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Malayali Brahmins
The terms Malayali Brahmins (also known as Malayala Brahmanar) and Kerala Brahmins apply to the group of Brahmins from the Indian state of Kerala. These groups include the Nambudiri, Pushpaka Unni, Nambeesan, Nambidi, Moothath (Moosad), Ilayath, Chakyar, Nambiar, and the Potti Potti, also written as Potty, is a sect of Brahmins in Kerala state of India. The surname Potti is also used in Arya Vyasa Community in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, in which ''Potti'' means short. Etymology ''Potti'' is a Tamil word meaning "de .... References Malayali Brahmins Brahmin communities across India {{India-ethno-stub ...
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Brahmins
Brahmin (; sa, ब्राह्मण, brāhmaṇa) is a varna as well as a caste within Hindu society. The Brahmins are designated as the priestly class as they serve as priests (purohit, pandit, or pujari) and religious teachers (guru or acharya). The other three varnas are the Kshatriya, Vaishya and Shudra. The traditional occupation of Brahmins is that of priesthood at the Hindu temples or at socio-religious ceremonies, and rite of passage rituals such as solemnising a wedding with hymns and prayers.James Lochtefeld (2002), Brahmin, The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Vol. 1: A–M, Rosen Publishing, , page 125 Traditionally, the Brahmins are accorded the highest ritual status of the four social classes. Their livelihood is prescribed to be one of strict austerity and voluntary poverty ("A Brahmin should acquire what just suffices for the time, what he earns he should spend all that the same day"). In practice, Indian texts suggest that some Brahmins historically ...
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Kerala
Kerala ( ; ) is a state on the Malabar Coast of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, following the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, by combining Malayalam-speaking regions of the erstwhile regions of Cochin, Malabar, South Canara, and Thiruvithamkoor. Spread over , Kerala is the 21st largest Indian state by area. It is bordered by Karnataka to the north and northeast, Tamil Nadu to the east and south, and the Lakshadweep Sea to the west. With 33 million inhabitants as per the 2011 census, Kerala is the 13th-largest Indian state by population. It is divided into 14 districts with the capital being Thiruvananthapuram. Malayalam is the most widely spoken language and is also the official language of the state. The Chera dynasty was the first prominent kingdom based in Kerala. The Ay kingdom in the deep south and the Ezhimala kingdom in the north formed the other kingdoms in the early years of the Common Era (CE). The region had been a prominent spic ...
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Nambudiri
The Nambudiri (), also transliterated as Nampoothiri, Nambūdiri, Namboodiri, Nampoothiri, and Nampūtiri, are a Malayali Brahmin caste, native to what is now the state of Kerala, India, where they constituted part of the traditional feudal elite, owning a large portion of the land in the region of Malabar until the Kerala Land Reforms starting in 1957, and intermarrying with the Nair monarchs and aristocracy through sambandham. They have historically been distinguished by rare practices such as the adherence to Śrauta ritualism, the Pūrva-Mīmāṁsā school of Hindu philosophy, and orthodox tradition, as well as many idiosyncratic customs unique among Brahmins, including primogeniture. Cyriac Pullapilly mentions that the dominating influence of the Nambudiris was to be found in all matters: religion, politics, society, economics and culture of Kerala. History Origin Nambudiri mythology associates their immigration to Kerala from the banks of Narmada, Krishna, Kaveri r ...
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Pushpaka
Pushpaka is a caste of Hindu Brahmins of Kerala. In Malayalam language, this caste is also referred to as Pushpakan, Pushpakar, Pushpaka Unni or Pushpakan Unni. They are a part of the Ambalavasi community in Kerala. They carry out the various activities of the temple like teaching of sacred texts, assisting in pooja, garland making, lamp bearing, blowing Sankha (conch shell) during puja etc., and sometimes they perform actual priestly activities also. The male members of this caste generally use the surname Unni with their name. Apart from the prevalent practice of using the title "Unni" as surname, Pushpakas also commonly use other surnames, such as Nambi and Sarma. Pushpakas are also classified based on their gotra, or patrilineal descent, and the Veda that they follow. Pushpaka women are known as Pushpakathi. Pushpaka men are addressed by their surname ''Unni'' or ''Nambi'', while pushpaka women are addressed as ''Atheramma''. Pushpaka house is known as ''Matham'' ( ml ...
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Nambeesan
Nambeesan (also written as Nambisan, Nambissan, Nambiyassan or Nampeesan) is a Pushpaka Brahmin caste of Kerala Kerala ( ; ) is a state on the Malabar Coast of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, following the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, by combining Malayalam-speaking regions of the erstwhile regions of Cochin, Malabar, South ..., India. Brahmanippattu The women of the Nambeesan caste, known as Brahmani Ammas, are entitled to perform Brahmanippattu, a type of domestic devotional offering performed usually in connection with marriages. See also * Pushpaka Unni References {{reflist Malayali Brahmins Indian surnames ...
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Nambidi
Nambidi is a caste of Kerala, India. The form a part of the Brahmin community. They are considered to be Malayali Brahmins and to have originated when a section of the Nambudiris was degraded. They also have the same rights and rituals of nambudiri's. The nambidi ladies are usually called Mandals / Atholammas used to wear the cheruthalis and are similar to Antharjanams (Namboothiri Ladies). The nambidi's also had great economic and Societic importance and have the same grade of Nambudiris in the Society. They have no right to do Poojas in temples. Nambidis are divided into two: the ones who wear the sacred thread and perform the Upanayanam and the ones who do not. The former are Nambudiris who were degraded to the Brahmins status since their ancestors had committed a heinous act by murdering a ruler of Kerala. On their return the other Nambudiris welcomed them but they refused to seat themselves with the other Brahmins owing to the sin they committed and instead sat on the step ...
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Ilayath
Ilayathu (also written as Ilayath, Elayath, Elayathu) is a Hindu community in Kerala, India, and belong to a sect of Malayala Brahmins. The house of an Ilayath is known as Illam. The origin of this community like those of Nampoothiris and Nairs and perhaps most of the upper-class communities in Kerala is shrouded in mystery. And what remains is a few legends and traditions. See also * Ambalavasi Ambalavasi, more properly Ampalavasi, ( ml, അമ്പലവാസി; IAST: Ampalavāsi; ) is the generic name for a group of castes among Hindus in Kerala, India, who have traditionally rendered temple services. Castes The Ambalavasis are ... Indian castes Kerala society Malayali Brahmins Social groups of Kerala Brahmin communities of Kerala Ethnic groups in India {{india-ethno-stub ...
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Chakyar
Chakyar ( ml, ചാക്യാർ; ; ; also spelled Cakyar, Chakkiar, Chakiar, etc.) is an intermediate priestly caste coming under the Ambalavasi community of Hindus in the Kerala state of India. The women in this caste are called ''Illotammas''. They occupy a position in the Hindu Temple in managing the affairs of the temple, though not the actual conduct of ceremonies. They are assigned with the holy temple ritualistic performance called Chakyar Koothu and Koodiyattam, which is the only surviving ancient Sanskrit theatre in India. Chakyar is the main actor who performs the ritualistic ''Koothus'' and ''Koodiyattams'' inside the temple or in ''Koothambalams''. Their women, ''Illotammas'', are not allowed to participate in these. The women roles are done by ladies of Nambiar community called ''Nangyarammas''. Nambiar plays the holy drum ''Mizhavu''. There were 18 Chakyar families throughout Kerala, but now their number is small. ''Mani'' family is one of them. The greate ...
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Nambiar (Ambalavasi Caste)
The Nambiar (also written as Nambyar) is a Hindu Ambalavasi caste of Kerala. Ambalavasi Nambiars wear sacred thread like Brahmins and is traditionally considered as a higher caste to Nairs including same name bearing Nair-Nambiar caste which usually leads to confusion. See also *Kunchan Nambiar *Mizhavu *Ottan Thullal *Chakyar koothu Chakyar Koothu (pronounced ) is a performance art from Kerala, India. It is primarily a type of highly refined monologue where the performer narrates episodes from Hindu epics (such as the ''Ramayana'' and the ''Mahabharata'') and stories from ... References * {{DEFAULTSORT:Nambiar (Ambalavasi Mizhavu) Social groups of India Indian castes Kerala society Malayali Brahmins Hindu communities ...
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Potti
Potti, also written as Potty, is a sect of Brahmins in Kerala state of India. The surname Potti is also used in Arya Vyasa Community in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, in which ''Potti'' means short. Etymology ''Potti'' is a Tamil word meaning "deep respect for someone" and is used for Malayali Brahmins except the Nambudiris. History At present, Pottis are often identified as Embrandiris or Tulu Brahmin immigrants. However, there were three classes of Pottis based on three periods of settlement in Kerala. There are Pottis of Kerala origin and Tulu origin. Pottis of Tulu origin came to Malabar region as temple priests in the 16th century. Those who migrated from South Kanara to Malabar are known as Embrandiri or Embranthiri, while those who settled in Shivalli were known as "Shivalli Brahmins", they continue to be based in Udupi Udupi (alternate spelling Udipi; also known as Odipu) is a city in the Indian state of Karnataka. Udupi is situated about north of the educationa ...
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Malayali Brahmins
The terms Malayali Brahmins (also known as Malayala Brahmanar) and Kerala Brahmins apply to the group of Brahmins from the Indian state of Kerala. These groups include the Nambudiri, Pushpaka Unni, Nambeesan, Nambidi, Moothath (Moosad), Ilayath, Chakyar, Nambiar, and the Potti Potti, also written as Potty, is a sect of Brahmins in Kerala state of India. The surname Potti is also used in Arya Vyasa Community in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, in which ''Potti'' means short. Etymology ''Potti'' is a Tamil word meaning "de .... References Malayali Brahmins Brahmin communities across India {{India-ethno-stub ...
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