Sholiyar or Choliyal or Chozhiars a subsect of Iyer or Iyengars [சோழியர்] .
In Tamil there is an old saying: "சோழியன் குடுமி சூம்மா ஆடாது ".Soliyurs believe themselves to be the kin of Chanakya (Kutiliya),minister of chandragupta. These people are More Ethnic and More Orthodox.
சோழிய குல அந்தணர் These group of Brahmins are mainly Purohits, Advisers to the King, Landlords, Astrologers , Temple Priests and Many are Carnatic musicians. These group is one of the oldest Pancha-Dravida Brahmins. They got their Name "Choliyal" because of their settlement in Chola kingdom. The term is of very recent origin , probably of 16th century and afterwards during vijayanagar and nayak periods in Tamil country, there by causing a great deal of confusion . we hear of no such classifications prevalent during the days of pallavas and cholas because the kings belonging to those dynasties were good administrators who regularly renewed personnel in their services by bringing in people from kingdoms friendly to them. Sivacharyas as well as vaishnavite archakas came from various parts of subcontinent like punjab, U.P(Banaras), kashmir etc under chola and pallava patronage and certainly, did not form separate cults during their reign. It is also very true that many of them also moved to places like south east Asia (malaya, vietnam and Indonesia) and Srilanka along with pallava and chola colonization (An inscription from thailand does mention the grants made by the ruler to certain siva brahmanas serving in a temple in thailand).
Choliya Brahmins during those days being referred to as anthanar, chaturvedins, or somayajin, sarvakratuyajin and Nambis or as brahmarayan and amatyar for those in military and administrative services of kings. They are could have been a part of adidravida Brahmins.
In Tamil there is an old saying: "சோழியன் குடுமி சூம்மா ஆடாது ".Soliyurs believe themselves to be the kin of Chanakya (Kutiliya),minister of chandragupta. These people are More Ethnic and More Orthodox.
சோழிய குல அந்தணர் These group of Brahmins are mainly Purohits, Advisers to the King, Landlords, Astrologers , Temple Priests and Many are Carnatic musicians. These group is one of the oldest Pancha-Dravida Brahmins. They got their Name "Choliyal" because of their settlement in Chola kingdom. The term is of very recent origin , probably of 16th century and afterwards during vijayanagar and nayak periods in Tamil country, there by causing a great deal of confusion . we hear of no such classifications prevalent during the days of pallavas and cholas because the kings belonging to those dynasties were good administrators who regularly renewed personnel in their services by bringing in people from kingdoms friendly to them. Sivacharyas as well as vaishnavite archakas came from various parts of subcontinent like punjab, U.P(Banaras), kashmir etc under chola and pallava patronage and certainly, did not form separate cults during their reign. It is also very true that many of them also moved to places like south east Asia (malaya, vietnam and Indonesia) and Srilanka along with pallava and chola colonization (An inscription from thailand does mention the grants made by the ruler to certain siva brahmanas serving in a temple in thailand).
Choliya Brahmins during those days being referred to as anthanar, chaturvedins, or somayajin, sarvakratuyajin and Nambis or as brahmarayan and amatyar for those in military and administrative services of kings. They are could have been a part of adidravida Brahmins.
Śōiya Brahmans. Perhaps the most “secular” group, they are found
throughout Kerala and Tamil Nadu and the major urban centers of India.
Traditional settlements in Tamil Nadu:
i. Tanjavūr area: Śrīvāñciyam, Tirukataiyūr, Pālūr, Valangaiman, Tanjāvūr,
Śēnganūr, Itayāttukuti, Ālanguti, Tuyili, Kañcanūr, Visulūr, Vrddhācalam,
Kōnairājapuram, Avadaiyār koil, Tittakutti, Vasitthakuti
ii. Madurai area: Vēmbattūr, Tirupparakunram, Śrīvilliputhūr.
iii. Tiruchirapalli area: Tiruvaaikkavu, Anbil, Śrī Rangam.
iv. Tirunelvēli area: Vallanādu, Tenkāśi, Kiappāvūr, Krsnāpuram, Kataiyanallūr,
Kottāram, Śrīvaikundam, Bālamārtāntapuram, Aakiyarpāntipuram, Panaiyīr,
Kāraikkuti, Ambāsamudram, Pāppākkuti
v. Salem area: Tiruppattūr, Bhavāni, Cinnasalem, Nāmakkal.
They are found in significant numbers in Kerala as well (as immigrants after ca.18th century CE):
i. Palghat area: Kounthirappulli, Chembai, Mekkanamkulam, Padur,
Thennilapuram, Añjumūrti, Trittamarai, Tatirkasseri, Vellinēi, Vēngassēri,
ii. Trivandrum metro area, Karamana, Aakiya-pānti-puram, Nagar-koil area.
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Like the Nambudiri Pūrvaśikhās, the Śōiya Pūrvaśikhās display tri-Vedic affiliations, to the g-,
Yajur (Taittirīya) and Sāma (Jaiminīya) Vedas, suggesting a Śrauta praxis, attested in epigraphy
till about 12th century CE.
The group constitutes perhaps the second largest population among the Pūrvaśikhās, perhaps
aroud 50,000, again perhaps a high estimate.
1c. Vaishnava Śōiya Brahmans. Tamil-speaking. Estimated at about 15% of the tenkalai
Vaishnava Brahmans. Found along the Kāvēri river around Tiruchirapally (Anbil, Śrī Rangam,
Tiruvellarai, Tirukōttiyūr, Aakarkoil, Puthūr) and the Tāmravari river around
Tirunelvēli(Tenturupperai, Āvārtirinagari) in Tamil Nadu. One tiny group attested in Karnataka,
brought there by Rāmaānuja, in Nandidurga and Astagrāma areas, now living in Mēlkotte village.
1d. Dīkshitars of the great Chidambaram temple in Tamil Nādu. Tamil speaking and numbering
around 250 families today. Only gveda (20%) and Yajurveda (Taittirīya-Baudhāyana)
affiliations.
1e. Mukkāi or Tirucutantirar Brahmans: Priests of the Tirucchentūr temple and found in
Tirucchentūr and the old Pāndiyan kingdom. Only gveda (80%) and Yajurveda (Taittirīya-
Baudhāyana) affiliations.
These chozhiars today are broadly classified into two major groups
i)Advaitic Brahmins (Deekshitars, Nambhiyars,Pandithars, Iyers,Brahmarayars)
ii)Visadvaitic Brahmins(Iyengars,Nambis)
Advaitic Brahmins:
Advaitic brahmins are divided into three major groups they were
Adi Marayavars(Ancient brahamanas),Uchikudimi Marayavars(Urvatsika ),Munkudimi Marayavars (Purvasikha).
They all follow the Vedic culture and they mostly follow the advaita of Adi Shankara and Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam .Even Adishankaracaya's forefathers are Sholiyar. This was said by Chandrashekarendra Saraswati, Paramacharaya of Kanchi in Deivathin Kural Part 5.One of his Disciple Padmapada is from this sholiyar.
Savite Saints like Manickkavachar,Somaasi Maara Nayanar,Appoodhi Adigal Nayanar, Rudra pasupati nayanar, have been persons who were patronized by chola and pallava kings. Even sundarar (tirumunaippadi, in cuddalore) and sambandar ( sirkali , next to chidambaram) and also Nambi Andar Nambi were born in erstwhile pallava and chola territories.
[a] Adi Marayavars(Ancient brahamanas):
These People are more Orthodox and they believe to come to earth from Kailash,They were kudimi or sikha as similar to namboothiri, and they were first to be teached by Lord .Parsuram, They won't marriage with other brahmin groups
These peole hold there independency in their temple even today
Their Settlements are five Major groups
1)Thilli chidabaram (முவாயிரவர்)Dikshitar
2)ThiruvAnaikoil (ஆயிரவர்)Pandithar
3)Avadaiyarkoil (முன்னூற்றிஓருவர்)Nambiyar
4)Woraiyur(Virupashipuram) From Avadaiyarkoil and Tiruvellarai settlement
5)Tiruvarur From Palur settlement
last two settlements are those people who served as Brahmarayars in Chola king court,later they are scattered but only some are in woriyur settlement.
[b] Uchikudimi Marayavars(Urvatsikha):
These People have Uchi kudimi or Urvat sikha . Their settlements areas follows
1)Thirukkatiyoor
2)Madalur
3)Visalur
4)Puthalur
5)Senganur
last two settlements are those people who served as Brahmarayars in Chola king court,later they are scattered but only some are in woriyur settlement.
[b] Uchikudimi Marayavars(Urvatsikha):
These People have Uchi kudimi or Urvat sikha . Their settlements areas follows
1)Thirukkatiyoor
2)Madalur
3)Visalur
4)Puthalur
5)Senganur
6)Vēmbattur
7)Tirupparakunram
[c] Munkudimi Marayavars (Purvasikha):
[c] Munkudimi Marayavars (Purvasikha):
In Tirunelvēli they are found in villages of Vallanādu, Tenkāśi, Kiappāvūr, Krsnāpuram, Kataiyanallūr,Kottāram, Śrīvaikundam, Bālamārtāntapuram, Aakiyarpāntipuram, Panaiyīr,Kāraikkuti, Ambāsamudram, Pāppākkuti.
In Salem they live in the villages Tiruppattūr, Bhavāni, Cinnasalem, Nāmakkal.
Sama veda choliya's or munkudimi , had been found in the Eighteen villages about 400 families of around Cauvery banks of Trichy And Thanjavur during the Chola reign, But Later in the period around 1234 A.D migrated to Kerala and they are found in the villages of palakkad(palghat), especially in the villages of Kodunthirapully Agraharam, Ahaliyapandiyapuram, Nagarkoyil and Sucindram. These people are especially Talavakara Sakha of the Sama Veda and they are mainly from Anbil, Kidamangalam, llayattangudi, Sesamulail, Sendalai, Nangur,. Rest of them who stayed in the banks of Cauvery adopted Srivaishnavam. These people a Purva sikha choliyal.
In Salem they live in the villages Tiruppattūr, Bhavāni, Cinnasalem, Nāmakkal.
Sama veda choliya's or munkudimi , had been found in the Eighteen villages about 400 families of around Cauvery banks of Trichy And Thanjavur during the Chola reign, But Later in the period around 1234 A.D migrated to Kerala and they are found in the villages of palakkad(palghat), especially in the villages of Kodunthirapully Agraharam, Ahaliyapandiyapuram, Nagarkoyil and Sucindram. These people are especially Talavakara Sakha of the Sama Veda and they are mainly from Anbil, Kidamangalam, llayattangudi, Sesamulail, Sendalai, Nangur,. Rest of them who stayed in the banks of Cauvery adopted Srivaishnavam. These people a Purva sikha choliyal.
Visadvaitic Brahmins(Iyengars,Nambis):
These people are divided into two groups one on chola nadu another on Pandiya nadu
These Brahmanas are mostly Thenkalai and they follow Vishishtadvaita of Ramanuja. This group are Vaishnavites
All Brahmin alvars. Madhurakavaialwar,Tondar adi podi Alvar ,Periya alwar are Thenkali Sholiyar. Vaishnava achraya like Periya nambi, Thirukoshiyoor nambi,Periyavachan Pillai are chozhiars.
[a] Chola Nadu:
This is around the seven villages (ஏழூ கிராமம்) of Trichy.These include Puthur, Kariyamanikam, Thruvellrai,Thitukkotiyur, Papakurichi, Uttamasili and Maanakaal(Anbil). Both
Mun kudimi and Uchi Kudimi are common
[b] Pandiya Nadu:
Another is found in seven villages (ஏழூ கிராமம்) of around ThirunelvalliThese include Villages like Alvar Tirunagari, Tentirupperai (Tenkalai Vaisnavas) and Watrap; and at Karamanai and Tiruvettar near Trivandrum, .These people have Uchi kudimi, and mainly belong to Talavarakara sangha of sama veda.
Origin Of Choliyal: More details can be seen http://www.ejvs.laurasianacademy.com/SouthernRec.pdf
Comman among Choliyal:
All of Choliyal believe in Arthashastra and they both followed the Manusmriti . The Grihya Sutras of Apastamba and Baudhayana are found among Yajur veda,simalarly both sutras of Rig veda also found, But Sama veda has rare Talavakara Sakha, due to which many Caranatic musicians like Chembai are from this group . There common Gotra of choliyal include Bharadvaja, Atreya, Vasishta, Angirasa, Kashyapa,Koushika , Rowshayadana ,Agestaya and Srivasta.Many of these two groups are wellversed in yantra, tantra, Mantra and some are in atarvana veda versions also.
These peoples also worship GramaDevatha kavaldeivam like Karuppanaaar swamy,Ayyanar and also Goddess Pidari due to influence of ethicity in dravidian culture .
Status Of Choliyars Today:
Nowadays this group became the dominant social and cultural stratum in South Indian society, producing a plethora of British style academicians, industrialists, information technolgists and political leaders. They also played an active role in the Indian independence movement. Due to their educational growth today found in some parts of Northern Tamilnadu.,Mumbai, Delhi, Newyork, Texas, California of U.S, London, Scotland,Paris of Europe, Australia and Canada
