ters under the Chola and Pandya kings and were good Sanskrit scholars well versed in the Vedas. Their royal title as ministers was 'Per-Arayan,' while that of a Brahman minister was 'Brahma-Arayan.' It will be interesting to observe that the great Vaishnava Saint Nammalvar and probably the Saiva ascetic Tayumanswami also belonged to this section of the Vellala caste.
In the Sendan-Divakaram, a work probably of the eleventh or twelfth century, the occupations of the Vellalas[1] are given, as (1) tilling, (2) cow-breeding, (3) trade, (4) playing on drums and musical instruments, (5) weaving, &c., and (6) service to Brahmans. Obviously, many inferior castes like the Kaikolas and Pallis are included here in the great Vellala tribe. And agreeably to it the word 'Kaikolan' makes its first appearance in this work as a caste name, and 'Pallava' is expunged therefrom, taking in the word ‘Kavandan' to denote a man of the servile class. The Brahmans depended upon the Idaiyans for the supply of milk, ghee and butter, which were necessary for their subsistance and sacrificial oblations, and they were consequently elevated to the rank of Vaisyas, though they were never granted the privilege of wearing the sacred thread, to perform the Vedic rituals and to live within their villages. They had to live in a Cheri far removed from the village like the Paraiyas, Izhavas and
- ↑ About the end of the eleventh century the occupations of the Vellalas were,—giving alms, tilling, cow-breeding, trade, music and service to Brahmans.—Virasollyam, 85.
