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Manabharana Is Not Malay (Manabharana Bukan Melayu)

In recent times, an alarming narrative has emerged within the Malaysian blogosphere, suggesting a historical event that appears to be a misinterpretation or perhaps a deliberate misinformation campaign. The claim revolves around a so called Malay prince named Manabharana from Srivijaya, purportedly attacking and conquering the Chola kingdom. This misleading story has gained traction and is spreading like wildfire across various social media platforms. The need to address and rectify such inaccuracies is crucial not only for the sake of historical accuracy but also for fostering a responsible and informed online community. To delve into the matter, it is essential to clarify that historical records reveal the existence of multiple individuals named Manabharana throughout history. However, a nuanced understanding reveals that all these figures were Tamils (Damila) hailing from the Pandya kingdom, with references to their exploits documented in Tamil inscriptions and Sri Lankan chronicles

The Vellalar Community

The 150 clans which makes the present Vellalar community.
The Tamils are a collection of many communities. Each of this community is made of several clans. You can even call it tribes.

Among the many prominent Tamil communities, the Vellalar community is perhaps the largest. It is also the most diverse. The Vellalar community is made of 150 endogamous clans. Endogamous clans do not marry outside their clan. However, modernization and migrations to foreign countries is changing this. Many modern day Vellalars marry Vellalars of other clans and sometimes, even non-Vellalars.

There are many theories on the origins of the Vellalars. One of it is that they are the descendants of ancient Velir rulers. The Velirs were chieftains of the sangam age. According to legend, Velirs were brought from the north by Sage Agastya when the city Dwarka went under the sea.

The Velirs chieftains had their own domains. Although they were vassals to the superior Pandya, Chola and Chera kings, some of the Velirs became more powerful than their lords. 

The other theory is more commonly accepted. It is said that the word Vellalar means 'He who controls Vellam (flood)". Some of these community members are also known as Karalar which means 'He who controls the clouds'.

This indicates that the Vellalars were generally agriculturist. They were also the landlords of agricultural land. Some believe that the word can even be used to refer to cultivators.

Although it is generally accepted as an agriculturist community, there were also warrior, musician, priest and accountant Vellalar clans. This is due to its different origins and also the hereditary professions they took up.

Vellalars are not necessarily a community with a single origin. People of various tribes would have became Vellalars due to social evolution process during ancient times. Many people who claim to be Vellalars today may have not been Vellalars during ancient times. Many Jains and Christians who were converted back into Hinduism, are said to be included into the Vellalar fold by those who converted them. I am not sure if this is accepted by the Vellalar majority.

There is also a long forgotten proverb in Tamil.

Kallar, Maravar, ganathor Agamudayar mella mella Vellalar anaare
(The tribes of Kallar, Maravar and Agamudayar slowly became Vellalars.)

The three tribes I mentioned above is what makes the present day Mukkulathor community. It is believed that during ancient times, some of the Mukkulathors eventually became Vellalars. They became less warlike and adopted agriculture as their main duty. They split from their original community and formed a new one. We can also say that they split and joined a new one.

How exactly this happened is unclear. The Agamudayars of the north are identified separately from the Agamudayars of the south. The former as part of Vellalar community and the later as part of Mukkulathor community. For this reason, the Agamudayars are considered as the bridge that links the Mukkulathors and Vellalars.

Those who became Vellalars also migrated to various parts of Tamilakam. This gave birth to new clans within the Vellalar community. Such clans are generally identified by the name of the region they occupy. For example, Kongu Vellalar, Choliya Vellalar, Pandiya Vellalar and Thondaimandala Vellalar.

Migration of Vellalars to different regions not only created new Vellalar clans, it also created new tradition and culture. They also use different surnames depending on the region they live in.

The Vellalars of the Thondaimandalam region (north) are known as Mudaliar. Those who live in the Kongu region (west) are known as Kavundar. Vellalars of the Chola and Pandiya region (east & south) are called  Pillai.

Vellalars from Tamil Nadu also migrated into the neighboring state of Kerala. This is why you also see Malayalees with Pillai surname. Kerala has its own Vellalar association known as Kerala Vellala Maha Sabha (KVMS). There are also Vellalars in Sri Lanka, especially in the northern Jaffna region.

There is a Telugu community in Andhra Pradesh known as Velama. It is assumed that these people could have been Vellalars who migrated there during Chola period. However, there is no evidence to support this theory.

I will write about two particular Vellalar community in future posts. One about the Kongu Vellalar and another one on the Kottai Vellalar.


Comments

  1. DEFINETLY IN MODERN ERA THERE SHOULD BE UNIFORM CUSTOMS CAN BE PRACTISED AND UNITE EVERY BODY AS VELLALARS.SO THAT IN GLOBAL LEVEL THERE WILL BE UNITY.

    ReplyDelete
  2. velirs are not velallars velirs are yadavas comes from dwaraka

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear Mr Ravi Shan - You should pl read Raghava iyengar's Velir Varalaru to get a better understanding fair evidences are available to prove that Vellalar's are velirs, I guess you will concur the term "Gangallan, Gangan, Gangai Kullam do mean a Vellalar, Pls see below an excerpt from "Kambar and Avaiyar,
      ஔவையார் அங்கவை சங்கவையைத் தெய்வீகனுக்குக் கல்யாணம்
      பண்ணுவிக்கிறபோது ஓலையெழுத விநாடகனை அழைத்த வெண்பா.

      ஒருகை யிருமருப்பு மும்மதத்து நால்வாய்க்
      கரியுருவக் கங்காளன் செம்மல்--கரிமுகவன்
      கண்ணால வோலை கடிதெழுத வாரானேற்
      றன்னாண்மை தீர்ப்பன் சபித்து.
      Angavai and Sangavai are the daughters of the great velir chief “Pari
      கங்கை குலந்தழைக்கக் காட்டும் பெருங்கீர்த்தி
      மங்கை பிரியாமல் வாழுங் கை..
      கச்சித் தலத் தரனைக் கல்லால் எறியமறந்து
      எச்சில் தயிர்ச்சோ றெறிந்திடுங் கை..
      வறுமையிலும் கிடைத்தநாகமணி ஈந்தபொற்கை
      சடையப்ப வள்ளல்
      '
      '
      மூக்கில் புகைபுரிந்த மூதரவின் வாயிடத்து
      நீக்கிய கை நாக் கதனில் நீட்டுங் கை..
      உழவுக்கே உளோம் என சாசனமிட்ட கை..
      தொண்டை நாட்டு திருவாலங்காட்டு குடிகள்
      நீலி தனக் கஞ்சிநின்ற வணிகே சனுக்காக்
      கோலி யபயம் கொடுக்குங் கை..
      மன்னன் கோல்தாங்க தாம்மேழி தாங்குங்கை..
      சீர் படைத்த பூபாலர் செங்கோல் பிடிப்பதற்கு
      பேர்படைத்த மேழி பிடிக்குங் கை..
      மேழி சிங்கம் குயில் முக்கொடிகள் தாங்குங்கை..
      மேழிக் கொடி சிங்க வெற்றிக் கொடி குயிலின்
      வேளான் வீரனின் வெற்றிக்கை
      கருணாகரத் தொண்டைமான்
      அட்ட திக்கும் எண்கீர்த்தி ஆயிரத் தெட் டாணைதனை
      வெட்டி பரணிகொண்ட வீரக் கை..
      பாலாற்றின் கால்பல செய்தாற்றிய ஆண்மைக்கை..
      வேளாளர் குலத்துதித்த வல்லாளன்
      '
      சீராக உண்டாக்கும் செங்கைப் பெருங்கருணைக்
      காராளர் கற்பகப் பூங் கை


      பார்க்கவ குல உடையார் சரராமன் சடையன் சேதிராயன் என்ற சடையப்ப வள்ளல் .

      மோட்டெருமை வாவிபுக முட்டுவரால் கன்றுஎன்று
      வீட்டளவும் பால்சொரியும் வெண்ணையே நாட்டில்
      அடையா நெடுங்கதவும் அஞ்சல்என்ற சொல்லும்
      உடையான் சரராமன் ஊர்

      என்றார் கம்பர். சரராமன் - சடையப்ப வள்ளல் - உடையார் - பார்க்கவ குலத்தினர். சுருதிமானும், மலையமானும் அவருடன் சேர்ந்தவர் ஆவர்.
      ஆக இந்த உடையார், வேளாளர், குடையார், கோனார் ஆகியோர் குபேரனைப் போல செல்வம் கொண்டவர்கள் என்றும் இவர்களில் பலர் வாரி வழங்கும் வள்ளல்களாக இருந்துள்ளார்கள் சோழ தேசத்தில் என்கிறார்.

      Sadiyappa vallal regarded as a vellala by poet kambar seem to belong to the velir chedirayar clan, the chronicles of Srilanka Vaipava malai is providing information on one Pandi Mazhavan a Vellala of the Pandiyan territory had married a Chedirayar daughter and took her to Srilanka,

      Like the above there are numerous reference inscriptional and literary evidences available to support the theory “Velir are Vellalar’s
      History should be perceived with an unbiased approach.
      Great blog great work Mr Sharmalan Devar, Kudos!





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  3. In his commentary on Paayiram of Thol kaapiyam, Nacchinaarkkiniyar says,
    “Agatthiyanaar ..Thuvaraa-pathi pOndu,
    nilam kadantha nedu-mudi aNNal vazhi-k-kaN arasar padhiNmaraiyum,
    padhiNeNkudi VeLir uLLittaraaiyum,
    AruvaaLaraiyum kondu pOndu,
    kaadu kedutthui naadaakki..”
    (Agasthya went to Dwarkapathi and brought back with him
    18 kings of the lineage of Krishna who measured the land (as Thrivikrama),
    18 families of Velirs and AruvaaLars and
    had them settled in the lands by clearing the forest tracts)

    http://jayasreesaranathan.blogspot.com/2008/06/paari-of-parambu-hills-and-paari-caste.html

    ReplyDelete

  4. Dear Friend, According to Chola Inscriptions the "Vellalars" are "Chatur Varnam" (Fourth Caste (i.e) "Sudras"). Several "Tamil Literature" refers "vellalars" as "Sudras". There is no single sort of proof to prove "Vellalars" as "Velirs". The "Er Ezhupathu" and the "Periya Puranam" of 12th Century A.D clearly says that, the "Vellalars" are "Fourth Caste" and "Sudras". Moreover, there was no Feudatory dynasty for "Vellalars". The "Kongu Chola" and "Kongu Pandiya" inscriptions refers "Vellalars" as "Paraiyars". So "Vellalars" are "Fourth Caste" and "Sudras"

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear N.Murali Naicker,

      The general confusion about Vellalars happens because the Vellalars of today are a collection of over 100 different clans. As per Varna order, easily 75% of Tamil population can be classified as Sudras.

      This is because the priest and intellectuals will fall under Brahmin, the rulers, warriors and soldiers under Kshatriya, the merchants and businessmen under Vaisya. The ruling class does not make up the majority of the society.

      Farmers and workers of other trades will automatically fall under Sudra. Most Vellalars were farmers but not all Vellalars.

      We have the Kottai Pillaimaar, Vaalilar Pillaimaar, Kongu Vellalar chieftains, Kaikolar Vellalar of Chola army who can be classified as Kshatriyas. Even today, we have zamins in Kongu Nadu with pattams like Kalingarayar, Vanavarayar, Mandradiar and they are all Kongu Vellalars. Some with a history of over 1200 years.

      These groups of Vellalars cannot be considered as Sudras.

      But over time, the Vellalar population grew due to inclusion of Sudra clans into the community. When some Jains and Christians were converted back into Hinduism, they adopted the Pillai surname and considered themselves as Vellalars. M.Karunanidhi changed the name of his caste Mellakarar into Isai Vellalar. The Pallars are also attempting to change name to Devendrakula Vellalar.

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    2. On the Kongu inscription, it did not mention Vellalars as Paraiyars. It was the other way around. It mentioned the Paraiyars as a subsect of the larger Vellalar community. How this relates to other Vellalar subgroups is debatable as the Vellalars generally do not marry outside their clan.

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    3. dear friend sharmalan devar,,,
      thanks for your un biased reply to Mr.Murali,,still he has to learn how to give respect for other castes. i have seen most of his writings are with bad taste for other castes

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    4. Dear Mathesan,
      Murali is a caste fanatic who works for PMK's propaganda wing. I have blocked him from further commenting as he is being very biased in his approach. Such people are the real troublemakers for the Tamil society.

      Delete
    5. Dear Sharmalan Devar,

      Good that you have blocked people like Murali,

      He should realize before trying to defame others his very own clan as an history of broad salvery and should read Nachkinyanar ‘s excerpt on “Palli Caste,

      வில்லின் மா கொன்று வெண்ணிணத் தடிவிளம்படுத்த
      பல்லினார்களும்படுகடற் பரதவர் முதலா
      எல்லை நீங்கிய இழி தொழில் இழி குலம் ஒருவி ல்ல தொல்குலம் பெறுதலும் நரபதி அரிதே இத்தகையோர்(பல்லி), மறுபிறப்பிலும் உயர் குலத்தில் பிறக்கமாட்டார்கள் என இப்பாடல் உறுதிப்படுத்துகிறது.5

      (சீவக சிந்தாமணி (பா. 2751)

      I really did not Intent to post this but then I really disliked his approach towards other castes if there is any word other than fanatic would perfectly fit him, I feel he is gone out of his head why I say this is there is a blog that discussed about the Khystria’s in Andhra and he went and wrote that the Reddiars of Andhra are Sudra’s, such writings are not warranted at all.

      Delete
  5. கொங்கு நாட்டின் தோற்றம்
    *******************************************
    கொங்கதேசம் இயற்கையும்
    அதிலிருந்து உருவான நாகரீகத்தையும்
    அடிப்படையாக
    கொண்டு உருவானவை.
    இப்படி ராஜ்ஜியம் உருவாக்கி நாகரீக
    வாழ்க்கை தொடங்கிய பொழுது, பெரும்
    பஞ்சம்
    ஏற்படவே மக்களுக்கு உணவு உற்பத்தி செய்வதற்காக
    கங்கைகரையில் மாயவரால்
    தோற்றுவிக்கபட்டவர்களே கங்கா குல
    வெள்ளாளர்கள் என்று
    “மரபாள சூளாமணி” நூல் கூறுகிறது.
    போதாயனர் என்னும் மகரிஷியால்
    வெள்ளாமை பயிற்றுவிக்கப்பட்டு,
    வழி வழியாக குலதொழிலாக
    செய்து வருகின்றனர்.
    ஆதியில், கோசல தேசத்தில்
    (கங்கைக்கும் சரயு நதிக்கும்
    இடைப்பட்ட பகுதி) சூரிய
    வம்சத்து அரசி கங்கையில்
    நீராடுகையில் குழந்தை பிறந்தது.
    கங்கை அளித்த மகன் என்பதால்
    அவனை கங்கத்தான்
    என்று அழைத்தனர்.
    இவனுக்கு மரபாளன் என்று பெயரும்
    சூட்டி போதாயனர் மகரிஷி சகல
    விஷயங்களையும் பயிற்றுவித்தார்.
    இம்மரபாளன் வம்சத்தவரே கங்காகுலம்
    என்று வழங்கபடுகின்றனர்.
    இவர்களை அவந்தி தேச அரசன்
    தொடர்ந்து தாக்கிய காரணத்தால்,
    தெற்கே காஞ்சி நகரையும்,
    அதனை சுற்றியிருந்த
    கானகங்களையும்
    நாடாக்கி சோழதேசத்தின்
    வடபகுதியான
    தென்பெண்ணை ஆற்றின் வட பகுதியில்
    வாழ்ந்து வருகையில், கரிகால
    சோழனது இரண்டாவது மகனும்,
    தாசி வயிற்றில் பிறந்தவனுமான
    ஆதொண்டன்
    என்பவனுக்கு இப்பகுதியினை பிரித்து தொண்டைநாடு என்று பெயர்
    சூட்டி பட்டம் கட்டினார் சோழன்.
    முறை தவறி பிறந்த அவன், கொங்கர்
    வீட்டில் பெண் கேட்க, அவனுக்கு பெண்
    கொடுக்க விருப்பமில்லாமல்
    கருநாயை கட்டி வைத்துவிட்டு,
    கொங்கர்கள் வடதிசை நோக்கி இடம்
    பெயர்ந்தனர்.
    அப்பொழுது வெள்ளாளர்களின்
    அரசனான சேரமான்
    அவர்களை தடுத்து, வனப்பிரதேசமான
    தனது தேசத்திற்கு குடியேறுமாறு திரும்ப
    தென்திசைக்கே வரவழைத்து,
    கங்கை குலத்தவருக்கு நாடுகளையும்,
    காணிகளையும் ஏற்படுத்தி,
    உரிமை கொடுத்து சாசனங்கள்
    எழுதி கொடுத்தார்.
    கொங்கு காணி பட்டயம் என்னும்
    புராதன பட்டயம் கொங்கதேசத்தின்
    பூர்வகுடிமக்களான நற்குடி 48,000
    வெள்ளாளர்களும், பசுங்குடி 12,000
    செட்டிமார்களும், காஞ்சிபுரத்திலி
    ருந்து இங்கு குடியேறி தமக்கான
    தேசமாக சேரதேசம் எனும்
    கொங்கதேசத்தை 24 நாடுகளாக
    அமைத்துக் கொண்டு, தம்முடைய
    குலகுருக்களோடு குடியேறினார்கள்
    என்கிறது மரபாள சூளாமணி.
    கங்க வெள்ளாளர்கள்
    என்பது பின்னாளில் மருவி, கொங்க
    வெள்ளாளர் என்றானது.

    ReplyDelete
  6. The vanniyars whose original name is palli is a caste of agricultural laborers. They were originally slaves of Brahmins. The vanniyars are trying to create a false history. There is no proof for Palli being Kshatriyas. I have provided proof below. The modern day vanniyar were originally called Palli. Only in the 19th century the palli started calling themselves as vanniyar. Modern day vanniyars are slaves of Brahmins. Proof provided below. http://realvanniavaralaru.blogspot.com/2013/11/real-vannia-varalaru.html - See more at: http://www.sakthiganesh.com/vanniyars-choza-chola-chera-pandiya#comment-75487

    ReplyDelete
  7. where is the Murali naickar,,who creates history for themselves by the rich man of the vanniar caste,,,,

    ReplyDelete
  8. its very nice excellent article keep it up, we give royal salute
    BY
    GANGAI KULATHOOR (KARKAITHTHAR VELLALAR )
    FROM PATTUKOTTAI VELLALAR COMMUNITY

    ReplyDelete
  9. தாங்கள் தமிழில் பதிந்தால் நன்றாக இருக்கும்

    ReplyDelete
  10. Nice excellent sir, btw i m from muthuraja caste.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Hi, I will really appreciate it if someone can shine a light on the saiva vellalar pillays in Nagapattinam. My grandfather is from a village there. Myself 2nd generation Malaysian Indian. I’m thinking on writing an article of my ancestry and family. I have visited my village in Nagapattinam 3 times in the past 4 years. I really love my grandpa’s country. Thanks

    Regards,
    Priya

    ReplyDelete
  12. thanks you sir for writing about our vellalar community I myself a Choziya vellalar pillai feel proud

    ReplyDelete

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