Nambiar (Ambalavasi caste)The Nambiar (also written as Nambyar) is a Hindu Ambalavasi caste of Kerala, India. Ambalavasi Nambiars wear sacred thread like Brahmins and is traditionally considered as a different caste to Nairs including same name bearing Nair-Nambiar caste. Ambalavasi Nambiar ladies known as Nangyar. A section of Nambiars play Mizhavu in temples. Mizhavu is treated as a "Brahmachaarya" and it is considered as sacred.
NambudiriThe Nambudiri (Malayalam:), also transliterated as Nampoothiri, Nambūdiri, Namboodiri, Namboothiri, Namboodri, Namboori, 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. Headed by the Azhvanchery Thamprakkal Samrāṭ, the Nambudiris were the highest ranking caste in Kerala.
Pushpaka BrahminPushpaka is a generic term that refers to a group of certain HinduAmbalavasi castes in Kerala. The term Pushpaka applies primarily to a caste known itself as Pushpaka (or Pushpakan Unni) in South Kerala (Travancore). Pushpakas were assigned the job of tending flowers and making garlands in the Hindu temples. They were also given rights to teach sacred texts including Sanskrit language in the Pathasalas associated with Hindu temples in Central and North Kerala.
AmbalavasiAmbalavasi, more properly Ampalavasi, (IAST: Ampalavāsi, IPA:; lit.'temple-dwelling') is the generic name for a group of castes among Hindus in Kerala, India, who have traditionally rendered temple services. CastesThe Ambalavasis are broadly divided into two groups, being those who wear the sacred thread and those who do not.
NambidiNambidi is a semi-Brahmin caste, which is part of the Ambalavasi community of Kerala, India. 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).
IlayathuIlayathu (also written as Ilayath, Illath, Elayath, and Elayathu), meaning "Younger", is a Hindu community in Kerala, India, who belong to a sect of Malayala Brahmins. The house of an Ilayath is known as an Illam. The origin of this community, like those of the Nambudiris and Nairs, and other upper-class communities in Kerala, is shrouded in mystery, barring a few legends and traditions.
KeralaKerala, officially Keralam, is a state on the Malabar Coast of southern India. It was formed on 1 November 1956 under the States Reorganisation Act, which unified the country's Malayalam-speaking regions into a single state. Covering 38,863 km2 (15,005 sq mi), Kerala is primarily a strip of coastal plains sandwiched by the Western Ghats and the Laccadive Sea, bound by Karnataka to the northeast, Tamil Nadu to the east, and the Lakshadweep islands in the western vicinity.PottiPotti is the name of a sect of Brahmins in India based primarily in the Indian state of Kerala, the Malabar region and Shivalli. EtymologyPotti is a Tamil word meaning "deep respect for someone" and is used for Tulu-Malayali Brahmins. HistoryAt 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.
ChakyarChakyar (also spelled Cakyar, Chakkiar, Chakiar, etc.) is a priestly caste within the Ambalavasi community of Hindus in the Kerala state of India. See alsoAmmannur Madhava ChakyarAmmannur Rajaneesh ChakyarMani Damodara ChakyarMani Madhava ChakyarPainkulam Raman ChakyarReferencesExternal linksŚāstrī, V. Venkatarāma Śarmā (1 January 1926). "Aj amila-Moksa-Prabandha of Narayana Bhatta". Bulletin of the School of Oriental Studies, University of London. 4 (2): 295–300.
BrahminBrahmin (; Sanskrit: ब्राह्मण, romanized: brāhmaṇa) is a varna (social class) within Hindu society. The other three varnas are the Kshatriya (rulers and warriors), Vaishya (traders, merchants, and farmers), and Shudra (labourers).NambeesanNambeesan (also written as Nambisan, Nambissan, Nambiyassan or Nampeesan) is a Ambalavasicaste of Kerala, India. BrahmanippattuThe 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.
MalayalamDravidian languageA Malayalam speaker, recorded in South AfricaMalayalam (മലയാളം, Malayāḷam, ) is a Dravidian language, primarily spoken by the Malayali people, native to the Indian state of Kerala and the union territories of Lakshadweep and Puducherry (Mahé district). It is one of 22 scheduled languages, as well as one of 11 classical languages, of India. Malayalam has official language status in Kerala, Lakshadweep and Puducherry (Mahé).
NambudiriThe Nambudiri (Malayalam:), also transliterated as Nampoothiri, Nambūdiri, Namboodiri, Namboothiri, Namboodri, Namboori, 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. Headed by the Azhvanchery Thamprakkal Samrāṭ, the Nambudiris were the highest ranking caste in Kerala.Pushpaka BrahminPushpaka is a generic term that refers to a group of certain HinduAmbalavasi castes in Kerala. The term Pushpaka applies primarily to a caste known itself as Pushpaka (or Pushpakan Unni) in South Kerala (Travancore). Pushpakas were assigned the job of tending flowers and making garlands in the Hindu temples. They were also given rights to teach sacred texts including Sanskrit language in the Pathasalas associated with Hindu temples in Central and North Kerala.AmbalavasiAmbalavasi, more properly Ampalavasi, (IAST: Ampalavāsi, IPA:; lit.'temple-dwelling') is the generic name for a group of castes among Hindus in Kerala, India, who have traditionally rendered temple services. CastesThe Ambalavasis are broadly divided into two groups, being those who wear the sacred thread and those who do not.NambidiNambidi is a semi-Brahmin caste, which is part of the Ambalavasi community of Kerala, India. 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).IlayathuIlayathu (also written as Ilayath, Illath, Elayath, and Elayathu), meaning "Younger", is a Hindu community in Kerala, India, who belong to a sect of Malayala Brahmins. The house of an Ilayath is known as an Illam. The origin of this community, like those of the Nambudiris and Nairs, and other upper-class communities in Kerala, is shrouded in mystery, barring a few legends and traditions.KeralaKerala, officially Keralam, is a state on the Malabar Coast of southern India. It was formed on 1 November 1956 under the States Reorganisation Act, which unified the country's Malayalam-speaking regions into a single state. Covering 38,863 km2 (15,005 sq mi), Kerala is primarily a strip of coastal plains sandwiched by the Western Ghats and the Laccadive Sea, bound by Karnataka to the northeast, Tamil Nadu to the east, and the Lakshadweep islands in the western vicinity.PottiPotti is the name of a sect of Brahmins in India based primarily in the Indian state of Kerala, the Malabar region and Shivalli. EtymologyPotti is a Tamil word meaning "deep respect for someone" and is used for Tulu-Malayali Brahmins. HistoryAt 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.ChakyarChakyar (also spelled Cakyar, Chakkiar, Chakiar, etc.) is a priestly caste within the Ambalavasi community of Hindus in the Kerala state of India. See alsoAmmannur Madhava ChakyarAmmannur Rajaneesh ChakyarMani Damodara ChakyarMani Madhava ChakyarPainkulam Raman ChakyarReferencesExternal linksŚāstrī, V. Venkatarāma Śarmā (1 January 1926). "Aj amila-Moksa-Prabandha of Narayana Bhatta". Bulletin of the School of Oriental Studies, University of London. 4 (2): 295–300.BrahminBrahmin (; Sanskrit: ब्राह्मण, romanized: brāhmaṇa) is a varna (social class) within Hindu society. The other three varnas are the Kshatriya (rulers and warriors), Vaishya (traders, merchants, and farmers), and Shudra (labourers).NambeesanNambeesan (also written as Nambisan, Nambissan, Nambiyassan or Nampeesan) is a Ambalavasicaste of Kerala, India. BrahmanippattuThe 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.MalayalamDravidian languageA Malayalam speaker, recorded in South AfricaMalayalam (മലയാളം, Malayāḷam, ) is a Dravidian language, primarily spoken by the Malayali people, native to the Indian state of Kerala and the union territories of Lakshadweep and Puducherry (Mahé district). It is one of 22 scheduled languages, as well as one of 11 classical languages, of India. Malayalam has official language status in Kerala, Lakshadweep and Puducherry (Mahé).*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.