- Source: Thuluva Vellala
Thuluva Vellalar, also known as Agamudaya Mudaliar or Arcot Mudaliars, is a caste found in northern Tamil Nadu, southern Andhra Pradesh and southern Karnataka. They were an elite and dominant land-owning community.
Etymology
The earliest occurrence of the term Velaalar (வேளாளர்) in Sangam literature is found in Paripadal, where it is used in the sense of a landowner. The word Vellalar (வெள்ளாளர்) may originate from the root Vellam for flood, denoting their ability to control and store water for irrigation purposes. which led to the development of various land rights, ultimately giving the Vellalar their name. The term Velaalar (வேளாளர்) is also derived from the word Vel (வேள்), a title used by Velir chieftains during the Sangam age.
Since they migrated from the Tulu region of ancient Tamizhagam, they are called Thuluva Vellalar.
History
Thuluva Vellalars are part of larger Vellalar community. An early Thulu tradition states that a king known as Ādonda Chakravarthi brought a large number of agriculturists (now known as the Tuluva Vellalas) from the Tulu areas in order to reclaim forest lands for cultivation in Thondaimandalam. Scholar M. Arokiaswami identifies Tondaiman Ilandiraiyan with king Adondai Chakravarthi, the legendary figure who is referred to in the Mackenzie Manuscripts.
Sometimes this migration of Thuluva Vellalas is also assigned to later Chola times when Hoysala Ballalas of Karnataka had occupied portions of Kanchipuram and Trichy.
Demographics
Their original stronghold in present-day Tamil Nadu was Thiruvannamalai in North Arcot district, the town that served as the capital of the Hoysala king Veera Ballala III in the 14th century.
Tuluva Vellalars are progressive and prosperous in the society. They are considerably advanced in the matter of education and the community was eagerly involved in business, Government and Non- governmental institutions.
The community commonly use Mudaliar and Udayar titles. However Naicker, Gounder, Reddy and Pillai titles are also present in some pockets.
Gotra and Kuladevi
= Gotra
=In Hindu tradition, Gotra represents a lineage or ancestral family line. The system of gotra is significant for understanding one's heritage and lineage and plays an essential role in cultural and religious practices.
These primary groupings can be further divided into sub-categories, including:
Vanadhirayar
Kalingarayar
Siva Maharshi
These sub-groupings often signify deeper historical and cultural connections within the broader Shiva or Vishnu lineages.
= Kuladevi
=The Kuladevi refers to the female family deity or guardian goddess worshipped by a specific family or clan across generations. Families revere their kuladevi for protection, prosperity, and familial well-being. Commonly worshipped kuladevis include:
Pachayamman
Angala Parameshwari
Saptha Kannimar: A group of seven divine sisters.
Ammachchar
EllaiAmman: Often revered as the boundary guardian deity of a village or a region.
These deities are central to family rituals, festivals, and religious ceremonies, reinforcing the cultural and spiritual ties of a family to their ancestral roots.
Caste-based Reservation Status
In Tamil Nadu Karnataka
Arcot Mudaliar and Arcot Vellala sects: Classified as Forward Class.
Other sects of Thuluva Vellala: Classified under the Other Backward Class (OBC) category at both the Central and State levels. Thuluva Vellala is listed as entry number 1 alongside Agamudayar.
In Andhra Pradesh
Thuluva Vellala, Agamudi Mudaliar, and Aghamudi Vellala: Recognized under the Backward Class (D) category under the umbrella term ‘Mudhaliar’.
This reservation status allows these communities to access benefits and opportunities related to education, employment, and other social programs as per their classifications.
Current status
The Thuluva Vellalar community, also referred to as Thuluva Vellala Mudaliars, was historically classified as a Forward Caste (FC) in Tamil Nadu. However, over time, they were reclassified as a Backward Class (BC). The reclassification has its roots in the socio-political and economic changes that occurred in Tamil society, particularly after Indian independence.
Notable people
= Social Leaders, Activists
=Ariyanatha Mudaliar - Dalavoy of the Vijayanagar viceroy Viswanatha Nayaka.
C. Natesa Mudaliar - one of the founders of the Justice Party, politician, activist and philanthropist.
Muthuranga Mudaliar - A freedom fighter from Poonamallee, participated in the Quit India Movement in 1942.
Thiru. V. Kalyanasundaram - Indian freedom fighter, Indian scholar, essayist, and activist for the Tamil language.
Pulavar K. Govindan - Historian, rationalist, and Deputy Speaker of the Madras Legislative Assembly.
= Tamil Literature
=Mu. Varadarajan - Also known as Mu. Va., a Tamil scholar, author, and academic from Tamil Nadu.
Papanasa Mudaliar - An early Carnatic music composer who lived in what is now Tamil Nadu, India.
Namakkal V. Ramalingam Pillai - Prominent freedom fighter and writer.
= Philanthropists
=Arcot Narrainswamy Mudaliar - Founded the R.B.A.N.M.'s Educational Charities and R.B.A.N.M.'s Chattram and other charities.
V. L. Ethiraj - Barrister and philanthropist who founded Ethiraj College for Women.
V. M. Muralidharan - Chairman of Ethiraj College for Women.
Vallal Pachaiyappa Mudaliar - Founder of Pachayappa Educational Trust.
= Politics
=Arcot Ranganatha Mudaliar - Indian politician and theosophist; served as Minister of Public Health and Excise for the Madras Presidency (1926–1928).
A. C. Shanmugam - Founder of Puthiya Needhi Katchi and Chancellor of Dr. M.G.R. Educational and Research Institute.
Arcot Ramasamy Mudaliar - KCSI, Founder-Chairman of UNESCO and the Diwan of Mysore.
S. Muthiah Mudaliar - Politician and legislator of the Justice Party.
P. U. Shanmugam - Former Tamil Nadu minister of Public Works Department.
= Civil Service and Judiciary
=C. S. Ratnasabhapathy Mudaliar - Member of the Madras Legislative Council (1926–1936).
Kanakaraya Mudali - Chief dubash and broker for the French East India Company.
Salem Ramaswami Mudaliar- was an Indian lawyer, politician and Indian independence activist who campaigned for India's independence.
= Arts and Cinema
=A. R. Rahman - Indian music composer and winner of several national and international awards.
G. V. Prakash Kumar - Tamil music composer, actor, and playback singer.
Isari Velan - Indian actor and politician.
Ishari K. Ganesh - Founder and chairman of Vels University.
Pammal Sambandha Mudaliar - Known as the "Founding Father of Modern Tamil Theatre", playwright, director, and recipient of the Padma Bhushan.
R. K. Shekhar - Malayalam music composer and father of A. R. Rahman.
R. Nataraja Mudaliar - Known as the "Father of Tamil cinema".
Shoba Chandrasekhar - Playback singer, producer, and mother of actor Vijay.
Varun (actor) - Tamil actor and grandson of Isari Velan.
Vikranth - Tamil actor and cousin of Vijay.
= Educationists, Doctors, Scientists, and Academicians
=Sir Arcot Lakshmanaswami Mudaliar - First Indian Principal of Madras Medical College and Vice Chancellor of the University of Madras.
Arcot Ramachandran - Scientist, author, and Under-Secretary-General of UN-Habitat.
Dr. B. M. Sundaravadanan - Chairman of Tamil Nadu Medical Council.
Dr. M. R. Gurusamy Mudaliar - Renowned Indian medical practitioner.
= Entrepreneurs and Industrialists
=Chinnakannan Sivasankaran- founder of Aircel Ltd.
CK Ranganathan- the Founder Chairman of CavinKare, chairman of CK College of Engineering and Technology and also President of TiE – Chennai Chapter.
See also
Sangama dynasty
Arunachalesvara Temple
References
Notes
Citations
Bibliography
Bayly, Susan (2004) [1989]. Saints, Goddesses and Kings: Muslims and Christians in South Indian Society, 1700-1900. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-52189-103-5.
Neild, Susan M. (1979). "Colonial Urbanism: The Development of Madras City in the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries". Modern Asian Studies. 13 (2): 217–246. doi:10.1017/S0026749X00008301. JSTOR 312124. S2CID 144309252.