Siviyar
Siviyar is a caste found in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and in Sri Lanka. They were traditionally palanquin bearers. They are a single community in Sri Lanka, but are however a subcaste of the Idaiyar caste in Tamil Nadu. Etymology 

The name is derived from the Tamil word Civikai meaning "palanquin" and the suffix -ar denoting honorific plural. History

Siviyar of Jaffna
After the fall of Jaffna Kingdom, during Dutch Ceylon they served as palanquin bearers, woodcutters and water carriers for the Commander and Dissava, and were an influential class in Jaffna. In a census taken in 1760 by Dutch in Jaffna there were 3 who held Mudaliyars title. When the British captured Kandyan Kingdom, they made the palanquin bearers of the Kandyan kings to carry the palanquin of the British high officers, a non-compliance with this regulation will subject the offending party to censure, fine or imprisonment. It was customary to allocate land to palace officials, including royal palanquin bearers, for their service. Palanquin bearers were also known as Pokis/Bogis in Tamil (Bhogin in Sanskrit). The terms Bhogin, bhogika appear in many Indian inscriptions, referring to village head of a district, collector of the State's share of the produce of lands taken in kind, a village proprietor, Jagirdar or Inamdar, groom of horse-keeper and palanquin bearer but the meanings may have been derived from “Bhoga", originally meant enjoyment but then property, as these people appear to have enjoyed rent-free land for their services. It appears that Siviyar retain their Hindu identity during the Portuguese and Dutch period. They retained Hindu names during the Portuguese and Dutch period. “Don” is an honorific title given to the important persons by the Portuguese. The names "Chidenberan" and "Arian" are noteworthy. Jaffna Hindus consider Nataraja Temple, Chidambaram as important pilgrimage place. Arumuka Navalar, the Hindu reformist from Jaffna established a school there. His ancestor Gnanapiragasar built a tank there now known as Gnanapiragasar Tank. They are in Jaffna mainly concentrated in Ariyalai where they are divided in subcaste or labour groups; , , and arisi Siviyar. Theadikke-Siviyar are involved in ingraining wheat and curry-powder. The uppu-Siviyar are involved in salt making, and the arisi-Siviyar in rice cultivation.  '' Several from the Siviyar caste were strongly represented in the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. Royal palanquin bearers
The king was preceded by them, when he went in state. They were also king's cowherds. Proximity to King enabled the palace servants to wield enormous power. To alleviate potential thread to King, a caste, one which was small, politically unimportant and yet not of low status was chosen. Use of palanquin

Use of palanquins within the capital cities was restricted to Kings only. kings had the authority to grant permission to travel in a palanquin with bended pole as only Kings were entitled for it. In colonial period high officials continue to exercise this authority. Sir Thomas Maitland issued a warrant to the head Brahmin entitling him to make use of a palanquin with a crooked bamboo, the highest that can be conferred on him. In early 19thcentury Jaffna, a man was flogged for the alleged crime of travelling in a palanquin. It was justified by a clause which rendered the headmen and other inhabitants liable to be imprisoned for causing themselves to be conveyed through the country in palanquins with a crooked pole except such as had permission from the Governors and commanders of Jaffna. Palanquin bearing was considered as a privilege in olden days and not restricted to any particular caste. According to a legend when Govigama palanquin-bearers of the rulers in Kurunagala refused to render their hereditary raja-kariya because the new king was an Arab lady's offspring, Prince Vattimi's Arab advisers promised to bring Brahmins, men of far better caste than the goyigama people, to take the place of the proud palanquin men. The Tanjore Maratha King Serfjoi II donated land, annual stipend of 50 gold coins and a palanquin to the vellala Protestant convert Vedanayagam pillai, his former classmate and friend. The men who carried Vedanayagam pillai's palanquin, in order to maintain his ritual purity and the palanquin. would not allow their own shadows to cross the shadows of whatever 'alien' people of ceri they would encounter. There are references in Tamil literatures on vellalars who acted as palanquin bearers. Colonialism and creation of castes

Nicholas B. Dirks detailed how under British domination caste became a single term capable of naming and above all subsuming India's diverse forms of social identity and organization. When European colonised South Asia, they employed many communities as palanquin bearers. Vellalars were forced to act as coolies and palanquin bearers during Portuguese time in Ceylon. The Siviyars of Tamil Nadu migrated from Mysore region to Tamil Nadu during the reign of Tipu Sultan. 