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'{{short description|Agricultural Caste in Tamil Nadu, India}} {{Improve categories|date=March 2021}} {{Use Indian English|date=April 2021}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2021}} {{infobox caste | caste_name = Devendrakula Velalar | image = | caption = | region = | religions = Hinduism | country = India | state = [[Tamil Nadu]] | populated_states = | languages = [[Tamil language|Tamil]] | classification = [[Agriculturist]] | related = }} '''Devendrakula Velalar''' is an agricultural community found in the Indian state of [[Tamil Nadu]] comprising seven subcastes: [[Devendra Kulathan|Devendra Kulathar]], [[Kudumbar]], [[Kadaiyar]], [[Kaladi(caste)|Kaladi]], [[Pallar]], [[Pannadi]] and [[Vathiriyar]].<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/lok-sabha-okays-putting-seven-castes-under-devendrakula-vellalars/article34109785.ece | newspaper=The Hindu| title= Lok Sabha passes bill to place seven castes under Devendrakula Velalars in Tamil Nadu| date= 19 March 2021 | first= | last=| access-date=20 March 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/president-gives-assent-to-devendrakula-velalar-act/article34314307.ece | newspaper=The Hindu| title=President gives assent to Devendrakula Velalar Act| date= 14 April 2021 | first= | last=| access-date=23 April 2021}}</ref> == History == The Devendrakula Velalar traditionally inhabited the fertile wetland area referred to as ''Marutham'' in the literary devices of the [[Sangam landscape]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/?id=6eccAQAAMAAJ&dq=pallar+marutham&q=marutham|title=Census of India, 1961|last=General|first=India Office of the Registrar|date=1964|publisher=Manager of Publications|pages=11}}</ref> Vendan, also known as Devendra and identified with [[Indra]], is the god of the ''Marutham'' landscape and also one of the chief deities of the Devendrakula Velalars.Agriculture, being the dominant occupation in Sangam society, had gained a status and expertise.The various titles used by Devendra Kula Velalars were Pannadi, Kudumbar, Moopar and Kaladi. <ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YMJGAAAAMAAJ|title=Śaṅgam polity: the administration and social life of the Śaṅgam Tamils|last=Subrahmanian|first=N.|publisher=Ennes|year=1996}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8IO3AAAAIAAJ|title=Dalits in Dravidian land: Frontline reports on Anti-Dalit violence in Tamil Nadu, 1995–2004|last=Viswanathan|first=S.|publisher=Navayana|year=2005|isbn=978-81-89059-05-7}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Us08AAAAMAAJ+|title=Caste system: myths, reality, challenge|last=Sinha|first=Sachchidanand|publisher=Intellectual Pub. House|year=1982}}</ref> ==Temple festivals== At the Mariamman Teppakulam float festival in [[Madurai]], Devendrakula Velalars from [[Chinna Anuppanadi|Anupanadi]] village are traditionally given the right to start pulling the [[Meenakshi Temple, Madurai|Sri Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple]] float, according to a tradition dating to the 18th century.<ref>{{cite news|date=9 February 2020|title=Grandeur marks float fest in Madurai|newspaper=Times Of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/madurai/grandeur-marks-float-fest-in-madurai/articleshow/74036052.cms|url-status=live|access-date=2021-03-29}}</ref> According to mythology, the presiding deities, Lord Siva and Pachainayagi, of [[Perur Pateeswarar Temple|Patteswarar Temple]] in [[Perur]], [[Coimbatore]], were farmers who took up the task of sowing and cultivating paddies. The Devendrakula Velalar community celebrate Pady Sowing Season in the name of Chithiramezhi Ponnaer Natru Nadu Thiruvzha at Patteswarar Temple.<ref>{{cite news|date=20 June 2018|title=Seedling Planting Festival at Perur Pateeswarar Temple in Coimbatore|newspaper=Maalai Malar|url=https://maalaimalar.com/devotional/devotionaltopnews/2018/06/20085626/1171330/perur-patteeswarar-temple-festival.vpf|url-status=live|access-date=2021-03-31}}</ref> ==Politics== In [[Tamil Nadu]], Devendrakula Velalar make up 11.45% of the state's population.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/ndas-caste-consolidation-exercise-ahead-tn-assembly-polls- | newspaper=The News Minute| title=NDA's caste consolidation exercise ahead of TN assembly polls| date= 21 February 2021 | first=Bharathi Sp | last= Priyanka Thirumurthy| access-date=20 March 2021}}</ref> The Devendrakula Velalar, [[Muthuraja|Mutharaiyar]] and [[Brahmin]] play a major role in [[Srirangam (state assembly constituency)|Srirangam Assembly constituency]], as a majority of voters are from these communities.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2021/mar/03/why-both-aiadmk-and-bjp-want-srirangam- |title=Why both AIADMK and BJP want Srirangam | newspaper=The New Indian Express| first=JAYAKUMAR | last=MADALA| date=3 March 2021 | access-date=}}</ref> ==References== {{Reflist}} [[Category:Indian society by state or union territory]] [[Category:Tamil Nadu]] [[Category:Agricultural castes]] [[Category:Tamil culture]] [[Category:Social groups of Tamil Nadu]]'