Elur Chetty

[http://www.ezhurchetty.in Elur Chetty] (also called Elur Chettu or Ezhur Chetty or Ezhoor Chetty) is a Tamil speaking Hindu community in South India. They are said to have migrated from Kaveripoompattanam in Thanjavur District and settled in Kanyakumari District. They come under the common name of Chetty which includes other communities such as Kottar Chetty, Parakka Chetty, Vellalar Chetty, Pathira Chetty, Valayal Chetty, Pudukottai Chetty etc. They were once a trading community and were distinct from the other Chetty communities. The name is derived from "Ezhu ooru" meaning "7 towns". The 7 towns were in and around the Kanyakumari District in South Tamilnadu, India, namely Eraniel, Thiruvithancode, Padmanabhapuram, Colachel, Ganapathipuram, Midalam, and Parakkai. They are called Western Street (Keezhatheru) Chetty. Later Kottar, Thiruvananthapuram, Therusanamkoppu, Nagercoil, Chennai, Thalakkulam, Eraniel (Eastern Street or Melatheru), Chennai (Eastern Street or Melatheru) were added. Currently the members are spread all over India and in other parts of the World. They have also diversified their profession and is not limited to trading.

Elur Chetty Sangham was started as a registered association in 1952 with its office in Eraniel. The association was originally started as All Travancore Ezhur Chettu Samudhaya Central Association in 1935 (1100 Vaikasi 29). Elur Chetty was classified as Backward Class (OBC) in Tamilnadu and Kerala in 1993 as per Mandal Commission considering the social and financial backwardness of the community.

urname

Most common surname found in this community is Pillai / chettiar. This surname pillai is shared by many other communities including Sozhiya Vellalar and Kerala Nair community. There are two majority subcastes in this community which is called as Melatheru and Keezhatheru. However, among the different subdivisions, the surname is almost common. Time has had its influences on the community and among other changes, the current generation seldom uses this surname.

History

Ezhur Chetty community were originally residents of Kaveripoompattinam, part of the Chola empire, and were an affluent community involved in sea trade ^[1] . This ancient town was destroyed by tsunami around AD 79 August 23/24 ^[3] and the community members started migrating to other areas after this event ^[2] .

The trading community left their properties and wealthy life, took their family deities' (Vinayaka & Nagaramman) idols, left the Chola empire and migrated to the Pandiya and Chera Empires across the river Cauveri. Some of the migrated people settled in around 93 places including Karaikudi, Devakkottai, Thiruppur, Kovilpatti, Thazhayoothu, Valliyur and Kottar. The people who reached Kottar did pooja for the Vinayaka idol. After the pooja, when they tried to remove the idol, they were unsuccessful. People who stayed back in Kottar are called Kottar Chetty. Later the Kottar Pillayar Temple was built there.

The rest of them reached Eraniel (formerly Hiranyasimhanallur) near the shore of Valli river. That day was the last Sunday of Chithirai month of Tamil Calendar during the day of aayilyam nakshatra and full moon. They placed the Nagaramman (the snake goddess) idol and also idols for Thankammai and Thayammai there. They made nivedyam (a sweet offering for God) from a mixture of raw rice flour, banana (Matty) fruit, cardomam, dried ginger, coconut and jaggery. This mixture was pressed to form a solid rectangular shape (like a brick), which was then covered using banana and coconut leaves and tied using Kaithai (a plant which produces a very fragrant flower) root. This was baked using coconut husk and served to the god. This came to be known as the 'Odupparai Kolukkattai'. Since then, the Odupparai Nagaramman Temple celebrations are being held to this day and the family and community meet together.

The community members then met the Chera King and sought permission to conduct trade. Trading was started with Eraniel as base covering Ganapathipuram (Pazhaya Kadai), Prakkai, Colachel, Midalam, Thiruvithancode and Padmanabhapuram. Hence they were called Ezhur (meaning 7 towns) Chettu Community.

The earlies known people from the community settled in Eraniel are Umayammai and Pitcha Pillai (descendent of Unnaamalai). Their offsprings are Kolappa Pillai, Subramonia Pillai and Sivathanu Pillai. These names can be found used by generations. References to these can be found in the rock scripts in Odupparai Temple.

Legend

Version 1 as told by Saverier Pillai

The King of Kaveripoompattanam, was going on his daily rounds. On the way he saw two girls named Thangammai and Thayammai knitting flowers in their house verandah. The king got attracted by the beauty of the sisters and ordered their parents to bring the two daughters to palace. The community members discussed this and decided not to give their daughters to the King. They sought 40 days time and left the place to cross cauvery river to reach south. The legend goes that to preserve their dignity, the girls were said to have been buried in a well.

Version 2

During the rule of King of Kaveripoompattinam, a member of his court brought him a bagful of a rare and beautiful pearls known then as "Kunni Muthu" (Abrus precatorius). These pearls were so beautiful unlike any other the King had seen before. They were colored red on the one side and black on the other. On seeing these beautiful pearls, the king wished to make a beautiful necklace out of it for his queen. However, there was one big problem. These pearls were so tiny in size it was impossible to make a hole in it to thread the pearls together. Several skillful jewelers tried their luck and ended up failing in vain. The king was quite saddened and disappointed by this. The king's chief trade adviser offered to help. He took those pearls to his home and gave them to his two beautiful daughters Thangammai and Thayammai and asked them if they can help with this seemingly impossible task.

Both girls being quite clever, came up quickly with an ingenious solution. They took each pearl and stuck a grain of sugar on two opposite ends of it and arranged each pearl closer to one other in a straight line. They then took a thread and attached one end of it to the pearl on the top end. They did this and went to their beds. The next morning, the pearls were neatly threaded for them. The girls father was very surprised to see this. He later found out that it was the work of the ants that had followed the trail of its food and drilled a hole inside the pearls on its way.

The king was extremely delighted to see the necklace made so quickly. He came to know that this was the work and creativity of his advisor's young daughters. He asked the adviser to bring both his daughters to him, so he can thank them and reward them personally. As per his request the daughters were brought before the king. The king thanked them both and rewarded them well. He then got immensely attracted by the beauty of these two young girls. He immediately wished to have both of them as his wives.

The adviser was displeased with the king's wishes. He couldn't come to terms to agree with the king and give away their daughters but at the same time he couldn't dare to disobey the king. The adviser discussed the issue with his other 6 siblings and they together came to a conclusion not to give away their daughters.

The legend goes that the girls were said to have been buried in a well and the family with all 7 siblings immediately fled to the south along with their belongings and deities' idols.

Version 3 as found in "Chetty Nadu and Chenthamizh, Page 481"

The 64 Nagarathaar who lived in Ariyoor Pattanam left and reached Kottar through Malayalanadu. See [http://nagaratharikkiyasangam.org/aboutnagarathar.htm]

Odupparai Nagaramman Temple

Odupparai Nagaramman Temple is the community temple of Elur Chetty community. The Temple is situated nearby Eraniel ("Hiranyasimha nallur"). Monthly poojas are carried out on the last Sunday of the Tamil calendar. And date is conformed with the help of [http://www.tamil-panchangam.com Tamil-panchangam]

Odupparai Temple Kozhukkattai Nivethya Celebration years:
*1941 May 04 - [1116 (Vrusha varsham) Chithirai 22]
*1944 Apr 30 - [1119 (Dharuna varsham) Chithirai 18]
*1951 May 13 - [1126 (Kara varsham) Chithirai 30]
*1954 May 09 - [1129 (Jaya varsham) Chithirai 26]
*1958 Apr 27 - [1133 (Vilambi varsham) Chithirai 14]
*1961 Apr 23 - [1136 (Plava varsham) Chithirai 11]
*1966 May 08 - [1141 (Parabava varsham) Chithirai 25]
*1971 May 02 - [1146 (Virodhikruth varsham) Chithirai 19]
*1978 May 14 - [1153 (Kalyukta varsham) Chithirai 31]
*1981 May 10 - [1156 (Dhurmathi varsham) Chithirai 27]
*1985 Apr 28 - [1160 (Krodhana varsham) Chithirai 15]
*2008 May 11 - [1183 (Sarvadhari varsham) Chithirai 29]

Odupparai Kozhukkattai (Offering) Ingredients

During the Kozhukkattai celebration, offering to God is submitted as performed during the earlier days. The detailed measurement of ingredients and the procedure to prepare can be found at [http://ezhurchetty.wordpress.com/oduppurai-kozhukkattai/ Elur Chetty Blog]

List of Elur Chetty Temples

*Eraniel Singa Reksha Vinayakar Devasthanam Pillayar Temple.
*Eraniel Mutharamman Temple.
*Thiruvithancode Umayorupakam Pillayar Temple.
*Thiruvithancode Chudalai Maadan Temple.
*Thiruvithancode Muthu Vayiravar Amman Temple.
*Midalam Dhaiva Vinayagar-Mutharamman Temple.
*Midalam shivan Temple.
*Midalam Nagaramman Temple.
*Padmanabhapuram Mutharamman Temple.
*Padmanabhapuram Pillayar Temple.
*Padmanabhapuram Maadan Temple.
*Padmanabhapuram Bhoothathan Temple.
*Kattalai Nagaramman Temple
*Colachal Mutharamman Temple.
*Colachal Desiga Vinayagar Temple.
*Colachal Nagaramman Temple.
*Kottar Nayanar Desika Vinayakar Temple.
*Kottar Mutharamman Temple.
*Therisanamkoppu Sivan Temple and Amman Temple.
*Ganapathipuram AnnaVinayagar Temple.
*Ganapathipuram Vandimalachi Amman Temple.
*Parakkai Madhusuthana Perumal Temple.
*Parakkai Chudalamadan Temple.
*Parakkai Muthu Vinayagar Temple.
*Parakkai Keelatheru mutharamman Temple.
*Parakkai Chettitheru Mutharamman Temple.
*Thiruvananthapuram Nandavanam Nagaramman Temple.

Community Halls

*Community Hall,Kottar.
*SAMUDAYA MANDAPAM,Padmanabhapuram.
*C.S.S.HALL,Killipalam,Thiruvananthapuram.
*SAMUDAYA MANDAPAM,Oduppurai.
*Office - Ezhoor Chettu Sangam Limited,Nagercoil.

Association Presidents

*B. Sivagurunathan Chettiar B.A., B.L., Kottar (1944-1948, 1965-1968)
*K. Padmanabha Pillai B.A.L.T, Ganapathipuram (1956-1959)
*C.N. Sivathanu Pillai, Colachel (1953-1956, 1959-1962)
*R. Kumaraswamy Chettiar, Kottar (1962-1965)
*Vidwan P. Nataraja Pillai, Midalam (1968-1972)
*C. Subramonia Pillai B.A., Colachel (1973-1984)
*K. Vinayakamoorthy M.A., M.Phil., Kottar (1984-1991)
*P. Sivathanu B.E., M.Sc., Nagercoil (1991-

Matrimony Site

* [http://www.chettiarmatrimony.com Matrimony site for Chettiar Community]
* [http://www.bharatmatrimony.com Bharat Matrimony]
* [http://www.jeevansathi.com jeevansathi]

Links

* [http://blog.ezhurchetty.in Elur Chetty Blog]
* [http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ezhurchetty/ Group Mailing List]
* [http://ezhurchetty.tribalpages.com/ family tree]

References

*Ezhur Chettu Society Golden Jubilee Publication, 1993
* [http://www.tamil-panchangam.com Tamil-panchangam]
*Studies in the History of India with special reference to Tamil Nadu (Page 520)
* [http://dsal.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/philologic/getobject.pl?c.0:1:475.hobson Chetty in Hobson-Jobson dictionary]
* [http://www.tn.gov.in/department/bclist.htm Tamilnadu Government List of Backward Classes]
* [http://www.kerala.gov.in/kpsc/obc.pdf Kerala Government List of Other Backward Classes]
* [http://ncbc.nic.in/backward-classes/kerala.htm India Government List of Other Backward Classes]
* [http://www.tnhealth.org/notification/higher%20speciality%202007-08/Communities.pdf TN Health Department List]
* [http://www.kattalai.org Kattalai Temple]
* [http://bangalorenagarathar.com/Library.html Nagarathar History]
* [http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=ABPR3&photoID=abpr3_001_ahp.tif Kunni Muthu-- Botanical Name is Abrus Pecatorus a medicinal value plant.] [http://envis.frlht.org.in/botanical_search.php?gesp=15%7CAbrus+precatorius+L Another reference]