Gatti Mudalis

The Gatti Mudalis were in charge of the most dangerously exposed province of the Nayak Kingdom with Kaveripuram on the right bank of the Cauvery as their strategic capital commencing one of the principal passes to the Mysore Plateau. The centre of their power seems, however, to have been Taramangalam where they have built a grant edifice of a temple. It is said their domination extended as far as Thalaivasal to the east, Dharapuram in Erode district in the west and Karur district in the south. The forts of greatest strategic importance held by the Gatti Mudalis were Omalur and Attur. By about 1635, the Muslim Sultans of Bijapur and Golkonda made in roads into the south when the power of Tirumalai Nayak had wanted palacode area came under Bijapur. Meanwhile Kantirava narasa Raja of Serangapatnam took several places in Coimbatore from Gatti Mudalis in 1641.

A renowned dynasty of local rulers of Taramangalam. The title, gatti meant solidity and firmness and mudhali meant primary. They were known for their firmness in word, veracity, and reliability. Their insignia - a combination containing representations of green mat, unwitting garland of flowers and tiger - is seen in all of the temples built and renovated by them. Some authorities believe that the descendants of Gatti Mudalis are the senguntha Mudaliar. Gatti Mudalis of Tamil Nadu are basically Sengunthar Mudaliar chieftains who ruled part of ancient Kongunadu

The earliest mention of Gatti is found in the Sangam Literature of Agananooru (1st century AD) in a list of tribes, Konganar, Kalingar, Karunadar, gangar and Gattiyar.

A nadukal of the 7th century mentions Kunra Gatti. A stone inscription of 1289 by a Madhurai King, Sadaiyavarman Sundhara Pandiyan, mentions nine Gatti Mudhali's of Tharamangalam.

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