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Vellalar

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Vellalars are a dominant caste of agriculturalists of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Sri Lanka. Although they are a dominant land owning caste they are considered to be Shudras according to the Hindu caste system. Most dominant landowning castes in South India, Middle India and the Bengal are also considered to be Shudra indicating an incomplete caste mapping with the advent of Hinduism over these areas. Other so called dominant land owning Shudra castes of these areas are Kamma, Lingayat, Vokkaliga, Maratha etc.

It was thought that the Vellalars are ones who control the "Vellam" i.e floods in the river and grow crops and Karalars are one who control "Kar" i.e clouds in the form of tanks and lakes for cultivation.

When southern parts of Tamilnadu came into the control of Telegu Nayak Chieftains both Vellalar were employed by these Chiefs as accounts, hence they assumed the title Kanakku (account) "Pillays" (son) then Pillays.

The standard theory is that the word Vellalar is from Velanmai or to cultivate. Another one postulates it is derived from Vellam or to cotrol floods. A new theory derives the word from Vel to win to control to take as well as a lance an old and archaic Tamil weapon.

Supposedly cultivation in South Asia was spread by force, people would move out into virgin land, which was used by hunter gatherer or tribal people for slash and burn agriculture or for hunting and convert into prime agricultural land.

This was a honorific title of select few people who would organize such raids and settlements (like chiefs) which spread to all including that of all Ulavar (tamil for farmer) the actual Tamil name for cultivators. Today everybody uses it but once it was restricted to village headman or founding cheifs lineage.

As far as Vellalar in Tamilnadu are concerned, the first layer consists of Saiva Vellalars or Saiva Mudaliars and Pillais. There are a number of sub-castes/clans among them like Thondaimandala vellalar, Karkatha vellalar, Tirunelveli saiva vellalar, etc., The castes like Kongu Vellalar, (Western Tamilnadu) Pandia Vellalar,(Madurai) Chozhia Vellalar,(Trichy & Thanjavur) Tuluva Vellalar (North Tamilnadu), Arcot Mudaliar,(North Tamilnadu) Nanjil Vellalar (Kanya Kumari).

In Kerala, there is a signifant population of Tamil and Malayalam speaking Vellalar population.

In Sri Lanka, they form over 50% of the population of the Tamils in the Northern Province and Jaffna.