Astrologers - The many names they are known by


It is not often we meet Tamilians in Mumbai. Recently while travelling in Mumbai's Local Train / Mumbai Suburban Train, I had the opportunity to meet a Tamilian who was sitting beside me. 

We had a friendly chat and in the course of the chat, I discovered he is not only from my district but also from a nearby village. While taking leave from him, I shared my mobile no and asked for his mobile no. He promptly gave his mobile no to me. To save his number his name was required. I asked for his name. He said “Mani”. I replied there are a few “Mani” already saved. He said, “save it as Mani Yadav”. I was little perplexed. Thought from when have Tamilians started using Yadav as Surname to their name. A little bit of Google(ing) revealed British India’s first population census has clubbed all the erstwhile pastoral community involved in cattle cultivation into one caste and clubbed it as “Yadav”, a popular North India surname. That how, our Konars' of Tamil Nadu started using Yadav to their name. In fact there are few Yadavar Sangams in Mumbai and they conduct regular meetings and cultural activities.


Changing caste name is nothing new in Tamil Nadu. The easiest recollection is the Nadar caste. Long time back they were known as Shanars / Chanars. They organized themselves and emerged as a business cum trading caste in Tamil Nadu. It short, the name change changed the fortune of the Shanars / Chanars community. The traditional business cum trading caste Chetiars and Naidus, now have a new competitor in Nadars.

As I mentioned, changing caste name is nothing new in Tamil Nadu, after a prolong struggle, which started before 1871, Palli a caste in Tamil Nadu changed their caste name to Vanniyakula Kshatriya in 1931. Here too a change in caste name brought political benefits for the community.  

The latest to change their caste name is Pallan / Pallar. They have changed their caste name to Devendrakula Velalar. It happened recently in 2011. This caste now wants to be excluded from Scheduled Caste.

The Arunthathiyar were previously known as Chakkiliyars and before that they were known as Madharis.

The Paraiyans / Paraiyars change their caste name to Adi-Dravidar, but reverted back to Paraiyans / Paraiyars. Officially, they are known as Adi-Dravidar since 1914.

It has been noticed the change in caste name to tune with the present has brought in many benefits the foremost among them is unity, political representation and forward thinking outlook

This brings me back to Valluvans / Valluvars.  I am of the view that caste name should be in tune with the present with an eye on the future. Being a caste which is engaged in astrology I would go with Joshiar, Jyotidar, Shastri or Nakshatra Shastry. A change in caste name with tune to what people understand today will extend your reach to many states in India and many countries aboard. The changed name bring instant recall.

In parts of Odisha Astrologers are known as Nakshatra Brahmins and Brahmin Ganaks in Assam. In neighbouring Kerala they were known as Arivor in olden day, which means a person having profound knowledge in astrology, medicine and literature. The other names for the astrologer caste used in olden days were Surya Vipra, Daivajna Brahmins, Acharya and Graha Vipra. Vipra has many meaning and one meaning means Priest. Graha mean Nakshatra.

Today the field of astrology offers various benefits. There are cricket astrology, stock market astrology, business astrology and various others.

As astrologers’ profession in business card / visiting card / spiritual card should read like this. After the name the profession should be any one of this: Life Predictor, Life Analyser, Planets Analyser, Nakshatra Analyser, Life Coach, Analyser & Strategist and likewise Professional titles.

@gomadityavalluvan



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