Anjuvannam

இந்தப் பக்கத்தை தமிழில் வாசிக்க: அஞ்சுவண்ணம் ‎

Anju Vannathar or Anjuvannam is said to be one of the symbols of Islamism. It has been later associated with Islamic culture. The expressions Anjuvannam Jama'ath are commonly used in Tamil Nadu. The term is said to have been derived from the word 'Anjuman'.

Etymology

T. V. Sadhasiva Pandarathar considers the term Anjuvannam to be derived from the Persian word 'Anjuman'. The word Anjuman has meanings such as association, guild or group. S. M. Kamaal says the Arabian residences in Tamil Nadu were altered as Anjuvannam in the inscriptions. The oldest Islamic literary text found in Tamil Nadu is the Palsandha Maalai belonging to the 12th century AD. Though it is not available now, many poems from this text are quoted in another text Kalaviyal Karigai. S. Vaiyapuri Pillai, publisher of Kalaviyal Karigai notes the word Anjuvannam mentioned in quoted verses of Palsandha Maalai specifies the word Anjuman. He also points out the usage of words like Kalupadhi, Allah as additional information.

Aalif Pulvar's Migraaj Maalai, literary text belonging to the 16th century AD uses the term 'Anjuvannam Islamvargal'. Historians V. Venkaiyya, T. A. Gopinath Rao, T. V. Sarkaar, T. V. Mahalingam, K. V. Ramesh, A. Subaraiyalu also hold the same opinion. Historian H. Hamim Mustafa researching the etymology of 'Anjuvannam' elaborates this in his book, 'Tamil Islam Uruvaakamum ThiruKuran Tamil Vaasipum' (Formation of Tamil Islam and Tamil Reading of the Noble Quran) Hamim Mustafa finds there is no strong evidence for the term Anjuvannam referring to the Muslims outside of the four varnas and to the Muslim weavers.

Abdul Rahim's Islamic Encyclopedia states that Anjuvannam denotes a Muslim settlement located few miles away from Thondi (a town in Ramanathapuram district, Tamil Nadu). It also mentions the researchers opinion of Anjuvannam's location in Paasipatinam.

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Researchers believe that Anjuvannam refers to a Muslim settlement, possibly Passipatnam, few miles away from Thondi, Ramanathapuram.

Nilakanta Sastri in his book The Pandyan Kingdom, says that the Muslim settlers of this region formed guilds called 'Anjuvannam', they were given various concessions by the Pandyas and were allowed to punish those who broke their laws. Few believe that this was why they were called Anju Vannathar.

Few others believe that this is about the five pillars of Islamic faith and the Muslims were called Anju Vannathar as they followed these tenets. Few others claim that they got this name because of their practice of praying five times a day. There are several mosques in Tamil Nadu with the name Anjuvannam Jama'ath Masjid.

Trade Guilds of South India

Manigramam and Anjuvannam were two of the important trade guilds of South India that existed during the 9th century CE. These trade guilds were grouped under an Ainuruvar (Five Hundred Lords of Ayyavole). The name Anjuvannam finds mention in the Jewish copper plates of Cochin, which has been dated to the 10th century CE. The copper plates detail about the rights and privileges given to the merchant guild by the Chera King Bhaskara Ravi Varma. The Manigramam merchant guild

Links

• Islamiya Kalai Kalanjiyam - Abdur Raheem

• Anjuvannam Theru - Thoppil Muhammed Miran

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