Seerpadar

Seerpadar (also written as Cirpatar or Seerpadam) is a Tamil caste found in the coastal regions of Eastern Province in Sri Lanka.^[1] They are traditionally involved in agriculture.^[2] They are chiefly found in the Veeramunai, Mandur, Thuraineelavanai, Kalmunai, Kurumanveli,Naavithanveli,Ezlaam kiraamam,Pathinainthaam kiraamam,Veppaiyadi,Vellaaveli,Paalaiyadiveddai,Muppathainthaam kiraamam,Muppathelaam kiraamam and Periye Kallar regions in the Batticaloa and Ampara District.^[1][3]

Seerpadar
Chola princess Seerpada Devi
Religions	Shaivism
Languages	Tamil

History

Early history

Statue of Chola queen Seerpada Devi holding a statue of Ganesha, captured in Veeramunai, Amparai.

The Seerpadar caste derive their name and origin from a Chola queen known as Seerpada Devi, chronicled in inscriptions, copper plates and local poems.^[4] According to them, their origin stems from the union of Seerpada Devi and the prince Sittathurai (also known as Balasimhan), the son of king Ukkirasinghan (legendary founder of Jaffna Kingdom).^[1] The caste has been recorded in colonial records as being involved in cultivating activities and warriors. ^[2][4]

subtypes-Kudi

• Sinthathiran kudi
• Pattuvali kudi
• Mudavan kudi

Seerpadar's Inscriptions

• Veeramunai ceppedu
• Thirukkovil ceppedu
• Kokkaticholai ceppedu
• Thuraineelavanai ceppedu
• Thirukonamalai ceppedu

Notable people

• Arul selvanayagam
• T. Kalaiarasan
• S.Thillainathan
• S.Muthukumaaran

Others

• Veeramunai
• Kanchikudicharu