Religion structure of the Gounders:
The Kongu Vellalars are followers of the (Dvaita) Saiva Siddhanta maargam of Hinduism. It is one of the oldest existing school of thought in Shaivism. A sizeable population seems to have taken followed the Samana faith (Jainism) (temples are found even today at Vijayamangalam, Jinapuram, Vellode, Perundurai, Palani, Aivarmalai and Poondurai). They were later brought back to Hindusim by the Siddhars (most of the Siddhars lived in Kongunadu).
The Kongu Vellalars follow the system of Kootam/Gotra keeping with
their Kshatriya tradition, in which persons from the same Kootam are
considered brothers and sisters and hence do not marry one another. Each
Kootam has its own Kulaguru (or popularly saamiar- a brahmin
- for example, the Kulaguru of Melkarai Poonthurai Nadu Kootam is Pasur
Akilanda Dikshitar), who is traditionally respected. Every Kootam also
has one or more Kuladeivams or a Clan Deities.[119]
Some of the different customs followed by the pious, observant Kongu Vellalar families are:
1) Ancient and Pre-historical Tamil vestiges (reverence for Tamil language, feeding the Tamil scholars, Puzhavars with milk and fruit mash, worship of demi-gods, etc.,)
2) Kshatriya vestiges (Gotra system, Annamar vazhipadu (hunter-warrior conflict), Kannimar Vazhipadu (sapta kanyas), Udankattaiyeral (sati) (banned and not in practice), Kuladeivam, Kulaguru, benovalence, marriage customs, holding the marriage ceremony in the bride's house, giving handicapped children to Modavandis thereby eliminating weak genes, etc.,), (eating before dark, white saree (vella seelai) for widows, preference for white dress, cooking meat outside the house, etc.,)[120]
Some of the different customs followed by the pious, observant Kongu Vellalar families are:
1) Ancient and Pre-historical Tamil vestiges (reverence for Tamil language, feeding the Tamil scholars, Puzhavars with milk and fruit mash, worship of demi-gods, etc.,)
2) Kshatriya vestiges (Gotra system, Annamar vazhipadu (hunter-warrior conflict), Kannimar Vazhipadu (sapta kanyas), Udankattaiyeral (sati) (banned and not in practice), Kuladeivam, Kulaguru, benovalence, marriage customs, holding the marriage ceremony in the bride's house, giving handicapped children to Modavandis thereby eliminating weak genes, etc.,), (eating before dark, white saree (vella seelai) for widows, preference for white dress, cooking meat outside the house, etc.,)[120]
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