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''Italic text''{{Infobox Ethnic group
{{for|the caste of Northern India|Kalwar (caste)}}
|image = ]<br>]
{{Infobox Ethnic group
|caption = ] • ] • ]<br>
|image =
• ] • ]
|caption =
|group = Kallar |group = Kallar
|pop =
|pop = '''65,00,000''' ('''10%''' of ] population)<ref>Census of India 2001</ref>
|popplace = ], ], ] |popplace = ], ], ]
|languages = ] |languages = ]
|religions = ] |religions = ]m, ]
|related = ], ]. |related = ], ].
}} }}
], prominent ] leader from the ] subcaste]]


The '''Kallar''' (or '''Kallan''', formerly spelled as '''Colleries''') are one of the three related castes of southern India which constitute the ] confederacy.<ref>{{cite book |title=Notes on Criminal Classes of the Madras presidency |publisher=Government Press |page=82 |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=rxQbAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA82}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title= Kingship and Political Practice in Colonial India |publisher=Cambridge University Press |pages= 62, 87, 193 |url= http://books.google.com/books?id=aqKSTs4ajsAC&pg=PA193}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title= Historical Dictionary of the Tamils |publisher= Rowman and Little field USA |page=105 |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=H4q0DHGMcjEC&pg=PA105}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title= Sociology and Social Research |volume=11 |publisher=University of Southern California |page=121 |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=LvYcAQAAMAAJ&q=kallar+thief&dq=kallar+thief&hl=en&sa=X&ei=IGEbT_-qFuGuiQKt9_WXCA&ved=0CEUQ6AEwAw}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |journal=Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain & Ireland |volume=19 |publisher=Government Press |page=581 |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=03qFAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA581}}</ref>The Kallar, along with the ] and ], constitute a united social caste on the basis of parallel professions, though their locations and heritages are wholly separate from one another.<ref>{{cite book |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=Be3PCvzf-BYC&pg=PA287 |page=287 |title=A Social History of India |first=S. N. |last=Sadasivan}}</ref>
'''Kallar''' (Tamil: '''கள்ளர்''') are one of the three related castes which constitute the ] confederacy. The community shows many signs of independence and non-submission to any form of subjugation. They strongly resisted every British attempt to subjugate them.<ref>Thenpandi Singam by M. Karunanidhi</ref> Kallars are found largely in the Thanjavur, Trichy, Pudukkottai, Madurai, Theni, Dindigul, Sivagangai, Ramanathapuram, Thiruvarur, Nagapattinam ,Thirunelveli, Karur and Kanchipuram districts of Tamil Nadu. Significant Kallar populations are also found in Srilanka, Malaysia and other south east Asian countries. The Royal House of ] belongs to the Kallar community.


Kallars are found largely in the Thanjavur, Trichy, Pudukkottai, Madurai, Theni, Dindigul, Sivagangai, Ramanathapuram, Karur and Kanchipuram districts of Tamil Nadu. Significant Kallar populations are also found in Sri Lanka, Malaysia and other southeast Asian countries. In the 19th century, the British recognised the ] as the hereditary leader of the community.{{Citation needed|date=February 2012}}
==Meaning of Kallar==


==Etymology==
Kallar means "brave people". Historians like Srinivasa Iyengar, Venkataswmy Nattar postulate the word Kallar, derived from Kalla, means "black" in Sanskrit and Tamil. (கள்வனென் கிளவி கரியோனென்ப' - திவாகரம்) They also postulate Dravidians were called Kalla by Aryans. The name Thirumal (Mal Means black) also Derived from Black.<ref>கள்ளர் சரித்திரம் - நாவலர் பண்டித ந மு வேங்கடசாமி நாட்டார்</ref>.
A number of British colonial writers, including ]<ref>{{cite book |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=TxwaAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA482 |title=The Cyclopædia of India and of Eastern and Southern Asia |first=Edward |last=Balfour}}</ref>, noted that the term ''kallar'' or ''culler'' mean "thief" in Tamil, and suggest that as the origin of the caste's name, given that their history has included periods of banditry.<ref>{{cite book |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=cegr6zH9PFEC&pg=PA242 |page=242 |title=The Hollow Crown: Ethnohistory of an Indian Kingdom |first=Nicholas B. |last=Dirks}}</ref> Other proposed etymological origins include "black skinned", "hero", and "]-tappers".<ref>G. Kuppuram. . Sundeep Prakashan, 1988. Pg 366</ref>


==Mukkulathor== ==History==
Kallars lived in the ] ''tinai'' where agriculture was not possible. In more recent times the word ''kalla'' has come to have the generic meaning of ''thief'', probably as a consequence of their having a reputation for thievery.<ref>{{cite book |title= History of agriculture in India, up to c. 1200 A.D. |publisher=Concept Publishing |page= 619 |url= http://books.google.com/books?id=FvjZVwYVmNcC |first=Vinod Chandra |last=Srivastava |editor-first=Lallanji |editor-last=Gopal |year=2008 |isbn=978-81-8069-521-6}}</ref>


==Culture==
Kallar are one of the castes in the ] (meaning three clans) community. The other two are Maravar and Agamudayar and together they are called ]. The royal title "Thevar/Devar" means Divine. In olden days the people viewed kings as a representation of Gods and were accorded titles of respect.<ref>{{cite web |title= Mukkulathor|url=http://devarcaste.wetpaint.com|publisher=devarcaste.wetpaint.com/}}</ref>.
Among the traditional customs of the Kallar noted by colonial officials was the use of the "collery stick" ({{lang-ta|valai tādi, kallartādi}}), a bent ] or "false boomerang" which could be thrown up to 100 yards.<ref name="YuleBurnell1903">{{cite book|author1=Sir Henry Yule|author2=Arthur Coke Burnell|title=Hobson-Jobson: a glossary of colloquial Anglo-Indian words and phrases, and of kindred terms, etymological, historical, geographical and discursive|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=6Z5iAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA236|accessdate=21 March 2012|year=1903|publisher=J. Murray|pages=236–}}</ref> Though described as a "false" boomerang, other writers indicate that it was capable of returning to its thrower, and also noted the weapon was used in deer-hunting.<ref name="OppertVarmā1880">{{cite book|author1=Gustav Salomon Oppert|author2=Lakshmīkānta Varmā|author3=Śukra|coauthors=Albrecht Weber, Vaiśaṃpāyana|title=On the weapons, army organisation, and political maxims of the ancient Hindus: with special reference to gunpowder and firearms|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=Q8MIAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA18|accessdate=21 March 2012|year=1880|publisher=Higginbotham|pages=18–}}</ref> Writing in 1957, ] noted that despite the weapon's frequent mention in literature, it had disappeared amongst the Pramalai Kallar.<ref name="DumontStern1986">{{cite book|author1=Louis Dumont|author2=A. Stern|author3=Michael Moffatt|title=A South Indian subcaste: social organization and religion of the Pramalai Kallar|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=eQduAAAAMAAJ|accessdate=21 March 2012|year=1986|publisher=Oxford University Press}}</ref>


==Surnames== ===Diet===
The Kallar were traditionally a non-vegetarian people,<ref></ref> though a 1970s survey of Tamilnad indicated that 30% of Kallar surveyed, though non-vegetarian, refrained from eating fish after puberty.<ref></ref> Meat, though present in the Kallar diet, was not frequently eaten but restricted to Saturday nights and festival days. Even so, this small amount of meat was sufficient to affect perceptions of Kallar social status.<ref></ref>


==Notables==
In Tamil Nadu, Kallars are called by various surnames, which came to them during various times by the places they have ruled, battlefields and to state their strong valour and bravery in the battle with foreign forces. It is a general practice in Southern Tamil Nadu to address a Thevar woman as Nachiyar. <ref>கள்ளர் பட்டப்பெயர்கள் - Pulamai Venkathachala Vanniyar</ref>.
<!-- ANY FIGURES ADDED HERE MUST ALREADY HAVE THEIR OWN WIKIPEDIA ARTICLE PRIOR TO BEING ADDED. PLEASE ADD SIMPLY A NAME AND A FEW WORDS OF WHAT THEY ARE KNOWN FOR. DATES, TRANSLATIONS/SPELLINGS, TITLES, ETC. BELONG IN THEIR ARTICLES, ''not'' HERE. DO ''not'' USE THE TERM "LATE". -->

==Sangam Age==

Kallar, along with Maravar, are one of the ancient clans mentioned in the Sangam literature. The literature from the first Tamil Sangam period is dated around the last centuries of the pre-Christian era.

'''Thondaiman'''

The Kings (Araiyars), known as Thondaiman, were then ruling Thondai Nadu (Thondaimandalam).
There are hundreds of records pertaining to this dynasty. Thondai in Tamil means Kilai or Pirivu, Pallava in Sanskrit means the same. This indicates that ]s were the ] ] who ruled the medieval Pallava dynasty and who were in fact a later offshoot of the ] dynasty.

'''Malayaman'''

The Kings (Araiyars) ruled ] during the ascendancy of the Chola empire, with the title Malayaman (which is one of the family names of the Kallar community). Sangam literature mentions of Malaiyamaan Kaari, a Malayaman chief who fought alongside Perunarkilli Chola to defeat Cheral Irumporai (Irumporai Cheras). Descendants of Kaari are collectively called by the name Parkavakulam (Udayar & Moopanar).

'''Adigaman'''

The Kings were ruling Tagadur, present day Dharmapuri district. One of The Four kingdoms mentioned in the rock-edict of Ashoka. ] Naduman Anji King of Tagadur is mentioned in the rock-edict of Ashoka as ]s inscriptions found from Villupuram indicates that stating Adigaman (which is one of the family name of the Kallar community) as Satyaputra Adhiyan Neduman Anji intha Pali.

==Chola==

The ] Dynasty (Tamil:'''சோழர் குலம்''') was a native Tamil dynasty that ruled ] and Ilangai (Ceylon) until the later half of the 13th century A.D. The other two Tamil Royal dynasties are the Pandyas and Cheras. And Pallavas are later offshoots of Cholas, and the word Pallava means ''branch'' in Sanskrit, indicating the latter as an offshoot of Cholas.

The Chola dynasty originated in the fertile valley of the ] River. ] was the most famous among the early Chola kings, while Aditya I, Parantaka I, Rajaraja Chola I, Rajendra Chola I, Rajadhiraja Chola, Virarajendra Chola, Kulothunga Chola and Kulothunga Chola III were notable emperors of the medieval Cholas.

Kalapadiyar, Melkondar, Chozangar, Thevar, etc are now used by Kallars only shows that Cholas, Pallavas and Early Pandyas were from the Royal community of Kallars. The Bramanda puranas Puvindra puranam and Kalla Kesari Purannam also Mentions the same.<ref>{{cite web |title= கள்ளர்
|url=http://ta.wikipedia.org/%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%B3%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%B3%E0%AE%B0%E0%AF%8D |publisher=ta.wikipedia.org}}</ref>

Lots of marriages takes place between Cholas with Malavarayar<ref>{{cite web |title= South Indian Inscription
|url=http://www.whatisindia.com/inscriptions/south_indian_inscriptions/volume_23/introduction_1.html
|publisher= www.whatisindia.com }}</ref>, ]<ref>{{cite web |title= South Indian Inscription
|url=http://www.whatisindia.com/inscriptions/south_indian_inscriptions/volume_22/part_1/kulottunga_3.html
|publisher= www.whatisindia.com }}</ref>, ]<ref>{{cite web |title= South IndianInscription|url=http://www.whatisindia.com/inscriptions/south_indian_inscriptions/volume_13/introduction_1.html|publisher= www.whatisindia.com }}</ref>,Melkondar<ref>{{cite web |title= South Indian Inscription
|url=http://www.whatisindia.com/inscriptions/south_indian_inscriptions/volume_2/no_21_north_wall_lower_tier.html|publisher= www.whatisindia.com }}</ref>
and Vallavaraiyar. they also belongs to Kallar community.<ref>Rajarajan Meikirthigal By Pandarathar</ref>
<ref>KalvethugalKurum Unmaigal By Pandarathar</ref><ref>{{cite web |title= South Indian Inscriptions Volume13 |url=http://www.whatisindia.com/inscriptions/south_indian_inscriptions/volume_13/introduction_1.html |publisher=Archaeological Survey of India|accessdate=2008-11-09}}</ref>

==Pallavas==

The word ] (Tamil: பல்லவர்) means ''branch'' in Sanskrit, denoting that they are a later offshoot (Kilai) of Cholas. The Pallava kingdom was a medieval Dravidian Tamil dynasty of South India that had its capital at ] and ruled Northern Tamilnadu and Andhra Pradesh (till Northern Circars) around the 4th century CE.

They rose in power during the reign of Mahendravarman I (571 – 630 CE) and Narasimhavarman I (630 – 668 CE) and dominated the Andhra Pradesh and Northern parts of Tamil Nadu for about six hundred years until the end of the 9th century.

"Pallava" is rendered as Tondaiyar in the Tamil language. The Pallava kings at several places are called Thondamans or Thondaiyarkon. The territory of the Pallavas was known as Tundaka Visaya or Tundaka Rashtra. The Sanskrit meaning of Pallava is Kilai The Tamil Thondai means the same, it shows that Pallavas are descendants (Kilay or Pirivu) of Cholas.

Pathupattu, one of the Sangam literatures, reads that the King Thondaiman Ilandirayan ruled this town around 2,500 years ago. The Pallavas are told as the descendents of Thondaiman Ilandirayan.

They were also called by surnames like Sethurayar, Pallavarayar, Vandarayar, Kadurayar, Vallavarayar, Vanathirayar, Kaliyarayar..<ref>{{cite web |title= கள்ளர் சரித்திரம்
|url=http://www.thinnai.com/?module=displaystory&story_id=20212014&format=print&edition_id=20021201
|publisher=www.thinnai.com}}</ref>

==Link With Pandiyan==
Historians postulate that ]s are ] but some Pandiyan kings were Kallar.
A Pandiyan king was mentioned as Kallar Perumagan Thennavan. Also the bulk of Kallar warriors were serving in the Pandian army.

After the end of Pandian Rule, then Pandi nadu, also known as Kallar nadu, Was ruled by Kallar Ambalakkarrars.

==Link With Cheras==
The title Servaikkarar, used by Mukkulathors and derived from Chera Avaikkarar,
means people who served in Chera avai.

Once Chera country was ruled by eight Chera kings who combined their armies and chose one king to lead them. Avai is known as Enperayam or Chera Avai.<ref>கள்ளர் பட்டப்பெயர்கள் - Pulamai Venkathachala Vanniyar</ref>.

People belonging to Cheraavai are called Cheravaikkarar or Servaikkarar. One of the famous kings with this title, Maruthu Pandiyar Servaikkarar, belongs to ].

==Tamil copper-plate inscriptions==

The discovery of Indian copper plate inscriptions provided a relative abundance of new evidence for use in evolving a chronicle of India's elusive history{{Citation needed|date=January 2010}}.

During Chola rule there were many small kings(Araiyar) ruling there respective areas under the Chola. Some of the names are seen in ] are also mentioned in ] (a Tamil historical novel written by Kalki Krishnamurthy)

*]
*]
*Malayaman
*Vallavaraiyar
*Muniaraiyar
*Puvaraiyar
*Velar
*Vanataraiyar

==During Vijayanagar Empire==

The downfall of the Mukkulathors occurred in 1345 with the fall of Vira Pandyan IV and the subsequent conquest of Madurai by the Delhi Sultanate <ref>Thenpandi Singam by M. Karunanidhi</ref> However, the southern territories of the Sultanate soon asserted their independence and the Mukkulathors recovered under the Vijayanagar Empire and later under the Nayak dynasty during whose period they served as Polygars or chieftains.

The south-western parts of Tamil Nadu except for ] was called ''Kallar Nadu'' and was governed by Kallar Palayakkarar.

==Notable people==

* ] (1923–1979)
* ] * ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]

==See also==

*]
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]


==References== ==References==

{{Reflist}} {{Reflist}}


]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kallar (Caste)}}
]
]
]
]

Revision as of 14:23, 12 September 2012

For the caste of Northern India, see Kalwar (caste). Ethnic group
Kallar
Regions with significant populations
Tamilnadu, Sri Lanka, Malaysia
Languages
Tamil
Religion
Saiva Siddhantam, Hinduism
Related ethnic groups
Mukkulathor, Vellalar.

The Kallar (or Kallan, formerly spelled as Colleries) are one of the three related castes of southern India which constitute the Mukkulathor confederacy.The Kallar, along with the Maravar and Akamudayar, constitute a united social caste on the basis of parallel professions, though their locations and heritages are wholly separate from one another.

Kallars are found largely in the Thanjavur, Trichy, Pudukkottai, Madurai, Theni, Dindigul, Sivagangai, Ramanathapuram, Karur and Kanchipuram districts of Tamil Nadu. Significant Kallar populations are also found in Sri Lanka, Malaysia and other southeast Asian countries. In the 19th century, the British recognised the Raja of Pudukkottai as the hereditary leader of the community.

Etymology

A number of British colonial writers, including Edward Balfour, noted that the term kallar or culler mean "thief" in Tamil, and suggest that as the origin of the caste's name, given that their history has included periods of banditry. Other proposed etymological origins include "black skinned", "hero", and "toddy-tappers".

History

Kallars lived in the Palai tinai where agriculture was not possible. In more recent times the word kalla has come to have the generic meaning of thief, probably as a consequence of their having a reputation for thievery.

Culture

Among the traditional customs of the Kallar noted by colonial officials was the use of the "collery stick" (Template:Lang-ta), a bent throwing stick or "false boomerang" which could be thrown up to 100 yards. Though described as a "false" boomerang, other writers indicate that it was capable of returning to its thrower, and also noted the weapon was used in deer-hunting. Writing in 1957, Louis Dumont noted that despite the weapon's frequent mention in literature, it had disappeared amongst the Pramalai Kallar.

Diet

The Kallar were traditionally a non-vegetarian people, though a 1970s survey of Tamilnad indicated that 30% of Kallar surveyed, though non-vegetarian, refrained from eating fish after puberty. Meat, though present in the Kallar diet, was not frequently eaten but restricted to Saturday nights and festival days. Even so, this small amount of meat was sufficient to affect perceptions of Kallar social status.

Notables

References

  1. Notes on Criminal Classes of the Madras presidency. Government Press. p. 82.
  2. Kingship and Political Practice in Colonial India. Cambridge University Press. pp. 62, 87, 193.
  3. Historical Dictionary of the Tamils. Rowman and Little field USA. p. 105.
  4. Sociology and Social Research. Vol. 11. University of Southern California. p. 121.
  5. Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain & Ireland. 19. Government Press: 581 http://books.google.com/books?id=03qFAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA581. {{cite journal}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  6. Sadasivan, S. N. A Social History of India. p. 287.
  7. Balfour, Edward. The Cyclopædia of India and of Eastern and Southern Asia.
  8. Dirks, Nicholas B. The Hollow Crown: Ethnohistory of an Indian Kingdom. p. 242.
  9. G. Kuppuram. India through the ages: history, art, culture, and religion, Volume 1. Sundeep Prakashan, 1988. Pg 366
  10. Srivastava, Vinod Chandra (2008). Gopal, Lallanji (ed.). History of agriculture in India, up to c. 1200 A.D. Concept Publishing. p. 619. ISBN 978-81-8069-521-6.
  11. Sir Henry Yule; Arthur Coke Burnell (1903). Hobson-Jobson: a glossary of colloquial Anglo-Indian words and phrases, and of kindred terms, etymological, historical, geographical and discursive. J. Murray. pp. 236–. Retrieved 21 March 2012.
  12. Gustav Salomon Oppert; Lakshmīkānta Varmā; Śukra (1880). On the weapons, army organisation, and political maxims of the ancient Hindus: with special reference to gunpowder and firearms. Higginbotham. pp. 18–. Retrieved 21 March 2012. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  13. Louis Dumont; A. Stern; Michael Moffatt (1986). A South Indian subcaste: social organization and religion of the Pramalai Kallar. Oxford University Press. Retrieved 21 March 2012.
  14. Criminal gods and demon devotees: essays on the guardians of popular Hinduism - Alf Hiltebeitel - Google Books
  15. Food, ecology, and culture: readings in the anthropology of dietary practices - John R. K. Robson - Google Books
  16. A South Indian subcaste: social organization and religion of the Pramalai Kallar - Louis Dumont, A. Stern, Michael Moffatt - Google Books
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