Talk:Pillai (surname)

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Request for Comment TondaiMandala Saiva Vellala Mudaliar women were concubines of Brahmin priests in the temples and the current TondaiMandala Saiva Vellala Mudaliar men are bastards of Brahmins

Please comment on whether TondaiMandala Saiva Vellala Mudaliar women were concubines of Brahmin priests in the temples and the current TondaiMandala Saiva Vellala Mudaliar men are bastards of Brahmins. This was the reason Periyar fought against both these groups. Further this group claims to be the original Mudaliyar tribe of Tamilnadu.

EVIDENCE FOR Relation between Sengunthars/ Kaikolars and Devadasis

1. The following is quoted from a legitimate third party website. http://globalindiamissions.org/newsletter/nwsltr0802.htm

The Kaikolan are a large Tamil and Telugu caste of weavers. There are seventy-two subdivisions (nadu or desams). Their name comes from a mythical hero and from the words "kai" (hand) and "koi" (shuttle). They consider the different parts of the loom to represent various gods and sages. They are also known as Sengundar, which means a red dagger, which is traced to the legend of the earth being harassed by demons, which led to the people asking the god Shiva to help them.

Traditionally, one girl in every family was set apart to be dedicated to temple service and becomes a "Devdasi" (meaning female servant of god). In the temple, the girl is considered married to the temple deity but in practice becomes a prostitute, especially to the Brahmans and she learns traditional music and dancing.

2. The following is journal research article with abundant valid references. This is as legitimate as it gets.

This article talks in much detail about how women from the Sengundhar/ Kaikola caste get into the sacred prostitution in temples.

"Contending identities: Sacred prostitution and reform in colonial South India Priyadarshini Vijaisri A1, A1 Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS), New Delhi" South Asia: Journal of South Asian Studies Publisher: Routledge, part of the Taylor & Francis Group Issue: Volume 28, Number 3 / December 2005 Pages: 387 - 411

To view the complete article just register, its free.

Here are the links :

http://journalsonline.tandf.co.uk/link.asp?id=jv31l27518262711 If you cannot access it then just go to the following page and follow one of the links

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=Contending+identities%3A+Sacred+prostitution+and+reform+in+colonial+South+India

3. This is taken from another legitimate webiste http://www.go2southasia.org/l_peoples.html of a world renknown organisation recognised by many countries. They have no gain in just picking on the Sengunthar caste.

The KAIKOLAR people are a caste of weavers 1.5 million strong in southern India. They are Hindus and view different parts of the loom as representations of various gods and sages. Traditionally, each Kaikolar family sets aside one daughter to serve in a Hindu temple. That daughter is considered married to the temple deity—often the Hindu destroyer god Shiva. In practice, the daughter becomes a temple prostitute.

All 3 of the above references are quite legitimate and I can quote many more. There is no question of coincidence or any error in any of these sources.

Factual Error

In the Pillai it has been stated that Vellalas in Kerala are considered part of the Nair community. This is a mischievous atatement and bending facts to suit somebody's selfish motives. Vellalas are very much an separate entity and do not need to survive in the identity of a separate caste. Stop this deplorable practise of absorption of communities. The Vellala community are very much thriving and doing very well, thank you. In the official records of all the community members including me, the caste name would be given as Vellala and NOT NAIR. Non-Brahmin Forward caste in Kerala does not mean Nair. Sujith