Vanniyar
Encyclopedia
Vanniyar refers to a very large social group of people spread all across South India
. Vanniyars primarily live in modern Tamil Nadu
where they speak Tamil
, while in Andhra Pradesh
, Karnataka
and Kerala
they speak their native South Indian Dravidian languages
namely, Telugu
, Kannada
and Malayalam
respectively.
rule and came to be known as Padayatchis.Some Padayatchis retained their rule as chieftains and Poligars after the downfall of the Tamil kings.
Moreover, the malaymans were related to kadava
s through marriages.
Edgar Thurston in his book "Castes and Tribes of South India" notes "A curious ceremony is even now celebrated at the chidambaram temple, on the steps leading to the central sanctuary. As soon as the eldest son of this family is married, he and his wife, accompanied by a local vellala, repair to the sacred shrine and there, amidst crowds of their castement and other, a homam is raised and offerings are made to it. The couple are then anointed with nine different kinds of holy water, and the Vellala places the temple crown on their heads."
In Tamil Nadu, the Vanniar live predominantly in the north, east, central and parts of north western. These areas cover more than 15 districts and traditionally called as the Vanniar Belt. It comprises the following districts in Tamil Nadu: Chennai
, Kancheepuram, Villupuram, Cuddalore
, Nagapattinam
, northern Thanjavur, Thiruvarur, Ariyalur
, Perambalur
, northern Trichy, Chidamabram, Tiruvallur
, Vellore
, Tiruvannamalai
, Dharmapuri
, Krishnagiri
.
Vanniyars constitute 28% of the population of Tamil Nadu
and 65% of the population in Pondicherry, 7-10% of Karnataka as per the 1931 Caste based Census. In terms of population they are the largest caste among the most backward classes listed in Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry. They are one of the very earliest caste to be socially well organized and today they are the most politically mobilized and well-informed caste from Tamil Nadu. .
amongst Sri Lankan Tamils iin the Vanni District
of northern Sri Lanka during the early 1900s. It is no longer used as a name of a caste or as chiefs in Sri Lanka. There are number of origin theories for the feudal chiefs as well as the caste as coming from modern Tamil Nadu
state or as an indigenous formation.
, Reddiar, Kander/Kandar, Palli and many other titles in Tamil Nadu
, Vanniar, Reddiar, Padayatchi etc. in pondicherry, in Karnataka they are called Tigala / Thigala, or Thigilaru with a common suffix of Hebbar or Hebbe or Banjara, Lambani and Nayakar. In Andhra Pradesh, Vanniars are usually known as Anamuk, Aray Mala, Bavuri, Palli, Agnikula , Vanniyakula , Vanne Kapu
or Vanne Reddy
. In Kerala, they are called Kuravan, Sidhanar and balija Reddiar. There are 92 different names or sub caste/sub titles given for Vannia Kula Kshatriya community.
South India
South India is the area encompassing India's states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu as well as the union territories of Lakshadweep and Pondicherry, occupying 19.31% of India's area...
. Vanniyars primarily live in modern 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...
where they speak Tamil
Tamil language
Tamil is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. It has official status in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and in the Indian union territory of Pondicherry. Tamil is also an official language of Sri Lanka and Singapore...
, while in Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh , is one of the 28 states of India, situated on the southeastern coast of India. It is India's fourth largest state by area and fifth largest by population. Its capital and largest city by population is Hyderabad.The total GDP of Andhra Pradesh is $100 billion and is ranked third...
, Karnataka
Karnataka
Karnataka , the land of the Kannadigas, is a state in South West India. It was created on 1 November 1956, with the passing of the States Reorganisation Act and this day is annually celebrated as Karnataka Rajyotsava...
and Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
they speak their native South Indian Dravidian languages
Dravidian languages
The Dravidian language family includes approximately 85 genetically related languages, spoken by about 217 million people. They are mainly spoken in southern India and parts of eastern and central India as well as in northeastern Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Iran, and...
namely, Telugu
Telugu language
Telugu is a Central Dravidian language primarily spoken in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India, where it is an official language. It is also spoken in the neighbouring states of Chattisgarh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Orissa and Tamil Nadu...
, Kannada
Kannada language
Kannada or , is a language spoken in India predominantly in the state of Karnataka. Kannada, whose native speakers are called Kannadigas and number roughly 50 million, is one of the 30 most spoken languages in the world...
and Malayalam
Malayalam language
Malayalam , is one of the four major Dravidian languages of southern India. It is one of the 22 scheduled languages of India with official language status in the state of Kerala and the union territories of Lakshadweep and Pondicherry. It is spoken by 35.9 million people...
respectively.
Etymology
The name Vanniyar is derived from the Sanskrit word Vahni which means fire.History
The Vanniyars, known as Pallis, became soldiers and commanders during the medieval PallavaPallava
The Pallava dynasty was a Tamil dynasty which ruled the northern Tamil Nadu region and the southern Andhra Pradesh region with their capital at Kanchipuram...
rule and came to be known as Padayatchis.Some Padayatchis retained their rule as chieftains and Poligars after the downfall of the Tamil kings.
Malayaman
Many castes today claim descent from Malayaman but Dennis B. McGilvray in his book "Crucible of conflict" states "Malayaman is a section of the udaiyar caste in south arcot today, but Burton Stein also finds the title in a thirteenth-century inscription identifying Vanniyar subcastes of south arcot in the left-right caste classification typical of the chola empire"Moreover, the malaymans were related to kadava
Kadava
Kadava was the name of a Tamil ruling dynasty who ruled parts of the Tamil country during the thirteenth and the fourteenth century CE. Kadavas were related to the Pallava dynasty and ruled from Kudalur near Cuddalore in Tamil Nadu.The Kadava kingdom was at the height of their power briefly...
s through marriages.
Cholanars
Cholanars are considered to be the descendant of the Chola emperors. Canmukam Meyyappan in his book "Chidambaram Marriage Customs" observes "It was customary for the Chola Kings to have their head saved in temple. ln observance of that lot of people shave their head today near the temple.Edgar Thurston in his book "Castes and Tribes of South India" notes "A curious ceremony is even now celebrated at the chidambaram temple, on the steps leading to the central sanctuary. As soon as the eldest son of this family is married, he and his wife, accompanied by a local vellala, repair to the sacred shrine and there, amidst crowds of their castement and other, a homam is raised and offerings are made to it. The couple are then anointed with nine different kinds of holy water, and the Vellala places the temple crown on their heads."
Current status
In India, Vanniyar are classified as Backward Class tribes. In Tamil Nadu, the government has classified them as part of the Vanniakula Kshatriya class, which they categorize as one of Tamil Nadu's Most Backwards Castes.Demographic spread
The Vanniyar caste live in an area where three South Indian states of Tamil Nadu, Andhra and Karnataka intersects. In these latter two Indian states they are in sizeable mass primarily due to migration of other sects from outside and vice versa.In Tamil Nadu, the Vanniar live predominantly in the north, east, central and parts of north western. These areas cover more than 15 districts and traditionally called as the Vanniar Belt. It comprises the following districts in Tamil Nadu: Chennai
Chennai
Chennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India...
, Kancheepuram, Villupuram, Cuddalore
Cuddalore
Cuddalore is a fast growing industrial city and headquarter of Cuddalore district in the Tamil Nadu state of southern India. Located south of Pondicherry on the coast of Bay of Bengal, Cuddalore has a large number of industries which employ a great deal of the city's population.Cuddalore is known...
, Nagapattinam
Nagapattinam
Nagapattinam is a town in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and the administrative headquarters of Nagapattinam District. It is a prominent seaport on the east coast of India and an important centre of trade and commerce.The town of Nagapattinam dates back to the Sangam period...
, northern Thanjavur, Thiruvarur, Ariyalur
Ariyalur
Ariyalur 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...
, Perambalur
Perambalur
Perambalur is a district headquarters and a taluk and municipality in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Perambalur District came in to existence after trifurcation of Tiruchirappalli district with effect from 30.09.1995.- Geography :...
, northern Trichy, Chidamabram, Tiruvallur
Tiruvallur
Tiruvallur is a temple town and Grade I municipality in Tiruvallur district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is located on the Cooum river about northwest of the city of Chennai , the capital city of Tamil Nadu. It is the administrative headquarters of Tiruvallur district...
, Vellore
Vellore
Vellore It is considered one of the oldest cities in South India and lies on the banks of the Palar river on the site of Vellore Fort. The city lies between Chennai and Bangalore and the Temple towns of Thiruvannamalai and Tirupati...
, Tiruvannamalai
Tiruvannamalai
Thiruvannamalai is a pilgrimage Temple city and special grade municipality in Thiruvannamalai district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is the headquarters of the Thiruvannamalai district. Thiruvannamalai is home to the Annamalaiyar Temple located at the foot of the Annamalai hill and...
, Dharmapuri
Dharmapuri
Dharmapuri is a town and the administrative headquarters of Dharmapuri district in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. It is located 65 km north of Salem. Dharmapuri is a part of the Kongu Nadu an ancient division of Tamilakam. It is one of the ancient towns of Tamil Nadu and a rapid developing...
, Krishnagiri
Krishnagiri
-Tourism:Thousands of visitors visit Krishnagiri each year. Majority come from Hosur/Bangalore and Chennai. KRP dam constructed in 1960's during the rule of the then Chief Minister Kamaraj located near the town, is a nice picnic spot. Nearby, Sayed Basha hills has a fort that was the fortress of...
.
Vanniyars constitute 28% of the population 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...
and 65% of the population in Pondicherry, 7-10% of Karnataka as per the 1931 Caste based Census. In terms of population they are the largest caste among the most backward classes listed in Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry. They are one of the very earliest caste to be socially well organized and today they are the most politically mobilized and well-informed caste from Tamil Nadu. .
Sri Lanka
Vanniar or Vannia is a title of a feudal chief in medieval Sri Lanka who ruled as a tribute payer to any number of local kingdoms. It was also recorded as that of a name of a casteCaste
Caste is an elaborate and complex social system that combines elements of endogamy, occupation, culture, social class, tribal affiliation and political power. It should not be confused with race or social class, e.g. members of different castes in one society may belong to the same race, as in India...
amongst Sri Lankan Tamils iin the Vanni District
Vanni (Sri Lanka)
The Vanni is the name given to the mainland area of the Northern Province, Sri Lanka. It covers the entirety of Mannar, Mullaitivu and Vavuniya Districts, and most of Kilinochchi District. It has an area of approximately 7,650 km2...
of northern Sri Lanka during the early 1900s. It is no longer used as a name of a caste or as chiefs in Sri Lanka. There are number of origin theories for the feudal chiefs as well as the caste as coming from modern 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...
state or as an indigenous formation.
Titles, names, and subcastes
Depending upon the location and status, the members of the Vanniyar caste use titles such as Gounder, Padayatchi, NaickerNaidu
Naidu is a title used by various social groups of the Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu states of India. It is also used in Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Orissa and Chattisgarh...
, Reddiar, Kander/Kandar, Palli and many other titles in 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...
, Vanniar, Reddiar, Padayatchi etc. in pondicherry, in Karnataka they are called Tigala / Thigala, or Thigilaru with a common suffix of Hebbar or Hebbe or Banjara, Lambani and Nayakar. In Andhra Pradesh, Vanniars are usually known as Anamuk, Aray Mala, Bavuri, Palli, Agnikula , Vanniyakula , Vanne Kapu
Kapu
Kapu refers to the ancient Hawaiian code of conduct of laws and regulations. The kapu system was universal in lifestyle, gender roles, politics, religion, etc. An offense that was kapu was often a corporal offense, but also often denoted a threat to spiritual power, or theft of mana. Kapus were...
or Vanne Reddy
Reddy
Reddy is a social group or caste of India, predominantly inhabiting Andhra Pradesh. They are enlisted as a forward caste by the government. Traditionally, they are a high-caste community of nobility, warriors and cultivators. According to academics, they were a warrior caste in the remote past and...
. In Kerala, they are called Kuravan, Sidhanar and balija Reddiar. There are 92 different names or sub caste/sub titles given for Vannia Kula Kshatriya community.
Notable Vanniyars
- N. RangaswamyN. RangaswamyN. Rangaswamy is Indian politician who served as Chief Minister of the Union Territory of Pondicherry from 2001 to 2008 and 2011 so on...
, Chief Minister, Pondicherry - Veerapandy S. Arumugam, former state minister of Tamil Nadu
- Duraimurugan, Former Minister for Law, Govt of Tamil Nadu, Great orator and speaker. Deputy General Secretary D.M.K Party Tamil Nadu
- Kaduvetti GuruKaduvetti GuruKaduvetti Guru is an Indian politician and incumbent Member of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly from the Jayankondam constituency. He represents the Pattali Makkal Katchi party. He is from Kaduvetti village in Ariyalur district in Tamil Nadu. He is the Vanniyar Sangam president...
, Vanniar Sangam Leader, MLA Jayamkondam - M. A. Manickavelu NaickerM. A. Manickavelu NaickerM. Alagappa Manickavelu Naicker or simply, M. A. Manickavelu was an Indian politician of the Indian National Congress. He served as the Minister of Revenue for the Madras state from 1953 to 1962. He also served as a member of the Rajya Sabha from 1962 to 1964...
, Former Minister of Tamil Nadu, Founder Commonwheel Party. Supported the Kamaraj to become CM in 1951 - Panruti Ramachandran (known as Panruttiyaar), Former state minister of Tamil Nadu
- S. RamadossS. RamadossDr. S. Ramadoss is the founder and president of the Pattali Makkal Katchi Indian political party. Dr Ramadass had earlier worked intensively with the Vanniyar Sangham ....
, Founder, Pattali Makkal KatchiPattali Makkal KatchiPaattali Makkal Katchi is a Tamil political party.-History:PMK was founded by Dr. S. Ramdoss and the state president is G. K. Mani. Ramdoss had earlier worked with the Vanniyar Sangham founded by him in 1980. PMK is based amongst the Most Backward Class Vanniyakula Kshatriyas community...
(PMK) - S. S. Ramasamy Padayachi, Founder of the Workers Toilers Party
- K. Vazhapaadi RamamurthyVazhapadi Ramamurthy- Political career :He served as the Tamil Nadu Congress president. He also served as a Petroleum Minister of India.- Electoral records :He was Member of Parliament elected from Tamil Nadu. He was elected to the Lok Sabha as an Indian National Congress candidate from Dharmapuri constituency in 1977...
A veteran Congress leader, former TNCC President and former Petroleum Minister in the Union Govt of India - T. M. SelvaganapathyT. M. SelvaganapathyT. M. Selvaganapathy is an Indian politician. He was a member of Tamil Nadu legislative assembly elected from Tiruchengode constituency in 1991. He was also minister of Local Administration in Jayalalitha Government between 1991 to 1996. Originally a member of Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam party,...
, former state minister of Tamil Nadu