| Vanniyar kula kshatriyar | |
|---|---|
| Languages | Tamil |
| Region | Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry |
| Subdivisions | Padayatchi, Gounder, Naicker, Kandar |
| Related groups | Tamil people |
Vanniyar (Tamil: வன்னியர்), refers to a very large social group of people spread all across South India. Vanniyars primarily live in modern Tamil Nadu where they speak Tamil, while in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Kerala they speak their native South Indian Dravidian languages namely, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam respectively.
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The name Vanniyar is derived from the Sanskrit word Vahni which means fire.
The Vanniyars, known as Pallis, became soldiers and commanders during the medieval Pallava rule and came to be known as Padayatchis.Some Padayatchis retained their rule as chieftains and Poligars after the downfall of the Tamil kings.[1]
Many castes today claim descent from Malayaman but Dennis B. McGilvray in his book "Crucible of conflict" states "Malayaman is a section of the udaiyar caste in south arcot today, but Burton Stein also finds the title in a thirteenth-century inscription identifying Vanniyar subcastes of south arcot in the left-right caste classification typical of the chola empire"[2]
Moreover, the malaymans were related to kadavas through marriages.[3][4]
Cholanars are considered to be the descendant of the Chola emperors.[5] Canmukam Meyyappan in his book "Chidambaram Marriage Customs" observes "It was customary for the Chola Kings to have their head saved in temple. ln observance of that lot of people shave their head today near the temple.
Edgar Thurston in his book "Castes and Tribes of South India" notes "A curious ceremony is even now celebrated at the chidambaram temple, on the steps leading to the central sanctuary. As soon as the eldest son of this family is married, he and his wife, accompanied by a local vellala, repair to the sacred shrine and there, amidst crowds of their castement and other, a homam is raised and offerings are made to it. The couple are then anointed with nine different kinds of holy water, and the Vellala places the temple crown on their heads."[6]
In India, Vanniyar are classified as Backward Class tribes.[7] In Tamil Nadu, the government has classified them as part of the Vanniakula Kshatriya class, which they categorize as one of Tamil Nadu's Most Backwards Castes.[8]
The Vanniyar caste live in an area where three South Indian states of Tamil Nadu, Andhra and Karnataka intersects. In these latter two Indian states they are in sizeable mass primarily due to migration of other sects from outside and vice versa.
In Tamil Nadu, the Vanniar live predominantly in the north, east, central and parts of north western. These areas cover more than 15 districts and traditionally called as the Vanniar Belt. It comprises the following districts in Tamil Nadu: Chennai, Kancheepuram, Villupuram, Cuddalore, Nagapattinam, northern Thanjavur, Thiruvarur, Ariyalur, Perambalur, northern Trichy, Chidamabram, Tiruvallur, Vellore, Tiruvannamalai, Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri.
Vanniyars constitute 28% of the population of Tamil Nadu and 65% of the population in Pondicherry, 7-10% of Karnataka as per the 1931 Caste based Census. In terms of population they are the largest caste among the most backward classes listed in Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry.[9] They are one of the very earliest caste to be socially well organized and today they are the most politically mobilized and well-informed caste from Tamil Nadu. .
Vanniar or Vannia is a title of a feudal chief in medieval Sri Lanka who ruled as a tribute payer to any number of local kingdoms. It was also recorded as that of a name of a caste amongst Sri Lankan Tamils iin the Vanni District of northern Sri Lanka during the early 1900s. It is no longer used as a name of a caste or as chiefs in Sri Lanka. There are number of origin theories for the feudal chiefs as well as the caste as coming from modern Tamil Nadu state or as an indigenous formation.
Depending upon the location and status, the members of the Vanniyar caste use titles such as Gounder, Padayatchi, Naicker, Reddiar, Kander/Kandar, Palli and many other titles in Tamil Nadu, Vanniar, Reddiar, Padayatchi etc. in pondicherry, in Karnataka they are called Tigala / Thigala, or Thigilaru with a common suffix of Hebbar or Hebbe or Banjara, Lambani and Nayakar. In Andhra Pradesh, Vanniars are usually known as Anamuk, Aray Mala, Bavuri, Palli, Agnikula , Vanniyakula , Vanne Kapu or Vanne Reddy. In Kerala, they are called Kuravan, Sidhanar and balija Reddiar. There are 92 different names or sub caste/sub titles given for Vannia Kula Kshatriya community.[10]