Etymology
There are different theories concerning the meaning of the word 'Vellalar':
it derives from the word
Vel meaning a spear or lance and alar meaning "people of Vel", an old and archaic Tamil weapon. Another one postulates it is derived from Vellam or flood (in Tamil) and alar (ruler or controller), so Vellalar means "Lord of the floods". Sometimes they were also known as Karalar which means "Lord of the clouds" in Tamil. Another theory is that the word Vellalar is from 'Velanmai' or to cultivate.ciated with the landed gentry, today they are found in all walks of life.
Categories of Vellars
There are several categories of vellars. they are
1. Kongu Vella Gounder
2. Pavalankatti/Pavalangatti Vella Gounder
3. Thulu Vella Gounder
4. Naatu Vella Gounder
The Vellalars have a long cultural history that goes back to over two millennia in southern India.
Sangam Literature. In Sangam literature, the chiefs of the vellala tribes were called the Velir. The Velir or the Vellalar tribes are described as a landed gentry who irrigated the wet lands and the Karalar were the landed gentry in the dry lands. Numerous poems in the ancient Sangam literature extol these chieftains' charity and truthfulness. Among the most prominent were those known as the 'seven patrons' (kadaiyezhu vallal); Vel-Pari, Malayaman Thirumudi Kaari, Ori, Adigaman, Began, Nalli and Ay Kandiran.
They had close associations and held high positions of office with the three main Tamil dynasties, Chera, Chola and Pandya. Some of them even had marital relations; Ilamcetcenni, the king known for his fleet of warships married a Velir princess, and his son Karikala Chola also married a Velir princess from Nangur.
Warrior Chieftains
The Vellalars not only held absolute control over the feudal society but also demonstrated great military prowess. To quote a few:
Ma-Vel-Evvi the famous chief known for his valour and bravery was a Vellala from Millalikurram in Pandimandalam. He was the law around the southern bank of the Kaveri basin. His territory included one of the most fertile fields of the Cauvery basin.
Vel-Pari was known as the great patron of poets. This chief was a relative of Ma-Vel-Evvi and after the demise of the latter he took over the territory around the mountains of Parambu. Poet Kapilar, his life long companion described him as the lord of three hundred villages in ancient Tamilakkam who could only be won over by the sound of a lute.
Common titles
Common titles are Pillai, Mudaliar and Gounder. When southern parts of Tamilnadu came into the control of Telugu Nayak kings, Vellalar were employed by them as accountants, hence they assumed the title Kanakku Pillai, in Kerala they use the title Karnam Pillai.
Major divisions
Major subdivisions are
Main article: List of Vellalar sub castes
There are numerous other subcastes which claim Vellalar roots and identity. Some subdivisions might intermarry yet other will not.
In Kerala and Sri Lanka
In Kerala, there is a significant population of Tamil and Malayalam speaking Vellalar population. They are believed to have migrated to work in courts of the Travancore kingdom as accountants.
The Vellalars of Jaffna have been chronicled clearly in the Yalpana Vaipava Malai and other historical texts of Jaffna kingdom. These Vellalar chiefs claim descent from traditional minor-kings and chiefs of Tamil Nadu. They have been commanders of Chola and Pandya armies as well as respected ministers and administrators. From the 13th century when migration of Vellalar chiefs to Jaffna took place, Tamil Nadu has seen a decline in the traditional power of Vellalars except in Kongu Nadu.
In Sri Lanka, they are currently estimated to form 20 to 30% of the population in the Northern Province and Jaffna.
See the Ponnambalam-Coomaraswamy Family for the Ponnambalam-Coomaraswamy family centric rise of a Vellala elite in 19th century Sri Lanka.
Cultural Evolution and Assimilation of other castes
Most subcastes of Vellalar in general are believed to be the first of the group of Tamils to be Sanskritized.
"Kallar, Maravar, ganathor Agamudaiyar mella mella velaalar anargal"
is a popular Tamil proverb prevalent in India and Sri Lanka about the origin of Vellalars. That is Vellalar are a fusion of upwardly mobile members from castes such as Kallar, Maravar and Agamudayar according to the principles of Sanskritisation.
