IJCOPE Journal

UGC Logo DOI / ISO Logo

International Journal of Creative and Open Research in Engineering and Management

A Peer-Reviewed, Open-Access International Journal Supporting Multidisciplinary Research, Digital Publishing Standards, DOI Registration, and Academic Indexing.
Journal Information
ISSN: 3108-1754 (Online)
Crossref DOI: Available
ISO Certification: 9001:2015
Publication Fee: 599/- INR
Compliance: UGC Journal Norms
License: CC BY 4.0
Peer Review: Double Blind
Volume 02, Issue 8

Published on: August 2026

CHETTINAD MARRIAGE SYSTEM AND CLAN DEITY HERITAGE, TRADITIONS, RITUALS: A STUDY

Dr N Arunachalam

Professor & Head, Department of Lifelong Learning, Alagappa University, Karaikudi.
DOI:https://doi.org/10.55041/ijcope.v2i8.213

Article Status

Plagiarism Passed Peer Reviewed Open Access

Available Documents

Review Report

Abstract

The marriage system of the Chettinad Nagarathar community is an important form of indigenous social and religious heritage in TamilNadu. Traditionally, marriage within the community has been tied to the union of two soul and families as well as lineage, clan identity, temple affiliation, religious traditions and community organization. The nine traditional clan temples of the Nagarathar community have played an important role in regulating the identity of the lineage and the marriage relationship. The traditional system of marriage has certain peculiarities concerning determination of clan identification, prohibition of marriage within the same clan division, family negotiations, betrothal, wedding rituals, temsple functions, exchange of garlands, registration of marriage and post-marriage religious practices. The clan deity and clan temple thus become important institutions through which religious identity, family relationships and cultural traditions are passed from one generation to the next. This paper considers the traditional marriage system of the Chettinad Nagarathar community in terms of the clan deity heritage, clan temples, marriage customs, rituals, social functions, documentary practices and changing patterns. The study is based on secondary data only, which is obtained from books, scholarly publications, historical records, heritage documentation, archival materials and other published sources. The analysis shows that the traditional marriage system had religious, social, lineage, regulatory, economic and cultural roles. It also shows that the institutions of marriage and clan-temples were intimately involved with the preservation of community identity and intergenerational cultural continuity.

How to Cite this Paper

Arunachalam, D. N. (2026). Chettinad Marriage System and Clan Deity Heritage, Traditions, Rituals: A Study. International Journal of Creative and Open Research in Engineering and Management, <i>02</i>(8), 1-12. https://doi.org/10.55041/ijcope.v2i8.213

Arunachalam, Dr. "Chettinad Marriage System and Clan Deity Heritage, Traditions, Rituals: A Study." International Journal of Creative and Open Research in Engineering and Management, vol. 02, no. 8, 2026, pp. 1-12. doi:https://doi.org/10.55041/ijcope.v2i8.213.

Arunachalam, Dr. "Chettinad Marriage System and Clan Deity Heritage, Traditions, Rituals: A Study." International Journal of Creative and Open Research in Engineering and Management 02, no. 8 (2026): 1-12. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.55041/ijcope.v2i8.213.

Search & Index

Google Scholar Crossref DOI ResearchGate

References


  1. Adambakkam Nagarathar Sangam. (n.d.). Nagarathar temples.

  2. Asian Civilisations Museum. (n.d.). Chettiar marriage necklace (Thali/Kazhuththu Uru), Chettinad, Tamil Nadu, South India, 19th century. National Heritage Board, Singapore.

  3. Central Electrochemical Research Institute. (n.d.). Holistic reflections: Nine Nagarathar temples. CECRI, Karaikudi.

  4. Dickey, S. (1993). The morality of exchange: Bargaining, kinship, and gender in South India. Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute.

  5. London Nagarathar Sangam. (n.d.). Nagarathar history.

  6. Max Planck Institute for the Study of Religious and Ethnic Diversity. (n.d.). Structure and change in a traditional banking community. Max Planck Institute for the Study of Religious and Ethnic Diversity.

  7. Mines, M. (1994). Public faces, private voices: Community and individuality in South India. University of California Press.

  8. Muthiah, S., Meyyappan, M., & Ramaswamy, V. (2000). The Chettiar heritage. East West Books.

  9. Nagarathar Gateway. (n.d.). Nagara kovils—Nine temples.

  10. Nagarathar Sangam of North America. (n.d.). Nagarathar temples.

  11. Nagarathar World. (n.d.). Nagarathar marriage.

  12. Nishimura, Y. (1994). Marriage payments among the Nagarattars in South India. Indian Economic & Social History Review, 31(2).

  13. Rudner, D. W. (1994). Caste and capitalism in colonial India: The Nattukottai Chettiars. University of California Press.

  14. Singer, M. (Ed.). (n.d.). Studies relating to Nagarathar kinship, community organization, temple institutions and traditional social structures.

  15. Tamil Nadu History Congress. (n.d.). Proceedings of the Tamil Nadu History Congress.

  16. Times of India. (2025, October 5). Reviving heritage: The intricate legacy of Chettinad jewellery unveiled. The Times of India.

  17. UNESCO World Heritage Centre. (n.d.). Chettinad, village clusters of the Tamil merchants. UNESCO.

  18. Victoria Nagarathar Sangam. (n.d.). Nagarathar history.

Ethical Compliance & Review Process

  • •All submissions are screened under plagiarism detection.
  • •Review follows editorial policy.
  • •Authors retain copyright.
  • •Peer Review Type: Double-Blind Peer Review
  • •Published on: Aug 28 2026
CCBYNC

This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. You are free to share and adapt this work for non-commercial purposes with proper attribution.

View License
Back to Volume 02, Issue 8View All Issues Next Article

← Previous Article

Breast Cancer Classification Using Logistic Regression on Morphometric Features from Fine-Needle Aspiration: A Comprehensive Machine Learning Framework

Next Article →

Cloud Seeding: The Future of Weather Modification Technology
Scroll to Top