NADARS TEMPLE ENTRY CAMPAIGN: 1700-1939

Nadar's right to temple entry was questioned by upper communities who occupied administrative posts in Nanjil Nadu and Marava Nadu. There are examples of actual use of culture to be able to promote the interest of disadvantaged people which is the case of Nadars in Tamil Nadu in India who created a new myth of origin—making them descendants of the sun god (Soorya Vamsam) —to help them raise their status in society. In the history, there was never any restriction for the Nadar community people to enter temples of Palani, Erode Bhavani, Trichy and Tanjavur Jillahs.

The community was suppressed in South Tamilnadu and the birth and death related ceremonies are looked after by Nadar Kudimahan community specifically identified for the practice only to Nadar community.

1750-1850: Nadars, the majority being called as Thinnelvely Shanars originating from Therikkaadu were considered impure toddy-tappers migrated to different villages of Nanjil Nadu (Kumari and Thiruvanthapuram) and Marava Nadu ( Sivakasi, Ramanathapuram, Madurai , hill ranges of Bodi, Kodaikanal and Palani).

1850-1939 For the entry to temples in Srivilliputur, Thiruchendur, Madurai, Sivakasi,Thiruthangal, Kamuthi, Rameswaram gained acceptance only after a long fight/riot in streets, social and legal campaign in courts and finally when then Indian Government’s promulgation of order to allow all the suppressed communities

1910 From 1910 onwards Nadar Conferences were organized annually in Porayar, Tanjavur, Kumbakonam, Tuticorin, Sattur, Kovilpatti, Sivakasi and other towns to demand rights for temple entry, develop social and family welfare schemes, self-respect, equality and self-esteem.

1850-1940 Nadars met with some socio-economic success in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centurires when they developed mercantilism based on bullock cart caravan, pettais, trading in tobacco, cotton, salt, dried fish, Palm Jaggery and started acquiring coffee,tea,pepper&cardamom; estates in Palani Hill Ranges.

1872: Concerning the entry of Nadars into the Tiruchendur Murugan temple, upper community filed a suit in the Srivaikuntam court.

1874: Right to establish the temply entry by Nadars to Madurai Meenakshi Temple was not successful

1895: Kazhuhumalai riots and killings happened questioning the Nadar’s rights on entry to Temple car roads. Kamuthi temple entry had similar tensions.

14 May 1897: 15 Nadars entere Kamuthi Meenakshi Sundareswarar temple. Lega suit was filed against the Nadars by the King of Ramnad and after a very long legal battle at Madurai and Madras Courts & London Privy Council, the court disagreed with Nadars claim to kshathriya status. Only the Brahmins such as few Deekshidhars of Chidambaram Temples and Brahmins from Tanjore jillah temples testified in support of Nadars.

6 June,1889: Sivakasi riots which took place due to Hostility to the efforts of Nadars to establish a new higher social status in the census and demand for Shiva temple entry at Sivakasi. More than 5000 armed men of a upper community attacked Nadar community of Sivakasi, 16 people lost life before controlling the opposite team. Total result 23 murders, several robberies and arson, 1958 arrests, 552 convictions & 7 death sentences. Several people migrated from Sivakasi to Virudhunagar and other villages of Madurai district during this riots. The temple was closed during the riots and was opened after 4 decades with Nadars patronizing the entire rejunevation of Visvanathasamy temple.