Panicker
Encyclopedia
Panicker is an India
n title or last name used by members of various communities in the state of Kerala
. The Kaniyar
s community of Kerala, particularly central and northern region, by virtue of their traditional occupation as teachers of a martial art (Kalari
) are commonly known as Panicker. Some members of the Nair
and Ezhava
castes in the Hindu
religion and also some Christians from the Syrian Catholic, Syrian Orthodox and Mar Thoma
churches also hold this last name.
word Parinayaka meaning 'captain of warriors'. It was a title bestowed on Kalari
masters in Kerala
, who were known as the Kalari Panicker
. Vedic astrology was also practised by them to survive. (Cochin castes and tribes - by Ananada Krishna Iyer).— The Portuguese traveller Duarte Barbosa
said that "They are the skillful men who teach this art [Kalarippayattu], and they are called the Panickers: these are the captains in war."
Some other communities which hold the title include the Nairs and Ezhava
s. Sometimes, it was also held by the teachers of a region and Maaran
s. In later days, the Maharajah of Travancore
bestowed this title as a reward for merit to those members of the Hindu
and Christian
communities, who excelled in martial endeavours and military exploits. The titles were bestowed on the families of meritorious persons and consequently all family members were entitled to use the titles, even when they were from other religions. There are occasional instances of Nambudiris, Christians and Muslims with this title, as in the case of the Chemmunda Panicker.
marks, the name would be "Panikkar". However, Panikker, Panicker, Panickar, Paniker, Panikar, Panniker, Pannikavannar and possibly other variants are to be found.
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 title or last name used by members of various communities in the 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....
. The Kaniyar
Kaniyar
Kaniyar are a caste of India with origins in the states of Kerala and Karnataka. There are regional variations in the name used to define them. The Kerala Public Service Commission considers Kaniyar Panicker to be one group in their list of designated Other Backward Classes, and Kalari...
s community of Kerala, particularly central and northern region, by virtue of their traditional occupation as teachers of a martial art (Kalari
Kalari
The word Kalari means battle ground in Tamil and translates as "threshing floor" or "battlefield" in Malayalam. Training for Kalarippayattu, a martial art of Kerala and Tamil Nadu, is traditionally done inside the Kalari....
) are commonly known as Panicker. Some members 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...
and Ezhava
Ezhava
The Ezhavas are a community with origins in the region presently known as Kerala. They are also known as Ilhava, Irava, Izhava and Erava in the south of the region; as Chovas, Chokons and Chogons in Central Travancore; and as Tiyyas, Thiyas and Theeyas in Malabar...
castes in 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...
religion and also some Christians from the Syrian Catholic, Syrian Orthodox and Mar Thoma
Mar Thoma Church
The Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church also known as the Mar Thoma Church is a Christian denomination based in the state of Kerala in southwestern India. It has an entirely different identity when compared with other Churches in India. Most Christian churches around the world are divided into...
churches also hold this last name.
Etymology
The word Panicker was derived from the SanskritSanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
word Parinayaka meaning 'captain of warriors'. It was a title bestowed on Kalari
Kalari
The word Kalari means battle ground in Tamil and translates as "threshing floor" or "battlefield" in Malayalam. Training for Kalarippayattu, a martial art of Kerala and Tamil Nadu, is traditionally done inside the Kalari....
masters 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....
, who were known as the Kalari Panicker
Kaniyar
Kaniyar are a caste of India with origins in the states of Kerala and Karnataka. There are regional variations in the name used to define them. The Kerala Public Service Commission considers Kaniyar Panicker to be one group in their list of designated Other Backward Classes, and Kalari...
. Vedic astrology was also practised by them to survive. (Cochin castes and tribes - by Ananada Krishna Iyer).— The Portuguese traveller Duarte Barbosa
Duarte Barbosa
Duarte Barbosa was a Portuguese writer and Portuguese India officer between 1500 and 1516–17, with the post of scrivener in Cannanore factory and sometimes interpreter of the local language...
said that "They are the skillful men who teach this art [Kalarippayattu], and they are called the Panickers: these are the captains in war."
Some other communities which hold the title include the Nairs and Ezhava
Ezhava
The Ezhavas are a community with origins in the region presently known as Kerala. They are also known as Ilhava, Irava, Izhava and Erava in the south of the region; as Chovas, Chokons and Chogons in Central Travancore; and as Tiyyas, Thiyas and Theeyas in Malabar...
s. Sometimes, it was also held by the teachers of a region and Maaran
Maaran
Maaran is the name given to the temple musicians of Travancore, Cochin and Malabar in the state of Kerala, India whose primary duty was to provide the traditional temple Sopanam music. Their position in the caste system varies from place to place in Kerala...
s. In later days, the Maharajah of 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...
bestowed this title as a reward for merit to those members 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...
and Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
communities, who excelled in martial endeavours and military exploits. The titles were bestowed on the families of meritorious persons and consequently all family members were entitled to use the titles, even when they were from other religions. There are occasional instances of Nambudiris, Christians and Muslims with this title, as in the case of the Chemmunda Panicker.
Spelling
Following the current conventions for Romanising Malayalam without diacriticDiacritic
A diacritic is a glyph added to a letter, or basic glyph. The term derives from the Greek διακριτικός . Diacritic is both an adjective and a noun, whereas diacritical is only an adjective. Some diacritical marks, such as the acute and grave are often called accents...
marks, the name would be "Panikkar". However, Panikker, Panicker, Panickar, Paniker, Panikar, Panniker, Pannikavannar and possibly other variants are to be found.
Notable people
- Muloor S.Padmanabha PanickerMuloor S.Padmanabha PanickerMooloor S. Padmanābha Panicker was a poet and a prominent social reform activist from the Travancore region of present-day Kerala.-Early years:...
- Kavalam Narayana PanickerKavalam Narayana PanickerKavalam Narayana Panicker is an Indian dramatist, theatre director and poet. He has written over 26 Malayalam plays, many adapted from classical Sanskrit drama and Shakespeare, notably Madhyamavyayogam...
- Arattapuzha Velayudha Panicker
- Raimon PanikkarRaimon PanikkarRaimon Panikkar-Alemany was a Spanish Roman Catholic priest and a proponent of inter-religious dialogue. As a scholar, he specialized in comparative religion.-Early life and education:...
- Geevarghese Mar IvaniosGeevarghese Mar IvaniosGeevarghese Giovanni Giorgio Tommaso Panickerveetil aka Archbishop Aboon Geevarghese Mor Ivanios, Servant of God, OIC , born as Geevarghese Panickeruveetil, was a Christian bishop and the founder of the Bethany Ashram order of monks.- Childhood :Geevarghese Panicker was born in Mavelikkara, India,...
- Geevarghese PanickerGeevarghese PanickerRev. Fr. Geevarghese Panicker was a priest and educationalist of Syro-Malankara Catholic Church.- Early life :Panicker was born on April 1, 1924 at Karichal. His father was K. G...