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{{short description| | {{short description|Hindu agrarian caste}} | ||
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}} | {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}} | ||
{{Infobox Ethnic group | {{Infobox Ethnic group | ||
|group | | group = Sozhiya Vellalar | ||
|image = | | image = | ||
|popplace | | popplace = [[Chola Nadu]], [[Tamil Nadu]] | ||
|languages = [[Tamil language|Tamil]] | | languages = [[Tamil language|Tamil]] | ||
|religions = [[Hinduism]] | | religions = [[Hinduism]] | ||
|related | | related = [[Vellalar]] | ||
}} | }} | ||
''' | '''Sozhiya Vellalar''' (also known as '''Sozha Vellalar''') is a land-owning upper [[Caste system in India|caste]] from the [[Indian people|Indian]] [[States and union territories of India|state]] of [[Tamil Nadu]]. The Sozhiya Vellalar caste consists of 4 subcastes, namely Sozha Vellalar, Vetrilaikkarar, Kodikkalakarar and Keeraikarars. They are a sub-caste of the greater [[Vellalar]]<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OIAyDwAAQBAJ&q=Chozhia+Vellalar&pg=PT103|title=Caste, Class and Power: Changing Patterns of Stratification in a Tanjore Village|last=Béteille|first=André|date=2012-04-16|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=9780199088720|language=en}}</ref> community. | ||
==Origin== | ==Origin== | ||
Sozhiya Vellalars were the chieftains and land-owning agriculturalists of [[Chola dynasty]]. They use the title [[Pillai (surname)|Pillai]]. The term ''Pillai'' literally means "child" in [[Tamil language]]. [[Tamil inscriptions]] of ancient Sangam era define the direct meaning of Pillai as "Child of King" (prince), denoting nobility. This is due to the fact that Sozhiya vellalars held important positions in the king's administration, mainly for their skill with numbers, maintaining treasury and accounts. The term "Kanakku Pillai" (Kanakku meaning Mathematics, in other words, numbers) originates from the fact that Pillai caste people were the record keepers or treasurers for kings. | |||
==Distribution and migration== | ==Distribution and migration== | ||
The | The Sozhiya Vellalars were present predominantly in the delta districts of Tamil Nadu - Trichy, Thanjavur, Karur, Namakkal, Mannargudi, Nagappattinam. Nowadays they are present in almost all the districts of Tamil Nadu.{{Citation needed|date=December 2018}} | ||
Though the distribution of the community is found in most of the districts, they migrated to the other parts of Tamil Nadu from Trichy and Thanjavur areas towards the middle and second half of the 19th century. As they moved in, they always followed the river bed areas for settlement. Thus, the said community when came to Salem District they initially settled at Palamedu. When their life at Palamedu became difficult due to Theechati Kolliyars (Dacoits with fire) they moved out. Of these the persons who moved to Pandamangalam area were farmers and the traders moved into Proper Salem. They settled as trader dealing in betel leaves and thus earning the name Vatrilaikarar.{{Citation needed|date=December 2018}} | Though the distribution of the community is found in most of the districts, they migrated to the other parts of Tamil Nadu from Trichy and Thanjavur areas towards the middle and second half of the 19th century. As they moved in, they always followed the river bed areas for settlement. Thus, the said community when came to Salem District they initially settled at Palamedu. When their life at Palamedu became difficult due to Theechati Kolliyars (Dacoits with fire) they moved out. Of these the persons who moved to Pandamangalam area were farmers and the traders moved into Proper Salem. They settled as trader dealing in betel leaves and thus earning the name Vatrilaikarar.{{Citation needed|date=December 2018}} | ||
==Sri Lanka== | |||
{{Main|Sri Lankan Vellalar}} | |||
The Vellalars of Sri Lanka have been chronicled in the ''[[Yalpana Vaipava Malai]]'' and other historical texts of the [[Jaffna kingdom]]. They form half of the [[Sri Lankan Tamils|Sri Lankan Tamil]] population and are the major [[Husbandman|husbandmen]], involved in tillage and cattle cultivation.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Fernando|first=A. Denis N.|date=1987|title=PENINSULAR JAFFNA FROM ANCIENT TO MEDIEVAL TIMES: Its Significant Historical and Settlement Aspects|journal=Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Sri Lanka|volume=32|page=84|jstor=23731055}}</ref>Local Sri Lankan literature, such as the ''Kailiyai Malai'', an account on [[Kalinga Magha]], narrates the migration of Vellala Nattar chiefs from the [[Coromandel Coast]] to Sri Lanka.The Kings of Jaffna married among the Vellalas. | |||
== References == | == References == | ||
Revision as of 22:02, 11 October 2021
| Regions with significant populations | |
|---|---|
| Chola Nadu, Tamil Nadu | |
| Languages | |
| Tamil | |
| Religion | |
| Hinduism | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Vellalar |
Sozhiya Vellalar (also known as Sozha Vellalar) is a land-owning upper caste from the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The Sozhiya Vellalar caste consists of 4 subcastes, namely Sozha Vellalar, Vetrilaikkarar, Kodikkalakarar and Keeraikarars. They are a sub-caste of the greater Vellalar[1] community.
Origin
Sozhiya Vellalars were the chieftains and land-owning agriculturalists of Chola dynasty. They use the title Pillai. The term Pillai literally means "child" in Tamil language. Tamil inscriptions of ancient Sangam era define the direct meaning of Pillai as "Child of King" (prince), denoting nobility. This is due to the fact that Sozhiya vellalars held important positions in the king's administration, mainly for their skill with numbers, maintaining treasury and accounts. The term "Kanakku Pillai" (Kanakku meaning Mathematics, in other words, numbers) originates from the fact that Pillai caste people were the record keepers or treasurers for kings.
Distribution and migration
The Sozhiya Vellalars were present predominantly in the delta districts of Tamil Nadu - Trichy, Thanjavur, Karur, Namakkal, Mannargudi, Nagappattinam. Nowadays they are present in almost all the districts of Tamil Nadu.[citation needed]
Though the distribution of the community is found in most of the districts, they migrated to the other parts of Tamil Nadu from Trichy and Thanjavur areas towards the middle and second half of the 19th century. As they moved in, they always followed the river bed areas for settlement. Thus, the said community when came to Salem District they initially settled at Palamedu. When their life at Palamedu became difficult due to Theechati Kolliyars (Dacoits with fire) they moved out. Of these the persons who moved to Pandamangalam area were farmers and the traders moved into Proper Salem. They settled as trader dealing in betel leaves and thus earning the name Vatrilaikarar.[citation needed]
Sri Lanka
The Vellalars of Sri Lanka have been chronicled in the Yalpana Vaipava Malai and other historical texts of the Jaffna kingdom. They form half of the Sri Lankan Tamil population and are the major husbandmen, involved in tillage and cattle cultivation.[2]Local Sri Lankan literature, such as the Kailiyai Malai, an account on Kalinga Magha, narrates the migration of Vellala Nattar chiefs from the Coromandel Coast to Sri Lanka.The Kings of Jaffna married among the Vellalas.
References
- ↑ Béteille, André (16 April 2012). Caste, Class and Power: Changing Patterns of Stratification in a Tanjore Village. Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780199088720.
- ↑ Fernando, A. Denis N. (1987). "PENINSULAR JAFFNA FROM ANCIENT TO MEDIEVAL TIMES: Its Significant Historical and Settlement Aspects". Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Sri Lanka. 32: 84. JSTOR 23731055.
See also
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