Devaradiyar of Thirukoneswaram: A Socio-Historical Study based on Konesar Kalvettu

This study examines the origin of the Dancing girls (Devaradiyar) tradition which promoted artistic service, especially focusing on the art of dance, existed in Trincomalee (Thirukoneswaram), one of the oldest temples in Sri Lanka. The Devaradiyar tradition which existed in Tamil Nadu attained eminence during the Chola rule. Kulakottan or Cholagangan who ruled the Trincomalee region in Sri Lanka, as the representatives of the Cholas, brought various communities from Tamil Nadu. They were settled in the Trincomalee to serve in the Thirukoneswaram temple. Devaradiyar lineage is one of the communities that migrated from Tamil Nadu to Sri Lanka for rendering service to Thirukoneswaram. However, adequate studies have not been conducted regarding the Devaradiyar who were settled in Trincomalee. The main objective of this study is to describe the data related to Devaradiyar, extracted from the Konesar Kalvettu, literature that reveals information about the systems and orders of the Thirukoneswara temple. This study raises questions pertaining to the kinds of services rendered by Devaradiyar settlers to the temple, the regulations related to them during that period and attempts to find explanation for these issues. The primary data consist of verses and prose taken from Konesar Kalvettu. The secondary data include collections of research documentation linked to the political, social, and religious history of Trincomalee and information related to the Devaradiyar community.
Key Words: Devaradiyar, Hindu tradition, Manickam, Stone inscription, Temple tradition, Trincomalee.