Nagarathar

Nagarathar (நகரத்தார்) is a Tamil caste found native in Tamil Nadu, India. The Nagarathar community was not originally a single caste, but developed from an assortment of related subcastes, which over time became known under the umbrella term Nagarathar.

Notable castes that use the name Nagarathar include: Nattukottai Nagarathar, Aruviyur Nagarathar, Uruthikottai Nagarathar, Elur Chetty Nagarathar, Vallanattu Nagarathar Chettiar, Sundarapattina Nagarathar, Muraiyur Nagarathar, Attangudi Nagarathar, Palaaiyapatti Nagarathar, Dhanavanikar Nagarathar, Nattarasankottai Nagarathar, 96 Oor Nagarathar and Naana Desikal.

A few subsects of the Nagarathar community, such as the Nattukottai Nagarathar, were traditionally wealthy landlords and money lenders. Nagarathars are a mercantile community who are traditionally involved in commerce, banking and money lending. They use the title Chettiar and are traditionally concentrated in modern region Chettinad. They are prominent philanthropist who funded and built several Hindu temples, choultries, schools, colleges and universities.