Maravar


Maravar is a branch of Mukkulathor/ Thevar Community Tamil community in the state of Tamil Nadu. These people are one of the three branches of the Mukkulathor
. Members of the Maravar community often use the honorific title Thevar.
The Sethupathi rulers of the erstwhile Ramnad kingdom hailed from this community. As early as the medieval period, the Maravar community had a reputation for thievery, banditry and robbery.

Etymology

The term Maravar has diverse proposed etymologies; it may come simply from a Tamil word maravar murder
or a term meaning "bravery".

Divisions

There are 7 sub divisions in the Maravar Class. They are Semba Nadu, Kondayan Kottai, Appanur Nadu, Agattha, Oru NAdu, Uppu Katti and Kuruchi Kattu. Among these sub divisions Semba Nadu Maravar are the Principle ones.

History

The Maravars have a long military tradition. They were the inhabitants of the Drylands of ancient Tamilakam, known as Paalai in Sangam literature.

Social Status

According to Pamela G Price the Maravar were warriors who were Rajas of some Zamindaris. During the British colonial era, the Maravars were sometimes recorded as Kshatriyas by the legal officers involved in Zamindari litigation proceedings but more often they classified as Shudras. Occasionally the Setupathis had to respond to the charge they were not ritually pure.
According to historian S. N Sadasivan,
During the formation of Tamilaham the maravar were brought in as socially outcast tribes or traditionally as lowest entrants into the shudra category. The Maravas to this day are feared as a thieving tribe and are an ostracised group in Tirunelveli region.