Karalar [காராளர்] is the term used to denote the Karkathar community from very early times. Manimekhalai, one of the five great Epics in the Tamil language, makes use of them twice in the phrase, Karalar Sanbai meaning the city Sikali of the Karkathar. Sanbai is one of the 12 names of Sikali made immortal by saint Gnanasambanda in his song sung before the Pandiya prince of Madurai, saying that he hailed from Sikali the holy place with twelve names. It was called Sanbai because of the wild growth of the elephant grass, Sanbankorai in the place.

Sikali was then a seat of the Karkathar and so was called Karalar Sanbai in the epic. The history of Tamil literature and the Saiva religion tell us that the city was the headquarters or the capital city of the Saiva religion from very
early times up to the fifteenth century A.D. The term Karalar means, those engaged in agriculture; it has had the same connotation through the centuries even up to the present day. Kar meant the steel blade of the plough, or
ploughshare; Kar-anmai meant the utilization of the ploughshare, i.e., agriculture; and Kar-alar meant those who were masters of the ploughshare and they were naturally Karkathar.

ஒப்பந்த ஆவணமாக அமைந்துள்ள இப்பதிவைக் கல்வெட்டு, 'எழுத்தோலை' என்கிறது. இதை எழுதியவராக அறிமுகமாகும் வேளாளர் பல்லாரி ஸ்ரீகிருஷ்ணன், குடமூக்கு மூலபருடையாருக்காக வலஞ்சுழிக் கோயிலுக்குக் கணக்கு எழுதியவராவார். இவரைக் கரணத்தான் என்றும் கல்வெட்டுச் சுட்டுவதால், கணக்கு எழுதும் தொழிலர், 'கரணத்தார்' என்றும் அழைக்கப்பட்டமை தெளிவாகிறது. http://www.varalaaru.com/Default.asp?articleid=158

Vilakeedu Thirumanam is an important function for Kaarkaartha Velala Pillai.it is performed by maternal uncle of the girl.He ties
kosumani arond the neck. normally vilakeedu or vilaketru kalyanam does not take place as an exclusive function.it is normally done during the mani vizha of the grand parents or weddings of cousins.

Saiva Mudaliyar

Dear Moderator,
  I am not having enough knowledge to describe history
of KK Dist vellalas, but I can try, If any mistakes in my script kindly
tolerate and make it correct. Nanjil Nadan's book explains its
lot. (Nanjil nattu vellalar vazkaium Varalarum) I have a copy in my
native , I will try to send it to u soon.
 
Vellalars are basically tamilans as we all know. Esp. in South Tamilnadu. Before independence The Great Chennai Mahanam's south border ends at Tirunelveli district up to Aralvaimozhi (now in KK dist). remaining is belongs to Thiruvithagore samasthanam. The vellala people ,who were residing at some part of TVL dist ,moved to Tiruvithankur samstanam because of civere drought in TVL.Most Vellalars were scholars at that time so they joined as
officials in samasthanam. Because of their sinceraity their reputation
was high with King. So they got lot of lands for cultivation. But they
were in KK district so some moved to Nanjil nadu (Now Thovalai Thaluk)
for agricultural activities.

 This vellala community was residing at Kerala they followed Thayathu which followed by malalyalis(Nairs). Some followed Makkal vazhi and some Marumakkal vazhi.

In Makkal vazhi
format only sons get rights in father's properties, usual in
Tamilnadu.

But in marumakkal vazhi this was different only girls get
shars in parent's property.So that Marumagan's (Son in Law) were rulers
in a family.Maternal uncle was known as "Karanpadu", he was the family
leader .Father's were not get any reputation from their children.
 
Since Karanapadu rules a family, if he was a evil thinker ,the family
will be uprooted that was happened in many marumakkal vazhi pillaimar
families at that time. So that Kavimani explained all this evil things in
his "Marumakkal vazhi Manmium". So the system was abolished by kerala
government after some time.

But vellalars were divided in these two routes ,later part only few families continue in kerala. Others moved to Thovali and Agastheeswaram Taluks of kanyakumari District. Between Makkal and Marumakkal vazhi pillai mar only some traditions in Marriage, Birth, Death is differed. So they don't have marriage relations with them. Now thesedays inter subcaste marriages were common. So barriers between them started to broke. Since Makkal vali pillaimar follows TVL pillaimars tradition they have some root in TVL, but marumakkal vazhi pillai's lost that.

This is a simple synopsis I will try to add more
in coming days. May this help u to get little knowledge of
Thayathus. These are my opinions .If any corrections from our blood is
most welcome. This is my first effort ur feedback will be helpful for
me. with regards
Ramalingam muthayaram@... Saturday, May 21, 2005 12:54 PM

GENERAL OUTLOOK OF SAIVA VELLALARS