URUTHIKOTTAI VATTAGAI - A Break Away Community

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Origins Of Nattukottai Nagarathar

Nattukottai Nagarathars are Vaishyas (Vyshya) originally from Naganadu. This ancient land Naganadu is believed to be destroyed (either in an earthquake or floods) and this place was either North or North West of Kanchipuram. It is believed to be to the South of present-day Andhra Pradesh. ^[7]

Nagarathars migrated and lived in the following places:

·        Kanchipuram (Thondai Nadu) - From 2897 BC for about 2100 years

·        Kaveripoompatinam (Poompuhar) (Chola Kingdom) - From 789 BC for about 1400 years.

·        Ongarakudi (Karaikudi) (Pandiya Kingdom) - From 707 AD onwards.

When they were in Naganadu these Dhana Vaishyas had three different divisions:

1.   Aaru (Six) Vazhiyar

2.   Ezhu (Seven) Vazhiyar

3.   Nangu (Four) Vazhiyar

All these three divisions were devoted to Emerald Ganesha (மரகத விநாயகர்). Only after they migrated to the Pandya_Kingdom they were called as Ariyurar, Ilayatrangudiyar, and Sundrapattanathar.

Nagarathars of Ilayatrangudiyar were later called as Nattukottai Nagarathar. Ariyurar Nagarathars further split into 3 divisions: Vadakku Valavu, Therku Valavu and Elur Chetty (Nagercoil). Sundrapattanathar Nagarathars migrated to Kollam district in Kerala and their history is completely lost now since there was no record keeping.^[8]

Divisions

Multiple break-away communities exist among Nagarathars. The notable ones happened over a period of past 1300 years are mentioned here:

1. Uruthikottai Vattagai Nagarathars
2. Murayur Nagarathars
3. Palayapatti Nagarathars
4. Athangudi Nagarathars
5. Ariyurar – Vadakku Valavu
6. Ariyurar – Therkku Valavu
7. Ariyurar – Elur Chetty
8. Sundarapattanathar Nagarathar

Among all these divisions only Uruthikottai Vattagai Nagarathars have proper evidences and record keeping.

HISTORY OF URUTHIKOTTAI VATTAGAI NAGARATHAR

Manuscript inscribed by Uruthikottai Nagarathar - the first page

This incident took place on 12-July-1823 circa 200 years ago. It was the customary practice of Nagarathars in the olden days to congregate in a certain pre-arranged place to discuss any matter concerning the Nagarathar community. On 12-July-1823 (that is Tamil year Subhanu (சுபானு), Aani (ஆனி) month, 29th day), one such assembly was convened by Nagarathars of 96 villages at Unjanai, a small village near Devakottai in between Mathur and Iluppakudi. For that assembly, one prominent Chettiar Eriyur Kakkai Vellayan Chetty came late. He galloped into the assembly on horseback in haste, created a maelstrom of dust that swirled and engulfed the patiently waiting Nagarathars. He was unapologetic. The Assembly was outraged at his disrespect, lack of decorum and lateness. A fine was imposed and an apology was demanded prior to commencing.^[13]

But he arrogantly refused to accept the directive. Instead, he used his considerable power and position to influence his reluctant relatives and close family into breaking away from the main Nagarathar community.

Ever since this incident in 1823 and subsequent fallout, this breakaway group was deemed segregated and privileges of belonging to the greater Nagarathar community revoked. One of the punitive measures meted out was the cessation of the custom of officially registering the marriages in the respective temples. The issuing of garlands from these temples in blessing and recognition of the newly married couples as a family unit (“pulli”) was also halted. The most severe punitive measure was the non-acknowledgement of the very existence of this segregated minority of Nagarathars in the official count of units (‘pullis”) of the temples.^[14]

This minority group came to be known as Uruthikottai Vattagai Nagarathars. Among the 8 villages they settled down initially Uruthikottai was a prominent place in Sivagangai District those days.^[15] They wrote their own rules and regulations and the same has been imprinted in dry palm-leaf as practised in those days. These palm-leafs are safeguarded to date. (Please refer to the images of these palm-leafs).

Manuscripts - Full View

As mentioned in this palm-leaf, initially they settled in the following villages: Uruthikottai, Thittukottai, Avarangudi, Karungulam, Panakkarai, Sarugani (Sarakanei), Eriyur and Surakudi. Over the period they vacated some of these villages and finally settled in the following 9 villages:^[16]

1. Avarangudi
2. Eriyur
3. Karungulam
4. Kumaravelur
5. O. Pudur (Okkur Pudur)
6. Seenamangalam
7. Shanmuganathapatnam 
8. S. Sockanathapuram 
9. Surakudi

Out of 9 Nagarathar temples, this break-away Nagarathars group of 104 families belong to only four Nagarathar temples, namely Ilayathangudi, Mathur, Vairavanpatti and Pillayarpatti. Today the total number of families has grown from 104 to nearly 1400. Marriage alliances happen within Uruthikottai Vattagai Nagarathars only and marrying outside the community (Vattagai) is banned.

Evidences

Pudhuvayal Nachathal Padaippu

Padaippu is undertaken by relatives (Pangali பங்காளிகள்) of the same bloodline. This function is an offering and prayers to the ancestors. This is convened periodically on a predetermined date mostly at the native village or temple.

Nachathal Padaippu belonging to Vairavan temple is done at Puduvayal village every year during the Tamil month Maasi (மாசி). Though some Nagarathars of Vairavan Temple broke away from the mainstream in 1823 they still participate in this important function. The official invitation (Please refer to the invitation image) received by Vairavan Kovil Nagarathars of Uruthikottai Vattagai each year is strong evidence.^[16]

Invitation to Uruthikottai Vattagai Nagarathar

Nagarathar Sermon

As customary in Nagararathar community males get their sermon in Padharakudi Monastery (மடம்) and females get theirs in Thulavur. The same is followed by Uruthikottai Vattagai Nagarathars till this date. Please refer to the letter written by the head of Thulavur Madam to Mr T. Kumarappa.^[8]

Letter from Thulavur Madam

Kundrakudi Charity

Annual food charity function (அன்னதானம்) is conducted at Kundrakudi Temple by collecting tax (Pulli Vari) from all Nattukottai Nagarathars. Similarly, such tax demands are sent to all Uruthikottai Vattagai Nagarathars also. Maheswara Pooja is done at this time and several Nagarathars including from Uruthikottai Vattagai participate in this function.^[16]

Disciplinary Action

About 90 years ago one Kaluvathan Chetty of Kumaravelur (Uruthikottai Vattagai) was demanded to appear in person and pay a fine by Nattukkottai Nagarathars at Kovilur Nagarathar assembly for committing a social offence. He admitted his offence and obeyed and eventually he paid the penalty of Rs.650/-^[13]

Nagarathar Rituals, Customs, and Traditions

These minority Nattukkottai Nagarathars retained their traditional values and customs in original form as aborigines of the Nattukkottai Nagarathar community. Not one iota of difference can be traced in the rituals, customs and traditions between the mainstream and this Uruthikottai Vattagai Nagarathars except of course some minor changes as per local convenience and preferences. But these small changes are prevalent even among the mainstream Nagarathars from one Vattagai to another.^[17] [18]

These break-away group also observe typical Nagarathar functions like Pudhumai (புதுமை) Kaarthigaisupadi (கார்திகைச்சூப்படி), Thiruvadhirai (திருவாதிரை), Magar Nonbu (மகர்நோன்பு) and of course Pillayar Nonbu (பிள்ளையார் நோன்பு).

References

1.  Singaravelu, Mudhaliar (1899). Abimana Chinthamani. New Delhi: Asian Educational Services.
2. Jump up t  Pattu Veshti Ramanathan, Chettiar (2015). Analytical History of Nagarathar(நகரத்தார்களின் பகுத்தாய்ந்த வரலாறு). Sivakasi: Surya Print Solutions.
3.  MR M KR M, Somasundaram (2003). Naam Nammai Sera. Karaikudi: Meyyappan Offset Printers. pp. 7–9.
4. RM. S. Muthiah, Madurai Nagarathar, Sangam. History of Uruthikottai Vattagai (உறுதிக்கோட்டை வட்டகை வரலாறு). Madurai.
5.  Thiagarajan, V.N. (1989). Uruthikottai Vattagai Nagarathar (உறுதிக்கோட்டை வட்டகை நகரத்தார் - நாட்டுக்கோட்டை நகரத்தார்களே ! ஆதாரங்கள் கையேடு.). Coimbatore. p. 4.
6. Nagarathar Malar (நகரத்தார் மலர்). 15 November 1988. p. 19.
7. Somalay (1984). Chettinadum Senthamizhum (செட்டிநாடும் செந்தமிழும்). Madras: Vaanathi Publisher. p. 11.

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