36 



JOURNAL, R.A.S. (CEYLON). 



[Vol. XXI. 



higher aristocracy of ancient Tamilakam belonged to the 

 Velir class, the term Velir, gradually losing its primitive 

 signification, came to be used and taught in the Tamil lexicons, 

 in later times, as a synonym for " a petty king," irrespective 

 of race or tribe. But as we do not find it to be so employed 

 in ancient Tamil works, it is obviously an erroneous usage of 

 a subsequent period. And further, as the Velalas, who were 

 the kith and kin of the Velir, adopted agriculture as their 

 special occupation from generation to generation more than 

 any other community of the land, that occupation was, by and 

 by, called by a designation derived from their name. I refer 

 above to the word " Velanmai," 1 which literally means " the 

 occupation of the Vels," i.e., agriculture. Moreover, from the 

 extreme regard in which the Vels were held on account of their 

 unbounded and hereditary munificence, their strict integrity 

 and faith, as well as their hereditary right to minor kingships, 

 the word Vel came to signify, in course of time, respectively 

 " a benefactor," " truthfulness," 2 and " an Ilavarasu," i.e., an 

 heir-apparent to the throne. It may, in this connection, be 

 observed that even now the ancient name of Velir is very 

 commonly met with among certain classes of Velalas residing 

 at Therkaddur in the Native State of Puducottai in South 

 India. 



To recapitulate now the results of our inquiry so far into 

 the origin of the Velir race. By the tradition existing in 

 South India that the primitive Velir were immigrants from 

 Dwaraka, and of the line of Kannan, 3 a tradition materially 

 supported by a passage in " Purrananooru," a work of high 

 antiquity, the Velir become identified as Yadavas by race. 

 With regard to the Yadavas, their emigration to the south 

 and the establishment of permanent colonies of them there, 

 are supported, not only by clear, though indirect, references 



1 " Vellalar " is also said to be a contracted form of " Vella-Alar," 

 meaning 44 the lords of the ' Vellam,' " i.e., flood. In this sense it means 

 substantially the same as "Karalar," i.e., the lords of the rain, which is 

 another name by which the Tamil agriculturists are known. — V. J. T. 



2 Some derive " Vel," in the sense of truthfulness, from the root 

 " Vel," meaning " white." — V. J. T. 



3 The same as Krishna. 



