| Caste Name: | 24 Manai Telugu Chettiar(24MTC) |
| Populated States: | Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana |
| Languages: | Tamil, Telugu |
| Religions: | Hinduism |
| Country: | India |
The 24 Manai Telugu Chettiar (24MTC) is a merchant social group who are predominantly found in the states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana in India, as well as Sri Lanka.
Balija community that later developed into a distinct one as Saluppan or Janappan Chetties (because of their jute hemp-bag trade)[1] [2] as per the information sourced from their section of people at that time (British colonial rule) by Edgar Thurston, Superintendent for Madras Government Museum that was released by British Government press, Madras as a part in the book titled "Castes and Tribes of Southern India" in 1909.
Saluppan Chettis had 24 gothras or clans from which the present name "24 manai telugu chetty" or "24 manai telugu chettiars" came from. [3]
Their 24 Gothras are further divided into groups of sixteen and eight.[4] Usually marriage is forbidden between members of the same group, but permitted between members of the sixteen and eight gōtras. Among the names of the gōtras as per the historians, are the following: Vasava,[5] Vamme, Mummudi,[6] Pilli Vankaravan, Makkiduvan,[7] Thallelan, Gendagiri,[8] Madalavan, Piligara,[9] Mukkanda,[10] Vadiya,[11] Thonda, Kōla.
Present forms of Gothras or clans[12] 16 Veedu:Mummudiyar, Tharishiyavar, Kolavar, Kanithiyavar, Thillaiyavar, Paluvidhiyar, Chennaiyavar, Mathalaiyavar, Kothavangavar, Rajabhairavar, Vammaiyar, Kappavar, Vachiyavar, Kenthiyavar, Naliviraiyavar, Surayavar, Gandavangavalar8 Veedu:Makkadaiyar, Korahaiyar, Marattaiyar, Kavalaiyar, Pillivangavar, Thavalaiyar, Soppiyar, Kottavar, Nalabakshiyavar