agamudaiyar

Agamudayar

Agamudayar (Tamil: அகமுடையார்) also known as Agam Padaiyar is one of the three Mukkulathor castefound in all the Tamil districts'. however, most agamudaiyars are found in Thanjavur, Madurai and Tirunelveli districts." ^[1] They also know as rulers or the crown prince.

There are various derivations of the word "Agamudaiyan" or "Ahamudaiyan". " derived from the root aham, which, in Tamil, has many significations.^[2]In one of these, it means a house, in another earth, and hence it has two meanings, householder and landholder ; the suffix Udeiyar indicating ownership. The word is also used in another form, ahambadiyan, derived from another meaning of the same root, i.e., inside. And, in this derivation, it signifies a particular caste, whose office it was to attend to the business in the interior of the king's palace, or in the pagoda".^[2] " 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 fiights 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."^[2][3]

Of the Mukkulathor, the Agamudaiyans are the community most influenced by Brahminism.^[3][4] The ordinary title of the Agamudaiyans is Servaikkaran, but many of them call themselves Pillai.^[4] In Thanjavur district, agamudaiyans are also called "Terkittiyar" or "southerners".^[4]The Agamudaiyans are divided into the following sub-sects: Aivali Nattan, Kottaipattu, Malainadu, Nattumangalam, Rajaboja, Rajakulam, Rajavasal, Kalian,Sani, Maravan, Tuluvan (cf. Tuluva Vellala) and Servaikkaran.^[4]

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