{{Short description|Tamil caste found chiefly in Eastern Sri Lanka}} {{pp-extended|small=yes}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2019}} {{Use Indian English|date=March 2019}} {{Infobox caste |caste_name=Seerpadar |languages=Tamil |religions=Shaivism |image =Seerpadathevi.png |caption = Chola princess Seerpada Devi }}
'''Seerpadar''' (also written as ''Cirpatar'' or ''Seerpadam'') is a Tamil caste found in the coastal regions of Eastern Province in Sri Lanka.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last=Raghavan|first=M. D.|title=Tamil culture in Ceylon: a general introduction|date=1971|publisher=Kalai Nilayam|pages=109–112|language=en}}</ref> They are traditionally involved in farming.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book|last=McGilvray|first=Dennis B.|title=Crucible of Conflict: Tamil and Muslim Society on the East Coast of Sri Lanka|date=2008-05-07|publisher=Duke University Press|isbn=978-0-8223-4161-1|pages=41, 376|language=en}}</ref> They are chiefly found in the Veeramunai, Mandur, Thuraineelavanai, Kalmunai,Chenaikudiyiruppu,Kanchikudicharu, Kurumanveli,Naavithanveli,Ezlaam kiraamam,Pathinainthaam kiraamam,Veppaiyadi,Vellaaveli,Paalaiyadiveddai,Muppathainthaam kiraamam,Muppathelaam kiraamam and Periye Kallar regions in the Batticaloa and Ampara District.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite book|last=Whitaker|first=Mark P.|title=Learning politics from Sivaram: the life and death of a revolutionary Tamil journalist in Sri Lanka|date=2007|publisher=Pluto Press|isbn=978-0-7453-2353-4|pages=67|language=en}}</ref>
== History ==
=== Early history === [[File:Seerpathadevi.jpg|thumb|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.<ref name=":2">{{Cite book|last=Whitaker|first=Mark P.|title=Amiable Incoherence: Manipulating Histories and Modernities in a Batticaloa Tamil Hindu Temple|date=1999-01-01|publisher=V.U. University Press|isbn=978-90-5383-644-6|pages=117, 127|language=en}}</ref> 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).<ref name=":0" /> The caste has been recorded in colonial records as being involved in cultivating activities and warriors. <ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" />
===subtypes-Kudi=== *Sinthathiran 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
==References== {{Reflist}}
Category:Sri Lankan Tamil castes