Velir: Difference between revisions
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The '''Velir''' were top aristocratic chieftains in [[Tamilakam]] in the early historic period of [[South India]].<ref name="Meluhha and Agastya">{{cite web|url=http://www.harappa.com/arrow/meluhha_and_agastya_2009.pdf |title=Meluhha and Agastya : Alpha and Omega of the Indus Script |first=Iravatham |last=Mahadevan |year=2009 |location=Chennai, India |page=16 |quote="The Ventar-Velir-Velalar groups constituted the ruling and land-owning classes in the Tamil country since the beginning of recorded history"}}</ref><ref name="Fairservis">{{cite book| last = Fairservis| first = Walter Ashlin| title = The Harappan civilization and its writing. A model for the decipherment of the Indus Script| origyear = 1921| year = 1992| publisher = Oxford & IBH| isbn = 978-81-204-0491-5| pages = 52–53 }}</ref> They were vassals and rivals of the Ventars ([[Chera dynasty|Chera]], [[Chola]] and [[Pandya]] kings).<ref name="A History of Ancient and Early Mediaval India">{{cite book|url=http://books.google.fr/books?id=H3lUIIYxWkEC&pg=PA384&dq=pandyas+velirs&hl=en&sa=X&ei=XPbzUoygI4Wl0QW5hIGgBA&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=pandyas%20velirs&f=false |title=A History of Ancient and Early Mediaval India: From the Stone Age to the 12th Century |first=Singh |last=Upinder |year=2008 |location=India |page=384 |quote="Apart from the Vendar, there were number of chieftains known as Velir... The kings and chieftains often fought agains each other by forming alliances. The lesser rulers no doubt had to pay tribute to the more powerful counterparts."}}</ref> They had close relations with them through marriages and coronation right.<ref name="Venkatasubramanian">{{cite book|title=Political Change and Agrarian Tradition in South India |first= T. K. |last=Venkatasubramanian |pages=63–67 |publisher=Mittal Publications |year=1986 |location=Delhi}}</ref><ref name="K.A.N. Sastri">{{cite book|first=K. A. Nilakanta |last=Sastri |title=The Colas |page= 49 |year=1955 |publisher=[[University of Madras]] |series=Madras University historical series |volume=9}}</ref> |
The '''Velir''' were top aristocratic chieftains in [[Tamilakam]] in the early historic period of [[South India]].<ref name="Meluhha and Agastya">{{cite web|url=http://www.harappa.com/arrow/meluhha_and_agastya_2009.pdf |title=Meluhha and Agastya : Alpha and Omega of the Indus Script |first=Iravatham |last=Mahadevan |year=2009 |location=Chennai, India |page=16 |quote="The Ventar-Velir-Velalar groups constituted the ruling and land-owning classes in the Tamil country since the beginning of recorded history"}}</ref><ref name="Fairservis">{{cite book| last = Fairservis| first = Walter Ashlin| title = The Harappan civilization and its writing. A model for the decipherment of the Indus Script| origyear = 1921| year = 1992| publisher = Oxford & IBH| isbn = 978-81-204-0491-5| pages = 52–53 }}</ref> They were vassals and rivals of the Ventars ([[Chera dynasty|Chera]], [[Chola]] and [[Pandya]] kings).<ref name="A History of Ancient and Early Mediaval India">{{cite book|url=http://books.google.fr/books?id=H3lUIIYxWkEC&pg=PA384&dq=pandyas+velirs&hl=en&sa=X&ei=XPbzUoygI4Wl0QW5hIGgBA&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=pandyas%20velirs&f=false |title=A History of Ancient and Early Mediaval India: From the Stone Age to the 12th Century |first=Singh |last=Upinder |year=2008 |location=India |page=384 |quote="Apart from the Vendar, there were number of chieftains known as Velir... The kings and chieftains often fought agains each other by forming alliances. The lesser rulers no doubt had to pay tribute to the more powerful counterparts."}}</ref> They had close relations with them through marriages and coronation right.<ref name="Venkatasubramanian">{{cite book|title=Political Change and Agrarian Tradition in South India |first= T. K. |last=Venkatasubramanian |pages=63–67 |publisher=Mittal Publications |year=1986 |location=Delhi}}</ref><ref name="K.A.N. Sastri">{{cite book|first=K. A. Nilakanta |last=Sastri |title=The Colas |page= 49 |year=1955 |publisher=[[University of Madras]] |series=Madras University historical series |volume=9}}</ref> |
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==Ay velirs and krishna== |
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Strong literary and archeological evidence links core [[Vellalar]] subcastes with the Velir chieftains.<ref>{{cite book| last = Hockings| first = Paul| title = Encyclopedia of world cultures| year = 1992| page = 304: There is fairly strong literary and archeological evidence linking core Vellala subcastes with a group of chieftains called Velir|url=http://books.google.fr/books?id=Ds0ZAQAAIAAJ&q=There+is+fairly+strong+literary+and+archeological+evidence+linking+core+Vellala+subcastes+with+a+group+chieftains+called+Velir,...&dq=There+is+fairly+strong+literary+and+archeological+evidence+linking+core+Vellala+subcastes+with+a+group+chieftains+called+Velir,...&hl=fr&sa=X&ei=2hqyUtvKA66v4QS8woCYAQ&ved=0CDUQ6AEwAA }}</ref><ref>{{cite book| last = Yamamoto| first = Tatsurō| title = Proceedings of the Thirty-First International Congress of Human Sciences in Asia and North Africa, Tokyo-Kyoto, Volume 2| date = 31 August-7 September 1983| page = 1015: Champakalakshmi: Related comments, I have an explanation for the reason why they became a landed community in Tamilnadu, if we go back to Sangam period, we have large number of Velir clans who were the large landowners. Ramesh questioned the equation of Vellalas with Velirs, and Champakalakshmi affirmed their relation. Mahadevan supported Champakalakshmi quoting a Nakshinar's commnentry. Jha and Champakalakshmi agreed in recognizing the importance of muvendavelan in chola period|url=http://books.google.fr/books?id=fAEUAQAAMAAJ&q=velirs+vellalar&dq=velirs+vellalar&hl=en&sa=X&ei=WtioUqiXOIaI0AXn_oHIAQ&redir_esc=y}}</ref> ''Veḷir'' became a title inherited by Veḷḷalar chiefs of the medieval period.<ref>{{cite book| last = Dirks| first = Nicholas B.| title = The Hollow Crown: Ethnohistory of an Indian Kingdom| date = 2007-12-03| publisher = Cambridge University Press| isbn = 978-0-521-05372-3| page = 149 }}</ref> |
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Another important line of chieftains of Tamilnadu during the sangam period with whom krsna was intimately associated was the Ay-velirs. The cow-herds were known as ayars in tamil even as they were known as Ahirs and Abhiras in North India.Tradition says that the Ahirs in Pandya country came to Tamilakkam along with the ancestors of the Pandyas(Kalithogai,verse 104:4-6). Potiya mountain region was known as Ay-kudi.The capital of that region is also called Ay-kudi. In his commentary on the prefatory sutra to the tholkappiyam, nachinarkiniyar describes a tradition relating to the migration of the yadava race as follows: the sage Agasthya repaired to dwaraka and taking with him 18 Kings of the line of krsna,18 families of vels or velirs and others ,moved to the south with the aruvalar tribes. They settled forest areas(mullai region). Later there, he had the forests cleared and built up kingdoms settling therein all the people he had bought with him.kapila, a poet probably of the 2nd century A.D., addresses the reigning velir chief as the 49th descendence from the original founder of that dynasty. M.Srinivasa Iyengar points out that allowing the usual 25 years of each generation, the above kingdom must have been established about B.C. 1075 and this may be assumed as the probable date of the migration of Ay velirs to South india. There were many Velir chiefs in the tamil country during sangam period. They had ‘Ay’ as a prefix or a suffix to their names, such as “Ay-andiran” and “vel-Ay”. The latter had his capital in Ay-kudi and ruled the Potiya region. Many Sangam poets has glorified his bravery and charitable qualities. Poets like Uraiyur Enicheri,Mudamosiyar,Turaiyur Odaikilar,Kuttuvan Kiranar,umattur Kilanmaganar,parankorranar,paranar and karikannanar have composed poems in praise of this king and his region. One of the Aykudi rulers was Ay-andiran.Once he defeated kongars and drove them to western side. A Purananuru verse says, “without the southern Aykudi in the world will be in chaos”. Pegan, one of the seven Velir chieftains(kadai-elu-vallals) of the Sangam period belonged to Aviyar kudi. He was addressed by kapilar as ‘ Aviyar kove’ M.Raghava Iyengar held that the popularity of the worship of krsna in the ancient Tamilakam might be partly due to the influence of the Velirs who are often referred to in the Sangam works.He has clearly shown that the Velirs referred to in the sangam works belonged to the 18 Kudi-velirs of the descendants of the Yadu-kula to which krsna also belonged, and that the Velirs migrated from Dwarapati, and settled in different parts of south-india. The Ay-Velir kings of later period also mention in their copper plate charters that they belonged to the Yadu-kula of krsna The Ay dominion was situated between Kerala and Pandya Nadu and it comprised the parts of the present kanyakumari district of tamilnadu. The Sangam literature portrays the Ay rulers as independent sovereigns in the region around Potiya hill. The early Ays hold special position among the Velir chieftains ruling in several parts of the Tamil country. The Parthivasekarapuram inscription of Kokkurunandakkam – the Ay ruler claims that he belonged to the line of the Ayar or Yadavas People who lived in the mullai region were called as Ayars, kolayars and idaiyars. In tamil land division mullai is placed in the mid-region between the hills(kurinchi) and the plains(marudham). As mullai enjoys the idai(middle) position,the people of that region were called Idaiyars. There are references to idaiyars in Sangam works. The name of one of the poets was Idaikkadanar. The name denotes that the poet belonged to mullai region. Even now idaiyar is the most commonly used word for the cowherds in Tamil. According to the Tholkappiyam, presiding diety of the mullai region was Mayon i.e krsna or Vishnu. Another name for the ayars was pothuvar, meaning common. |
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==History== |
==History== |
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Revision as of 17:35, 13 April 2014
| Velir | |
| Official language | Tamil |
| House | Velir (Satyaputo) - Fraternity of Truth |
| Family Dynasties | *Athiyamān *Malayamān *Vēl Pāri *Vēl Āviyar *Irunkōvēl |
The Velir were top aristocratic chieftains in Tamilakam in the early historic period of South India.[1][2] They were vassals and rivals of the Ventars (Chera, Chola and Pandya kings).[3] They had close relations with them through marriages and coronation right.[4][5]
Ay velirs and krishna
Another important line of chieftains of Tamilnadu during the sangam period with whom krsna was intimately associated was the Ay-velirs. The cow-herds were known as ayars in tamil even as they were known as Ahirs and Abhiras in North India.Tradition says that the Ahirs in Pandya country came to Tamilakkam along with the ancestors of the Pandyas(Kalithogai,verse 104:4-6). Potiya mountain region was known as Ay-kudi.The capital of that region is also called Ay-kudi. In his commentary on the prefatory sutra to the tholkappiyam, nachinarkiniyar describes a tradition relating to the migration of the yadava race as follows: the sage Agasthya repaired to dwaraka and taking with him 18 Kings of the line of krsna,18 families of vels or velirs and others ,moved to the south with the aruvalar tribes. They settled forest areas(mullai region). Later there, he had the forests cleared and built up kingdoms settling therein all the people he had bought with him.kapila, a poet probably of the 2nd century A.D., addresses the reigning velir chief as the 49th descendence from the original founder of that dynasty. M.Srinivasa Iyengar points out that allowing the usual 25 years of each generation, the above kingdom must have been established about B.C. 1075 and this may be assumed as the probable date of the migration of Ay velirs to South india. There were many Velir chiefs in the tamil country during sangam period. They had ‘Ay’ as a prefix or a suffix to their names, such as “Ay-andiran” and “vel-Ay”. The latter had his capital in Ay-kudi and ruled the Potiya region. Many Sangam poets has glorified his bravery and charitable qualities. Poets like Uraiyur Enicheri,Mudamosiyar,Turaiyur Odaikilar,Kuttuvan Kiranar,umattur Kilanmaganar,parankorranar,paranar and karikannanar have composed poems in praise of this king and his region. One of the Aykudi rulers was Ay-andiran.Once he defeated kongars and drove them to western side. A Purananuru verse says, “without the southern Aykudi in the world will be in chaos”. Pegan, one of the seven Velir chieftains(kadai-elu-vallals) of the Sangam period belonged to Aviyar kudi. He was addressed by kapilar as ‘ Aviyar kove’ M.Raghava Iyengar held that the popularity of the worship of krsna in the ancient Tamilakam might be partly due to the influence of the Velirs who are often referred to in the Sangam works.He has clearly shown that the Velirs referred to in the sangam works belonged to the 18 Kudi-velirs of the descendants of the Yadu-kula to which krsna also belonged, and that the Velirs migrated from Dwarapati, and settled in different parts of south-india. The Ay-Velir kings of later period also mention in their copper plate charters that they belonged to the Yadu-kula of krsna The Ay dominion was situated between Kerala and Pandya Nadu and it comprised the parts of the present kanyakumari district of tamilnadu. The Sangam literature portrays the Ay rulers as independent sovereigns in the region around Potiya hill. The early Ays hold special position among the Velir chieftains ruling in several parts of the Tamil country. The Parthivasekarapuram inscription of Kokkurunandakkam – the Ay ruler claims that he belonged to the line of the Ayar or Yadavas People who lived in the mullai region were called as Ayars, kolayars and idaiyars. In tamil land division mullai is placed in the mid-region between the hills(kurinchi) and the plains(marudham). As mullai enjoys the idai(middle) position,the people of that region were called Idaiyars. There are references to idaiyars in Sangam works. The name of one of the poets was Idaikkadanar. The name denotes that the poet belonged to mullai region. Even now idaiyar is the most commonly used word for the cowherds in Tamil. According to the Tholkappiyam, presiding diety of the mullai region was Mayon i.e krsna or Vishnu. Another name for the ayars was pothuvar, meaning common.
History
According to Tholkappiyam, the Velirs came to south from the city of Dwarka under the leadership of sage Agastya and belonged to the Yadu clan.[1][6][7]
Potsherds with early Tamil writing from the 2nd century BCE found in excavations in Poonagari, Jaffna bear several inscriptions, including a clan name—vela, a name related to velir from the ancient Tamil country.[8]
Velir chiefs
Athiyamān Nedumān Añci and his son Ezhini, were Adigaman chieftains, based in Tagadur. They were contemporaries of Auvaiyar. The Sangam poem "Thagadur yathirai", now lost, was written about his battle with the Chera king. Another Velir was Irunkōvēl who ruled from Koval (modern day Tirukovilur) on the banks of the Pennai, (the present Ponnaiyar River) which presently discharges into the sea at Cuddalore in Tamil Nadu. It is likely that the course of the river has changed to the south over many centuries. Other Velir chiefs of repute include Alumbil Vel, Alandur Vel and Nangur Vel[9]
The Kongu Velir dynasty ruled Kongu Nadu, while the Vel Pari dynasty produced numerous kings ruling Parambu Nadu, the most popular of whom was a close friend of the poet Kapilar.[citation needed] The Irunkōvēl line ruled over Ko Nadu and their most famous ruler, Pulikadimal, was a contemporary of Karikala Chola and Kapilar.[citation needed] The most heralded of the Āviyar line was Vaiyāvik Kōpperum Pēkan, a contemporary of the poet Paranar, and renowned for his generosity.[citation needed] The Malayamān Velir dynasty ruled Nadu Naadu around Tirukoilur, their royal emblem featured a horse and their most famous king was Malaiyamān Thirumudi Kāri.[citation needed] Both he and his son Thaervann Malaiyan assisted the early Cholas and Cheras. The most famous Velir dynasty was the Athiyamān dynasty, and this dynasty's powerful and most famous king was Athiyamān Nedumān Añci. His son Elini ruled Kudiramalai of the ancient Jaffna kingdom and Vanni, a co-ruling contemporary of the famous king Korran. These kings belonged to a prolific Tamil horseman tribe.[10][11] The ancient Tamil Naka Oviyar tribe of the Velir house, whose nation stretched to the Tamil emporiums of Mantai and Kudiramalai, included the king Nalliyakkotan who ruled this region and is paid tribute to in the Ciṟupāṇāṟṟuppaṭai.
Each of the Velir dynasties ruled from their own capitals and utilized the seaport of Arikamedu.
See also
References
- ^ a b Mahadevan, Iravatham (2009). "Meluhha and Agastya : Alpha and Omega of the Indus Script" (PDF). Chennai, India. p. 16.
The Ventar-Velir-Velalar groups constituted the ruling and land-owning classes in the Tamil country since the beginning of recorded history
- ^ Fairservis, Walter Ashlin (1992) [1921]. The Harappan civilization and its writing. A model for the decipherment of the Indus Script. Oxford & IBH. pp. 52–53. ISBN 978-81-204-0491-5.
- ^ Upinder, Singh (2008). A History of Ancient and Early Mediaval India: From the Stone Age to the 12th Century. India. p. 384.
Apart from the Vendar, there were number of chieftains known as Velir... The kings and chieftains often fought agains each other by forming alliances. The lesser rulers no doubt had to pay tribute to the more powerful counterparts.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ^ Venkatasubramanian, T. K. (1986). Political Change and Agrarian Tradition in South India. Delhi: Mittal Publications. pp. 63–67.
- ^ Sastri, K. A. Nilakanta (1955). The Colas. Madras University historical series. Vol. 9. University of Madras. p. 49.
- ^ Shashi, S. S. (1989). Encyclopedia of Indian Tribes. p. 216.
- ^ Pivot politics: changing cultural identities in early state formation processes By M. van Bakel page 165: "The Velir were an instrusive group in South India... It is now suggested that (...) may have been associated with the Yadu of Dvaraka..."[1]
- ^ Mahadevan, Iravatham (2003). Early Tamil Epigraphy: From the Earliest Times to the Sixth Century A.D. Department of Sanskrit and Indian Studies. p. 48. ISBN 978-0-674-01227-1. Retrieved 17 October 2013.
{{cite book}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ Seneviratne, Sudharshan (1994). "The Twilight of the Perumakan: South Indian Polity Restructured and Incorporated". In van Bakel, Martin; Hagesteijn, Renée; van de Velde, Piet (eds.). Pivot Politics: Changing Cultural Identities in Early State Formation Processes. Amsterdam: Het Spinhuis. p. 172. ISBN 978-90-5589-007-1.
- ^ Historical heritage of the Tamils, page 256
- ^ Kolappa Pillay Kanakasabhapathi Pillay. (1963). South India and Ceylon. University of Madras. pp. 39
External links
- T.P. Sankaran Kutty Nair. Agenda. Sanskrit in South India