Sengunthar ([sɛŋkʊnʈɻ]), also known as the Kaikolar and Senguntha Mudaliar is a caste commonly found in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and the neighboring country Sri Lanka.

These nine heroes (Navaveerargal), namely Virabahu,[17] Virakesari, Viramahendrar, Viramaheshwar, Virapurandharar, Viraraakkathar, Viramaarthandar, Viraraanthakar and Veerathirar with Subrahmanya at their head, marched in command of a large force, and destroyed the demons.

[19] Cholan Poorva Pattayam, a copper plate inscription, says about the Karikala Chola, the conquest of the Kongu region, and the settling of the colonies with various occupational castes like Sengunthars.

[20] Inscriptions from the 11th century suggest that by the time of the Chola dynasty, the Sengunthar had already developed its involvement in weaving and trading, together with a role in military matters that was probably necessary to protect those interests.

Such historical records emphasise their military function, with the poet Ottakoothar glorifying them and suggesting that their origins lay with the armies of the gods.

Muthuvalpetra, meaning the “recipient of the pearl ornamented sword” in Tamil seems to indicate some special honour or rank conferred on the regiment by the king.

According to Vijaya Ramaswamy, in early thirteenth century large number of Kaikolars were migrated to Kongu Nadu from Tondaimandalam[25] after the fall of Chola empire.

[26][27][28] According to Deepak Kumar, the Sengunthar weavers very often figure in the capacity of kudi, i.e. tenant-cultivators and also holders of kaniyachi, that is hereditary possession over the land.

[29] During the period of Sadasiva Raya of Vijayanagara empire, the sthanathar of the Brahmapuriswara temple made an agreement that they would cultivate certain lands of the Kaikkolar regiment.

Chandramathi Mudaliar was a 17th-century Tamil chieftain and ruler of south Kongu Nadu (Erode region) who fought many battles against the Madurai Nayak.

According to India Before Europe by Catherine Ella Blanshard Asher, Cynthia Talbot, Sengunthars attained positions of responsibility at the two major Vaishnavite temples of Srirangam and Tirupati.

In the book The Political Economy of Commerce: Southern India, 1500–1650, author Sanjay Subrahmanyam states that many Sengunthar families were rich enough to contribute both land and gold to temples.

Bogan, Poonduraiyan, Kanchaan, Pachayan, Kanjivelan, Senji, Paramakali, Aaran, Manikatti Sadayan and Mannayan clan of Sengunthars were appointed as Pulavars(Poet) for 24 nadus of Kongu Mandalam for their Proficiency in Tamil language.

But when they are concerned with the sacred locus of the interior, meat eating, blood sacrifice, spirit possession, and the worship of small gods are all prominent.

[1] The Sura Samharam festival is a traditional ritual where the Sengunthars dress as the lieutenants of Karthikeya and re-enact the killing of the demon Suran.

[37] Sengunthar Kaikola Mudaliyar have rights to give festival flag for Dhandayuthapani Swamy Temple at Palani, the third of the six abodes of Lord Murugan.

During Sura Samharam festival, according to traditional ritual Senguntha Kaikolars dress as Navaveerargal lieutenants of Murugan and re-enact the killing of the demon Suran in the temple.

The presiding deity of the Srikalahasteeswara temple at Srikalahasti Gnana Prasunambika Devi was born in Vellathurar Gotra of Senguntha Kaikola Mudaliar caste.

During the flag ceremony day, the houses of Sengunthars are beautifully decorated with curtains with the picture of rooster, the legendary vehicle of Lord Muruga.

Being the aboriginal weavers of the Kongu region unlike later immigrants, they are properly called 'Kongu Kaikkolvar' Rattukaarar, also known as Rendukaarar because they weave with warps composed of double threads and they are traditional carpet makers.

[47] Sengunthars were originally classified as Forward Caste(FC) but later listed as a Backward Class in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh because of the efforts of Erode Meenakshi Sundara Mudaliar.