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The '''Kallar''' (or '''Kallan''', formerly spelled as '''Colleries''') are one of the three related castes of southern India which constitute the [[Mukkulathor]] confederacy.<ref>{{cite book |title=Notes on Criminal Classes of the Madras presidency |publisher=Government Press |page=82 |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=rxQbAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA82}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title= Kingship and Political Practice in Colonial India |publisher=Cambridge University Press |pages= 62, 87, 193 |url= http://books.google.com/books?id=aqKSTs4ajsAC&pg=PA193}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title= Historical Dictionary of the Tamils |publisher= Rowman and Little field USA |page=105 |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=H4q0DHGMcjEC&pg=PA105}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title= Sociology and Social Research |volume=11 |publisher=University of Southern California |page=121 |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=LvYcAQAAMAAJ&q=kallar+thief&dq=kallar+thief&hl=en&sa=X&ei=IGEbT_-qFuGuiQKt9_WXCA&ved=0CEUQ6AEwAw}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |journal=Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain & Ireland |volume=19 |publisher=Government Press |page=581 |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=03qFAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA581}}</ref>The Kallar, along with the [[Maravar]] and [[Akamudayar]], constitute a united social caste on the basis of parallel professions, though their locations and heritages are wholly separate from one another.<ref>{{cite book |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=Be3PCvzf-BYC&pg=PA287 |page=287 |title=A Social History of India |first=S. N. |last=Sadasivan}}</ref>
The Imperial clan - KALLAR (கள்ளர்) is one of the three castes which constitute the Mukkulathor confederacy. "a fearless community show many signs of independence and non-submission to any form of subjugation".There are Abundant records pertaining to this clan, where the Peoples ruled from unknown antiquity (Chola, Thondaiman) till the independence of india, The Kallar King Raja Rajagopala Thondaiman (1928 -1948) was the only king of Tamilnadu Rulling Pudhukkotai even after independence. Kallars are found largely in Thanjavur (40 % of Tanjavur Population), Trichy, Pudukkottai, Theni, Madurai, Dindigul, Sivagangai, Karur, kanchipuram, and Ramanathapuram districts of Tamil Nadu.


Kallars are found largely in the Thanjavur, Trichy, Pudukkottai, Madurai, Theni, Dindigul, Sivagangai, Ramanathapuram, Karur and Kanchipuram districts of Tamil Nadu. Significant Kallar populations are also found in Sri Lanka, Malaysia and other southeast Asian countries. In the 19th century, the British recognised the [[Pudukkottai state|Raja of Pudukkottai]] as the hereditary leader of the community.{{Citation needed|date=February 2012}}
Kallars are found largely in the Thanjavur, Trichy, Pudukkottai, Madurai, Theni, Dindigul, Sivagangai, Ramanathapuram, Karur and Kanchipuram districts of Tamil Nadu. Significant Kallar populations are also found in Sri Lanka, Malaysia and other southeast Asian countries. In the 19th century, the British recognised the [[Pudukkottai state|Raja of Pudukkottai]] as the hereditary leader of the community.{{Citation needed|date=February 2012}}



==Etymology==
==Etymology==
A number of British colonial writers, including [[Edward Balfour]]<ref>{{cite book |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=TxwaAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA482 |title=The Cyclopædia of India and of Eastern and Southern Asia |first=Edward |last=Balfour}}</ref>, noted that the term ''kallar'' or ''culler'' mean "thief" in Tamil, and suggest that as the origin of the caste's name, given that their history has included periods of banditry.<ref>{{cite book |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=cegr6zH9PFEC&pg=PA242 |page=242 |title=The Hollow Crown: Ethnohistory of an Indian Kingdom |first=Nicholas B. |last=Dirks}}</ref>
Kallar Means "Brave People", Historians postulate the word Kallar Derived from Kalla means Black in Sanscrit and Tamil (கள்வனென் கிளவி கரியோனென்ப' - திவாகரம்} Historians postulate Dravidians were called by Aryans as Kalla.

Kalavar Means People who fight in Kalam(Battlefield), Kalavali Narpathu (களவழி நாற்பது), Tamil literature of the post-Sangam age Praises Kalavar and Kalam.

A king Named Pulli was Mentioned as Kallar Kooman Pulli in Purananuru.

A pandian King was mentioned as Kallar Perumagan Thennavan

A muthiraiyar King was Mentioned as Kallar Kalvan Perumbidugu Muthirayan.

Indiran or devendiaran (Devar) also Mentioned as Kalla

Thirumal is also stated Mal to meant he is Black In olden days Black Dravidians were stated as Kalla to state their Bravery.

Many Historians postulate Kallar Means Black, to state their Bravery and to relate their the lineage from Chola and Pallava.

M.Srinivasa Iyengar (ம. சீனிவாசையங்கார்)

N.M Venkataswmy Nattar (நாவலர் பண்டித ந மு வேங்கடசாமி நாட்டார் )

Vengaswamy Rao (வெங்காசாமி ராவ்)

Dr.Barnal

Vinsan A.Smith (வின்சன் ஏ. ஸ்மித்)


==History==
==History==
Kallars lived in the [[Palai]] ''tinai'' where agriculture was not possible. In more recent times the word ''kalla'' has come to have the generic meaning of ''thief'', probably as a consequence of their having a reputation for thievery.<ref>{{cite book |title= History of agriculture in India, up to c. 1200 A.D. |publisher=Concept Publishing |page= 619 |url= http://books.google.com/books?id=FvjZVwYVmNcC |first=Vinod Chandra |last=Srivastava |editor-first=Lallanji |editor-last=Gopal |year=2008 |isbn=978-81-8069-521-6}}</ref>
Chola (சோழர்)

The Chola Dynasty (Tamil:சோழர் குலம்) was a Tamil dynasty that ruled primarily in southern India until the 13th century the other two royal dynastys were Pandian and Chera. The meaning of chola Is unknown. Chera, chola and pandian are considered as Siblings.

The dynasty originated in the fertile valley of the Kaveri River. Karikala Chola was the most famous among the early Chola kings, while Aditya I, Parantaka I, Rajaraja Chola I, Rajendra Chola I, Rajadhiraja Chola, Virarajendra Chola, Kulothunga Chola and Kulothunga Chola III were notable emperors of the medieval Cholas.

Chera, chola and pandian are commonly called as Thevar to mean they are desendents of Lord Indra. But specially cholas were called by many Surnames all these surnames (Mel kondar, Chozangar, Thevar etc.) are now used by Kallars only shows that Cholas are from the Royal Kallar community. The Bramanda puranas Puvindra puranam and Kalla Kesari Purannam also Mentions the same.

Many Archaeologists and Historians Also proves that Cholas are Kallar.

Lots of mariages takes place between cholas with Malavarayar, Malayaman, Paluvettaraiyar, Melkondar and Vallavaraiyar. they also belongs to Kallar community.

Pallavas (பல்லவர்)

The Pallava kingdom (Tamil: பல்லவர்) was an ancient South Indian tamil kingdom. Later they extended their rule to further south and established their capital at Kanchipuram around the 4th century CE. They rose in power during the reign of Mahendravarman I (571 – 630 CE) and Narasimhavarman I (630 – 668 CE) and dominated the Telugu and northern parts of Tamil region for about six hundred years until the end of the 9th century. The word Pallava means branch in Sanskrit. The word is rendered as Tondaiyar in Tamil language. The Pallava kings at several places are called Thondamans or Thondaiyarkon. The territory of the Pallavas was known as Tundaka Visaya or Tundaka Rashtra. The sancrit meaning of pallava is Kilay The tamil Thondai means the same, it proves that pallavas are desendents (Kilay or Pirivu) of chola.

Pathupattu, one of the sangam literatures, reads that the king Thondaiman Ilandirayan ruled this town around 2500 years ago. The pallavas are told as the descendents of Thondaiman Ilandirayan.

They were also called by surnames like sethurayar pallavarayar vandarayar, kadurayar,Vallavarayar,vanathirayar,kaliyarayar etc. all these surnames are used by Kallrs only. Proves that Pallavar are Decendents of Chola (Kallar).

Petty Kings

The Great empires which ruled Tamilnadu were Chera, Chola, Pandian and Pallava, but there were many petty kings and chieftains ruled tamilnadu under chera, chola, pandiya and pallava.

There are lot of records pertaining to this Petty dynasty. Some of the names are seen in Tamil copper-plate inscriptions also.

Most of the Kallar surnames also derived from the place they ruled for example Thanjaiarayar (Means King Who ruled Thanjavur),

Definition: Thanjai –Thanjavur and Arayar – Raja –King.

Malavarayar(மழவராயர்), Pallavarayar(பல்லவராயர்), Erraandar(ஏற்றாண்டார்)r, Arasandar(அரசாண்டார்), Thanjairayar(தஞ்சைராயர்), Muniarayar, Vallavarayar (வல்லவரையர்), Muthurayar, Irunkolar, Brahmarayar, Kodumbalur Rayar, Chiratchiyar, Nattar, Devarayar, Vanathirayar.

Warrior

The main occupation of Kallar is Warrior, they were saving Tamilnadu from Aryans and foreign invaders for many Centuries, most of their surnames derived from their victory and bravery shown in Battlefield.

Some Surnames are,
Poril Koluthiyar(போரிற்கொளுத்தி), Kottai Meetar(கோட்டை மீட்டார்), Soma Naicker(சோமநாயக்கர்), Kalathil Vendrar (களத்தில் வென்றார்), Jeyam Kondar(ஜெயம் கொண்டார்), Kodi Kondar, Thanai Thalaivar(தானைத் தலைவர்), Valukkuvelyar, Vijayathevar, Veerakkotaiyar, Valkondar, Ulukkondar, Veerapuliyar, Senathipathi, Viruthurajabayangarar.

==Surnames==
In Tamilnadu Kallars are called by various Surnames, these names comes to them during various times by the place they have ruled, the place they won in battle or to state their bravery.

There are over 1000 surnames in use. There are no other Castes in Tamilnadu have this many Surnames. Some of the commonly used Surnames are.

Paluvettaraiyar, Malayaman, Adigaman, Thevar, Mannaiyar, Rajaliyar, Vallavaraiyar, Thanjaraayar, Pallavaraayar, Vandaiyar, Thondaiman, Etrandaar, Vaanavaraayar, Servai, Amballakkarar, Sethurayar, Soma Naicker, Muniyarayar(Munaiyatriyar), Thondamar, Mayrkondar, Kallathil Venrar, , Naattar , Cholagar, kumarandar, Anjathevar, Olivarayar, Sendapiriyar, Alathondamar, Ambalam, Aarsuthiyar, Kaadavaraayar, Kalingarayar, Vandaiyaar, Veeramundar, Sepillaiyar, Vallundar, Chozhangaraayar, Kandiyar, Mazhavaraayar, Kommatti Mootar, Kannakkarar, Irungular, Singilaar, Ponnapoondar, Pullavaraayar, Araimeendar, Vairayar, Ponpethiar, Gopalar, Kandapillai, Vayaadiyar, Vanniar, Vallambar, Alankara Priyar, mavaliyar, Keerudayar, Saaluvar, Manraayar, Onthiriyar, Serumadar, Vambaliar, Thenkondaar, Mankondaar,Panangondar,Maalusuthiyar,Kalathil Vendrar etc.

Another important Kallar subcaste is the Piramalai Kallar. They are highly conservative and have preserved their customs and traditions to the present day. They are also believed to be the oldest inhabitants of the Tamil country with reports of their presence going back to Tamil literary works of the 4th century B.C. They are found mainly in the districts of Madurai, Dindigul and Theni. Their popular deity is Amman, the Mother Goddess.

Other important subcastes are Koothappar Kallars, Periyasuriyur Kallars, Gandarvakoatai Kallars and Esanattu Kallars found largely dominated in Thanjavur, Pudukkottai &Trichy Districts.

===Inscriptions with Historical Significance===
The discovery of Indian copper plate inscriptions provided a relative abundance of new evidence for use in evolving a chronicle of India's elusive history.

During chola rule there were many small kings(Araiyar) were Ruling there Respective area under Chola.Some of the names are seen in Tamil copper-plate inscriptions was also mentioned in Ponniyin Selvan (Tamil historical novel written by Kalki Krishnamurthy.


==Culture==
Paluvettaraiyar (பழுவேட்டரையன்)
Among the traditional customs of the Kallar noted by colonial officials was the use of the "collery stick" ({{lang-ta|valai tādi, kallartādi}}), a bent [[throwing stick]] or "false boomerang" which could be thrown up to 100 yards.<ref name="YuleBurnell1903">{{cite book|author1=Sir Henry Yule|author2=Arthur Coke Burnell|title=Hobson-Jobson: a glossary of colloquial Anglo-Indian words and phrases, and of kindred terms, etymological, historical, geographical and discursive|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=6Z5iAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA236|accessdate=21 March 2012|year=1903|publisher=J. Murray|pages=236–}}</ref> Though described as a "false" boomerang, other writers indicate that it was capable of returning to its thrower, and also noted the weapon was used in deer-hunting.<ref name="OppertVarmā1880">{{cite book|author1=Gustav Salomon Oppert|author2=Lakshmīkānta Varmā|author3=Śukra|coauthors=Albrecht Weber, Vaiśaṃpāyana|title=On the weapons, army organisation, and political maxims of the ancient Hindus: with special reference to gunpowder and firearms|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=Q8MIAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA18|accessdate=21 March 2012|year=1880|publisher=Higginbotham|pages=18–}}</ref> Writing in 1957, [[Louis Dumont]] noted that despite the weapon's frequent mention in literature, it had disappeared amongst the Pramalai Kallar.<ref name="DumontStern1986">{{cite book|author1=Louis Dumont|author2=A. Stern|author3=Michael Moffatt|title=A South Indian subcaste: social organization and religion of the Pramalai Kallar|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=eQduAAAAMAAJ|accessdate=21 March 2012|year=1986|publisher=Oxford University Press}}</ref>
Malayaman (மலையமான்)
Vallavaraiyar (வல்லவரையன்)
Muniaraiyar
Nilakkilar
Kaliyaraiyar
Puvaraiyar
Velar (வேளார்)
Vanataraiyar
Thondaiman (தொண்டைமான்)


===Diet===
The Kallar were traditionally a non-vegetarian people,<ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=d8k98lBxwM4C&pg=PA21&dq=kallar+vegetarian&hl=en&sa=X&ei=Qbx0T86VIaHV0QH5vZj_Ag&ved=0CD4Q6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=kallar%20vegetarian&f=false Criminal gods and demon devotees: essays on the guardians of popular Hinduism - Alf Hiltebeitel - Google Books<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> though a 1970s survey of Tamilnad indicated that 30% of Kallar surveyed, though non-vegetarian, refrained from eating fish after puberty.<ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=gHsxM3h_JX4C&pg=PA98&dq=kallar+vegetarian&hl=en&sa=X&ei=Qbx0T86VIaHV0QH5vZj_Ag&ved=0CEQQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=kallar%20vegetarian&f=false Food, ecology, and culture: readings in the anthropology of dietary practices - John R. K. Robson - Google Books<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Meat, though present in the Kallar diet, was not frequently eaten but restricted to Saturday nights and festival days. Even so, this small amount of meat was sufficient to affect perceptions of Kallar social status.<ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=eQduAAAAMAAJ&q=kallar+diet&dq=kallar+diet&hl=en&sa=X&ei=_bx0T4yaB4r30gHqnMn_Ag&ved=0CFoQ6AEwAw A South Indian subcaste: social organization and religion of the Pramalai Kallar - Louis Dumont, A. Stern, Michael Moffatt - Google Books<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>


==Notables==
==Notables==

Revision as of 12:27, 22 June 2012

For the caste of Northern India, see Kalwar (caste).
Kallar
Regions with significant populations
Tamilnadu, Sri Lanka, Malaysia
Languages
Tamil
Religion
Saiva Siddhantam, Hinduism
Related ethnic groups
Mukkulathor, Vellalar.

The Kallar (or Kallan, formerly spelled as Colleries) are one of the three related castes of southern India which constitute the Mukkulathor confederacy.[1][2][3][4][5]The Kallar, along with the Maravar and Akamudayar, constitute a united social caste on the basis of parallel professions, though their locations and heritages are wholly separate from one another.[6]

Kallars are found largely in the Thanjavur, Trichy, Pudukkottai, Madurai, Theni, Dindigul, Sivagangai, Ramanathapuram, Karur and Kanchipuram districts of Tamil Nadu. Significant Kallar populations are also found in Sri Lanka, Malaysia and other southeast Asian countries. In the 19th century, the British recognised the Raja of Pudukkottai as the hereditary leader of the community.[citation needed]

Etymology

A number of British colonial writers, including Edward Balfour[7], noted that the term kallar or culler mean "thief" in Tamil, and suggest that as the origin of the caste's name, given that their history has included periods of banditry.[8]

History

Kallars lived in the Palai tinai where agriculture was not possible. In more recent times the word kalla has come to have the generic meaning of thief, probably as a consequence of their having a reputation for thievery.[9]

Culture

Among the traditional customs of the Kallar noted by colonial officials was the use of the "collery stick" (Tamil: valai tādi, kallartādi), a bent throwing stick or "false boomerang" which could be thrown up to 100 yards.[10] Though described as a "false" boomerang, other writers indicate that it was capable of returning to its thrower, and also noted the weapon was used in deer-hunting.[11] Writing in 1957, Louis Dumont noted that despite the weapon's frequent mention in literature, it had disappeared amongst the Pramalai Kallar.[12]

Diet

The Kallar were traditionally a non-vegetarian people,[13] though a 1970s survey of Tamilnad indicated that 30% of Kallar surveyed, though non-vegetarian, refrained from eating fish after puberty.[14] Meat, though present in the Kallar diet, was not frequently eaten but restricted to Saturday nights and festival days. Even so, this small amount of meat was sufficient to affect perceptions of Kallar social status.[15]

Notables

References

  1. ^ Notes on Criminal Classes of the Madras presidency. Government Press. p. 82.
  2. ^ Kingship and Political Practice in Colonial India. Cambridge University Press. pp. 62, 87, 193.
  3. ^ Historical Dictionary of the Tamils. Rowman and Little field USA. p. 105.
  4. ^ Sociology and Social Research. Vol. 11. University of Southern California. p. 121.
  5. ^ Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain & Ireland. 19. Government Press: 581 http://books.google.com/books?id=03qFAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA581. {{cite journal}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  6. ^ Sadasivan, S. N. A Social History of India. p. 287.
  7. ^ Balfour, Edward. The Cyclopædia of India and of Eastern and Southern Asia.
  8. ^ Dirks, Nicholas B. The Hollow Crown: Ethnohistory of an Indian Kingdom. p. 242.
  9. ^ Srivastava, Vinod Chandra (2008). Gopal, Lallanji (ed.). History of agriculture in India, up to c. 1200 A.D. Concept Publishing. p. 619. ISBN 978-81-8069-521-6.
  10. ^ Sir Henry Yule; Arthur Coke Burnell (1903). Hobson-Jobson: a glossary of colloquial Anglo-Indian words and phrases, and of kindred terms, etymological, historical, geographical and discursive. J. Murray. pp. 236–. Retrieved 21 March 2012.
  11. ^ Gustav Salomon Oppert; Lakshmīkānta Varmā; Śukra (1880). On the weapons, army organisation, and political maxims of the ancient Hindus: with special reference to gunpowder and firearms. Higginbotham. pp. 18–. Retrieved 21 March 2012. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  12. ^ Louis Dumont; A. Stern; Michael Moffatt (1986). A South Indian subcaste: social organization and religion of the Pramalai Kallar. Oxford University Press. Retrieved 21 March 2012.
  13. ^ Criminal gods and demon devotees: essays on the guardians of popular Hinduism - Alf Hiltebeitel - Google Books
  14. ^ Food, ecology, and culture: readings in the anthropology of dietary practices - John R. K. Robson - Google Books
  15. ^ A South Indian subcaste: social organization and religion of the Pramalai Kallar - Louis Dumont, A. Stern, Michael Moffatt - Google Books
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