Malayala Kshatriya
Encyclopedia
The Samanta Kshatriya are the topmost subdivision of the Malayala Kshatriya
Community in Kerala
, India
. The Samanta Kshatriyas make up a part of the erstwhile royal families of the Hindu
Kingdoms and princely states that existed in Kerala until the creation of the Indian Republic. Since most of the members of the Samanta Kshatriya community were royalty,their residences are still called Swaroopams or kottaram or kovilakams
which all mean palace in Malayalam
. Members of this community hold the surname Koil Thampuran, Varma and Raja. One view is that Samanta Kshatriya royal families such as the Kolathiri
and Travancore
had its origins among the Bunts
in the neighbouring region of Tulu Nadu
.Unlike most Kshatriya
s(warriors) found in India, Samanta Kshatriyas did not actively take part in warfare (apart from rare instances), relying instead on their cousins like Kiryathil Nair
s and Illathu Nair
s to command armies. The Samanta Kshatriya also followed a matrilineal system of inheritance known as marumakkathayam
like their related Kshatriya communities of the Nair
s and Bunts
(known as "aliyasanthana" in Tulu
)
Historians and foreign travelers refers Nairs of Malabar as a dignified martial nobility in the Middle Ages. Earliest reference to Nairs comes from the Greek ambassador Megasthenes
. In his accounts of ancient India, he refers to the "Nayars of Malabar".
In the age of later Cheras or Kulasekhara
s (9th century to 12th century AD), the kingdom faced severe attacks from their powerful neighbors, the Cholas. By 12th century present day Kerala
was liberated from Chola control with help of Nair suicide squads known as "chavers" or "ayirathil", "pathinayirathil" etc. The wars between the Chera and the Chola kingdoms wars paved lot of changes in society, such as the rise of the Hindu Caste System.
As the Chera rule ended in early 12th century, several of its Nair vassals proclaimed independence. The Nairs were confined to small areas but they frequently fought each other for domination. Four major city states were Kolathunad, Kozhikode
, Perumpadappu
and Venad
. Apart from the four kingdoms stated above, there were many principalities known as Swaroopams. Some of them were also known as Madampies, almost equivalent to the Baronets of England
. Elayidathu Swaroopam, Odanad
, Purakad, Karapuram Kaimal, Kuthiravattam, Kavalappara Swaroopam
, Venganadu, Thekkumkur (Kottayam
), Vadakkumkur, Alengad
, Parur, Kodungalloor, Thalappilly
Valluvanad, Kadathanad, Kurumbranad - Kurumbiathiri swaroopam
, Poonjar
, Kumbala, Neeleswaram etc. were some of the Nair states.
such as the Kerala Mahatmayam and Keralolpathi
they are referred to as "Samanta Kshatriyas" (Kshatriyas only in name).This was because the Aryans Brahmins who migrated from Ahichatra
in 345 AD during the reign of Karnatakas Kadamba king Mayuravarma,were according to Keralolpathi and Tulunadu Gramapaddati, accompanied by Naga bodyguards from Ahichatra
in Uttarpradesh.These Nagas who settled down at Karnataka served the military of Rashtrakuta
and Alupas
kingdoms and were called Bunt
s.
This was because swaroopams/royal families had political and social power but were Kshatriya only in profession and were not recognized as Kshatriya within the Vedic tradition per se. The first ascension of these Nairs to Kshatriya status was begun by the Kolathiri Raja, Udayavarman, who wished to wear the Yajnopaveetham (Poonool or sacred thread) and become an officially recognized Kshatriya. Since the Nambudiris were not prepared, Udayavarman brought 237 families (Saagara Brahmins) of Illams from Gokarnam (Udupi)in 1617 AD (792 ME) and settled them in five Desams, Cheruthazham, Kunniriyam, Arathil, Kulappuram and Vararuchimangalam of Perinchelloor Graamam. It is said that King Mahendravarman of Gokarnam requested to construct a "Chira" (embankment) at Chirakkal within 24 hours for the Snanam (bathing) of these 237 Brahmins, and King Udayavarman did it. For the 237 Illams to worship, Sree Raghavapuram temple (Hanuman Kavu) at Pilathara was assigned and they considered it as their Graamam temple. The Mooshika vamsham of Kolathiri was thus the first to became Kshatriyas in the Vedic sense.
Later, the then Travancore
Raja brought 185 of these Saagara families to Thiruvalla (Thiruvalladesi Embraanthiris) for the same purpose and attained the Kshatriya status in the Vedic sense. Many other swaroopams also followerd suite, but some of the swaroopams still use Nair titles such as the Kavalappara swaroopam and the Kuthiravatthu swaroopam.
and Tirandu Kalyanam like the Nairs where as the men performed Upanayanam
indicative of being a Dwija / twice born. The women of the household were known as Thampuratis meaning princesses while males used the title of Thampuran prefixed by Varma
, indicative of Kshatriya
rank. The form of marriage practiced was known as Sambandham
and most alliances with Namboodiri Brahmin husbands were sought for womenfolk. An exception is the Travancore
Royal Family who choose spouses for their womenfolk from Kshatriya(Koyi thampurans of chiraykal descendents) families only and males marrying from four Ammavedu of Nair Thampi clan. In the Kingdom of Cochin
, Namboodiri husbands were permitted to enter into Sambandham
with the princesses. Males married either from other Malayala Kshatriya houses, known as Kovilakams or Kottarams meaning palace, or else ladies of the Nair
nobility. In the case of the Travancore
family, the children of the Thampurans from Nair
wives, known as Panapillai Amma
s were bestowed the title of Thampi
.
(near Goa) to Cape Comorin were divided in to 17 Naads, the rulers of which were mostly Samanta Kshatriyas and Samantan Nairs. But over the course of time, independent Nair chiefs declared their own kingdoms, so that during the invasion of Malabar by Tippu Sultan, there were 35 Naads in Malabar alone. 12 of these were ruled were Samanta Kshatriyas.
The 35 Principalities (Naads) in Malabar were: Kottayam, Kadathanad, Kurumbranad, Tamarasseri-Wynad, North Parappanad, South Parappanad, Valluvanad, Vadamalapuram, Tenmalapuram, Kolathunad (All ruled by Samanta Kshatriyas); Polanad, Payyanad, Ramanad, Cheranad, Nedunganad, Naduvattam, Kuttanad, Chavakkad, Chetwai, Eranad, Neeleswaram, Konad, Kodikkunninad, Vettattnad
, Kakkad, Beypore, Talapilli, Chirakkal, Kollamkode, Punnathur (All ruled by Samantan Nairs); Kavalapara, Kurangott, Payyurmala, Pulavai (All ruled by Moopil Nair
s).
The royal families of Travancore-Cochin area were: Thiruvithamkod-Trippapur (Venad Swaroopam), Attingal, Kottarakkara (Elayadathu Swaroopam ), Quilon (Desinganad), Karunagapalli, Karthikapalli, Kayamkulam, Panthalam, Thekkumkur, Vadakkumkur, Punjar, Airur, Paravur, Alangad, Edapalli, Karappuram & Cranganore.
Various royal clans in Kerala fought bitterly for supremacy against each other. The Raja of Cochin, who was elevated to the Suryavanshi clan of the Samanta Kshatriya caste by the Namboothiris openly insulted the Zamorin, who belonged to the Eradi
subdivision of Samantan Nair caste, calling him a cowherd. The fuming Zamorin invaded Cochin with all his forces and the Raja of Cochin was forced to run for his life and bequeath his power to the British. Zamorin tried to elevate himself to the Samanta Kshatriya status by performing the Hiranyagarbha Yagna, but fierce opposition by his opponents (Most notable of whom were the Rajas of Cochin) forced the Namboothiris of Malabar to abandon the plan. Instead the Zamorin, who was an ordinary Nair
was elevated to the Samantan Nair caste by performing the Padmagarbha Yagna.
During the 17th and 18th centuries, the rulers of Venad, Onad, Konad, Kodikkunninad, Kolathunad, Polanad, Thekkumkur and Vadakkumkur elevated their status from ordinary Nair to Samantan by performing the Padmagarbha Yagna. Some of them further elevated their status to Samanta Kshatriya later, while some others were elevated to the status of Mahasamantan (above Samantan, but still below Samanta Kshatriya in Caste hierarchy) by performing the Tulabhara Yagna.
and half Kshatriya
.
Malayala Kshatriya
The Samanta Kshatriya are the topmost subdivision of the Malayala Kshatriya Community in Kerala, India. The Samanta Kshatriyas make up a part of the erstwhile royal families of the Hindu Kingdoms and princely states that existed in Kerala until the creation of the Indian Republic...
Community in Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. The Samanta Kshatriyas make up a part of the erstwhile royal families of the Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
Kingdoms and princely states that existed in Kerala until the creation of the Indian Republic. Since most of the members of the Samanta Kshatriya community were royalty,their residences are still called Swaroopams or kottaram or kovilakams
Kovilakam
Kovilakam is a term that denotes to the principal manor/estate/palace of a princely lineages of Kerala, India. This is the residence, where all who have not succeeded to get Rajaship remain under the management of the eldest resident male or female member of that particular branch of the family...
which all mean palace in Malayalam
Malayalam language
Malayalam , is one of the four major Dravidian languages of southern India. It is one of the 22 scheduled languages of India with official language status in the state of Kerala and the union territories of Lakshadweep and Pondicherry. It is spoken by 35.9 million people...
. Members of this community hold the surname Koil Thampuran, Varma and Raja. One view is that Samanta Kshatriya royal families such as the Kolathiri
Kolathiri
Kolathiri or Kolathiri Rājā was the title by which the senior most male along the matilinial line of the Mushika or Kolathunādu Royal Family was styled...
and Travancore
Travancore
Kingdom of Travancore was a former Hindu feudal kingdom and Indian Princely State with its capital at Padmanabhapuram or Trivandrum ruled by the Travancore Royal Family. The Kingdom of Travancore comprised most of modern day southern Kerala, Kanyakumari district, and the southernmost parts of...
had its origins among the Bunts
Bunt (community)
Bunt , previously spelled Bant, are a community of erstwhile nobility, feudatory and gentry from the region of Tulu Nadu in the south west of India which comprises the districts of Udupi and Dakshina Kannada in the Indian state of Karnataka and Kasaragod taluk of Kerala...
in the neighbouring region of Tulu Nadu
Tulu Nadu
Tulu Nadu is a Tulu-speaking region spread over to parts of present Karnataka and Kerala States of India. It consists of the Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts of Karnataka and the northern parts of the Kasaragod district of Kerala up to the Payaswini River...
.Unlike most Kshatriya
Kshatriya
*For the Bollywood film of the same name see Kshatriya Kshatriya or Kashtriya, meaning warrior, is one of the four varnas in Hinduism...
s(warriors) found in India, Samanta Kshatriyas did not actively take part in warfare (apart from rare instances), relying instead on their cousins like Kiryathil Nair
Kiryathil Nair
Kiryathil Nair or Kiriyathil Nair is a subcaste of the Nair community who traditionally lived in the region now known as Kerala, India. The 17th century Keralolpathi states them to be descendants of warrior Nāga tribes who came to Kerala from the north along the western coast...
s and Illathu Nair
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...
s to command armies. The Samanta Kshatriya also followed a matrilineal system of inheritance known as marumakkathayam
Marumakkathayam
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...
like their related Kshatriya communities of the 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...
s and Bunts
Bunt (community)
Bunt , previously spelled Bant, are a community of erstwhile nobility, feudatory and gentry from the region of Tulu Nadu in the south west of India which comprises the districts of Udupi and Dakshina Kannada in the Indian state of Karnataka and Kasaragod taluk of Kerala...
(known as "aliyasanthana" in Tulu
Tulu language
The Tulu language |?]]]) is a Dravidian language spoken by 1.95 million native speakers mainly in the southwest part of Indian state Karnataka known as Tulu Nadu. In India, 1.72 million people speak it as their mother tongue , increased by 10 percent over the 1991 census...
)
Origin of Nair States
Megasthenes
Megasthenes was a Greek ethnographer in the Hellenistic period, author of the work Indica.He was born in Asia Minor and became an ambassador of Seleucus I of Syria possibly to Chandragupta Maurya in Pataliputra, India. However the exact date of his embassy is uncertain...
. In his accounts of ancient India, he refers to the "Nayars of Malabar".
In the age of later Cheras or Kulasekhara
Kulasekhara
Kulasekhara or Later Chera dynasty was a classical Hindu dynasty founded by the saint King Kulashekhara Varman. The dynasty ruled the whole of modern Kerala state , Guddalore and some parts of Nilgiri district and Salem - Coimbatore region in southern India between 9th and 12th centuries AD...
s (9th century to 12th century AD), the kingdom faced severe attacks from their powerful neighbors, the Cholas. By 12th century present day Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
was liberated from Chola control with help of Nair suicide squads known as "chavers" or "ayirathil", "pathinayirathil" etc. The wars between the Chera and the Chola kingdoms wars paved lot of changes in society, such as the rise of the Hindu Caste System.
As the Chera rule ended in early 12th century, several of its Nair vassals proclaimed independence. The Nairs were confined to small areas but they frequently fought each other for domination. Four major city states were Kolathunad, Kozhikode
Kozhikode
Kozhikode During Classical antiquity and the Middle Ages, Kozhikkode was dubbed the "City of Spices" for its role as the major trading point of eastern spices. Kozhikode was once the capital of an independent kingdom of the same name and later of the erstwhile Malabar District...
, Perumpadappu
Perumpadappu
For the kingdom of Cochin or Perumpadapu Swaroopam, see Perumpadapu SwaroopamPerumpadappu is a small area of Palluruthy region of Cochin city of Ernakulam district, Kerala. It is stretch around 4 km2. It holds 3 temples and 2 main churches and a mosque to its credit...
and Venad
Venad
Venad Swarupam was one of the three prominent late medieval Hindu feudal kingdoms on Malabar Coast, south India, along with Kingdom of Calicut and Kingdom of Cannanore. In the early 14th century, Venad ruler Ravi Varma Kulasekhara had established a short-lived supremacy over southern India...
. Apart from the four kingdoms stated above, there were many principalities known as Swaroopams. Some of them were also known as Madampies, almost equivalent to the Baronets of England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Elayidathu Swaroopam, Odanad
Onattukara
Onattukara was a principality of ancient Kerala. Also known as Odanadu , Onattukara was at times part of the kingdom of Venad and was composed of the present day Taluks of [Mavelikara], Karthikapally, Chenganur taluks in Alappuzha district and Karunagapally Taluk in Kollam...
, Purakad, Karapuram Kaimal, Kuthiravattam, Kavalappara Swaroopam
Kavalappara Swaroopam
Kavalappara Swaroopam or Kavalappara is a former Hindu Nair feudal city-state in Malabar, South India. Kavalappara Nairs were the vassals of the Zamorins of Calicut, and ruled some parts of Ottappalam, Chittur and Palakkad. At the peak of his glory, king of Kavalappara ruled some 96 village from...
, Venganadu, Thekkumkur (Kottayam
Kottayam
Kottayam is a city in the Indian state of Kerala, spread over an area of 55.40 km2. It is the administrative capital of the Kottayam district. Kottayam Kottayam (Malayalam: കോട്ടയം) is a city in the Indian state of Kerala, spread over an area of 55.40 km2. It is the administrative...
), Vadakkumkur, Alengad
Alengad
Alangad is a census town and panchayat in Paravur Taluk of Ernakulam District, Kerala, India.-Location:Alangadu is located just 7 km away from North Paravur and 8 km away from Aluva. The State Highway connecting North Paravur with Aluva passess through this village. It contains...
, Parur, Kodungalloor, Thalappilly
Kunnamkulam
Kunnamkulam is a municipal town situated in the Thrissur District of Kerala in India, spread over an area of 6.96 km2. It is an old commercial town, with a history of more than 300 years, famous for its printing and book binding industry...
Valluvanad, Kadathanad, Kurumbranad - Kurumbiathiri swaroopam
Kurumbranad - Kurumbiathiri swaroopam
Kurumbranad was a former Nair Hindu feudal kingdom in present day Kerala state, South India, on the Malabar Coast. Once a powerful kingdom capitalized at Mapayil, Puthuppanam, Vadakara. The area borded from sea at West side and Karnataka at the East...
, Poonjar
Poonjar
Poonjar is a small town in the Kottayam district of Kerala state, India. Before the independence of India, Poonjar had been the capital of the Poonjar Koyikkal Swaroopam or Edavaka.-History:...
, Kumbala, Neeleswaram etc. were some of the Nair states.
Ascension to Kshatriya status
In traditional texts and treatises on KeralaKerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
such as the Kerala Mahatmayam and Keralolpathi
Keralolpathi
The Keralolpathi is a Malayalam work that deals with the origin of the land of Kerala. Shungunny Menon ascribes the authorship of this work to Thunchaththu Ramanujan Ezhuthachan, a 17th century scholar of the Malabar region of India. The Keralolpathi is mostly an expansion from an earlier Sanskrit...
they are referred to as "Samanta Kshatriyas" (Kshatriyas only in name).This was because the Aryans Brahmins who migrated from Ahichatra
Ahichatra
Ahichatra was the ancient capital of Northern Panchala, a northern Indo-Aryan kingdom mentioned in Mahabharata. The remains of this city has been discovered near Ramnagar village in Aonla tehsil of Bareilly district in Uttar Pradesh state. The excavations have brought to life a brick fortification...
in 345 AD during the reign of Karnatakas Kadamba king Mayuravarma,were according to Keralolpathi and Tulunadu Gramapaddati, accompanied by Naga bodyguards from Ahichatra
Ahichatra
Ahichatra was the ancient capital of Northern Panchala, a northern Indo-Aryan kingdom mentioned in Mahabharata. The remains of this city has been discovered near Ramnagar village in Aonla tehsil of Bareilly district in Uttar Pradesh state. The excavations have brought to life a brick fortification...
in Uttarpradesh.These Nagas who settled down at Karnataka served the military of Rashtrakuta
Rashtrakuta
The Rashtrakuta Empire was a royal dynasty ruling large parts of the Indian Subcontinent between the sixth and the 10th centuries. During this period they ruled as several closely related, but individual clans. Rastrakutas in inscriptions represented as descendants of Satyaki, a Yadava well known...
and Alupas
Alupas
The Alupas kings were a minor dynasty who ruled parts of coastal Karnataka. Later with the dominance of Kadambas in Banavasi, they became feudatory to them. With the changing political scenario, soon they became the feudatories to Chalukyas, Hoysalas and Vijayanagara Rayas...
kingdoms and were called Bunt
Bunt
A bunt is a special type of offensive technique in baseball or fastpitch softball. In a bunt play, the batter loosely holds the bat in front of the plate and intentionally taps the ball into play.- Bunting technique :...
s.
This was because swaroopams/royal families had political and social power but were Kshatriya only in profession and were not recognized as Kshatriya within the Vedic tradition per se. The first ascension of these Nairs to Kshatriya status was begun by the Kolathiri Raja, Udayavarman, who wished to wear the Yajnopaveetham (Poonool or sacred thread) and become an officially recognized Kshatriya. Since the Nambudiris were not prepared, Udayavarman brought 237 families (Saagara Brahmins) of Illams from Gokarnam (Udupi)in 1617 AD (792 ME) and settled them in five Desams, Cheruthazham, Kunniriyam, Arathil, Kulappuram and Vararuchimangalam of Perinchelloor Graamam. It is said that King Mahendravarman of Gokarnam requested to construct a "Chira" (embankment) at Chirakkal within 24 hours for the Snanam (bathing) of these 237 Brahmins, and King Udayavarman did it. For the 237 Illams to worship, Sree Raghavapuram temple (Hanuman Kavu) at Pilathara was assigned and they considered it as their Graamam temple. The Mooshika vamsham of Kolathiri was thus the first to became Kshatriyas in the Vedic sense.
Later, the then Travancore
Travancore
Kingdom of Travancore was a former Hindu feudal kingdom and Indian Princely State with its capital at Padmanabhapuram or Trivandrum ruled by the Travancore Royal Family. The Kingdom of Travancore comprised most of modern day southern Kerala, Kanyakumari district, and the southernmost parts of...
Raja brought 185 of these Saagara families to Thiruvalla (Thiruvalladesi Embraanthiris) for the same purpose and attained the Kshatriya status in the Vedic sense. Many other swaroopams also followerd suite, but some of the swaroopams still use Nair titles such as the Kavalappara swaroopam and the Kuthiravatthu swaroopam.
Customs and practices
The Samanta Kshatriyas practiced matrilinial inheritance (marumakkathayam) that was uxorilocal. The women performed ceremonies Kettu KalyanamKettu Kalyanam
Kettu Kalyanam, also known as Thali Kettu was the name of an elaborate marriage ceremony of the Malayala Kshatriyas, Samanthans, Nairs, Maaran, and Ambalavasis communities of the Indian state of Kerala...
and Tirandu Kalyanam like the Nairs where as the men performed Upanayanam
Upanayanam
Upanayana is the initiation ritual by which initiates are invested with a sacred thread, to symbolize the transference of spiritual knowledge .- Significance of the sacred thread :...
indicative of being a Dwija / twice born. The women of the household were known as Thampuratis meaning princesses while males used the title of Thampuran prefixed by Varma
Varma
Varmā , Varman or Burman or Barman is an honorific title that was originally used by the Kshatriyas in India and South East Asia...
, indicative of Kshatriya
Kshatriya
*For the Bollywood film of the same name see Kshatriya Kshatriya or Kashtriya, meaning warrior, is one of the four varnas in Hinduism...
rank. The form of marriage practiced was known as Sambandham
Sambandham
Sambandham was a form of marital system primarily followed by the Nairs in what is the present-day Indian state of Kerala. This system of marriage was followed by the matriarchal castes of Kerala, though today the custom has ceased to exist...
and most alliances with Namboodiri Brahmin husbands were sought for womenfolk. An exception is the Travancore
Travancore
Kingdom of Travancore was a former Hindu feudal kingdom and Indian Princely State with its capital at Padmanabhapuram or Trivandrum ruled by the Travancore Royal Family. The Kingdom of Travancore comprised most of modern day southern Kerala, Kanyakumari district, and the southernmost parts of...
Royal Family who choose spouses for their womenfolk from Kshatriya(Koyi thampurans of chiraykal descendents) families only and males marrying from four Ammavedu of Nair Thampi clan. In the Kingdom of Cochin
Kingdom of Cochin
Kingdom of Cochin was a late medieval Hindu kingdom and later Princely State on the Malabar Coast, South India...
, Namboodiri husbands were permitted to enter into Sambandham
Sambandham
Sambandham was a form of marital system primarily followed by the Nairs in what is the present-day Indian state of Kerala. This system of marriage was followed by the matriarchal castes of Kerala, though today the custom has ceased to exist...
with the princesses. Males married either from other Malayala Kshatriya houses, known as Kovilakams or Kottarams meaning palace, or else ladies of the 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...
nobility. In the case of the Travancore
Travancore
Kingdom of Travancore was a former Hindu feudal kingdom and Indian Princely State with its capital at Padmanabhapuram or Trivandrum ruled by the Travancore Royal Family. The Kingdom of Travancore comprised most of modern day southern Kerala, Kanyakumari district, and the southernmost parts of...
family, the children of the Thampurans from 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...
wives, known as Panapillai Amma
Panapillai Amma
Panapillai Amma was the title held by the consort of the ruling Maharajah of Travancore. Its literal translation is 'the royal consort' since as per the formerly existent matriarchal system in Travancore, the Maharajah's sister, and not his wife, was the Maharani. Thus the wife took the title of...
s were bestowed the title of Thampi
Thampi
The Thampis are the sons of the Samanthan Nair Maharajahs of Travancore and their morganatic wives belonging to Illathu Nair or other similar Kshatriya castes...
.
Swaroopams
The Samanta Kshatriyas are subdivided into four main groups:- Mooshoka Vamsham (Royal family of Chirakkal Rajahs/KolathiriKolathiriKolathiri or Kolathiri Rājā was the title by which the senior most male along the matilinial line of the Mushika or Kolathunādu Royal Family was styled...
) - Kuru Swaroopam (Cochin Royal familyCochin Royal FamilyThe Cochin royal family were rulers of Cochin, or Kochi, India. They were also known as Perumpadapu Swaroopam or Kuru Swaroopam.-Tradition of Perumpadapu Swaroopam:...
) - Venad swaroopam Travancore Royal FamilyTravancore Royal FamilyThe Travancore Royal Family descended from the Venad line of the Cheras and ruled over the Indian state of Travancore until 1947.The Royal family, alternatively known as the Kupaka Royal Family, Thripappur Swaroopam, Venad Swaroopam, Vanchi Swaroopam etc., has its seat today at Trivandrum in...
- Zamorin/Nediyirippu Swaroopam Rajahs of KozhikodeKozhikodeKozhikode During Classical antiquity and the Middle Ages, Kozhikkode was dubbed the "City of Spices" for its role as the major trading point of eastern spices. Kozhikode was once the capital of an independent kingdom of the same name and later of the erstwhile Malabar District...
) were Samanta Rulers of Nair Eradi division - Several smaller swaroopams(royal clans) like Elayidathu, Nilamboor, Neeleshwaram, urumbranad][Chengazhinad] also existed.
Epithets based on status in Travancore
- Koil Thampurans- The Koil Thamburans originally immigrated from Malabar to Travancore at the request of the Maharajah of TravancoreTravancoreKingdom of Travancore was a former Hindu feudal kingdom and Indian Princely State with its capital at Padmanabhapuram or Trivandrum ruled by the Travancore Royal Family. The Kingdom of Travancore comprised most of modern day southern Kerala, Kanyakumari district, and the southernmost parts of...
. They originally belonged to the Royal house of Neeleswaram and held the status of Koil Thampuran (Superior Samanta Kshatriya). They are all related to each other by blood and are found only in TravancoreTravancoreKingdom of Travancore was a former Hindu feudal kingdom and Indian Princely State with its capital at Padmanabhapuram or Trivandrum ruled by the Travancore Royal Family. The Kingdom of Travancore comprised most of modern day southern Kerala, Kanyakumari district, and the southernmost parts of...
. They secured a separate place among the Malayala Kshatriyas since the migrated at different times into TravancoreTravancoreKingdom of Travancore was a former Hindu feudal kingdom and Indian Princely State with its capital at Padmanabhapuram or Trivandrum ruled by the Travancore Royal Family. The Kingdom of Travancore comprised most of modern day southern Kerala, Kanyakumari district, and the southernmost parts of...
from their original homes. Ceremonies such as Jata Karma, Namakarana, Annaprasana, Vidyarambha etc. are practised by them. In matter of dress and ornaments males resembled Namboodiri Brahmins while females resembled the NairNairNair , 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...
ladies. Among the Koil Thampurans, the eldest born was always named Rajaraja Varma Koil Thampuran while among females the names Amba, Ambalika and Ambika were common. The males have to repeat the GayatriGayatriGayatri is the feminine form of , a Sanskrit word for a song or a hymn. Gayatri is a consort of Brahma and the goddess of learning. Brahma married her when there was a need for a companion during a yajna. Brahma had to start the yajna along with his wife...
mantra ten times thrice a day. Their males had Sambandham with ladies of the Venadu Swaroopam (However Rani Setu Parvathibai ignored their supremacy and married her daughter with an ordinary Kshatriya), while the ladies married Namboothiris. Only the Koil Thampurans were recognized as Samanta Kshatriya by the Namboothiris in TravancoreTravancoreKingdom of Travancore was a former Hindu feudal kingdom and Indian Princely State with its capital at Padmanabhapuram or Trivandrum ruled by the Travancore Royal Family. The Kingdom of Travancore comprised most of modern day southern Kerala, Kanyakumari district, and the southernmost parts of...
. In Travancore, there were ten clans of Koil Thampurans. The most ancient were the ones settled at Kilimanoor (in Attingal). The Kilimanoor Koil Thampurans were awarded freehold during 1728 AD. During Tippu's invasion, some more Koil Thampurans immigrated to Travancore and settled in Kirtipuram (near Kandiyoor in Mavelikkara), Pallam (in Kottayam), Paliyakkara (in Thiruvalla) and Nirazhi palace (in Changanasseri). The original clans split among themselves and new clans were established at Anantapuran (in Karthikapalli) and Chemprol (in Thiruvalla). FInally, three more clans arrived from Malabar and established themselves at Cherukol, Karamma and Vatakkematham.
- Thampurans also known as RajaRajaRaja is an Indian term for a monarch, or princely ruler of the Kshatriya varna...
hs- They belong to the Venadu Swaroopam or the Travancore Royal Family. They follow almost all the manners of the Koil Thampurans. The Kettu KalyanamKettu KalyanamKettu Kalyanam, also known as Thali Kettu was the name of an elaborate marriage ceremony of the Malayala Kshatriyas, Samanthans, Nairs, Maaran, and Ambalavasis communities of the Indian state of Kerala...
ceremony of their females is performed by Koil Thampurans who may later enter into SambandhamSambandhamSambandham was a form of marital system primarily followed by the Nairs in what is the present-day Indian state of Kerala. This system of marriage was followed by the matriarchal castes of Kerala, though today the custom has ceased to exist...
with them. If their husband dies his brother unites himself to the Thampurati through a ceremony known as Kootu Irikuka which means to keep company. Pollution after deaths in the family is for ten days as with the Koil Thampurans. They belong to the Samantan subcaste and have to perform Hiranyagarbha in order to attain the Samanta Kshatriya status.
- ThampanThampan-Etymology:The word Thampan is a contraction of the term Thampuran which is a corrupt version of the Sanskrit term Samrat and stands for Your Lordship. The title of Varma is some times affixed to the name of a Thampan...
s and ThirumulpadThirumulpadTirumalpād 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- These were once ruling families of Thampurans who became later, owing to loss of sovereignty, inferior among the Malayala Kshatriyas and served the Kshatriyas above them. The surname Thampan is used by both Samantan Nairs and Samanta Kshatriyas. In Cochin, they are mostly Samanta Kshatriya, while in TravancoreTravancoreKingdom of Travancore was a former Hindu feudal kingdom and Indian Princely State with its capital at Padmanabhapuram or Trivandrum ruled by the Travancore Royal Family. The Kingdom of Travancore comprised most of modern day southern Kerala, Kanyakumari district, and the southernmost parts of...
, they are generally Samantan Nair. ThirumulpadThirumulpadTirumalpād 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...
is a surname used by Samantan Nairs, Samanta Kshatriyas and Kiryathil NairKiryathil NairKiryathil Nair or Kiriyathil Nair is a subcaste of the Nair community who traditionally lived in the region now known as Kerala, India. The 17th century Keralolpathi states them to be descendants of warrior Nāga tribes who came to Kerala from the north along the western coast...
s.
Change in Caste Status
During historic times, the entire coastal region from GokarnamGokarna, India
Gokarna is a village in the Uttara Kannada district of the Karnataka state, India. It is a Hindu pilgrimage centre as well as a tourist destination in India. Gokarna is a temple town and is referred to in a number of Hindu historical literature pieces. The main deity is Lord Mahabhaleshwara, a...
(near Goa) to Cape Comorin were divided in to 17 Naads, the rulers of which were mostly Samanta Kshatriyas and Samantan Nairs. But over the course of time, independent Nair chiefs declared their own kingdoms, so that during the invasion of Malabar by Tippu Sultan, there were 35 Naads in Malabar alone. 12 of these were ruled were Samanta Kshatriyas.
The 35 Principalities (Naads) in Malabar were: Kottayam, Kadathanad, Kurumbranad, Tamarasseri-Wynad, North Parappanad, South Parappanad, Valluvanad, Vadamalapuram, Tenmalapuram, Kolathunad (All ruled by Samanta Kshatriyas); Polanad, Payyanad, Ramanad, Cheranad, Nedunganad, Naduvattam, Kuttanad, Chavakkad, Chetwai, Eranad, Neeleswaram, Konad, Kodikkunninad, Vettattnad
Vettattnad
Vettathunad or Tanur swaroopam was a small erstwhile feudal kingdom in southern Malabar on Arabian Sea in southwest India ruled by a Hindu dynasty known as Tanur dynasty, over whom the Zamorin of Calicut claimed certain nominal suzerain rights.The King was called 'raja'or 'thampuran' or...
, Kakkad, Beypore, Talapilli, Chirakkal, Kollamkode, Punnathur (All ruled by Samantan Nairs); Kavalapara, Kurangott, Payyurmala, Pulavai (All ruled by Moopil Nair
Moopil Nair
Moopil Nair is the term used to denote Nair Naduvazhis and Desavazhis of tiny feudal kingdoms on the Malabar Coast, present day Kerala state, South India. Moopil Nairs belonged to the Samanthan Nair subcaste of the Nair caste in the Hindu Caste system...
s).
The royal families of Travancore-Cochin area were: Thiruvithamkod-Trippapur (Venad Swaroopam), Attingal, Kottarakkara (Elayadathu Swaroopam ), Quilon (Desinganad), Karunagapalli, Karthikapalli, Kayamkulam, Panthalam, Thekkumkur, Vadakkumkur, Punjar, Airur, Paravur, Alangad, Edapalli, Karappuram & Cranganore.
Various royal clans in Kerala fought bitterly for supremacy against each other. The Raja of Cochin, who was elevated to the Suryavanshi clan of the Samanta Kshatriya caste by the Namboothiris openly insulted the Zamorin, who belonged to the Eradi
Eradi
Eradi is a Samanthan Nair clan of Kshatriya origin, coming from the Indian state of Kerala. The word is derived from the place name Eranad in Kerala. The "Samoothiri" comes from this Eradi subcaste, now assimilated to Nair, the major upper caste of state of Kerala. Historically the Eradis numbered...
subdivision of Samantan Nair caste, calling him a cowherd. The fuming Zamorin invaded Cochin with all his forces and the Raja of Cochin was forced to run for his life and bequeath his power to the British. Zamorin tried to elevate himself to the Samanta Kshatriya status by performing the Hiranyagarbha Yagna, but fierce opposition by his opponents (Most notable of whom were the Rajas of Cochin) forced the Namboothiris of Malabar to abandon the plan. Instead the Zamorin, who was an ordinary 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...
was elevated to the Samantan Nair caste by performing the Padmagarbha Yagna.
During the 17th and 18th centuries, the rulers of Venad, Onad, Konad, Kodikkunninad, Kolathunad, Polanad, Thekkumkur and Vadakkumkur elevated their status from ordinary Nair to Samantan by performing the Padmagarbha Yagna. Some of them further elevated their status to Samanta Kshatriya later, while some others were elevated to the status of Mahasamantan (above Samantan, but still below Samanta Kshatriya in Caste hierarchy) by performing the Tulabhara Yagna.
Nambidis
The Nambidis & Chengazhi nambiar or [chemb azhi nambi] are a special group of people who are considered half BrahminBrahmin
Brahmin Brahman, Brahma and Brahmin.Brahman, Brahmin and Brahma have different meanings. Brahman refers to the Supreme Self...
and half Kshatriya
Kshatriya
*For the Bollywood film of the same name see Kshatriya Kshatriya or Kashtriya, meaning warrior, is one of the four varnas in Hinduism...
.
Samantans
Samantan, meaning "allies", is used to refer to feudatory allies of Samanta Kshatriyas. Many of the Samantans have their origin from the Malabar region.Notable Samanta Kshatriyas
- Maharani Gowri Lakshmi Bayi
- Maharani Gowri Parvati Bayi
- Maharani Sethu Lakshmi BayiSethu Lakshmi BayiMaharani Pooradam Thirunal Sethu Lakshmi Bayi CI was the ruler of Travancore as regent for her nephew, Chithira Tirunal from 1924 until late 1931...
- Raja Ravi VarmaRaja Ravi VarmaRaja Ravi Varma was an Indian painter from the princely state of Travancore who achieved recognition for his depiction of scenes from the epics of the Mahabharata and Ramayana...
[Kilimanoor Palace] - Chithira Thirunal Balarama VarmaChithira Thirunal Balarama VarmaChithira Thirunal Maharaja was the last ruling maharaja of the princely state of Travancore, in southern India...
- Moolam Thirunal Maharajah
- Balarama VarmaBalarama VarmaAvittom Thirunal Balarama Varma was a ruler of the Indian princely state of Travancore from 1798 to 1810, succeeding Maharajah Dharma Raja. His rule of Travancore was full of disturbances and internal and external problems...
Avittam Thirunal - Ayilyam ThirunalAyilyam ThirunalMaharajah Ayilyam Thirunal Rama Varma was the ruler of the princely state of Travancore in India from 1860 to 1880. His reign was highly successful with Travancore gaining the appellation of "model state of India"...
Maharajah - Rama Varma a.k.a Shaktan Thampuran (1790-1805)- Perumpadapu Swaroopam
- Sir Sri Rama VarmaSir Sri Rama VarmaSir Sri Rama Varma XV GCSI GCIE popularly known as The Rajarshi Of Cochin and as Abdicated Highness, was the ruler of the Kingdom of Cochin from 1895 to 1914.- Reign :...
a.k.a Rajarshi, Abdicated Highness (1895–1914)- Perumpadapu Swaroopam* - Maharaja Kerala Varma Thampuran :MaharajaMaharajaMahārāja is a Sanskrit title for a "great king" or "high king". The female equivalent title Maharani denotes either the wife of a Maharaja or, in states where that was customary, a woman ruling in her own right. The widow of a Maharaja is known as a Rajamata...
of CochinKingdom of CochinKingdom of Cochin was a late medieval Hindu kingdom and later Princely State on the Malabar Coast, South India...
(1946–1948) a.k.a Aikya Keralam Thampuran
See also
- VettattnadVettattnadVettathunad or Tanur swaroopam was a small erstwhile feudal kingdom in southern Malabar on Arabian Sea in southwest India ruled by a Hindu dynasty known as Tanur dynasty, over whom the Zamorin of Calicut claimed certain nominal suzerain rights.The King was called 'raja'or 'thampuran' or...
- UpanayanamUpanayanamUpanayana is the initiation ritual by which initiates are invested with a sacred thread, to symbolize the transference of spiritual knowledge .- Significance of the sacred thread :...
- KeralaKeralaor Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
- ThampanThampan-Etymology:The word Thampan is a contraction of the term Thampuran which is a corrupt version of the Sanskrit term Samrat and stands for Your Lordship. The title of Varma is some times affixed to the name of a Thampan...
- Cochin
- Organization of KaulasOrganization of KaulasKaula is a Tantrik tradition of Hinduism. It is a Culture and rich tradition of Sanatana Culture of Vedic way of life. Almost all Royal Families of Kerala of Kerala were Kaulas, as they performed Tamasa Pooja...
for Kshatriyas