Thursday, June 12, 2008

Paravar

Parava or Paravas, also known as Bharatharor Bharatha kula kshathriya, Paravar is one of the oldest Tamil castes.
For centuries the Paravas had been pearl divers. However in the 19th century pearl oysters in the Gulf of Mannar, between India and Sri Lanka, became scarce. Tuticorin city in Tamilnadu, India which is still a stronghold of the Parava community was the centre of the pearl trade. The Paravas later diversified into fishing, salt-making and other maritime professions.Paravar are akin to the Maravar caste,and both these communities ruled entire Pandya kingdom.
Paravar also refers to the people living on the coast of the Indian state of Tamilnadu and in parts of northern and western Sri Lanka (Ceylon). In Tamil language and literature, the coastal areas where they lived were called 'Neythal Thinai.'Significant numbers of well-educated Paravas, many of whom have diversified into major professions and business also live in the major cities of southern Tamilnadu and in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The Paravas in Sri Lanka migrated from India during the British colonial days; many prospered in trade and business in Sri Lanka and now generally speak Sinhala, the language of Sri Lanka. (see Bharatakula)
Paravas were the first whole community in India to convert to Christianity in the mid 16th century. The name 'Fernando', a predominant surname and other surnames were acquired from the Portuguese, who influenced the Paravas. There are as many as 100 or more of these surnames - Fernando, Fernandez, Motha, Mascarenhas, Victoria, Miranda, Devotta, De Cruz, De Souza, Gomez, Dalmeida, Vaz, Desoyza, Rodrigo, Rodriguez etc., which were given by St. Francis Xavier, other missionaries and Portuguese officers during the 16th century.
The Portuguese called the area where the Paravas lived as "La Pescaria" - or Land of the Pearls. Their spiritual, cultural and literary excellency brought out the first Tamil book to modern print media. The Tamil Bible, 'Cardila', was printed in 1554 and made Tamil the first language into print for any Indian language. This was even before the first printing machine arrived Goa, India in 1556. Cardila was printed at Lisbon by the command of the Portuguese government with the motivation by the visits of three Paravars Vincent Nasareth, Joj Kavalko and Thomas Cruz from Tuticorin, India to Portugal. The funding for the press came from the Parvar community of Tuticorin

12 comments:

Siluvai Amalan said...

I appreciate for your first step to create a blog for paravars.


A.Siluvai Amalan Fernando

Unknown said...

Basically I wants to know,what are the sub-castes belongs to Bharathar
Community.

Gresilz said...

Paravar,Bharathar,Chavalakkarar,Mutharaiyar,Sembadavar,Valiyar,Thimilar,Nulaiyar,Parvatharaja Kulam,Kariyar,pattinavar,china pattinavar,periyapattinavar,Meenava Chettiyar,Muthuraja Kulam and also Padayatchis of Vanniyars and Maravar of Thevar are also of same clam

Gresilz said...

might have missed few like ambalakkarar etc

FISH DOCTOR said...

Is there any proof available with us regarding the first Tamil Bible "Cardila". Can we get the evidence for this from any of the churches here in Tuticorin? Some sort of book or any piece of written or documented evidence.

king said...

Who is Mutharayar according to Tamilnadu Government Order 15 (G.O.15) DATED 22.02.1996

THE 29 LIST OF MUTHARAYAR COMMUNITY
🌞🌝🌞🌝🌞🌝🌞🌝🌞🌝🌞
1. MUTHURAJAH
2. MUTHARAYAR
3. AMBALAKARAR
4. SERVAI
5. SERVAIKARAR
6. VALAIYAR
7. KANNAPAKULA VALAIYAR
8. PARATHAVA VALAIYAR
9. PAALAYAKARAR
10. KAVALKARAR
11. MUDIRAJ
12. VAZHUVADIYAR
13. THALAIYARI
14. POOSARI
15. MUTHIRIYA - MOOPAR
16. MUTHIRIYA - MOOPANAR
17. MUTHIRIYA NAICKER
18. MUTHIRIYA NAIDU
19. MUTHIRIYA RAO
20. PAALAYAKARA NAIDU
21. MUTHURAJA NAIDU
22. PAALAYAKARAR NAICKER
23. VANNIAKULA MUTHURAJA
24. MUTHIRIYA URALI GOUNDER
25. VETTUVE VALAYAR
26. KURIVIKARA VALAYAR
27. ARIYAR (ARAYAR)
28. AMBALAM
29. PILLAI

Unknown said...

Maravars and Paravars are Real Pandyas of South. Maravars - Tamil Army. Paravars - Tamil Navy. Both are Same Community. But Now we are Seperated.

Unknown said...

Maravars and Paravars are Real Pandyas of South. Maravars - Tamil Army. Paravars - Tamil Navy. Both are Same Community. But Now we are Seperated.

Freud varun said...

Nice

Navin ambalakkarar said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Navin ambalakkarar said...

Paravar(Parathavar), Mutharaiyar, Padayatchi, Ambalakarar are titles of valaiyar kulam. Valaiyar kulam is the first people to invent net and valai stick. They were the first people to fish in deep sea. They were the first fisherme. Valaiyar are known as Mutharaiyar. Mutharaiyar was the dynasty of valaiyar people. Naladiyar and great sangam literature talks about valaiyars. It says valaiyars are ancient people and the first fishermen. Mutharaiyars main god os sivan and also varunan. Both are sea gods. Mutharaiyar dynasty symbol was kayal(fish). Mutharaiyar has 29 sub caste including Parathavar(Parathava rajakulam), ambalakarar, valaiyar, servai kavalkarar are few of them. Probably the most populated community in tamilnadu but a hodden community.

Unknown said...

Paravar short form la epti solrathu athavathu eduthukatta (SC) or (MBC) something