Vanniyar Puranam

The name Vanniyar is derived from the Tamil word 'Vanmai' which means valor. Agni,the God of Fire is connected with Regal office,as kings hold in their hands the fire wheel or Agneya chakra. The Vanniyars of South India considered as a representative of the Non-Aryan,a Dravidian Rajput Element. In Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka Vanniars while referring their caste in circumstances and rituals, subtitle with the phrase 'Agnivanshi' denoting their clan.

At Sirkazhi Vaideeswaran Temple Inscriptions about Vanniyar Puranam are seen. It denotes that,at ancient times there is two asuras known as Vatapi and Mahi, worshipped Brahma and obtained immunity from Death and subsequently they garrisoned the Earth. Jambuva Mahamuni performed a Yagam,or sacrifice by power. Soon Armed Horse men sprung from the flames, undertook twelve expeditions against them and destroyed them. Their leader then assumed the government of the country under the name Rudra Vanniya Maharaja,who had five sons,the Ancestors of Vanniya Caste. This Tradition alludes to the destruction of the city of Vatapi by Narasimhavarman,the king of Pallis or Pallavas.

The Vanniyars may be linked in tradition to the vanni tree (prosopis spicigera), a holy tree in Hindu tradition.Kulasekhara,one of the early travancore kings,and one of the most renowned alwars reverenced by the srivaishnava community belongs to them.Vanniyars celebrate his anniversary in Parthasarathy temple Chennai even now.The Vanniyars have the right to present the most important camphor offering of the Mylapore Kapaleeswarar Temple.The Ekambaranathar Temple at Kanchipuram built by them.Likewise the Chidambaram Nataraja Temple is founded by Swetavarman,a Pallava king. 

Who is the god of Vanniyar?

The word Vanni in Sanskrit means fire and from one of the legends of Vanniyars it is mentioned that Lord Shiva accepted the prayer and Yagna of the Sambu Muniver and after that the Vanniyars were born. They were created by Lord Siva.

What is the origin of the caste Vanniyar?

It is believed that the Vanniyars are descendants of Vanni, which in Sanskrit means 'fire'. According to the First Tamil Nadu Backward Classes Commission (Sattanathan, 1970), the Vanniyars or Vannia Kula Kshatriyas, as described in that report, are perhaps the largest cultivating caste in Tamil Nadu.

Which caste is no 1 in Tamil Nadu?

Vanniyar caste constitute about Nearly 37.5% of Tamilnadu Population. It is the Single Largest Caste of Tamilnadu. Vanniyar Caste are widely found in Northern Parts of Tamilnadu mainly in Krishnagiri, Dharmapuri, Salem, Karur, Villupuram some Eastern Parts of Tamilnadu.

Is Vanniyar upper caste?

The Vanniyars, who previously were of the Backward Class category, were re-designated as a Most Backward Caste after successful agitations by them in the 1980s intended to unlock more favourable education and employment entitlements from the state government under its reservation system.

The Chola emperors also associated themselves with lunar dynasties. They claimed Kshatriya status, the rest of the society was classified as Sat Sudras, who held the high position in that rank and the lower being Asat Sudras. 

Which caste is Vanniyar?

It's a MBC( Most Backward Caste) community or OBC( Other Backward Caste) community. Vanniyars form 53% of MBCs. If you see if from caste perspective than lower caste for a Brahmin/Mudaliar/Naidu/Reddiar and and an upper caste for Dalits.

Who are vanniyars in Tamil Nadu?

Vanniyars are among the largest backward communities in Tamil Nadu, with significant political influence. They became the only community to be given a 10.5 per cent quota within the MBC (Most Backward Class) quota which is 20 per cent. More than 100 other communities were to share the remainder of the quota.

Which caste is no 1 in Tamil Nadu?

Vanniyar caste constitute about Nearly 37.5% of Tamilnadu Population. It is the Single Largest Caste of Tamilnadu. Vanniyar Caste are widely found in Northern Parts of Tamilnadu mainly in Krishnagiri, Dharmapuri, Salem, Karur, Villupuram some Eastern Parts of Tamilnadu.