Kongu Vellalar

Kongu Vellalar

Gounders also known as Kongu Vellalars are Kshatriyas native to the western region of Tamil Nadu known as Kongu Nadu. They were known as a noble, feudal and land owning caste of Tamil Nadu from the Sangam age...

(கொங்கு வேளாள கவுண்டர்) or Gounders (கவுண்டர்) are a Kshatriya

Kshatriya

*For the Bollywood film of the same name see Kshatriya Kshatriya or Kashtriya, meaning warrior, is one of the four varnas in Hinduism...

, warrior clan of the Kongu Nadu

Kongu Nadu

Kongu Nadu is a region comprising the western part of the Tamil Nadu India. The region is bounded on the west and north-west by the Karnataka state, on the west by the Kerala state, on the east by Tondai Nadu, on the south-east by Chola Nadu and on the south by Madurai regions of...

, an ancient division of Tamilakam

Ancient Tamil country

The Sangam period is the classical period in the history of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and other parts of South India, spanning about the 3rd century BCE to the 3rd century CE...

 comprising olden Coimbatore

Coimbatore

Coimbatore , also known as Kovai , is the second largest city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is a major commercial centre in Tamil Nadu and is known as the "Manchester of South India"....

, Salem, Tiruchy (Now Karur

Karur

Karur is a large town and a municipality in Karur district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu situated on the banks of Amaravati. Karur district was formed on 30 September 1995 by trifurcating Tiruchirappalli district. It is the administrative headquarters of Karur District. Karur has a very long...

), Madurai

Madurai

Madurai is the third largest city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. It served as the capital city of the Pandyan Kingdom. It is the administrative headquarters of Madurai District and is famous for its temples built by Pandyan and...

 (Now Dindigul

Dindigul

Dindigul is a town and municipality in the Tamil Nadu state of southern India. The name Dindigul comes from the Portmanteau of “Thindu” meaning pillow and “kal” meaning Rock and refers to the bare hill dominating the city’s both land and skyscape...

), Namakkal, Erode

Erode

Erode is a city, a municipal corporation and the headquarters of Erode district in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu.It is situated at the center of the South Indian Peninsula, about southwest from the state capital Chennai and on the banks of the rivers Cauvery and Bhavani, between 11° 19.5"...

 and ancient Mysore region.

People belonging to the same Kulam/Kootam usually will not intermarry. They are considered as brothers and sisters. Each Kulam/Kootam has its own Kulaguru and Kuladeivam or Ishta deivam. In temples, it is a common practice to pray their divine idols which is specific to a Koottam/Kulam.

An article in 1847 identified sixty clans:

1. Adar
2. Adi
3. Antai
4. Antuvan
5. Avan
6. Badariyar
7. Cattantai
8. Cedan
9. Cellan
10. Cemban
11. Cemputan
12. Cengkunniyan
13. Cenkgkannan
14. Cevvayan
15. Ceziyan
16. Cheran
17. Devendran
18. Dhanajayan;
19. Injcan
20. Kadai
21. Kanavalan
22. Kannan
23. Kari
24. Kiran
25. Kodai
26. Koventan
27. Kulaiayan
28. Kunukkan
29. Kuran
30. Kuyilan
31. Madan
32. Maniyan
    Maniyan kootam
    Maniyan kootam is a clan of the Kongu Vellalars , farmer caste of Tamilnadu in South India. In a clan every relation is a brother or sister, marriage within clan is not desired. In the Kongu Vellalar there are initially 60 clans, now expanded to 148 clans...
    
    
33. Mayilan
34. Muttan
35. Nidunniyan
36. Otalan
37. Paduman
38. Panaiyan
39. Panangkadan
40. Pandyan
41. Pannan
42. Pavalan
43. Payiran
44. Periyacavam
45. Perungkudi
46. Ponnan
47. Porulantai
48. Pucan
49. Puccandai
50. Pullan
51. Putan
52. Thodan
53. Valayan
54. Vanan
55. Vannakkan
56. Velaiyan
57. Vellamban
58. Ventuzavan
59. Villiyan
60. Viziyan