kongunadu

Kongu Vellala Gounder History


The history of the Kongu Vellala Gounder caste is one of the most obscure along with the history of the Kongunadu region itself. The Gounders have been credited by many as unique among the other caste groups of the region and southern India as a whole. The Kongu Vellala Gounders are appreciated for their varied qualities like untiring hardwork, objective nature, high moderation, honesty, humanitarian spirit, commitment, philanthrophy, strong bonding, innovative mind and reliability. They have been instrumental in the welfare of the Kongunadu zone, which is predominantly rainfed but blest with a cooler tropical plateau climate. This region supports the Tamil Nadu state from economic collapse and single handedly manages its fame.
The secrets for such a developed region go back to the Gounder caste which mostly go unresearched partly due to the heavy stench of ideological biases of contemperory Tamil historians and partly due to the jelousey and the resulting fear of the caste itself. The author of this blog, himself a Gounder belongs to the Elumathur Panangadai clan, seeks to venture at the various facets of the inseperable Gounder and Kongu histories. The readers are advised to have a prior reading of the author's blog on Kongu history before going through this blog for easing their strain.

Some of the Kootams are:

Adhitreya Kumban
Aadai
Aadhi
Adhirai
Aavan
Andai
Agni
Aavan
Anangan
Andhuvan (Kuladeivam - Keeranur SelvaNayaki Amman, near by Kangeyam)-Sangam period name.
Ariyan(noble)
Alagan
Bharatan (descendants of Bharata)
Bramman
Devendran
Dananjayan (descendants of Arjuna)
Danavantan
Eenjan (Kuladeiva - situated at Eengur - A place located near Erode)
Ennai
Indran
Kaadan
Kaadai (Kaadava kings-kuladeivam at Keechakanoor (Keeranur) -the Kichakan of Mahabharatam)- largest of kootams with branches Nasiyanur kadai, Perunthurai kadai, Attur kadai,Pavithiram kaadai)
Kaari
Kaavalar
Kadunthuvi
Kalinji
Kambakulathaan
Kanakkan
Kanavaalan
Kannan (descendants of Kannuva rishi-probably the original Ganga dynasty) - 2nd largest kootam. (This kootam's kuladeivam is Kulavilakkayi or Kulavilakku Amman - also known as Nallayi - It is located in Kaalamangalam in Erode,traditionally vegetarian)
Kannandhai
Karunkannan
Kauri
Kavalan
Kiliyan
Keeran
Kodarangi
Koorai
Kuruppan
Kotrandhai
Kottaarar
Kovar
Koventhar
Kumarandhai
Kundali
Kungili
Kuniyan
Kunnukkan
Kuyilan
Kuzhlaayan
Maadai
Maadhaman
Maathuli
Maavalar
Maniyan
Mayilan
Mazhluazhlagar
Medhi
Meni
Meenavan
Moimban
Moolan
Mooriyan
Mukkannan
Munaiveeran
Muthan
Muzhlukkadhan (same as porulthantha)
Naarai
Nandhan
Neelan
Neerunni
Neidhali
Neriyan
Odhaalar
Ozhukkar
Paaliyan
Paamban
Paanan
Paandian (Pandya dynasty)
Paadhari
Padaithalaiyan
Padhuman
Padukkunni
Paidhali
Panaiyan
Panangadai (Elumathur Kadais and Maruthurai Kadais-distinct from Kadais, note:Salem and Namakkal dist Kadais don't marry into this kootam,traditionally vegetarian)
Panjaman
Pannai
Pannan
Paamaran
Pavalan
Payiran (Mandradiyar's kootam, traditionally vegetarian)
Periyan
Perunkudi
Pillan
Podiyan
Ponnan
Poochadhai (Bhoothan+thanthai-descendants of Jain God Arhadeva (ref:Tamil grammar books) Poodhiyan
Poosan
Porulthantha or Perizhanthan(same as mulukadhan)
Punnai
Puthan
Saakadai
Sathandhai (Saathan+thanthai-descendants of Jain tirthankara Rishaba deva(ref:Tamil grammar)
Sathuvaraayan (meaning:good rulers)
Sanagan (Janakar's descendants)
Sedan
Sellan
Sempoothan
Semvan
Sengannan
Sengunni
Seralan
Sevadi
Sevventhi
Sevvayan
Silamban
Soman
Soolan
Sooriyan (Suriyavamsam)
Sothi
Sowriyan
Surapi
Thanakkavan
Thavalayan
Thazhinji
Themaan
Thodai
Thooran
Thorakkan
Thunduman
Uvanan
Uzhavan
Vaanan(Vaani)
Vannakkan
Veliyan
Vellamban
Vendhan
Venduvan
Viliyan
villi
Vilosanan
Viradhan (descendants of Viratan of Mahabharata)
Viraivulan:
This list is not exhaustive.