Thondaimandala Mudaliars

The Thondaimandala Mudaliars are a high-ranking caste of southern India. Thondaimandala mudaliars are part of the saiva-velaler community, which is spread over the entire length and breadth of Tamilnadu. Saiva-velalars are pure vegetarians and historically mostly engaged in farming activities. "Pattinappaalai", one of the oldest Tamil works of sangam literature, states that the "saiva-velalar community, known for their piousness, honesty, intelliegence and philanthropy, excelled in farming and trading."

Names

Saiva-velalars were called by different names in different places. In Thondaimandalam, they were called “Mudaliars”. In some places they were called "Saiva-Pillaimars" and "Karkarthars".

Culture

One common fact is that they are all pure vegetarians and share common beliefs, customs and traditions. This view is supported by the fact that there are a number of religious Mutts (Matha)s in Tamilnadu like "Kanchipuram thondaimandala adhinam" "Dharma-puram adhinam," "Thiruvaadudurai adhinam," and "Thirugnanasambandar swamigal adhinam" whose "Matathipathis" are drawn from these communities.

It is also a fact that even today, in most places, they have common burial ground exclusively for the saiva-velalars community and owned and managed by respective "Mudaliar-Pillaimar Sangams." For any functions in their families like marriage, all members from these communities are invariably invited.

This community had unique names of addressing their relations. Lady members were respectfully addressed as "anni" by all other community members. Sisters-in-law (elder brother’s wife) were addressed as "anniyar" and sisters-in-law (one’s husband’s sisters) were addressed as "aththathai" or "aththachi." Brother-in-law (sister’s husband) is addressed as "aththan". It is of interest to note that lady members of Mysore royal family are addressed as "anni". [{http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maharani_Kempa_Nanjammani_Vani_Vilasa_Sannidhana]

History

The legendary great king Karikala Chola of the Chola dynasty had two sons. He divided his kingdom into two and gave the northern part including Kanchipuram region to second son named "Aathondai Chakravarthi." This region has come to be called as Thondaimandalam, named after the founder-emperor. Aathondai chakravarthy has divided his kingdom into 24 divisions (kottams) and appointed members from "Saiva-velalars" community as "rulers" of these regions or "kottams," under his empire.

Chola king Karikala Chola awarded the title of "Mudaliars" (meaning muthanmai (first) citizens) to these community members. Since then they have been called "Thondaimandala Mudaliars."

These community members had the privilege of handing over the crown at the time of coronation ceremony (mudi-sootu vizha) of the kings, religious heads etc. This fact can be seen from old Tamil classical literature "Thirukkaivazhakkam" which states "mangaiyoru bhagarkum, madhavarkum, mannavarkum thunga mudiyai sootumkai (the hands that handover the crown to kings/religious heads at the time of coronation ceremony)."

In the great Tamil classical literature "Kamba-ramayana", Kavi-chakravarthy Kambar stated that "the great sage Vashista took the crown from ancestors of Vallal Sadaiappa Mudaliar and crowned the king Rama" ("Vennaiyur Sadayan thangal marabulore kodukka-vangi Vasittaney punainthan mauli").

It is believed that one "Ekambavanan" of this community from "Aamoor" (Aragalur?)once ruled great Magatha (Magadai?)empire. From "Kanchipuranam," it is learned that once a member of the Velalar community was elected to be the king in "Thirukanchinadu." Ekambavanan [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0261676/] was featured in 1947 Tamil movie. It will be of interest to note that even to-day, in the Mudaliars' marriage ceremony, the father-in-law ties the "pattam" (meaning crown) on the fore-head of the bride.

Sekkizhar, the legendary author of yet another great classic Tamil literature "Periya Puranam", also a reputed prime-minister of Chola kingdom, hailed from this community from KuntrathurFact|date=December 2007.

In the 15th century Ariyanatha Mudaliar, a Mudaliar from a tiny village named Maipaedu near Kanchipuram was a minister in the great Vijayanagar empire. In the year 1564 AD, after the Battle of Talikota, Dalawai Ariyanatha mudaliar was deputed to Pandiya-nadu to assist King Viswanatha Nayakkar. Dalawai Ariyanatha Mudaliar ably assisted the king from 1559 to 1600 AD. It was he who divided the kingdom into 72 subdivisions called "Palaiyams" and evolved a stable and good administration. He has appointed few of our community members to rule these palayams. Aiyaram Kaal Mandapam, or Thousand Pillared Hall, in the famous Meenakshi Temple was constructed by him in 1569. At the entrance of the Mandapam, the statue of Dalawai Ariyanatha Mudaliar on horse-back can be seen.

Maavai kumaraswamy Mudaliar administered the 3 districts of Madurai, Tirunelveli, and Trichy from 1688 (kollam calendar(kc) 863) to 1700 (kc875) . His son-in-law "Aarai Aagappa mudaliar" administered these areas from 1701 (kc876) to 1726 (kc 911). Since Aarai Alagappa Mudaliar had no children, he handed over the authority to his sister’s son-in-law Dalawai Kumaraswamy Mudaliar whose direct descendants are even today enjoy the title of "Dalawai."

The British government, in appreciation of Dalawai Kumaraswamy Mudaliar's (son of Dalawai Thirumaliappan Mudaliar and grandson of above Dalawai Kumaraswamy Mudaliar) able administrative skill, awarded him "Medai-Dalawai" title whose descendants also enjoy this "Medai-Dalawai" title even today.

ome eminent personalities from this community

*Thirunavukkarusu nainar: one of the great 63 Nayanars.

*Vaayilar nainar - one of the great 63 Nayanars. He belonged to Agaththular gothram and hailed from thondai-nadu mailapuri (Mylapore)

*Sakkiya nainar - one of the great 63 Nayanars.

*Moorga nainar - one of the great 63 Nayanars.

*Ambi Aramvalartha Mudaliar - he was a reputed minister during the reign of Krishnadevaraya (1509-1530 AD).

*Namachivaya guru-moorthigal - he was the founder of Thiruvaadudurai Adhinam.

*Gurugnanasambandha Moorthigal – founder of Dharmapuram Adhinam and hailed from Srivilliputtur.

*Andhaga-kavi Veeraragava Mudaliar - a great poet from "Pon-vilaintha kalathur."

*Anadhari Pulavar – a great poet in Chola kingdom who hailed from vaayal (Vaayalur) near Thirukkalukundram.

*Makaral Karthikeya Mudaliar : a renowned scholar, poet in 19th century hailed from Veyttur, near Madurangdagam. He authored a number of Tamil books ("veleer varlaatrumanbu," "Tamil Solvilakkam" and “"mozhi nool").

*Mahavidwan Vasudeva Mudaliar : renowned poet from Chettipalayam near Pothanur in Coimbatore District

*Muthu Nainaththai Mudaliar : hailed of Nelvilaiyar Gothram from Chinna-Tharapuram in Karur district. Authored "pachai-nayagi pillai tamizh" and "Perur Kovai."

*Raosahib Vellakal Pa. Subramania Mudaliar : hailed from Athur Mappothiyar gothram from Vellakal, Tirunelveli dist. He wrote a number of Tamil poems. He was a renowned poet of 19th century.

*Rasikamani T.K. Chidambaranatha Mudaliar : from Athur Mopothiyar Gothram of Tenkasi. Well known scholar and author particularly "Kambar tharum Ramayanam."

*Arulnandhi tambiran swamigal : hailed from Ariyanagipuram in tirunelveli dist. He was 24th Matapathy of Thiruppanandal Kasi matha.

*S. Muthiah Mudaliar : native of Kumbakkudi near Mayavaram. He was a renowned high-court lawyer.

*Sir P. T. Rajan: from Nelvilayar gothram of Uthama-Palayam. He was a minister and leader of justice party. He has carried out the renovation of the famous Meenakshi temple in Madurai. His son Palanivel Rajan was a well-known leader, minister and speaker of Tamilnadu assembly.

*Munthuranga Mudaliar : hailed from Vanavarayar Gothram. A native of Nasarath pettai near Poonthamalli in Chengalpattu dist. Well known freedom-fighter and father-in-law of m/s. M.Bakthavatsalam, Sir P. T. Rajan and O.V. Alagesan.

*M. Bakthavatsalam Mudaliar: a great freedom fighter, political leader and chief minister of Tamilnadu.

*O.V. Alagesan Mudaliar : native of Chingleput, a great freedom fighter, political leader and Govt .of India Railway minister.

*Nedunchezhiian Mudaliar : Great orator, political leader and a minister in Tamilnadu.

*Anbazhagan Mudaliar : Great orator, political leader and a minister in Tamilnadu.

*P Shanmugam : Former Chief Minister of Pondicherry.

ee also

*Kambar Ramayan
*Battle of Talikota
*Sekkizhar
*P. T. Rajan

References

*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.