Vanniyar

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Vanniyar, also transliterated Vanniar, are a large social group in South India. They primarily live in Tamil Nadu where they speak Tamil, while in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka they speak their native Dravidian languages namely, Telugu and Kannada respectively.

Origin

The name Vanniyar is derived from the Sanskrit word 'Vahni' which means Fire.Agni,the God of Fire is connected with Regal office,as kings hold in their hands the fire wheel or Agneya chakra.The Vanniyars of South India considered as a representative of the Non-Aryan<a Dravidian Rajput Element. In Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka Vanniars while referring their caste in circumstances and rituals, subtitle with the phrase 'Agnivanshi' denoting their clan. This suggests that the root word for this name is 'Vanni' which means fire. Also in Andhra they are referred to as Agnikula Kshatriyas. Vanniyars are members of the dravidian agrarian class belonging to OBC category in South India. They belong to MBC in North Tamil Nadu. Vanniyakulashatriyar in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and the Tigala in Karnataka are of same sect and are from the ancient tribe called Palli.

Historical references

Their principal chieftains were known as Sambuvarays, Kadavarayas, kalingarayas,Mazhavarayas,samattiyars,kondiyars,,nainars,munaiarayas and Kachirayas.

Vanniyars are the Dravidian descendants of the Palli tribe.

Symbols

- - Vanniyar sangam uses firepot as the symbol of Vanniars. Firepot is the symbol of the Pallava empire who used the symbol in the rock cut temples.

Vanniyar rule in south india from 240AD to till date

- From 240 AD to 943 AD - Pallava Empire

- From 943 AD to 1313 AD - Chola Empire

- From 1278 AD to 1456 AD - Kandavas, Sambuvarayar, Kadavarayar dynasty

- From 1456 AD to 1798 AD - Kalingarayar, Naicker Dynasty as poligar, chiefians under feudral rule of vijiyanagar empire and arcot nawab

- From 1798 AD to 1947 AD - British Rule, but most of the villages & towns are under the direct rule of Vanniar Gounder, Naicker, Reddiar and Padayachi zamindars. - - From 1947 AD to still date - Tamil Nadu Toilers Party, Common Wheel Party and PMK dominate parts of North Tamil Nadu in electoral junctions

Caste titles

The Vanniyars were known as Vanniakula Kshatriyas and Padayatchis. Depending upon the status, the members of the Vanniyar caste use titles such as Padayatchi, Gounder, Naicker/Nayagar, Vannia Reddiar, Kander/Kandar, Palli in Tamil Nadu, in Karnataka they are called Tigala or Thigilaru with a common suffix of Gowda and Nayakar. In Andhra Pradesh, Vanniars are usually known as Palli, Agnikula, Kshatriya, Vanne Kapu or Naik. There are 92 different names or sub caste/sub titles given for Vanniya Kula Kshatriyas. This can be seen in the book written by A.K.Natarajan of Vanniyar sangam. The sub caste like Gounder, Naicker, Kandar, Padaiyaachi, Raju, Palli e.t.c.

Demographic spread

Vanniyars live in an area where three South Indian states intersects. They currently predominate in northern Tamil Nadu)whereas sizable numbers are found in southern Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. In these latter Indian states they are in sizeable mass primarily due to migration of other sects from outside and vice versa.

In terms of population they are the most populated community in Tamil Nadu (Both as Vanniars) and Pondichery.

Important cities

Important cities are Chennai,Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram, Bangalore, Kolar, Salem, Thiruchirapalli, Vellore, Cuddalore, Thiruvannamalai, Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri, Villupuram, Tindivanam, Gingee, Nellore, Thirupathi, Jayankondam, Pondicherry,Mayiladuthurai,Vedaranyam ,Ariyalur and Nagapattinam.

Vanniyar in 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 recored as that of a name of a caste amongst Sri Lankan Tamils iin the Vanni District of northern Sri Lanka during the early 1900’s. 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. (see Pandara Vannian)

Vanniyar outside India

Vanniyar also migrated to South Africa, Malaysia, Singapore, Seychelles, Mauritius and Fiji as part of the great Tamil diaspora. Variant Vanniyar titles such as Govendar,Naicker and Padayachee are used amongst their descendants.

Vanniyar Charities

The Vanniyars may be linked in tradition to the vanni tree (prosopis spicigera), a holy tree in Hindu tradition.Kulasekhara,one of the early travancore kings,and one of the most renowned alwars reverenced by the srivaishnava community belongs to them.Vanniyars celebrate his anniversary in Parthasarathy temple Chennai even now.The Vanniyars have the right to present the most important camphor offering of the Mylapore Kapaleeswarar Temple.The Ekambaranathar Temple at Kanchipuram built by them.Likewise the Chidambaram Nataraja Temple is founded by Swetavarman,a Pallava king.

Prominent Vanniyars

See List of prominent Vanniars

References