Maniyan kootam (Tamil: மணியங் கூட்டம், மணியன் கூட்டம்) is a clan of the Kongu Vellalars (கொங்கு வேளாளர்), farmer caste of Tamilnadu in South India. In a clan every relation is a brother or sister, marriage within clan is not desired. In the Kongu Vellalar there are initially 60 clans, now expanded to 148 clans. Each clan has marriage relationship with the other clans.
The Maniyan kootam people are found in the Mohanur (South Namakkal district), Kodumudi (West Karur district), Muthur (East Tirupur district). There are 3 branches of Maniyans are there:
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The oldest clan listing, the following are the kootams as found in some catalogues. 1. Antuvan; 2. Adi; 3. Antai; 4. Adar; 5. Avan; 6. Injcan; 7. Otalan; 8. kannan; 9. Kanavalan; 10. kadai; 11. Kari; 12. kiran; 13. Kuyilan; 14. Kulaiayan; 15. Kunukkan; 16. Kodai; 17. Kuran; 18. Koventan; 19. Cattantai; 20. Cellan; 21. Cemban; 22. Cenkgkannan; 23. Cemputan; 24. Ceziyan; 25. Cengkunniyan; 26. Cevvayan; 27. Cheran; 28. Cedan; 29. Dhanajayan; 30. Devendran; 31. Thodan; 32. Nidunniyan; 33. Pannan; 34. Pavalan; 35. Panaiyan; 36. Paduman; 37. Payiran; 38. Panangkadan; 39. Badariyar; 40. Pandyan; 41. Pullan; 42. Pucan; 43. Putan; 44. Puccandai; 45. Perungkudi; 46. Periyacavam; 47. Porulantai; 48. Ponnan; 49. Maniyan; 50. Mayilan; 51. Madan; 52. Muttan; 53. Vannakkan; 54. Valayan; 55. Vanan; 56. Villiyan; 57. Viziyan; 58. Ventuzavan; 59. Vellamban; 60. Velaiyan
The Kongu vellalars are very studious people, who migrated from the lush, fertile Cauvery delta in Tanjore and Trichy to the wild forests upriver Cauvery. The Chola kingdom which flourished in the 9th century till 13th century, need to expand its land of cultivation and being wealthy to undertake such endeavors.
The delta becomes crowded forcing enterprising people to expand to forest and built villages. They move up river and by their sheer hard work and persistence had survived and created villages in the Kongu region, and they are called Kongu Vellalars ("Farmers of Kongu"). These migration is not a one time affair, it happened slowly over 1000 years. Thus people migrate from heart of delta to the borders of delta. The place called Madhukarai (Near Mayanur, Trichi) forms the border between fertile lands and forests.
The Princes and Dukes of Chola kingdom called Kongu Cholas enhance the expansion into the forest country. They King approves and grants permission to expand further. The Annamaar/ Annamar or Ponnar - Sankar story reflects the one of the encounters with the hunter people, who is against the farming people who came there to settle. In the Annamar story, which occurred in Valanadu, Manaparai near Trichy is struggle of the farming people against hunter people and balance act to live harmoniously.
The expansion stated in near 10th century continued as the families and clan expands till 700 years later. The Mohanur, Namakkal district is a place near Madhukarai, people got multiplied from a family to a clan/koottam named probably after original ancestor of the clan MANIYAN. They worship Chellandi Amman and Navaladi Karuppusamy (Pattamarathan). Karuppusamy is continuation of the VeeraKal (Warrior Stones), of the Sangam age in the memory of the martyrs of the war. Karuppusamy usually wield Aruval (Curved Machete), he is seated under Jambul tree (Tamil: நாவல்). The gods of the Vellalars are a Goddess and protection God (usually Karuppusamy), where animal sacrifice took place.
In 1700s Maniyan clan people from Mohanur, Namakkal Dist (With deity of Chellandi amman and Navaladi Karuppusamy) in need of resources migrated again from there. They crossed from the north banks of the Cauvery, where Mohanur is situated to the south bank and traveled west side to the forest, along the upstream.
They might have reached Noyyal (place of Noyyal confluence to Cauvery), then they travel along the Noyyal river, upstream. On reaching Thurkatchi (Thukkachi), one section of the people decided to settled down on the banks of the river. They settled down in villages around there like Ungampalayam, Kattur, Karungalkadu, Thukachi, Kattampatti, NariKattuValasu, Puthupalayam, Pillapalayam, Ramanathapuram, Anjur, Valayapalayam, ChinnaValayaPalayam, NallaSelliPalayam, Murgampalayam to mention a few surrounding villages.
They built a temple for Chellandi Amman and Sekkadi Periyasamy in Kattampatti (Near Thurkatchi). They got settled near Noyyal River around Thurkatchi - "Reign of Goddess Durga" (Wrongly spelled as Thukkatchi, "Reign of Worry"). The deity Sekkadi Periyasamy is been installed by a Vaaniyar (Oil miller) sage, so called Sekkadi (Oil pressing place).These people are called as a new section of Maniyans as Thurkatchi (Thukkatchi) Maniyan Kootam, having clan temple in Kattampatti (2 km).
Another section of Maniyans traveled further west to settle in Muthur. They have their deity of Selvakumarasamy (Only section of clan having Lord Muruga as clan god) and Kuppanasamy. For Kuppansamy they offer animal sacrifices, it is famous temple in the Muthur area. These Maniyans are called Muthur Maniyan. They belong to third section of Maniyan kootam, apart from Mohanur Maniyan and Thurkatchi Maniyan. Maniyans-setteled-district-God-Protection God-Banks of-Offerings-Festival-nearest place
| Maniyan | Settled | District | God | Protection God | Banks of | Offerings | Festival | Nearest Place |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mohanur Maniyan | Mohanur | Namakkal | Chelladi Amman (Travel on: Lion) | Navaladi Karuppusamy (Travel on: Horse) | Cauvery | Hen and Goat for Karuppusamy | March Festival -Sathiya Poosai | Mohanur |
| Thurkatchi Maniyan | Thurkatchi | Karur | Chelladi Amman (Travel on: Lion) | Sekkadi Periyasamy (Travel on: Cheetah) | Noyyal | Hen, Goat, Liquor, Cigar for Periyasamy | Annual Sacrifice - Lacharchanai - Sathya Poosai - Annual Amman fair | Kodumudi |
| Muthur Maniyan | Muthur | Tirupur | Selvakumarasamy (Travel on: Peacock) | Kuppusamy (Travel on: Horse) | NA | Hen and Goat for Kuppusamy | Annual Sacrifice | Muthur |
| Maniyan || Nathakadaiyur || Tirupur || Kariyakali Amman || Karuppanasamy) || NA || || Annual Sacrifice to Karuppanasamy || Nathakadaiyur |}
Karuppusamy is popularly referred as Navaladian (One who is under Jambul tree) and as Judge Durai (Provider of justice) and as Pattamarathaan (One who is under Dead tree). Devotees throng the temple seeking solutions for burden of debt, family problems, incurable diseases and for a profitable cattle business and for child boon and suitable marriage alliances.[1]
People sacrifice sheep and cocks and offer it to Karuppusamy. The midnight poosai called Sathya Poosai is considered very important by the devotees. Devotees write their grievances in a petition clearly as if submitting to an official and tie them in the Pattamaram tree in the temple.[2]
Chellandi amman is popularly called Chellaye, temple is situated in Katampatti in banks of Noyyal river 7 km from Kodumudi. She travels on lion, and deity is on seating position. Temple has deity for forefather and mother. A Pillayar (Ganesha) deity is situates in the entrance under a country-fig tree. Inside a separate dome for Kannimar and three sacrifice goddess are present. a small festival hall is present.
In April–May month annual festival happens, people of Thurkatchi maniyan clan gather for the festival. In July month Lacharchanai (10 Million hymns) and Conch worship will happen, people in the vicinity towns will visit the temple. People will offer lemon, coconut, flowers, garland, oil, milk, ghee, incents, camphor to Chellandi.
The temple is in deteriorating condition in late 1980s, with bushes everywhere. Then like minded people join together and temple is renovated and Kudamulukku/Kubaabishekam (Renovation Ceremony) happened in 1996. Chellandi is not only clan God for Thurkatchi Maniyan kootam, but also for Koushika gurukal Brahmins of Karvazhi.
Once located in the sandy banks of Noyyal with Aavarai plants, now there is no sand left, only seemai karuvel plants and polluted river. Sellandi amman-Chellandi amman-Chellaye-Chellatha-Sellaye-Sellatha-Kattampatti Chellandi
Periyasamy is popularly called as Sekkadiyan (One who resides in Oil press place). The temple is situated in Katampatti in banks of Noyyal river 7 km from Kodumudi. He travels on Cheetah and is worshiped also with Kannimar, The Seven Muses. The Kannimar are the Goddess for fertility, has a long history has been worshiped from the Indus valley civilization. He resides under Neem and Vilva(Bael) tree, he has weapon of Vel (Spear) and Thiru Kavattai (the "Y" staff). Presently he is the form of VeeraKal, has been provide a silver mask during rituals. The temple has a festival hall and dining hall for celebration purpose.
Periyasamy is installed in Sekkadi (Oil pressing place) by a Vaaniyar Savant (People who extract oil from seeds). The savant in his oil extraction place, had installed a deity for Periyasamy and worshiped him, this deity has been made clan god of the Thurkatchi Manian clan. The Vaaniyar savant has been worshiped in the temple.
People install Vel(Spear) or horse terracotta figures or human figurines in the temple, as their prayers are answered. Periyasamy is been worshiped using animal sacrifice (Hen or goat), liquor bottles, betel leaves, lemon, coconut, flowers, incense, camphor, lamps with Tamil hymns and bells. He is worshiped with meat, cigar lighted and liquor aarathi (fire on alcohol). Yearly animal sacrifice festival will take place. In Feb-March month Sathya poosai at midnight will happen. Sekkadiyan-Sekkadi Periyasamy-Thurkatchi Periyasamy-Kattampatti Periyasamy-Sekkadian
Selvakumarasamy is Lord Muruga, only Murugan to be worshiped as a clan god of Kongu vellalar.
Kuppusamy temple is a famous temple in Muthur, all section of people visit this temple. During March–April month animal sacrifice festival will take place.
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