Malayali Brahmins
Encyclopedia
The term "Malayali Brahmins" or "Malayala Brahmananmar" applies to two main groups of Brahmins from the India
n state of Kerala
. They were the Swadeshi or native Brahmin
s of Kerala while all other Brahmins were considered Paradesi or foreign Brahmins.
The Malayali Brahmins are:
The Nambudiri Brahmins also have subclassifications. Of these, the Astragrihathil Aadhyanmaar (8 Elite Families) are considered the most "elite" and have the sole right to perform Yaagam (this title was presented to them by Mezhathol Agnihotri.
Other Nambudiris are known as Aasyan, followed by a sect of Nambudiris who do not have the right to learn Vedam, Othilaatha.
Moosad and Elayath'
Moosad and Elayath are two castes of Kerala. Contrary to common belief, Elayaths (literally, younger ones) and superior in terms of caste to the Moosads (elder ones) and are so called because they are lower than Namboodiri Brahmins whereas Moosads are the highest of Ambalavasi
s. This is also the reason why Moosads are never priests whereas Elayads are priests in temples and also performed the rituals of Nair
s. However both castes follow customs same as the Namboodiri Brahmins.
Podavar Brahmin
These Brahmins consume meat and are involved in animal sacrifice at several Kali
Temples around Kerala, such as Madayi Kavu
. Adikal is the title used by Brahmins at the Kodungallur Bhagavathy Temple
, who are also involved in animal sacrifice.
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...
n state of 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....
. They were the Swadeshi or native Brahmin
Brahmin
Brahmin Brahman, Brahma and Brahmin.Brahman, Brahmin and Brahma have different meanings. Brahman refers to the Supreme Self...
s of Kerala while all other Brahmins were considered Paradesi or foreign Brahmins.
The Malayali Brahmins are:
- Namboodiri Brahmins: These are considered the most orthodox BrahminBrahminBrahmin Brahman, Brahma and Brahmin.Brahman, Brahmin and Brahma have different meanings. Brahman refers to the Supreme Self...
s in all IndiaIndiaIndia , 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...
and they maintained great ritual purity and notions of caste and creed in the past. They are specialised in ancient Tantram rather than Mantram, unlike other Brahmins in India. They were the only BrahminBrahminBrahmin Brahman, Brahma and Brahmin.Brahman, Brahmin and Brahma have different meanings. Brahman refers to the Supreme Self...
s in 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....
permitted to study the Vedas as well as perform Yagas like Somayaagam,Athiraathram,etc. Namboodiri houses were known as "Illams" or "Manas". The highest family of the Malayali Brahmins is that of Azhvanchery, known as the Azhvanchery SamratAzhvanchery ThamprakkalThe Azhvanchery Thamprakkal or Azhvanchery Samrat is the title of the senior most male member of the Brahmin feudal lords of Azhvanchery Mana, located in Athavanad, present day Malappuram district, Kerala state, South India...
.
The Nambudiri Brahmins also have subclassifications. Of these, the Astragrihathil Aadhyanmaar (8 Elite Families) are considered the most "elite" and have the sole right to perform Yaagam (this title was presented to them by Mezhathol Agnihotri.
Other Nambudiris are known as Aasyan, followed by a sect of Nambudiris who do not have the right to learn Vedam, Othilaatha.
- Pohtty Brahmins: This refers to all other Swadeshi Brahmins in Kerala except the Namboodiris. They were mostly found 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...
kingdom where there were lesser number of Namboodiri families. Their houses are known as "Madhoms" . Most of them had right to study VedasVedasThe Vedas are a large body of texts originating in ancient India. Composed in Vedic Sanskrit, the texts constitute the oldest layer of Sanskrit literature and the oldest scriptures of Hinduism....
and they were allowed priestly vocation. Following the Temple Entry Proclamation of Maharajah Chithira Thirunal Balarama VarmaChithira Thirunal Balarama VarmaChithira Thirunal Maharaja was the last ruling maharaja of the princely state of Travancore, in southern India...
in 1936, most of these Brahmins adopted the surname of Namboodiri. They are divided as:- Pohtty Proper: These were the Pohttys proper found in Travancore mostly. They were further subdivided into two classes, one of which were known as Thiruvalla Desis.
- Tulu Embranthiris: They are found mostly in MalabarMalabar DistrictMalabar District was an administrative district of Madras Presidency in British India and independent India's Madras State. The British district included the present-day districts of Kannur, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Malappuram, Palakkad , and Chavakad Taluk of Thrissur District in the northern part of...
and CochinKingdom of CochinKingdom of Cochin was a late medieval Hindu kingdom and later Princely State on the Malabar Coast, South India...
and use the surname of Embranthiri.
Moosad and Elayath'
Moosad and Elayath are two castes of Kerala. Contrary to common belief, Elayaths (literally, younger ones) and superior in terms of caste to the Moosads (elder ones) and are so called because they are lower than Namboodiri Brahmins whereas Moosads are the highest of Ambalavasi
Ambalavasi
Ambalavasi is a generic name for a collection of castes among Hindus in Kerala who render temple services.-Etymology:The term Ambalavasi is derived from two Malayalam words, being Ambalam and Vasi...
s. This is also the reason why Moosads are never priests whereas Elayads are priests in temples and also performed the rituals of 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. However both castes follow customs same as the Namboodiri Brahmins.
Podavar Brahmin
These Brahmins consume meat and are involved in animal sacrifice at several Kali
Kali
' , also known as ' , is the Hindu goddess associated with power, shakti. The name Kali comes from kāla, which means black, time, death, lord of death, Shiva. Kali means "the black one". Since Shiva is called Kāla - the eternal time, Kālī, his consort, also means "Time" or "Death" . Hence, Kāli is...
Temples around Kerala, such as Madayi Kavu
Madayi Kavu
Madayi Kavu, also known as Thiruvar Kadu Bhagavathi Temple, is a famous Hindu temple dedicated to Kali Amma in Kerala, India. The temple, now under the administration of Devaswom Board, was originally under the control of the Kolathiri kings...
. Adikal is the title used by Brahmins at the Kodungallur Bhagavathy Temple
Kodungallur Bhagavathy Temple
Kurumba Bhagavathi Temple or Kodungallur Bhagavathy Temple is in Kodungallur town in Thrissur District of Kerala, India. The idol of the goddess Bhadrakali in the temple is unique as it has eight hands with various attributes. One is holding the head of the Asura, another a sword, next a...
, who are also involved in animal sacrifice.
See also
- Vishwakarma (caste)
- Nambudiri
- IlayathIlayathIlayath is a Hindu caste in Kerala. They belong to the Brahmin community and, a part of Ambalavasi Community. The house of an Ilayath is known as Illam.-In popular culture:...
- VedasVedasThe Vedas are a large body of texts originating in ancient India. Composed in Vedic Sanskrit, the texts constitute the oldest layer of Sanskrit literature and the oldest scriptures of Hinduism....
- 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....
- 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...
- KanaraKanaraThe Kanara or Canara region comprises three coastal districts of Karnataka, namely Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Uttara Kannada and Kasaragod district of Kerala in southwestern India. Kanara forms the southern part of the Konkan coast...