Saiva Vellalar
Encyclopedia
Saiva Velaalar is a Tamil
community in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu
. They trace their lineage to the ancient Velir tribe
Saiva Velaalars have the title of Mudaliar
and Pillai. In northern part of Tamil Nadu, they are known as Mudaliars(Thondaimandala Mudaliars) where as in southern part of the state, they are known as Saiva Pillais and Saiva Velaala Mudaliars
They had close associations and held high positions of office with the three main Tamil dynasties, Chera, Chola and Pandya. Some of them even had marital relations; Ilamcetcenni, the king known for his fleet of warships, married a Velir princess, and his son Karikala Chola also married a Velir princess from Nangur.
Tamil people
Tamil people , also called Tamils or Tamilians, are an ethnic group native to Tamil Nadu, India and the north-eastern region of Sri Lanka. Historic and post 15th century emigrant communities are also found across the world, notably Malaysia, Singapore, Mauritius, South Africa, Australia, Canada,...
community in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
. They trace their lineage to the ancient Velir tribe
Saiva Velaalars have the title of Mudaliar
Mudaliar
Mudaliar also Mudali, Moodley is a title used in Tamil diaspora. It is derived from the honorary title Mudali meaning a person of first rank in the Tamil language which was bestowed upon top-ranking bureaucratic officials and army commanders in medieval South India...
and Pillai. In northern part of Tamil Nadu, they are known as Mudaliars(Thondaimandala Mudaliars) where as in southern part of the state, they are known as Saiva Pillais and Saiva Velaala Mudaliars
Velaalars in Sangam literature
In Sangam literature, the chiefs of the vellala tribes were called the Velir. The Velir or the Vellalar tribes are described as a landed gentry who irrigated the wet lands and the Karalar were the landed gentry in the dry lands. Numerous poems in the ancient Sangam literature extol these chieftains' charity and truthfulness. Among the most prominent were those known as the 'seven patrons' (kadaiyezhu vallal); Vel-Pari, Malayaman Thirumudi Kaari, Ori, Adigaman, Began, Nalli and Ay Kandiran.They had close associations and held high positions of office with the three main Tamil dynasties, Chera, Chola and Pandya. Some of them even had marital relations; Ilamcetcenni, the king known for his fleet of warships, married a Velir princess, and his son Karikala Chola also married a Velir princess from Nangur.
Historical personalities
- SekkizharSekkizharSekkizhar was a poet and scholar of Tamil Shaiva Siddhanta, a Saiva saint contemporary with the reign of Kulothunga Chola II. He compiled and wrote the Periya Puranam , 4253 verses long,recounting the life stories of the sixty-three Shaiva Nayanars, the poets of Shiva who composed the liturgical...
, the author of the Tamil hagiography Periyapuranam or The Great Purana consisting of the life stories of the 63 Tamil Saiva Saints or the Nayanmars
- Thirunavukkarusu Nayanar, also known as Appar, one of the 63 NayanarsNayanarsThe Nayanars or Nayanmars were Shaivite devotional poets of Tamil Nadu, active between the fifth and the tenth centuries CE...
, celebrated by Sekkizhar in his epic Periyapuranam hailed from this community. He was a contemporary of Tirugnanasambandhar (younger of the two) and lived during 7th century. SambandharCampantarTirugnana Sampantar was a young Saiva poet-saint of Tamil Nadu who lived around the 7th century CE....
affectionately referred to him as appa(father). Though born into an orthodox saivite family, Appar initially embraced Jainism and was known as Dharmasena. He would later convert back to Saivism and travel to many places and undergo ordeals to show his devotion to SivaShivaShiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a...
. He would sing one of his hymns in praise of SivaShivaShiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a...
at Vaitheeswaran KoilVaitheeswaran TempleVaitheeswaran Temple or Pullirukkuvelur is a Hindu temple dedicated to the god Shiva located in Tamil Nadu, India. Shiva is worshipped as Vaitheeswaran or the "God of healing" and it is believed that prayers to Vaitheeswaran can cure diseases. It is one of the nine Navagraha temples associated...
.
- Kotpuli NayanarKotpuliKotpuli was a Nayanar saint of South India. He was one of the 63 Nayanars hailing from Nattiyantankuti. He was so attached to Lord Siva that he allotted a heap of paddy in the form of huge hill in each of the Siva temples to feed the Saiva devotees....
, one of the 63 Nayanars hailed from Nattiyantankuti. He was so attached to Lord Siva that he allotted a heap of paddy in the form of huge hill in each of the Siva temples to feed the Saiva devotees.
- Vallal Sadaiyappa Mudaliar, a rich 12th-century Vellala chief who had residences at Puduvai (Pondicherry) and Thiruvenainallur. He was known for his philanthropic activities. He was a close friend and a patron of Tamil national poet Kambar, who wrote Ramavataram and Pararajasingam.
- Ambi Aramvalartha Mudaliar was a minister during the reign of KrishnadevarayaKrishnadevarayaŚrī Kriṣhṇa Devarāya , , , and also known as Krishna Devarayulu in some inscriptions was the famed Emperor of the Vijayanagara Empire who reigned from 1509–1529 CE.He is the third ruler of the Tuluva Dynasty. Presiding over the empire at its zenith, he is regarded as an icon by many Indians...
(1509-1530 AD).
- Andhaka Kavi Vira Raghava MudaliarAndaka Kaviviraraghava MudaliarAndaka Kaviviraraghava Mudaliar was a famous Tamil poet. He was born blind. However, he possessed a unique talent for poetry.- Poetical works :...
was a poet of the 16th century. He was from Pon-vilaintha Kalathur.
Freedom fighters
- Muthuranga MudaliarMuthuranga MudaliarMuthuranga Mudaliar was a well known freedom-fighter from Nasarath pettai near Poonamallee in Thiruvallur District. He participated in the Quit India Movement in 1942 along with Prakasam, V. V. Giri, M. Bhakthavatsalam, K. Kamaraj and other freedom fighters...
: A well known freedom-fighter; hailed from Vanavarayar Gothram of Nasarath Pettai near PoonamalleePoonamalleePoonamallee is a town in the Poonamallee taluk of the Thiruvallur district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu...
in Thiruvallur District
Social work
- Sarojini VaradappanSarojini VaradappanSarojini Varadappan is an Indian social worker from the state of Tamil Nadu. She is the daughter of former Chief Minister of Madras, M. Bhaktavatsalam.- Early life :...
, Indian freedom-fighter and social activist; daughter of M. BhaktavatsalamM. BhaktavatsalamMinjur Bhaktavatsalam was an Indian lawyer, politician and freedom fighter from the state of Tamil Nadu. He served as the Chief Minister of Madras state from October 2, 1963 to March 6, 1967...
Literature
- Makaral Karthikeya MudaliarMakaral Karthikeya MudaliarMakaral Karthikeya Mudaliar was a renowned scholar and a poet of 19th century from Veyttur, near Madurantakam. He had authored a number of Tamil books such as Velir varalaatru maanbu, Aathichudi Muthar Viruthiyurai, Tamil Solvilakkam and Mozhi nool -References:...
: A scholar and poet in the 19th century who hailed from Veyttur, near MaduranthakamMaduranthakamMaduranthakam is a town and a municipality in Kancheepuram district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The town is known for the man-made and second largest lake in Tamil Nadu, the Maduranthakam Lake. It is believed to be built by the Chola King Uthama Choza, also called as Maduranthakar, during...
. He authored a number of Tamil books, including Veleer varalaatrumanbu, Tamil Solvilakkam, and Mozhi Nool.
- Mahavidwan Vasudeva MudaliarMahavidwan Vasudeva MudaliarMahavidwan Vasudeva Mudaliar was a renowned poet from Chettipalayam near Pothanur in Coimbatore District. His poetic verse called Thalapuranam in praise of The Lord Skanda is at Thirumuruganpoondi...
: A from ChettipalayamChettipalayamChettipalayam is a suburb of Coimbatore city in Tamil Nadu, India. The place and its vicinity is also home to Kari Motor Speedway and the Coimbatore Golf Club. It is located 17 km away from Coimbatore Junction. There is also a railway station in Podanur nearby...
near PothanurPothanurPothanur is a panchayat town in Namakkal district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.-Demographics: India census, Pothanur had a population of 13,967. Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49%. Pothanur has an average literacy rate of 70%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male...
in CoimbatoreCoimbatoreCoimbatore , 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"....
District
- Raosahib Vellakal Pa. Subramania MudaliarPa. Subramania MudaliarPa. Subramania Mudaliar was a renowned poet of 19th century from Vellakal, Tirunelveli District. He had written a number of Tamil books such as Kombi virutham and Akaligai venba and a book on Tamil literature . He had pioneered the translation of veterinary texts from English into Tamil.-References:...
: A Tamil poet of the 19th century who hailed from Athur Mappothiyar gothram of Vellakal, TirunelveliTirunelveliTirunelveli , also known as Nellai , and historically as Tinnevelly, is a city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is the headquarters of the Tirunelveli District and the sixth biggest city in Tamil Nadu...
District
- Rasikamani T.K. Chidambaranatha MudaliarTK Chidambaranatha MudaliarT. K. Chidambaranatha Mudaliar was a well known Tamil scholar from Tenkasi. He was considered as one of the founding authors of Tamil renaissance movement. He had authored Tamil books such as Ithaya Oli and Kambar tharum Ramayanam. He was popularly known as "Rasigamani". He was a great researcher...
: A scholar and author of Kambar tharum Ramayanam; hailed from Athur Mopothiyar Gothram of TenkasiTenkasiTenkasi pronounced as is a town and a municipality in Tirunelveli district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is located in the foothills of the Western Ghats near the Courtallam Waterfalls.Tenkasi is also famous for saaral...
- Thiru. V. Kalyanasundaram, Tamil scholar and essayist
- Maraimalai AdigalMaraimalai AdigalMaraimalai Adigal was an eminent Tamil orator and writer. He was a devout Hindu as a staunch follower of Saivism. He has authored more than 100 books, including works on original poems and dramas, but most famous are his books on his research into Tamil literature. Most of his literary works were...
, Tamil orator and writer
Arts and music
- Salem K.Meera is a renowned Karnatic musician in Salem. She is well versed in vocal, veena and keyboard. She is the Joint President of Salem Sangeetha Vidhwath sabha for the past three years. Also she has served as the President of the sabha for six years, secretary for six years, committee member and vice president for 12 years. She is an active and creative participant in the sabha activities. She has been performing in the Salem sabha from 1950 until now (2011).
- KS RaviKumar Famous Cinema Director
- Vijayalakshmi NavaneethakrishnanVijayalakshmi NavaneethakrishnanDr Vijayalakshmi Navaneethakrishnan is a Tamil folk singer and composer and a renowned exponent of Tamil folk art. Together with her husband Dr M Navaneethakrishnan, she has conducted several years of research and study on Tamil folk music and dances and devoted a lifetime to research, collection,...
Professor, folk song singer - Vijayalakshmi, Cine actress
Politics
- C. Muttukumarasami MudaliyarC. Muttukumarasami MudaliyarChunampet Muttukumarasami Mudaliyar was the hereditary zamindar of Chunampet in Chingleput district and politician who served as a member of the Madras Legislative Council for three consecutive terms from 1904 to 1907. His son Arunachala Mudaliar was a popular politician of the Justice Party....
, Indian politician and hereditary zamindarZamindarA Zamindar or zemindar , was an aristocrat, typically hereditary, who held enormous tracts of land and ruled over and taxed the bhikaaris who lived on batavaslam. Over time, they took princely and royal titles such as Maharaja , Raja , Nawab , and Mirza , Chowdhury , among others...
of ChunampetChunampetChunampet is a village in the Cheyyur taluk of Kanchipuram district in India. It is located 99 kilometres from Chennai and 22 kilometres from Madurantakam on the Madurantakam-Marakkanam road. It was the seat of the zamindari of Chunampet during the colonial era...
. Member of the Madras Legislative Council 1904-7 - C. Natesa MudaliarC. Natesa MudaliarC. Natesa Mudaliar , also known as Natesan, was a politician and activist of the Dravidian Movement from the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. He was one of the founders of the Justice Party along with Theagaroya Chetty and Dr. T. M. Nair....
, Justice party leader - S. Muthiah MudaliarS. Muthiah MudaliarS. Muthiah Mudaliar CIE was an Indian politician and legislator of the Justice Party and later, the Swarajya Party and an independent minister in the Madras Presidency. He is largely remembered for introducing the Communal Government Order implementing reservations in the Presidency.Muthiah...
, Minister in the Composite Madras Government, 1928-1930 as a member of the Indian Justice PartyIndian Justice PartyIndian Justice Party is a political party of India that was established by Dr. Udit Raj.-External links:* *...
. He was the author of the Communal Government Order in Madras PresidencyMadras PresidencyThe Madras Presidency , officially the Presidency of Fort St. George and also known as Madras Province, was an administrative subdivision of British India...
in 1928. - Sir P. T. RajanP. T. RajanSir Ponnambala Thiaga Rajan was the Chief Minister of Madras Presidency from April 4, 1936 to August 24, 1936. He was also the last President of the Justice Party....
(1892–1974): Justice Party politician and Chief Minister of Madras Presidency in 1936 - T. N. Sivagnanam PillaiT. N. Sivagnanam PillaiDiwan Bahadur Sir Tinnevely Nelliappa Sivagnanam Pillai was an Indian lawyer, civil servant and politician from the Madras Presidency. He belonged to the Justice Party...
(1861–1936), Indian politician of the Justice Party. Minister of Development (1923–26) - Palanivel Rajan (1933–2006): Politician of the Dravida Munnetra KazhagamDravida Munnetra KazhagamDravida Munnetra Kazhagam is a state political party in the states of Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry, India. It is a Dravidian party founded by C. N. Annadurai as a breakaway faction from the Dravidar Kazhagam headed by Periyar...
. Speaker, Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, 1996–2001. Minister of Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (2006). - M. BhaktavatsalamM. BhaktavatsalamMinjur Bhaktavatsalam was an Indian lawyer, politician and freedom fighter from the state of Tamil Nadu. He served as the Chief Minister of Madras state from October 2, 1963 to March 6, 1967...
(1897–1987): Indian freedom fighter and leader of the Indian National CongressIndian National CongressThe Indian National Congress is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Bharatiya Janata Party. It is the largest and one of the oldest democratic political parties in the world. The party's modern liberal platform is largely considered center-left in the Indian...
. Chief Minister of Madras state from 1963 to 1967. - O. V. AlagesanO. V. AlagesanOzhalur Viswanatha Mudaliar Alagesan was an Indian politician and freedom fighter from the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. He served as a member of the Indian Parliament from 1951 to 1957, 1962 to 1967 and from 1971 to 1979....
(1911–1992): Indian politician and leader of the Indian National Congress. Minister of External Affairs in the Union Government and Minister of Railways. He resigned his post after a railway accident at AriyalurAriyalurAriyalur is a Municipality in Ariyalur district in the state of Tamil Nadu, India.-Geography:Ariyalur is a municipality and headquarters of Ariyalur District in the state of Tamil Nadu. It is rich in limestone resources. Big industrial houses like Birlas , India cements, Dalmia cements, Madras...
, Tamil Nadu. - V. R. NedunchezhiyanV. R. NedunchezhiyanV.R. Nedunchezhiyan was a former finance minister of the state of Tamil Nadu, India. He was also the acting chief minister of Tamil Nadu in two tenures .He was born at Thirukkannapuram in a Hindu Mudaliar family...
(1920–2001): Founding member of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam. President of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (1962–1967). Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu in 1969 and 1987. He was Education Minister in the Dravida Munnetra KazhagamDravida Munnetra KazhagamDravida Munnetra Kazhagam is a state political party in the states of Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry, India. It is a Dravidian party founded by C. N. Annadurai as a breakaway faction from the Dravidar Kazhagam headed by Periyar...
(DMK) Government and Finance Minister in the AIADMK Government during the M. G. RamachandranM. G. RamachandranMaruthur Gopalan Ramachandran , popularly known by his initials , was an Indian film actor, director, producer and politician....
period and the J. JayalalithaaJ. JayalalithaaJayalalithaa Jayaram ; born 24 February 1948) commonly referred to as J. Jayalalitha, is the Chief Minister of the state of Tamil Nadu, India. She is the incumbent general secretary of All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam , a Dravidian party. She is called Amma and Puratchi Thalaivi by her...
period. He held portfolios as Minister for more than 25 years in the State of Tamil Nadu. - Professor K Anbazhagan: General Secretary, DMK Party. He was Minister for Health, Minister for Education, and is currently Finance Minister. He has served for more than 25 years as Minister in the Government of Tamil Nadu.
- P. ShanmugamP. ShanmugamP. Shanmugham was the Chief Minister of the Union Territory of Pondicherry . He served from March 22, 2000 to October 27, 2001.- Notes :...
: Former Chief Minister of Pondicherry - Jayanthi NatarajanJayanthi NatarajanJayanthi Natarajan is an Indian lawyer and politician. She is a member of the Indian National Congress and has been thrice elected Member of Parliament representing the state of Tamil Nadu in the Rajya Sabha. Since July 2011, she has been the Minister of Forests and Environment.-Early...
- M.P. and congress politician, granddaughter of M. BhaktavatsalamM. BhaktavatsalamMinjur Bhaktavatsalam was an Indian lawyer, politician and freedom fighter from the state of Tamil Nadu. He served as the Chief Minister of Madras state from October 2, 1963 to March 6, 1967...
. She was Minister of Aviation and Parliamentary Affairs, Government of India.
Spiritual
- Arumuga Navalar , Tamil scholar and religious reformer preaching Saivite Hinduism
- Suki Sivam, religious scholar and writer