Ezhunutruvars: Descendants of the Muvendar Lineage, Renowned for Their Role in Governance and Military Service.

Introduction

A millennium ago, important Sanror organisations formed the government body. The Ezhunutruvar was one such organisation. This organisation was administered by a Sanror subsect known as Ezhanutruva Konga Valars (pronounced as Eḻunūṟṟuva Koṅkavāḷar) or Ezhunutruvars. As documented by various ancient historical records, the Ezhunutruvars were an ancient clan integral to Tamil royalty. The Sanrors are the forebears of today's Nadar community [note 1]. This article is based on the research contributions of Mr. S. D. Nellai Nedumaran, Dr. A. Thasarathan, and Mr. S. Ramachandran.

Details about the Ezhunutruvars from Mahavamsa

Mahavamsa, a renowned 5th-century AD historical chronicle of Sri Lanka, states that the legendary Tambapanni prince Vijayan conquered and ruled Sri Lanka with the help of Ezhunutruvar warriors. This historical event supposedly happened more than 2500 years ago. The chronicle further reveals that the Ezhunutruvar warriors, responsible for conquering Sri Lanka, married the daughters of Tamil lords. The Mahavamsa describes the Ezhunutruvars perspicuously:

As councillors, as temple administrators, as rulers known as Muppukuru, as a noble clan, as a clan known as Ezhanutruva Konga Valars, as warriors of the Pazham Padai regiment.

Ezhunutruvar lords

The 10th-century Thiruvidaimaruthur inscription reveals that the Ezhunutruvars were a class of nobles who served as city chiefs. According to Navaneethapaatial, a book of song poems, the dedicated council that governed the cities of that era consisted of people from the Soma-Surya clan. Several inscriptions confirm that the Ezhunutruvars had their own councils.

The 10th-century inscription from Kerala states that the Ezhunutruvars were aristocratic lords known as Muppukuru, a term that loosely translates to upper class in ancient Tamil. Similarly, an inscription from the era of Raja Raja Cholan III affirms that the Ezhunutruvars were a noble clan. This inscription further reveals that a council held at that time was graced by the presence of the Ezhunutruvars. Another inscription from Kerala highlights their role as temple administrators, stating that the Ezhunutruvars, along with the Brahmins, were responsible for the administration of a temple.

An 11th-century inscription reveals that the Ezhunutruva Konga Valars were part of the King's own private regiment known as Kotrakudai Panmar Moozhapadai. The Moozhapadai regiment, unlike other regiments, consisted of the king's kin and was regarded as the foremost military unit. This regiment was also in charge of the security of merchants.

The Ezhunutruva Konga Valars were part of the King's private regiment, Kotrakudai Panmar Moozhapadai. Unlike other regiments, this regiment consisted of the king's kin and was regarded as the foremost military unit.

Insights from 17th-century Sanror historical documents

Tamil archaeologists have discovered many 17th-century Sanror historical documents, including panegyric poems about the Sanrors. These Sanror historical documents affirm that the Ezhunutruvars belonged to the Sanror clan. The 17th-century Sanror ballad Valangai Malai reveals that the Ezhunutruvars, also known as Valangai Vels, were warriors of the Valangai Pazham Padai regiment [note 2]. Vel was a title exclusively used by feudal lords and royal clans. A 9th-century inscription from Tirukkannapuram mentions an individual from the Eela Sanrar community—an ancient Sanror subsect—bearing the title Eela-Sanran Munnutruva Perumanagiya Chola Vel Yenathi. This confirms that the title Vel was used by Sanrars.

The Poondurai Selvaratnam Gurukal Sanror copper plate document asserts that the Ezhunutruvars were the descendants of the clans Surya and Chandra. Like the Ezhunutruvars, the Muvendars were noted to be the progenies of the clans Surya and Chandra [note 3]. A Sanror copper plate document from Thiruvidaimaruthur states that the Ezhunutruvars were related to the Cholans. The details provided by these sources substantiate that the Ezhunutruvars were related to the Muvendars.

The Poondurai Selvaratnam Gurukal Sanror copper plate document asserts that the Ezhunutruvars were the descendants of the clans Surya and Chandra. Like the Ezhunutruvars, the Muvendars were noted to be the progenies of the clans Surya and Chandra. The details provided by these sources substantiate that the Ezhunutruvars were related to the Muvendars.

Sanrors are the ancestors of the Nadars

Ancient Sanror palm leaf manuscripts and copper plate documents prove that the Sanrors are the ancestors of the Nadar community. For instance, the 17th-century Karumapuram copper plate refers to the Sanrors as Saana Kulam, meaning Saana clan in Tamil, and describes a member of the clan as Saana Kula Dheeran, which loosely translates to valiant hero of the Saana clan. The term Saana is the adjectival form of Sanar in Tamil and thus corroborates that the Sanrors are, in fact, the Sanars (Nadars)—as Saana serves as an epithet specifically referring to the Sanrors.

Conclusion

The historical and literary evidence presented in this article highlights the significant role of the Ezhunutruva Konga Valars, also known as Ezhunutruvar, within ancient Tamil society. The Ezhunutruvars played pivotal roles in governance, temple administration, military service, and city councils.

Inscriptions and Sanror historical documents further substantiate the Ezhunutruvars' noble lineage, tracing their ancestry to the Surya and Chandra clans and linking them to the Muvendars. These records also confirm that the Ezhunutruvars were part of the ancient Sanror clan. The history of the Ezhunutruvars provides valuable insights into the broader history of the Nadar community.

Notes

1. The terms Sanrar, Sanravar and Sanar are variants of the term Sanror. This is because of a common linguistic feature in Tamil. For instance, the word Kaṉṟu (meaning "calf") and its variant Kaṇṇu are essentially the same word with different pronunciations. The Nadars today were previously known as Sanars or Shanars.
2. The term Valangai literally means right hand in Tamil. The title Valangai was used by right hand castes. Right hand caste members were, in ancient times, regarded as war veterans. The Nadars are a right hand caste. The term Pazham Padai literally means old army in Tamil.
3. The Cheras, Cholas and Pandyas were collectively known as the Muvendars.

See Also

• From oblivion to light: Reconstructing Nadar community's history through recently discovered ancient documents.
• Connecting the Dots: Understanding the Relationship Between the Noble Sanrors and the Nadar Community.
• Valangai Uyyakondar: A Forgotten Chola Clan Whose Heritage and History Connect to the Nadars of Today.
• Yenathi: The Clan of the Saivite warrior-saint Yenathi Nathar that traditionally trained the soldiers of the king's army.
• The Velirs and the Sanrors: Comprehending Their Shared Customs, Heritage, and Royal Legacy as Historically Related Clans.