People Of Chettinad

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" People Of Chettinad. "

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       Nattukottai Chettiars are God fearing people, well known for their Hospitality. They are followers of Hindu religion, who worship Lord Shiva and Lord Muruga. They belong to the Business Community, who in olden days moved out of India to foreign lands like Burma, Ceylon, Java, Sumatra, Malaysia, Singapore & Vietnam (Siagon) and spread their Culture in those lands.
          Nattukottai Chettiars are basically Bankers who lend money at nominal interest. They are considered as the Pioneers of Modern Banking. They are the first to introduce what is called as " Pattru (debit), Varavu (credit), Selavu (expenditure), Laabam (profit), Nashtam (loss) " which r all known together as " Iynthogai (trial balance). "
          In a particular Nattukottai Chettiar family Appachi (Father) is considered as the Kartha for all the activities assisted by his Sons. Attha (Mother) looks after the family affairs including the day to day activities of the Vidu(House) in consultation with her Kanavar (husband).
          The Nagarathar society is divided into Koil Vazhi Nagarthar consisting of Nine Koil (Temple). This division in the society is for the purpose of chosing their alliance and nothing else. Bride and the Bridegroom cannot be from the same Koil as they are considered to belong to the same family and treated as Annan-Thangai (Brother-Sister ).

        The Nine Koil are as follows :

            Illaiyathangudi

             Mathur

             Vairavankoil

             Nemamkoil

             Illupaikudi

             Surakuddi

             Velangudi

             Iranikoil

             Pillaiyarpatti

        Out of these nine Koil Illaiyathangudi, Mathur & Vairavankoil have further Pirivu (Divisions) in their respective Koil.
           Illaiyathangudi :

        Okkurudiayar

        Pattanasamiyar

        Kazhanivasakkudiayar

        Kingginikkurudiayar

        Perasenthoorudaiyar

        Perumaruthoorudaiyar

        Sirusethoorudaiyar

            Mathur :

        Arumbakkoorudaiyar

        Kannoorudaiyar

        Karuppoorudaiyar

        Kulathoorudaiyar

        Manaloorudaiyar

        Mannoorudaiyar

        Uraiyoorudaiyar

            Vairavankoil :

        Periya Vahuppu

        Pillaiyar Vahuppu

        Theyyanar Vahuppu

        In Illaiyathangudi and Mathur Koils the people are permitted to have alliances among the Pirivus and not like the other Koils which are not permitted to have alliance within their Koil. This is because if all these 14 pirivu people move out of their Koil in search Brides and Bridegrooms it is difficult to find themselves one hence the exemption.

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