Origin and History of MOTTAIYAGOUNDAR

Description:

Mottaiyagoundar is a Tamil caste found mainly in the Indian states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka. The word Mottaiyagoundar is derived from the Tamil words ‘mottai’ meaning ‘hump’ and ‘yagoundar’ meaning ‘lord’. This caste is traditionally associated with the bullock-cart and bullock-cart-owners. The origin of the Mottaiyagoundar caste is believed to be from the ancient kingdom of Chera, which was located in present-day Kerala. The Mottaiyagoundar people were traditionally involved in the transportation of goods and people. They were also involved in the production of leather goods, such as saddles and harnesses. The culture of the Mottaiyagoundar people is largely based on their Hindu beliefs. They celebrate Hindu festivals such as Diwali, Holi and Pongal. They also practice the traditional Tamil martial art of Silambam. The customs of the Mottaiyagoundar people are largely based on the traditional Hindu values of respect for elders and hospitality towards guests. They also follow the traditional Tamil system of caste hierarchy, in which the highest caste is the Brahmin and the lowest is the Dalit. The variations of the Mottaiyagoundar surname include Mottaiyagounder, Mottaiyagoundar, Mottaiyagoundan and Mottaiyagoundar.