Vettuva Gounder

The majority fall in the 183rd numbered caste of the Most Backward Classes list. They are called the Perun-thali[2] or Konga-thali section.

The minority section fall in the caste numbers 232 and 252 of the Denotified Community (DNC). see List of denotified communities of Tamil Nadu[1] They are commonly called as the Siru-thali or Kulisam-katti or Punnan Vettuva Gounder endogamous section. They were called in from Kalahasti in a similar way as the primary section but in a later period of one Muttani Raja, who was also the sixth generation heir of Kannappa Nayanar. This was after the era of Cheraman Perumal and Sundaramoorthi. The Pandya kings, at the behest of Adi Saiva Brahmana administrators of Kongu Nadu, called them in, to quell the raiding Veerasinga Nadu (Melur) Piranmalai Kallars, who are mentioned as the descendants of the Kalabhras.[3]

The Perun-thali section worships Ponnar Shankar as their Kula Deivam at Nadandai, Vadamugam Vellode and Elumathur in shared temples with Kongu Vellalars. The Siru-thali section is said to abhor the worship and foster animosities with ballad singers who sing such ballads. M.Karunanidhi's Ponnar Shankar further portrayed the entire Vettuva Gounders as rivals of the Kongu Vellalars which was due to his ignorance as an outsider and his party's political stance. The film had to face legal hurdles before release.[4]

Sixty newly wed adolescent warriors hailing from the Vettuva Gounder caste of Pillaikaraiattur of Valavandi Nadu in Namakkal sacrificed their lives for their friends and allies, the Kongu Vellala Nattars of Pundurai Nadu, in their war with the Vettuva Gounder tyrant, Pothi Pattakarar of Puvaniya Nadu, Taramangalam. The border war happened in Alathur, Komarapalayam. Their brides died in Sati with them at Kappara Malai nearby. Two Muslim brothers, sons of a lady Masari also perished in the war. The heroes are deified at various places called Appichimar Madams, the famous ones being at Thingalur, Singanallur and Tidumal. While the sixty Vettuvans are vegetarian deities, the Muslim heroes are offered separate animal sacrifices. They are deified as a Kula Deivam by the Kongu Vellala Gounder Nattars of Pundurai Nadu and Perun-Thali section of the Vettuva Gounders alike. The ancient ballad Appichimar Kaviyam is about them.[5]