Valluvar (caste) - Revision history

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	{{Short description\|Indian caste}}		{{Short description\|Indian caste}}
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	{{About\|the social group\|the Indian poet and philosopher\|Thiruvalluvar}}		{{About\|the social group\|the Indian poet and philosopher\|Thiruvalluvar}}
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RhysFrisina87: Revised and enhanced article content

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Revised and enhanced article content

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	{{About\|~~Valluvar (caste)~~\|~~Thiruvalluvar~~\|Thiruvalluvar}}		{{Short description\|Indian caste}}
			{{pp\|small=yes}}
			{{About\|the social group\|the Indian poet and philosopher\|Thiruvalluvar}}
	{{Use dmy dates\|date=September 2019}}		{{Use dmy dates\|date=September 2019}}
	{{Use Indian English\|date=September 2019}}		{{Use Indian English\|date=September 2019}}
	'''Valluvar''' ~~({{lang-ta\|வள்ளுவர்}}) வள்ளுவர்~~ is a [[~~caste~~]] ~~belonging to~~ the ~~தமிழ் community in~~ the [[~~Indian people\|Indian~~]] [[~~States and union territories of India\|state~~]] of [[Tamil Nadu]]. ~~They are the hereditary priests preaching~~ and ~~practicing astrology~~, ~~astromomy~~ and ~~medicine~~ in ~~[[Tamil Nadu]]~~.		'''Valluvar''' is a caste associated with the Indian state of [[Tamil Nadu]]. They are the hereditary priests of the [[Pallar]]s and [[Paraiyars]] of [[Tamil Nadu]].<ref name="casteandtribes303">[[#Castes and Tribes of Southern India\|Castes and Tribes of Southern India]], Pg 303</ref><ref name="saints_goddesses_kings">{{cite book \| title=Saints, Goddesses and Kings: Muslims and Christians in South Indian Society, 1700-1900\| last=Bayly\| first=susan\| year=2004\| pages=387\|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=siLzp_4Dwb4C&q=saints+and+goddesses \|publisher=Cambridge University Press\| isbn=0521891035}}</ref><ref name="charred_lullabies">{{cite book \| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bR_1TjNkxFkC&q=charred+lullabies\|title=Charred Lullabies: Chapters in an Anthropography of Violence\| last=Daniel\| first=E. Valentine\| year=1996\| pages=30\| publisher=Princeton University Press\|isbn=0691027730}}</ref><ref name="astro_magazine">{{cite book \| title=Astrological Magazine\| year=1986\| pages=259}}</ref><ref name="ghuryep361">{{cite book \| title=Caste and Race in India\| last= Ghurye\| first= G. S. \| pages=361\| authorlink= \| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nJMs-r0FY50C&q=caste+and+race+in+india+ghurye\|year=1991\| publisher= Popular Prakashan\| location=Bombay\| isbn= 9788171542055}}</ref>

	== Origin ==		== Origin ==
			Valluvars are believed to have been the priests of the [[Pallava\|Pallava kings]] before the introduction of [[Brahmins]] and for sometime after their arrival.<ref name="casteandtribes303" /> The exalted position of Valluvars in the social hierarchy during those times is indicated by inscriptions which refer to Valluvars in a respectful manner.<ref name="casteandtribes304">[[#Castes and Tribes of Southern India\|Castes and Tribes of Southern India]], Pg 304</ref> Moreover, the Tamil saint [[Thiruvalluvar]] is believed to have been a member of this community<ref name="encyclopedia_religions">{{cite book \| title=Encyclopedia of Religions Or Faiths of Man Part 3: V. 3\| last=Forlong\| first=J. G. R.\| year=2003\| pages=432\| publisher=Kessinger Publishing\| isbn=0766143090}}</ref> and there is a subsect of Valluvars claiming descent from him.<ref name="casteandtribes304" /><ref name="charred_lullabies" /><ref name="astro_magazine" /> The Valluvars are also called Pandaram or Valluva Pandaram.<ref name="casteandtribes310">[[#Castes and Tribes of Southern India\|Castes and Tribes of Southern India]], Pg 310</ref> The priests of the Valluvars are sometimes called Vellala Pandaram, Thiruvalluva Nayanar.<ref name="casteandtribes310" />

	~~Valluvars are believed~~ to ~~have been the~~ priests ~~of the [[Pallava\|Pallava kings]] before~~ the ~~introduction of [[Brahmins]] and for sometime after their arrival~~.<ref name="~~casteandtribes303~~"~~>[[#Castes and Tribes of Southern India\|Castes and Tribes of Southern India]], Pg 303<~~/~~ref~~> The ~~exalted position of~~ Valluvars ~~in the social hierarchy during those times is indicated by inscriptions which refer to Valluvars in a respectful manner~~.		== Culture and practices==
			Owing to their occupation as priests, all males over twelve wore the sacred thread.<ref name="casteandtribes310" /> The Valluvars were also noted for their abstinence from beef.<ref name="casteandtribes310" />

	== An ~~independent community~~ ==		Valluvars were an [[untouchability\|untouchable caste]].<ref name="Untouchable_Community">{{cite book \| title=An Untouchable Community in South India: Structure and Consensus \|last=Moffatt\| first=Michael\| year=2015\| pages=103\| publisher=Princeton University Press}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal \|last=Deliege \|first=Robert \|date=1992 \|title=Replication and Consensus: Untouchability, Caste and Ideology in India \|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/2803599 \|journal=Man \|volume=27 \|issue=1 \|pages=155–173 \|doi=10.2307/2803599 \|jstor=2803599 \|issn=0025-1496\|url-access=subscription }}</ref><ref name="moffat_TamilCaseStudy">{{cite journal\|url=https://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/document?repid=rep1&type=pdf&doi=43d2f27151813d7ff466b82429ebc9c67ed8fcf3\|title=Untouchables and the caste system: a Tamil case study\|journal=Contributions to Indian Sociology\|first1=Michael\|last1=Moffat\|access-date=2025-03-07}}</ref>

	~~Though~~ Valluvars were regarded as a ~~low income~~ and ~~minority group, but maintained uniqueness among Hindu~~ community by caste ~~Hindus~~.<ref name="~~casteandtribes310~~">[[#Castes and Tribes of Southern India\|Castes and Tribes of Southern India]], Pg ~~310~~</ref> ~~Owing to their occupation as priests, all males over twelve wore the sacred thread~~.<ref name="~~casteandtribes310~~" /> ~~The priests~~ of the ~~Valluvars~~ are ~~sometimes called Vellala Pandaram, Thiruvalluva Nayanar~~.<ref name="~~casteandtribes310~~" />		Valluvars follow both [[Saivism]] and [[Vaishnavism]]. Saivite and Vaishnavite Valluvars dine together, but not intermarry.<ref name="casteandtribes304" /> A particular class of Valluvars officiated as priest at Paraiyar funerals.<ref name="casteandtribes304" /> This particular class of Valluvars was known as Paraiya Tadas and were regarded as inferior by other sections of Valluvars.<ref name="casteandtribes304" /> Another section of Valluvars wear a necklace of ''[[tulsi]]'' beads and are known as Alvar Dasari or Tavadadhari.<ref name="casteandtribes304" /> The affairs of the community are handled by a caste-council.<ref name="casteandtribes306">[[#Castes and Tribes of Southern India\|Castes and Tribes of Southern India]], Pg 306</ref> The community is headed by a ''Kolkaran'' or a ''Kanakkan''.<ref name="casteandtribes306" /> There are the hereditary astrologers of the Indian temple town of [[Vaithiswaran Koil]] and are considered experts in ''Nadi'' astrology.<ref name="nadi_astrology">{{cite news \| last=Raghavan \| first=M. \| title= Turning over old leaves \| date= \| url =http://www.thesundayindian.com/20072008/storyd.asp?sid=5194&pageno=1 \| work =The Sunday India \| accessdate = 2008-09-20}}</ref><ref name="slaves_of_soil_southern_india">{{cite book \| title=Slaves of the Soil in Southern India \| last=B. Pandian\| first=Thomas\| year=1895\| pages=24\| publisher=University of Michigan}}</ref>

	== ~~Sub-sects ==~~		The Valluvars generally officiate in Paraiyar marriages<ref name="slaves_of_soil_southern_india" /> and funerals. During such occasions, Valluvar priests used to chant Sanskrit ''shlokas''.<ref name="slaves_of_soil_southern_india" />

	~~The important sub-sects of Valluvans are Tavidadari and Tiruvalluvan.<ref name~~=~~"casteandtribes305">~~[[~~#Castes and Tribes of Southern India\|Castes and Tribes of Southern India~~]]~~, Pg 305</ref> Valluvars are broadly classified into two main sub-divisions: Arupadhu Katchi or sixty clans and Narpadhu Katchi or forty clans.<ref name="casteandtribes305" />~~		== Notable people ==
			* [[Thiruvalluvar]]

	~~The Arupadhu Katchi considered themselves the descendants of Nandi Gurukkal and have his name as their gotra.<ref name~~=~~"casteandtribes305" /> The Narpadhu Katchi are of the gotra Sidambara Sayichya Ayyamgar.<ref name~~=~~"casteandtribes306">[[#Castes and Tribes of Southern India\|Castes and Tribes of Southern India]], Pg 306</ref> The sub-division alvar claim descent from Tiruppan Alvar.<ref name="casteandtribes306" />~~		==References==

	~~== Practices ==~~

	Valluvars follow both [[Saivism]] and [[Vaishnavism]]. Saivite and Vaishnavite Valluvars dine together, but not intermarry.<ref name="casteandtribes304">[[#Castes and Tribes of Southern India\|Castes and Tribes of Southern India]], Pg 304</ref> Valluvars wear a necklace of ''[[tulsi]]'' beads and are known as Alvar Dasari or Tavadadhari.<ref name="casteandtribes304" /> Some hold that the true Valluvan is one who practices astrology and that those who officiate as priests aren't true Valluvars.<ref name="casteandtribes305" /> The affairs of the community are handled by a caste-council.<ref name="casteandtribes306" /> The community is headed by a ''Kolkaran'' or a ''Kanakkan''.<ref name="casteandtribes306" /> There are the hereditary astrologers of the Indian temple town of [[Vaithiswaran Koil]] and are considered experts in ''Nadi'' astrology.<ref name="nadi_astrology">{{cite news \| last=Raghavan \| first=M. \| title= Turning over old leaves \| url =http://www.thesundayindian.com/20072008/storyd.asp?sid=5194&pageno=1 \| work =The Sunday India \| accessdate = 2008-09-20}}</ref><ref name="slaves_of_soil_southern_india">{{cite book \| title=Slaves of the Soil in Southern India \| last=B. Pandian\| first=Thomas\| year=1895\| pages=24\| publisher=University of Michigan}}</ref>


	~~== Notes~~ ==
	{{Reflist}}		{{Reflist}}

	==~~References~~==		== Further reading ==
	* {{cite book \| title=Castes and Tribes of Southern India Volume VII\| last=Thurston\| first=Edgar\| authorlink= Edgar Thurston\|author2=K. Rangachari \| year=1909\| publisher=Government Press\| location=Madras\|ref= "Castes and Tribes of Southern India"}}		* {{cite book \| title=Castes and Tribes of Southern India Volume VII\| last=Thurston\| first=Edgar\| authorlink= Edgar Thurston\|author2=K. Rangachari \| year=1909\| publisher=Government Press\| location=Madras\|ref= Castes and Tribes of Southern India}}{{Unreliable source inline\|date=March 2025}}

			[[Category:Social groups of Kerala]]
			[[Category:Social groups of Tamil Nadu]]
	[[Category:Tamil society]]		[[Category:Tamil society]]
	~~[[Category:Social groups of Tamil Nadu]]~~
	~~[[Category:Social groups of Kerala]]~~

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{{About|Valluvar (caste)|Thiruvalluvar|Thiruvalluvar}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2019}}
'''Valluvar''' ({{lang-ta|வள்ளுவர்}}) வள்ளுவர் is a [[caste]] belonging to the தமிழ் community in the [[Indian people|Indian]] [[States and union territories of India|state]] of [[Tamil Nadu]]. They are the hereditary priests preaching and practicing astrology, astromomy and medicine in [[Tamil Nadu]].

== Origin ==

Valluvars are believed to have been the priests of the [[Pallava|Pallava kings]] before the introduction of [[Brahmins]] and for sometime after their arrival.<ref name="casteandtribes303">[[#Castes and Tribes of Southern India|Castes and Tribes of Southern India]], Pg 303</ref> The exalted position of Valluvars in the social hierarchy during those times is indicated by inscriptions which refer to Valluvars in a respectful manner.

== An independent community ==

Though Valluvars were regarded as a low income and minority group, but maintained uniqueness among Hindu community by caste Hindus.<ref name="casteandtribes310">[[#Castes and Tribes of Southern India|Castes and Tribes of Southern India]], Pg 310</ref> Owing to their occupation as priests, all males over twelve wore the sacred thread.<ref name="casteandtribes310" /> The priests of the Valluvars are sometimes called Vellala Pandaram, Thiruvalluva Nayanar.<ref name="casteandtribes310" />

== Sub-sects ==

The important sub-sects of Valluvans are Tavidadari and Tiruvalluvan.<ref name="casteandtribes305">[[#Castes and Tribes of Southern India|Castes and Tribes of Southern India]], Pg 305</ref> Valluvars are broadly classified into two main sub-divisions: Arupadhu Katchi or sixty clans and Narpadhu Katchi or forty clans.<ref name="casteandtribes305" />

The Arupadhu Katchi considered themselves the descendants of Nandi Gurukkal and have his name as their gotra.<ref name="casteandtribes305" /> The Narpadhu Katchi are of the gotra Sidambara Sayichya Ayyamgar.<ref name="casteandtribes306">[[#Castes and Tribes of Southern India|Castes and Tribes of Southern India]], Pg 306</ref> The sub-division alvar claim descent from Tiruppan Alvar.<ref name="casteandtribes306" />

== Practices ==

Valluvars follow both [[Saivism]] and [[Vaishnavism]]. Saivite and Vaishnavite Valluvars dine together, but not intermarry.<ref name="casteandtribes304">[[#Castes and Tribes of Southern India|Castes and Tribes of Southern India]], Pg 304</ref> Valluvars wear a necklace of ''[[tulsi]]'' beads and are known as Alvar Dasari or Tavadadhari.<ref name="casteandtribes304" /> Some hold that the true Valluvan is one who practices astrology and that those who officiate as priests aren't true Valluvars.<ref name="casteandtribes305" /> The affairs of the community are handled by a caste-council.<ref name="casteandtribes306" /> The community is headed by a ''Kolkaran'' or a ''Kanakkan''.<ref name="casteandtribes306" /> There are the hereditary astrologers of the Indian temple town of [[Vaithiswaran Koil]] and are considered experts in ''Nadi'' astrology.<ref name="nadi_astrology">{{cite news | last=Raghavan | first=M. | title= Turning over old leaves | url =http://www.thesundayindian.com/20072008/storyd.asp?sid=5194&pageno=1 | work =The Sunday India | accessdate = 2008-09-20}}</ref><ref name="slaves_of_soil_southern_india">{{cite book | title=Slaves of the Soil in Southern India | last=B. Pandian| first=Thomas| year=1895| pages=24| publisher=University of Michigan}}</ref>

== Notes ==
{{Reflist}}

==References==
* {{cite book | title=Castes and Tribes of Southern India Volume VII| last=Thurston| first=Edgar| authorlink= Edgar Thurston|author2=K. Rangachari | year=1909| publisher=Government Press| location=Madras|ref= "Castes and Tribes of Southern India"}}

[[Category:Tamil society]]
[[Category:Social groups of Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Social groups of Kerala]]