User:Pooluva gounder/sandbox

முதல் கவுண்டன், முழு கவுண்டன்...பூலுவன்

Kongu Vettuva Gounder (Tamil: கொங்கு வேட்டுவ கவுண்டர்) Gazette name: Vettuva Gounder (Tamil: வேட்டுவ கவுண்டர்) who are called as the Gounders (Tamil: கவுண்டர்) kavundan (Tamil: கவுண்டன்) and vettuvar (Tamil: வேட்டுவர்) vengai (Tamil: வேங்கை) are reputed Gounder people who live in the kongunadu region. The vettuva Gounders are desendents of siva baktha kannappa Nayanar (Tamil: சிவ பக்தர் கண்ணப்ப நாயனார்). These gounders lived as kings, pattakaarars, palayakkaarars, padaithalaivars, oor gounders and pannayars in the glorious past. The Vetttuva Gounders are often referred as ‘Aanda Vamsam’ (Tamil:ஆண்ட வம்சம்) which means ‘the ruled commmunity’. These people are praised for their bravery, generosity and devotion.

Kongunadu and its history:

"வடக்குப் பெரும்பாலை வைகாவூர் தெற்கு குடக்குப் பொருப்புவெள்ளிக் குன்று - கிடக்கும் களித்தண் டலைமேவு காவிரிசூழ் நாடு குளித்தண் டலையளவும் கொங்கு"

The name ‘Kongu’ litrally means honey and pollens. Kongunadu is full of mountains and so more amount of honey will be collected. It is believed as the reason for the name Kongunadu. The Ganga Vamsa King Konganivarman ruled this region by keeping ‘Thalaikaadu’ as his konagar. It is also said that the name Kongunadu came after the King’s name. The Vettuvars are said as the “Poorvakudigal” (Tamil:பூர்வகுடிகள்) and “Aathikudigal” (Tamil: ஆதிகுடிகள்) of the Kongunadu and they were called as the ‘Kongars’(Tamil:கொங்கர்) (Vettuvars). They are known for their bravery, generosity and devotion. The Kongunadu is always said for its history and heritage. The now kovai district, namakkal district, erode district, some parts of dindugal district, nearly whole region of karur and salem districts are the regions of ancient Kongunadu. The history of Kongunadu begins from 3 AD itself. The ‘Kongu mandala sathagam,’, ‘Cholan poorva pattayam’, ‘Vettuvar poorva pattayam’, ‘Oothalar kuravanji’, ‘Annamar swamy stories’, ‘Mackenzie’s manuscripts’ only shows the later history of Kongunadu. The Sanga period Kongunadu’s history is evident from the Sanga tamil literatures which depicts the Vettuvars as the ‘Poorvakudigal’ and ‘Aathikudigal’ literally meaning the ‘early society’. The Kongu Vellalars came to Kongunadu in 10 AD and settled here and were the later settlers. The vellalars are described as hard workers and great farmers as the name suggests. The Kongu Vellalars are described in the “Kalvettugal” (stone writings) only after the break of 10 AD. Since they farmed in the Kongunadu region they were called as Kongu Vellalars. The Poorvakudi Vettuva Gounders and the latter settlers Kongu Vellalars had little friction at the early stage during 10 AD and 11 AD. But during 12 AD & 13 AD the friction and the difference of opinion melted and both lived friendly. Lots of other communities and social sects also live in Kongunadu.

Gounders: The word gounder had its birth from the word ‘ka mindan’ (Tamil: கா மிண்டன்)which means the person who guards, guides and saves his people. From the name ‘ka mindan’ it is known as the Gounders lived as pattakaarars, raja’s and palayakarars. Who lived as rajas, kurunila mannars, pattakaarars, palayakaarars in the ancient kongunadu? Who were the Gounders in the ancient kongunadu? For these two questions the only answer is “Vettuva Gounders”. It is evident from the samooga aavanangal and the records of the British kongunadu. The word kovundan may also have its root from ‘kaan meendar’ (Tamil: கான் மீண்டார்). Once the kongunadu region was covered mostly with bushes and forests. This gave shelter to all wild animals and its vettuva Gounders who hunted the animals and changed those lands to agricultural lands. As the name ‘vettuvar’ implies, these people belong to the kshatriyas. The gounders are bold, generous and kind hearted peoples and farming is their occupation. Even though lots of other communities make use of the title ‘gounder’ the respectable vettuvars are the first to have the title ‘kavundan’ in the ancient kongunadu according to the evidences.Many communities use Gounder title, but the title itself came into existence because of the Vettuvars. Yes it was the title given to the Vettuva chieftains. There are lots of evidences to claim. Once the Vettuvars alone were called Gounders in the Kongunadu region. Then other communities also started to use the title. But the Vettuvars were the first to have the Gounder title. The Vettuva Gounders are always reffered as “முதல் கவுண்டன், முழு கவுண்டன்”. It is very well evident from the Meckenzie’s manuscripts. There are two kinds in having a title. One is rewardingly getting the title and the other is adapting a famous title. The Vettuvars are of the first kind. “ka-mindan” means person who saves his people. Peasants and farmers were the peoples of ‘ka-mindan’ and the peasants never lived as ‘ka-mindan’ which is evident from the history. Of course the Vettuva gounders are farmers, but they are gurukula hunting shatriyas, the rulers. They farmed their lands with the help of peasants. The Vettuva Goundes were the rulers: hunting is their passion, farming is their backbone, and ruling is their work. The slogan “காட்ட வித்து குடிச்சாலும், கவுண்டன் கவுண்டன் தான்” well suits for the Vettuva Gounders and it is formed because of the Vettuvars. None have a glorious history than the Vettuvars in the Kongunadu region. The Vettuvars were the sons of the soil. The chera, chola, pandiya seeked help of Vettuva kings and used their soldiers. And these soldiers are not mere soldiers; they are more than legends. They were the legends of war tactics, legends of archery and sword fight. It is said that one Vettuva soldier equals two raging tigers and can eventually fight ten field soldiers simultaneously. The bravery of the Vettuvars was incomparable. The Vettuvars were praised to be the victors of many wars. It is a pride to be said as a “Vettuvan” or “ kavandan”. From the stories evolving among the Vettuvars, it is said that “lord shiva himself booned Vettuvars with bravery” and thus Vettuvars often say “வீரம் தான் எங்கள் சொத்து” which litrally means the same. The Vettuva Gounders history itself speaks the glory. The one who doesn’t know hunting is not a kavundan. The Gounders were the hunting-fighting-farming community. It is always said ‘Evidences and proofs speaks more than mere words’. The symbol of the Vettuva gounders is a ‘புலிக்குத்துக்கல்’. The pulikuthukal (tiger stabbing stone) is a stone which is kept as a respect for the bravery of the Vettuvar who fought and won the tiger. The Vettuva Gounder’s symbol is an extract from the real stuff which exists and has been worshipped for centuries. Only few communities have such a great privilege. There is a famous saying that ‘fake people always create fake history’. But among the fakes the Gounders are the real ones.