Sengunthar
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Sengunthar | |
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Kaikalas of Andhra |
Sengunthar (
Etymology
The ancient occupational name of Kaikkolar comes from the words kai (hand) and kol (a shuttle used in looms). The appended -ar means people.[8] Kaikkolar also means men with stronger arms.[9][10]
Sengunthar means red spear people, which has the community's connection to the Lord
In ancient times they were also called as Kaarugar (weaver), Thanthuvayar (weaver), Senguntha padaiyar (soldiers), Senaithalaivar (army commander) and Kaikolar (Weaver).[11]
Sengunthars were given the title Mudaliar for their bravery.
Mudali means first, suggesting that the title bearer is of the first-ranked among people.[14][15] They had also used the title Nayanar after their names.[16]
History
Origin
Chola period
The earliest literary evidence about Sengunthar occurs in Adhi Diwakaram, a Tamil lexicon written by Sendan Diwakarar. This dictionary, probably from the 8th century CE, is thought to refer to them as weavers and army commanders, which may be indicative of their dual role in society at that time.[19]
Inscriptions from the 11th century suggest that by the time of the Chola dynasty, the Sengunthar had already developed its involvement in weaving and trading, together with a role in military matters that was probably necessary to protect those interests. They were a part of the Ayyavole 500 trading group during the Chola period and there are also references in the 12th century that suggest they had armies and that some specific people were assigned to act as bodyguards for the Chola emperors. Such historical records emphasise their military function, with the poet Ottakoothar glorifying them and suggesting that their origins lay with the armies of the gods.[20]
They were militarized during the
Singalantaka-terinda-Kaikkolar
Virachozha-terinja-Kaikkolar
Kodandarama-terinja-Kaikkolar
Danatonga-terinja-Kaikkolar
Parantaka-terinia-Kaikkolar
Muthuvalpetra-Kaikkolar
Samarakesarit-terinja-Kaikkolar
Vikramasingat-terinja-Kaikkolar
Adityapanma-terinda-Kaikkolar
Karikala-chozha-terinja-Kaikkolar
Arulmozhideva-terinja-Kaikkolar
Parttivasekarat-terinja-Kaikkolar
Gandaraditta-terinja-Kaikkolar
Madurantaka-terinja-Kaikkolar
Kodandarama-terinja-Kaikkolar is named after
Some were chieftains and commanders-in-chief of the later Cholas. Kaikkolar commanders-in-chief were known as Samanta Senapathigal[22] or Senaithalaivar.[23][22] Following is the list of Sengunthar chieftains under Imperial Cholas which is taken from the poem Eetiezhubathu written by Chola emperor's court poet and minister Ottakoothar.
- Putridan Kondan: King of Kalattur. Pallikondan: Chieftain of Chidambaram. Pazhuvur Veeran and Pazhuvur Narayanan: Chieftains of Pazhuvur. Thaniyan: Chieftain of Kanchi. Otriyuran: Chieftain of Thiruvottriyur. Thanjai Vemban: Chieftain of Thiruvaiyaru and chief minister under Rajadhiraja Chola I. Padaimaruthan: Chieftain of Thiruvidai maruthur.
According to Vijaya Ramaswamy, in early thirteenth century large number of Kaikolars were migrated to Kongu Nadu from Tondaimandalam[24] after the fall of Chola empire.
Vijayanagara period
After the 13th century, Sengunthars became associated with weaving completely.[25][26][27] According to Deepak Kumar, the Sengunthar weavers very often figure in the capacity of kudi, i.e. tenant-cultivators and also holders of kaniyachi, that is hereditary possession over the land.[28] During the period of Sadasiva Raya of Vijayanagara empire, the sthanathar of the Brahmapuriswara temple made an agreement that they would cultivate certain lands of the Kaikkolar regiment.[29][28]
In 14th century, Kottaiyannan Mudaliar, a chieftain who was ruling
According to India Before Europe by Catherine Ella Blanshard Asher, Cynthia Talbot, Sengunthars attained positions of responsibility at the two major Vaishnavite temples of Srirangam and Tirupati. In Tirupati, they were in charge of distributing the consecrated food offerings to the worshippers.
In the book The Political Economy of Commerce: Southern India, 1500–1650, author Sanjay Subrahmanyam states that many Sengunthar families were rich enough to contribute both land and gold to temples.
According to Himanshu Prabha Ray, in 1418 in Tiruvannamalai Arunachalesvara temple, Sengunthars were given the right to blow the conch, ride palanquins and elephants and wave the temple fly whisk.[30] In 16th century some of the Kaikolars were migrated to Kerala region from Tamil region.[24]
During Vijayanagara period, Sengunthars built Kodumbu Subramanya Swamy Temple at Palakkad. When issue aroused between Nambudiris and Sengunthars on which style the worship will take place in the temple, the King of Palakkad ordered that the worship will take place according to Sengunthars' culture.
Traditions and festivals
Among Sengunthars, Both alcoholic and sexual abstinence are valued, as is control of the passions. But when they are concerned with the sacred locus of the interior, meat eating, blood sacrifice, spirit possession, and the worship of small gods are all prominent. Senaithalaivar thus follow both a priestly model and a Tamil tradition.
Each family (kulam) of the Sengunthar had their own Kula Deivam (deity). Sengunthars share
The Sura Samharam festival is a traditional ritual where the Sengunthars dress as the lieutenants of
Tamil nadu
Historically there were four thisai nadus, which in turn was divided into 17 kilai nadus, exclusive of thisai nadus, totally making 72 nadus in the Sengunthar. The thisai nadus were Sivapuram (Walajabad) to the east, Thonthipuram to the south, Virinjipuram to the west, Chozhasingapuram (Sholinghur) to the north. [34]
The head of 72 nadu was
Sengunthar Kaikola Mudaliyar have rights to give festival flag for
Andhra Pradesh
In Andhra pradesh, Sengunthars are also known as
The presiding deity of the Srikalahasteeswara temple at Srikalahasti Gnana Prasunambika Devi was born in Vellathurar Gotra of Senguntha Kaikola Mudaliar caste. It is customary for the bride to bring home the dowry and submit it by Sengunthars at the Shiva-Parvati wedding held here.
Sri Lanka
In the flag hoisting ceremony at
Subgroups
There are some divisions among a section of the caste based on their traditions.
Siru Thaali Kaikolar
Siru thaali Kaikolar, also known as Saami katti Kaikolars, are characterized by a lingam tied to their arm, a custom now defunct.[39] Women of this section worn small size of the Thali or Mangala sutra, due to which they are called so. This section allow widows to wear colored saris as other women.[40] They are mainly found in the Eeruurunaadu[41]( Erode, Salem and Namakkal districts ).
Perun Thaali Kaikolar or Kongu Kaikolar
Perun thaali Kaikolar (பெருதாலிகட்டி கைகோளர் முதலியார்கள்), also known as Kongu Kaikolar and 'Vellai seelai kaikkolar'. Women of this section wore big size of the Thali. Widows belonging this section wore white or saris like other Kongu castes hence the name 'Vellai seelai Kaikolar'. They are mainly found vastly in Coimbatore District and the Bhavani River Belt of Erode district. Being the aboriginal weavers of the Kongu region unlike later immigrants, they are properly called 'Kongu Kaikkolvar'
Rattukaara Kaikolar
Rattukaarar, also known as Rendukaarar because they weave with warps composed of double threads and they are traditional carpet makers. Other reason is said to be their sacrifice of first born's heads for weaving a skirt for their caste poet Ottakoothar. They are mainly found in West region of Tamil Nadu.[40]
Thalaikooda Mudaliyar
They are called Thalaikooda Mudaliyar( meaning "head refusers"), because it is said that in 12th century they refused to sacrifice the heads of their first sons to the caste poet,
Maduraiyar
Kaikolars of the
Kaikolar originally of the Pandya country who wear the thali (marriage badge) of Meenakshi Sundareshwarar like other Pandya country native castes.
Kulagurus
The Kongu section has
Current status
Sengunthars were originally classified as
Literary references
- Senguntha Prabanda Thiratu[48] is a collection of various literary works written about Kaikkolars. It was originally published by Vannakkalanjiyam Kanji Shri Naagalinga Munivar in 1926 and republished in 1993 by Sabapathi Mudaliar.[49][full citation needed] The collection contains:
- Senkunthar Pillai Tamizh by Gnanaprakasa Swamigal, Tirisirapuram Kovintha Pillai and Lakkumanaswami. A collection of songs about the Sungunthars, taken from palm-leaf manuscripts, that was first published in the 18th century in Kanchipuram
- Eetti Ezhubathu, the major literary work about the Sengunthars. It comprises poetry by Ottakkoothar written in the 12th century CE during the reign of Rajaraja Chola II. It describes the mythical origin of Sengunthar, expeditions of Sengunthar chieftains and also praises the 1008 Kaikolar who were beheaded trying to enable it to be written.[50]
- Ezhupezhubathu, a sequel to Eetti Ezhubathu written by Ottakkoothar. In this work, he prays the goddess Saraswathi to reattach the heads of the 1008 Sengunthars to their respective bodies.
- Kalipporubathu, a collection of ten stanzas compiled by Kulothunga Chola III. These stanzas were written after Ezhupezhubathu to express joy when the 1008 heads were reattached. These stanzas include the songs who witnessed it in the court of Raja Raja II including himself which was later compiled by his successor Kulothunga Chozha III
- Thirukkai Vazhakkam, which describes the good deeds of Sengunthars and their Saivite religious principles. It was written by Puhalendi.
- Sengunthar Silaakkiyar Malai was written by Kanchi Virabadhra Desigar. It describes the legends and eminent personalities of the Sengunthar community.
Notable people
See also
Notes
- ^ a b Mines 1984, pp. 62–64
- ISBN 9780520084797.
- ISBN 978-0-19-561705-4.
- ^ "National Commission for Backward Classes". www.ncbc.nic.in. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
- ^ Mines 1984, p. 11.
- ^ Martial races of undivided India by Vidya Prakash Tyagi 2009 Page 278 https://www.google.com/books?id=vRwS6FmS2g0C
- ISBN 9027979596.
- ^ a b c Mines 1984, pp. 54–55
- ^ ISBN 978-8-12241-198-0.
- ISBN 9788170184355.
- ISBN 978-0-19-561705-4.
- ISBN 9027979596.
- ^ Kan̲n̲iyappan̲, Civa (1996). Oṭṭakkūttar pāṭalkaḷum viḷakkamum [Critical interpretation of the poems of Otṭạkkūttar, 12th century Tamil poet] (in Tamil). Mullai Nilaiyam. p. 51.
சூலமும் மழுவும் கொண்ட சிவபெருமானவர். அதனால் அவருடைய பெயர் முதலியார் என்பது. அவர் வழியில் தோன்றினமையால் செங்குந்தர்களுக்கு முதலியார் என்ற பெயரைக் கொடுத்து அப்பெயராலேயே வழங்கப்படுகின்றது
- ISBN 978-1-40086-718-9.
- ISBN 978-1-53810-686-0.
- ISBN 9789004272620.
- ISBN 978-1-53810-686-0.
- ISBN 9788120813915.
- ISBN 978-0-19-561705-4.
- ISBN 9781139440745.
- ^ S. Sankaranarayanan, S. S. Ramachandra Murthy, B. Rajendra Prasad, D. Kiran Kranth Choudary (2000). Śāṅkaram: recent researches on Indian culture : Professor Srinivasa Sankaranarayanan festchrift. Harman Pub. House. p. 114.
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ a b Manickam, V. (2001). Kongu Nadu, a history up to A.D. 1400. Makkal Veliyeedu.
- ISBN 9780521809047.
- ^ ISBN 9781351558259.
- ^ Ramaswamy, Vijaya (1985). Textiles and weavers in medieval South India. Oxford University Press.[page needed]
- ^ Mines 1984
- ISBN 9788187358183.[page needed]
- ^ a b Science and Empire: Essays in Indian Context, 1700–1947 By Deepak Kumar[full citation needed]
- ^ Ramaswamy, Vijaya (1985). Textiles and weavers in medieval South India. Oxford University Press.[page needed]
- ISBN 978-1-13443-040-6.
- JSTOR 643998.
- ^ Mines 1984, pp. 15
- S2CID 145467633.
- ^ Mines 1984, pp. 73–98
- ^ a b Mines 1984, pp. 171
- ^ Mines 1984, pp. 167
- ^ Dr. Kumar Vadivel. "Water cutting ceremony of the Nallur Kandasamy temple". The Island (Sri Lanka). Nallur, Sri Lanka: Ministry of Hindu Religious Affairs, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 12 August 2011.
- ^ "Nallur Kandasamy Temple festival begins". TamilNet. Nallur, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 10 August 2005.
- ^ Mines 1984, pp. 172
- ^ a b Mines 1984, pp. 24–25
- ^ Mines 1984, pp. 169
- ^ Mines 1984, pp. 27
- JSTOR 643998.
- ^ Sustainer (4 September 2009). "கொங்க குலகுருக்கள்: கொங்கு குலகுருக்கள் - 48. இறையமங்கலம் கைக்கோலர் மடம்". கொங்க குலகுருக்கள். Retrieved 7 January 2023.
- ^ "List of Backward Classes approved by Government of Tamil Nadu". Government of Tamil Nadu.
- ^ "Central list of backward classes". Government of India.
- ^ M.S., Joseph (1996). Inclusion of Sengunthar community in the list of Other Backward Classes for reservation in public service. Government of Kerala.
- ^ Senguntha Prabandha Thiratu. Retrieved 4 December 2011.
- ^ The Indian Economic and Social History Review-Delhi School of Economics. Vikas Publishing House. 1982.
- ISBN 978-9004041905. Retrieved 4 December 2011.
References
- Mines, Mattison (1984). The Warrior Merchants: Textiles, Trade and Territory in South India. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9780521267144.
Further reading
- Irschick, Eugene F. (1986). Tamil revivalism in the 1930s.
- Irschick, Eugene F. (1994). Dialogue and History: Constructing South India, 1795–1895. University of California Press. ISBN 9780520914322.
- Lucassen, Jan; Lucassen, Leo (2014). Globalising Migration History: The Eurasian Experience. BRILL. ISBN 978-9-00427-136-4.