Thondaimandala Mudaliar

Thondaimandala Mudaliar is a Forward caste vegetarian community in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Sekkizhar, the author of the Periyapuranam, was from this community.

History

Sangam and Medieval Tamil literature

According to Sangam literature, the Vēlir migrated from the Gangetic plains of ancient Dvārakā under the guidance of the sage Agastya. This is described by Nacchinarkkiniyar in his commentary on the Tolkāppiyam (Payiram; Porul.34).^[1] The sage Agastya took with him 18 families of Vēls or Vēlirs and their kings from Tuvarai (identified with Dvārakā)^[2] in the north, and migrated south.^[3] Irunkōvēl, a Vēlir King of the Irunkōvēl line and a contemporary of Karikala Chola (circa 270 BCE), mentions his lineage and traces it back 49 generations to one of the kings of their ancestral home in Dvārakā.^[4] This is repeated by the poet Kapilar when he sings to Irunkōvēl and asks him to marry the two daughters of his close friend and patron Vēl Pāri, another Vēlir king.^[5]

Sekkizhar, one of the most prominent members of this community, is referred to as Ganga-Kula Tilaka, and his lineage is extolled in various pieces of medieval Tamil literature, the most notable among them being his biography by Umapati Sivacharya.^[6][7][8] He was born in Kunrattur and would soon rise to become the Chief Minister of Kulothunga Chola II.^{[9][10][11][12]} The word 'Velanmai' which we take to mean as agriculture is in fact means 'Benevolence', helping others. The Manimekhalai states "He is a Vellala who would not take his food, keeping the guest hungry outside".

Migration

48,000 Vellalars migrated north with the Chola King Karikala Chola (ruled around 270 BCE) after he conquered Thondaimandalam from the Kurumbars, a nomadic tribe also known as the Aruvalars. He parcelled out the land to the Vellalar chiefs, now known as the Thondaimandala Mudaliars,^[13][14][15] and divided the territory into 24 Kottams or districts:^[15] Pulal, Puliyur, Eekadu, Manavur, Chenkkadu, Payur, Eyil, Thamal, Uttukadu, Kalathur, Chembur, Amur, Eethoor, Venkundram, Palkunram, Ilankadu, Kaliyur, Chriukarai, Paduvur, Kadikai, Chenthirukai, Kunrapattiram, and Venkadam Velur.^[15]

Ceremonies

The members of this community held the right of handing over the crown at the time of coronation ceremony (mudi-sootu vizha) of kings and religious heads.^[16] In the Tamil classical literature, Kamba-ramayana, Kavi-chakravarthy Kambar stated that "the great sage Vashista took the crown from ancestors of Sadayappa Vallal and crowned the King Rama".

Historical personalities

• Sekkizhar, the author of the Tamil hagiography Periyapuranam or The Great Purana consisting of the life stories of the 63 Tamil Saiva Saints or the Nayanars hailed from this community.^{[8][17][18][19][20]}
• Thirunavukkarusu Nayanar, also known as Appar, one of the 63 Nayanars, celebrated by Sekkizhar in his epic Periyapuranam hailed from this community.^[21][22] He was a contemporary of Tirugnanasambandhar (younger of the two) and lived during 7th century.^[23] Sambandhar affectionately referred to him as appa(father). Though born into an orthodox saivite family, Appar initially embraced Jainism and was known as Dharmasena. He would later convert back to Saivism and travel to many places and undergo ordeals to show his devotion to Siva.^[24] He would sing one of his hymns in praise of Siva at Vaitheeswaran Koil.^[25]
• Kotpuli Nayanar, one of the 63 Nayanars hailed from Nattiyantankuti. He was so attached to Lord Siva that he allotted a heap of paddy in the form of huge hill in each of the Siva temples to feed the Saiva devotees.^[26]
• Sadayappa Vallal, a rich 12th-century Vellala chief who had residences at Puduvai and Thiruvenainallur. He was known for his philanthropic activities. He was a close friend and a patron of Tamil national poet Kambar, who wrote Ramavataram and Pararajasingam.^[27][28]
• Andhaka Kavi Vira Raghava Mudaliar was a poet of the 16th century.^[29]

Modern personalities

Sports

Shivani ArunKumar: National Junior Karate and Skating Champion

Literature

• Makaral Karthikeya Mudaliar: A scholar and poet in the 19th century who hailed from Veyttur, near Maduranthakam. He authored a number of Tamil books, including Veleer varalaatrumanbu, Tamil Solvilakkam, and Mozhi Nool.
• Mahavidwan Vasudeva Mudaliar: A from Chettipalayam near Pothanur in Coimbatore District
• Raosahib Vellakal Pa. Subramania Mudaliar: A Tamil poet of the 19th century who hailed from Athur Mappothiyar gothram of Vellakal, Tirunelveli District
• Rasikamani T.K. Chidambaranatha Mudaliar: A scholar and author of Kambar tharum Ramayanam; hailed from Athur Mopothiyar Gothram of Tenkasi

Politics

• C. Muttukumarasami Mudaliyar, Indian politician and hereditary zamindar of Chunampet. Member of the Madras Legislative Council 1904-7
• S. Muthiah Mudaliar, Minister in the Composite Madras Government, 1928-1930 as a member of the Indian Justice Party. He was the author of the Communal Government Order in Madras Presidency in 1928.
• Sir P. T. Rajan (1892–1974): Justice Party politician and Chief Minister of Madras Presidency in 1936
• M. Kalyanasundaram (1909–1988): Communist Party of India and Member of the upper house of India's Parliament the Rajya Sabha from 1980 to 1986
• Palanivel Rajan (1933–2006): Politician of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam. Speaker, Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, 1996–2001. Minister of Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (2006).
• M. Bhaktavatsalam (1897–1987): Indian freedom fighter and leader of the Indian National Congress. Chief Minister of Madras state from 1963 to 1967.
• O. V. Alagesan (1911–1992): Indian politician and leader of the Indian National Congress. Minister of External Affairs in the Union Government and Minister of Railways. He resigned his post after a railway accident at Ariyalur, Tamil Nadu.
• V. R. Nedunchezhiyan (1920–2001): Founding member of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam. President of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (1962–1967). Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu in 1969 and 1987. He was Education Minister in the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) Government and Finance Minister in the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam Government during the M. G. Ramachandran period and the J. Jayalalithaa period. He held portfolios as Minister for more than 25 years in the State of Tamil Nadu.
• P. Shanmugam: Former Chief Minister of Puducherry
• Jayanthi Natarajan - M.P. and congress politician, granddaughter of M. Bhaktavatsalam. She was Minister of Aviation and Parliamentary Affairs, Government of India.

References

Further reading

• Thondaimandala Mudaliars Vamsavali (1st & 2nd editions),
• Thondainadum athan tholkudiyum by Sri.C.S.Kannayiram,
• The great temple of Madurai published by Arulmigu Meenakshi Sundareswarar Thirukkoil, Madurai