VELLALAR -VELALAR -VEL (LORD MURUGA'S WEAPON) -VELZH (THE VEZH OF NADIGAVEZH
M.R RADHA) -VEZHIR -ALL THESE WORDS ARE INTER CONNECTED, RELATED.
"VEL konda VEZHIR VELANMAI seithanar"
THIS KIND OF DESTROYING THE FOREST AND MAKING THE AGRICULTURE IS COMPARED WITH
SO THERE IS A TAMIL SAYING:
"VELLALAN PONA IDAMUM, VELLADU PONA IDAMUM VETTAI".
-means, the VELLADU eats the punjai land and make it clean.
The VELLALA clears the FOREST with the VEL and make it ready for TILLING with
PLOUGH SHARE /(eer, nanjil).
This kind of KNOWLEDGE, VALOUR,
EFFORT and CREATIVITY can be found in todays'
Dravidians (In Tamil Words Dravida is said to be the name of the Southern Portion
of India, So it describes the TRACT OF LAND and not a RACE) who did cultivation, using water were called "Vellalas"(Castes
& Tribes of South India - ET.Thurston, VII 361)Plough was their symbol.
In Thelunku nadu they were called "Velar". In Karnataka they had a kingdom.
Those vellalas who migrated from banks of Ganga was called "Gangavamsa vellalar".Their kingdom was "Ggangawathi".Those vellalas
who lived in Kongunadu was called "Gounders". Ulkala (Orissa) was ruled by vellala kings in 11 century AD.Mudaliars and Reddiars
of Thontaimantalam (Chengalpet & North Arcot Dists),Pillai of Chola (Kumbakonam ,Thanchavoor,Thrissinappally) Pillai of
Pandya (Madura, Ramanathapuram, Thirunelveli) and Gounder of Kongunadu (Coimbatore & Selam) were Vellalas .They are either
"sivas" or "vaishnavas". Some wear sacred thread . In "Pathittupathu" Vellalas were called "Uzhavar". Vellala King Mavel Aai
founder of "Aai vamsam" created theVenadu . In Tharisappally sasan of 9th century AD, there is mention about Vellala -"velkulasundaran".(TAS
II 70-80) In former Travancore and Kochi Vellalas were entrusted with account keeping.They were called "kanakkapillai" accountntant).
Muthalpidi and parvathyakars of olden days were all vellalas. Accountants were respectfully called "Pillaiannan".
Vellalars are agricultural people and in Tamilnadu they are classified into
Vellalars and Karalars. Vellalars are one who control the "Vellam" i.e floods in the river and grow crops and Karalars are
one who control "Kar" i.e Clouds in the form of Tanks and Lakes and grow crops. Later when Southern parts of Tamilnadu came
into the control of Telegu Nayak Chieftains, both Vellars and Karalars(Karkathars) came to work under the chieftains. They
maintained Accounts in palayakaras offices, and hence they assumed the title kanakku "pillays "and then Pillays. Vellalas
in Tamilnadu are concerned, they have broadly three layers. The first layer consists of Saiva Vellalars (Saiva Mudaliars and
Pillais). They are vegetarian, literate and sophisticated like Brahmins except priestly duties but also were major landowners,
feudal lords and powerful like Rajputs or Thakurs of Northern India except individual violent nature of Rajputs and were village
administrators like Kayasthas of Central and Eastern India. There are a number of sub-castes/clans among them like Thondaimandala
vellalar, Karkatha vellalar, Tirunelveli saiva vellalar, etc., and most of them intermarry these days.The second layer consists
of a number of unique castes, which do not intermarry at all. The castes like Kongu Vellalar, (Western Tamilnadu) Pandia Vellalar,(Madurai)
Chozhia Vellalar,(Trichy & Thanjavur) Tuluva Vellalar (North Tamilnadu), Arcot Mudaliar,(North Tamilnadu) Nanjil Vellalar
(Kanya Kumari) are concentrated in specific parts of Tamilnadu and are similar to Reddies, Kammas,Vokkaligas and Lingayats.
Equating them to Jats may not be appropriate since these vellala castes have a long-standing history of agriculture and leadership
whereas Jats have grown to the current position recently and are considered not very cultured in Northern India.But care has
to be taken with reference to Lingayats. Lingayat is a large conglomeration that has the top creamy layer similar to Vellalars
(Patels, Patils, etc.,) but also has other caste groupings like Barber, Washerman, etc., within it.The third layer consists
of certain castes who have started using the title of vellalar like Isai vellalar (Temple musicians and dancers), Devendrakula
Vellalars (Pallars, agricultural labourers), etc.,
Although the tamil word Vellala means the cultivator, there is ample
evidence to indicate that the original Chera , Chola and Pandia Kings were Vellalas. Today vellalas in Tamil nadu
is a miniscule minority in southern districts.They are less than 7% of population. In Kerala and Sree Lanka vellalas are thriving.50%
of Sri Lankan origin Tamilians are vellalas. Almost all political, business and academic leadership of Tamil community of
Sri Lanka has been provided by vellalas. Many castes merged into vellala.'Kalarum maravarum agamuditarum mella mella koodi
vellalar aayinere"- so goes the saying. Which means Kalar,Maravar and Agamudaiyar, the three power castes from South Tamilnadu
assumed Vellala ID with the accumilation of wealth. This happens in Elankai too. Many including Malayalee Nairs have took
Vellala ID with them .This is called "sankritization".Regarding Ayyappan , in Elankai, Ayyanar Swami and among Singalees Ayyanakaye
are popular deities.
ORIGIN OF PILLAI
Since, time immemorial , clans existed among Dravidians; but they cannot be
equated to castes of later periods. The "Tholkappiam" tells about four groups . The conversion of clans to caste system -
right hand caste and left hand caste - occurred during Chola ( Kulothunga-AD 1110 ) period. The caste system got a firm footing
after the arrival of Ariyans. Initially there were only two classes: Those who owned land or go to war and those who depend
on manual labour for living ( artisans, weavers, farm labourers etc) formed first group. Brahmins were on the top in society
and second came Velalars(cultivators ) , chettiyars (business men) ,warriors (Thevar , Kallar , Vanniar ).Others were below
these. Due to the process called "sankritization"(every caste takes up the habits and customs of its immediate superior to
reach the superior status..) many of Kallars , Maravars and Vanniars became Vellalars . Some section of vellalas gave up meat
eating and became vegetarians- they were called "Saiva Vellalas ".This process started in Pallalav period.The Saiva Vellalas
carry titles like PILLAI and Mudaliar , depending in the area of domicile. The saiva vellalas of Pandia and Chola K ingdoms
carry the title "PILLAI" and those from Pallalva Kingdom used to carry the title MUDALIARAanakulangara Bhagavathy temple in
Arunapuram Aanakulangara Bhagavathy temple in Arunapuram, Palai, is one of the oldest temples in Kerala. Vellalas from different
parts of Tamilnadu migrated to Malanadu of Kerala. They were called Thenkasy vellalar (Anjoottikkar-500 families) , Kumbakona
All the information in this small box may not be true..... Due
to the lack of information found in the internet.
According to the early Sangam literature, there was a CHOZHA KING called MUSUGUNTHAN in
around 989 B.C & the CHOZHA EMPEROR of his time is thought to be parunjembiyan 1045 B.C.
The Musugunthan Community people think of a minor King or Maharajah called Musugunthan
(Probably not the King Musugunthan of 989 B.C) as a member of Vellalar (either Karkatha or Veera Kudi) Caste. He was
said to have ruled over 32 villages surrounding a village called Musuri (it is about 10 km from Patukkottai town).
This Story Was Told By My Mother:
Village tale tells us that Musugunthan Maharajah had an incurable skin disease.
He tried everything in his power to heal himself but nothing seemed to work. One day, he left his post, his family and his
palace and wandered off, accompanied only by his loyal palace dog (which was also thought to have been sick).
Eventually he sat down under a tree and slept. Hours later, he was woken up by
his dog. He was very surprised to find the dog fit and well. The dog then brought the Maharajah over to a small puddle of
water and it licked the water. The Maharajah understood the dog and he took a hand full of that water and wetted himself and
his skin disorder immediately vanished. Not knowing what to do, he sends for his General and other folks of the Palace. When
they arrived, it was decided that they should dig the earth below the puddle to find out what exactly lies beneath. To all
of their shock, they discovered a Lord Shiva statue or Shiva Lingam.
The Maharajah then ordered for a temple to be constructed for the Shiva Lingam
or Statue; Which is located now near Musuri village. The puddle of water was constructed as a large temple pond and many people
consider the temple a pilgrimage site (especially those with some major incurable skin diseases; they come over on certain
important religious seasons, pray to Lord Shiva and take a bath in that holy pond).
Another version of the Tale:
It is believed that many centuries ago a Cola King by name Musukundan once visited
the ancient temple of Thirukadavur in South India and took bath in the holy water that was meant for the
main deities of the temple namely Amudakadeshwarar (Shiva) and Abirami ( Sakthi) . The King became very ill with a mysterious
disease. The King was repentant and prayed to Lord Shiva to cure him by performing an Abhishekam ( holy bath) to the
deities as prescribed by the scriptures using 1008 Conchs. The King was immediately cured and since then the event
became an annual event in this ancient temple of Thirukadavur .