Nagarathar

Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Main other {{#invoke:infobox|infoboxTemplate | bodyclass = vcard

| titleclass = fn org | title = {{#if:Nagarathar|Nagarathar|Template:PAGENAMEBASE}}

| aboveclass = nickname | abovestyle = font-size:115%; font-weight:normal;

| above = {{#if:நகரத்தார் |

நகரத்தார்

}}

| image1 = {{#invoke:InfoboxImage|InfoboxImage |upright=|image=|alt=|border={{#ifeq:no|||yes}}}} | caption1 =

| image2 = {{#invoke:InfoboxImage|InfoboxImage |upright=|alt=|image={{#if:|{{{rawimage}}}|Chettinad palace.jpg }} }} | caption2 =

| headerstyle = background-color:#b0c4de; color:inherit; | labelstyle = font-weight:normal;

| header1 = {{#if:c. 75,000-1,00,000<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>Template:Efn |Total population}}

| data2 = c. 75,000-1,00,000<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>Template:Efn {{#if:|(Template:Comma separated entries)}} {{#if: | (including those of ancestral descent)}} | label3 = {{#switch: |census = (census) |estimate|est = (est.) }} | data3 = | label4 = {{#switch: |census = (census) |estimate|est = (est.) }} | data4 = | label5 = {{#switch: |census = (census) |estimate|est = (est.) }} | data5 =

| header6 = {{#if:India: Chettinad region of Tamil Nadu, Chennai |Regions with significant populations}} | data7 = India: Chettinad region of Tamil Nadu, Chennai | header8 = | data9 =

| label11 = | data11 = | label12 = | data12 = | label13 = | data13 = | label14 = | data14 = | label15 = | data15 = | label16 = | data16 = | label17 = | data17 = | label18 = | data18 = | label19 = | data19 = | label20 = | data20 = | label21 = | data21 = | label22 = | data22 = | label23 = | data23 = | label24 = | data24 = | label25 = | data25 = | label26 = | data26 = | label27 = | data27 = | label28 = | data28 = | label29 = | data29 = | label30 = | data30 = | label31 = | data31 = | label32 = | data32 = | label33 = | data33 = | label34 = | data34 = | label35 = | data35 = | label36 = | data36 = | label37 = | data37 = | label38 = | data38 = | label39 = | data39 = | label40 = | data40 = | label41 = | data41 = | label42 = | data42 = | label43 = | data43 = | label44 = | data44 = | label45 = | data45 = | label46 = | data46 = | label47 = | data47 = | label48 = | data48 = | label49 = | data49 = | label50 = | data50 = | label51 = | data51 = | label52 = | data52 = | label53 = | data53 = | label54 = | data54 = | label55 = | data55 = | label56 = | data56 = | label57 = | data57 = | label58 = | data58 = | label59 = | data59 = | label60 = | data60 = | header61 = {{#if:Tamil |Languages}} | data62 = Tamil | header63 = {{#if:Shaivam |Religion}} | data64 = Shaivam | header65 = {{#if:Tamil people |Related ethnic groups}} | data66 = {{#if:Tamil people |Tamil people Template:Main other }}

| belowstyle = padding-top:0.5em;text-align:left;

| below = {{#if: |

---

{{{footnotes}}} }}

}}{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:Infobox ethnic group with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y | caption | flag |flag_alt | flag_border | flag_caption | flag_upright | footnotes | genealogy | group | image |image_alt | image_caption | image_upright | langs | languages | native_name | native_name_lang | pop | pop_embed | pop1 | pop10 | pop11 | pop12 | pop13 | pop14 | pop15 | pop16 | pop17 | pop18 | pop19 | pop2 | pop20 | pop21 | pop22 | pop23 | pop24 | pop25 | pop26 | pop27 | pop28 | pop29 | pop3 | pop30 | pop31 | pop32 | pop33 | pop34 | pop35 | pop36 | pop37 | pop38 | pop39 | pop4 | pop40 | pop41 | pop42 | pop43 | pop44 | pop45 | pop46 | pop47 | pop48 | pop49 | pop5 | pop50 | pop6 | pop7 | pop8 | pop9 | popplace | population | rawimage | ref1 | ref10 | ref11 | ref12 | ref13 | ref14 | ref15 | ref16 | ref17 | ref18 | ref19 | ref2 | ref20 | ref21 | ref22 | ref23 | ref24 | ref25 | ref26 | ref27 | ref28 | ref29 | ref3 | ref30 | ref31 | ref32 | ref33 | ref34 | ref35 | ref36 | ref37 | ref38 | ref39 | ref4 | ref40 | ref41 | ref42 | ref43 | ref44 | ref45 | ref46 | ref47 | ref48 | ref49 | ref5 | ref50 | ref6 | ref7 | ref8 | ref9 | region1 | region10 | region11 | region12 | region13 | region14 | region15 | region16 | region17 | region18 | region19 | region2 | region20 | region21 | region22 | region23 | region24 | region25 | region26 | region27 | region28 | region29 | region3 | region30 | region31 | region32 | region33 | region34 | region35 | region36 | region37 | region38 | region39 | region4 | region40 | region41 | region42 | region43 | region44 | region45 | region46 | region47 | region48 | region49 | region5 | region50 | region6 | region7 | region8 | region9 | regions | related | related_groups | related-c | religions | rels | tablehdr | total | total_ref | total_source | total_year | total1 | total1_ref | total1_source | total1_year | total2 | total2_ref | total2_source | total2_year | total3 | total3_ref | total3_source | total3_year }}Template:Main other

Nagarathar (நகரத்தார்) is a Tamil caste found native in Tamil Nadu, India. The Nagarathar community was not originally a single caste, but developed from an assortment of related subcastes, which over time became known under the umbrella term Nagarathar.

Notable castes that use the name Nagarathar include: Nattukottai Nagarathar, Aruviyur Nagarathar,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Uruthikottai Nagarathar,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Elur Chetty Nagarathar, Vallanattu Nagarathar Chettiar, Sundarapattina Nagarathar,<ref name=":13">Template:Cite book</ref> Muraiyur Nagarathar,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Attangudi Nagarathar, Palaaiyapatti Nagarathar, Dhanavanikar Nagarathar, Nattarasankottai Nagarathar, 96 Oor Nagarathar and Naana Desikal.

A few subsects of the Nagarathar community, such as the Nattukottai Nagarathar, were traditionally wealthy landlords and money lenders.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Nagarathars are a mercantile community who are traditionally involved in commerce, banking and money lending.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite book</ref> They use the title Chettiar and are traditionally concentrated in modern region Chettinad.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> They are prominent philanthropist who funded and built several Hindu temples, choultries, schools, colleges and universities.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Etymology

The term Nagarathar literally means "town-dweller".<ref name=":1">Template:Cite book</ref>

Nattukottai Nagarathars are also known as Nattukottai Chettiar.<ref name=":2" /> The term Nattukottai literally means "country-fort" in reference to their fort-like mansions.<ref name=":1" /> Their title, Chettiar, is a generic term used by several mercantile groups which is derived from the ancient Tamil term etti (bestowed on merchants by the Tamil monarchs).<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

History

Nattukottai Nagarathars were originally from the ancient land of Naganadu, which is believed to be destroyed (either in an earthquake or floods) and this place was either north or northwest of Kanchipuram.

Nagarathars migrated and lived in the following places:

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

· Kaveripoompatinam (Poompuhar), the capital of the early (Chola Kingdom) – From 789 BC for about 1400 years.

· 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 Maragatha Vinayagar. Only after they migrated to the Pandya Kingdom they were called as Ariyurar, Ilayatrangudiyar, and Sundrapattanathar. They celebrate Pillaiyar Nonbu in honor of Vinayagar based on the communal legend that their ancestors got lost at sea at Kaveripoompatinam and prayed for 21 days before reaching a shore.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Nagarathars of Ilayatrangudiyar were later called as Nattukottai Nagarathar. Ariyurar (Aruviyur) Nagarathars further split into 3 divisions: Vadakku Valavu (North),<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Therku Valavu (South) and Elur Chetty. Sundrapattanathar Nagarathars migrated to Kollam district in Kerala and their history is completely lost now since there was no record keeping.<ref name=":13"/>

The Nattukkottai Nagarathars were originally salt traders and historically an itinerant community of merchants and claim Chettinad as their traditional home.<ref name="Routledge">Template:Cite book</ref> How they reached that place, which at the time comprised adjacent parts of the ancient states of Pudukkottai, Ramnad and Sivagangai, is uncertain, with various legends being recorded. There are various claims regarding how they arrived in that area.<ref name="Price1996-13">Template:Cite book</ref> Among those are a claim that they were driven there because of persecution by a Chola king named Poovandhi Cholan whilst another states that they left due to Poombuhar's proximity to the sea when the city was destroyed.<ref name="Book">Template:Cite book</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> There are also several legends about the decline in female population prior to moving to the Pandya kindgdom leading to many unmarried men, who were eventually allowed to marry Vellalar women.<ref name="Book"/><ref name="Arizona">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> No more details are clear about this story and as to why the Nagarathar left the Chola kingdom and moved away from Kaveripoompattinam to the Pandya kingdom.

Another older one, recounted to Edgar Thurston, that they were encouraged to go there by a Pandyan king who wanted to take advantage of their trading skills. The legends converge in saying that they obtained the use of nine temples, with each representing one exogamous part of the community.<ref name="Price1996-13" />

The traditional base of the Nattukottai Nagarathars is the Chettinad region of the present-day state of Tamil Nadu. It comprises a triangular area around northeast Sivagangai, northwest Ramnad and south Pudukkottai.

File:Chettinad palatial house.jpg

They have a reputation for living in characteristic mansions in Chettinad. These were constructed between the late 18th and the early 20th centuries.<ref name=":2">Template:Cite book</ref>

They may have become maritime traders as far back as the 8th century CE. They were trading in salt and by the 17th century, European expansionism in South East Asia during the next century fostered conditions that enabled the community to expand its trading enterprises, including as moneylenders, thereafter.<ref name=":0" /><ref name="Price1996-13" /> By the late 18th century expanded them to inland and coastal trade in cotton and rice.<ref name="Routledge"/>

In the 19th century, following the Permanent Settlement, some in the Nagarathar community wielded considerable influence in the affairs of the zamindar (landowners) elite. There had traditionally been a relationship between royalty and the community based on the premise that providing worthy service to royalty would result in the granting of high honours but this changed as the landowners increasingly needed to borrow money from the community in order to fight legal battles designed to retain their property and powers. Nagarathars provided that money as mortgaged loans but by the middle of the century they were becoming far less tolerant of any defaults and were insisting that failure to pay as arranged would result in the mortgaged properties being forfeited.<ref name="Price1996-103-104">Template:Cite book</ref> By the 19th century were their business activities developed into a sophisticated banking system, with their business expanding to parts of South and Southeast Asian countries such as Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, and Vietnam.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="Arizona"/>

Varna classification

In the absence of a proper chaturvarna (four-fold varna) system in South India, the Nattukottai Nagarathars (also known as Chettiars) have been classified as high-class Vaishyas (merchant caste) due to their extensive involvement in trade, finance, and banking activities.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Their economic prominence and wealth elevated their social status, and they were often considered above Brahmins in certain contexts.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

In addition to their economic prominence, the Nattukottai Nagarathars have been renowned for their philanthropic contributions to religious and social causes. They donated generously to the construction, renovation, and maintenance of numerous Shiva and Vishnu temples across Tamil Nadu and other regions, leaving a lasting legacy in the religious and cultural heritage of South India.<ref>Template:Cite book: "The Chettiars donated vast sums for the construction of temples dedicated to Shiva and Vishnu, with their wealth leaving a religious legacy."</ref><ref>Template:Cite book: "The Nagarathars funded several iconic temples, especially in Tamil Nadu, as a mark of their religious devotion and status."</ref> This charitable tradition further elevated their social standing and cemented their role as patrons of South Indian religious institutions.

Furthermore, some Nattukottai Nagarathars ascended to kingship through their wealth and influence. Although kings are traditionally associated with the Kshatriya varna in the chaturvarna system, the Nattukottai Nagarathars' rise to power was based on their economic achievements rather than hereditary lineage.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Community divisions or clans

The nine Hindu temples connected with the Nattukottai Nagarathar community that were built in the 8th century include: Ilayathakudi, Iluppaikkudi, Iraniyur, Mathur, Nemam, Pillayarpatti,<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Soorakudi, Vairavan, and Velangudi.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="R">https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Manikandan-Manickam/publication/342412045_Historical_Studies_of_Nine_Nagara_Temples_of_Nattukkottai/links/5ef3314ea6fdcc158d261a22/Historical-Studies-of-Nine-Nagara-Temples-of-Nattukkottai.pdf</ref> Each temple maintains a count of the number of families associated with it called pulli. Marriage between members of the same temple (pangali) is not allowed.<ref>https://www.ijmra.us/project%20doc/2019/IJRSS_JANUARY2019/IJMRA-14969.pdf</ref><ref name="Arizona"/> Ilayathakudi and Mathur temples have divisions (pirivu), which allows people of different divisions of the same temple to get married.<ref name="P">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Vairavan temple also has divisions but does not follow this rule.<ref name="P"/> Members of Iraniyur and Pillayarpatti cannot intermarry since they are considered family after a pair of brothers were split between the two temples during the 13th century.<ref name="R"/>

Famous personalities

• Pattinathar,<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> a philosopher and ascetic who belonged to the 10th or 14th century CE
• Karaikkal Ammaiyar,<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> a Saivite saint and one of the 63 Nayanmars
• S. Rm. M. Annamalai Chettiar, Raja of Chettinad<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
• Alagappa Chettiar, businessman and philanthropist
• A. C. Muthiah, Indian industrialist<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
• Kannadasan, famous poet and cinema lyricist
• Karumuttu Thiagarajan Chettiar, businessman

References

Resources

• Rajeswary Brown. (1993). Chettiar capital and Southeast Asian credit networks in the inter-war period. In G. Austin and K. Sugihara, eds. Local Suppliers of Credit in the Third World, 1750-1960. New York: St. Martin's Press.
• David Rudner. (1989). "Banker's Trust and the culture of banking among the Nattukottai Chettiars of colonial South India". Modern Asian Studies 23(3), 417–458.
• Template:Cite book
• Heiko Schrader. (1996). "Chettiar finance in Colonial Asia". Zeitschrift fur Ethnologie 121, 101–126.
• Template:Cite book