High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles!Padayatchi in general refers to the Vanniyar caste, who are the descendants of the medieval Pallava empire that ruled Andhra and Northern Tamil Nadu with their capital at Kanchipuram. Nowadays they primarily live in modern Tamil Nadu where they speak Tamil. They were originally known as Pallis in South India and later when they became part of the Pallava army they came to called as Padaiyachis. The word Palli means shepherd or herdsmen. And Padaiyachi means commander of an army of Pallis.