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	VELLALA
	VELLALAS Cultivators of Tamil nadu , Accuntants & Village Officers of Kerala cjep_sa@yahoo.com kalees@hotmail.com tawady@yahoo.com Dr.MA.Pillai BAM .MBBS .MS, Adoor Dr.CS.G.Pillai,MSc.PhD,Pramadom Dr.Kanam Sankara Pillai, Pandalam Adv.Sunil Pillai BSc BL Trivandrum PK.Sankara Pillai, Anickadu Chidambaram Pillai, Chethalai According to "Keralolpathy "(Genesis of Keralam) Keralam was created by Parasu Rama one of the incarnations of Lord MahaVishnu.He threw his Parasu (axe ) to the sea from Gokarnam and the sea withdraw to the point of fall (Kanyakumari).After that he gifted the land to Brahmins. When he returned after some years, it was found that there was total anarchy due to the inefficient administrations of the then rulers. So he brought efficient and experienced Rulers from Tamilnadu (Paradesom).They were called "Perumakkanmar". Keralam was under Perumal rule for many years and the last one was Cheraman Perumal who converted to Islam and migrated to Mecca. During the Perumal rule they brought "Vellalas"- the cultivatorsand accountants of Tamilnadu-to Keralam .They settled permanently here and many of them became Traders and Accontants. They were posted as Accountants in Government posts and hence were called "KanakkaPilla".In all "Mandapathinkal Vathilkkal"(Thaluk Head Quarters) there were Vellala houses .As Village officers ("Pillaannan" ) they were highly efficient .In the famous Malayalam novel Kaya r, Thakazhay Siva Sankara Pillai admires their efficiency in measurement of land.Vellalas are "Vaisyas" and majority were Saivas ( follwers of Lord Siva).The foster son of King Rajasekhara of Panthalam, AyyanAyyappan was "Vellalakulajathan" (see: ancient Elaversevam Pattu) Most of the Ammankovils in Kerala were created by Vellas.All the 9 Mankombu devi temples( Poonjar ,Kanjar,Kuttanadu ,Kollam etc) were built by Vellalas.Temples like Erumely Kochampalm ,Kanjirappaly Ganapathiyar kovil Madura Meenakshy temple of Kanjirappally, Aanakulangara temples of Calicut and Palai,Thidanadu temple Chotty temple, Chenganoor Devi temple, Chettikulangara Devi temple Puliyanoor temple etc were built by Vellalas. They had major role in the renovation work of Sabarimala temple.The "Nayattuvili" at Sabarimala is still conducted by Vellalas from Perunadu Kottaram.The third temple where the "Thiruvabharana Charthu" is performed is at Perunadu Sastha temple. The priest who performes "karappoottu" at Achankovil Sastha temple is a vellala .The sword of Ayyappan is still in Puthenveedu in Erumely. Viraminda Nayanar of Chenganoor,Thycaud Ayya swami Thiruvadikal the great Guru of Sri Narayana Guru and first Social reformer of Kerala , Chief Secretary Thanu Pillai ,Novelist C.Madhavan Pillai( Alapuzha ) , Kavimani D.Desa Nayakom Pillai , Sangeetha VidwanT.Lakshmanan Pillai ,author of Manonmaneeyam Prof.Sundaram Pillai ,Finance minister PS.NataRaja Pillai Scolar and author ofEnglish-Malayalam Dictionary T.Ramalingom Pillai, Vaikom Padmanbha Pillai ADC of VeluThampy Dhalava Valiya Melezhuthu Pillai Kuttamperoor Melekkattu BalaRaman Pillai Samprthy Pillai , his father YogeeswaranRaman Pillai Vadakkamkoor Padathalavan Nanthiyattu Mootha Pillai, Eravikutty Pillai who died Kaniyamkulam war ,Historian VK.Parameswaran Pillai , Humorist P.Subbayya Pillai Prof.Erumely Parameswaran Pillai IMA National President Dr.VC.Velayudhan Pillai,(who got the first Best Doctor award of Kerala State) DME Dr.P.Siva Sankara Pillai , Neurosurgeon Dr.Marthanda Pillaii, Physio Therapist Dr.Rama Swami Pillai are noted vellalas. Dravidians who did cultivation, using water were called "Vellalas"(Castes & Tribes of South India - ET.Thurston, VII 361) Plough was their symbol. In Thelunku nadu they were called "Velar". In Karnataka they had a kingdom. Those vellalas who migrated from banks of Ganga was called "Gangavamsa vellalar".Their kingdom was "Ggangawathi".Those vellalas who lived in Kongunadu was called "Gounders". Ulkala (Orissa) was ruled by vellala kings in 11 century AD.Mudaliars and Reddiars of Thontaimantalam (Chengalpet & North Arcot Dists),Pillai of Chola (Kumbakonam ,Thanchavoor,Thrissinappally) Pillai of Pandya (Madura, Ramanathapuram, Thirunelveli) and Gounder of Kongunadu (Coimbatore & Selam) were Vellalas .Thry are either "sivas" or "vaishnavas". Some wear sacred thread . In "Pathittupathu" Vellalas were called "Uzhavar". Vellala King Mavel Aai founder of "Aai vamsam" created theVenadu . In Tharisappally sasan of 9th century AD, there is mention about Vellala -"velkulasundaran".(TAS II 70-80) In former Travancore and Kochi Vellalas were entrusted with account keeping.They were called "kanakkapillai" accountntant). Muthalpidi and parvathyakars of olden days were all vellalas. Accountants were respectfully called "Pillaiannan". In all village head quarters and in all the mandapthum vathilkal (Taluk office) there were vellalas and their families. During the reign of BalaramaVarma who came after Dharma Raja , the melezhuthupillai(Chief secretary ) was vellala The Dalavas of Marthandavarmm,Arumugham and Thanu Pillai were vellalas Viranminda Nayanar of Chenganoor who donated lands for the Mahadevar templethere, was a vellala. SANKRITIZATION Although the tamil word Vellala means the cultivator, there is ample evidence to indicate that the original Chera , Chola and Pandia Kingswere Vellalas. Today vellalas in Tamil nadu is a miniscule minority in southern districts.They are less than 7% of population. In Kerala and Sree Lanka vellalas are thriving.50% of Sri Lankan origin Tamilians are vellalas. Almost all political, business and academic leadership of Tamil community of Sri Lanka has been provided by vellalas. Many castes merged into vellala.'Kalarum maravarum agamuditarum mella mella koodi vellalar aayinere"- so goes the saying. Which means Kalar,Maravar and Agamudaiyar, the three power castes from South Tamilnadu assumed Vellala ID with the accumilation of wealth. This happens in Elankai too. Many including Malayalee Nairs have took Vellala ID with them .This is called "sankritization".Regarding Ayyappan , in Elankai, Ayyanar Swami and among Singalees Ayyanakaye are popular deities. ORIGIN OF PILLAI . Since, time immemorial , clans existed among Dravidians; but they cannot be equated to castes of later periods. The "Tholkappiam" tells about four groups . The conversion of clans to caste system - right hand caste and left hand caste - occurred during Chola ( Kulothunga-AD 1110 ) period. The caste system got a firm footing after the arrival of Ariyans. Initially there were only two classes: Those who owned land or go to war and those who depend on manual labour for living ( artisans, weavers, farm labourers etc) formed first group. Brahmins were on the top in society and second came Velalars (cultivators ) , chettiyars (business men) ,warriors (Thevar , Kallar , Vanniar ).Others were below these. Due to the process called "sankritization"(every caste takes up the habits and customs of its immediate superior to reach the superior status..) many of Kallars , Maravars and Vanniars became Vellalars . Some section of vellalas gave up meat eating and became vegetarians- they were called "Saiva Vellalas ".This process started in Pallalav period.The Saiva Vellalas carry titles like PILLAI and Mudaliar , depending in the area of domicile. The saiva vellalas of Pandia and Chola K ingdoms carry the title "PILLAI" and those from Pallalva Kingdom used to carry the title MUDALIAR Aanakulangara Bhagavathy temple in Arunapuram Aanakulangara Bhagavathy temple in Arunapuram, Palai, is one of the oldest temples in Kerala. Vellalas from different parts of Tamilnadu migrated to Malanadu of Kerala. They were called Thenkasy vellalar (Anjoottikkar-500 families) , Kumbakona vellalar etc.From Thenkasi they migrated to different parts of Thodupuzha .They built the Mankombu Bhagavathy temple. Vellalas from Kumbakonam got settled at Erattupetta and Poonjar. They built the Ankalamman Kovil .In Puliyannoor, Ezhacherry ,Arunapuram Panthathala, Mevada, Meenachil and Poovarani (all in Meenachil Taluk)Vellalas from Kaveripoompattanam settled. They built the temples at Puliyannoor ,Thidanadu ,Aanakulangara (Arunapuram) ,Thattarakathu ,Kondoor ,Chotty , Kanjirappally and Meenachil Valiyakunnel ."Kondudayar" built the Kondoor temple, Chottudayar" the Chotty temple "Thiruvudayar" built Thidanadu temple and "Kazhivudayar" built the Kanjirappally Ganapathiyar Kovil. The Vellappattu temple of Palai was also built by Vellalas. The site where Vellalas used to sing became Vellappattu. According a Thamra Sasan Vaisyas came from Kaveripoompattanam built Puliyannoor temple in AD 1242.Vellalas constructed the Palai market. From the Vellala family name of Palath the place name Palai was derived. Late M.P.George Thomas Kottukappally was once the accountant of Palath family.(see his biography) MANKOMPU BHAGAVATHY TEMPLES OF KERALA "Mr.Vamanan Nambothuri, astrologer, the Week of Manorama- is doing research on Mankompu Bhagavathy temple. He has evidence to prove that all the nine Mankompu temples ( Poonjar, Kanjar, Kuttanadu ,Kollam etc.) in Kerala have their origin from Thenkasi and were brought to Kerala by Saiva Vellalas" "VELLALA PILLAI" OF KANJIRAPPALLY A beautiful temple Ganapathy Koil built in granite, stands as a testimony to the early Tamil influence in religion and culture.There is also indications that Tamil rulers of Kanjirappally levied tax on live stock or Pothimadu to supplement income to another temple Bhagavathi Shri Madura Meenakshi.The next batch of Hindu settlers came two centuries later.They too were traders by profession. Hailing from Kumbhakonam they were called" Vellala Pillas".Thoug they were merchants they gradually took to farming. The vellalas attended the Ganapathiyar Koil for worship but later they built another temple on the northern side of the temple property, called northern Ganapathiyar Koil in Pallava style of architecture. During the reign of Thekkum koor Raja these Vellala Pillas became highly influential and another temple by the side of River Chittar in the name Madura Meenakshi was built. "Vellalar kula jathan" AYYAN AYYAPPAN of SABARIMALA About ten generations back there lived a Vellala youth by name Kandan Ayyan alia Kandan Ayyappan in Erumely , Kottayam district of Kerala in India.We do not know anything about Ayyan's parents except that his father was one Kandan and uncle was one Perissery Pillai. He became the army chief of Pandalam Royal family . Ayyan was instrumental in the defeat of Udayanan ,who attacked Sabarimala and tried to demolish the ancient Sastha temple in the thick forest of present Pathanamthitta district. The Royal family of Pandalam (King Pandian ) was migrated from Tamilnadu about 800 years back .Ayyan's family belonged to "Vellalar kulam", followed them.Rajasekharan ,the Pandian King, reconstructed the destroyed Sastha temple at Sabarimala with the help of Ayyan , Vavar , a Muslim youth from Kanjirappally and Kadutha, a Nair youth from Muzhukkeer ,Chengannoor, Alapuzha district . During the clash Ayyappan was killed. Perissery Pillai ,the uncle of Ayyan constrcted the old small Sastha temple (kotchanpalam) at Erumely opposite the Vavar Mosque constructed by Muslims in memory of Vavar.Temple made in memory of Kadutha is seen in Sabarimala .After the death of Ayyappan people thought that he as the avathar of Lord Sastha and began to worship him .Later Sastha and Ayyappan became synonyms. Some say that Ayyan was the son of a member of royal family but Nalankal Krishna Pillai in his book Mahashekthrangulkku Munpil says that Brahmins had never the name Ayyan or Ayyappan. In the age old Eelaversevam pattu ( songs of Elavar sevam, see ref.no. 3) it is clearly stated that Kandan Ayyan belonged to Vellalar kulam Near the Sree Ayyappa talkies in Erumely,Kottayam dist there is a Vellala house called Puthanveedu, In the same compound there is one 300 year old ,thatched,diapilated mud house, the house of Perissery Pillai.There we can, even today see the old sword used by Ayyappan. Even now Ayyappan/Ayyan Pillai isvery common among Vellalas of Kottayam Alapuzha, Pathanamthitta, Idikki and Ernakulam districts. A number of Ayyappan kovils are built by Vellala community, migrated from Tamilnadu following the Pandian King. Lakhs and lakhs of Tamilians come to Sabarimala every year to worship Tamil origin Vellalar kula jathanAyyan Ayyappan of Sabarimala in Pathanamthitta dist of Kerala. Two Netizen groups have been formed to spread these facts Kindly join them by sending e-mails to: vellalaindia-subscribe@egroups.com sabarimala-ayyappan-subscribe@egroups.com REFERENCES: 1. Mahashektrangalkku Munpil, NBS 1st Edn. 1969 Nalankal Krishna Pillai 2. Pettathullalum Kshethra Puravrithangalum 1977 Dr.Kanam Sankara Pillai 3. Sreebhothaonatha Srvaswam 16th Edn.1998 Kurumulloor Narayana Pillai 4. Dravida Samskaram Sahyadry sanukkalil 1stEdn.1987 V.R.Parameswaan Pillai 5.Social History of the Tamilians. DK 1st Edn 1996 P.Subramanian AYYAVU SWAMIKAL The Great Vellala Yogi Sivarajayogi Ayya Swami Thiruvadikal was the Guru of Sree Narayana Guru , Chattampi Swamikal and Ayyankal. He was the First and the Greatest social reformer of Kerala. He was a Yogi cum Family man Ayyaswamikal started "Panthbhojanam" in Kerala He argued that any Yogi can install idols in temples, that inspired Sreenarayan Guru to install idols "Oru jathy, oru matham ,oru Daivom" is his teaching .Sreenarayan Guru popularized the slogan The Thycaud Ayyaswami Trust & Temples are made in memory of this Great Guru of Guru His original name was Subbarayan. He lived during the period of 1814-1909 His parents were Sri.Muthukumaran(Nakalapuram-TN) and Smty.Rugmini Ammal (Kollam) He was Manager of Thycaud Residency His deciples were Chempazhanthy Nanu (Sree NarayanaGuru) Kollur Kunjan Pillai (Chattampi Swamikal ) Swayam Prakasa Yogini Amma Kollathamma AyyanKali A.R.Raja Raja Varma Chithramezhuthu RaviVarma Appavu Vakil Thottahil Raman Kaniyar Manakkattu Bhavani Fernandez,Petta Thakkala Peer Mohammad Velutheri Kesavan Vaidhyar Makkadi Labba etc.etc ( more than 50 ) His works were Brahmothara Khandom · Ulloor amarntha Guhan·Ramayanam Bala khandom ,· Ente Kasi yathra Pazhani vybhavom, Hanuman pamalai Ramayanam pattu Ujjayani mahakali pancharatnam Thiruvaroor murukan Kumarakovil murukan The Doctrine he propagated "Intha ulakathile orae oru jathy than, Orae oru matham than,orae oru kadavul than" (" Oru jathy ,Oru matham, Oru Daivom" Malayalam translation by Sree Narayan Guru.) - References: 1.Sivarajayogi Thycaud Ayyaswami Thuruvadikal-A.C.Raja 2.Brhamasree Thycaud Ayyaswamikal-Ayyamission,Thiruvananthapuram 3.Sree Narayana Guru Sathavarshika Smaraka Grantham(1954) 4.Upahara Mala(1950)-Salkavi P.K.Kesavan 5.Sree Narayan Gurudevan(1971)-P.Parameswaran 6.Guru(1996)-K.surendran 7.Thiruvithamkoorile Mahanmar(1121)-Sooranadu Kunjan Pillai 8.Albutha SidhanSree narayana Parama guru(1974)-VidhvanK.E.Neelakondan 9.Vivekodayam (1084 Karkidakom)-Kesari BalaKrishna Pillai 10.upahara Malika( 20.4.1950)-Kesari Bala Krishna Pillai 11.Ayyankali-T.P.H.Chentharassery 12.Chattampi swamikalum Navothanavum-K.G.neelakandan Nair 13.Sree Narayan Paramahamsan-Pandit K.K.Panicker 14.Narayana guru(1978)-Prof.M.K.Sanu 15. http://expage.com/page/guruofsreenarayanaguru 16.http://expage.com/page/ayya 17.http://expage.com/page/ayyavu 18. http://home.beseen.com/alumni/drkanam/vellal.html 19.http://home.beseen.com/alumni/drkanam/vel.html 20.http://home.beseen.com/belief/drcyber/ayyaswamikal.html References 1.Dravid Samskaram Sahyadrisanukkalil-VR.Parameswaran Pillai 2.www.kanjirappally.com 3.www.palai.com 4.Castes & Tribes of South India - ET.Thurston, VII 361 5.Rajesh G Pillai-Pampavalley Civilization Research Centre, Aranmula 6.Petta thullalum kshethrapuravrithangalum PK.Sankara Pillai& Dr.Kanam Sankara Pillai 7. http://expage.com/kannaki 8. http://expage.com/ganapathiyarkovil 9. http://expage.com/anakulangara		FAVOURITE LINKS: Vellala Ayya Swami Sivaraja Yogi GURU of GURU Pillai Dictors Anickadu Ganapathy kovil Chenganoor Devi Aanakulangara Devi Dr.Kanam

	CONTACT ME:	Dr.Kanam CM.Hospital,Pandalam 91-473-452115 dr.kanam@rediffmail.com