மறவர் - முக்குலத்தோர்

martial arts of Kalarippayattu, Silambam, Varma Kalai have been practiced primarily by Kallars, Maravars and Nairs of erstwhile Travancore areas.[1]In British times, the Ramnad and Sivaganga estates were administered by Maravars. Etymology

The term Maravar has diverse proposed etymologies;[2] it may come simply from a Tamil word maravar (warrior),[3] or a term meaning "bravery/ruthlessness".[4]
More complex etymological legends include descent from Indra through a mortal woman, with the child hidden in a maravu idam (secret place). Alternately, legends derive it from marani (sin), for the Maravar's sin of killing without pity.[3]


History

They are one of the oldest social groups to be mentioned by the Sangam Tamil literature.[citation needed] The writers of the Sangam Age place them in rural settlements withdrawn from cities. The Kingdom of Ramnad was a Maravar kingdom and was ruled by the Setupati Kings. Ramanathapuram , Sivagangai and Thirunelveli are Maravars homeland and the entire Southern district is Maravar stronghold from ancient times.[5]
Large number of Maravars served in the armies of many princely states of Kerala. But during the 18th and 19th centuries, most of them were assimilated in to the Tamil Padam Nair subcaste of the Nair community. The Maravar regiment of the Travancore army was known as "Maravar Padai", which supplemented Nair Pattalam, the larger indigenous military unit.[16] Tamil Padam Nair is recognized as a part of the Malayala Kshatriya social grouping. The Ramnad Zamindars are accorded the title Sethupathi (protector of the Sethu bridge) even to this day. The Maravar have close relation with Kalabhars even though they Maravars are a non-aryan, non-Kalabhar group. They were ancient rulers of Pandya kingdom of coastal land and inland from the First Sangam Tamil age. Their leaders were given the title "Meenavan" and "Pandyan" respectively. Edgar Thurston (1855–1935) a British museologist and ethnographer identified the use of the boomerang by Kallars and Maravars of South India.[5]
Most of the Maravars were very brave warriors of Chola & Pandyan Dynasties. The Maravars are the 'martial class' of ancient Tamilakkam.
[edit]Culture

The famed bull-baiting sport "Jallikattu" of Tamilnadu is practised by Maravars. The general title of the Maravans is Thevan, but some style themselves Thalaivan (chief), Servaikkaran (captain), Karaiyalan (ruler of the coast), or Rayar-vamsam (Raja's clan).
[edit]Sub-divisions

There are 2 major subdivisions among the Maravar community. One is Appa Nattu Kondyankottai Maravar and another one is Chembiya Nattu Maravar. The Kondyan Kottai Maravars are related to the Kongu Vellalars and are still maintaining Killai(branches) as their sub sects like them. The Killai is inherited from mother. So a boy or girl will not marry in their same Killai. It is assumed that they are brother & sister. Such a practice is no longer prevailing amongst other maravars. The married women of kondyankottai maravers wear "Thali" (Thirumangalyam) in the shape of Shiva lingam. So it is called "Linga Thali". Most of the Tamil castes wear the same type of "Linga Thali".