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Chavalkarar/savalkarar/chavalakkaran

The Savalakarar or Savalakaran, chavalakaran is a caste mainly leave in tamilnadu and some parts of kerala They use the title Servai. They claim to have migrated from the southern coastal districts of Tamil Nadu several generations ago and recall that their forefathers were warriors and mu sicians ( nadaswaram players ). According to a legend prevailing among them , they are the descendants of one Muttazhagu Servai, a chief in the army of King Veerapandya Kattabomman of Panjalankurichi; the sword or dagger possessed by the chief was known as savalam and , hence , the name Savalakaran , meaning the descendants of one who possessed the savalam , was ascribed to them . Besides Coimbatore District, the other places where they live in small numbers are Periakulam ( in Madurai Dis trict) , Palani ( in Anna District) and Ramanathapuram . They speak Tamil among themselves and with others. They use the Tamil script. after death , milk is poured on the grave . On the 11th day, karumathi, final death ritual, is conducted on a river bank to terminate death pollution . Ancestors are worshipped annually by them .

The Savalakarar have a traditional community council ( samuga panchayathu) which solves intra -community disputes. It also conducts their annual temple festival, which falls on Sivaratri day. The council is headed by a periadhanakkarar who holds the post heredity.

The Savalakarar are Saivites. They worship Siva and Murugan primarily . Deities of the wider pantheon are also worshipped . On the day of Sivaratri, they prepare pallayam , i.e. pulses such as avarai, thuvarai and mochchai are boiled and placed on seven or nine plantain leaves and offer to the Goddess Badalakandi Aatha. Those who live in the Tiruppur area offer pallayam to the deity of Ayyanar. The priest of their temple also belongs to their own community.