Pannaiyar

Pannaiyar /Kathikaaran is an Indian caste. Social Settings of Tuticorin districts research says Pannaiyar and Katthikaaran are subcastes of maravar

== Distribution ==pannaiyars live around Tuticorin, Mukkani, Tiruchendur, Kulasekarapattinam (Tuticorin District), Koothankuli, Uvari from Tirunelveli District, North Tamarakulam, Puthalam, Variyoor from Kanyakumari District and Krishnapuram, S. Tharaikudi, Keezhakkarai from Ramnad district and a few places in Thiruppullani, Adiramapattinam, Tanjore district. Alternate names are Alwar, Chitravalliar, Chitravilli, Moopanar and Pannaiyan. Kathikara Moonpanar live mostly in Panagudi and Tirunelveli.

History

The Pannaiyar/Kathikaaran(கத்திமறவர்) Villavars(NADALVAN) who belongs to chera dynasty(now kerala) migrated from kerala to souther tamilnadu in 1745 AD after the formation tranvancore samasthanam by marthaanda varma in 17th century. They seem to be descendants of old Villavar Dynasty Cheras. Research from social settings of Tuticorin districts revealed that Pannayar and Kathikar are sub-castes of Maravar. They have the title Kathikaaran, Alwar, Alagar, Nainar, Moopanar, Chitravalli (or Chitravilli).

chittiravilli(Kulothunga chola war generals):

On the north wall of the ardha-mantapa of the Siva temple. (Tamil, Vatteluttu.) A record of the thirty-eighth year of king Kulotturiga-chOla, recording the gift of some salt pans by some subordinates of the king. See Trav. Arch. Ser., Vol. I, pp. 243-4. 

"அழகிய சோழ சித்திரவில்லி உய்யன்கொண்ட சோழ சித்திரவில்லி கண்டராதித்த சோழ சித்திரவில்லி"

கத்திமறவர்

According to kunjan pillai n 1932 census of india kathikara are bodyguard to venad kings.

(A. R. No. 149 of 1938-39)</ref> The king's confirmation of the tax-free status of Chittiravalli (called Kerala-Chaturvedi Mangalam in Kottaikarai-Nadu), made by his father Ayyan Kulasekhara, led to his name entered in the shrine of Tiruvali-Alvar.

Alagar (Title): Resembles Kallalagar. This title belonged to people in Alagar street, Kulasai. Some people worship "Kari Pillan" as their kulatheivam. Koothankuli town in tiruneveli is called as Alagar koothankuli on the name of pannaiyar community title.

Chitravalli: kerala chittiravalli. It is the name of Ravivarman kulasekharan 1315 AD. Srirengam inscriptions confirms village chittiravalli or kerala chaturvedi mangalam is named after the Kerala venad king Ravivarman kulasekharan.

Religion

Pannaiyar Community people are 100% Hindus. They worship Perianachi Amman as their idol god. During Tamil month "சித்திரை" they celebrate "Kovil kodai" for "'Peria Nachiar'" in Tuticorin. All title holders Alavar, Alagar, Chitravalliar attend the function. In Tuticorin Kulatheivam temple "'Peria nachiar'" has resemblance to Nisumba soodhani and Vada Pathrakali. Nisumba soodhani is a god worshipped by Cholas before war.

Tiruchendur Soora Samharam

During Soorasamhar festival in Kantha Sasthi, Pannaiyar Community has traditional rights. The Asuras are decapitated by Lord Murugan using his vel (weapon), which looks like a kind of spear or javelin. Before starting this, the vel carried by Pannaiyar people is consecrated and the ceremony takes place like Lord Murugan placing vel on Padmasura’s head which falls on the ground. Soorasamhaaram is performed at the last week of Kanda Sashti festival.

Kallar sadangu

It is traditional function on Kantha Sasthi days. Kallars of Pannaiyar community take gold ornaments and later surrender to Lord Muruga and get blessings from him.

External links

• Kallar Sarithiram(1928): Venkatasamy Nattar.Nattar describes the meaning of Pannaiyar Title holders of Kallars.
• "South Indian Inscriptions - Inscriptions of the Ranganathasvamy Temple, Srirangam @ whatisindia.com". www.whatisindia.com. Retrieved 2019-03-07.
• Tax Free for Chittiravalli village by Kulasekarapandyan
• [http://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/69247/9/09_chapter%202.pdf மறவர் கிளை பிரிவு

[இந்திய நடுவண் அரசு அறிவித்துள்ள இதர பிற்படுத்தப்பட்டவர்களின் பட்டியல் – தமிழ்நாடு] ] Pannaiyar/kathikaran Unique descendants of Kallar

• [https://archive.org/details/topographicallis03rangiala/page/n4 chittiravilli(villavar) kulothunga chola war generals