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'Sengunthar or Kaikolan or Kaikolar are a large Tamil in southern India. Sengunthar is a distinguished caste from Tamilnadu. Sengunthar are also known as Kaikolar. Sengunthars live throughout India and around the world. Sengunthars form a significant proportion of population in various districts of Tamilnadu esp. in Arcot, Chingleput, Salem, Erode, Coimbatore, Dharmapuri. Sengunthars use the title of Mudaliar after their name. In this page we will discuss about the history of sengunthars, their culture and customs.

Origin

The Kaikolars also called as Sengunthar, are a large Tamil people. Their name comes from a mythical hero and from the words "kai" (hand) and "kol" (shuttle used in looming or spear). They consider the different parts of the loom to represent various gods and sages.

They were in the army of Chola dynasty. http://www.tamilnation.org/literature/kalki/unicode/mp169v2p2.htm#1 They are also known as Sengundar, which means a red dagger, which is traced to the legend of the earth being harassed by demons, which led to the people asking the god Shiva to help them. He was furious with the demonic giants and sent six sparks from his eyes. Parvati, his wife became frightened and retired to her chamber but dropped nine beads from her anklets. Shiva converted those beads into nine women, each giving birth to a hero, complete with moustache and daggers. These nine led by Subramanya, with a large army destroyed the demons. Kaikolans or Sengundar claim descent from one of the nine heroes. There are seventy-two subdivisions (nadu or desams).These legends were created at a time when the weaver community had lost its social status and the formuale were efforts at self-glorification.

History of Kaikolars in Medieval South India and 21st Century

The earliest historically accurate evidence for Sengunthars, as per Chola inscriptions ( Thelintha Kaikola Padai ) indicate that they belong to the warrior class.

They took up weaving silk and transformed to land owners and business men.

Later, during 17th and 18th century history indicate that Sengunthars were predominantly involved in weaving. This is indicated in various sources. At the same time, weaving was not the only occupation involved. Agriculture and business were also secondary occupations of Sengunthars.

Since Sengunthars were not Vellalars and belonged to the Idangai (Left-hand) caste group as per old British documents of the 18th century they did not feel bound to the land. They also migrated across Tamilnadu from their origin to spread tamil literature.

They form a significant population in Kancheepuram and Tirupur-Salem. They started using Mudaliar surname even though there is no established date on when they started using the title. Some sengunthars also were using Pillai title, but later abandoned it for the uniform mudaliar title.

It should be noted that Sengunthars do not tend to intermarry with other Mudaliars even though they may reside in the same area as other Mudaliars.

History and Historical Evidence

During chola rule kaikolars served as soldiers and called as "Thelintha kaikolar padai"

Kaikolars were considered as decendents of lord Muruga having a kol{Vel}. There is another story indicating that Kaikolars are descendants of VeeraBahu the general of Lord Muruga.

The link below indicates that Kaikolas were prominent members of tamil society even during the 10th century AD during chola rule.

http://www.whatisindia.com/inscriptions/south_indian_inscriptions/volume_19/inscription_of_parakesarivarman_no_85.html

http://www.hinduonnet.com/2002/03/25/stories/2002032503000500.htm

Culture and Customs

The Culture and Customs of the Sengunthars is similar to most tamilians. However there are differences in customs between the various kootams of Sengunthar. The significant difference being that some Sengunthars are more kootam conservative than other Sengunthar groups when it comes to marriage partners.

Marriage Culture and Marriage Customs

Sengunthar are a very diverse group even though they are classified under the same group by the government of India. So there is a very diverse culture and custom among Sengunthar. Sengunthar follow the local custom and culture of the region where they live.

Some Sengunthar follow the kootam culture, gothram culture and sometimes without either.

Sengunthar who live in the same area could belong to different cultures and so they may not be endogamous nor be relatives.

This is very different from other groups which are concentrated in one area. So lots of confusion happen when discussing about culture and customs.

Community Legends and festivals

The Sura Samhara festival is a ritual tradition practised by the Kaikolars to sustain the myth of the divine origin of the weavers with the intention of exalting their caste in the face of actual social inferiority. According to the mythology of weaver community, the Kaikolars weavers were born out of nine gems that were scattered from Parvati's anklet. At the Sura Samhara festival, they dress up as the nine warriors of Virabahu, the lieutenant of Lord Karthikeya and enact the killing of the demon Narakasura. These legends were created at a time when the weaver community had lost its social status and the formuale were efforts at self-glorification.

Gods/Goddesses

Kaikolars are predominantly Shaivites. They possess a Clan God as most of the castes in Tamil Nadu. Mostly, it is some form of Amman i.e Parvati or Murugan.

Kootam/kulam

Kootam defines birth from a single male ancestor. Kootam is transferred patrilineally i.e., via the father of a person. Hence people belonging to the same kootam are considered brothers and sisters. So marriage between a male and female belonging to the same kootam is prohibited however distantly they may be related.

Historically there were 72 kootams in Kaikolan. Each kootam had a leader. The head leader in Kanchipuram was the head for all these leaders. This was used to manage disputes within the community.

Nowadays, the kootams have merged into one another and there is no well defined leader for each kootam. It is used only for setting up marriage alliances.

A list of Kootam has been removed from this section awaiting authentication by accurate reference material.

Warrior Clans

During Chola rule Kaikolars served as soldiers and were called "Terinja kaikolar padai". (Terinja means "known" in Tamil and Padai means "regiment"), so "terinja-kaikolar padai" were the personal bodygurads. Kaikkolars who were initially weavers were militarised during the Chola empire and formed a major part of the Chola army from 8th century to 13th century. There were no Kaikolar army before or after the Chola empire.

They formed many regiments in the Chola army. Some of those regiments are:

Singalantaka-terinda-Kaikkolar (a regiment named after Singalantaka i.e. Parntaka I)

Virasola-terinja-Kaikkolar

Kodandarama-terinja-Kaikkolar

Danatonga-terinja-Kaikkolar

Parantaka-terinia-Kaikkolar

Muttavalperra-Kaikkolar - (meaning the "recipient of the pearl ornamented sword" in Tamil)

Samarakesarit-terinja-Kaikkolar

Vikramasingat-terinja-Kaikkolar

Adityapanma-terinda-Kaikkolar

Karikala-Chola-terinja-Kaikkolar

Arumolideva-terinja Kaikkolar

Parttivasekarat-terinja-Kaikkolar

Gangadaditta-terinja-Kaikkola

Madurantaka-terinja-Kaikkolar

Pirantaka-terinja-Kaikkolar

The link below indicates that Kaikolars were prominent members of Tamil society even during the 10th century AD during Chola rule.

Smarakesarit-terinja-Kaikkolar and Vikramasingat-terinja-Kaikkolar derived their names from possible titles of Parantaka Udaiyar-Gandaradittatterinja-Kaikkolar must have been the name of a regiment called after king Gandaraditya, the father of Uttama-Chola. Singalantaka-terinda-Kaikkolar (a regiment named after Singalantaka i.e. Parntaka I) Danatonga-terinja-Kaikkola (regiment or group). The early writing of the record and the surname Danatunga of Paranataka I suggests its assignment to his reign. Muttavalperra seems to indicate some special honour or rank conferred on the regiment by the king.

http://www.whatisindia.com/inscriptions/south_indian_inscriptions/volume_19/inscription_of_parakesarivarman_no_85.html

Weaving Clans

The end of Chola rule brought the end to Kaikolans role in the army. Reasons are unknown, but Kaikolars took up weaving on a mass scale or continued their weaving business exclusively for pretty much the next six to seven centuries. Even though there may have been a few rich Kaikolans doing various businesses including agriculture, the vast majority of Kaikolans were involved in weaving which was not a profitable business due to the industrial revolution.

Historical Personalities

Ottakoothar was a court poet of three Chola kings namely Vikrama Chola. Kulotunga-II and Rajaraja II. He wrote poems in praise of these three kings namely Vikrama Cholan Ula, Kulothunga Cholan Ula and Rajarajan Ula. Ottakoothar had also written Kulothungan Pillai Tamil in praise of Chola king Kulothunga II and Saraswathy Andhadhi in praise of Saraswathi the Goddess of learning Sekizhar the minister of chola dynasty wrote periyapuranam his native is kundrathur near chennai kambar who wrote ramayana in tamil he is also from chola empire kamban veetu kattu tharium kavipadum