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Devendrakula Velalar

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Devendrakula Velalar
ClassificationAgriculturist
ReligionsHinduism
LanguagesTamil
CountryIndia
Original stateTamil Nadu

Devendrakula Velalar is an agricultural community native to the central, southern and western districts of Tamil Nadu, India. They comprise of seven subcastes: Devendra Kulathar, Kudumbar, Kadaiyar, Kaladi, Pallar, Pannadi and Vathiriyar.[1][2]

History

The Devendrakula Velalar traditionally inhabited the fertile wetland area referred to as Marutham in the literary sources of the Sangam landscape.[3] Vendan, also known as Devendra and identified with Indra, is the god of the Marutham landscape and also one of the chief deities of the Devendrakula Velalars[4] They are mentioned in Purananooru as involved in agriculture.[5] Agriculture, being the dominant occupation in Sangam society, had gained a status and expertise.[6] [7] The territorial divisions among the Devendrakula Velalar are Devendra, Chozhiya, Pandiya, Kongan, Eshwaran.[8] The common honorofic titles used by the Devendrakula Velalars are "Devendrar", "Mallar" "Kudumbar", "Mooppanar", "Pannadi", "Mannadi" and "Kaladi" varying according to their territorial divisions.[9] They also claim descent from Kshatriyas, making them more inclined to a more 'martial' tradition.[10]

Inscriptions and Literature

According to Uthiramerur inscription, the villages in Chola administration were termed as "Kudumbu".[11] An inscription calling them as Devendra Kudumban have been found in Sankara Narayanar Temple, at Sankarankoil in Tirunelveli District and "son of the celestial woman" have been found in Ramanathapuram district. There are considerable mentions referring them as agriculturalists and warriors in Pingala Nigandu, Periya Puranam, Kambaramayanam and Diwakara Nigandu.[12]

Structure

In Pandiya Nadu region, the headman of Devendrakula Velalars were known as "Kudumbar" and he was assisted by "Kaladi" and a messenger called "Variyan" who summons people to attend council-meetings, festivals, marriages and funerals. In Chola Nadu region, the headman of Devendrakula Velalars were known as "Nattu Moopar" and each village also has a peon called "Odumpillai". In Kongu Nadu region, the headman of Devendrakula Velalars were known as "Pattakkarar" and he is assisted by various subordinate officers and a caste messenger called "Odumpillai".[13]

Temple festivals

According to mythology, the presiding deities, Lord Pateeswarar and Pachainayagi, of Patteswarar Temple in Perur, Coimbatore, were farmers who took up the task of sowing and cultivating paddies. The Devendrakula Velalar community celebrate Paddy Sowing Season in the name of Chithiramezhi Ponnaer Natru Nadu Thiruvzha at Patteswarar Temple. They also initiate the car festival of the temple and worn "Parivattam", according to a tradition.[14]

The Devendrakula Velalars play a major part in the Aravan Festival in Coimbatore especially in Singanallur, Kurichi and Vellalore.[15][16]

The Indra festival is conducted at Kamatchi Amman temple at Kallimadai locality near Singanallur every year by the Devendrakula Velalar community[17].

At the Devendra Kula Mariamman temple at Vellalore in Coimbatore, the yearly temple festival is celebrated in the month of Chithirai[18].

At the Koniamman car festival in Coimbatore, Devendrakula Velalars are traditionally given the right to start pulling the chariot and worn "Parivattam", according to a tradition dating to the 11th century.[19][20]

At the Mariamman Teppakulam float festival in Madurai, Devendrakula Velalars from Anupanadi village are traditionally given the right to start pulling the Sri Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple float, according to a tradition dating to the 17th century.[21]

At the Temple chariot festival at Thenthiruperai, the 15 Village Kudumbars and other village leaders are faciliated.[22]The Devendrakula Velalar community celebrate Paddy Sowing Season in the name of Ponnaer Natru Nadu Thiruvzha at Magara Nedungukulaikadhar Temple.[23]

The White Umbrella festival is conducted every year by the Devendrakula Velalars at Rajapalayam every year as a part of Indra festival[24].

At Thandi Mariamman temple in Coonoor, the temple car festival and the Sprouting procession is celebrated in the month of Chithirai[25].

The Puliakulam Vinayagar Temple in Coimbatore, which holds the largest Vinayagar statue in entire Asian Continent was opened in 1982 by the Devendra Kula Trust and the Vinayagar Chathurthi celebrations are held every year[26].

Marriage

In Kongunadu region, the clans regulate marriage alliances. Their clans namely Devi kulam, Eshwaran kulam,Kandhan kulam, Masaniamman Kulam, Karupparaayan Kulam, Ankalamman Kulam, Adi Kaliamman Kulam, Maduraiveeran Kulam and Kamakshiamman Kulam. Each kulam is affiliated to a deity.[27]

Occupation

Their traditional occupation is that of cultivation, although by the 1990s large minority of them were employed in government or private services.[28] As of now, many of them work in factories, offices, government jobs and other non-agricultural occupations.[29]

Politics

In Tamil Nadu, Devendrakula Velalar make up 8% of the state's population.[30][31]

The Devendrakula Velalar, Mutharaiyar and Brahmin play a major role in Srirangam Assembly constituency, as a majority of voters are from these communities.[32] The community play a major role in Tirunelveli Assembly constituency,[33] Dharapuram Assembly constituency,[34] Vasudevanallur Assembly constituency[35]

They community possess significant presence in Singanallur Assembly constituency,[36] Virudhunagar Assembly constituency,[37] Kadayanallur Assembly constituency,[38] Palayamkottai Assembly constituency,[39] Tiruvadanai Assembly constituency,[40] Perambalur Assembly constituency,[41] Rajapalayam Assembly constituency,[42] Tirupattur Assembly constituency,[43] Ambasamudram Assembly constituency,[44] Rasipuram Assembly constituency[45]

References

  1. ^ "Lok Sabha passes bill to place seven castes under Devendrakula Velalars in Tamil Nadu". The Hindu. 19 March 2021. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
  2. ^ "President gives assent to Devendrakula Velalar Act". The Hindu. 14 April 2021. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
  3. ^ General, India Office of the Registrar (1964). Census of India, 1961. Manager of Publications. p. 11.
  4. ^ Ramaswamy, Vijaya (25 August 2017). Historical Dictionary of the Tamils. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 371. ISBN 9781538106860.
  5. ^ Sen, Sailendra Nath (1999). Ancient Indian History and Civilization. New Age International. p. 207. ISBN 9788122411980.
  6. ^ Subrahmanian, N. (1996). Śaṅgam polity: the administration and social life of the Śaṅgam Tamils. Ennes.
  7. ^ Sinha, Sachchidanand (1982). Caste system: myths, reality, challenge. Intellectual Pub. House. ISBN 9780836407914.
  8. ^ Singh, Kumar Suresh (1992). People of India:India's communities,Volume 4. Anthropological Survey of India. p. 793. ISBN 0195633547.
  9. ^ "Divisions of Devendrakula Velalars in Pazhani Inscription". The Hindu Tamil Thisai. Retrieved 2 March 2022. {{cite web}}: |archive-date= requires |archive-url= (help)
  10. ^ Fuller 1997, p. 77.
  11. ^ "Villages were termed as Kudumbu". The New IndianExpress. Retrieved 11 December 2020. {{cite web}}: |archive-date= requires |archive-url= (help)
  12. ^ Venkatasubramanian 1986, p. 51.
  13. ^ "Castes and Tribes of Southern India". Retrieved 11 December 2020. {{cite web}}: |archive-date= requires |archive-url= (help)
  14. ^ "Seedling Planting Festival at Perur Pateeswarar Temple in Coimbatore". Maalai Malar. 20 June 2018. Retrieved 31 March 2021.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  15. ^ "A Koothandavar fest without TGs in Coimbatore". The New Indian Express. 17 November 2013. Retrieved 23 January 2022.
  16. ^ "Aravan festival in the city of Coimbatore". The Hindu Tamil. 9 November 2016. Retrieved 23 January 2022.
  17. ^ "Kallimadai Indra Festival". Dinamalar. 16 January 2015. Retrieved 22 April 2022.
  18. ^ "Mariamman temple Festival". Dinamalar. 28 April 2022. Retrieved 28 April 2022.
  19. ^ "Koniamman car festival". Thamizhe. 9 February 2020. Retrieved 15 February 2021.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  20. ^ "Koniamman car festival-2022". Maalaimalar. 9 February 2020. Retrieved 16 February 2022.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  21. ^ "Grandeur marks float fest in Madurai". Times Of India. 9 February 2020. Retrieved 29 March 2021.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  22. ^ "Thenthiruperai car festival-2022". Maalaimalar. 26 March 2022. Retrieved 14 May 2022.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  23. ^ "Ponnaer Natru Nadu Thiruvzha at Magara Nedungukulaikadhar Temple2022". Maalaimalar. 19 March 2022. Retrieved 14 May 2022.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  24. ^ "White Umbrella festival". Dinamani. 15 April 2022. Retrieved 23 April 2022.
  25. ^ "Thandi Mariamman temple Festival". Dinamalar. 9 May 2022. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
  26. ^ "Puliakulam temple background". The Tamil Samayam. 13 September 2018. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  27. ^ Singh, Kumar Suresh (1992). People of India:India's communities,Volume 4. Anthropological Survey of India. p. 793. ISBN 0195633547.
  28. ^ Wyatt 2012, p. 141.
  29. ^ Singh, Kumar Suresh (1998). India's Communities. Oxford University Press. p. 2755. ISBN 9780195633542.
  30. ^ Priyanka Thirumurthy, Bharathi Sp (21 February 2021). "NDA's caste consolidation exercise ahead of TN assembly polls". The News Minute. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
  31. ^ INTERPRETATION OF IDENTITY: AN ANTHROPOLOGICAL REPORT OF SEVEN COMMUNITIESIN SOUTH INDIA
  32. ^ MADALA, JAYAKUMAR (3 March 2021). "Why both AIADMK and BJP want Srirangam". The New Indian Express.
  33. ^ "நெல்லைதொகுதி கண்ணோட்டம்". Maalaimalar. 7 March 2021. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
  34. ^ "Dharapuram Constituency Overview". Dinamani. 1 March 2021. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
  35. ^ "Vasudevanallur Constituency Overview". Dinamani. 4 March 2021. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
  36. ^ "சிங்காநல்லூர் தொகுதி கண்ணோட்டம்". Maalaimalar. 11 March 2021. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
  37. ^ "விருதுநகர் தொகுதி கண்ணோட்டம்". Maalaimalar. 25 March 2021. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
  38. ^ "Kadayanallur Constituency Overview". Dinamani. 2 March 2021. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
  39. ^ "பாளையங்கோட்டை தொகுதி கண்ணோட்டம்". Maalaimalar. 5 March 2021. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
  40. ^ "திருவாடானை தொகுதி கண்ணோட்டம்". The Hindu Tamil. 21 February 2021. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
  41. ^ "பெரம்பலூர் தொகுதி கண்ணோட்டம்". Dinamani. 23 March 2021. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
  42. ^ "ராஜபாளையம் தொகுதி கண்ணோட்டம்". Maalaimalar. 3 March 2021. Retrieved 3 March 2021.
  43. ^ "திருப்பத்தூர் தொகுதி கண்ணோட்டம்". Maalaimalar. 14 March 2021. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  44. ^ "அம்பாசமுத்திரம் தொகுதி கண்ணோட்டம்". Maalaimalar. 8 March 2021. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
  45. ^ "ராசிபுரம் தொகுதி கண்ணோட்டம்". Maalaimalar. 22 March 2021. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
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