The terms Malayali Brahmins (also known as Malayala Brahmanar) and Kerala Brahmins apply to the group of
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 o ...
from the Indian state 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 ...
. These groups include the
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 el ...
,
Pushpaka Unni
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 ...
,
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 ...
,
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 nam ...
, Moothath (Moosad),
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 ...
,
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 ''Illo ...
,
Nambiar Nambiar may refer to:
*Nambiar (Ambalavasi caste), a Hindu caste in Kerala
*Nambiar (Nair subcaste), an Indian caste from North Malabar
People
*A. C. N. Nambiar (1896–1986), Indian nationalist and first Indian ambassador to Germany
*Aneil Namb ...
, 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
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