Arunattu Vellalar

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Arunattu Vellalar
Regions with significant populations
Tamil Nadu
Languages
Tamil
Religion
Hinduism
Related ethnic groups
Vellalar

The Arunattu Vellalar are a prominent Tamil-speaking agrarian community predominantly found in Tamil Nadu, India. They are a sub-caste of the broader Vellalar caste, historically associated with landownership and agriculture. The term "Arunattu" signifies their ancestral origins tied to specific regions in Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu. [1] [2]

Contents

Etymology

The earliest occurrence of the term Velaalar (வேளாளர்) in Sangam literature is in Paripadal where it is used in the sense of a landowner. [3] The term Velaalar (வேளாளர்) can be derived from the word Vel (வேள்), Vel being a title that was borne by the Velir chieftains of Sangam age among other things. [4]

The word Vellalar (வெள்ளாளர் ) may come from the root Vellam for flood, which gave rise to various rights of land; and it is because of the acquisition of land rights that the Vellalar got their name. [5]

The literal meaning of arunattu is 'belonging to six regions' (aru=six nadu=region). [6] [7]

History

In the past, the Tiruchchirappalli area was divided into 13 regions, of which six were given by the native Kongu Vellala Gounder to the Arunattu Vellalar, namely Tiruppadayurnadu, Kachurpurattupathu, Valluvappanadu, Mela Valluvappanadu, Kaligarinadu and Amurnadu. They use the title Pillai. [8]

Origins and Social Status

The Arunattu Vellalar trace their roots to Tamil society's feudal agrarian system. Historically, they played significant roles as landlords, village leaders, and custodians of traditional values. [9]

Occupations

While traditionally involved in agriculture, many members of the community have diversified into education, business, and government services in modern times.

Distribution

They are concentrated in Tiruchirappalli district, parts of Namakkal, Salem, Chennai, Coimbatore and Dindigul districts of Tamil Nadu and have spread across Tirupati of Andhra Pradesh, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Singapore. [10]

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References

  1. ↑ People of India: Tamil Nadu. Anthropological Survey of India. 1997. Retrieved 26 January 2025.
  2. ↑ Thurston, Edgar (1909). Castes and Tribes of Southern India. Government Press. p. 386. Retrieved 26 January 2025.
  3. ↑ Dev Nathan (1997). From Tribe to Caste. Indian Institute of Advanced Study. p. 233.
  4. ↑ M. D. Raghavan (1971). Tamil Culture in Ceylon: A General Introduction. Kalai Nilayam. p. 136.
  5. ↑ Venkatasubramanian, T. K. (1993). Societas to Civitas: evolution of political society in South India: pre-Pallavan Tamil̤akam. Kalinga Publications. p. 64. ISBN   9788185163420.
  6. ↑ People of India: Tamil Nadu. Anthropological Survey of India. 1997. Retrieved 26 January 2025.
  7. ↑ Thurston, Edgar (1909). Castes and Tribes of Southern India. Government Press. p. 386. Retrieved 26 January 2025.
  8. ↑ People of India: Tamil Nadu. Anthropological Survey of India. 1997. Retrieved 26 January 2025.
  9. ↑ People of India: Tamil Nadu. Anthropological Survey of India. 1997. Retrieved 26 January 2025.
  10. ↑ Chandrabose, A.S. (2014). "Cultural Identity of the Indian Tamils in Sri Lanka". In Garg, Sanjay; SAARC Cultural Centre (eds.). Circulation of cultures and culture of circulation: diasporic cultures of South Asia during 18th to 20th centuries. Colombo: SAARC Cultural Centre. pp. 151–152. ISBN   978-955-0567-12-6. OCLC   910664759.
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