Vanniyar

Etymology

Several etymologyies for Vanniyar have been suggested, including the Sanskrit vahni ("fire"),^[2] the Dravidian val ("strength"),^[3] or the Sanskrit or Pali vana ("forest").^[4]

Historical status

Researcher Lloyd I. Rudolph notes that as early as 1833, the Vanniyar filed a claim in Pondicherry to prove they were high caste, and in preparation for the 1871 Indian census they petitioned to be recognised as being of the Kshatriya (warrior) varna of Hindu society. By 1931, due to their successful politicking, the term Palli was removed from the Madras census, with the term Vanniya Kula Kshatriya appearing instead.^[5]

The Vanniyar formed a number of caste organisations, with the Vanniyakula Kshatriya Maha Sangam appearing in Chennai in 1888.^[6]

Present

The Vanniyars who previously were of the Backward Class Category, were now designated as the Most Backward Caste after successful agitations in the 1980s by Vanniyar Groups. The reason for the agitation and subsequent re-classification was to avail more government benefits for the community.^[7] Vanniyars are the single largest community in Tamil Nadu.^[8]

Vannimai (Sri Lanka)

The Vannimai ruling class arose from a multi-ethnic and multi-caste background. But primary sources such as the Yalpana Vaipava Malai, states that some were descended from Vanniyar caste immigrants from modern Tamil Nadu^{[9] [10][11][12]} Some Sri Lankan historians derive the title Vannimai from the Tamil word vanam, meaning "forest", with Vannia orWannia meaning "person from the forest", and Vannimais being large tracts of forested land.^[12]

Malayaman

Many castes today claim descent from Malayaman. Dennis B. McGilvray states "Malayaman is a section of the Udaiyar caste in South Arcot today, but Burton Stein also finds the title in a thirteenth-century inscription identifying Vanniyar subcastes of South Arcot in the left-right caste classification typical of the Chola empire."^[13]

Kadavas

Noboru Karashima believes that epigraphic evidence proves that leaders of the Kadava dynasty were Vanniyar by caste. He says "We have three more inscriptions of Kulottungachola Kadavarayan, which are found in Viriddhachalam (SII, vii-150: SA, 1148), Srimushnam (ARE, 1916-232: 1152), and Tirunarunkondai (SITI-74:SA, 1156). In the first two he is described as a Palli". Karashima also refers to other Kadava chiefs, being Kachchiyarayan, Cholakon and Nilagangaraiyan.

Karashima says "From the above it is clear that the Kadava chiefs, who were Pallis (Vanniyars) by jati and had established their power in Gadilam River area."^[14]