History of Nagarathars

The Nagarathar Community originated in Kaveri Poompatinam under the Chola kingdom. The Nagarathar also known as Nattukottai Chettiar community concentrated on business, especially money lending business. The Chola kings encouraged the Nagarthars to travel out of their kingdom. The Nagarathars from Kaveri Poompattinam traveled on boats to Srilanka, Burma, Vietnam, Indonesia and Malaysia to spread their business. Apart from business, Nagarathars also spread Hinduism in these countries. Even today in all these countries we will find a Murugan temple administered by the Nagarathar community . There are Murugan temples in Penang, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and Sri Lanka which were built by the Nagarathars. Nagarathars also showed interests in the field of education and maintenance of temple.

Temples

The Nagarathars are divided among themselves on the basis of temples called “Nagara Kovils”. They are divided on the basis of nine temples that have many sub divisions. Marriages can take place between the various divisions. One cannot enter into an alliance within the same division, but in some temples if the sub division is different then the marriage can take place. The temples are the places for the registering of marriages for the Nagarathars. On the day of the marriage or earlier, the bride’s and the groom’s side have to go their respective temples to register their marriage. The bride would renounce her temple and would be enrolled with the groom. They become a proclaimed member of the community and are called as a “Pulli”. The marriage becomes legally valid. On becoming a member, they start paying their annual subscription to the temple. On registering, the couples are blessed with the offerings from the respective temples.

Nagarathar Temples

ILLAYATHANGUDI

God : Kailasanathar
Goddess : Solnithya Kalyani
Branches : (7) Okkur udaiyar, Pattina samiyar, Peru marudhur udayar, Kazhni vasaka udayar, Kinkini udayar, Pera senthur udayar, Siru sethur udayar

NEMAM KOVIL

God : Jayang konda soleeswar
Goddess : Soundara nayaki
Branch : Ela nalam udayar

PILLAIYARPATTI

God : Marudhueswar
Goddess : Vadamalarmangai
Branch : Thiruvetpur udayar

SOORAKKUDI

God : Desika nathar
Goddess : Aavudaiya nayaki
Branch : Pugal vendiya pakkam udayar

VELANGUDI

God : Kandeswar
Goddess : Kamatchi Amman
Branch : Kazhni nallur udayar

MATHUR

God : Innutreswarar
Goddess : Periya nayaki
Branches : (7) Uraiyur udayar, Arumbakoor udayar, Mannur udayar, Manalur udayar, Kannur udayar, Karuppur udayar, Kulathur udayar

IRANIYUR

God : Aatkonda nathar
Goddess : Sivapuri Devi
Branch : Thiru vetpur udayar

ILLUPAKUDI

God : Thanthodrieswarar
Goddess : Soundaranayaki
Branch: Soodamani puram udayar

VAIRAVANKOVIL

God : Valar oli nathar
Goddess : Vadivudai Ambal
Branch : Siru kulathur udayar
Sub Branch: (5) Periya Vagupu, Theiyana Vagupu, Pillayar Vagupu, Kazhni vassal udayar, Maru thein thira puram udayar

Nagarathar Villages

Therkku Vattagai (South)

1.Nattarasankottai
2.Paganeri
3.Madugupatti
4.Okkur
5.Cholapuram
6.Kalayarmangalam
7.Kandramanickam
8. Vetriyur
9. Natarajapuram
10.Pattamangalam
11. Kollangudi Alagapuri
12. Chokkanathapuram
13. Allavakkotai
14. Keela Poongudi
15. Sakkandhi
16. Karungulam
17. Aranmanai Siruvayal
18. Pannagudi
19. Sembanoor

Mela Vattagai

20. Kilasivalpatti
21. P. Alagapuri
22. Kandavarayanpatti
23. Poolangkurichi
24. Aavinipatti
25. Magilvazhampatti
26. Viramathi
27. Nerkkupai
28. Sirukudalpatti
29. A. Thekkalur
30. Sevoor

Keela pathoor Vattagai

31. Arimalam
32. Rayavaram
33. Kadiapatti
34. Thenipatti

Keela Vattagai

35. Devakottai
36. Thanichaoorani
37. Aravayal

Melapathoor Vattagai

38. Valayapatti
39. Kulipirai
40. Nachandupatti
41. Melachivalpuri
42. Kopanapatti
43. Rangiyam
44. Kuruvikondanpatti
45. V.Lakshmipuram
46. Ulagampatti
47. Pon. Pudupatti
48. Vendanpatti
49. Vegupatti
50. Virachilai
51. Panayapatti
52. Mithilaipatti

Pathinaru Vattagai

53. Karaikudi
54. Kandanoor
55. Kottaiyur
56. Uyikondan Siruvayal
57. Kothamangalam
58. Nemathanpatti
59. Ariyakudi
60. Amaravathiputhur
61. Managiri
62. Nachiapuram
63. Konapet
64. Athangudi Muthupattinam
65. Ramachandrapuram
66. Shanmuganathapuram
67. Pallathur
68. Puduvayal
69. Ko. Alagapuri
70. Kanadukathan
71. Ko. Lakshmipuram
72. Palavangudi
73. Chokalingamputhur
74. Kallal
75. Kallupatti
76. Siruvayal
77. Athangudi
78. Viswanathapuram
79. Sivayogapuram
80. Karaikudi Muthupatinam