Konar (caste): Difference between revisions

'''Konar''' is a sub-caste of [[Yadav]] or [[Yadava]] community<ref name=":0" /> They believe that they are the Descendants of Lord [[Krishna]].<ref>{{cite book|title=People of India: India's communities|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=g9MVAQAAMAAJ&q=konar+yadav|year=1998|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-563354-2}}</ref> from the Indian state of [[Tamil Nadu]].They are traditionally held to be a pastoral community<ref name=":0">{{cite book|title= Ethonbotany of India|url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Ethnobotany_of_India_Volume_1/10MiEAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=konars+pastoral&pg=PA15&printsec=frontcover|page=15|year=2016|publisher=Apple academic press|isbn = 9781771883399}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title= The Stone age in India|url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Stone_Age_in_India/Y1Li2LLKvEQC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=konar+pastoral&pg=PA26&printsec=frontcover|page=26|year=2016|publisher= Asian Educational Services|isbn = 9788120601482}}</ref> involved in cattle herding and cultivation.<ref>{{cite book|title=Journal of Indian History|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DTVuAAAAMAAJ&q=konar+idaiyar|year=2003|publisher=Department of Modern Indian History}}</ref> who are otherwise also known as ''[[Ahir|Ayar]]'' and ''Idaiyar'',<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PozZAAAAMAAJ|title=Religious Festivals in South India and Sri Lanka|last=Richard|first=Guy|publisher=Manohar|year=1982|page=128}}</ref> and who appear in the ancient [[Sangam literature]] as occupants of the ''[[Sangam landscape|Mullai]]'' (forest region).<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-qU5DwAAQBAJ&pg=PA258|title=Possessed by the Virgin: Hinduism, Roman Catholicism, and Marian Possession in South India|last=Bloomer|first=Kristin C.|year=2018|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=9780190615093|page=258|language=en}}</ref>{{efn|The five regions that comprised the [[Sangam landscape]]s are literary devices, not geographical areas.<ref name="allchin"/>}} However, historically they have held positions such as kings and chieftains.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VncomfRVVhoC&dq=Konar+kings&pg=PA99|title=The cult of Draupadī: Mythologies : from Gingee to Kurukserta, Volume 1|last=Hiltebeitel |first=Alf|publisher=Motilal|year=1988|isbn=81-208-1000-7|page=99|language=en}}</ref>

According to medieval inscriptions the Konars are mentioned as [[Nanda Baba|Nandaputras]] of [[Yadava]] lineage.<ref name="Temples of Kr̥ṣṇa in South India: History, Art, and Traditions in Tamilnāḍu By T Padmaja "> Conclusion pages 103: "We also get several instances of the patronage extended to Krsna temples by the shepherd class (manradi or Konars ) In one inscription they are significantly called Nandaputras and Tiruvaypadi Nattar of Tondaimandalam"{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pzgaS1wRnl8C&q=Author+Padmaja+temples+of+krishna |title= Temples of Kr̥ṣṇa in South India: History, Art, and Traditions in Tamilnāḍu |isbn= 9788170173984 |access-date=2002-01-01 |last1= Padmaja |first1= T. |year= 2002 }}</ref>

The [[Gingee Fort]] was originally built by Ananta kon of the Konar Dynasty, around 1190 A.D. and was later fortified by Krishna Konar.<ref name="Hiltebeitel 1991 450">{{cite book|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=VncomfRVVhoC&q=Krishna+Kon&pg=PA90 |title= The cult of Draupadī: Mythologies : from Gingee to Kurukserta, Volume 1|last= Hiltebeitel |first=Alf|publisher= University of Chicago|year=1991|isbn= 81-208-1000-7|page=450}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=rHt8DwAAQBAJ&q=konar&pg=PT212 |title= The Nawab's Tears|last= Mani |first=Ajith|publisher= Partridge Publishing |year=2018|isbn= 978-1-5437-0429-7|page= chapter 24}}</ref> It was later modified in the 13th century to elevate it to the status of an unbreachable citadel to protect the small town of saenji. It was also the headquarters <ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/arts/crafts/Ancient-Futures/article16894623.ece|title=Ancient Futures|first=Divya|last=Sridharan|newspaper=The Hindu|date=27 November 2009|via=www.thehindu.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/kids/where-eagles-dare/article4619668.ece|title=Where eagles dare|first=Sanjay|last=Sivadas|newspaper=The Hindu|date=15 April 2013|via=www.thehindu.com}}</ref> domination in northern Tamil Nadu. The fort was built as a strategic place of fending off any invading armies.