The Gounders are followers of the traditional form of Saiva Siddhanta Hinduism. In earlier times a sizable population followed seems to have followed Jainism (temples are found even today at Vijayamangalam, Jinapuram, Vellode, Perundurai, Palani, Aivarmalai and Poondurai)and later reconverted by the Siddhar traditions (most of the Siddhars lived in Kongunadu). The Gounders follow the system of Gotram, popularly called Kootam in which persons from the same Kootam do not marry one another as they are considered to have descended from the same ancestor. Each Kootam has its own Kulaguru (or popularly saamiar- a brahmin- for example, the kulaguru of melkarai poonthurai nadu kootams is Pasur Akilanda Dikshitar), who is traditionally respected. (This fact is cleverly skipped by Dravidian historians). Every Kootam also has one or more Kuladeivams or a Clan Deities. Some of the Kootams are:
A
Aadai
Aadhi
Adhirai
Aavan
Andai
Agni
Aavan
Anangan
Andhuvan
(Kuladeivam - Keeranur SelvaNayaki Amman, near by Kangeyam)
-Sangam period name.
Ariyan(noble)
Alagan
B
Bharatan (descendants of Bharata)
Bramman
D
Devendran
Dananjayan (descendants of Arjuna)
Danavantan
I
Indran
K
Kaadan
Kaadai (Kaadava kings-kuladeivam at Keechakanoor (Keeranur)
-the Kichakan of Mahabharatam)-
largest of kootams with branches Nasiyanur kadai, Perunthurai kadai, Attur kadai,Pavithiram kaadai)
Kaari
Kaavalar
Kadunthuvi
Kalinji
Kambakulathaan
Kanakkan
Kanavaalan
Kannan (descendants of Kannuva rishi-probably the original Ganga dynasty) - 2nd largest kootam. (This kootam's kuladeivam is Kulavilakkayi or Kulavilakku Amman - also known as Nallayi - It is located in Kaalamangalam in Erode,traditionally vegetarian)
Kannandhai
Karunkannan
Kauri
Kavalan
Kiliyan
Keeran
Kodarangi
Koorai
Kuruppan
Kotrandhai
Kottaarar
Kovar
Koventhar
