{{refimprove|date = September 2011}} {{for|the caste of Northern India|Kalwar (caste)}} {{Infobox Ethnic group |image = |caption = |group = Kallar

|pop = |popplace = [[Tamilnadu]], [[Sri Lanka]], [[Malaysia]] |languages = [[Tamil language|Tamil]] |religions = [[Saiva Siddhanta]]m, [[Hinduism]] |related = [[Mukkulathor]], [[Vellalar]]. }} The Imperial clan - KALLAR () is one of the three castes which constitute the Mukkulathor confederacy. "a fearless community show many signs of independence and non-submission to any form of subjugation".There are Abundant records pertaining to this clan, where the Peoples ruled from unknown antiquity (Chola, Thondaiman) till the independence of india, The Kallar King Raja Rajagopala Thondaiman (1928 -1948) was the only king of Tamilnadu Rulling Pudhukkotai even after independence. Kallars are found largely in Thanjavur (40 % of Tanjavur Population), Trichy, Pudukkottai, Theni, Madurai, Dindigul, Sivagangai, Karur, kanchipuram, and Ramanathapuram districts of Tamil Nadu. Kallars are found largely in the Thanjavur, Trichy, Pudukkottai, Madurai, Theni, Dindigul, Sivagangai, Ramanathapuram, Karur and Kanchipuram districts of Tamil Nadu. Significant Kallar populations are also found in Sri Lanka, Malaysia and other southeast Asian countries. In the 19th century, the British recognised the [[Pudukkottai state|Raja of Pudukkottai]] as the hereditary leader of the community.{{Citation needed|date=February 2012}} ==Etymology== Kallar Means "Brave People", Historians postulate the word Kallar Derived from Kalla means Black in Sanscrit and Tamil ( ' - } Historians postulate Dravidians were called by Aryans as Kalla. Kalavar Means People who fight in Kalam(Battlefield), Kalavali Narpathu ( ), Tamil literature of the post-Sangam age Praises Kalavar and Kalam. A king Named Pulli was Mentioned as Kallar Kooman Pulli in Purananuru. A pandian King was mentioned as Kallar Perumagan Thennavan A muthiraiyar King was Mentioned as Kallar Kalvan Perumbidugu Muthirayan. Indiran or devendiaran (Devar) also Mentioned as Kalla

Thirumal is also stated Mal to meant he is Black In olden days Black Dravidians were stated as Kalla to state their Bravery. Many Historians postulate Kallar Means Black, to state their Bravery and to relate their the lineage from Chola and Pallava. M.Srinivasa Iyengar (. ) N.M Venkataswmy Nattar ( ) Vengaswamy Rao ( ) Dr.Barnal Vinsan A.Smith ( . ) ==Surnames== In Tamilnadu Kallars are called by various Surnames, these names comes to them during various times by the place they have ruled, the place they won in battle or to state their bravery. There are over 1000 surnames in use. There are no other Castes in Tamilnadu have this many Surnames. Some of the commonly used Surnames are. Paluvettaraiyar, Malayaman, Adigaman, Thevar, Mannaiyar, Rajaliyar, Vallavaraiyar, Thanjaraayar, Pallavaraayar, Vandaiyar, Thondaiman, Etrandaar, Vaanavaraayar, Servai, Amballakkarar, Sethurayar, Soma Naicker, Muniyarayar(Munaiyatriyar), Thondamar, Mayrkondar, Kallathil Venrar, , Naattar , Cholagar, kumarandar, Anjathevar, Olivarayar, Sendapiriyar, Alathondamar, Ambalam, Aarsuthiyar, Kaadavaraayar, Kalingarayar, Vandaiyaar, Veeramundar, Sepillaiyar, Vallundar, Chozhangaraayar, Kandiyar, Mazhavaraayar, Kommatti Mootar, Kannakkarar, Irungular, Singilaar, Ponnapoondar, Pullavaraayar, Araimeendar, Vairayar, Ponpethiar, Gopalar, Kandapillai, Vayaadiyar, Vanniar, Vallambar, Alankara Priyar, mavaliyar, Keerudayar, Saaluvar, Manraayar, Onthiriyar, Serumadar, Vambaliar, Thenkondaar, Mankondaar,Panangondar,Maalusuthiyar,Kalathil Vendrar etc. Another important Kallar subcaste is the Piramalai Kallar. They are highly conservative and have preserved their customs and traditions to the present day. They are also believed to be the oldest inhabitants of the Tamil country with reports of their presence going back to Tamil literary works of the 4th century B.C. They are found mainly in the districts of Madurai, Dindigul and Theni. Their popular deity is Amman, the Mother Goddess. Other important subcastes are Koothappar Kallars, Periyasuriyur Kallars, Gandarvakoatai Kallars and Esanattu Kallars found largely dominated in Thanjavur, Pudukkottai &Trichy Districts.

===History=== Chola () The Chola Dynasty (Tamil: ) was a Tamil dynasty that ruled primarily in southern India until the 13th century the other two royal dynastys were Pandian and Chera. The meaning of chola Is unknown. Chera, chola and pandian are considered as Siblings. The dynasty originated in the fertile valley of the Kaveri River. Karikala Chola was the most famous among the early Chola kings, while Aditya I, Parantaka I, Rajaraja Chola I, Rajendra Chola I, Rajadhiraja Chola, Virarajendra Chola, Kulothunga Chola and Kulothunga Chola III were notable emperors of the medieval Cholas. Chera, chola and pandian are commonly called as Thevar to mean they are desendents of Lord Indra. But specially cholas were called by many Surnames all these surnames (Mel kondar, Chozangar, Thevar etc.) are now used by Kallars only shows that Cholas are from the Royal Kallar community. The Bramanda puranas Puvindra puranam and Kalla Kesari Purannam also Mentions the same. Many Archaeologists and Historians Also proves that Cholas are Kallar. Lots of mariages takes place between cholas with Malavarayar, Malayaman, Paluvettaraiyar, Melkondar and Vallavaraiyar. they also belongs to Kallar community. Pallavas () The Pallava kingdom (Tamil: ) was an ancient South Indian tamil kingdom. Later they extended their rule to further south and established their capital at Kanchipuram around the 4th century CE. They rose in power during the reign of Mahendravarman I (571 630 CE) and Narasimhavarman I (630 668 CE) and dominated the Telugu and northern parts of Tamil region for about six hundred years until the end of the 9th century. The word Pallava means branch in Sanskrit. The word is rendered as Tondaiyar in Tamil language. The Pallava kings at several places are called Thondamans or Thondaiyarkon. The territory of the Pallavas was known as Tundaka Visaya or Tundaka Rashtra. The sancrit meaning of pallava is Kilay The tamil Thondai means the same, it proves that pallavas are desendents (Kilay or Pirivu) of chola. Pathupattu, one of the sangam literatures, reads that the king Thondaiman Ilandirayan ruled this town around 2500 years ago. The pallavas are told as the descendents of Thondaiman Ilandirayan. They were also called by surnames like sethurayar pallavarayar vandarayar, kadurayar,Vallavarayar,vanathirayar,kaliyarayar etc. all these surnames are used by Kallrs only. Proves that Pallavar are Decendents of Chola (Kallar). Petty Kings

The Great empires which ruled Tamilnadu were Chera, Chola, Pandian and Pallava, but there were many petty kings and chieftains ruled tamilnadu under chera, chola, pandiya and pallava. There are lot of records pertaining to this Petty dynasty. Some of the names are seen in Tamil copper-plate inscriptions also. Most of the Kallar surnames also derived from the place they ruled for example Thanjaiarayar (Means King Who ruled Thanjavur), Definition: Thanjai Thanjavur and Arayar Raja King. Malavarayar(), Pallavarayar(), Erraandar()r, Arasandar(), Thanjairayar(), Muniarayar, Vallavarayar (), Muthurayar, Irunkolar, Brahmarayar, Kodumbalur Rayar, Chiratchiyar, Nattar, Devarayar, Vanathirayar. Warrior The main occupation of Kallar is Warrior, they were saving Tamilnadu from Aryans and foreign invaders for many Centuries, most of their surnames derived from their victory and bravery shown in Battlefield. Some Surnames are, Poril Koluthiyar(), Kottai Meetar( ), Soma Naicker(), Kalathil Vendrar ( ), Jeyam Kondar( ), Kodi Kondar, Thanai Thalaivar( ), Valukkuvelyar, Vijayathevar, Veerakkotaiyar, Valkondar, Ulukkondar, Veerapuliyar, Senathipathi, Viruthurajabayangarar. ===Inscriptions with Historical Significance=== The discovery of Indian copper plate inscriptions provided a relative abundance of new evidence for use in evolving a chronicle of India's elusive history. During chola rule there were many small kings(Araiyar) were Ruling there Respective area under Chola.Some of the names are seen in Tamil copper-plate inscriptions was also mentioned in Ponniyin Selvan (Tamil historical novel written by Kalki Krishnamurthy. Paluvettaraiyar () Malayaman () Vallavaraiyar () Muniaraiyar Nilakkilar Kaliyaraiyar

Puvaraiyar Velar () Vanataraiyar Thondaiman () ==Notables== <!-- ANY FIGURES ADDED HERE MUST ALREADY HAVE THEIR OWN WIKIPEDIA ARTICLE PRIOR TO BEING ADDED. PLEASE ADD SIMPLY A NAME AND A FEW WORDS OF WHAT THEY ARE KNOWN FOR. DATES, TRANSLATIONS/SPELLINGS, TITLES, ETC. BELONG IN THEIR ARTICLES, ''not'' HERE. DO ''not'' USE THE TERM "LATE". --> * [[Sivaji Ganesan]] ==References== {{Reflist}} [[Category:Mukkulathor]] [[ta: ( )]]