Elur Chetty
Encyclopedia
Elur Chetty is a Tamil
speaking Hindu
community
in South India
. They are said to have migrated from Kaveripoompattanam
in Thanjavur District and settled in Kanyakumari District
. They come under the common name of Chetty which includes other communities such as Kottar Chetty, Parakka Chetty, Vellalar Chetty, Pathira Chetty, Valayal Chetty, Pudukottai Chetty, Nattukkottai Chetty etc. They were once a trading community and were distinct from the other Chetty communities. The name is derived from "Ezhu ooru" meaning "7 towns". The 7 towns were in and around the Kanyakumari
District in South Tamilnadu, India, namely Eraniel
, Thiruvithancode
, Padmanabhapuram
, Colachel, Ganapathipuram
, Midalam, and Parakkai. They are called Keezhatheru Chetty. Later Kottar
, Thiruvananthapuram
, Therusanamkoppu, Nagercoil
, Chennai
, Thalakkulam, Eraniel (Melatheru), Chennai (Melatheru) were added. Currently the members are spread all over India and in other parts of the World. They have also diversified their profession and is not limited to trading.
Elur Chetty Sangham
was started as a registered association in 1952 with its office in Eraniel. The association was originally started as All Travancore
Ezhur Chettu Samudhaya Central Association in 1935 (1100 Vaikasi 29). Elur Chetty was classified as Backward Class (OBC) in Tamilnadu and Kerala in 1993 as per Mandal Commission
considering the social and financial backwardness of the community.
. This surname Pillai is shared by many other communities including Sozhiya Vellalar and Kerala Nair
community. There are two majority subcastes in this community which is called as Melatheru and Keezhatheru. However, among the different subdivisions, the surname is almost common. Time has had its influences on the community and among other changes, the current generation seldom uses this surname.
, part of the Chola empire, and were an affluent community involved in sea trade[1]. This ancient town was destroyed by tsunami around AD 79 August 23/24[3] and the community members started migrating to other areas after this event[2].
The trading community left their properties and wealthy life, took their family deities' (Vinayaka & Nagaramman) idols, left the Chola empire and migrated to the Pandiya and Chera
Empires across the river Cauveri
. Some of the migrated people settled in around 93 places including Karaikudi, Devakkottai, Thiruppur, Kovilpatti, Thazhayoothu, Valliyur and Kottar. The people who reached Kottar
did pooja for the Vinayaka idol. After the pooja, when they tried to remove the idol, they were unsuccessful. People who stayed back in Kottar are called Kottar Chetty. Later the Kottar Pillayar Temple was built there.
The rest of them reached Eraniel (formerly Hiranyasimhanallur) near the shore of Valli river. That day was the last Sunday of Chithirai month of Tamil Calendar
during the day of aayilyam nakshatra
. They placed the Nagaramman (the snake goddess) idol and also idols for Thangammai and Thayammai there. On that night, They made nivedyam (a sweet offering for God) from a mixture of raw rice flour, banana (Matty) fruit, cardomam, dried ginger, coconut and jaggery. This mixture was pressed to form a solid rectangular shape (like a brick), which was then covered using banana and coconut leaves and tied using Kaithai (a plant which produces a very fragrant flower) root. This was baked using coconut husk and served to the god. This came to be known as the 'Odupparai Kolukkattai'. Since then, the Odupparai Nagaramman Temple celebrations are being held to this day and the family and community meet together.
The community members then met the Chera King and sought permission to conduct trade. Trading then commenced, with Eraniel as the base, covering Ganapathipuram (Pazhaya Kadai), Parakkai, Colachel, Midalam, Thiruvithancode and Padmanabhapuram. Hence they were called Ezhur (meaning '7 towns') Chetty community.
The earliest known people from the community who settled in Eraniel were Umayammai and Pitcha Pillai (descendent of Unnaamalai). Their offspring are Kolappa Pillai, Subramonia Pillai and Sivathanu Pillai. These names can be found used by generations. References to these can be found in the rock scripts in Odupparai Temple.
The King of Kaveripoompattanam, was on his daily rounds. On the way, he saw two girls named Thangammai and Thayammai knitting flowers in their house verandah
. The king, attracted by the beauty of the sisters, ordered their parents to bring the two daughters to his palace. The community members discussed this and decided not to give their daughters to the King. They sought 40 days time and migrated further south across the Cauvery river. The legend further says that to preserve their dignity, the girls were buried in a well [need more sources].
Version 2
During the rule of the King of Kaveripoompattinam, a member of his court brought him a bagful of rare and beautiful pearls known then as "Kunni Muthu" (Abrus precatorius). These pearls were so beautiful, they were unlike any other the King had seen before. They were colored red on the one side and black on the other. On seeing these beautiful pearls, the king wished to make a beautiful necklace out of it for his queen. However, there was one big problem. These pearls were so tiny in size it was impossible to make a hole in it to thread the pearls together. Several skillful jewelers tried their luck and ended up failing in vain. The king was quite saddened and disappointed by this. The king's chief trade adviser offered to help. He took those pearls to his home and gave them to his two beautiful daughters Thangammai and Thayammai and asked them if they could help with this seemingly impossible task.
Both girls being quite clever, came up quickly with an ingenious solution. They took each pearl and stuck a grain of sugar on two opposite ends of it and arranged each pearl closer to one other in a straight line. They then took a thread and attached one end of it to the pearl on the top end. They did this and went to their beds. The next morning, the pearls were neatly threaded for them. The girls father was very surprised to see this. He later found out that it was the work of the ants that had followed the trail of its food and drilled a hole inside the pearls on its way.
The king was extremely delighted to see the necklace made so quickly. He came to know that this was the work and creativity of his advisor's young daughters. He asked the adviser to bring both his daughters to him, so he can thank them and reward them personally. As per his request the daughters were brought before the king. The king thanked them both and rewarded them well. He then got immensely attracted by the beauty of these two young girls. He immediately wished to have both of them as his wives.
The adviser was displeased with the king's wishes. He couldn't come to terms to agree with the king and give away his daughters but at the same time he couldn't dare disobey the king. The adviser discussed the issue with his other 6 siblings and they together came to a conclusion not to give away the daughters.
The legend goes that the girls were said to have been buried in a well and the family with all 7 siblings immediately fled to the south along with their belongings and deities' idols.
Version 3 as found in "Chetty Nadu and Chenthamizh, Page 481"
During the Kaliyuga year 4389 (1288 AD) there was trouble and Ariyurpattinam was demolished. The sixty-four Vaishya families that stayed there escaped to the Malayala kingdom (Kerela) and started living near the River Korattar. They built a temple for Maragatha Vinayagar and continued the prayers. See http://nagaratharikkiyasangam.org/aboutnagarathar.htm
. And date is conformed with the help of Tamil-panchangam
Odupparai Temple Kozhukkattai Nivethya Celebration years:
1.jpg|thumb|Oduppurai Nagaramman Temple]]
Tamil language
Tamil is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. It has official status in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and in the Indian union territory of Pondicherry. Tamil is also an official language of Sri Lanka and Singapore...
speaking Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
community
Community
The term community has two distinct meanings:*a group of interacting people, possibly living in close proximity, and often refers to a group that shares some common values, and is attributed with social cohesion within a shared geographical location, generally in social units larger than a household...
in South India
South India
South India is the area encompassing India's states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu as well as the union territories of Lakshadweep and Pondicherry, occupying 19.31% of India's area...
. They are said to have migrated from Kaveripoompattanam
Puhar
Puhar is a town in the Nagapattinam district in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It was once a flourishing ancient port city known as Kaveri puhum pattinam, which for a while served as the capital of the early Chola kings in Tamilakkam.It is located near the end point of the Kaveri river,...
in Thanjavur District and settled in Kanyakumari District
Kanyakumari District
Kanyakumari District ) is a district of Tamil Nadu state, India and is the southernmost land area of mainland India.The district is the second most urbanised district in Tamilnadu, next only to Chennai and ahead of Coimbatore. It also has the highest literacy and education levels in the...
. They come under the common name of Chetty which includes other communities such as Kottar Chetty, Parakka Chetty, Vellalar Chetty, Pathira Chetty, Valayal Chetty, Pudukottai Chetty, Nattukkottai Chetty etc. They were once a trading community and were distinct from the other Chetty communities. The name is derived from "Ezhu ooru" meaning "7 towns". The 7 towns were in and around the Kanyakumari
Kanyakumari District
Kanyakumari District ) is a district of Tamil Nadu state, India and is the southernmost land area of mainland India.The district is the second most urbanised district in Tamilnadu, next only to Chennai and ahead of Coimbatore. It also has the highest literacy and education levels in the...
District in South Tamilnadu, India, namely Eraniel
Eraniel
Eraniel is a panchayat town in Kanniyakumari district in the state of Tamil Nadu, India.-Geography:Eraniel is located at . It has an average elevation of 10 meters .its near to Thingal Nagar previously known as Monday Market....
, Thiruvithancode
Thiruvithancode
Thiruvithamcode is a small panchayat town located in the Kanyakumari district of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.Name in Tamil: திருவிதாங்கோடு....
, Padmanabhapuram
Padmanabhapuram
Padmanabhapuram a city and a municipality near Thuckalay in Kanniyakumari district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.-History:Padmanabhapuram was the old capital of the princely state of Travancore in India...
, Colachel, Ganapathipuram
Ganapathipuram
Ganapathipuram is a panchayat town in Kanniyakumari district in the state of Tamil Nadu, India.- Demographics : India census, Ganapathipuram had a population of 13,653. Males constitute 50% of the population and females 50%. Ganapathipuram has an average literacy rate of 74%, higher than the...
, Midalam, and Parakkai. They are called Keezhatheru Chetty. Later Kottar
Kottar
Kottar is a locality and a thriving bazaar area of Nagercoil, Tamil Nadu state, India; though a part of Nagercoil today, it is the original town around which the city of Nagercoil, near the southernmost tip of Peninsular India, grew. It was an ancient trade center of both Pandyas and Cheras at...
, Thiruvananthapuram
Thiruvananthapuram
Thiruvananthapuram , formerly known as Trivandrum, is the capital of the Indian state of Kerala and the headquarters of the Thiruvananthapuram District. It is located on the west coast of India near the extreme south of the mainland...
, Therusanamkoppu, Nagercoil
Nagercoil
Nagercoil is the 12th largest city in the southernmost Indian state of Tamil Nadu and a municipality and administrative headquarters of Kanyakumari District...
, Chennai
Chennai
Chennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India...
, Thalakkulam, Eraniel (Melatheru), Chennai (Melatheru) were added. Currently the members are spread all over India and in other parts of the World. They have also diversified their profession and is not limited to trading.
Elur Chetty Sangham
Voluntary association
A voluntary association or union is a group of individuals who enter into an agreement as volunteers to form a body to accomplish a purpose.Strictly speaking, in many jurisdictions no formalities are necessary to start an association...
was started as a registered association in 1952 with its office in Eraniel. The association was originally started as All Travancore
Travancore
Kingdom of Travancore was a former Hindu feudal kingdom and Indian Princely State with its capital at Padmanabhapuram or Trivandrum ruled by the Travancore Royal Family. The Kingdom of Travancore comprised most of modern day southern Kerala, Kanyakumari district, and the southernmost parts of...
Ezhur Chettu Samudhaya Central Association in 1935 (1100 Vaikasi 29). Elur Chetty was classified as Backward Class (OBC) in Tamilnadu and Kerala in 1993 as per Mandal Commission
Mandal commission
The Mandal Commission was established in India in 1979 by the Janata Party government under Prime Minister Morarji Desai with a mandate to "identify the socially or educationally backward." It was headed by Indian parliamentarian Bindheshwari Prasad Mandal to consider the question of seat...
considering the social and financial backwardness of the community.
Surname
Most common surname found in this community is Pillai / ChettiarChettiar
Chettiar , also spelled Chetty, is a title used by various castes in South India especially in Tamil Nadu. In Kannada, it appears as Setty, Shettar and Shettigar, who are Padmashalis in Andhra Pradesh....
. This surname Pillai is shared by many other communities including Sozhiya Vellalar and Kerala Nair
Nair
Nair , also known as Nayar , refers to "not a unitary group but a named category of castes", which historically embody several castes and many subdivisions, not all of whom bore the Nair title. These people historically live in the present-day Indian state of Kerala...
community. There are two majority subcastes in this community which is called as Melatheru and Keezhatheru. However, among the different subdivisions, the surname is almost common. Time has had its influences on the community and among other changes, the current generation seldom uses this surname.
History
Ezhur Chetty community were originally residents of KaveripoompattinamPuhar
Puhar is a town in the Nagapattinam district in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It was once a flourishing ancient port city known as Kaveri puhum pattinam, which for a while served as the capital of the early Chola kings in Tamilakkam.It is located near the end point of the Kaveri river,...
, part of the Chola empire, and were an affluent community involved in sea trade[1]. This ancient town was destroyed by tsunami around AD 79 August 23/24[3] and the community members started migrating to other areas after this event[2].
The trading community left their properties and wealthy life, took their family deities' (Vinayaka & Nagaramman) idols, left the Chola empire and migrated to the Pandiya and Chera
Chera dynasty
Chera Dynasty in South India is one of the most ancient ruling dynasties in India. Together with the Cholas and the Pandyas, they formed the three principle warring Iron Age Tamil kingdoms in southern India...
Empires across the river Cauveri
Kaveri River
The Kaveri , also spelled Cauvery in English, is a large Indian river. The origin of the river is traditionally placed at Talakaveri, Kodagu in the Western Ghats in Karnataka, flows generally south and east through Karnataka and Tamil Nadu and across the southern Deccan plateau through the...
. Some of the migrated people settled in around 93 places including Karaikudi, Devakkottai, Thiruppur, Kovilpatti, Thazhayoothu, Valliyur and Kottar. The people who reached Kottar
Kottar
Kottar is a locality and a thriving bazaar area of Nagercoil, Tamil Nadu state, India; though a part of Nagercoil today, it is the original town around which the city of Nagercoil, near the southernmost tip of Peninsular India, grew. It was an ancient trade center of both Pandyas and Cheras at...
did pooja for the Vinayaka idol. After the pooja, when they tried to remove the idol, they were unsuccessful. People who stayed back in Kottar are called Kottar Chetty. Later the Kottar Pillayar Temple was built there.
The rest of them reached Eraniel (formerly Hiranyasimhanallur) near the shore of Valli river. That day was the last Sunday of Chithirai month of Tamil Calendar
Tamil calendar
The Tamil calendar is a solar and sidereal Hindu calendar used in Tamil Nadu. It is also used in Pondicherry , and by the Tamil population in Malaysia, Singapore, Mauritius and Sri Lanka. It is also used by Telugu speaking people in Tamil Nadu...
during the day of aayilyam nakshatra
Nakshatra
Nakshatra is the term for lunar mansion in Hindu astrology. A nakshatra is one of 27 sectors along the ecliptic...
. They placed the Nagaramman (the snake goddess) idol and also idols for Thangammai and Thayammai there. On that night, They made nivedyam (a sweet offering for God) from a mixture of raw rice flour, banana (Matty) fruit, cardomam, dried ginger, coconut and jaggery. This mixture was pressed to form a solid rectangular shape (like a brick), which was then covered using banana and coconut leaves and tied using Kaithai (a plant which produces a very fragrant flower) root. This was baked using coconut husk and served to the god. This came to be known as the 'Odupparai Kolukkattai'. Since then, the Odupparai Nagaramman Temple celebrations are being held to this day and the family and community meet together.
The community members then met the Chera King and sought permission to conduct trade. Trading then commenced, with Eraniel as the base, covering Ganapathipuram (Pazhaya Kadai), Parakkai, Colachel, Midalam, Thiruvithancode and Padmanabhapuram. Hence they were called Ezhur (meaning '7 towns') Chetty community.
The earliest known people from the community who settled in Eraniel were Umayammai and Pitcha Pillai (descendent of Unnaamalai). Their offspring are Kolappa Pillai, Subramonia Pillai and Sivathanu Pillai. These names can be found used by generations. References to these can be found in the rock scripts in Odupparai Temple.
Legends
Version 1 as told by Saverier PillaiThe King of Kaveripoompattanam, was on his daily rounds. On the way, he saw two girls named Thangammai and Thayammai knitting flowers in their house verandah
Verandah
A veranda or verandah is a roofed opened gallery or porch. It is also described as an open pillared gallery, generally roofed, built around a central structure...
. The king, attracted by the beauty of the sisters, ordered their parents to bring the two daughters to his palace. The community members discussed this and decided not to give their daughters to the King. They sought 40 days time and migrated further south across the Cauvery river. The legend further says that to preserve their dignity, the girls were buried in a well [need more sources].
Version 2
During the rule of the King of Kaveripoompattinam, a member of his court brought him a bagful of rare and beautiful pearls known then as "Kunni Muthu" (Abrus precatorius). These pearls were so beautiful, they were unlike any other the King had seen before. They were colored red on the one side and black on the other. On seeing these beautiful pearls, the king wished to make a beautiful necklace out of it for his queen. However, there was one big problem. These pearls were so tiny in size it was impossible to make a hole in it to thread the pearls together. Several skillful jewelers tried their luck and ended up failing in vain. The king was quite saddened and disappointed by this. The king's chief trade adviser offered to help. He took those pearls to his home and gave them to his two beautiful daughters Thangammai and Thayammai and asked them if they could help with this seemingly impossible task.
Both girls being quite clever, came up quickly with an ingenious solution. They took each pearl and stuck a grain of sugar on two opposite ends of it and arranged each pearl closer to one other in a straight line. They then took a thread and attached one end of it to the pearl on the top end. They did this and went to their beds. The next morning, the pearls were neatly threaded for them. The girls father was very surprised to see this. He later found out that it was the work of the ants that had followed the trail of its food and drilled a hole inside the pearls on its way.
The king was extremely delighted to see the necklace made so quickly. He came to know that this was the work and creativity of his advisor's young daughters. He asked the adviser to bring both his daughters to him, so he can thank them and reward them personally. As per his request the daughters were brought before the king. The king thanked them both and rewarded them well. He then got immensely attracted by the beauty of these two young girls. He immediately wished to have both of them as his wives.
The adviser was displeased with the king's wishes. He couldn't come to terms to agree with the king and give away his daughters but at the same time he couldn't dare disobey the king. The adviser discussed the issue with his other 6 siblings and they together came to a conclusion not to give away the daughters.
The legend goes that the girls were said to have been buried in a well and the family with all 7 siblings immediately fled to the south along with their belongings and deities' idols.
Version 3 as found in "Chetty Nadu and Chenthamizh, Page 481"
During the Kaliyuga year 4389 (1288 AD) there was trouble and Ariyurpattinam was demolished. The sixty-four Vaishya families that stayed there escaped to the Malayala kingdom (Kerela) and started living near the River Korattar. They built a temple for Maragatha Vinayagar and continued the prayers. See http://nagaratharikkiyasangam.org/aboutnagarathar.htm
Odupparai Nagaramman Temple
Odupparai Nagaramman Temple is the community temple of Elur Chetty community. The Temple is situated nearby Eraniel (Hiranyasimha nallur). Monthly poojas are carried out on the last Sunday of the Tamil calendarTamil calendar
The Tamil calendar is a solar and sidereal Hindu calendar used in Tamil Nadu. It is also used in Pondicherry , and by the Tamil population in Malaysia, Singapore, Mauritius and Sri Lanka. It is also used by Telugu speaking people in Tamil Nadu...
. And date is conformed with the help of Tamil-panchangam
Odupparai Temple Kozhukkattai Nivethya Celebration years:
- 1941 May 4 - [1116 (Vrusha varsham) Chithirai 22]
- 1944 Apr 30 - [1119 (Dharuna varsham) Chithirai 18]
- 1951 May 13 - [1126 (Kara varsham) Chithirai 30]
- 1954 May 9 - [1129 (Jaya varsham) Chithirai 26]
- 1958 Apr 27 - [1133 (Vilambi varsham) Chithirai 14]
- 1961 Apr 23 - [1136 (Plava varsham) Chithirai 11]
- 1966 May 8 - [1141 (Parabava varsham) Chithirai 25]
- 1971 May 2 - [1146 (Virodhikruth varsham) Chithirai 19]
- 1978 May 14 - [1153 (Kalyukta varsham) Chithirai 31]
- 1981 May 10 - [1156 (Dhurmathi varsham) Chithirai 27]
- 1985 Apr 28 - [1160 (Krodhana varsham) Chithirai 15]
- 11 May 2008 - [1183 (Sarvadhari varsham) Chithirai 29]
Odupparai Kozhukkattai (Offering) Ingredients
During the Kozhukkattai celebration, offering to God is submitted as performed during the earlier days. The detailed measurement of ingredients and the procedure to prepare can be found at Elur Chetty BlogList of Elur Chetty Temples
- Eraniel Singa Reksha Vinayakar Devasthanam Pillayar Temple.
- Eraniel Mutharamman Temple.
- Chettu samuthaya arulmigu Odupparai Nagaramman Temple,Eraniel.
- Thiruvithancode Umayorupakam Pillayar Temple.
- Thiruvithancode Chudalai Maadan Temple.
- Thiruvithancode Muthu Vayiravar Amman Temple.
- Midalam Dhaiva Vinayagar-Mutharamman Temple.
- Midalam shivan Temple.
- Midalam Nagaramman Temple.
- Padmanabhapuram Mutharamman Temple.
- Padmanabhapuram Pillayar Temple.
- Padmanabhapuram Maadan Temple.
- Padmanabhapuram Bhoothathan Temple.
- Kattalai Nagaramman TempleKattalai TempleKattalai Amman Temple is a Hindu Temple situated in Kanyakumari District at the southern part of Tamil Nadu, India. The temple is located in the picturesque village, surrounded by mountains and canals...
- Colachal Mutharamman Temple.
- Colachal Desiga Vinayagar Temple.
- Colachal Nagaramman Temple.
- Kottar Nayanar Desika Vinayakar Temple.
- Kottar Mutharamman Temple.
- Therisanamkoppu Sivan Temple and Amman Temple.
- Ganapathipuram AnnaVinayagar Temple.
- Ganapathipuram Vandimalachi Amman Temple.
- Parakkai Madhusuthana Perumal Temple.
- Parakkai Chudalamadan Temple.
- Parakkai Muthu Vinayagar Temple.
- Parakkai Keelatheru mutharamman Temple.
- Parakkai Chettitheru Mutharamman Temple.
- Thiruvananthapuram Nandavanam Nagaramman Temple.
Association Presidents
- B. Sivagurunathan Chettiar B.A., B.L., Kottar (1944–1948, 1965–1968)
- K. Padmanabha Pillai B.A.L.T, Ganapathipuram (1956–1959)
- C.N. Sivathanu Pillai, Colachel (1953–1956, 1959–1962)
- R. Kumaraswamy Chettiar, Kottar (1962–1965)
- Vidwan P. Nataraja Pillai, Midalam (1968–1972)
- C. Subramonia Pillai B.A., Colachel (1973–1984)
- K. Vinayakamoorthy M.A., M.Phil., Kottar (1984–1991)
- P. Sivathanu B.E., M.Sc., Nagercoil (1991-
Community Halls
- Community Hall,Kottar.
- SAMUDAYA MANDAPAM,Padmanabhapuram.
- C.S.S.HALL,Killipalam,Thiruvananthapuram.
- SAMUDAYA MANDAPAM,Oduppurai.
- Melatheru Chetty Samudhaya Kalyana Mandapam, Eraniel.
- Melatheru Chetty Samudhaya Kalyana Mandapam, Thalakulam.