Iravatham Mahadevan says in his
pioneering research,
...."We can therefore conclude that the Harappans and the
Neolithic people of Tamil country spoke the same language, namely
Dravidian. It is recorded that the Neolithic people of South India
were in contact with the Late Harappan or post -Harappan people of
the Deccan. It is known that gold for the ornaments found at Mohenjodaro came from the Kolar gold fields in Karnataka. Finally,
reference can be made to the traditional accounts in old Tamil
literature tracing the origin of the Velir chieftains
to migration from the Saurashtra region of Gujarat which was at that
time part of the Harappan civilization."....
My Notes: The above name VELIR,
VELAN, VELLALAN, VELLANMAI are all related. That's why Vellalas
are always worshipping the Velir God, the Shiva & the Murugan, So We
the Vellala Pillais are descendents of the Early Tamils, the Indus
Valley Tamils, we also came to the North to the South especially
from the Saurashtra - Gujarat to the South. That's why the Tamil
Kings always called themselves "Velir" "வேளிர்" means they are part
of the Vellala community. The term "Valavan" "வளவன்" also rooted
from to the Velir - Valava - Velava. "Valavan" means the person who
develops the land by tilling, the person who brings "Valamai"
to the Tamil Mother Land.
"வேள்" "vEL" as such is a respected name in Tamil.
NadigaVel "நடிகவேள்" means, the master of acting, that அடை மொழி
given to M.R.Radha. So, even the Pillai community people used to
call each other by "AvaaL" "IvaaL" அவாள் இவாள் என்னவேள்? [என்னவே?
என்னஓய்? - these are considered less respectful]
That's why the allied Vellala castes of the Kerala,
the Nairs and the Pillais still consider themselves Kshatriya first. Aishwarya Rai from
Karnataka is a Vellala caste, the Bunds. Also refer the
Veera Saiva - Gowda link of the Karnataka with the Kashmir
Saivism [Kashmir is near to the Indus Valley].
Thanks to
www.Harappa.com and Iravatham Mahadevan retired IAS Officer from
Tamilnadu and Renowned Tamil - Brahmi Scholar.
Also I request you Saivaites to please go through
the
this link and study how the Murugan - Kavadi Culture
is still preserved in Tamil Culture.
History of Vellalars and its Sub Castes Authenticated by
Sangam Litterature and Wikipedia
The Vellalars have a long cultural history
that goes back to over two millennia in southern
India.
Sangam literature
In Sangam literature, the chiefs of the
vellala tribes were called the Velir[32][33][34].
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[35][34].
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[17].
They had close associations and held high
positions of office with the three main Tamil dynasties,
Chera,
Chola and
Pandya[32].
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[36].
Warrior chieftains
The Vellalars not only held absolute
control over the feudal society but also demonstrated great military prowess[17].
To quote a few:
Ma-Vel-Evvi
the famous chief known for his valour and bravery was a Vellala from
Millalikurram in Pandimandalam. He was the law around the southern bank
of the Kaveri basin. His territory included one of the most fertile
fields of the Cauvery basin[17].
Vel-Pari
was known as the great patron of poets. This chief was a relative of Ma-Vel-Evvi
and after the demise of the latter he took over the territory around the
mountains of Parambu. Poet Kapilar, his life long companion described
him as the lord of three hundred villages in ancient Tamilakkam who
could only be won over by the sound of a lute[17].
article by pasupathi k pillai initial
issue
on: Sat Dec 6 07:27:47 EST 2003 modified subsequently
Pillai name existed in INDUS VALLEY times.
yes. pls check
http://www.harappa.com/
-where the page regarding the INDUS VALLEY
DECIPHERMENT
by Asko Parpola (Univ Prof. Helsinki, Finland).
MURUGAN worship existed in INDUS VALLEY times. refer
www.murugan.org
ANIL PILLAI -MURUGU PILLAI -and so many other names written in INDUS SCRIPT
indicate PILLAI with fond calling and this later became a caste name. SO
PILLAI must have been A NAME COMMONLY USED BY ALL DRAVIDIANS. refer
www.harappa.com - Iravatham Mahathevan IAS speaks on Asko Parpola.
Pillai also means the "Son" - here it indicates the Son of God,
Murugan the son of the Paramasiva, the Sivan.
refer:
http://www.itamils.org/pmadurai/utf8/mp154.html where the age
old Kambar says the Vellalars are
always worshipped the Siva, Murugan & Vinayaka [சிவன் முருகன்
பிள்ளை மூவரையும் போற்றுங்கை]
So it is but natural for all Pillais to follow saivism, to be
followers of both Father and Sons. [follower of Shiva, Murugan and
Vinayaka].
VELLALAR -VELALAR -VEL (LORD MURUGA'S WEAPON) -VELZH (THE VEZH OF NADIGAVEZH
M.R RADHA) -VEZHIR -ALL THESE WORDS ARE INTER CONNECTED, RELATED.
in those times, "vel kondu vetri kondal thaan Vellanmai seyya iyalum".
otherwise no body will let you capture a land, capture a water resource. so
VEL konda VEZHIR VELANMAI seithanar. (The people with lancer started to do
agriculture)
AANMAI enral AATCHI -RULE. so the people with lancer -the MURUGU PILLAI's or
their descendents
ruled the TAMILDOM -INDUS VALLEY -THE DRAVIDA COUNTRY - THE OLD INDIA.
later on, the technique of manufacturing VEL, and the NANJIL (ploughshare)
spread world wide. NANJIL PILLAI's are an example. MANY SCHOLARS CLAIM NANJIL
NADU -THE NAGERCOIL AREA IS THE LAND WERE NANJIL -THE PLOUGHSHARE WAS FIRST
INVENTED.
This kind of destroying the forest and making the agriculture is
compared with
a goat. So there is a tamil saying
"vellalan pona idamum, velladu pona idamum vettai".
-means, the VELLADU eats the punjai land and make it clean.
the VELLALA clears the FOREST with the VEL and make it ready for TILLING with
PLOUGH SHARE /(eer, nanjil). This kind of GREAT KNOWLEDGE, CORAGEOUS, VALOUR,
EFFORT and CREATIVITY can be found in todays' VELLALARS also.
There is another TAMIL SAYING ....
"maravarum, kallvarum, agamudaiyarrum mella mella maruvi vellalar aayinare"
meaning that Vellalar caste is a slow EVOLUTIONARY PROCESS. So there must have
been CASTE REFINEMENT -UPGRADATION in the old days. not like now.
KARKATHAR or
KARKARTHAR PILLAI
-They safeguarded the "kar"
-the cloud. That means they built dams to save
rain water.
SOZHIYA PILLAI
-Actually they are the
sozha nattu pillai. Non veg. They must have helped the
chola nattu kings (also considered to be a pillai -not thevar).
They are very
talented in money matters and Strategic Plans, so there is a calling,
"Sozhiyan kudumi summa Aadathu" -means the Sozhiyar never do anything without a
purpose/benefit.
VEERA KUDI VELLALAR They are a small
community of fighters who fought to safeguard their homeland.
AGAMUDAYA PILLAI
- The Pillai Or Thevars
Who Had Own Houses. (Aham Udaya).
They Are Thevars Only, But They Wanted To Use A Better Sur Name.
(Nadigar Thilagam Sivaji Ganesan Used To Put Pillai Sur Name)
(Mukkulathore -Ahamudayar, Maravar, Kallar)
There Is A Strong Possiblity That These Chola Nattu Thevars Freely
Mingled
With All Vellala Community Of Chola Kingdom, And Made A Great
Variety Of Non
Veg Pillai's
NAMATHARI PILLAI or OPC Pillai Some Saiva Pillais
Converted To Vaishnavism. So They Sported "Namam", And
Became Vishnu Bhakthars. They are also called as OPC Pillai -
meaning soon. wears Poonul.
OTHUVA MOORTHY -OR OTHUVAR PILLAIS They Are The Tamil
Kovil Poosaris. They Recite (Othuthal) Beautiful Thevaram,
Thiru Vasagam. They Are Also Part Of Tirunelveli Saiva Pillai.
KURUKKALAIYA They Are Again The
Kovil Kurukkal. Again A Kind Of Saivaite Poosaris. They
Also Recite Tamil Pasurams. Not Like Some Sanskrit Aiyars, Who
Prefer To Avoid Tamil. wears
Poonul.
DESIKARS The Chola Nattu
Othuvars Are Desikars.
They Are Bit Like Imitation Of Brahmins. wears Poonul.
SAIVA CHETTIYAR They Are A Mirror Part
Of Karaikkudi Chettiyars, Who Are Non Veg.
Most Refined Indians Tend To Praise Vegetarianism.
Always Vegetarianism Is Hailed As A Best Way To Reach More Humane
Life, It
Takes Us More Purer Bodily And Spiritually, It Makes To Go Near
God, It Is
Also 5000 Years Old School Of Blue-Cross Society Which Existed In
India -Now
Americans Teach Us This.
AARUNAATTU VELLALA
They are from "6 countries" -the local Towns of Tamilnadu. Formed at
Chidambaram Natarajar Kovil. This shows that the caste system is
always evolving to the needs of People, thereby survives the
onslought of Technology, Science etc. Click here to read more
Aarunaattu
Vellalar Site
ஆறு நாட்டு வேளாளர் சாதி மூதாதையர்களால் கீ.பி.1176ம் ஆண்டு சிதம்பரம்
நடராஜர் ஆலயத்தில் தோற்றுவிக்கப்பட்டது
Nanjilnadu Marumakkal Vellala - They may be a
variation migrated from Tirunelveli Saiva Vellala Marumakkal Vellala's are from Pathamadai in
Tirunelveli District. They were considered very close to MArthandavarma of
Travancore kingdom. There are more than 18 lakhs Vellala's in kerala.
Kavimani Desiga
Vinayagam Pillai, Ammarar Geeva,present Director of
DRDO & Bramhos Missile Program Mr.Sivathanu Pillai, Kala
Jai hind Chenbagaraman are all Great People of Nanjil Pillais
So to
safeguard and identify themselves as more purer, and more humane, saiva sects born in every sub castes so
SAIVA PILLAI
SAIVA CHETTY
SAIVA MUDALI
In future I predict the
following castes as a distinct feature of tn.
SIVAKASI NADARS -(MAY BE SIVAKASI SAIVA NADARS)
TUTICORIN CSI NADARS
THAVASU PILLAI's -
(They are actually the cooks of tamil nadu. They only cook
vegetarian items. Mostly they are nanjil pillai or saiva pillai.
But by trade
they are thavasu pillai)
MEANINGS OF OTHER CASTES
PARP-PANAR -this word came beacuse brahmins believe they take re-birth when
they wear a sacred thread at the age of teens. so LIKE a PARPPU - Kozhi (cock,hen)
-which takes two birth as an egg first then as a cock, the brahmins were
jocularly named.
(THIS IS NOT TOLD BY ME -BY TIRUVALLUVAR, THANTHAI PERIAR,
MAHAKAVI BARATHI)
MUDAL -capitalists are MUDALI. they also gave money for vatti. like pawn shop.
CHETTY -they had CHEKKU -a machine used to take oil. they did business so they
are called VANIYA CHETTY. CHEKKU became CHETTY. also compare the SHETTY of
maharashtra, the CHETTY of andhra, karnataka.
some went to burma and made their KARAIKUDI as a beautiful town -so the are
called as NAGARATHAR. -beacuse their houses were built as a CITADEL -Nagar.
NADARS are previously called CHANARS -they climbed palm tree to take Kal/Toddy.
They are called Panayeri Nadars (inputs required here please). It is also
possible to have formed from Naattars the people of the country. It
is possible they are one of the most original Dravidians, like the
Adi Dravidars. The facial looks of Nadars and Adi dravidars are
same. It also resembles the facial features of the Indus valley
people.
HOW CASTE IS BORN?
From time immemorial, PILLAI people were good at IYAL, ISAI, NADAGAM and WAR.
So OUT OF NATURAL SELECTION the LANDS went to them, MONEY went to them.
When mankind evolved, no body will give you LAND -no body will call you RAJA.
YOU HAVE TO FIGHT TO MAKE IT. Even today it is the same case.
So thousands of chieftains born, RAJA's born.
(even LORD AIYAPPAN was a
VELLALA PILLAI -he was later revered as GOD)
LAND has to be tilled to produce AGRICULTURE, those INVENTORS-SCIENTISTS
became the FIRST LAND OWNERS.
man found the USE OF FIRE, so to safeguard them he PUT SOME ON DUTY near FIRE
just to TIME PASS and SEE the FIRE is ALIVE but not DESTROYING anything.
THOSE FIREMEN became the PRIESTS. (may be due to BOREDOM they found GOD?)
SO TODAY'S SC/ST MAY THINK THE FCs HAVE GOT ALL THE GOOD THINGS IN LIFE FOR
FREE.
NO. LOT OF SINCERITY, LOT OF EFFORTS WENT BEHIND IT.
LATER ON, when caste became SO RIGID, even NON WORTHY people of UPPER CASTE
started wielding power -which resulted in failure and UGLY TURN OF CASTE
MENACE.
THAT'S WHY TODAY'S FORWARD CASTE DOCTOR WITH 95% MARKS IS 100 TIMES BETTER
THAN THE SC-OBC-MBC DOCTORS WITH 40 TO 70% MARKS. HERE CASTE IS NOT WINNING
-SINCERITY, DEDICATION WINS.
caste system must have existed in the INDUS VALLEY times
-but not as rigid as
today.
The rulers and priest-king people after all wielded tremendous power over the
indus people, so that the civilization as a whole remained DISCIPLINED.
but the priest-kings were kind hearted too. because they know what ARAM means.
that's why India has MANY MANY LOW CASTE SCHOLARS glorified -not beaten to
death.
VALMIKI -Ramayana author -Chamar caste -cobbler
TIRUVALLUVAR -SC -VALLUVAN caste still remains in TN-they are ASTROLGERS by
caste
but in LINGA PILLAI's South Africa -(which just came out of the clutches of
APARTHEID -racism) they may not see him as a PILLAI -but all indians are
called BROWNS and HATED by BLACKS because mostly indians join with WHITE south
Africans so that their business or job can be protected. so in SOUTH AFRICA
what LINGA PILLAI is facing is not CASTEISM he faces more CRUEL more
UNCIVILIZED RACISM.
INDIA WAS, IS and WILL be a GREAT COUNTRY -despite the shortcomings.
I admit the shortcomings of CASTE system but CASTE SYSTEM
is the ONLY ANSWER for a BETTER FAMILY LIFE - BETTER CULTURE - BETTER VALUES
-BETTER ETHOS.
The RIGID INDIAN CASTE system born
1. OUT OF FEAR of LOT OF RACES INVADING INDIA, so to make sure of RACIAL
PURITY caste was born.
2. OUT OF FEAR OF SAFEGUARDING THE TRADE SECRET -which were handed over
generation to generation by family.
3. OUT OF THE NATURAL SELECTION OF
BEST TRADE -BEST MIND -BEST SALARY
a good WARRIOR naturally becomes TOP CLASS MAN. people adore him. people adore
his whole family. like today Nehru Dynasty rules India, in USA the
Kennedy's.
a good sadhu irrespective of caste becomes MORE THAN A BRAHMIN.
people throng
to him in INDIA, unmindful of which CASTE the SADHU/MUNI is.
that's why in india it is said "NADHI MOOLAM, RISHI MOOLAM PARKA KOODATHU"
means DO NOT QUESTION THE ANTECEDENTS OF THE MUNIVAR/RISHI.
HE IS A SAINT. RESPECT THAT FACT. FOLLOW HIM IF YOU CAN. WE CAN GIVE 1000's OF
SC/MBC/OC MUNIVARS, SADHUS.
think of a poor BRAHMIN kovil poosari standing in cow-tow before a LANDOWNER
PILLAI/THEVAR/MUDALIYAR -here even though the poosari is by caste higher in
rank, he has to obey the KSHATRIYAs or VAISHYAs, as time demanded.
4. I Think Only The
Sc/St Of India Have Got A Raw Deal In India. But Still Today A 5
Star Hotel Barber Is Holding A Better Reputation Than A Poor Kovil
Poosari.
5. Caste System Provides Safety, Many Caste Based Sangams Of
Tamilnadu Helped
Their Own Caste People Come Out Of Penury, Reach A Standard Of
Life.
6. India Does Not Know How To Do Charities Through Ngo's. And Many
Ngo's Simply Eat Money. So Once Upon A Time And Till Now
Temple/Festival/Culture/Caste Is The Way Of Doing Charities.
refer these words from
http://www.kuttyjapan.com/nadar/nadar-news.asp
..."But why is caste given so much importance in this area? Because,
it is entwined with the economic and social aspects. People here get
everything apprenticeship in the trade (mostly printing, matches and
fireworks), financial assistance, first customers, social acceptance
from members of their own community. "...
7. I Wonder If There Are 100 Crore People In America -Or Germany
-Or South
Africa -They Would Have Killed Each Other -Not Lived Like Us
Peacefully And Enjoying!!!!.
8. The White Race Is The Greatest Killers Of History.
The Aborigines Of Africa, North America, Europe, Australia,
Newzealand, Arctic
were
all killed by white race for Colonization. They could not succeed in
India.
Even now they are killing people in IRAQ, AFGHAN, PALESTINE... and
now intimidating the IRAN, PAKISTAN, NORTH KOREA (An equal blame
falls on the Muslim countries also, they also invaded other
countries, now they are paying for it).
9. In India just with in 50 years of Independence, we got all SC ST OBC in
important posts.
Our Constitution is written by a SC Ambetkar. Our Ex President
Narayanan and Today's President APJ Abdul Kalam are further examples of Indian
Plural Secular System. In USA or UK or GERMANY or CANADA or AUSTRALIA can anyone
name a Black President? or Muslim Head of Office? India is SECULAR COUNTRY. How
we could have had Theendamai - Untouchability - I could not understand -may be
that has to be researched further, may be that is given negative publicity by
British people to further the conversion?
Finally,
Tamil is a glorious language-very easy to go back in time- very
easy to find a
word's root. And this is the language which is always mixed with
natural life.
Be it a jungle life or city life, tamil can cope anywhere. That's
why we call
tamil a thol mozhi, mudhu mozhi.
10. CASTE Vs NATION BUILDING
Some say in any CASTE based
society, the notion of a NATION fails. It is true to certain extent.
From Kaniyan Poongunranaar to Valluvar to latest Barathiar, we
Tamils insist INDIVIDUAL DISCIPLINE, INDIVIDUAL CHARACTER BUILDING,
DHARMA not on NATION BUILDING. If individuals are corrected then the
whole Nation can be corrected. This what is lacking in USA or Europe
or the Western culture. Hopefully the Asian Nations can be a model
here, take China, Japan, India.
Man is a Social Animal, and Political Animal as told by Aristotle.
We do lot of Politics within Family (mamiyar-marumagal chandai,
property disputes between siblings) we
may also fight a lot if we built big nations. This NATION building
also brings IMPERIAL, FASCIST, COMMUNIST, TOTALITARIAN ideals to the
fore. So Dharma is lost.
Whatever the Crime a Dawood / Abu Salem / Chotta Shakeel does, a Muslim Nation supports him.
An
Islamic Nation gives him asylum. Whatever an AFRICAN dictator does,
one BRITAIN or USA or FRANCE is there to safeguard him. (Example:
Iron man Idi Amin of Uganda died in peace in UK)
So this is the GREATNESS of idea of a NATION. So the whole Nation is
bound to be called a TERRORIST NATION, for the mistake of few
individuals.
Take the example of TALIBAN/AFGHANISTAN, IRAQ/SADDAM, NORTH
KOREA/KIM IL 2.
This mistakes will not take place if CASTEISM is replaced by
NATIONALISM.
Yes, think like this, Humans are Dangerous, to inculcate them some
Responsibility, to make them fall in line, we need Caste as a Tool.
Separation of Human is essential for our safety, as our unity also
important for our safety. May I call it as the ADVAITHA of casteism?.
It is the Balanced middle path that always brings happiness/harmony
to all.
Any SUPER POWER nation can become hegemonistic, the recent IRAQ War
2 is example.
The bad effects of MOB, TRADE UNIONS are well studied in Human
Management. For no reasons non working labours ask pay raise. The
stinking Indian Gutters, the unclean Indian Govt Offices are a
classic examples of non working Govt Group C, Group D labors.
The Caste System at least provided neat roads, neat dress, neat
shaving, from Indus valley times.
In Indus valley times we had
separate areas for castes to live.
In
these SPACE age times, we still are not able to get perfect shaving
with all those 45 Rs. a pocket GILLETTES. Remember it is our own TAMIL GK Naidu who
sold this RASER technology to the Americans.
The Vannars had a better system of washing the clothes. They had
particular sign for all the people of the village. A vannar never
mixed the clothes. His Sign system should be studied, perhaps, it
can be re used for other purposes like the library naming, or the
inventory management system. We lost a lot.
The Asari/Kammalar/Sthapathi produced beautiful artifacts for which
no M.Tech, M.Architects cant stand a chance. All the knowledge given
to children "vazhaiyadi vazahi", Thus the whole humanity became
educationalists. The latest BRITISH education system has only
produced innumerous Engineers, Doctors for Money. But rarely they
created a GEM like the Thanjai Peria Kovil.
The World Trade Centre
for all its Glory collapsed in a minute. So we build all against
nature now.
The whole of Ahmmedabad collapsed in minutes during the Buj Quake.