Kartha
Encyclopedia
Kartha is a Nair
title name derived from Karthavu which means Lord
and it was conferred by the king to some powerful Nair families who enjoyed Raja
or Naduvazhi
status. Most important of the Kartha clans are Anakkottil Kartha, Meenachil Kartha
, Cheraneloor Kartha, Thazhassary or Puthankotta Kartha (till recent past controlled the Cholamala near Thattekkad where the summer retreata of Chera dynasty existed), Karimattathu Kartha, Kalathil Kartha, Ambazhathumkal(Nattukariathil) Kartha (controlled Vennimala near pampady the capital of Thekkumkur), Anikkad Kartha, Ranni Kartha, Pattathil Kartha, Manayath Kartha, Vattakkattu Akathootu Kottayil Kartha, Kodassery Kartha, Vembanattu Kartha,and Mannamparambath Kartha. They belong to the Samanta Kshatriya group.
community, ruled smaller principalities or worked mainly in the Army, Police or as tax collectors. They were the leaders of the troops to the king. The Kartha surname is still used,although it is not very prominent.
The title Kartha, or doer, appears also to have been used as a titular name by some of the rulers of Madura. During the Madras census of 1901, the title Kartha was returned by Balijas claiming to be descendants of the Nayak kings of Madura and Tanjore. The Tekkumkur and Vadakkumkur Rajas are said to have first conferred the title Kartha on certain influential Nayar families blood related to the Rajas. In social matters the authority of the Karta was supreme, and it was only on important points that higher authorities were called on to intercede. All the Karthas belong to the Illam
sub-division of the Nayar caste.
or matriachical tradition where the female was the head of the family. Her children would carry her name and inherit her property. Now Karthas follows Makkathayam
s of Chuntampattai and Cherupulasseri were known as Kartha or Karthavu. They were related to the Thirumulpad
s of Manchery and Amarampalam.
caste. Some of these clans were later elevated to Samanthan Nair.
Nair
Nair , also known as Nayar , refers to "not a unitary group but a named category of castes", which historically embody several castes and many subdivisions, not all of whom bore the Nair title. These people historically live in the present-day Indian state of Kerala...
title name derived from Karthavu which means Lord
Lord
Lord is a title with various meanings. It can denote a prince or a feudal superior . The title today is mostly used in connection with the peerage of the United Kingdom or its predecessor countries, although some users of the title do not themselves hold peerages, and use it 'by courtesy'...
and it was conferred by the king to some powerful Nair families who enjoyed Raja
Raja
Raja is an Indian term for a monarch, or princely ruler of the Kshatriya varna...
or Naduvazhi
Naduvazhi
Naduvazhi refers to landlords, chieftains and descendants of royal households in Kerala, India.-Function:Prior to the British reorganisation of the area now known as Kerala, it was divided into around ten feudal states. Each of these was governed by a rajah and was subdivided into organisational...
status. Most important of the Kartha clans are Anakkottil Kartha, Meenachil Kartha
Meenachil Kartha
Meenachil Karthas were members of an Illathu Nair aristocratic clan, which ruled the small kingdom of Meenachil from 15th century AD until 1754...
, Cheraneloor Kartha, Thazhassary or Puthankotta Kartha (till recent past controlled the Cholamala near Thattekkad where the summer retreata of Chera dynasty existed), Karimattathu Kartha, Kalathil Kartha, Ambazhathumkal(Nattukariathil) Kartha (controlled Vennimala near pampady the capital of Thekkumkur), Anikkad Kartha, Ranni Kartha, Pattathil Kartha, Manayath Kartha, Vattakkattu Akathootu Kottayil Kartha, Kodassery Kartha, Vembanattu Kartha,and Mannamparambath Kartha. They belong to the Samanta Kshatriya group.
Legend
Kartha, as a KshatriyaKshatriya
*For the Bollywood film of the same name see Kshatriya Kshatriya or Kashtriya, meaning warrior, is one of the four varnas in Hinduism...
community, ruled smaller principalities or worked mainly in the Army, Police or as tax collectors. They were the leaders of the troops to the king. The Kartha surname is still used,although it is not very prominent.
The title Kartha, or doer, appears also to have been used as a titular name by some of the rulers of Madura. During the Madras census of 1901, the title Kartha was returned by Balijas claiming to be descendants of the Nayak kings of Madura and Tanjore. The Tekkumkur and Vadakkumkur Rajas are said to have first conferred the title Kartha on certain influential Nayar families blood related to the Rajas. In social matters the authority of the Karta was supreme, and it was only on important points that higher authorities were called on to intercede. All the Karthas belong to the Illam
Illathu Nair
Illathu Nair is one of the subcastes of the Nair community among Keralites. They are mostly found in the Travancore and Cochin areas. Illathu Nairs were considered highest in the Nair hierarchy in Travancore. Purification rites by the Maarans and priestly service from the Elayatus distinguished the...
sub-division of the Nayar caste.
Society
Till the 19th century, the Karthas strictly followed marumakkathayamMarumakkathayam
Marumakkathayam is a matrilinear system of inheritance which was followed by all Nair castes including of Royal Families, some of the Ambalavasis, Arayars, Ezhava, some tribal groups and Mappilas in North Malabar of Kerala state, South India. Unlike other Brahmin families, Payanoor Nambootiris...
or matriachical tradition where the female was the head of the family. Her children would carry her name and inherit her property. Now Karthas follows Makkathayam
Samantans
The SamanthanSamanthan
Samantan Nair or more commonly Samantan was a generic term applied to dignify a collection of Kshatriya sub-clans among the ruling elite and feudal estate owners of Kerala belonging to the Nayar race.-Historical background:Kerala was under the second Chera Empire approximately during 800...
s of Chuntampattai and Cherupulasseri were known as Kartha or Karthavu. They were related to the Thirumulpad
Thirumulpad
Tirumalpād or Thirumalpād is a Hindu Kshatriya title used in North and Central Kerala, India . The title is used independently by certain sections of Samanthan Nairs and Samanta Kshatriya as well as by some Namboothiri clans. Sāmantha Thirumalpād is investituted with a sacred thread and observes...
s of Manchery and Amarampalam.
Caste System
All the Karthas belong to the Illathu NairIllathu Nair
Illathu Nair is one of the subcastes of the Nair community among Keralites. They are mostly found in the Travancore and Cochin areas. Illathu Nairs were considered highest in the Nair hierarchy in Travancore. Purification rites by the Maarans and priestly service from the Elayatus distinguished the...
caste. Some of these clans were later elevated to Samanthan Nair.
See also
- Samanta Kshatriyas
- Caste system in KeralaCaste system in KeralaThe caste system in Kerala differed from that found in the rest of India. While the Indian caste system generally modelled the four-fold division of society into Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaisyas and Shudras, in Kerala the Nambudiri Brahmins formed the priestly class and only rarely recognized anyone...
- MannadiarMannadiarMannadiar is one of the subclan of the Nair community among Keralites. The title "Mannadiar" was awarded by the Maharajah of Cochin to those Nairs who excelled in warrior skills. They are mostly found in the Central Kerala region...
- MadampiMadampi (Nair title)Madampi is an aristocratic title given to the uppermost subdivisions of Nairs in Kerala, by the Maharajahs of Travancore and Cochin. Usually, it was given in addition to the Pillai title. Madampis served as Jenmis or landlords during the pre-independence era...
- EshmananEshmananEshmanan corruption of Yajamaana is a term used in Kerala to refer to an individual of high social standing. The term means "lord" in Old Malayalam and referred to Chemb azhi nambi or Nambiars, Unnithans and other Samanthan Nair caste members who occupied the position of rulers and chieftains...
- NayanarNayanar (Nair subcaste)Nayanar is an honorific title used among certain clans of Nairs in the North Malabar region of Kerala. Men of these clans were mainly chiefs of fiefdoms, and formed the aristocracy and landed gentry of the area.-Etymology:...