The literal translation of Thevar in Sanskrit is aristocrat. Since ancient times, the Thevar people are considered wealthy and high class. They form a group called Mukkulathor comprising of three clans namely Agamudaiyar, Maravar and Kallar. Thevars mainly reside in the states of Tamil Nadu and Chhattisgarh. Furthermore, they are settled outside India in Sri Lanka, Singapore, Canada and Malaysia. In total, they have a population estimated to be 20 million. Similar to many other orthodox Hindu communities, the Thevar matrimony is grounded on the notion of endogamy. Their marriages are strictly carried out within the clans.