Preface.
"Velir-Varalaru" is a learned and a laborious production of Mr. M. Raghava Aiyangar of Ramnad. The sterling worth of the work has been attested to by the Royal Asiatic Society. The Madras University has set upon it its own seal of approval. In the face of these distinguished testimonials, any prefatory remarks of mine own, which I have been called upon by the learned author to advance, are not at all needed.
Till quite recent times the study of Tamil literature was confined solely to the aroma and the ornate side of it. Of late Tamil literature is being studied with a view to build up its history. The author here tries to pursue the the pure history side imbedded in the regions of ancient Tamil works. He here gives the early history of the Velir probably the original ancestors of the community known at present by the name of Vellalas. His copious references to various authorities lend considerable support to this position. According to the author the Velir originally belong to the Yadhava clan–the very clan in which Sri Krishna was born. Sometime after the Mahabharatha war, the Velir, it seems migrated from Guzerat, their original abode, to South India, leaving their outstanding traces wherever they lived. They can be gathered from the names of towns in that part of India beginning with Vel or its corrupted forms, Belhutti, Bela, Belgaum, Velapur. The author concludes that the Bellalas, Chaluk. yas, Andhras, Yadhavas and Velir come from the same stock of people and that many of the Velir held sway over portions of Sonth India either as paramount rulers or
