தேவேந்திரக் குல வேளாளர்

''Pallar - பள்ளர்'' or ''Mallar - மள்ளர்''') is a caste from the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. They are mostly agriculturalists in Tamil Nadu, Sri Lanka and amongst the Tamil diaspora.They are also known as Devendra Kula Vellalar. 

The term Mallar refers both to the ancient group said to have lived in Marutam, as well as to a present day caste in India. Tamil Literature portraying Pallar alias Mallar, Devendrakula Vellalar, Currently the Pallar are included in Scheduled Caste by the Indian Government. Pallars are denoted by the names ''Pallan'', ''Devendra Kulathan'', ''Kudumban'', ''Kaaladi'', ''Kadaiyan'', ''Kootan'', ''Pannadi'' in the Scheduled Caste.

==History==

== Origin ==

According to ancient Sangam literature, the Devendra Kula Vellalar is an ancient group of people originating in the Marutham land.  The land was said to be good for agriculture, and situated near a river. They claim themselves to be the descendants of Indraran. They also claim to be the first cultivators of rice in Tamilnadu. So they call themselves as "Devendra Kula Vellalar".

The ancient people were described as Warriors and Farmers. 'Pallar alla Mallar aam Mannar (Not Pallas but Mallas, Yes Kings)' by Thiru.R.Deva Asirvatham 'Tamil Elakiyathil Pallar yendra Mallar, Devendrakula Vellalar ( Adipadai Saandrugal).  (Tamil Literature portraying Pallar alias Mallar, Devendrakula Vellalar by Thiru Gurusamy siddhar. Their leader of the group, called the "vendan" later became the god for their land.The administration and social life of the Śaṅgam Tamils in Dravidian land.

===Three  dynasties===

Due to the increase in the population of the land the people distributed to many places and formed their own dynasties. The people who lived around the Vaigai and Thamirabarani river were known as pandians.The people who lived around the kaveri river were known as cholas.The people who lived in present day kerala and west parts of Tamil Nadu were known as cheras. These three dynasties fought with each other for superiority.

===Fall of the dynasties===

The three dynasties were continuously fighting with each other. After the fall of the chola empire, the pandyan empire controlled most of Tamil Nadu. The pandyan empire began to crumble due to clan fights.It also had invasion from the sultans. During 14th  Century Pandian empire began to decline because of frequent attacks by Muslim Kings. Muslim Kings raided cities, killed hundreds of thousands of citizens and took huge amount (tonnes and tonnes) of gold and Jewellery to Delhi. It is to be noted there were about 20,000 Muslim soldiers in the Pandian army. But these soldiers betrayed the Pandian Kings and joined the Muslim army when Muslim army attacked Pandian Kingdom. During the end of 14th Century Vijayanagar army chiefs came to Madurai and defeated the Pandian kingdom and established their rule in Madurai. Gradually Vijayanagar army and citizens moved to Chola and Pandian Kingdoms all over the Tamil nadu and removed the privileges of the Tamil elite – Removal of land ownership from Tamils.

===Vijayanagar and Nayak rule===

After the fall of the Pandyan empire the vijayanagar empire ruled Tamil Nadu. They divided Tamil Nadu into many territories.They also formed a part of the Poligars ruling class. The main territories like Madurai and Thanjavur were ruled by Nayaks. Other Poligars were selected from Tamil Nadu especially those who were against the Mallars and those who were loyal to the Vijayanagar empire. The Vijayanagar Empire took the agricultural lands from the Mallars and forcibly transferred the ownership of land and title to Telugu Nayaks, Telugu Brahmins and others who supported the Nayak's rule and made the Mallars agricultural labourers on the lands to which they were owners once. At this point of time the name 'Mallars' was changed to 'Pallars'. Many 'Pallu' poems were written to popularize the name Pallar. These 'Pallu' poems also discriminated against the Mallars. New rules were passed to the general citizens not to have any communication with the Pandian and Chola clans. Rules were passed to prevent social contacts and intercaste marriages between the 18 worker communities that supported the Tamil society and Tamil Kings.

===Pallu poems===

Pallu poems are part of 'chitrilakiyangal' in Tamil literature. Pallu poems were also known as 'Aesal'. They were written during the Nayak rule. The first pallu poem was 'mukkoodar pallu'. Many pallu poems were written which include vaiyapuri pallu, sengottu pallu, thandigai kanagaraayan pallu. All the Pallu poems consist of a Pallan who has got two wives. It also explains about the farming and the life of a farmer pallar. During the period of the pallu poems, the pallars were very poor.

==Tamil literature referring to Mallar's==

Mallars are mentioned in Tamil literature from the ancient Sangam Literature to the recent 19th century poems, including Purananuru', Kamba Ramayanam, Thirumurukkatruppatai,  Silapathigaram, Agananuru, Pathirtrupattu', Kurunthogai, Aingurunooru, Kalithogai, Natrinai, and Paripaadal.

The Mallar (Farmer) are praised in the Tamil language  poem Thirukural. The name '''Pallar''' is mentioned only in pallu poems and later poems. Both the names Pallar and Mallar denotes the same people. Tamil Literature portraying Pallar alias Mallar, Devendrakula Vellalar.

The Tamil poems which say that both the names Pallar and Mallar denote the same people are Mukoodar pallu, Vaiyapuri pallu, Sengottu pallu, Peerur Puranam and Thandigai Kanagaraayan pallu.

==List of scholars postulating Pallars were Mallars==

* M.Srinivasa Iyangar: "There was no such caste as pallan but instead we find in early Tamil Literature Mallar and Kadaignar, the later appearing as a sub-division of pallar caste. They are chiefly found in the Pandya country and correspond to the traditional occupation to the palli or Vanniyar caste of Tondaimandalam. These people are agricultural labourers and soldiers'. The Pallar correctly Mallar formed the Pandian army.

* T.K.Velupillai.

* G.oppert: The indigenous title of the south india Chera, Chola, Pandya kings was Perumal. Mallan was the name of a Perumal who built Mallur in Polanadu. Mallan is also called a rural deity which is set up on the borders or ridges of the rice field. The word Tirumal-Perumal are also derived from Mala, Malla. Both terms were originally the titles given by the Mallas to their great chiefs and kings. Each Perumal was elected to rule for 12 years. The term sacred Mala or the great Mala being once connected with the deity lost its original meaning which was incourse of time entirely forgotten. This circumstance explains their peculiar derivation so often found in Tamil dictionaries and strange attempts of grammarians to explain their startling formation. The name perumal the great Mala is still a royal title in Malabar.

*Devaneya Pavanar

*Pandit savarirai

* Dr K.R.Hanumanthan - The Pallas are also denoted by the title Kadaignar. The ancient heroic tribe called Mallar described in the Sangam classics were probably the ancestors of Pallas

* A.V.Subramaniya Iyer

*Thiru R.Deva Asirvatham

* R.Nagaswamy (Director of Archaeology (Retired))

* R.P.Karunananthan

*Nadana Kasinathan (Director of Archaeology,Tamilnadu government)

* M.Manivel (Tamil Professor,Madurai Kamaraj University)

*A.Pichai (Professor Tamil Department,Gandhi Gramiya University,Dindukal)

*D.Gnanasekaran (Associate Professor,Department of Tamil,Bharathiar University,Coimbatore)

*Gurunathan (Professor of Tamil, Pachaiyappa College, Chennai)

==Sports in ancient Tamilnadu containing the name Mallar==

* Malladal - This sport was a fighting contest between the Mallars.

* Mallar Kambam - This sport is still played in India. This sport consists of a pillar (made of wood) standing in the ground, in which the contestant does some gymnastics. This sport was once used by the Mallars to strengthen their body.

==Ongoing struggle for name change==

The people of this caste does not want themselves to be called by the name '''Pallar'''. Because the name '''Pallar''' which is used to denote these people nowadays was introduced in the 17th century by the nayak kings to discriminate them. Before that they were called by the name '''Mallar'''. The people of this caste want their name to be called as '''Devendra Kula Vellalar'''. In order to make the [[Government]] change their name from '''Pallar''' to '''Devendra Kula Vellalar''', the people of this caste are undertaking many peaceful struggles in Tamilnadu like hunger strike, peaceful rally,etc. On January 27,

2011 Tamilnadu government has appointed a one man commission to change their name as 'Devendra kula vellalar'. The people of this caste are also demanding the Tamilnadu]] [[government to change the name '''Adi Dravidar'''(which is used to denote the people of Scheduled caste in Tamilnadu to '''Pattiyal sathigal''. Because '''Adi Dravidar''' is the name of a caste which is present in the Scheduled caste list. In the list many other caste are also present including '''Pallar''' caste.

==In Sri lanka and abroad==

In Sri Lanka, Pallar's are currently found in Jaffna and eastern Batticalo region and were primarily agricultural workers. But there is evidence that some have assimilated with the dominant Vellala caste over the last 100 years. They have played an important role in the formation of many Tamil nationalistic militant groups. Today amongst the Tamil diaspora across the world Pallars are found as part of the greater Tamil community and caste distinctions are minimal. In SriLanka, Pallar have formed an important component in SriLankan Tamil militant groups after the SriLankan civil war.