Eshmanan (corruption of Yajamaana
Sanskrit
Sanskrit (; attributively , ; nominally , , ) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in South Asia after its predecessor languages had diffused there from the northwest in the late ...
''leader'') is a term used in
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 ...
(south India) to refer to a feudal landlord.{{citation needed, date=April 2019 The term means "lord" in Old
Malayalam
Malayalam (; , ) is a Dravidian language spoken in the Indian state of Kerala and the union territories of Lakshadweep and Puducherry (Mahé district) by the Malayali people. It is one of 22 scheduled languages of India. Malayalam was des ...
and referred to Chemb azhi nambi or (Chengazhi nambiar)
Nambiars and other
Samanthan Nair
The Nair , also known as Nayar, are a group of Indian Hindu castes, described by anthropologist Kathleen Gough as "not a unitary group but a named category of castes". The Nair include several castes and many subdivisions, not all of whom histor ...
and
Kiriyathil Nair caste members who occupied the position of rulers and chieftains. Some of the Nambiar landlords, such as Chengazhi Nambiar (Chengazinad Eshmanan) Kalliat Eshmanan and Koodali Eshmanan were among the largest landowners in pre-independence Kerala.
Other terms for a Nayar feudal landlord, included
Nayanar (Nair subcaste).
See also
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Mannadiar
Mannadiar (or Mannadiyar) kshathriya Nair caste Palakkad region of Kerala. A majority of Mannadiars are land owners, agriculture being their traditional occupation, ranging from farmers to large feudal landlords (jenmis). They had relocated from ...
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Madampi
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Pillai
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Nayanar (Nair subcaste)
External links
Nair
Eshm