Nair/Nayar
Dalawa Velayudhan Chempakaram Thampi • Shashi Tharoor • M. G. Ramachandran • EK Nayanar • VK Krishna Menon • AK Gopalan
Total population
4,500,000 (13% of Malayali Population)[citation needed] The current version of the article or section reads like an advertisement. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links Shashitharoor001. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1683x2332, 93 KB) I, the creator of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. ... Image File history File links VK_Krishna_Menon_1948. ... Velayudhan Chempakaraman Thampi was the Dalawa or Prime Minister of the Indian kingdom of Travancore between 1801 AD and 1809 AD during the reign of His Highness Maharajah Bala Rama Varma Kulasekhara Perumal. ... Young Shashi Tharoor Shashi Tharoor (Born 9 March 1956 in London) was the official candidate of India for the succession to United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan in 2006, and came second out of seven official candidates in the race. ... In this Indian name, the name Maruthur Gopala is a patronymic, not a family name, and the person should be referred to by the given name, Ramachandran. The abbreviations s/o or d/o, if used, mean son of or daughter of respectively. ... Language(s) Malayalam (മലയാളം) Religion(s) Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Judaism Related ethnic groups Dravidian people Brahui people Kannadigas Tamils Telugus Tuluvas A Malayali woman wearing a Sari A Malayali man wearing a Mundu The Malayali people (also spelt Malayalee; Malayalam: മലയാളി) are members of the collection of ethnic groups defined by their...
Regions with significant populations
India
Languages
Malayalam
Religions
Hinduism
Related ethnic groups
Nambudiri Brahmins, Samanta Kshatriyas, Bunts

Nair (Malayalam: നായര്‍, pronounced [naːjar] and also spelt Nayar) is the name of a Hindu upper caste from the southern Indian state of Kerala. The Nairs were a martial nobility and figured prominently in the history of Kerala. Image File history File links Flag_of_India. ... Malayalam (മലയാളം ) is the language spoken predominantly in the state of Kerala, in southern India. ... Hinduism is a religious tradition[1] that originated in the Indian subcontinent. ... The Namboothiris (Malayalam :നമ്പൂതിരി)are the Brahmins of Kerala, thought to be the most orthodox brahmins in India. ... Samantha Samanta Kshatriyas, commonly known as Samanthas, are the lower class Kshatriyas of Kerala. ... Bunt is a Tulu speaking Hindu community found mainly in Southern coastal Karnataka and Kerala. ... Nair or Nayar (Malayalam: നായ൪) is the name of a Kshatriya caste in the Southern Indian state of Kerala. ... This article discusses the adherents of Hinduism. ... Forward caste (or upper caste) is used in India to denote people from any religion who do not currently qualify for Government of India Reservation benefits (that is, set quotas for political representation) for backward castes, scheduled castes and tribes. ... The geographical south of India includes all Indian territory below the 20th parallel. ... , Kerala ( ; Malayalam: കേരളം; ) is a state on the Malabar Coast of southwestern India. ...

The Nairs were classed as a martial race^{[1][2][3][4][Quotation needed from source]} by the British, however were de-listed after rebelling against them under Velu Thampi Dalawa^{[citation needed]}, and thereafter recruited in lower numbers into the British Indian Army. Only Nairs were recruited into the Thiruvithamkoor Nayar Pattalam (Travancore State Army), until 1945 when non-Nairs were admitted to join. This State Force (known also as the Nair Brigade) was merged into the Indian Army after independence and became the 9th Battalion Madras Regiment (the oldest Battalion in the Indian Army). Martial Race or Martial Races Theory is an ideology based on the assumption that certain ethnic groups are inherently more martially inclined than others. ... Velayudhan Chempakaraman Thampi was the Dalawa or Prime Minister of the Indian kingdom of Travancore between 1801 AD and 1809 AD during the reign of His Highness Maharajah Bala Rama Varma Kulasekhara Perumal. ... A group of native Indian Muslim soldiers posing for volley firing orders. ... Flag for former princely state of Travancore Travancore or Thiruvithaamkoor (Malayalam: തിരുവിതാങ്കൂര്‍ [], തിരുവിതാംകൂര്‍ [], തിരുവിതാങ്കോട് []) was a princely state in India with its capital at Trivandrum (Thiruvananthapuram). ... Headquarters of the Nair Brigade of Travancore. ... This article is about the post-independence Indian Army. ... The 9th battalion of the Madras Regiment (Travancore) has completed 300 years in Indian service. ...

The Kolathiri and Travancore kingdoms had Nair origins, and the Zamorin Raja was a Samanthan Nair.^[5] The Arakkal kingdom of Kannur, which was the only Muslim kingdom within the state of Kerala, had Nair origins^[6][7][8]. Nair feudal families such as the Ettuveetil Pillamar were extremely influential in the past and often had greater influence than the Raja. Mooshaka kingdom, present Kasaragod, Kannur and other nearby places of north Kerala state in India, had come to be known as Kolathunad and the rulers known as Kolathiris. ... Flag for former princely state of Travancore Travancore or Thiruvithaamkoor (Malayalam: തിരുവിതാങ്കൂര്‍ [], തിരുവിതാംകൂര്‍ [], തിരുവിതാങ്കോട് []) was a princely state in India with its capital at Trivandrum (Thiruvananthapuram). ... Zamorin is the anglicised version of Samoothirippadu or Samoothiri or Swamy Thirumulpad, a title of the rulers of the erstwhile Hindu state of Kozhikode (previously known as Calicut)(Nediyirippu Swarupam), located in the present day state of Kerala, India, between the 14th and 18th century AD. Manavikraman Raja, the Samoothiri... Samanthans were the Royal Lineages of the Nairs of Kerala who were given a status immediately after royalty. ... Arakkal Ali Raja was a Muslim Raja (King) of Arakkal Palace. ... For the district with the name Kannur, see Kannur District. ... There is also a collection of Hadith called Sahih Muslim A Muslim (Arabic: مسلم, Persian: Mosalman or Mosalmon Urdu: مسلمان, Turkish: Müslüman, Albanian: Mysliman, Bosnian: Musliman) is an adherent of the religion of Islam. ... The Ettuveetil Pillamar (Transalated as Pillai Lords of the Eight Houses) was a group of nobles from Eight Nair Houses, all related in some manner to Royal Family of Venad. ... For other uses, see Raja (disambiguation). ...

Etymology

The word Nair lends itself to two etymological interpretations. The first interpretation is that the word Nair could have been derived from the Sanskrit word Nayaka which means leader. The Sanskrit word Nayaka which appears in various forms in southern India (Nayakan/Naicker in Tamil Nadu, Nayak in Karnataka and Maharashtra, and Nayudu in Andhra Pradesh). The word Nair has been suggested to be the corruption of Nayak in Malayalam^[9][10]. The second interpretation is that the word Nair is a corrupted form of the word Nagar- serpent men because Nairs practiced snake worship.^[11] Sanskrit ( , for short ) is a classical language of India, a liturgical language of Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, and Jainism, and one of the 23 official languages of India. ... Nayak also Nayaka is the title of various caste and ethnic groups across India. ... Image:Http://www. ... Naiker also Nayakar, Nayakkar, Naicker is title used by many Andhra Pradesh, Tamil nadu and Karnataka derived people in India and abroad in the Tamil diaspora. ... A Nayak (also Nayaka, Nayaker/Naicker (Tamil) or Nayadu/Naidu (Telegu) or Nair (Malayalam) Nayake/Naike (Sinhala) or Naik (Marathi) ) is the title of a government official, equivalent to a provincial governor or viceroy, in the Telugu kingdoms of southern India, including the Kakatiya kingdom of Warangal (11th-14th centuries... Naidu or Nayudu or Naidoo is a common title used by various caste groups of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and in the Tamil diaspora. ... The ancient pre-Akkadian and Akkadian city of Nagar on the Khabur River in northeastern Syria, is now represented by the mound named Tell Brak, 40m high, one of the tallest archaeological mounds in the Middle East, and about a kilometer long, the remains of one of the largest urban...

The family name Nair or Nayar also occur in Punjab, belonging to a Khatri community. A Khatri is not a Kshatriya and never was one. ...

Theories of origin

Nair feudal chief belonging to the Ettuveetil Pillamar

Nair Lady (Panapillai Amma Srimathi Lakshmi Pilla Kochamma of the Chempakaraman Arumana Ammaveedu Family of the Thampi clan and wife of Visakham Thirunal Maharajah of Travancore)

According to Dr K.K Pillai, the first reference about the Nairs is in an inscription dated to the 9th century A.D.^[12] The Ettuveetil Pillamar (Transalated as Pillai Lords of the Eight Houses) was a group of nobles from Eight Nair Houses, all related in some manner to Royal Family of Venad. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (657x800, 68 KB) Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (657x800, 68 KB) Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1. ... Panapillai Amma was the title held by the wife of the ruling Maharajah of Travancore. ... The Thampis are the sons of the Maharajahs (Kings) born of Nair women. ... His Highness Raja Ramaraja Sri Padmanabha Dasa Vanchi Pala Visakham Thirunal Rama Varma Kulasekhara Perumal Kirithapati Manney Sultan Bahadur Shamsher Jang was the Maharajah of the erstwhile Indian kingdom of Travancore from 1880-1885 AD. He succeeded his elder brother Maharajah Ayilyam Thirunal to the Travancore musnud. ... 1. ... Flag for former princely state of Travancore Travancore or Thiruvithaamkoor (Malayalam: തിരുവിതാങ്കൂര്‍ [], തിരുവിതാംകൂര്‍ [], തിരുവിതാങ്കോട് []) was a princely state in India with its capital at Trivandrum (Thiruvananthapuram). ...

The Nairs have been described as a "race caste who do not owe their origin to function, although, by force of example, their organization is almost equally rigid, and they are generally identified with particular trades or occupations. These race caste communities were originally tribes, but on entering the fold of Hinduism, they imitated the Hindu social organization, and have thus gradually hardened to castes"^[13]. However this does not rule out the possibility that the Nairs do not constitute a homogeneous ethnic group as it is possible that each subcaste or clan may have different origins. For example, members from other tribes or communities were adopted into the Nair fold once Nair became to be known to refer to a caste, such as the Tamil Padam Nairs. There have also been incidents where the Nair caste status was bestowed upon persons favoured by the Raja. Languages Tamil Religions Hinduism, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Jainism Related ethnic groups Dravidian people Brahui people Kannadigas Malayalis Tamils Telugus Tuluvas Gonds The Tamil people are a multi-ethnic group from the Indian subcontinent with a recorded history going back more than two millennia. ...

A number of sociologists are of the view that the Nairs are not indigenous to Kerala, as many customs and traditions distinguish them from other Keralites. According to one theory, Nairs are descendants of the Newars of Nepal, who joined the Munda exodus and later migrated to Kerala. The most prominent arguments given in support of this theory are the presence of distinct pagoda-like architectural style of Nair Tharavaadus and Temples and the practice of Marumakkathaayam (matrilinial) system of inheritance similar to both Nairs and Newars.^[14] , Kerala ( ; Malayalam: കേരളം; ) is a state on the Malabar Coast of southwestern India. ... The Newar are the indigenous ethnolinguistic group of Nepals Kathmandu valley. ... Marumakkathayam is a matrilinear system of inheritance that is unique to Nair Tharavadus or Nair communities in Kerala state, south India. ...

There is also a hypothesis on the basis of mythology that the Nairs are Nagas and were Kshatriyas belonging to the Serpent dynasty (Nagavansham) who removed their sacred thread and migrated south to escape the wrath of a vengeful Parashurama. A Naga origin from Rohilkhand has been suggested^[15]. The affinity of the Nair community towards serpent worship, their martial past, and the absence of the sacred thread lends support to this theory. In addition, the Travancore State Manual states that there were indeed serpent-worshiping Nagas in Kerala who fought with the Namboothiris till they reached a consensus. The Nairs have also been classified as of Indo-Scythian (Saka) origin as well as being linked to the Nagas^[16][17]. The nagas ( snake) are an ancient race of snake-humanoid beings first depicted in ancient Vedic Hindu mythology and oral folklore from at least 5000 B.C.E. Stories involving the Nagas are still very much a part of contemporary cultural traditions in predominantly Hindu (India, Nepal, and the island... A Kshatriya is a member of the military or reigning order, according to the law-code of Manu the second ranking caste of the Indian varna system of four castes, the first being the Brahmin or priestly caste, the third the Vaishya or mercantile caste and the lowest the Shudra. ... The Nagavanshi dynasty is one of the Kshatriya dynasties of India. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Bhargava Rama (Discuss) Parashurama Bhargava (Sanskrit: परशुराम भार्गव) or Parasurama (Axe-wielding Rama) is the Sixth avatar of Vishnu, belongs to the Treta yuga, and is the son of Jamadagni & Renuka. ... Rohilkhand is a region of northwestern Uttar Pradesh state of India. ... Flag for former princely state of Travancore Travancore or Thiruvithaamkoor (Malayalam: തിരുവിതാങ്കൂര്‍ [], തിരുവിതാംകൂര്‍ [], തിരുവിതാങ്കോട് []) was a princely state in India with its capital at Trivandrum (Thiruvananthapuram). ... The Indo-Scythian King of Kings Azes II (c. ... A cataphract-style parade armour of a Saka royal from the Issyk kurgan. ...

According to Chattampi Swamikal, who interpreted old Tamil texts, the Nairs were Naka (Naga or Snake) Lords who ruled as feudal lords in the Chera kingdom. Therefore this theory proposes Nairs to be descendants of the rulers and martial nobility of pre-Brahmin Kerala who, after the arrival of the Namboothiris (and establishment of the Varnas/Caste System), got categorized as sat Sudras.^[18]. However, Nairs have also been classed as Kshatriyas^[19][20]. One finds mention of the Nairs during the reign of the King Rama Varma Kulashekhara (1020-1102) of the second Chera dynasty, when the Chera Kingdom was attacked by the Cholas. The Nairs fought by forming suicide squads (Chavers) against the invading force. It is not clear whether the Cheras themselves were Nairs, or if the Cheras employed the Nairs as a warrior class.^[14] Chattampi Swamikal Chattampi Swamikal (b:1853 - d:1924) was a Hindu sage and one of Kerala’s famed religious and social reformer. ... The Chera dynasty (Tamil: சேரர்) was one of the ancient Tamil dynasties that ruled southern India from ancient times until around the fifteenth century CE. The Early Cheras ruled over the Malabar Coast, Coimbatore, Karur and Salem Districts in South India, which now forms part of the modern day Kerala and... Shudra or Sudra is the fourth Varna in the traditional four-section division in historic Indian society. ... For the Bollywood film of the same name see Kshatriya Kshatriya (Hindi: , from Sanskrit: , ) is one of the four varnas, or castes, in Hinduism. ...

The Sanskrit Kerala Mahatmayam, an upa purana of the Bhoogola Purana, calls them the progeny of Namboodiri men with Deva, Rakshasa and Gandharva women. The Puranas are part of Hindu Smriti; these religious scriptures discuss devotion and mythology. ... The Namboothiris are the Brahmins of Kerala. ... For other uses, see Deva (disambiguation). ... In Hindu mythology, the Rakshas are a group of usually, but not always, evil beings who are often in opposition to the gods, and to ordinary humans. ... // In Hinduism, the Gandharvas (Sanskrit: गंधर्व, gandharva) are male nature spirits, husbands of the Apsarases. ...

The 17th century the Brahmin-inspired Keralolpathi and Grama Padhati describes the Nairs of Kerala and the Bunts of southern Tulu Nadu as descendants of the Sudras who accompanied the Brahmins to Kerala and Tulu Nadu respectively from Ahichatra/Ahikshetra in southern Panchala. In addition, Manual of Madras Administration Vol II (printed in 1885) notes that the Nadavas/Nairs of Malabar and the Bunts of southern Tulu Nadu are same. The Keralolpathy or the Kerala Ulpathy (literally creation of Kerala) is a Malayalam work by Thunchaththu Ramanujan Ezhuthachan [1], a native of Malabar, Kerala who lived in the 17th century AD and deals with the origin of the land of Kerala including the ancestry of the Namboodiri Brahmins and other... Shudra or Sudra is the fourth Varna in the traditional four-section division in historic Indian society. ... The Sanskrit word denotes the scholar/teacher, priest, caste, class (), or tribe, that has been traditionally enjoined to live a life of learning, teaching and non-possessivenes . ... , Kerala ( ; Malayalam: കേരളം; ) is a state on the Malabar Coast of southwestern India. ... Ahichatra (alias Ahi-Kshetra) was the capital of Northern Panchala, a kingdom mentioned in Mahabharata. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Panchala Kingdom. ...

History

Middle age South Indian history, historians, and foreign travelers referred to the Nairs as a dignified martial nobility. The earliest reference to Nairs^{[citation needed]} comes from the Greek ambassador Megasthenes. In his accounts of ancient India, he refers to the "Nayars of Malabar" and the "Kingdom of Chera"^[21]. For other uses, see Ambassador (disambiguation). ... Megasthenes (c. ...

Irrespective of the different theories that seek to explain the origin of Nairs, it is clear that till the early 20th century, Nairs exerted their influence in medieval Kerala society as feudal lords and owned large estates. The position in society of the Nairs as that of a martial nobility in medieval Kerala has been likened to the position in society of the Samurai in medieval Japan^{[22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29]}. Nairs dominated the civil, administrative and military elite of the pre-British era in Kerala.^{[citation needed]} The decline of Nair dominance came about in multiple stages. During colonial times, the British perceived that Nairs were an inherent threat to their hegemony in the region and therefore outlawed their right to bear weapons and by banning the Nair martial art of Kalaripayattu.^[30][31] Weapons were integral to the Nair psyche and power, and combined with repressive legislation led to a loss of social standing for Nairs, though some of the social legislation was in part inspired by the Nairs themselves, such as changes in inheritance law permitting the Karanavan to pass on some (and later all) of the fruits of his stewardship of the taravad to his own children. During post-colonial years, the Land reforms of 1950's led to massive loss of land-ownership by Nair feudal lords and some Nair gentry were relegated to poverty overnight. The decline of Nair dominance was however tempered by their conversion through the 20th century to the academic and professional classes and their high profile in Kerala politics. For other uses, see Samurai (disambiguation). ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ...

Ravi Varman Thampi

Omana thinkal Kidavo was composed for the young prince Swathi Thirunal of the erstwhile state of Travancore (southern region of present Kerala State) by the famous poet lyricist Ravi Varman Thampi (1783-1856 AD), popularly known as Irayimman Thampi. ...

Typical Nair last names

Nair surnames were traditionally carried through matrilineality, although most modern Nairs follow patrilineal nomenclature. The surname Nair, sometimes spelled "Nayar" is commonly used by all sub-castes belonging to Nair caste. However, there are surnames which are reminders of the honours conferred upon individuals by the powers that be from time to time in acknowledgment of exceptional acts of valour, erudition and scholarship, or excellence in chosen field of endeavour. The families of these individuals inherited the titles. It is also possible that in the majority of cases, such honours were bestowed by the Royalty in return for services rendered and in recognition of a display of loyalty. In general, the system of conferring honours points to the ruling Monarch's dependence on the Nairs who provided them with military and administrative support. While most of these are ranks and positions in a feudal set up (similar to the Mughals' Mansabdari system), such royal patronage was crucial to the development and promotion of strikingly singular forms of dance and drama such as Kathakali of which, the Nairs were exponents. This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Patrilineality is a system in which one belongs to ones fathers lineage; it generally involves the inheritance of property, names or titles through the male line as well. ...

Achan means Father in malayalam language. ... Samanthans were the Royal Lineages of the Nairs of Kerala who were given a status immediately after royalty. ... The Nair Lords who ruled over Eranad in Kerala were called Eradis. ... The Kurups (IPA: [kurupɨ̆]) are a part of the Nair community in Kerala, South India. ... Kaimal, derived from Kai and Mal meaning hand and sword, was a title which was given to high nobles. ... Karnavar is the word used to address the seniormost male in a Nair family. ... Kartha is a sub-caste of Samanta Kshatriyas (Samanthas), the lower class Kshatriyas in Kerala. ... Pillai, Pillay, Pulle or Pilli is a popular title of Tamil- and Malayalam-speaking people of India and others living in Sri Lanka, Singapore, Malaysia, South Africa and Fiji, mostly from Vellalar and Nair communities. ... Kutty is a common Indian surname. ... Mennoki are a group of Nairs whose traditional job was to supervise accounts in Royal Palaces. ... For the socratic dialogue by Plato, see Meno. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... The name Nambiar primarily applies to two separate Hindu communities from Kerala: [Nambiar] - Nambiar is a prominent sub caste of Nair, a martial nobility, similar to the Samurai of Japan, hail from northern Kerala. ... The Nayanars were the sincere and ardent devotees of Lord Siva. ... Nair or Nayar (Malayalam: നായ൪) is the name of a Kshatriya caste in the Southern Indian state of Kerala. ... The Nair Lords who ruled over Eranad in Kerala were called Eradis. ... Nedungadi is a Samanthan last name, belonging to the Nair community, coming from the Indian state of Kerala. ... Pothuval (Poduval) is a caste of Pushpaka Brahmins (Ambalavasis) in Kerala. ... Panicker is a title and last name attributed to members of certain castes of ethnic South Indians in the state of Kerala. ... Samanthans were the Royal Lineages of the Nairs of Kerala who were given a status immediately after royalty. ... Pillai, Pillay, Pulle or Pilli is a popular title of Tamil- and Malayalam-speaking people of India and others living in Sri Lanka, Singapore, Malaysia, South Africa and Fiji, mostly from Vellalar and Nair communities. ... Vasco da Gama delivers the letter of King Manuel I of Portugal to the Saamoothiri of Calicut Saamoothirippādu or Saamoothiri, (Zamorin is the anglicised version) a title of the rulers of the erstwhile state of Kozhikode (previously known as Calicut) (Nediyirippu Swarūpam), located in the present day state... The Thampis are the sons of the Maharajahs (Kings) born of Nair women. ... Thampan is the name of Kshatriya clan from the state of Kerala in India. ... Unnithan is the modern form of the older title of thankal which meant sir in the Malayalam language. ... Unnithan is the modern form of the older title of thankal which meant sir in the Malayalam language. ... Valiathan is a title held by a group of families, all branches along the matrilineal line of the main valiathan family known as Vattaparambil valiathan. ... Varma or Varman (Hindi वर्मा varmā [Sanskrit वर्म+कः]) is a honorific title, literally meaning To be or become swollen or inflamed;--to be distended (with rage, &c. ...

Subcastes

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V.Nagam Aiya, Dewan Peishcar, Travancore, in his Travancore State Manual states that although all the Malayala Sudras, 18 castes in total, were classed under the general head of Nair, in reality there were only five "genuine" Nair castes. These included: Image File history File links Question_book-3. ... This is a disambiguation page, a list of pages that otherwise might share the same title. ... Flag for former princely state of Travancore Travancore or Thiruvithaamkoor (Malayalam: തിരുവിതാങ്കൂര്‍ [], തിരുവിതാംകൂര്‍ [], തിരുവിതാങ്കോട് []) was a princely state in India with its capital at Trivandrum (Thiruvananthapuram). ...

• Kiryathil Nairs : They are the highest class of Nairs found usually in Malabar and Cochin. The 17th century Keralolpathi ^[32] states them to be descendants of warrior Naga tribes who came to Kerala from the north along the western coast. It may be noted that the earlier Keralamahatmayam, an Upa Purana of the Bhoogola Hindu Purana, does not make mention of any subcastes among the Nairs but only states them to be the military caste of Kerala.
• Illathu Nairs : They were brought in by Parasurama, as per the Keralolpathi, to serve the Brahmins as tenants, servants, warriors, cultivators etc. Purificatory rites by the Maarans and priestly service from the Elayatus distinguished the Illathu Nairs.
• Swaroopathil Nairs or Cherna Nairs : These Nairs were the warriors of Kshatriya Royal Households known as Swaroopams. In Malabar they are classed as Akathu Cherna Nairs and Purathu Cherna Nairs. The highest of Swaroopathil Nairs were those included in the Paroor Swaroopam, who being originally Illathu Nairs have their purificatory rites performed by Maarans.
• Pandamangalam Nairs : They were the Nairs appointed by Parasurama to serve in Temples. They migrated from Tamil Nadu of the Pandyan kingdom as it was then known.
• Tamil Padam Nairs : This class of Nairs, as the name indicates, were migrants from Tamil Nadu who were embraced into the Nair community.

Paliath Govindan Achan (Paliath Achan from 1779-1825)

Stratification between the different Nair subcastes is not very obvious in the present day, with individuals and families identifying themselves simply as "Nairs". [Land of uncivilised] Bekal Fort Beach, Kerala Malabar (Malayalam: മലബാര്‍ ) is a region of southern India, lying between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea, and derived from the Malayalam word Mala mean Hill and Persian word Bar means Kingdom, and is same as the word meaning of Malayalam. ... Cochin may refer to: Cochin China Kingdom of Kochi, a former princely state of India, merged with Travancore to form the State of Kerala Cochin city, the former name of the city of Kochi, in Kerala Hôpital Cochin, a famous hospital in Paris, France Cochin font, from the Adobe... The Keralolpathy or the Kerala Ulpathy (literally creation of Kerala) is a Malayalam work by Thunchaththu Ramanujan Ezhuthachan [1], a native of Malabar, Kerala who lived in the 17th century AD and deals with the origin of the land of Kerala including the ancestry of the Namboodiri Brahmins and other... The word Naga can refer to several different things. ... , Kerala ( ; Malayalam: കേരളം; ) is a state on the Malabar Coast of southwestern India. ... This article discusses the adherents of Hinduism. ... The Puranas are part of Hindu Smriti; these religious scriptures discuss devotion and mythology. ... , Kerala ( ; Malayalam: കേരളം; ) is a state on the Malabar Coast of southwestern India. ... In Hinduism, Parashurama (axe-wielding Rama) is the sixth avatar of Vishnu, and a son of Jamadagni. ... The Keralolpathy or the Kerala Ulpathy (literally creation of Kerala) is a Malayalam work by Thunchaththu Ramanujan Ezhuthachan [1], a native of Malabar, Kerala who lived in the 17th century AD and deals with the origin of the land of Kerala including the ancestry of the Namboodiri Brahmins and other... The Sanskrit word denotes the scholar/teacher, priest, caste, class (), or tribe, that has been traditionally enjoined to live a life of learning, teaching and non-possessivenes . ... Maaran is the name given to the temple musicians of Travancore, India. ... For the Bollywood film of the same name see Kshatriya Kshatriya (Hindi: , from Sanskrit: , ) is one of the four varnas, or castes, in Hinduism. ... Maaran is the name given to the temple musicians of Travancore, India. ... In Hinduism, Parashurama (axe-wielding Rama) is the sixth avatar of Vishnu, and a son of Jamadagni. ... Tamil Nadu (தமிழ் நாடு, Land of the Tamils) is a state at the southern tip of India. ... The Pandyan kingdom was an ancient state at the tip of South India, founded around the 6th century BCE. It was part of the Dravidian cultural area, which also comprised other kingdoms such as that of the Pallava, the Chera, the Chola, the Chalukya and the Vijayanagara. ... Tamil Nadu (தமிழ் நாடு, Land of the Tamils) is a state at the southern tip of India. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

Older Customs and Traditions

The following information has been condensed from the Travancore State Manual by V.Nagam Aiya. The General appearance of the Nairs will be clear from the following quote, as noted by the author in 1901. Flag for former princely state of Travancore Travancore or Thiruvithaamkoor (Malayalam: തിരുവിതാങ്കൂര്‍ [], തിരുവിതാംകൂര്‍ [], തിരുവിതാങ്കോട് []) was a princely state in India with its capital at Trivandrum (Thiruvananthapuram). ...

Nair men were identified by their Tufts of hair in the front side (Mun Kudumma), side burns (Krithavu) and the upturned Moustache. They always carried swords or daggers with them as a sign of dignity and authority.

Attire

Men wear a Kaupinam and a single strip of cloth, four or five cubits in length, known as the Mundu, round the waist and another one thrown over the shoulder or worn like a shawl(veshti). The lower cloth is not tucked between the legs as in northern India but is left to hang loose to the ground. The upper cloth is known as the Neriatu which may be tied as a turban on the head while walking outside.

Azhakath Padmanabha Kurup, a 19th century poet and writer (The Azhakath Kurup, also known as Sri Karanayattu Kurup, was a member of the Ettara Yogam)

The dress of the women is not generally distinguishable from the men. On festive occasions the Pudava is worn which is a gilt bordered mundu, also known as a Pattukara. The Ettara Yogam or the Council of Eight and a Half was a body of Trustees of the Temple of Padmanabhapuram which was once the richest and most well endowed temples in Travancore and religiously most important to the Maharajahs of Travancore. ...

This dressing style of women is no longer practised and introduction of the Rauka blouse in the early 20th century made it extremely popular among the Nair women. The mundu is still widely used by almost everybody in Kerala, though modern clothing, naturally, has found tremendous use as well. , Kerala ( ; Malayalam: കേരളം; ) is a state on the Malabar Coast of southwestern India. ...

Men usually, besides amulets and rings, had their ears bored and wore earrings studded with precious gems. Women had for the neck ornaments such as the Kantasaram, Nalupanti, Addiyal, Ponnu-Nool, Nagapadam (the most important ornament of a Nair lady), Arimbu Mani, Jnali Kuzhal, Minnum Maniyum, Arasillatali, Pachakkatali, Kasu Malai, Kuzhalmala, Rasi Tali, Padakkatali etc. For the nose, pendants called Mukuttis were worn set with ruby or diamond generally. For the arms, bangles such as Kattikappu, Maniyalakappu, Swarna-Sangala Muduku etc. were worn. For the waist, ornaments known as Kacchapuram were worn. Young girls even wore ornaments on their feet, known as Thanda or Padaswaram. The Nair ladies extended their ear lobes and the only two types of ornaments which were worn in the ears was a type of cylindrical ornament known as Takka or a two lipped biconvex disc considered more fashionable, known as the Toda. Jewels were not worn on the head. Tattooing was not favored among the Nairs and was considered demeaning.

Food and Drink

Boiled rice (Choru) and rice gruel known as kanjee (pronounced /ˈkɒndʒiː/) form the staple food of the Nairs. The coconut, jackfruit, plantain, mango and other vegetable products are widely used in cooking among the Nairs as also coconut oil which is used widely for frying. Ghee was used in well-to-do families and on festive occasions. Rice in the form of 'Kanji' or 'Choru' was served thrice a day at mealtimes along with curries and other additional dishes. Non-vegitarian food is not objectionable and fish is the most commonly consumed additional dish. Chicken and mutton preparations are also taken. Many of them had a special liking for wild meat got by hunting. Beef was barred for the Nairs. Killing of cow was totally objected and resented. They had a pious attitude towards cows just like other Hindus. Dairy items like milk, curd, buttermilk, butter and ghee are greatly relished. Alcoholic drinks as a rule were prohibited. Sweet dishes like Palpayasam and Ada Prathaman are prepared during festive occasions. Other special dishes included Kozhukkatta, Chivda, Elayappam (sweet), Ottada, Kaliyodakka, etc. Min Chinese name Chinese: Filipino name Tagalog: lúgao Japanese name Kanji: Hiragana: Korean name Hangul: Hanja: Malay name Malay: bubur Portuguese name Portuguese: canja Thai name Thai: Vietnamese name Vietnamese: Spanish name Spanish: arroz caldo Khmer name Khmer: pbaw Indonesian name Indonesian: bubur Javanese name Javanese: bubur Burmese...

Marumakkathayam and Tharavadu

Main article: Tharavadu

Main article: Marumakkathayam

Nairs followed the Marumakkathayam (Matrilineal) system of inheritance and lived in units called Tharavadus ( matrilineal joint-family ). The tharavadu referred to relations of property (mudal sambandham) shared by a group tracing descent from a common ancestress. The outer boundary of tharavadus seems to have been defined by relations of pollution (pula sambandham), whereby a wider matrilineal kin group was knit by symbolic ties. Prominently, this involved sharing birth and death pollution and a memory of common descent. However, there are indications that, when expediency demanded, it was possible to break off even these pollution ties. For instance, in the case of a numerically large tharavadu, comprising a considerable section of the population of territory, death and birth pollution spelt a great inconvenience. In such cases, it could be decided to terminate pollution ties, even while the related groups continued to share a cremation ground.^[33] Tharavadu is a system of joint family practised by people in Kerala, south India, especially castes like Namboothris, Nairs and Ezhavas. ... Marumakkathayam is a matrilinear system of inheritance follwed by castes of Kerala like some Brahmin families , Ambalavasis, Royal families, Nair, Ezhavas, upper class Mappilas in Kerala state, south India. ... Marumakkathayam is a matrilinear system of inheritance follwed by castes of Kerala like some Brahmin families , Ambalavasis, Royal families, Nair, Ezhavas, upper class Mappilas in Kerala state, south India. ... Tharavadu is a system of joint family practised by people in Kerala, south India, especially castes like Namboothris, Nairs and Ezhavas. ...

Architecturally wealthy tharavadus encompassed a Naalukettu or Ettukettu, a Kulam (fresh-water pond) and a Sarpa Kavu‎ (a sacred grove with trees and thick foliage for worship of the Nagathaan (Serpents) while in the case of some exceptionally wealthy families a private temple as well. The water body served the purpose of ritual baths, followed by Tantric worship in the Sarpakavu, phased out into rituals and ceremonies that repeated in cycles of days, months, and years often accompanied by feasts that witnessed a grand assembly of kin. An example of a Naalukettu Naalukettu is the traditional homestead of old Tharavadu where many generations of a matrilineal family lived. ... Sarpa Kavu (meaning Abode of the Snake God), small traditional forest(mostly man made) of green pockets, would have idols of snake gods and worshipped. ... Tantric can refer to: Tantric yoga, also known as tantra The Louisville, KY hard rock band Tantric This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ...

A typical Nair Tharavadu

Interestingly, even though tharavadus existed based on descent from a common ancestress, it was comparatively rare for a remembered founder of a tharavadu to be a woman alone^[34] and it showed a "structural" patriarchy of the Karnavar (seniormost male member). For instance in management of the tharavadu, Nair women managed domestic affairs in their natal tharavadus^[35] and the senior woman’s decision making role was restricted to the inner domain of larger tharavadus in central and north Kerala.^[36] However it was also not that the Karnavar had absolute powers in the tharavadu, but unlike in patrilineal families there was more than one node of power and a plural authority structure.^[37] In practice, the senior woman, was not necessarily determined by seniority and might well be the oldest competent woman and yet seniority was a crucial factor in determining power relations between the Karnavar and the senior woman.^[38] If the Karnavar was the son or younger brother of the senior woman, she might indeed be the de facto head of the group keeping accounts in her own hands and counseling him; but were he the older brother of the senior woman then she was subordinate to him.^[38] In some wealthy tharavadus lands were set aside for women as stanum (a special status) property or otherwise over which they enjoyed varied claims does not in any way suggest ‘separate rights’ or access to their own separate revenues and properties.^[39] In the matrilineal Tharavadus customary practice, rather than any religious precepts embodied in written sources, was the source of personal/family law. In the words of William Logan, an administrator-historian with extensive experience of Malabar: Image File history File links Taravadu. ... Image File history File links Taravadu. ... Karnavar is the word used to address the seniormost male in a Nair family. ... Sir William Edmond Logan (April 20, 1798 - June 22, 1875) was a noted 19th century Canadian geologist. ... [Land of uncivilised] Bekal Fort Beach, Kerala Malabar (Malayalam: മലബാര്‍ ) is a region of southern India, lying between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea, and derived from the Malayalam word Mala mean Hill and Persian word Bar means Kingdom, and is same as the word meaning of Malayalam. ...

The marumakkathayam system and tharavadu system are not viable any more and has declined in tune with the social and cultural changes which have taken their toll on many old institutions. Social reforms spread with modern education. In other words, Nairs switched over to the patriarchal model of kinship and inheritance. The partition of tharavadus into individual shares (Alohari Bhaagam) followed the enactment of Land Reforms Ordinance that stipulated upper limits on land holdings. Many tharavadus, already bursting at the seams with internal dissensions and strife, collapsed under the pressure. The matrifocal system disintegrated. Fathers took charge of their sons and daughters and husband and wife started living together with their offspring. The "Marumakkathayam Law" which sanctioned dismantling of the tharavadus and the partition of property, came into vogue in the year 1933. 32,900 families were partitioned in Travancore alone by 1938. The tharavadu system of living became a thing of the past by the 1940s. Naalukettu and Ettukettu structures began to collapse, or were sold off.^[41] Flag for former princely state of Travancore Travancore or Thiruvithaamkoor (Malayalam: തിരുവിതാങ്കൂര്‍ [], തിരുവിതാംകൂര്‍ [], തിരുവിതാങ്കോട് []) was a princely state in India with its capital at Trivandrum (Thiruvananthapuram). ... An example of a Naalukettu Naalukettu is the traditional homestead of old Tharavadu where many generations of a matrilineal family lived. ...

Kalarippayattu

Main article: Kalarippayattu

A Kalari Poothara shrine

Kalarippayattu is the martial tradition of Kerala and the right to practice this martial art for the service of the ruler (Vazhunnavar) was predominantly vested with Nairs, however although less frequent, at least one subcaste of Brahmins (Chathira), one subcaste of Thiyyas (Chekors) as well as some Christians and Muslims seemed to have been bestowed with similar rights. Several social anthropologists and historians have documented the Nair dominance of the martial tradition of Kalaripayattu. For instance, The Kollam - Ramesvaram record states that the defence of the Chera kings and their city was entrusted to a group of Nair warriors known as Ayiram (The Thousand). This militia also called Onnu Kurai Ayiram (The Thousand without one) existed in Kodungallur through centuries and was a group consisting of Nair members proficient in the martial tradition of Kalaripayattu, organised on a hereditary basis (from the Nair tharavads -Valloppalli, Tayyappalli, Kilikkotta and Kattolli) for the protection of the Chera kings. The Keralolpathi also clearly states that the commander of the Patinayiram (The ten thousand- an alternate referral to the Ayiram militia) called Patamel Nair commanded the forces of the last Chera Perumal and was the Supreme Commander of his Army. It is interesting to note that during the extended period of warfare between the Cheras and the Cholas in the 11th century CE Nairs demonstrated their exceptional martial skills, courage, and nobility by forming elite suicide squads (Chaver-Pada) against the invading Chola forces. Also the once in 12 year Mamankam festival conducted by the Zamorin of Calicut during the medieval ages was an important platform when the Nair militia of the Zamorin and the Nair Chaver Pada of the Valluvakkonathiri used to demonstrate their superior skills in the Kalari martial tradition. Kalaripayattu therefore was an essential component of education mainly for Nair men and to a lesser extent Nair women and the Vadakkan Pattukal (Ballad tradition of Malabar) is prolific with descriptions of fencing skills and bravery of Nair warriors like Thacholi Othenan. The role of the Nair militia proficient in Kalaripayattu in putting strong resistance to the Chola invasion, European invaders and excesses by Tipu Sultan and Hyder Ali are well documented in the annals of Kerala history. However during colonial era Kalaripayattu was outlawed by British in 1793, leading to great loss of self esteem among Nairs. Kalarippayattu (IPA: [kaɭaɾipːajatɨ̆], Malayalam: കളരിപയറ്റ്) is a Dravidian martial art practised in Kerala and contiguous parts of neighboring Tamil Nadu of Southern India. ... Image File history File links KalariPuttara. ... Image File history File links KalariPuttara. ... Kalari Puttara The word Kalari means battle ground in Tamil. ... Kalari Puttara The traditional training of Kalarippayattu a martial art of Kerala a small state in south India, is always done inside the Kalari which is specially constructed practicing area. ... , Kerala ( ; Malayalam: കേരളം; ) is a state on the Malabar Coast of southwestern India. ... Ezhava or Thiyya is the name of a prominent Hindu caste from Indias southern state of Kerala. ... For other uses, see Christian (disambiguation). ... There is also a collection of Hadith called Sahih Muslim A Muslim (Arabic: مسلم, Persian: Mosalman or Mosalmon Urdu: مسلمان, Turkish: Müslüman, Albanian: Mysliman, Bosnian: Musliman) is an adherent of the religion of Islam. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Chera dynasty. ... , “Cranganore” redirects here. ... The Keralolpathy or the Kerala Ulpathy (literally creation of Kerala) is a Malayalam work by Thunchaththu Ramanujan Ezhuthachan [1], a native of Malabar, Kerala who lived in the 17th century AD and deals with the origin of the land of Kerala including the ancestry of the Namboodiri Brahmins and other... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Chera dynasty. ... The Cholas were the most famous of the three dynasties that ruled ancient Tamil Nadu. ... Zamorin is the anglicised version of Samoothirippadu or Samoothiri or Swamy Thirumulpad, a title of the rulers of the erstwhile Hindu state of Kozhikode (previously known as Calicut)(Nediyirippu Swarupam), located in the present day state of Kerala, India, between the 14th and 18th century AD. Manavikraman Raja, the Samoothiri... Thacholi Meppayil Kunjhu Othenan(Udayana Kurup of Thacholi Manikoth House) or more popularly Thacholi Othenan (Malayalam: തച്ചോളി ഒതേനന്‍) was a legendary hero from North Kerala a small state in south India, who lived in the 16th century. ... Portrait of Tippu Sultan, 1792 Tippu (Tips) Sultan (full name Sultan Fateh Ali Tippu), also known as the Tiger of Mysore (November 20, 1750, Devanahalli – May 4, 1799, Srirangapattana), was the first son of Haidar Ali by his second wife, Fatima or Fakhr-un-nissa. ... Hyder Ali or Haidar Ali (c. ...

Sambandham (Earlier Form of Marriage) and Related Customs

In the past Nairs had three major marriage/rite of passage ceremonies.

Kettu Kalyanam (Mock Marriage Ceremony)

Main article: Kettu Kalyanam

The thaali tying rite took place before the onset of puberty. During this ceremony the girl was married to a man, preferably the maternal uncle's son. The well-to-do families engaged Brahmins for this purpose by providing hefty 'Dakshina' (ceremonial fee). The ritual husband had no further duties to the girl after the completion of this ritual, although she had to observe a period of death impurity upon the death of her ritual husband. The thaali ceremony was a female centered ritual which emphasized fertility and household prosperity.^[42][43] This ceremony had to be performed on pain of excommunication. Kettu Kalyanam, also known as Thali Kettu was the name of an elaborate marriage ceremony of the Kshatriyas, Samanthans,Nairs, Ambalavasis and Ezhava communities of the Indian state of Kerala. ...

Thirandukalyanam (Announcement and Celebration of Puberty)

The Thirandukalyanam ceremony was the puberty ceremony, during which femininity is celebrated as women occupy the parts of the household typically inhabited by men ^[44].