Mazhavaraayas or Mazhavars is a

Tamil language Tamil (, , , also written as ''Tamizhil'' according to linguistic pronunciation) is a Dravidian language natively spoken by the Tamil people of South Asia. It is one of the longest-surviving classical languages in the world,. "Tamil is one of ...

name.

Sangam literature

In the Sangam age this region was ruled by Mazhavar King Kolli Mazhavan. Sangam poet Avvaiyar had cordial relations with the Mazhavar chieftains, including

Athiyamān Nedumān Añci Athiyaman Neduman Anci was one of the velir kings of the Sangam period who ruled the Mazhanadu region.''Śrī puṣpāñjali, page 125'' Belonging to the Athiyaman clan,''Tamil Literature, page 92'Madras district gazetteers, page 201'' he was ...

of Thagadoor and Valvil Ori of Kollimalai. Mazhanadu was divided into two major parts, Mel-Mazhanadu (Western Mazhanadu) and Keezh-Mazhanadu (Eastern-Mazhanadu). The Malavas also occupied the territory on the northern and western border of the Tamil land. Their chiefs took the Tamil title Malavaraiyan which has become Malavarayan which is still a common name in the Tamil country of Kallar families.

Polygars of Ariyalur

Oppilla Mazhavaraayas were the

Polygar Palaiyakkarars, or Poligar, Palegara (as the British referred to them) in Andhra, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu were the holders of a small kingdom as a feudatory to a greater sovereign. Under this system, ''palayam'' was given for valuable military ...

s of

Ariyalur Ariyalur () is a town and district headquarters of Ariyalur district in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu and is rich in limestone, surrounded with seven cement factories and two sugar factories. The town is located at a distance of from ...

. They were different from the Mazhavaraya clan who were kin of Chozhas. Their original title was Nayanar. Their leader was awarded the title of Ranavijaya Oppilla Mazhavaraya by a ruler of

Vijayanagara Vijayanagara () is a city located in Vijayanagara district of Karnataka state in India.Vijayanagara

Kingdom, under whom they served, for defeating certain Prathaparudran. Ramanayanar is recorded to be the first of these polygars. A Village 15 miles south-east of Valikandapuram. The Zamindar of Ariyalur belong to Palli or Vanniyar Caste.

Polygars of Punavasal
Punavasal Zamin is located in
Peravurani Peravurani is a panchayat town in Thanjavur district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is the administrative headquarters of the Peravurani Taluk and Peravurani (State Assembly Constituency). It is declared as Special Grade Town Panchaya ...
taluk in
Thanjavur district Thanjavur District is one of the Districts of Tamil Nadu, 38 districts of the States and territories of India, state of Tamil Nadu, in southeastern India. Its headquarters is Thanjavur (Tanjore) . The district is located in the delta of the Cauv ...
of Tamil Nadu. It was a ''zamin'' ruled by a Kallar caste with the title of Malavaraya Pandarathar. In 1879, the ''zamin'', which had an area of 2527 acres, was paid to the Government at 350 rupees 15 annas 7 paise.

See also
*
Palaiyakkarar Palaiyakkarars, or Poligar, Palegara (as the British referred to them) in Andhra, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu were the holders of a small kingdom as a feudatory to a greater sovereign. Under this system, ''palayam'' was given for valuable military ...

References
{{reflist Surnames