys and the Maragatha Vinayagar under the custody of their guru Atmananda Sastri to do pooja and look after, they all committed suicide. The guru Atmananda Sastri taught them the five-letter panchatara mantra for upadesam, till to this date they remember it with the help of the Patharakkudi Madam.
In the Kaliyuga year 3784 (683 AD) the old aged Poovanthicholan requested the Vaishyas youngsters to do the coronation ceremony for his son Rajaboosanacholan. The youngsters said that they were incapable of doing the coronation since they were all bachelors and there were no eligible girls in the community to get married to. The king consulted with Esana sivachariar and pronounced that Vaishyas can marry Vellala caste girls. The Vaishyas youngsters said that they would marry the girls from the Vellala caste, but they would not marry their girls by birth to the Vellala caste. The king requested the Vellala community to accept this. The Vellala community accepted on the condition that their community guru would perform the dhikshai for their girls and the girls born to them. The East Street, which was divided into seven branches, had 502 Vaishyas youngsters married to Solliya Vellala girls. For these girls their guru was Alagiya Gurukkal from Srivanjiyam...
Silapathikaram, a book written by Ilango Adigal, states that the main character in the book "Kovalan" is a Chettiar. Salt trade was famous during the Pandya regime. After going to many places to do business finally they would converge at Palani during the festival of Thaipoosam and write "Magamai". Magamai is an annual tax paid to the god. According to the capital invested or profit got a percentage is calculated and the magamai is derived. Here they set right their accounts and look at their profits and accordingly write their magamai. Later they give free food to all, called "Annadhanam" (rice gift). This can be seen in Palani on a stone engraving, where it states that Kuppan Chetty's son Kumarappa Chetty of Nemam Kovil was the first to do salt trade at Palani with the help of Deivanayaga Pandaram.
It is also believed that Kannagi and Kovalan, the prime personalities of the epic Silappatikaram were born in this community (called 'Thanavanigar' by then). Buddhist and Jainist links must be analysed.
'Pattinathar' - a saint, who is believed to be a Nagarathar and was a trader before leaving the worldly pleasures.
Nagarathar business people are Hindus, predominantly originating in the Chettinad region of Tamil Nadu. They have been trading with Southeast Asia since the heyday of the Chola empire, but in the 19th Century they migrated to countries throughout Southeast Asia. (See Tamil diaspora)
Nagarathars were an important trading class of 19th and 20th century South East Asia and spread to Sri Lanka, Burma, Malayasia, Singapore, Java, Sumatra, and Ho Chi Minh City. Changing political and economic situations since that time have caused many of these communities to disappear as their members returned to India or sought other, more hospitable homes.
Chettiars were traditionally involved in occupations like moneylending and wholesale trading. Banks established by Chettiars include the now defunct Bank of Chettinad, and the now ICICI merged Bank of Madurai founded by Karumuttu Thiagarajan Chettiar (an Architect par excellence, Textile Don, highly principled Educationist and Philanthropher), Indian Overseas Bank founded by Shri. M. Ct. M. Chidambaram Chettiar, and Indian Bank founded by Raja Annamalai Chettiar. Nagarathars are known for their philanthropy; building temples, and schools and maintaining them throughout Asia. A married Nagarathar lady is usually addressed as 'Achi' with respect.
Silapathikaram, a book written by Ilango Adigal, states that the main character in the book "Kovalan" is a Chettiar. There have been multiple movies based on the epic of Silappathikaram and the most famous is the portrayal of Kannagi by actress Kannamba in the 1942 movie Kannagi. P.U.Chinnappa played the lead as Kovalan. The movie faithfully follows the epic of Silappathikaram and was a hit when it was released. The movie Poompuhar, penned by 'Kalaignar' M. Karunanidhi is also based on Silapathikaram.[1] There are multiple dance dramas as well by some of the great exponents of Bharatanatyam in Tamil as most of the verses of Silappathikaram can be set to music.