Topic started by Udaya (@ mail.britishcouncil.lk) on Thu Jan 30 05:44:34 .
All times in EST +10:30 for IST.

Madapalliars used to be most powerful land owning caste in jaffna claiming descent from its aryachakravarthi ruling class which established Jaffna kingdom around 14 th century in a area thinly populated with hunter-gatherer tribes up untill then.this kingdom depended on agriculture based on well water from a water table beneath its limestone earth and trade from then flourishing mercantile activities around the Indian ocean.As all other kingdoms in southasia its rulers claim descent from Indoaryans who established their kingdoms in Deccan with a megalithic structures dating back to more than1000 B.C. Traditionally Jaffna kings used to claim descent from Brahmans and Ganga Dynasty of Kalinga.Incidentally branch of this Orissan family ruled whole Shri lanka as Kalinga Kshasthriya Dynasty from 11th to 13th century from Polonnaruwa in present north-central province in Shri lanka.
Although Jaffna kingdom never integrated tribal hunter gatherers stratem of tamil speaking people and Muslims it allowed them to settle in the coastal sandy areas and around lagoons in the territory where it had authority as other kingdoms in Shri lanka did at that period creating a group of people who lived under their own chiefs.

Responses:

• From: SENEVIRATNE (@ mail.britishcouncil.lk) on: Thu Mar 20 23:55:17
  
  Ancient Jaffna kings were descendants of Brahmanas from Rameshwaram according to father Querose a portughese historian who stydied the history of Shri lanka in 16th century
  This may be a strong reason why Madapallis remained a separate entity.
  
  
• From: Karuvayan (@ cs2417546-174.austin.rr.com) on: Fri Mar 21 00:29:55
  
  Udaya, where are you getting this information from - Urumaiya monks?
  
  Perhaps our pal, Nisala Banda can verify this.
  
  
• From: Krishna (@ cache-syd-aa02.proxy.aol.com) on: Fri Mar 21 03:26:25
  
  HI,
  
  Madapalliars...refers to "Chef in Temples" or those who cook food in the temples.
  
  "Madapalli" another meaning in tamil is "scared dalit"...also another meaning foolish person!!!
  
  
• From: Arjuna (@ 210.186.216.134) on: Fri Mar 21 10:03:07
  
  My forefathers emigrated from Jaffna five generations ago and are well settled in the land of their adoption. What are the ways by which we could trace the origins, whether Madapalli or otherwise of our origins?
  
  It may not be a very significant issue but nevertheless is there a definite and tightly controlled caste system in Jaffna at any time?
  
  The Jaffna people in my land of adoption all seemed to be having very close and identical features? Does it mean that all Eelam people look the same as long as they are not diluted with the inhabitants of their adopted countries. Ironically the cross breeds of Jaffna people with other races are far superior in terms of looks and academic performance as well. Does that mean that we should take a concerted effort to cross breed with other races to enhance the quality of our genes. I am sorry if I am offending any one but I sincerely hope that this would be a purposeful and beneficial discussion for the community and for the citizens of the world at larga.
  
  
  
  Arjuna
  
  
• From: Puvirajasingham (@ mail.britishcouncil.lk) on: Sat Mar 22 03:02:31
  
  
  
  
  After the capture of Jaffna portughese ruled the territory with the help of 13 KUMARAMADAPALLIS who were descendants of former rulers.
  
  In literary sense Madapalli also means a temple feast which is sacred in Vedism and prepared by Brahmana priests.
  
  So some think Madapallis are former brahmanas specialised to do various administrative functions in Jaffna
  
  In appearance they have mediterranian features except some who are mixed with left hand chettis who may have typical south indian feature than Periya vellalas.
  
  There is a web site in yahoo about Madapalli caste as well as a book written tracing Kumaramadapallis descent to first Jaffna ruler who the book says came from plase in Orissa known as Madapalli.It traces all the important Kumaramadapallis of present era in relation to Jaffna's Kalinga ruling family.
  
  The web site says about the striking fair skin colour of typical Madapallis as against typical tamil speakers.
  
  
• From: Velavarayan (@ ) on: Wed Aug 13 04:12:55
  
  Madapallis of Jaffna resembles Brahmanas more than any other Tamil speaking group.
  
  
  In contrast to the Tamilnadu,Madapallis were the sole and chief landowning caste in Jaffna.
  
  Even today They are the driving force in Sri Lankan Tamil Diaspora.
  
  
• From: Velavarayan (@ ) on: Wed Aug 13 04:13:10
  
  Madapallis of Jaffna resembles Brahmanas more than any other Tamil speaking group.
  
  
  In contrast to the Tamilnadu,Madapallis were the sole and chief landowning caste in Jaffna.
  
  Even today They are the driving force in Sri Lankan Tamil Diaspora.
  
  
• From: Velavarayan (@ ) on: Wed Aug 13 04:13:26
  
  Madapallis of Jaffna resembles Brahmanas more than any other Tamil speaking group.
  
  
  In contrast to the Tamilnadu,Madapallis were the sole and chief landowning caste in Jaffna.
  
  Even today They are the driving force in Sri Lankan Tamil Diaspora.
  
  
• From: karthi (@ wc09.ym.rnc.net.cable.rogers.com) on: Sat Aug 16 18:02:34 EDT 2003
  
  MadaPalli is a corruption for the SANSKRIT or PALI word MAGADHA PAALI which means ADMINISTRATORS of MAGADHA.
  
  Now many Madapallis claim that they are VELLALA.
  
  Madapallis mixed mainly with the Vellalas who came later with Portugeuse. Chetty component is invisible in Jaffna.
  
  
  
• From: vijajan (@ fw1.iib.ch) on: Sat Oct 9 17:19:37
  
  the jaffna vellalars are origin of madappallliyar,pallar,maravar,sinhalagoviyar according to the historical evidence.don`t they ?
  
  
• From: singan (@ fw1.iib.ch) on: Sat Oct 9 17:22:01 EDT 2004
  
  yes!yes! you are.that is true for ever.
  
  
• From: singan (@ fw1.iib.ch) on: Sat Oct 9 17:23:44 EDT 2004
  
  yes!yes! vijajan! you are right.that is true for ever.
  
  
• From: vijaj (@ fw1.iib.ch) on: Mon Oct 18 14:14:02 EDT 2004
  
  Sir pon.Raamanathan is a Madappalliyan.he betrayed tamilan to sinhalavan.
  
  
• From: vijaj (@ fw1.iib.ch) on: Mon Oct 18 14:14:25 EDT 2004
  
  Sir pon.Raamanathan is a Madappalliyan.he betrayed tamilan to sinhalavan.
  
  

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