Kossar

Origin theories/myths

• Krishnasami Aiyangar explores the Nalur Kosar, (i.e. Kosars who settled in 4 places: naal=4, ur=place) as foreigners to Tamil country. He suggests that they may be the Kosakara tribe mentioned in the Ramayana.
  • With regard to their Maurya connections, they were possibly the Khasas who led the advanced parts of the army into Pataliputra for Chandragupta Maurya. They were reputed as warriors in the south and were described as people who invariably kept their word. He further writes that the Buddhist propaganda stopped short of the Tamil land; and moved to other parts including Ceylon.
  • The Khasas were a west Central Asian nomadic tribe and a pre-Rigvedic Iranian Aryan tribes that spread from Kashmir to Assam. They are found in present-day Nepal and other mountain regions of North India. See Khasa Kingdom.
• Prof S. Shivaram Shetty’s research shows that a tribe called Kosars wandered into Tulu nadu after the Aryan invasion. Mercenaries by nature, they first settled in Deccan and established the Shatavahana kingdom in Andhra Pradesh. In Tulu nadu they founded the Alupa kingdom (Alupas). Satavahana Kosar and Bunts could be all central Asian Scythian tribes.

In Tamil literature

• In Tamil literature, Kosars were mentioned as west Vadukas with their origin as Kolhapur near Goa. Erattar were a branch of Kosars who became Maha Rattirar (Prakrit) or Maharashtrans (Sanskrit). Historian Burnell confirms this.
• Kosars were called Nar Kosar or Nanmozhi Kosar in the third Sangam literature. Nannul or Tholkappiam notes them as Kannadam (Kannadigas), Vaduku (Tulu), Kalingam (Oriya) and Telugu people. Kamba-ramayanam Payiram says Kosars were Vadakalai (Prakrit), Thenkalai (Tamil), Vaduku and Kannada people. Kosars were truthful to their kings and were called ‘Vai-mozhi Kosar’ (truthful in keeping their words).
• The Mathurai Kanchi 508-09 & 771-74 records them as:

"Poyya Nallisai Niruththa punaithar, Perum peyar Maaran Thalaivan Aka, Kadanthadu vai val Elampal Kosar, Eyaneri Marabin Vai mozhi ketpa" and "Pazhayan Mokoor Avayakam vilanka Nanmozhi Kosar Thontri yanna".

• The Chera dynasty's Nedunchezhian’s army head was Mohoor Pazhayan Maaran. Kosars were present in his army. They followed Maran’s words in battle and were honored for their job in his court.
• Elampal Kosar (young Kosars) were present in the armies of the Cheras.
• Silappatikaram says Kon kilam Kosar were present in the Kongu Army (Kongunadu).
• The Prakrit form of Vai-mozhi Kosar is Saththiya Putthirar and Asokan inscriptions call the Vadukus by this name. This might refer to the children born out of the Marumakkathayam system.
• The Akananooru 15, 2-7 records:

"Thokai Kavin Thulu nattu anna Varunkai Vampalaith Thankum panpin Cherintha Seri Chemmal Moothur". (Then captured Kudaku Nadu and Erumai Nadu and settled in Tulu Nadu with Moothur as their capital).

References

1. Aiyangar, S. Krishnaswami. (1995). Some Contributions of South India to Indian Culture.
2. Akananooru 386.
3. Nannul Noortpa, Page 272.
4. Akananooru 205
5. buntsmathrsangha.net