பறையன் :
In archaic Tamil, the word "paRai" (பறை) meant "drum", a reference to the kettle drum often used to make announcements. They are attested to in the earliest Tamil literature as bearers and players of the paRai, though it is impossible to tell whether it was an occupational or caste grouping. They are mentioned in late Sangam era literature as a specialized group within the larger social groups associated with paRai (drum) playing for ceremonial and shamanistic purposes.



ParaiyarFrom Wikipedia,
Paraiyar/Sambavarபறையர்'Total population1,860,519 (2001 census)Regions with significant populationsIndian states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, Seychelles, FijiLanguagesTamilReligionHinduism, Atheism, ChristianityRelated ethnic groupsTamil people, Dalits, PulayarsParaiyar, Parayar or Sambavar also called Adi-Dravida are a social group found in the Indian states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and in Sri Lanka (see Caste in Sri Lanka). The Indian census of 2001 reported the Paraiyar/Adi-Dravida population about 90 Lakhs (9 Million) (pdf).Paraiyars in Southern Tamilnadu are called Sambavar. "Adi-Dravida" is a modern name of Paraiyar given by Government of Tamilnadu, it denotes only the Paraiyar Caste. Paraiyar/Adi-Dravida are the Majority among the Scheduled Castes in Tamil Nadu. As the Adi-Dravida community is majority among Scheduled castes, therefore all the scheduled castes are generally called 'Adi-Dravidar' by the Government of Tamilnadu. The term 'Adi-Dravidar' means Ancient Dravidians in Tamil.