| Regions with significant populations |
|---|
| Kerala, Tamil Nadu |
| Languages |
| Religion |
Hinduism |
| Related ethnic groups |
|
Saliyar, Adaviyar |
Pattariyar is a community found in South India. They are one of the principal weaving castes of South India. The titles of the community are Pillai, Mudaliar or Setty etc
Contents |
Pattariyar means the Aryas who traded silk, The community is noted as being Tamil migrants,[1] with their name being a corruption of Pattusaliyar.[2]
According to mythology, the community migrated to its present habitat from Kanchipuram in Tamil Nadu. This migration is recalled in oral tradition. It is learnt that their migration was due to the quarrel with the king of Kanchipuram long ago. They also claim to have come from north India as silk traders
The present abodes of the Kalakad Pattaryans are Veeravanallur, Pattamadai, Koranad and the Kottar Pattaryars are confined to Kottar.
The Pattaryas are distributed in Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam and Thrissur districts. The Pattaryas are found in the Shertalai and Vaikom taluks as well as in Travancore. In Pallippuram panchayath of Cherthala taluk Pattaryas have their own School named Pattarya Samajam H S.
In Travancore, no Pattarya will reside in the midst of Saliyans nor will a Saliya be allowed residence in a Pattarya street. They claim to be Vaisyas, who were once known as Vadagangamyars, which is indicative of the fact that their original home was on the southern banks of the Ganges
The Adaviyar or Pattaria Settis are Tamilians, probably an offshoot of the Kaikolans, and have no connection with the Telugu Pattu Sales, who, like the Padma Sales, retain their mother-tongue wherever they settle. It was recorded in connection with the Saliyar of the Chingleput district, many of whom are Kaikolans, that "a story is current of their persecution by one Salva Naik (said to have been a Brahman). The result of this was that large bodies of them were forced to flee from Conjeeveram to Madura, Tanjore, and Tinnevelly, where their representatives are still to be found."