Paravakkottai

Paravakkottai

 

The Paravakkottai'ns

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,Agamudayars are famously known by their title ServaiThey make expert soldiers, warriors and constituted the bulk of Pandya armies. The legendary Maruthu Pandiyar brothers  came from the Agamudayar (Servai) community. when 29 April 1789, the British   forces attacked Kollangudi. It was defeated by a large body of Marudhu.'It is  said that the Marudhu brothers could kill a tiger without using any weapons''''.  The lands the community owns are actually rewarded for their loyal and valuable service rendered for the cause of the Kings and the nation.Agamudaiyars are    found all over in Southern Tamilnadu in Sivagangai, Virudhunagar, Ramanathapuram, Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi, Kanyakumari, Thanjavur, Thiruvarur,   Paravakkottai,Pudukkottai, Madurai, Trichy, Ariyalur and Tiruvannamalai.

The word Agamudaiyan or Ahamudaiyan is derived from the root Aham which in Sanskrit means the guts or brave
  of one's mind i.e. thinking oneself superior.[6] Agam also means  in   Tamil, signifying that Agamudaiyars are Landlords and Householder , Udeiyar indicating ownership. The word is also used in another form, Ahampadiyar, derived from another meaning of the same root, i.e., inside. And,  in this derivation, it signifies a meaning of a particular profession, whose  office it was to attend to the business in the Interior's of the King's Palace  or in the Pagoda.The name," Mr. J. H. Nelson writes,is said by the Rev. G. U.  Pope, in his edition of the Abbe Dubois' work to be derived from aham, a temple, and padi, a step, and to have been given to them in consequence of their serving  about the steps of temples. But, independently of the fact that Madura pagodas  are not approached by flights of steps, this seems to be a very far-fetched and  improbable derivation of the word. Or, perhaps, the name comes from aham in the  sense of earth, and pati, master or possessor." Agamudaiyar were employed by   Srilankan kings as body guards & to protect palaces,according to Ceylon history,  they were referred to as "Agampadi Soldiers"& it also gives the break down of the term Agampadi. The ordinary title of the Agamudaiyans is Servaikkaran, . In Pudukkottai, Paravakkottai,Trichy, Sivangagai, Virudhunagar, Madurai, Ramanathapuram, Thanjavur, Thirunelveli, Thoothukudi,  Kanyakumari districts Agamudaiyans are also called Terkittiyar .

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