gounder-name-origin

Origin of Gounders of Vanniya kula Kshatriya :-

In the age of vedic period, Hindu mythological, there were four castes in india. The four classes are Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya and Shudra.

Brahmins protect the society from hostile forces by virtue of their prayers and meditations. Kshatriyas are kings and warriors. They protect the country from enemies by virtue of their physical powers. Vaishyas are traders and merchants. They support the society . And Shudras serve others.

Kshatriya literally means "protector of gentle people". Second in the social hierarchy of the caste system , the Kshatriyas were kings and warriors. They were said to have evolved from the arms of lord Brahma, signifying that their role in society was the protection of people and livestock.

Kshatriya. Vanshis of India:-

Lord Vishnu has taken avathar in all three kshatriya vanshis. The lineages of the Ithihasa Purana tradition are,

Suryavanshi (solar line )

The Suryavanshi lineage claims descent from Sun. Lord Vishnu was born as Ram.

Chandravanshi (lunar line )

The Chandravanshi lineage claims descent from Moon. Lord Vishnu was born as Krishna.

Agnivanshi (fire)

The Agni vanshi lineage claims descent from Agni. Lord Vishnu was born as Veera Vanniya in holy fire pit.

Origin of Vanniyar Kula Kshatriya

The name Vanniyar is derived from the Tamil word ‘Vanmai’ which means strength. Agni,the God of Fire is connected with Regal office, as kings hold in their hands the fire wheel or Agneya chakra as Lord Vishnu. The Vanniyars of South India considered as a representative of the Non-Aryan, a Dravidian Element.

Vanniyar Puranam

Vannia Kula Kshatriya is the only Tamil community with an exclusive puranam on their own. One of the 18 puranas in Hindu Religion is Agneya purana. 38 th chapter of agneya purana says birth of Vanniya kula Kshatriyas. Agneya purana was written in Sanscrit. Tamil version of this puranam was written in classical Tamil and has now been translated into modern day Tamil.

The excerpt from the puranam is, ‘Vilvalan’ & ‘Vatapi’ were Asura brothers born to ‘Dhurvasar’-a saint & ‘Kajomuki’- younger sister of ‘Sura Padman’ – an Asura later killed by Lord Murugan. Vilvalan & Vatapi played mischief’s with ‘Agasthier’ – saint which resulted in swallowing and digestion of Vilvalan by Agasthier. The left out Vatapi prayed Lord Shiva and attained further strength and started ruling ‘Rathina Puri’ situated in the middle of southern sea. Vatapi married ‘Chokka kanni’ daughter of ‘Mayan’ – Deva’s Viswakarma. The Asura Guru ‘Sukhracharuyar’ supported him with Asura battalion.

As expected, he started torturing all the Devas which ‘Naradhar’ noticed and complained to Lord Shiva. Saint ‘Jambu’ maharishi also started ‘Yagnam’ on Shiva to safeguard Devas. Then Lord Shiva came over there and a drop of sweat from his third eye dropped in the yagnam which created the Lord Vishnu as first “Rudhra Veera Vanniyan’ with his horse, weapons & crown. Because Lord Vishnu is the protector of dharma in the world.

Then Lord Shiva & Matha Parvathi were talking to Devendran to offer his second daughter “Mandhira Maalai’-younger sister of ‘Deivayanai’ wife of Lord Murugan, for the marriage of Rudhra Vaaniyan. Upon mutual acceptance & Horoscope matching, marriage between Rudhra Vaaniyan & Mandhira Maalai was solemnized and become parents for four Sons. They were named as “Krishna Vanniyan, Brahma Vanniyan, Sambu Vanniyan & Agni Vanniyan. The boys were getting the entire warrior training from Lord Murugan – their Uncle. Subsequently, they were married to the Four daughters of ‘Kandha(Susheel

a)’saint, namely-Indhrani, Narani, Sundhari & Sumangali.

Then, as per the advice of Lord Shiva, they moved towards south along with their soldiers created by Lord Shiva to fight Vatapi – Asuran and reached the ‘Durga Parameshwari Amman’ Temple in south. The Rudhra Vanniyan & his four sons requested Durgai Amman to help them in combating Vatapi which she accepted and came along with them with her ‘Boodha’ battalion. While they are crossing the Sea, the sea gave way to them by moving the water away in both sides and reoccupied themselves. However, one pet dog of Vanniyars could not cross the Sea and returned home.

After reaching Rathina puri, Rudhra Vanniyan sent Naradhar as mediator which failed and resulted in full-fledged War between Vanniyars & Vatapi Asuran. The ‘Kali Amman’ Asuras family God was also helping the Asuras in the War. The Fighting was intensive and finally Vatapi was killed by Rudhra Vanniyan. Subsequently, all the Asuras were killed including women. But, finally, Four Asura Women (as per the arrangement of Sukrachariyar – Asura Guru, to protect Asura Kulam) came out in Human form and the Vanniyars did not kill them and took them along with them to home.

After the War, the entire battalion reached back the shore and the Durga Goddess stayed at her Temple at south and Vanniyars after worship returned home. (Thatswhy every versions of Goddess Durga are Gounders of Vanniya kula kshatriya's family deity). At their surprise, it was noticed that all the four daughter-in-laws of Rudhra Vanniyan already died by jumping into Fire pots after seeing one of their dogs is returning home alone which indicates that all the Vanniyars have died in the War. This event was also due to a ‘Sabam’ by Sukrachariyar to all the four sisters, since the brides were once denied to him by their Father – Kandha Saint.

After that all the Four Sons had ‘Kandharva Vivah’ with the Four Women brought by them (supposed to be Asura Women but in Human Form) and started living with them. Then Lord Shiva & Lord Vishnu have allocated ‘Sambu region’ to First Rudhra /Veera Vannian, up to north of ‘Palar’ to Brhama Vanniyan, up to ‘Pennaiyar’ to Krishna Vanniyan, up to north of Kaveri to Sambu Vanniyan & Western side of East coast to Agni Vanniyan for their Ruling.

After that the First Rudhra Vanniyan had another son named ‘Chandra sekara maharajan’ and became their heir & then both First Rudhra Veera Vanniyan and his wife Mandhira Maalai left to Devalogam at the invitation of Lord Devendran.

This puranam was written at Madurai Tamil Sangam during King Sundara Pandian’s regime by Saiva Shri Veera Pillai as a translation from Sanskrit ‘Agneya Puranam’ which is one of the 18 Puranams written in Sanskrit.

It may also be noticed that the descendants of the above Agnikula Kshatriya / Vanniyakula Kshatriya / Vahnikula Kshatriya – the Warrior community are predominantly available in Tamil Nadu, Srilanka, Malaysia, Mauritious etc. and their main deity is every versions of Goddess Durga.

Types of Govnders:-

1. Vanniyar kula Kshatriya Gounder

2. velala Gounder

3. Vettuva Gounder

These are the types of Gounders. Among from these vanniyar kula Kshatriya is the only one community with Gounder title and Kshatriya status. 2000 years ago sangam age poet kabilar says about this Kshatriya. Indus valley civilization says this vanniyakula Kshatriyas are warriors more than 10000 years. Vanniyars are warriors during birth in fire flames by jambu maharishi. they are kings during birth. Their families are kings & Commanders of warriors (Govnder) . Senathipathi called in tamil as Camindan or Gounden. Their disdricts are Chennai, kanchipuram, vellore, villupuram, cudalore, salem, darmapuri, krishnagiri , ariyalur, Perambalur, Trichy, Tanjore, Nagappatnam.

But velalars are agricultural caste. They named themselves gounder title for uplift ment of caste status only 600 years ago During their small ruler like as deeran chinnamalai. They are not Kshatriya. Coimbatore region gounders are agricultural gounder.

Vettuvars are hunters, tribal community.

All are economically Back ward Caste before 1988. But our caste leader Dr.Ramdoss struggle for separate reservation for vanniyars. After Our leader's successful politics we got 20% in the newly created MBC.

Kula & Kothras of Vanniya kula Kshatriya :-

Varna ------------- Kshatriya

Vanshi ---------- Agni Vanshi

Adhi Purusha ---- Veera Vanniya

Matha ------- Manthira Mala

Lord ----- Sriman Narayan

Kula devi --- Versions of Goddess Durga

Caste --- Vanniya Kula Kshatriya

Duty --- Kings & Warriors (Protect -- Dharma)

Symbol : Sword &Shield, agni kumba.