The Velirs and the Sanrors: Comprehending Their Shared Customs, Heritage, and Royal Legacy as Historically Related Clans.

Who were the Velirs?

The Velirs were an ancient royal clan that ruled certain parts of ancient Tamil Nadu even before the Vendars (or Muvendars [note 1]). The Tamil literary work called Purapporul Venbamaalai poetically describes the Velirs as an archaic race that initially appeared with the sword ages ago. The Velirs and Vendars maintained close ties through intermarriage. For instance, Karikala Cholan's (190 AD emperor) mother was a Velir princess, and Karikala Cholan's queen was a Velir princess from the Chera country. The Velirs and Vendars ruled ancient Tamizhagam together. The Tamil saying the Vendar and Velir literally means the king and the royal clan. The influence of the Velirs gradually waned with the rise of other communities. Over time, the Velirs came to be regarded as merely a part of the Tamil royal community, while non-Velir communities were granted the right to rule. The history of the Velirs is vast and expansive. The purpose of this article is to examine the relationship between the Velirs and the Nadar community. This article is based on the research contributions of Mr. S. D. Nellai Nedumaran, Mr. S. Ramachandran, and Dr. A. Thasarathan.

Statue of a Velir King from the Sangam Period

Sanrors and the Velirs

Various 17th-century Sanror historical documents affirm that the Sanrors are the descendants of the Velirs or Valangai Vels. Origin stories are mythological narratives, uniquely tied to each community, that recount their ancestral and legendary beginnings. When studying a particular community's ancient history, anthropologists often examine the community's origin story to gain more insights. As noted by archaeologists, the origin story of the Velirs resembles that of the Sanrors, suggesting a shared ancestry. An ancient Sanror subsect called Talaivai Sanrar (pronounced as Talaivāy Cāṉṟār) had the privilege to own lands allotted specifically for the Velirs and also had access to cremation grounds designated for the Velirs [note 2].

In the early 19th-century, a Nadar subsect called Velan Sanrar existed in Sri Lanka. The term Velan was a title historically associated with the Velirs. As noted by archaeologists, the title Vel was a title exclusively used by feudal lords and royal clans. The 11th-century inscription from Paparapatti affirms that the titles Velan and Vel were used by the Velirs. A 9th-century inscription from Tirukkannapuram mentions an individual from the Eela Sanrar community (pronounced as Īḻa Cāṉṟār)—an ancient Sanror subsect—bearing the title Eela-Sanran Munnutruva Perumanagiya Chola Vel Yenathi. Similarly, a 10th-century inscription from the era of Parantaka Cholan I mentions a Sanrar using the title Velan. Collectively, these inscriptions corroborate that the titles Velan and Vel were initially used by Sanrors and Velirs, suggesting a historical connection between these two clans.

Moovenda Velan was another title previously used by the Velirs. However, later Chola emperors chose to grant titles like Moovenda Velan or Velan to other castes for administrative purposes. The Sanrors, like the Velirs, were regarded as a royal clan. 17th-century Sanror historical documents state that the Sanrors, like the Velirs, had the privilege of using the white umbrella—a custom once historically associated with Tamil royalty.

The Sanrors, like the Velirs, were regarded as a royal clan. 17th-century Sanror historical documents state that the Sanrors, like the Velirs, had the privilege of using the white umbrella—a custom once historically associated with Tamil royalty.

The term Nadan was one of the sobriquets used to describe the Velirs. From ancient times, this title was exclusively used by the Nadar community (refer to the reference pages via the link below). The term Sanror was also one of the sobriquets used to describe the Velirs and Vendars. These evidences together infer that the Velirs and Sanrors shared a common ancestry and belonged to the same race.

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 evidence discussed in this article highlights the connection between the Velirs and the Sanror community. The shared titles, privileges, and cultural markers between the Velirs and the Sanrors further corroborate that they were of the same race. Historical documents, inscriptions, and palm leaf manuscripts provide substantial evidence that the Nadars, formerly known as Saanars, are the descendants of the Sanrors. Hence, it is safe to conclude that the Velirs were the ancestors of the Nadar community.

Notes

1. The Cheras, Cholas and Pandyas were collectively known as the Muvendars.
2. 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.

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