(Tamil for "womb-tie") as a synonymous term for kudi or clan. The chieftains and village headmen of the Karaiyars held the title Pattankattiyar, meaning "One who is crowned" in Tamil. Other titles they used were Adappanar, Mudaliar, Pillai, Kurukulattan and Varunakulattan. The Adappans along with the Pattankattiyar were headmen who were responsible of the harbors and pearl fishery of the northern and western parts of Sri Lanka. At the hand of the powerful maritime trading clans of the Karaiyars, the emergence of urban centers known as pattanam were seen. Pattanavar (literally meaning "pattanam-residents"), is an almost extinct caste name also used by the Karaiyars. Mudaliar (meaning "capitalist") were conferred on the maritime elite trading clans of the Karaiyars as titles of nobility. The domestic servants of the Karaiyars, who are known as Kudimakkal include the castes of Ambattar, Vannar, Maraiyar, Koviar and Nattuvar. They gave importance in their ritual roles as officiators under the wedding and funeral. See also Caste system in Sri Lanka Portuguese conquest of the Jaffna kingdom Notes References Social groups of Tamil Nadu Sri Lankan Tamil castes