The first well-documented
history of the Tamil land is reflected in the literature of
sangam which is found grouped in Ettuthogai and Pathupattu.
These first three centuries sangam age works talk a lot about
Paravar or Parathar community which extended from Rameswaram
to Kanniyakumari. The main profession of paravars is fishing
in the sea. In olden days they were even involved in manufacturing
salt. They were experts in pearl and chank fishing. Ahananooru
of the Sangam literature depicts of Paravar profession. Korkai,
the famous harbour town of Pandya kingdom was thickly populated
by paravars. In olden days paravars were engaged in trading
with Greece, Rome, Egypt, China, Java, Burma and Ceylon. Korkai
pearl was the most famous item exported from Tamil land.
Paravars worshipped Varunan. Pattinapalai
(200 AD) gives a vivid picture of Varunan cult of Paravars.
The fisherfolk call the sea as Mother Sea and revere her as
Goddess. Ahananooru talks about sea Goddess. The records of
the Travancore Census Report 1931 mentions about the inscription
at the Cape Comorin temple. It talks about a Paravar King
Villavaraya of Cape who ruled the coastal land for about 800
years. It is also believed that the temple at Cape was built
by the Paravars for their Sea Goddess. The Paravars' natural
attachment to Madurai Meenakshi Amman temple also can be attributed
as a great sign of their reverence to their Mother Goddess.
When the southern people started changing
their religion under the northern influence, paravars also
followed the suit. During the Cholas and later Pandiya kings
regime Paravars were believers of Saivisim. There were many
highly learned and spiritually bolstered Saivites in Paravar
Community.
From 1311 onward the Muslim rulers began
to invade Pandiyan Empire and continued repeated onslaught
on them. In 1323 they captured the Pandian Kingdom. The Muslims
being very powerful at sea and having the support of local
Kings started forcing the Paravars to embrace Islam. But they
failed every time. In 1516 the Muslims captivated whole pearl
fishery on lease from Udaya Marthanda Varma and Paravars were
brinked to the state of slavery. And for the first time ever
in the history the Paravars lost their right over the pearl
fishery.
Day by day the Muslims and their arrogance
became more stronger and the parava community was left helpless.
Unaided by the neighbours and exposed to the danger of being
wiped out by the tyrannical Muslims, Paravars found timely
help from an unexpected quarter. The Portuguese expressed
their willingness to help if they consented to become Christians.
After studying the suggestion Paravar community decided to
embrace Christianity enmasse. Thus, in 1533, nearly 30,000
Paravars got back their right over Pearl fishery. In 1542
Saint Francis Xavier came to Pearl Coasts to strengthen their
Christian faith.
During the baptism of Paravars, the Portugese
happened to be God-fathers. So they had given their names
to Paravars. Even after 460 years these surnames are still
prevalent in the paravar community. 68 such names are existing
amongst which Fernando, Fernandes are mostly used.
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