Maravar
Encyclopedia
Maravar are a Tamil
community of the state of Tamil Nadu
, southern India, and are one of the three branches of the Mukkulathor
confederacy.
Maravars are found predominantly in the Southern districts of Tamilnadu viz., Madurai, Theni, Sivagangai, Ramanathapuram, Dindigul, Virudhunagar, Thirunelveli, Thoothukudi and Kanyakumari districts of Tamil Nadu. They are also found in central districts of Tamilnadu like Pudukottai, Thanjavur, Thiruvarur, Nagapattinam and Tiruchy. They ruled the vast land mass of Tamilnadu along with the Kallars. Both these tribes seems to have common origin. The Southern martial arts of Kalarippayattu, Silambam, Varma Kalai have been practiced primarily by Kallars, Maravars and Nairs of erstwhile Travancore areas.In British times, the Ramnad
and Sivaganga
estates were administered by Maravars. Prior to their annexation.
More complex etymological legends include descent from Indra through a mortal woman, with the child hidden in a maravu idam (secret place). Alternately, legends derive it from marani (sin), for the Maravar's sin of killing without pity.
Sangam period 2000 years ago.. The writers of the Sangam Age place them in rural settlements withdrawn from cities. The Kingdom of Ramnad was a Maravar kingdom and was ruled by the Setupati Kings. Ramanathapuram , Sivagangai and Thirunelveli are Maravars homeland and the entire Southern district is Maravar stronghold from ancient times.
Large number of Maravars served in the armies of many princely states of Kerala. But during the 18th and 19th centuries, most of them were assimilated in to the Tamil Padam Nair subcaste of the Nair community. The Maravar regiment of the Travancore army was known as "Maravar Padai", which supplemented Nair Pattalam, the larger indigenous military unit.[16] Tamil Padam Nair is recognized as a part of the Malayala Kshatriya social grouping. The Ramnad Zamindars are accorded the title Sethupathi (protector of the Sethu bridge) even to this day and The singampatti zamindars are accorded the title theerthapathy (protector of rivers thambarabarani)
The Maravar have close relation with Kalabhars even though they Maravars are a non-aryan, non-Kalabhar group. They were ancient rulers of Pandya kingdom of coastal land and inland from the First Sangam Tamil age. Their leaders were given the title "Meenavan" and "Pandyan" respectively. Edgar Thurston (1855–1935) a British museologist and ethnographer identified the use of the boomerang by Kallars and Maravars of South India.
Most of the Maravars were very brave warriors of Chola & Pandyan Dynasties. The Maravars are the 'martial class' of ancient Tamilakkam.
s and are still maintaining Killai(branches) as their sub sects like them. The Killai is inherited from mother. So a boy or girl will not marry in their same Killai. It is assumed that they are brother & sister. Such a practice is no longer prevailing amongst other maravars. The married women of kondyankottai maravers wear "Thali" (Thirumangalyam) in the shape of Shiva lingam. So it is called "Linga Thali". Most of the Tamil castes wear the same type of "Linga Thali".
Tamil people
Tamil people , also called Tamils or Tamilians, are an ethnic group native to Tamil Nadu, India and the north-eastern region of Sri Lanka. Historic and post 15th century emigrant communities are also found across the world, notably Malaysia, Singapore, Mauritius, South Africa, Australia, Canada,...
community of the state of Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
, southern India, and are one of the three branches of the Mukkulathor
Mukkulathor
The Mukkulathor community is native to the southern districts of Tamil Nadu, India. The name "Mukkulathor" alludes to the three roughly designated groups and which make up this large endogamous social group...
confederacy.
Maravars are found predominantly in the Southern districts of Tamilnadu viz., Madurai, Theni, Sivagangai, Ramanathapuram, Dindigul, Virudhunagar, Thirunelveli, Thoothukudi and Kanyakumari districts of Tamil Nadu. They are also found in central districts of Tamilnadu like Pudukottai, Thanjavur, Thiruvarur, Nagapattinam and Tiruchy. They ruled the vast land mass of Tamilnadu along with the Kallars. Both these tribes seems to have common origin. The Southern martial arts of Kalarippayattu, Silambam, Varma Kalai have been practiced primarily by Kallars, Maravars and Nairs of erstwhile Travancore areas.In British times, the Ramnad
Ramnad estate
The Ramnad Estate is a permanently settled Zamindari estate in the Ramnad subdivision of the Madura district of the erstwhile Madras Presidency in British India. It comprises the southern and eastern parts of Madura district.The estate was ruled by a Zamindar who bore the title "Raja"...
and Sivaganga
Sivaganga estate
The estate of Sivaganga , also known as Kingdom of the Lesser Marava, was a permanently settled zamindari estate in the Ramnad sub-division of Madura district, Madras Presidency, British India. Along the estate of Ramnad, it formed one of the two zamindari estates of Ramnad subdivision.The...
estates were administered by Maravars. Prior to their annexation.
Etymology
The term Maravar has diverse proposed etymologies; it may come simply from a Tamil word maravar (warrior), or a term meaning "bravery/ruthlessness".More complex etymological legends include descent from Indra through a mortal woman, with the child hidden in a maravu idam (secret place). Alternately, legends derive it from marani (sin), for the Maravar's sin of killing without pity.
History
They are one of the oldest social groups to be mentioned by the Sangam Tamil literature. . Kalittokai mentions that many Tamil Naga tribes such as Maravar, Eyinar, Oliar, Oviar, Aruvalur and Parathavar migrated to the Pandyan kingdom and started living there in the Third TamilTamil people
Tamil people , also called Tamils or Tamilians, are an ethnic group native to Tamil Nadu, India and the north-eastern region of Sri Lanka. Historic and post 15th century emigrant communities are also found across the world, notably Malaysia, Singapore, Mauritius, South Africa, Australia, Canada,...
Sangam period 2000 years ago.. The writers of the Sangam Age place them in rural settlements withdrawn from cities. The Kingdom of Ramnad was a Maravar kingdom and was ruled by the Setupati Kings. Ramanathapuram , Sivagangai and Thirunelveli are Maravars homeland and the entire Southern district is Maravar stronghold from ancient times.
Large number of Maravars served in the armies of many princely states of Kerala. But during the 18th and 19th centuries, most of them were assimilated in to the Tamil Padam Nair subcaste of the Nair community. The Maravar regiment of the Travancore army was known as "Maravar Padai", which supplemented Nair Pattalam, the larger indigenous military unit.[16] Tamil Padam Nair is recognized as a part of the Malayala Kshatriya social grouping. The Ramnad Zamindars are accorded the title Sethupathi (protector of the Sethu bridge) even to this day and The singampatti zamindars are accorded the title theerthapathy (protector of rivers thambarabarani)
The Maravar have close relation with Kalabhars even though they Maravars are a non-aryan, non-Kalabhar group. They were ancient rulers of Pandya kingdom of coastal land and inland from the First Sangam Tamil age. Their leaders were given the title "Meenavan" and "Pandyan" respectively. Edgar Thurston (1855–1935) a British museologist and ethnographer identified the use of the boomerang by Kallars and Maravars of South India.
Most of the Maravars were very brave warriors of Chola & Pandyan Dynasties. The Maravars are the 'martial class' of ancient Tamilakkam.
Culture
The famed bull-baiting sport "Jallikattu" of Tamilnadu is practised by Maravars. The general title of the Maravans is Thevan, but some style themselves Thalaivan (chief), Servaikkaran (captain), Karaiyalan (ruler of the coast), or Rayar-vamsam (Raja's clan).Sub-divisions
There are 2 major subdivisions among the Maravar community. One is Appa Nattu Kondyankottai Maravar and another one is Chembiya Nattu Maravar. The Kondyan Kottai Maravars are related to the Kongu VellalarKongu Vellalar
Gounders also known as Kongu Vellalars are Kshatriyas native to the western region of Tamil Nadu known as Kongu Nadu. They were known as a noble, feudal and land owning caste of Tamil Nadu from the Sangam age...
s and are still maintaining Killai(branches) as their sub sects like them. The Killai is inherited from mother. So a boy or girl will not marry in their same Killai. It is assumed that they are brother & sister. Such a practice is no longer prevailing amongst other maravars. The married women of kondyankottai maravers wear "Thali" (Thirumangalyam) in the shape of Shiva lingam. So it is called "Linga Thali". Most of the Tamil castes wear the same type of "Linga Thali".