Sembadavar or Parvatha Rajakulam is a traditional fisherman community found mainly on the Coromandel coast of the Indian states of Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry.
[2] There are many theories as to their origins but they have since ancient times been recorded in the area of Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry and Sri Lanka.
Out of the union was Parvatha Rajan (king of the Parvata Kingdom) born who disguised himself as a boatman.
[3] Accidentally was a rishi caught in his net, who angered called Parvatha Rajan a "Sembu Padavar" meaning "copper boatmen" and cursed his descendants to become fishermen.
As of 2011[update], Parvatharajakulam is classified as a Most backward caste by the Governments of Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry.