Kodikaal Vellalar
Kodikaal Vellalar is a subcaste of Vellalar from Indian state of Tamil Nadu.[1][2][3] They belong to the Shudra varna.[4][1][2]
Etymology
The earliest occurrence of the term Velaalar (வேளாளர்) in Sangam literature is in Paripadal where it is used in the sense of a landowner.[5] The word Vellalar (வெள்ளாளர் ) may come from the root Vellam for flood, which gave rise to various rights of land; and it is because of the acquisition of land rights that the Vellalar got their name.[6] The term Velaalar (வேளாளர்) can be derived from the word Vel (வேள்), Vel being a title that was borne by the Velir chieftains of Sangam age among other things. The Vellalars who do "Kodikaal" (betel leaves) farming came to be known as Kodikaal Vellalar. They predominantly use title "Pillai" as a surname.[4][7][8]
"Kodikaal Vellalar (Kodikaal Pillaimar)
Surname - Pillai,Moopanar."
-Tamilar Varalaru by Devaneya Pavanar.[9][3]
History
The Vellalars have a long cultural history that goes back to over two millennia in southern India, where once they were the labourer and courtesan community.[10][11]
According to Edgar Thurston's 1909 work Castes and Tribes of Southern India - most of the temple Devadasis in the Tamil region of Madras Presidency were primarily from the Vellalar community.Also it has been stated that the "Tevadiyal" or Devadasis in the erstwhile princely state of Travancore were Nanchinad Vellalars. [12]
It can be known from Sekkhizhar that they used to protect the country after the kings and this Vellalar is said to be Karkathar of who stood as a hostage for the sake of Indra for the Pandyan who imprisoned Clouds, Cholan's Daughter Nagavalli who was married to Nagakanni is called "Kodikaal Vellalar" because he produced the betel vine in this land, and "Tuluvar" of Torathal who was brought from Tuluva country to Thondai country by Chola.[8][9]
Vellalar Slavery
There are several references to Vellalars being sold as slaves alongside Dalits in the early and late medieval period.A document dated to 1431 C.E , gives reference to an instance where Vellalar men and women slaves were given as dowry alongside Paraiyars and livestock.[13]. In an inscription found in the Thiruchirappalli district dated to the early 14th century Vijayanagara period , a potentate by the name of Mazhavadharaiyan is said to have had an enslaved Vellalar family consisting of a Vellala man named Thavanjeidhan and his wife along with his sons.[14]
Distribution
Kodikaal Vellalars are mainly distributed in Pandya Nadu-(Lit:Madurai,Theni,Dindugul,Ramanathapuram,Thirunelveli,Virudhunagar,Tenkasi,Sivagangai,Thootukudi etc..,)[7]
References
- ^ a b Gough, Kathleen (2008-01-03). Rural Society in Southeast India. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-04019-8.
- ^ a b Wink, André (2002). Al-Hind, the Making of the Indo-Islamic World: Early Medieval India and the Expansion of Islam 7Th-11th Centuries. BRILL. ISBN 978-0-391-04173-8.
- ^ a b ":: TVU ::". www.tamilvu.org. Retrieved 2023-11-19.
- ^ a b Thurston, Edgar (1909). Castes And Tribes Of Southern India Vol.7 (t-z).
- ^ Dev Nathan (1997). From Tribe to Caste. Indian Institute of Advanced Study. p. 233.
- ^ Venkatasubramanian, T. K. (1993). Societas to Civitas: Evolution of Political Society in South India : Pre-Pallavan Tamil̤akam. Kalinga Publications. ISBN 978-81-85163-42-0.
- ^ a b "Vellala | Encyclopedia.com". www.encyclopedia.com. Retrieved 2023-09-27.
- ^ a b A page no.1069 from the book "Abidhana Chintamani" written by Singharavelu Mudaliar.
- ^ a b தேவநேயன், ஞாநமுத்தன் (2000). தமிழர் வரலாறு (in Tamil). தமிழ்மண் பதிப்பகம்.
- ^ André Wink (2002). Al-Hind: Early medieval India and the expansion of Islam, 7th-11th centuries. Brill Academic Publishers. p. 321. ISBN 90-04-09249-8.
Not only were the Vellalas the landowning communities of South India,...
- ^ Gough, Kathleen (2008). Rural Society in Southeast India. Cambridge University Press. p. 29. ISBN 978-0-521-04019-8.
- ^ Thurston, Edgar (1909). Castes And Tribes Of Southern India Vol.2 (c-j).
- ^ Ramachandran Nair, Adoor K.K (1986). [https://books.google.co.in/books
redir_esc=y&id=03R1JWXcVYIC&q=vellala#v=snippet&q=vellala&f=false Slavery in Kerala].
{{cite book}}: Check|url=value (help); line feed character in|url=at position 33 (help) - ^ South Indian Inscriptions volume VIII , A.R No. 590.