Vellala

The landlord community throughout
much of traditional Tamil Nadu.
Although technically the Vellalas were of
shudra status, their control over the
land gave them considerable influence
and prestige in the region. The Vellala
community was the source for many of
the Alvars, a group of twelve poet-saints
whose stress on passionate devotion
(bhakti) to the god Vishnu transformed
and revitalized Hindu religious life. Most
of the Alvars’ influence undoubtedly
stemmed from the strength of their religious devotion, but this was undoubtedly
reinforced by Vellala status as a landholding community.