Aruviyur Nagarathar

The Aruviyur Nagarathars (also known as Aruviyur Nagarathar Chettiars) is a Nagarathar community under Chettiar caste in Shaivism that originated in Kaveripoompattinam under the Chola kingdom of India. They are a prominent mercantile Vaishya caste in Tamil Nadu, South India. They are a community with very rich cultural heritage, known for their philanthropy; building temples and schools, and maintaining them throughout India and Asia.

Aruviyur Nagarathars are referred in general as Nagarathars or Nagarathar Chettiyar until 706A.D. Later in 707A.D. Nagarathar were divided in to three major groups named as Nattukottai Nagarathar, Aruviyur Nagarathar, SundaraPattina Nagarathar.

Aruviyur Nagarathars founded their non profit society named Aruviyur VadakkuValavu Nagarathar Education Development Society (also known as Aruviyur VadakkuValavu Nagarathar KalviValarchi Kalagham - AVNK) on 16th Jan 1982 by A. L. Murugan and N. Thirunavukkuarasu at Piranmalai, Tamil Nadu. This organisation is formed to mainly to cater to the educational needs of the Aruviyur Nagarathar community members by providing educational scholarships for the needy.

Origins

The Nagarathar community split in 707 CE when the Nattukottai Nagarathar and Aruviyur Nagarathar subdivisions emerged.

Early History (till 2898 BC.)

Initially the Vaishyas lived in Sandhyapuri of the Sambu Islands in Naganadu. This borders the present state of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. They were of Chandrakula Gothiram. Later they embraced Saivism.

Leather Age (2897 BC to 790 BC)

During the Kaliyuga year 204 (2897 BC) the Vaishyas could not bear the harassment of the Naga king and they came down to Thondaimandalam, namely Kanchipuram. At Kanchipuram the king welcomed them with a Warm Heart and royalty. He gave them land to build temples and mutts, They continued their devotion towards Maragatha Vinayagar and continued their trade with gems till the Kaliyuga year 2311 (790 BC) and lived happily.

Old years (789 BC to 706 AD)

During the Kaliyuga year 2312 (789 BC), Prathaparasa the king who ruled Kanchipuram imposed unjustified severe fines and punishments. Hence, the Vaishyas from there went to Cholanadu. They settled along the banks of River Cauvery at Kaveripoompattinam. Manuneedhicholan, the king of that time requested the Vaishyas to live in three streets, East, West and South streets. He gave the Vaishyas three honorable rights. One was the coronation of the king, the second was to have an independent lion flag of their own and the third was to have golden kalasams in the bungalows they lived in. When they got these rights the Nagarathars were called "Rathina Maguda Thanavaisyar". They continued their prayers towards Maragatha Vinayagar.

In the Kaliyuga year 3775 (674 AD) Poovanthicholan who was ruling at that time harassed and imprisoned all the womenfolk. Hence, the 8000 Vaishyas leaving behind all their assets, 1502 boys and the Maragatha Vinayagar under the custody of their guru Atmananda Sastri to do pooja and look after, they all committed [...]. The guru Atmananda Sastri taught them the five-letter panchatara mantra for upadesam, till to this date they remember it with the help of the Patharakkudi Madam.

In the Kaliyuga year 3784 (683 AD) the old aged Poovanthicholan requested the Vaishyas youngsters to do the coronation ceremony for his son Rajaboosanacholan. The youngsters said that they were incapable of doing the coronation since they were all bachelors and there were no eligible girls in the community to get married to. The king consulted with Esana sivachariar and pronounced that Vaishyas can marry Vellala caste girls. The Vaishyas youngsters said that they would marry the girls from the Vellala caste, but they would not marry their girls by birth to the Vellala caste. The king requested the Vellala community to accept this. The Vellala community accepted on the condition that their community guru would perform the dhikshai for their girls and the girls born to them. The East Street, which was divided into seven branches, had 502 Vaishyas youngsters married to Solliya Vellala girls. For these girls their guru was Alagiya Gurukkal from Srivanjiyam...

References of History from Silapathikaram

Silapathikaram, a book written by Ilango Adigal, states that the main character in the book "Kovalan" is a Chettiar. Salt trade was famous during the Pandya regime. After going to many places to do business finally they would converge at Palani during the festival of Thaipoosam and write "Magamai". Magamai is an annual tax paid to the god. According to the capital invested or profit got a percentage is calculated and the magamai is derived. Here they set right their accounts and look at their profits and accordingly write their magamai. Later they give free food to all, called "Annadhanam" (rice gift). This can be seen in Palani on a stone engraving, where it states that Kuppan Chetty's son Kumarappa Chetty of Nemam Kovil was the first to do salt trade at Palani with the help of Deivanayaga Pandaram.

It is also believed that Kannagi and Kovalan, the prime personalities of the epic Silappatikaram were born in this community (called 'Thanavanigar' by then). Buddhist and Jainist links must be analysed.

'Pattinathar' - a saint, who is believed to be a Nagarathar and was a trader before leaving the worldly pleasures.

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