Rajakambalam (Tamil: ராஜகம்பளம் ) or Rajakambala Nayakar, Kambalatar or Thottiyar , Kambili Nayudu are a Telugu community of the state of Tamil Nadu, southern India are one of the branches of the Kapu,Balija community. Rajakambalatars are found predominantly in the Southern districts ofTamilnadu viz., Madurai, Theni, Virudhunagar, Tuticorin, Dindigul, Namakkal, Thirunelveli, Salem,Erode,Coimbatore,Karur,Tiruchy,Tirupur,Ramanathapuramdistricts of Tamil Nadu.They were commonly called as Nayakar.[1]
CONTENTS [hide]
1 Etymology
2 Migration
3 Kodangi Nayakar
4 Marriage Customs
5 Caste deities
6 Branches
7 Decendents
8 Strict rules
9 Warfaring Activities
10 Deverattam
11 Poligars
12 Demographic Spread
13 See also
14 References
[EDIT]ETYMOLOGY

The Term Nayakar is a Telugu word meaning "Leader" or "Ruler". The Rajakambalatars are chiefly known by their title 'Kambalatar' or 'Thottiya nayakar' meaning "Big leader" in Telugu. [2]. The nine Kambalam namely Chillavar, Thockalavar, Gollavar, Eragula, Palavar, Anuppan, Erasinnavar, Valakavar, Vekiliyar are grouply called as Rajakambalatar. [3]. The Kambalas are most numerous in the Madurai, Salem and Tirunelveli districts.[4]
[EDIT]MIGRATION

The Traditional story of their migration to Tamilnadu is still repeated by the peoples of this caste. Centuries ago, the Kambalatars lived to the North ofTungabhadra River named Kampili and they ruled this tiny Kingdom. The Muhamadans there tried to marry their women and make them eat beef, so one fine night they fled Southwards in a body.[5]
The Muhamadans pursued them and their path was blocked by a deep and rapid river. They had just given themselves up for lost when a pongu tree on either side of the stream leant forward and in meeting in the middle, made a bridge across it . over this they hurried and they had passed, escaped from the muhamadans, so still Kamabalatars are worshipping pongu tress which helped to cross at that critical situation. Then they travelled to the city ofVijayanagar and form armies against Muslim invasions to South India and took service with the expansion of Vijayanagara empire to Tamilnadu they moved to Madurai surrounding areas lived with royalty and many of the Poligar,Zamindar are from this community.The name kambalatar is a tamil version of the people who migrating from Kampili kingdom .[6]
[EDIT]KODANGI NAYAKAR

Rajakambala nayaks consult their caste matters only with their Guru (leader). They settled by Kodangi Nayakar or Priest. Mettu Nayakar or Headman. Peoples of this community married with other caste is strictly prohibited and it is the serious punishable offence and the offenders are killed by Madiga but nowadays rigid Excommunication is penalty. So for this strict rules among community they never mingle with any other castes and live lonely in separate villages.
[EDIT]MARRIAGE CUSTOMS

When a Girl attains maturity she is kept in a separate Hut which is watched by Chakkiliyan. Marriage is either infant or adult. Weddings last three days involve numerous ceremonies. They take place in a special pandal erected in the village on either side of which are smaller pandals for the bride and bridegroom. The Bride price is only cambu, a grain. Kambalas never buy dowry and it is offence in this community. Pottu or Thali is tied to represent marriages. The Kambalatars do not recognize the superiority of Brahmins, nor employ them as priests for marriages or funerals, nor worship either the Brahmanical gods or the lesser deities with any belief.
[EDIT]CASTE DEITIES

Sati was formerly very common in this caste and two caste goddess , Jakkamma and Bommayya are deifications of women who sacrificed themselves for this community peoples. They are purevaishnavism worship mostly vishnu .
[EDIT]BRANCHES

Telugu speaking Kambalatars are called as Thottiya nayakar or Rajakambalatar whereas kannada speaking kambalatars are called as Kappiliyans or Anupans . Their marriage customs and story of migration is same as telugu kambalas . Their title is Gounder. They are numerous in Theni, Dindigul,Madurai districts.[7]
[EDIT]DECENDENTS

The Tottiyans or Kambalattar are the most numerous of the non-autochthonous peasant castes settled in the Madura country. Telugu is their vernacular language, but most of them also speak Tamil. They are most likely the descendants of a tribe that lived north of Vijayanagar and who, fleeing Muslim oppression, fled south and in the 13th century settled in the western parts of Madura. They were led by “adventurous chieftains, who hoped to make their fortunes by opening up the then almost uninhabited country north and west of Dindigal.” The Tottiyans found employment as soldiers, peons, and armed retainers under the nayaks and polegars and many zamindars of Tamil country .They are coming under the branch of Kapu community . [8]“The cognomen commonly adopted by men of this caste is Nayyakan.”[9].
The Kambalattar (Kambalaththu Nayakar) are practically extinct. Remnants of their traditional agnates or cognates in the Telugu country are not to be traced. The famous polegars of Ettayapuram and Panchalamkurichchi belong to this community. Their ancestry is traced to a community of Hunters. Being dwellers of quasi-agricultural surroundings they were experts in reclaiming waste lands. [10]
The Kambalas say with pride that they are the descendants of the eight thousand gopastris (milkmaids) of Krishna a tradition which seems to indicate that their original occupation was connected with the rearing and keeping of cattle , Kapus basically of cattle rearing and agricultural castes . [11]
[EDIT]STRICT RULES

Kambalas do not allow any stranger to enter their villages with shoes on, or on horseback, or holding up an umbrella, lest their god should be offended, and it is generally believed that if any one breaks this rule he will be visited with illness or some other punishment. They following strict rules among the community . [12]
[EDIT]WARFARING ACTIVITIES

S. Kadhirvel, Historian also says that it seems probable that a few Nayak Palayams might have been created by the Nayaks to maintain balance of power had paid good dividends.
The establishment of Kambalattar palayams might have accelerated the Kambalattars to move in groups and to settle in those places where their kith and kin were living in neighbouring parts of Tamil land.Naturally it led to the migration of men and women of the community from the Vijayanagara Empire resulted the rise of Kambalattar population. Since they could not rely on local inhabitants they were living with their own people.
The Kambalattu poligars, according to Mackenizie Manuscripts, were noted for their Heroism, Honesty, Devotion to duty, and aptitude for sacrificing themselves for the cause of their sovereigns,the Nayaks of Madurai. Due to their valour and unflinching loyalty they rose to the highest position and respect.
As General Welsh points out the Poligars of this community, Thottia Naicker were “a race of rude Warriors habitated to arms and independence had been but lately sub-dued and those ofPanchalankurichi, were the hardiest and bravest of the whole”.
The Board of Revenue urged the necessity of adoptingcoercive measures for curbing the spirit of disobedience evinced bythe poligars in the Dindigul region, especially Vellaia Naick of Palani,Gopia Naick of Devadanapatti and Gopala Naick of Viruppakshi.
The Devadanapatti poligar was dispossessed of his palayam dueto his disobedience.
The Poligars of Kannivadi gave protection to Gopia Naick of Devadhanapatty and therefore warned seriously.
Kamiah Nayak, the Poligar of Saptur had been overthrown when he failed to pay tribute, was caught andexecuted.[13]
[EDIT]DEVERATTAM

Only the Naicker community used to perform this dance. Deverattam is a combination of ancient Muntherkuruvai and Pintherkuruvai of the ancient Tamil kings. It was performed in front of and at the chariot on the victorious return of the King and his army from battle. Now this peoples perform in front of Sakkadevathai or Sakkammal , the deity of this group peoples . Sometimes even the King and his marshalls would dance on the chariot deck. The Soldiers and female dancers would form in lines and dance behind the chariot. Today, this dance does not have any songs but only danced to the beat of Urumi Melam, Thappu Melam and sometimes, a Long flute. The dancers hold a kerchief in each hand and swing them as they dance. The person leading the dance wears false beard and a mask decorated with shells to look like teeth. He dances the first step, which others follow. These peoples are the descendents of Veerapandiya Kattabomman and this dance is performing in all their marriages , puberity , Kattabomman functions and their local functions .These peoples dance the decendents of Gods dance name as Sevaiattam .[14].
[EDIT]POLIGARS

The Nayakas (of the Tottiyan or Kambalattar caste) were Telugu-speaking conquerors. These Nayakas were also referred to as vadugas, a generic name meaning northerners but applied specifically to Telugu-speakers who settled mostly and in that order in Coimbatore, Madura, Salem, Tinnevelly, Chingleput, and Trichinopoly. They preferred black soils and areas most thinly settled (jungles). “While palaiyams may be found in the northern and western fringes of the Tamil country, and in the far south, they are conspicuous by their absence in Tanjavur.”Nayaka palaiyams (mostly in eastern Tirunelveli, Dindigul, and Coimbatore) constituted the so-called Eastern Bloc.All the Nayak palayams in Tamil country are ruled by Kambalas because they are more number of population among Telugu castes in Tamilnadu . [15]
[EDIT]DEMOGRAPHIC SPREAD

Rajakambalatars or Thotiya nayakar spread across the state of Tamilnadu , predominantly in western and central Tamilnadu . They are majority in Virudhunagar [16], Namakkal[17][18], Theni[19],Dindigul[20],Karur [21]districts of tamilnadu. Salem, Madurai, Tuticorin,Thirunelveli,Tirupur,Tiruchy,Erode,Coimbatore,Ramanathapuram have sizable populations [22]. In virudhunagar districts Candidates of all the recognised parties in election have been from the dominant Naicker community.[23].Parties like Vijayakanth, a Kapu Dmdk party and Vaiko, a kamma Mdmk Party mostly depending upon this Naicker votes .[24] Peoples of this caste mostly support Dmdk and Mdmk parties because both the leaders belongs to Telugu Naicker caste . [25] [26][27][28][29]. The fertility rate of this sect of Naicker community is high compared to other castes in Tamilnadu especially in western districts Kongu Vellalar have lowest fertility rates, below the average rate so population of Kongu vellalas community is reduced in Kongu regions but the population of this Naicker community is growing fastly in Kongu regions . [30][31][32]. Child marriage is very common in this community is also the reason of raising community population . [33]