Arayar the descendants of Nathamuni.

Arayar Sevai Monuments crumble, manuscripts get moth eaten and traditional fine arts practised for centuries in temples are being forgotten because of long years of neglect. No wonder that the Arayer Sevai, a visual enactment of the passionate expression by Vaishnavite saints which were an integral part of Vishnu worship 1000 years ago, is not confined to a handful of practitioners who themselves are on the threshold of fading away. Who were the arayers? What makes this dramatic form so unusual in the landscape of Indian performance, ritual, religion and theology? The word arayer itself means king. In Tamil, there are two ways to pronounce the letter 'r'. Said without stress like 'arayer' it means king and with stress like 'rr' it means 'speaker' or 'narrator'. In both cases the word fits these temple servants who dedicated their lives towards the worship and glory of Lord Vishnu through song, dance and drama. Vaishnavite temples were the crucibles of the three branches of learning 'iyal' (literature), 'isai' (music) and 'natakam' (drama). Arayer Sevai which means 'the service or offering of the royal priests' falls under the category of drama. The main text for these priestly actors was an impressive volume of verses called the 'Divya Prabandham.' The word means 'divine compilation.' The Prabandham was the cumulative result of 12 saint-poets who lived between the 6th and 9th centuries in Tamil country. These saint-poets were called 'alwars'. The word 'alwar' means 'deepest of the deep'; one who is immersed in the devotion of Lord Vishnu/Narayana. Between the 6th and 9th century, in the Tamil speaking region of South India, these devotees of Vishnu (also known as Tirumal, the dark one) changed and revitalized Hinduism. Along with their counterparts, the Nayanmars, who were devotees of Siva, these saint-poets wandered all over the Tamil countryside, inspiring and converting kings, brahmans, and peasants, affirming in poetry the holiness of hundreds of Tamil places dedicated to Vishnu and Siva. Their pilgrimages, their legends and their hymns, which they sang by the thousands literally mapped a sacred geography of the Tamil regions and fashioned a communal self-image that cut across class and caste. They composed the most important early Bhakti poetry in any Indian language. This is particularly significant when practitioners of dance, dance history and religious studies have a tendency to associate Bhakti/devotional poetry with the later poets like Jayadeva of the 12th century, Chaitanya in Bengal of the 15th century and Annamaya of the 14th century. Even Tulsidas, Kabir, Meera who are popular choices for dancers and singers came much later. Through the poetry of the Prabandham, composed by these 12 Tamil alwars Hindu philosophy spoke for the first time in India, in a language other than Sanskrit. The imperial presence of Sanskrit with its brahminical texts like the Vedas and the Upanishads was the elitist presence against which Bhakti in Tamil defined itself. Also Sanskrit in India of the 6th century was not a people's language, it was not spoken as everyday tongue. Here was poetry, devotional poetry in a people's first language. The concept of bhakti or devotional poetry as we understand today arose, as suggested by scholars from the meshing of Sanskrit mythology and the Tamil conception of women and kings. Almost one thousand years after all the 4000 verses of the Prabandham were composed, a devotee called Natamuni (10th century) gathered and ordered the compositions of the 12 alwars and arranged for their recitation. First he only knew of 10 poems and when he realised there were almost 4000, he travelled to the birthplace of Nammalwar (Alwartirunagari near Tirunelveli) and tried to retrieve them. Failing to do so, he meditated and received a vision of the poet Nammalwar himself who revealed all the 1102 verses to him. Legend goes that he received all the 4000 verses in this way. In order to make the poetry meaningful and alive to the general public, Natamuni arranged for them to be sung and danced on special occasions of Lord Vishnu, particularly in the month of Margazhi which is mid-December to mid-January and in Panguni Chitra which is mid-March to mid-April the end of which marks the Tamil New Year on 14th April. Believing that the songs would live only if many could chant and watch the most special poems danced with gestures and movements, Natamuni is credited to have created a system of ritual performance called Arayer Sevai. The word Arayer literally means Lord or King. The Arayers of today are all direct descendants of Natamuni's family lineage and the practice is held with the male members of the family and not taught to the women. It is devoutly believed that the inspiration for the music and the dance came from Lord Vishnu himself and that it was He who ordained these arayers to perform this unique service for His pleasure. The movement structure of Arayer Sevai is dependent on a regal stature, a stately walk and minute right hand and left hand gestures which weave a complex imagery. The end of every phrase or sentence is marked by a jerky flick of the hand. The feet stamp the ground and the legs are always held in a unique half seated stance. The costume worn by the arayers consists of a cap which is a reproduction of the crown worn by Vishnu as the temple idol. The garland and the cymbals the arayers carry were all believed to have been given by Vishnu himself. The arayers were exalted in the hierarchy of temples. They were as important and sometimes even more highly regarded than the priests themselves. Palm leaf manuscripts of temples like Srirangam and Srivilliputur, state that the arayers were given special treatment and medical care whenever they fell ill. Today all Vishnu temples have the bronze images of the 12 alwars as important figures in their shrines but the art of 'arayer' exists only in four temples, three in Tamilnadu and one in Karnataka. Melkottai in Karnataka does not perform the movements and actions but only the recitation and chanting and commentary. The three temples in Tamilnadu are Srirangam, Alwar Tirunagari and Srivilliputtur. The insistence on maintaining the purity of their tradition is not augmented with a desire to perfect the art of their ancestors rather than just going through the motions once or twice a year. They refuse to teach, allow audio or video recordings of their ritual and thus it will be but a matter of time when the practice which is already a mere shadow of its former self is completely lost. I was able to watch several hours of their performance since I was considered a direct Vaishnav descendent of one of the famous families of Thirukurungudi (the town of the famous arayer temple bell) and as such allowing me to watch or allowing me to learn some of their movements was not considered sacreligious to the high priest.

The royal Arayar.

ARAYAR, The Caste who makes the History of  Tamilnadu, The Imperial clan is one of the three castes which constitute the Mukkulathor confederacy. "a fearless community show many signs of independence and non-submission to any form of subjugation".There are Abundant records pertaining to this clan, where the Peoples ruled from unknown antiquity (Chola, Chera, Pandya.) . Arayars  are found largely in Thanjavur (40 % of Tanjavur Population), Trichy, Pudukkottai, Theni, Madurai, Dindigul, Sivagangai, Karur, kanchipuram, and Ramanathapuram districts of Tamil Nadu.

Surnames

There are over 1000 surnames in use. There are no other Castes in Tamilnadu have this many Surnames. Some of the commonly used Surnames are.

Paluvettaraiyar, Malayaman, Adigaman, Thevar, Mannaiyar, Rajaliyar, Vallavaraiyar, Thanjaraayar, Pallavaraayar, Vandaiyar, Thondaiman, Etrandaar, Vaanavaraayar, Servai, Amballakkarar, Sethurayar, Soma Naicker, Muniyarayar(Munaiyatriyar), Thondamar, Mayrkondar, Kallathil Venrar, , Nattar (not Nadar), Cholagar, kumarandar, Anjathevar, Olivarayar, Sendapiriyar, Alathondamar, Ambalam, Aarsuthiyar, Kaadavaraayar, Kalingarayar, Vandaiyaar, Veeramundar, Sepillaiyar, Vallundar, Chozhangaraayar, Kandiyar, Mazhavaraayar, Kommatti Mootar, Kannakkarar, Irungular, Singilaar, Ponnapoondar, Pullavaraayar, Araimeendar, Vairayar, Ponpethiar, Gopalar, Kandapillai, Vayaadiyar, Vanniar, Vallambar, Alankara Priyar, mavaliyar, Keerudayar, Saaluvar, Manraayar, Onthiriyar, Serumadar, Vambaliar, Thenkondaar, Mankondaar, etc. 

 They are highly conservative and have preserved their customs and traditions to the present day. They are also believed to be the oldest inhabitants of the Tamil country with reports of their presence going back to Tamil literary works of the 4th century B.C. They are found mainly in the districts of Madurai, Dindigul and Theni.


During sangam

Thondaiman
The kings (Araiyars), were ruling Thondai Nadu, There are Hundreds of records pertaining to this dynasty. Thondai in Tamil means Kilay or pirivu, Pallava in Sanskrit defines the same, so Pallavas or Thondaiman are considered as a offshoot of Cholas later become an Prominent rulers.

Malayaman
The kings (Araiyars) ruled Tirukkoyilur during Chola kingdom with the title Malayaman . They were in close relation with Cholas. Sangam literature mentions of Tirumudikari, a Malayaman chief who fought alongside Perunarkilli Chola to defeat Cheral Irumporai (Irumporai Cheras). Vastly, Cholas, Cheras and even Satavahanas controlled the destiny in times.

Adigaman
The kings were ruling Tagadur, present villupuram district, One of The Four kingdoms Mentioned in rock-edict of Ashoka. Adigaman Naduman Anji King of Tagadur is Mentioned  in rock-edict of Ashoka as Satyaputra Inscriptions found from Villuppuram Proves that stating Adigaman as Satyaputra Adhiyan Neduman Anji intha Pali.

Chola (சோழர்)

The Chola Dynasty (Tamil:சோழர் குலம்) was a Tamil dynasty that ruled primarily in southern India until the 13th century the other two royal dynasties were Pandian and Chera. The meaning of chola Is unknown. Chera, chola and pandian are considered as Siblings.

The dynasty originated in the fertile valley of the Kaveri River. Karikala Chola was the most famous among the early Chola kings, while Aditya I, Parantaka I, Rajaraja Chola I, Rajendra Chola I, Rajadhiraja Chola, Virarajendra Chola, Kulothunga Chola and Kulothunga Chola III were notable emperors of the medieval Cholas.

Chera, Chola and Pandian are commonly called as Thevar to mean they are desendents of Lord Indra. But specially Cholas were called by many Surnames all these surnames (Mel kondar, Chozangar, Thevar etc.)


Lots of marriages takes place between cholas with Malavarayar, Malayaman, Paluvettaraiyar, Melkondar and Vallavaraiyar. They also belong to same community.

Pallavas (பல்லவர்)

The Pallava kingdom (Tamil: பல்லவர்) was an ancient South Indian tamil kingdom. Later they extended their rule to further south and established their capital at Kanchipuram around the 4th century CE. They rose in power during the reign of Mahendravarman I (571 – 630 CE) and Narasimhavarman I (630 – 668 CE) and dominated the Telugu and northern parts of Tamil region for about six hundred years until the end of the 9th century. The word Pallava means branch in Sanskrit. The word is rendered as Tondaiyar in Tamil language. The Pallava kings at several places are called Thondamans or Thondaiyarkon. The territory of the Pallavas was known as Tundaka Visaya or Tundaka Rashtra. The sancrit meaning of pallava is Kilay The tamil Thondai means the same, it proves that pallavas are desendents (Kilay or Pirivu) of chola.

Pathupattu, one of the sangam literatures, reads that the king Thondaiman Ilandirayan ruled this town around 2500 years ago. The pallavas are told as the descendents of Thondaiman Ilandirayan.

They were also called by surnames like sethurayar , pallavarayar , vandarayar, kadurayar,Vallavarayar,vanathirayar,kaliyarayar etc. . proves that Pallavar are Decendents of Chola.

Petty Kings

The Great empires which ruled Tamilnadu were Chera, Chola, Pandian and Pallava, but there were many petty kings and chieftains ruled tamilnadu under chera, chola, pandiya and pallava.

There are lot of records pertaining to this Petty dynasty. Some of the names are seen in Tamil copper-plate inscriptions also.

Most of the Mutharayar  surnames also derived from the place they ruled for example Thanjaiarayar (Means King Who ruled Thanjavur), 

Definition: Thanjai –Thanjavur and Arayar – Raja –King.

Malavarayar(மழவராயர்), Pallavarayar(பல்லவராயர்), Erraandar(ஏற்றாண்டார்)r, Arasandar(அரசாண்டார்), Thanjairayar(தஞ்சைராயர்),  Muniarayar, Vallavarayar (வல்லவரையர்), Muthurayar, Irunkolar, Brahmarayar, Kodumbalur Rayar, Chiratchiyar, Nattar, Devarayar, Vanathirayar.

Warrior

The main occupation of Arayar was Warrior, most of their surnames derived from their victory and bravery shown in Battlefield.

Some Surnames are,
Poril Koluthiyar(போரிற்கொளுத்தி), Kottai Meetar(கோட்டை மீட்டார்), Soma Naicker(சோமநாயக்கர்), Kalathil Vendrar (களத்தில் வென்றார்), Jeyam Kondar(ஜெயம் கொண்டார்), Kodi Kondar, Thanai Thalaivar(தானைத் தலைவர்), Valukkuvelyar, Vijayathevar, Veerakkotaiyar, Valkondar, Ulukkondar, Veerapuliyar, Senathipathi, Viruthurajabayangarar.


Tamil copper-plate inscriptions

The discovery of Indian copper plate inscriptions provided a relative abundance of new evidence for use in evolving a chronicle of India's elusive history.

During chola rule there were many small kings (Araiyar) were Ruling there Respective area under Chola.Some of the names are seen in Tamil copper-plate inscriptions was also mentioned in Ponniyin Selvan (Tamil historical novel written by Kalki Krishnamurthy.

Paluvettaraiyar (பழுவேட்டரையன்)
Malayaman (மலையமான்)
Vallavaraiyar (வல்லவரையன்)
Muniaraiyar
Nilakkilar
Kaliyaraiyar
Puvaraiyar
Velar (வேளார்)
Vanataraiyar
Thondaiman (தொண்டைமான்)

During Vijayanagar Empire

The downfall of the Mukkulathors occurred in 1345 with the fall of Vira Pandyan IV and the subsequent conquest of Madurai by the Delhi Sultanate. However, the southern territories of the Sultanate soon asserted their independence and the Mukkulathors recovered under the Vijayanagar Empire and later under the Nayak dynasty during whose period they served as Polygars or chieftains.


Ambalakarar is the most important Peoples. They were a warlike people who strongly resisted every British attempt to subjugate them. They are found in Madurai and Sivaganga districts. In these districts, each village is headed by an Ambalam (president of an assembly) and the Ambalam took upon themselves the power to adjudicate disputes that arose among the inhabitants in the "NADU", belonging to different castes. They used to hear complaints, hold inquiries and punish the offenders. They wielded considerable powers to intervene in any kind of transaction or transfer of property among the people. No land could be alienated from one man to another without the permission of the Ambalams. The sur-name "Ambalam"is given to them, because of their Administration in their Villages. So they are mostly called as "Ambalam".

Thenpandi Singam by M. Karunanidhi is a book about Ambalakarars and he was also Awarded "Raja Rajan Award" by Tamil University, Thanjavur for that book and it was also been taken as a serial in Sun TV, and music composed by Ilaiyaraaja.

KALACHURI DYNASTY.

There exists two dynasties with the name of Kalachuri who had ruled the dynasties from the 10th-12th century AD, one ruling over areas in Central India (west Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan ) and were called Chedi or Haihaya (Heyheya) (northern branch) and the other southern Kalachuri who ruled over parts of Karnataka.

The Kalachuri kings were known as Kalachuris of Chedi or Chedis. They established their kingdom in Madhya Pradesh with their capital at Tripuri near Jablapur. The founder of this dynasty was Kokalla I. The Chedis had to face the rulers of Kannauj and Malwa, the Chalukyas and Rashtrakutas. They also had to defend their territory against the Palas and rulers of Kalinga. Gangeyadeva was one of the most important rulers of Kalachuri dynasty. He tried to make the Chedis the paramount power of Northern India. The Kalachuris of Dahala rose to be the greatest political power in India during the 11th century A.D. This was mainly due to the military genius of Gangadeva king.
Gangeyadeva issued coins of different metals, sizes, weights which were in Gold, Base Gold, Silver Gold, Silver, Silvery copper (Billon) and Copper. Perhaps an important factor contributing to his success was the factor that his kingdom escaped the devastating raids of Sultan Mahmud which affected most of the other great powers to its north and north-west. In the token of his great victory he assumed the proud title of Trikalingadhipati, ‘Lord of Trikalinga’. Gangeyadeva assumed the title of Vikramaditya. He died at the sacred city of Prayag (Allahabad). Probably he ascended the throne before 1019 A.D. and died about 1040 A.D.He was succeeded by his son Karandeva. He is said to have defeated a number of people in the south such as the Pallavas, Kungas, Muralas, Pandyas (South) and Kuntalas, (probably the Chalukya King), Somesvara I during A.D. 1048. He was more successful than his father not only in the south but also in the north-west. In 1072 A.D. he abdicated the throne in favor of his son Yasahkarna.The Kalachuris dynasty declined by 1181 AD.
Kalachuri Dynasty- The Kalachuris took the place of the Chalukyas of Kalyana in the early part of the twelfth century, had a relatively short but stormy rule. The period threw up two striking personalities: An energetic and adventurer who flouted the authority of his Chalukya master and achieved the Kalachuri independence - Bijjala. Another figure of eminence was Basaveshvara who marshaled a virile, revolutionary movement of religious and social reform, which goes by the name of Virasaiva Movement.

The Kalachuris, also known as the Haihayas, were an ancient people known from the Epics and Puranas from 249 or 250 A.D. Many Kalachuris were settled in different parts of Northern India. In the later half of 6th century A.D., they ruled over a powerful kingdom comprising Gujarat, northern Maharashtra, and some parts of Malwa. One of the founder of a principality is Sarayupara in the modern Gorakhpur District. The other, which soon became very powerful, ruled in Chedi country in Bundelkhand. The Kalachuris of Chedi also known as kings of Dahalas, had their capital at Tripur, represented by the modern village of Tewar, six miles to the west of Jubulpore.

Northern Kalachuri family ruled in central India with its base at the ancient city of Tripuri (Tewar); it originated in the 8th century, expanded significantly in the 11th century, and declined in the 12th–13th centuries.
Southern Kalachuri Kingdom (Kannada) (1130 - 1184) at their peak ruled parts of the Deccan extending over regions of present day northern Karnataka and parts of Maharashtra. Their rule was short and turbulent, yet very important from the socio-religious movement point of view. A new sect called the Lingayat or Virashaiva sect was founded during these times. A unique and purely native form of Kannada literature-poetry called the Vachanas was also born during this time. The writers of Vachanas were called Vachanakaras (poets).

Coinage

The Southern Kalachuri kings minted coins with Kannada inscriptions on it. Gajasaradula type coins were mostly gold or copper. Some of the common ones were the seated goddess type along with the name of the issuer which is generally prefixed with Srimat and suffixed with Deva.

Legends

According to legends, Kalli meaning long moustache and Churi meaning Sharp knife. Kalanjarapuravaradhisvara- is Lord of Kalanjara. Mount Kalanjara is in north central India, east of the Indus Valley floodplain. This name Haihaya is supposed to be derived from haya (a horse). Other theories also support the source of their dynastic name. They were also referred to as Katachuris (shape of a sharp knife). A prince of the lunar race, and great-grandson of Yadu. A race or tribe of people to whom a Scythian origin has been ascribed. The Vishnu Purana represents them as descendants of Haihaya of the Yadu race, but they are generally associated with borderers and outlying tribes. In the Vayu and other Puranas, five great divisions of the tribe are named as Talajanghas..

KOLI ROYAL KINGS

KOLI KINGS SEPTAL INFORMATION:

Koli Maharajas before the independence of India - the memoranda of the Indian state of Rajput rulers Koli clan based on 1936 List: -

Sr. No. , Name of the ruling place , Name of the ruling class Koli

1. Jawahar - Shrimant Yashwantrao Vikramshahaji Mukne Koli Maharaja
(20 Maharajas of Royal Mukne koli Family, From 1343 up till now)
2. Katosan - Thakur Keshri singh Makwana Koli
3. Ambil aara - Thakur Jalim singh Khant koli
4. Thodasar - Thakur Fatah singh Dabhi koli
5. Athamma - Thakur Suraj singh Baria koli
6. Khadal - Thakur Fateh Singh Makwana koli
7. Dhaama Thakur Mohan Singh Makwana koli
8. Illol - Thakur Shiv singh Makwana koli
9.Punavra - Thakur Abha singh Makwana koli
10.Gaabar - Thakur Roop singh Makwana koli
11. Raamaas - Thakur Man Singh Makwana koli
12. Bhalusara - Thakur Ratan singh koli
13. Satlasna - Thakur Bhupat singh koli
14. Tajpuri - Thakur Mohbbat singh Makwana koli
15. Timba - Thakur Sardar singh koli
16. Umari - Thakur Jaswant Singh Chauhan koli
17. Batkapur - Thakur Baaje singh Makwana koli
18. Hadol - Thakur Jawan singh Thakor koli
19. Hapa - Thakur Himmat singh Makwana koli
20. Kadoli - Thakur Kuver singh Makwana koli
21. Kondanna- Nag Naik koli
22. Mahabaleshwar - Tanaji Rao Malusare koli
23. Dehradun - Kolya Negi koli Raja
24. Pauri Garhwal - Bhaadwa Singh koli
(Numbers of forts of koli Rajas in pauri Garhwal)
25. South India(Nutshell) - Mudirajas, Tuluva Mudiraj Bunts (Krishnadevaraya family)
,Muthurajas, Mudiraj Bunts , Bedar Valmiki Nayakas,
Cholas, Vellalars, Mutharaiyars,araiyars, Ganagaputra Koliyas.
(Whole south india having numerous forts and Koli Rajas).

Note: - Sub caste of Koli Kshatriya in india : -
1. Mukne, 2. Malusare, 3. Dabhi 4. Parmar, 5. Solanki, 6. Vaghela 7. Makwana, 8. Thakor 9. Baria, 10. 11. Rathod, 12. Chauhan 13.Gohil 14. Khant, 15. Wagdiya, 16. Verma, 17. Divecha, 18. Negi, 19. Patel, 20. Bisht , 21. Shakya, kori , 22. Rawat 23. Mahawar 24. Mahaur 25. Sankhwar 26. Bunkar 27. Kashyap 28. Bhuiyar 29. Kabirpanthi 30. Tantuvay 31. Mahadeo 32. Koli Rajput 33. Mudiraj 34. Muthuraja 35. Arayar 36. Gangaputra 37. Bedar Valmiki Nayaka 38. Valaiyar 39. Vellalar 40. Mudliar
42. Chola 43. Mutharaiyar 44. Mudiraj Pillai 45. Mudiraj Bunts Shetty 46. Mudiraj tuluva bunts.

Pallava Dynasty.

Muthiriyars ( Mutharayars = Mudiraj ) are termed to be a set of people having resemblence with pallavas. One section of the Palli or Pallava tribe, called the Muttarasar ( Telugu Muttaracha ) ruled in the Chola country, first as feudatories of Pallavas and then of the Pandya kings, during the eigth century A.D. According to some historians, Mutharayars are the descendants of Pallavas. Palli, Ambalakaran, Muttiriyan and Nattaman belong to one group of people belonging to Muthuraja community.

Alternate people names of Agamudaiyan are Agambadia, Ambalakaram, Maruar, Marumaravar, Mudaliyar, Muppan,Mutracha, Muttiryan, Nattaman, Parkavakulam, Pillaimar, Sanagara, Sekkan, Servaikaran, Udaiyan, and Valaiyan.

It was during this period that Naladyar was composed under the auspices of Muttarasa governers. They are still to be found in the North Arcot district under the name of Talaiyaris, and many poligars of Chittor and other minor rulers of this class. Of such tributaries were the kings of Tanjore, who ruled in the 8th century with vallam, near tanjore, as their capital. Talari / Talaiyari is a surname of Mudiraj and also that of valmikis. We already know that Valmikis are a subsect of Mudiraja / Muthuraja community and Mutharayars are the descendants of Kalabhras.

The ancient Chola kingdom once famous in Tamil literature and in the writings of Greek merchants and geographers faded in to darkness after c 300 C.E. The Tamil country was invaded by a non-Tamil people from the north and north-west. These people – known as Kalabhras – are a mystery to historians. Their origin is unknown. It has been speculated that they were adherers to Jainism and later to Buddhism. Kalabhras subjugated the Tamil country after defeating the ancient Chola, Chera and Pandya kings. There is scant evidence either from literature or from archaeology regarding these people.

The Kalabhras ruled over the entire Ancient Tamil country between the 3rd and the 6th century C.E. in an era of South Indian history called the Kalabhra interregnum. The Kalabhras displaced the kingdoms of the early Cholas, early Pandayan and Chera dynasties.

The Pallava were a Southern Indian dravidian Tamil dynasty who established their capital at Kanchipuram in early the 4th century CE. The Pallavas dominated the northern parts of Tamil region until the end of the 9th century for about six hundred years. The origins of the Pallava still remains a mystery. A number of hypotheses and views have been proposed on the origin and ethnicity of the Pallavas.

Pallavas rose in power during the reign of Mahendravarman I (571 – 630 CE) and Narasimhavarman I (630 – 668 CE) and dominated the Telugu and northern parts of the Tamil region for about six hundred years until the end of the 9th century. The Pallava dynasty ruled northern Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh with their capital at Kanchipuram.

The origin of Pallavas is a subject of speculation. They were perhaps the descendents of the Saka-Pahlava-Kambhoja warriors from Northwest India. They have settled in the Guntur region of Andhra Pradesh. This area is still referred to as Palnadu or Pallava Nadu. Initially, they were the vassals of Satavahana kings. Pallavas gained prominence after the eclipse of Satavahanas. As they grew more powerful, a branch of Pallavas had migrated to the Tamil country and established one of the most cherished kingdoms in Tamil history. Their capital was Kanchi, close to the border between Tamil and Telugu lands.

Pallavas seems to be a section of Thondamans to whom the Kalabras also belong. It seems that Pallavas established their independent dynasty slightly before Kalabhras attacked all the established dynadties - Chola, Chera, Pandya and also Pallava. The Pallava invasion of Cholas country might have prompted Kalabras to undertake their invasion of the entire South India

The Pahladpur inscription (located in Pahladpur village in Uttar Pradesh State) which is datable to first few centuries of our era , is believed to be a record of the Pallavas in the north and they speak Tenugu. This depends upon correct reading of the term "Parthivanikapalah" figuring in the said inscription. This expression has been translated as "the protector of the Parthavas army". It has been pointed out that term Parthava here is equivalent to Sanskrit Pahlava. Though the term Pahlava indicates the name of a tribe and Pallava that of a ruling family, it has been pointed out that a tribal name Pahlava could easily turn itself into Dynasty name Pallava.

Pallavas were Telugu speaking people.
Palnadu is the northern region of Guntur District in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. Also known as Pallava Nadu, it occupies an important place in Telugu history. This indicates that Pallavas were originally Telugu warrior people. The war of Palnadu was primarily a war of various Kalchuri faction from Andhra and Maharastra, who were matrimonially aliened.

Pallavas could be a branch / variants of Kalabhras.
We know that historians are of the opinion that Mutharayars ( Mudiraj) are the descendants of Kalabhras who were in turn are believed to be the descendants of Kalchuris or a variants of Kalchuris. We laso know that one section of the Palli or Pallava tribe was called the Muttarasar ( Telugu Muttaracha ). Along with Chola, Chera and Pandyan dymasties, the Pallava dynasty was also engulfed by Kalabhras, the ancestors of Mutharayars. This leads us to speculate that a section of Kalabhras who later came to be known as Mutharayars might have merged with Pallavas for political reasons.

Kalabhras are believed to basically belong to Vengadam ( Thirupathi). The father of Padmavati and the father-in-law of Balaji is said to be a Tondaman Raja. The Pallava kings at numerous places are termed as Tondamans or Tondaiyarkon. The word Tondan in Tamil means slave, servant, adherent or assistant and can either be suggestive of the subordinate position the Pallavas bore to the Satavahanas or reflect a dominant position pallavas enjoyed at the time of satvahanas. On disintegration of the Satvahana authority, the Pallavas avowed themselves and invaded a large part of Chola province but the soubriquet Tondon stayed and their region also came to be known as Tondamandlam. The word Pallava is a translation of Tamil word Tondaiyar and Tondaman and this discovers corroboration in various copper plate charters that bring in `tender twigs` (pallavams) of some kind in association with the eponymous name Pallava`.

Pallava Aparajita was the grandson of Ganga Muttarasa kings from their daughter Vijaya, who married Pallava Kampavarman. The Pallava copper plate ( earlier than 900 A.D) found at the Village Velanjeri near Thiruttani on the top of Thiruttani hill by the Pallava ruler Aparajitavarman who is portrayed as a great devotee of Lord Subrahmanya. The present Velanjeri copper plate mentions that Aparajita was the son of Pallava ruler Kampavarman through a Ganga Princess whose name is given as Vijaya. This passage further shows that Kampavarman and his son Aparajita had the able support of the Ganga chieftains.

After the decline of the Satavahana dynasty, the Pallavas became independent in Krishna river valley. The region is known as Palnadu in memory of ancient Pallavas. The war of Palnadu in the 12th century is marked in legend and literature as 'Andhra Kurukshetra War'. The war of Palnadu weakened the power of Vengi Chalukyas and paved way for the emergence of Kakatiyas as a great Telugu dynasty.

Mutharayars inspite of their political rivalry mixed very well with Cholas, Pandyas and also Pallavas through matrimonial alliances. Thus we can come across Mutharayar clans such as Chola Mutharayars, Pandya Mutharayars and also Pallava Mutharayars.

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Kokolu Anka Rao
Date-13/11/2009
Nagpur, Maharastra, India.

PAZHUVETTARAYAR-MUTHARAYAR KING OF KERALA

Pazhuvettarayar was sundara chozhan's treasurer, a battle-hardened old warrior, and a powerful nobleman.

During the period of the Chola dynasty, when Uraiyoor was the capital of the Chola kingdom, the Cholas had many local kings who were their supporters. One among them called Pazhavettarayar ( from the Muthurayar community ) was the king of Pazhuvoor. The name of Periya Pazhuvettarayar was Ambalavaanan. It is mentioned in the ASI board kept outside the keezhap pazhuvur temple. Paluvettaraiyar Maravan Kandanar is noted as an important general during Uttama Chola reign. He also served under Sundara Chola. We will have lot of difficulties fitting them into the historic pazhuvettaraiyar chronology.

Paluvettarayar = Pzhavettarayar

They were petty chiefs who were ruling present Kila-Paluvur and Mela-Paluvur, in the Udaiyarpalayam taluk of the Tiruchirapalli district, during Chola kingdom with the title Paluvettaraiyar, (which is one of the family name of Kallar community). They were responsible for a number of benefactions to the temples at this place and to have been related to the Chola by marriage. The Kallars are one of the warrior tribes of Mudiraja / Muthuraja community.

Paluvettaraiyar figures largely in the inscriptions copied at Kila-Paaluvur and Mela-Paluvur in the Tiruchchirappalli District. A.R. No. 231 of 1926 dated in the 12th year of Parantaka, that Paluvettaraiyar Kandan Amudanar fought, on behalf of his Chola overlord, a victorious battle at Vellur against the forces of the Pandya king and his Ceylonese ally, in which the Pandya lost his life.

Kilappaluvur is part of the ancient settlement of Perumpaluvur ruled by Paluvettaraiyar chieftains (under the hegemony of the Chola Kings) who had also connections with the Cera clan in the west coast. Kilappaluvur is in Trichi-Ariyalur route leading to the ancient Chola capital of Gangaikondacholapuram.

Acertain Ambalavan Puluvur ( Pazhuvur) Nakkan figures very often in the records of Parakesari and Rajakesari. His Chola overlords were Uttama Chola and Rajaraja - I. Vikrama Chola was a title borne by Uttama Chola and his subordinate Ambalavan Paluvur Nakkan also bore the same title. Similarly when he figures in the records of Rajaraja-I, he is known as Ambalavam Puluvur Nakkan alias Pallavuarayan .

His exact relationship with the main line of Paluvettaraiya mentioned above is not known. In the time of Uttama Chola he figures as one of the noble men of the king's council. He was a devotee of Shiva. In the 10th regnal year of Uttama Chola, Ambalavan Puluvur Nakkan gave sheep for burning a perpetual lamps to the temple of Vijayamangalam. In the 12th year of Uttama Chola also he gave sheep to the same God for four perpetual lamps. His wives were also interested in making donations to the Shiva temples. Aparajita Cheyyavaymani and Singapanman Kanji Akkan the two wives of Ambalavan Paluvur made provision for the burning of perpetual lamps in the temple constructed by their husband.

The Lord Pazluvoor, the elder, - Ambalavan An important and powerful chieftain, - Officer of Taxation, Food Supply and Finance for the Chozla Empire, elder brother of Kalanthaka, Nandini's husband, about 65 years old. The Lord Pazluvoor, the younger, Kalanthaka - Commander of Tanjore Fort, Captain of the Guard Corps.

An important general during Uttama Chola's reign was Paluvettaraiyar Maravan Kandanar, who also served under Sundara Chola. His son Kumaran Maravan also served Uttama Chola. Ambalavan Paluvurnakkan (also known as Vikramasola -Maharajan of Kuvalalam) features during Uttama Chola's rule and continues into Rajaraja I's reign.

Pazhuvettaraiyar mystery ( of Kerala origin ) :
The famed pazhyvettaraiyars immortalised in ponniyinsevan were of kerala origins. But how they came and settled in a chola heartland and managed to survive in very high ranks is a mystery. Their relationships with cheras is not clear. The major chera - chola relationship starts with aditya chola but become more concrete in parantaka's times with his marriage of chera princes.

The king Parantaka married the daughter resembling regal glory incarnate of the Kerala king, who was also called Paluvettarayar. Uthama Chola had among others, a queen named Panchavanmatheviyar who was the daughter of the Chera king Paluvettaraiyar also known as Kandan Sundera Cholan. ( Rajaraja Chola - 1 had a queen known as Panchavanmathevi who was the daughter of Paluvettaraiyar Kandan Maravan the Chera king of Paluvur on the west of Thirutchirappalli bordering Kerala state ?? ) He also had a queen known as panchavanmathevi who was the daughter of Paluvettaraiyar Kandan Maravan the Chera king of Paluvur on the west of Thirutchirappalli bordering Kerala state. It was to this Vanavanmadevi the greatest emperor in the Chola history namely the Rajendra Chola ? 1 was born

Pazhuvettaraiyars enjoyed atleast 1 to 1.5 centuries of royal life - parantaka, arinjaya, kandarathitha and uttma times but completely lose their ground in rajaraja's times - never to appear again.

Like their entry, their exit is also something that cannot be explained. Pazhuvoor Nakkan panchavan mahadevi may have been his queen - but pazhuvettaraiyars almost vanished at the time of rajaraja.

It should be remembered that rajaraja was the first chola king to wage war against cheras breaking several decades of relationship. He ravages kerala.

Paluvettaraiyars, from the region of Thiruchirapalli, closely associated with the Cholas from the time of Parantaka I when he married a Paluvettaraiyar princess, occupying a high position in the Chola administration. They apparently enjoyed full responsibility and administration of the region of Paluvur. Adigal Paluvettaraiyar Kandan Maravan had been one of the names of those feudal chieftains found in inscriptions.

Aditha Chola was succeeded by his son Paranthaha Chola (A.D.907-953) on the Chola throne. He married Udaiya Pirattiyar Kokkilan Adigal daughter of the Chera king Rama Varma of Kulasekara dynasty. He also married the daughter of another Chera king Paluvettaraiyar Kandan Amuthan named Arumoli Nangai ruling from west Paluvur of the present Tirutchirappalli in Tamil Nadu bordering Kerala. He had a further queen by the name Villavan Mathevi probably the daughter of the Venad King of the Chera country, who refer themselves as “Villavar’.

Dr.Kalaikkovan has written a monumental book on Pazhuvettaraiyars called "Pazhuvur Pudhaiyalgal". He traces the genology of Pazhuvettaraiyars with great accuracy - in this book. This is a reseach work on mela pazhuvur and kila pazhuvur temples. Dr.Nalini and Akila did PhD on these temples - I.

Periya pazhuvettaraiyar based on udaiyargudi inscriptions : we need to refer "Pazhuvoor Pudhaiyalgal" by Dr.R.Kalaikkovan before speculating further. The last few pages of the book give a detailed chronology along with years. In the book, there are names like Kumaran Maravan, Maravan Kandan etc - all taken from names mentioned in epigraphs found at Avani gandarpa easwaram temple at pazhuvoors. The person we are talking about was a mutharaiyar chief as evident from title "sozha ( Chola) mutharaiyan". Pazhuvetaraiyars bore the title "Pazhuvetaraiyan kandan maravan" etc.

The twin temples of Agasthiswara and Chiliswara, situated in Kilaiyur, near Keezhapazhuvoor provides us with the following information: " The powerful chieftains of Kilapaluvur, known as Pazhuvettaraiyars were connected by marriage to the Cholas. Parantaka I was married to a daughter of this family. There is a reason to believe from certain inscriptions that they were originally from Kerala. Sambandar the tamil saint-poet also indicates that the family who worshipped the deity at Paluvur were from Kerala."

The Chera king had the title Villavar Kon indicating Villavar clans founded the ancient Chera Kingdom. The Emblem on the flag of Cheras was Bow and Arrow. The Chera kingdom was founded by the integration of various Villvar tribes such as Vanavar, Puraiyar, Velliar and Pazhuvettaraiyars.

The first Lord Pazluvoor, the elder, - Ambalavan An important and powerful chieftain, - Officer of Taxation, Food Supply and Finance for the Chozla Empire, elder brother of Kalanthaka, Nandini's husband, about 65 years old. The second Lord Pazluvoor, the younger, Kalanthaka - Commander of Tanjore Fort, Captain of the Guard Corps.

Chola = Choza

Aditha Chozha was succeeded by his son Paranthaka Chozha in A.D.907 and the latter ruled up to AD 953). He married Udaiya Pirattiyar Kokkizhaan Adigal daughter of the Chera king Rama Varma of Kulasekara dynasty. He also married the daughter of another Chera king Pazhuvettaraiyar Kandan Amuthan named Arumoli Nangai ruling from west Pazhuvur of the present Tirutchirappalli in Tamil Nadu bordering Kerala. Still another of his queens was Villavan MaDevi probably the daughter of the Venad King of the Chera country, who refer themselves as "Villavar'. Paranthaka Chozha-1 had an elder son by Kokizhaanadigal named Rajadithya, a second son by the name Kandaraditha and a younger son by Arulmoli Nangai named Arinjayan. A native of Nandikkaraiputtur of Kerala Country named Velankumaran was the general of the Chozha Prince Rajadithya. This Prince was unfortunate to die very young, while engaging in a war with Thondainadu.

After the demise of Sundara Chozha, his son Rajaraja 1 was of course the legitimate heir to the Chozha throne, but he whole-heartedly gave the throne away to Uthama Chozha (A.D.970-985) the son of Kandarathitha Chola . Uttama was his uncle. Uthama Chozha had among others, a queen named Panchavanmatheviyar who was the daughter of the Chera king Pazhuvettaraiyar known as Kandan Sundara Chozhan.

Uthama Chozha died in the year A.D.985, and was succeeded by the rightful heir Rajaraja Chozha-1{A.D. 985-1014}. One of Rajaraja's queens was Villavanma Devi the daughter of the king of Venadu of Chera country. He also had a queen known as Panchavanmathevi who was the daughter of Pazhuvettaraiyar Kandan Maravan the Chera king of Pazhuvur on the west of Thiruchirappalli bordering Kerala state. It was to this Vanavanmadevi that the greatest emperor in the Chozha history namely Rajendra Chozha 1 was born.

The great honeymoon relation between the Cheras and the Chozhas was soon in peril, because of the expansive ambitions of Rajaraja and his son.

The Pazuvettaraiyar clan has been around since the time of Vijayala Chola's time. Because of their close ties to the royal family and their achievements, the family had the special rights to fly their own clan flag. There were two brothers of which the current elder Pazhuvettariyar held several important positions in the govt. The only one I understood was that he collected tax and dues from the smaller kingdoms that were under the Chola rule. At this point, we know that the current Chola king goes by the name, Sundara Chola.

Ponniyin Selvan Novel
Pazhuvettarayar is one of the important character in Ponniyin Selvan Novel. From the time of Vijayalayan the Pazhuvettarayar clan had enjoyed a tremendous influence in the Chozha empire. Periya Pazhuvettarayar was Sundara Chozhar's chancellor and Chinna Pazhuvettarayar, the Commandant of the Thanjavur fort. Sundara Chozhar trusted them implicitly and wished never to do anything against their wishes.

Ponniyin Selvan" is a fictional saga of epic proportions with a historical background. The Chola king Sundara Chozha is on his death bed and has announced his eldest son Aditya Karikalan as the crown prince. The people of course love the second prince Arul Mozhi Varman and many want him to become the next king.

There's also Nandini, the bewitching beauty, with a mysterious past who wants to take revenge on Sundara Chozha's clan including the two princes and their sister princess Kundavai.

In any story, there is a hero and a heroine. In some stories one of them may be a negative character. Pazhuvoor Illaiya Rani Nandhini is one such character in Ponniyin Selvan. She occupies most part of the story, she is the most beautiful woman in the story, she is talented yet she is the Bad Girl. Now Vandhiyathevan is trapped in her deceitful plot.

The bewitching Nandhini was the wife of Chola chief general Periya Pazhuvettarayar (who was aligned with Madhuranthakar) and unknown to her husband is involved with a group of Pandya conspirators who are plotting to destroy the Chola family.

The Pazhuvettarayars and a number of Chozha princes hated Aditha Karikalan, because of his boorish manner and hasty temper. Karikalan's sister Kundavai Piratti and brother Arulmozhi Varman, had endeared themselves totally to the people of the Chozha country.

Therefore the princes were jealous of them also. Due to these reasons the princes wanted to crown Maduranthaka Thevan as per the law of succession. They resolved to do so, in a secret conclave, which they held in the palace of Kadambur Sambuvaraiyar located in the north bank of the Kollidam. It so happened that the proceedings of the secret conclave came to the notice of the Vana warrior, Vandiyathevan.

As a child Nandini grew up in the house of a temple priest in Pazhayarai and drew Aditha Karikalan's attention. Kundavai however was jealous of her beauty. Even as a child Nandini was sent to the Pandya country as ordered by Sembiyanmadevi. In the final battle with the Pandyas, Aditha Karikalan went in search of Veerapandyan and found him in Nandini's small hut built on the bank of the Vaigai. Nandini pleaded with him to spare Veerapandyan. Unheeding, Karikalan beheaded Veerapandyan.

Later Nandini married the old Periya Pazhuvettarayar. The conspirators Ravidasan, Revadasan, Soman Sambhavan and Kiramavithan, the erstwhile bodyguards of Veerapandyan had sworn to exterminate the Sundara Chozhar clan to a avenge Veerapandyan's death. Nandini helped them secretly.

The novel begins when Aditya Karikalan sends the warrior Vandiya Thevan to Kundavai with a message....... and from then on it is an absorbing ride full of action, drama and palace intrigue. Now, the complete novel is available in English in 5 volumes (six actually since Part V is in two parts). Check out the collection containing all the 6 books.

South Indian Inscriptions - volume XIX - inscriptions of Parakesari Varman

No. 332 : (A.R. No. 165 of 1929): On the west wall of the same shrine - This states that Ambalavan Paluvur-Nakkan alias Vikramasola-Marayan of Kuvalalam (Kolar) the Perundaram of Uttama-Choladeva built of stone the Srivimana of the temple of Vijayamangalatu-Deva at Periya Sri-Vanavanmadevi-chaturvedimangalam.

No. 333 :(A.R. No. 166 of 1929) : On the same wall - This records a gift of 96 sheep for burning a perpetual lamp with an ulakku of ghee everyday in the temple, by Aparayitan Seyyavaymani wife of Ambalavan Paluvur-Nakkan who built this stone temple. This is an inscription of Uttama-Chola.

South Indian Inscriptions - Volume XIII -Chola Inscription
12. A dynasty of chiefs known as the Paluvettaraiyar figures largely in the inscriptions copied at Kila-Paaluvur and Mela-Paluvur in the Tiruchchirappalli District. They seem to have held positions of power and influence under the Cholas from the time of Parantaka I and to have been related to the royal family by marriage. We find it mentioned in A.R. No. 231 of 1926 dated in the 12th year of Parantaka, that Paluvettaraiyar Kandan Amudanar fought, on behalf of his Chola overlord, a victorious battle at Vellur against the forces of the Pandya king and his Ceylonese ally, in which the Pandya lost his life. To commemorate this success the Commander Nakkan Sattan of Paradur made a gift of a perpetual lamp to the temple of Tiruvalandurai-Mahadeva at Siru-Paluvur.

It is perhaps this Amudanar who is referred to in the Anbil Plates of Sundara Chola as a Kerala prince whose daughter was married to Parantaka I and bore him prince Arinjaya (Ep. Ind. Vol. XV, p. 50). By 'Kerala prince' should be meant a relation of the Chera king, since we know that the Chera contemporary of Parantaka I was Vijayaraghavadeva (A.R. No. 169 of 1912), the probable successor of Sthanu-Ravi the friend and ally of Aditya I (S.I.I., Vol. III, No. 89). He must have taken service under the Chola like the Kerala general Vellankumaran under prince Rajaditya (A.R. No. 739 of 1905), and his help of Parantaka might have been suitably recognized by the king by the grant of chief ship over a large tract of land. Tappildarma Pallavaraiyan to whom we were introduced on P. IV as the perundaram of Arinjaya calls himself a Paluvettaraiyan.

A descendant of Kandan Amudanar – probably his son – was Paluvettaraiyar Maravan Kandanar who finds prominent mention in the records of Sundara-Chola and his successor Uttama-Chola. He is represented in this volume by five inscriptions dated between the 10th and 13th years of the reign of the former. Nos. 208, 215 and 344 state that with the permission of this chief, the Nagarattar, the Todapatti-Chettigal and the authorities of the two temples at Paluvur had it engraved on stone that he manrupadu takes payable by them were to be on the same lines as at Nandipuram. It is of interest to note here that the rules obtaining at Nandipuram were regarded as model for some other villages also. An instance of this is to be found in C.P. No. 10 of 1913-14 referred to in para. 10 above, wherein Malavaraiyan Sundarasolan, the same as Kolli-Malavan Orriyuran is stated to have ordered the adoption of the rate prevailing at Nandipuram in collecting the taxes on house-sites, etc., in his region. No. 236 registers an assignment of 24 veli of land at Pasungulam on permanent lease to a private individual with certain obligations to the temple, under the orders of the same Paluvettaraiyar Maravan Kandanar, thus reflecting the chief's high estate.

17. The chiefs of the Paluvettaraiyar family who figured in the inscriptions of Sundara-Chola are mentioned in the records of this reign also, wherein they are referred to in terms of respect implying the high position they were still holding. Nos. 98 and 171, dated in the 4th and 7th years of the king and No. 298 of the 22nd year mention respectively Paluvettaraiyar Kandan Maravan and Paluvettaraiyar Kumaran Maravan. It is not clear whether the two names refer to one and the same person, or to father and son, which seems more probable. From No. 98 we learn that Kandan Maravan had founded the temple of Tiruttottam-Udaiyar at Mannupperumpaluvur in Kunrakkurram, and that he gave all the right of worship therein to a resident of Tiruchchiruvalandai on the representation of the supervisor of the temple, while he was staying at Senapuram in Maladu. No. 298 says that under orders of Kumaran Maravan a certain Vadugan Madhavan of Poygaikkuruvidam reclaimed a portion of devadana land at Uragankudi and gave it to the temple of Avanigandharva-Isvaragarattu-Mahadeva.

Still another member of the Paluvettaraiyar family besides Kumaran Maravan mentioned above, if not identical with him, was Palavettaraiyar Kumaran Kandan figuring in No. 235. By a slight misinterpretation in the text of this record the chief has been taken to be son of Pagaividai-isvarattu-Devanar, whereas the latter's son was correctly Nakkan Pudi, who under orders of Kumaran Kandan brought some fallow lands at Uragankudi under cultivation and presented them to the temple for the maintenance of two lamps. Two daughters of this Devanar of Paluvur are also known one of them being Nakkan Akkaranangai who was married to a Chera prince (No. 153) and the other, Nakkan Panchavanmadevi, a queen of Rajaraja I (A.R. No. 385 of 1924)

Pazhuvoor (Paluvur / Pazluvoor)
Pazhuvoor is a small developing village near Samayapuram in the Trichy Chennai Highways. There is also a place called Pazhuvoor in the Ariyalur District of Tamilnadu. We can find that Karthikeya or Skanda, one of the sub-dieties or Parivbara Devatas, adorning the walls of early Chola period temples at Pazhuvoor on the banks of the river tamiraparini.(Thamraparni).

Melapazhuvur (near KeezhaPazhuvur) where Pazhuvettaraiyar (of Ponniyin selvan fame) belongs to: The Shiva temple is big and in ruins. At Mel Pazhuvur, the AvaniGandharpa Easwaram (mentioned by Gokul)- built by the great Pazhuvettaraiyars at the height of their powers.

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Kokolu Anka Rao
5th November 2009
Nagpur, Maharastra, India.

KOTTARATHIL SHANKUNNY:THE AUTHOR OF AITHEEHYA MAALA

ഐതീഹ്യമാല, കഥകളുടേയും, സവര്‍ണ്ണമേധാവികളുടെ കപട സ്തുതിഗീതങ്ങളുടെയും ആകെ തുകയാണ്. അതിന്റെ കര്‍ത്താവായ ശ്രീമാന്‍ കൊട്ടാരത്തില്‍ ശങ്കുണ്ണി മഹത്തായ പാരമ്പര്യംപേറുന്നഅരയ ജനവിഭാഗത്തെ കരുതിക്കൂട്ടി അവഹേളിക്കുകയും ചെയ്തിരിക്കുന്നു, തന്റെ രചനയിലൂടെ.“ചെങ്ങന്നൂര്‍ഭഗവതി” എന്ന അദ്ധ്യായം തന്നെ അതിനു ഉദാഹരണം.

    കലിംഗ(ഒറീസ)യില്‍ നിന്നും ബുദ്ധമതപ്രചരണാര്‍ത്ഥം തെക്കേ ഇന്ത്യയിലേക്ക്‌ചേക്കേറിയ കല്ച്ചുരി,കളഭ്ര രാജാക്കന്മാരുടെ(സൂര്യവംശം) പിന്മുറക്കാരായ കോളി എന്ന മത്സ്യകുലത്തിലാണ് സിദ്ധാര്‍ത്ഥന്‍ എന്ന ബുദ്ധന്‍ ജനിച്ചത്‌. മാതാവ് മഹാമായയും,അദ്ദേഹത്തിന്റെ ഭാര്യ യശോധരയും അതെ വംശജരാണ്‌. അവിടങ്ങളിലെ നാട്ടുരാജ്യങ്ങള്‍ മുഴുവന്‍ കീഴടക്കി തെക്കോട്ട്‌ നീങ്ങിയ ഈ ജനവിഭാഗം തമിഴ്നാട്ടിലെ രാമേശ്വരത്ത് സ്ഥിരതാമസമാക്കുകയും,അവിടങ്ങളിലെ ബ്രാഹ്മണരുമായി വിവാഹ ബന്ധത്തില്‍ ഏര്‍പ്പെടുകയും ചെയ്തു. (കേരളത്തിലെ അരയര്‍,തങ്ങള്‍ “അരയ ബ്രാഹ്മണര്‍ ” എന്ന് പറഞ്ഞുവരുന്നതിന്റെ പൊരുള്‍ ഇതാണ്). ബുദ്ധമതംവളരെ ഔന്ന്യത്തിലെത്തിയിരുന്നു അക്കാലത്ത്. ശ്രീ ബുദ്ധനെ “അരയര്‍”എന്നാണു സംഘകാല തമിഴ് കൃതികളില്‍ അഭിസംബോധന ചെയ്തിരുന്നത്. ഒരു ബുദ്ധ സംഘം “ആര്യ” എന്ന പേരിലാണ് അറിയപ്പെട്ടിരുന്നത്.ബുദ്ധമതസ്ഥര്‍ പരസ്പരം ബഹുമാനപുരസ്സരം അഭിസംബോധന ചെയ്തിരുന്നത് “അരയര്‍///.////, ആര്യര്‍/, അരയ, ആര്യഎന്നീ പേരുകളില്‍ ആണ്.

ബുദ്ധ സംഘം= ആര്യ സംഘം.

ബുദ്ധകാലഘട്ടം=ആര്യകാലഘട്ടം.=സംഘകാലം.

സംഘ കാല ഘട്ടത്തിലെ ചേരന്‍ ചെങ്കുട്ടുവന്‍ ഈ വംശത്തിലെ രാജാവായിരുന്നു.അതിനാലാണു അദ്ദേഹം അരയ സ്ത്രീയായ കണ്ണകിയുടെ ഓര്‍മ്മക്കായി ചെങ്ങന്നൂരില്‍ ക്ഷേത്രം പണികഴിപ്പിച്ചതും,കണ്ണകിയുടെകഥ(ചിലപ്പതികാരം) രചിക്കാന്‍ തന്റെ ഇളയ സഹോദരനായ ഇളങ്കോഅടികളോട് കല്പിച്ചതും. ചോള ദേശത്തെകാവേരിപട്ടണത്തിലെ  അരയക്ഷത്രിയകുലത്തിലെ മാ ചാത്തുവാന്റെ മകളായിരുന്നു അതിസുന്ദരിയായകണ്ണകി.
ബുദ്ധ  മതവുമായി അകലം പാലിച്ചിരുന്ന മറ്റു ദ്രാവിഡബ്രാഹ്മണര്‍ ബുദ്ധമതത്തിന്റെ വളര്‍ച്ചയില്‍ അസഹിഷ്ണുത പ്രകടിപ്പിക്കുകയും,അവര്‍ ആ സംസ്കാരത്തിനെ നശിപ്പിക്കാന്‍ പ്രയത്നിക്കുകയും ചെയ്തു. യഥാര്‍ത്ഥത്തില്‍ ഈ ദ്രാവിഡ ബ്രാഹ്മണരാണ്‌ ആര്യന്മാര്‍ പുറത്തുനിന്നും വന്നവരാണെന്ന് ഘോഷിച്ചത്.ബുദ്ധന് വളരെയേറെ കയ്പ്പേറിയ അനുഭവങ്ങള്‍ ഈ വിഭാഗത്തില്‍ നിന്നുമുണ്ടായി എന്നത് മറ്റൊരു യാഥാര്‍ത്ഥ്യം.ആര്യന്മാര്‍ ഭാരതത്തില്‍ തന്നെയുള്ളവര്‍ ആയിരുന്നെന്നു ഇപ്പോള്‍ വിദേശികള്‍ പോലും അംഗീകരിച്ചു തുടങ്ങിയിരിക്കുന്നു. ആര്യന്‍ അധിനിവേശം കേവലം കെട്ടുകഥയായിരുന്നെന്നു അവര്‍പറയുന്നു. കാലക്രമേണ ബുദ്ധമതസ്ഥരായ  ജനവിഭാഗം വൈഷ്ണവരായി തീരുകയും ബുദ്ധമതം ക്ഷയിക്കുകയുമുണ്ടായി. ബുദ്ധന്‍ മഹാവിഷ്ണുവിന്റെ അവതാരമാണെന്ന് ശ്രീ ശങ്കരാചാര്യര്‍ ബുദ്ധിപൂര്‍വ്വം പ്രഖ്യാപിക്കുകയും,അരയര്‍ ബുദ്ധവിഹാരങ്ങളില്‍ വിഷ്ണുവിന്റെ കീര്‍ത്തനങ്ങള്‍ ആലപിക്കുകയും ക്രമേണ ബുദ്ധനെ മറന്നു വൈഷ്ണവരായി തീരുകയും ചെയ്തു എന്നതാണ് പരമാര്‍ത്ഥം.

ചെങ്ങന്നൂര്‍ ക്ഷേത്രത്തിന്റെ പണി പൂര്‍ത്തിയായ A.D.205-മുതല്‍ അവിടെ “തിരു ചെങ്ങന്നൂര്‍ മഹാ ശിവരാത്രിയും, പരിശം വൈപ്പും” ഇന്നും മുടങ്ങാതെ നടത്തിവരുന്ന ജനവിഭാഗമാണ്‌ അരയര്‍..  ഈ വിവരങ്ങള്‍ ഒന്നും തന്നെ ഐതീഹ്യമാലയുടെ കര്‍ത്താവായ കൊട്ടാരത്തില്‍ ശങ്കുണ്ണിക്ക് അറിയില്ലായിരുന്നു എന്നതാണ് ഐതീഹ്യമാല രചനയുടെ ദയനീയമായ മറുവശം. ഇത്രയും മഹത്തായ പാരമ്പര്യമുള്ള ഒരു വംശത്തെകരിതേച്ചു കാണിക്കാന്‍ കൊട്ടാരത്തില്‍ ശങ്കുണ്ണി ബോധപൂര്‍വം സൃഷ്ടിച്ചതാണ് പുസ്തകത്തിലെ പ്രസ്തുതഭാഗം. അതിനാലാണ് ഈ പുസ്തകം എവിടെയുണ്ടെങ്കിലും അരയര്‍ തെരെഞ്ഞു പിടിച്ചു കത്തിക്കുന്നത്.