Konar is a sub-caste of

Yadav Yadav refers to a grouping of traditionally non-elite, Quote: "The Yadavs were traditionally a low-to-middle-ranking cluster of pastoral-peasant castes that have become a significant political force in Uttar Pradesh (and other northern state ...

Yadava The Yadava (literally, descended from Yadu) were an ancient Indian people who believed to be descended from Yadu, a legendary king of Chandravamsha lineage. The community was formed of various clans, being the Abhira, Andhaka, Vrishni, an ...

community from the Indian state of

Tamil Nadu Tamil Nadu (; , TN) is a state in southern India. It is the tenth largest Indian state by area and the sixth largest by population. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu is the home of the Tamil people, whose Tamil languag ...

.They are traditionally held to be a pastoral community involved in cattle herding and cultivation. who are otherwise also known as '' Ayar'' and ''Idaiyar'', and who appear in the ancient

Sangam literature The Sangam literature ( Tamil: சங்க இலக்கியம், ''caṅka ilakkiyam'';) historically known as 'the poetry of the noble ones' ( Tamil: சான்றோர் செய்யுள், ''Cāṉṟōr ceyyuḷ'') connote ...

as occupants of the '' Mullai'' (forest region). However, historically they have held positions such as kings and chieftains.

Etymology

According to

Alf Hiltebeitel Alfred John Hiltebeitel (born 1942) is Columbian Professor of Religion, History, and Human Sciences at George Washington University in Washington DC, USA. His academic specialism is in ancient Sanskrit epics such as the ''Mahabharata'' and ''Ramaya ...

, Konar is a regional name for

, the caste to which

Krishna Krishna (; sa, कृष्ण ) is a major deity in Hinduism. He is worshipped as the eighth avatar of Vishnu and also as the Supreme god in his own right. He is the god of protection, compassion, tenderness, and love; and is on ...

belongs. Several vaishnavite texts associate Krishna with the Aayar caste, or konar, most notably the Thiruppavai, composed by goddess

Andal Andal ( ta, ஆண்டாள்), also known as Kothai, Nachiyar, and Godadevi, was the only female Alvar among the twelve Hindu poet-saints of South India. She was posthumously considered an avatar of the goddess Bhudevi. As with the A ...

herself, most notably referring Krishna as the “Aayar kulathu mani vilakke”. The caste name is interchangeable with the names ''Konar'' and ''Kovalar'' being derived from Tamil word ''Kōn'', which can mean "king" and "herdsmen". The word might be derived from the from Tamil word ''kōl'', a herdsman's staff. The Tamil word ''kōl'' also means a king's sceptre. The word ''Ayar'' might be derived from the Tamil word ''Aa'', meaning ''cow''. The term ''idai'' (middle) might refer to the '' Mullai'' region, being an intermediate zone between two other Sangam landscapes called '' Kurinji'' (hilly region) and '' Marutham'' (cultivation region), but probably reflected their intermediate socio-economic status. ''Idaiyar'' remains the most commonly used word in Tamil for a cow-herder, and another name for Ayars was ''pothuvar'', meaning ''common''.

History

According to medieval inscriptions the Konars are mentioned as Nandaputras of

lineage. Conclusion pages 103: "We also get several instances of the patronage extended to Krsna temples by the shepherd class (manradi or Konars ) In one inscription they are significantly called Nandaputras and Tiruvaypadi Nattar of Tondaimandalam" Gingee Fort Hill view from road

The

Gingee Fort Gingee Fort or Senji Fort (also known as Chenji, Chanchi, Jinji or Senchi) in Tamil Nadu, India is one of the surviving forts in Tamil Nadu, India. It lies in Villupuram District, from the state capital, Chennai, and is close to the Union Terr ...

was originally built by Ananta kon of the Konar Dynasty, around 1190 A.D. and was later fortified by Krishna Konar. It was later modified in the 13th century to elevate it to the status of an unbreachable citadel to protect the small town of saenji. It was also the headquarters domination in northern Tamil Nadu. The fort was built as a strategic place of fending off any invading armies. The Gingee Fort complex is on three hillocks: Krishnagiri named after Krishna Kon to the north, Rajagiri or Anandagiri named after Ananda kon to the west and Chandrayandurg to the southeast. The three hills together constitute a fort complex, each having a separate and self-contained citadel.

References

Notes Citations {{reflist Herding castes Social groups of Tamil Nadu Indian castes Agricultural castes

Etymology

History

See also

References