Pisharody
Encyclopedia
Pisharody is a sub-caste of the Pushpaka Brahmin
caste in Kerala
. As Vaishnavite Brahmin
s, Pisharodys were traditionally caretakers of Hindu temples, with temple related jobs (Kazhakam) and hence clubbed under Ambalavasi
s (ambalam = temple, vasi = resident in Malayalam). Most Pisharams (Pisharody households) are situated near Vaishnavite or Bhagawathy (Hindu
Goddess) temples.
period in Kerala.
Pisharodi
Interestingly, in contrast to the pisharodikal, an ambalavasi
community named adikal exist that carry out the priestly duties at kodungallur
. On account of the animal sacrifices and various other scandalous activities that have long been associated with the kodungalur temple, nambudiris have generally avoided the priestly duties by delegating the same to the adikal, although the tantri remains a nambudiri.
There is also another legend behind the origin of the name Pisharody. According to this, Pisharodys are descendants of a group of Namboothiris who intended to be Sanyasis. During the process of initiation to sanyasam, the aspirants are referred to as "psharas" in Sanskrit. However, the group could not complete the process to become sanyasis. Since they had already ritualistically discarded their Brahmin past, they could not return to their original caste. Thereafter this 'Pshara' group and their descendants were called as psharody, later coloqualized into Pisharody. Pisharodys do not wear the sacred thread nor can perform puja in temples as per the tradition. However, Thurston's book quotes the Travancore Gazetteer as terming this legend silly and fanciful.
Shri Attoor Krishna Pisharody has referred to the saintly rituals of the community in his treatise named Bhattaraka
Vijayam. The bhattaraka origins as well as other details of origins of the Pisharody community can be accessed from the authoritative book called 'The castes and Tribes of South India' written by Edgar Thurston in the early 1900s http://books.google.com/books?id=Erin3nkU3ZUC&pg=PA447&dq=logan+manual+malabar&lr=&sig=ekHdxp4JtLmYASad2DCHrQpsIPI#PPA199,M1/.
Pushpaka Brahmin
Pushpaka Brahmins or simply Pushpakas are a class of Brahmins in Kerala. They carry out the various activities of the temple, though not actual priestly activities. Pushpakas lived on the income of the temple and were under its care...
caste 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....
. As Vaishnavite Brahmin
Brahmin
Brahmin Brahman, Brahma and Brahmin.Brahman, Brahmin and Brahma have different meanings. Brahman refers to the Supreme Self...
s, Pisharodys were traditionally caretakers of Hindu temples, with temple related jobs (Kazhakam) and hence clubbed under 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 (ambalam = temple, vasi = resident in Malayalam). Most Pisharams (Pisharody households) are situated near Vaishnavite or Bhagawathy (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...
Goddess) temples.
Origins
The Pisharodys belong to the Narayana Dasa Gotram, based on the folklore that the earliest Pisharody was a patron saint who later took on the title Shri Swamy Narayana Dasa, and brought his disciples (Budhdhist/Jainist origins) to merge with the Vaishnavaite school of thought in the post Adi ShankaracharyaShankaracharya
Shankaracharya, is a commonly used title of heads of mathas in the Advaita Vedanta tradition. The title derives from Adi Shankara, a 9th century CE reformer of Hinduism. He is honored as Jagadguru, a title that was used earlier only to Lord Krishna...
period in Kerala.
Pisharodi
Etymology
Etymologically, the word owes its origins to the saintly antecedents of the community. Bhikhshuvar (monk/mendicant) + Adikal (reverential addressing / honorific suffix) = Bhikhshuvaradikal, later corrupted to Pisharodikal and pisharody ( pishara itself being a term for a younger sanyasi).Interestingly, in contrast to the pisharodikal, an 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...
community named adikal exist that carry out the priestly duties at kodungallur
Kodungallur
Kodungallur is a municipality in Thrissur District, in the state of Kerala, India on the Malabar Coast. Kodungallur is located about 29 km northwest of Kochi city and 38 km Southwest of Thrissur, on National Highway 17 . Muziris the ancient seaport at the mouth of the Periyar River was...
. On account of the animal sacrifices and various other scandalous activities that have long been associated with the kodungalur temple, nambudiris have generally avoided the priestly duties by delegating the same to the adikal, although the tantri remains a nambudiri.
There is also another legend behind the origin of the name Pisharody. According to this, Pisharodys are descendants of a group of Namboothiris who intended to be Sanyasis. During the process of initiation to sanyasam, the aspirants are referred to as "psharas" in Sanskrit. However, the group could not complete the process to become sanyasis. Since they had already ritualistically discarded their Brahmin past, they could not return to their original caste. Thereafter this 'Pshara' group and their descendants were called as psharody, later coloqualized into Pisharody. Pisharodys do not wear the sacred thread nor can perform puja in temples as per the tradition. However, Thurston's book quotes the Travancore Gazetteer as terming this legend silly and fanciful.
Shri Attoor Krishna Pisharody has referred to the saintly rituals of the community in his treatise named Bhattaraka
Bhattaraka
A Bhaṭṭāraka is the head of traditional Jain institutions. They are responsible for training of scholars, maintenance of libraries, managing the endowments, presiding over the installation ceremonies and running of Jain institutions....
Vijayam. The bhattaraka origins as well as other details of origins of the Pisharody community can be accessed from the authoritative book called 'The castes and Tribes of South India' written by Edgar Thurston in the early 1900s http://books.google.com/books?id=Erin3nkU3ZUC&pg=PA447&dq=logan+manual+malabar&lr=&sig=ekHdxp4JtLmYASad2DCHrQpsIPI#PPA199,M1/.
Famous Pisharodis
- Attoor Krishna Pisharodyhttp://www.pisharodysamajam.com/legendS.htm#Attoor
- Thrikkandiyoor Achutha PisharodyAchyuta PisharatiAcyuta Piṣāraṭi was an Sanskrit grammarian, astrologer, astronomer and mathematician who studied under Jyeṣṭhadeva and was a member of Mādhava of Sañgamāgrama's Kerala school of astronomy and mathematics...
http://www.pisharodysamajam.com/legendS.htm - ThiruvegappuraThiruvegappuraThiruvegappura is a Valluvanad village on the bank of river Thutha, a tributary to the Bharathapuzha River, serving as the gateway to Palakkad District, for inboard traffic from the northern Malabar districts of Kerala....
Anayath Krishna Pisharody - Cherukat Govinda Pisharodyhttp://www.pisharodysamajam.com/legendS.htm
- Dr. K.N. Pisharodyhttp://www.pisharodysamajam.com/legendS.htm
- Panditharathnam Prof. K. P. Narayana Pisharodyhttp://www.pisharodysamajam.com/legendS.htm
- Prof. P. R. PisharodyPisharoth Rama PisharotyPisharoth Rama Pisharoty was an Indian physicist and meteorologist, and is considered to be the father of remote sensing in India.-Early life and education:...
- Mundur Krishnankutty http://www.pisharodysamajam.com/legendS.htm
- Kalamandalam Vasu PisharodyKalamandalam Vasu PisharodyKalamandalam Vasu Pisharody is a leading Kathakali artiste known for his restrained portrayal of character roles in the classical dance-drama of Kerala in south India. A frontline disciple of Padma Shri Vazhenkada Kunchu Nair, he excels in virtuous pachcha, anti-hero Kathi and the semi-realistic...
http://www.pisharodysamajam.com/legendS.htm - Dr. (Lt. Col) K.N.Pisharodyhttp://www.pisharodysamajam.com/legendS.htm
- Kalluvazhi T P Rama Pisharodyhttp://www.pisharodysamajam.com/legendS.htm
- Kongad Vijayanhttp://www.pisharodysamajam.com/legendS.htm
- Kottakkal Gopala Pisharodyhttp://www.pisharodysamajam.com/legendS.htm
- N N PisharodyN N PisharodyN N Pisharody , born 1926 - died 30 August 2008, was a legendary director in the Malayalam Film industry. He was born into a feudal family, known as "Kallil" in Methala, near Perumbavoor in Kerala.-Biography:...
N. N. Pisharody
See also
- UEIMS School of Medicine & DentistryUEIMS School of Medicine & DentistryUEIMS was a university banned by the government of UAE for illegal practices and fraudulent services. The institutions under the now defunct and bankrupt Sudhir Gopi Holdings were:* UEIMS School of Medicine & Dentistry, Ras Al Khaimah, UAE...
- Pushpaka Brahmins
- Sree Pushpaka Seva SanghamSree Pushpaka Seva SanghamSree Pushpaka Seva Sangham is a society established in 1968 for the socio-economic development of Pushpaka Brahmins. It is registered under the Travancore-Cochin Literary, Scientific and Charitable Societies Registration act of 12/1955....
- PushpakadhwaniPushpakadhwaniPushpadhwani is a monthly magazine of Sree Pushpaka Seva Sangham, published from Trivandrum since 1991. The Managing Editor is C.N. P Nambi and the Chief Editor is Dr. Pradeep Jeothi. To read Pushpakadhwani online, visit the official web site of Sree Pushpaka Seva Sangham....
- List of Ambalavasi Families
External links
- Pisharody Samajam
- History
- Kallil photo
- Pisharoti Rituals published by Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland, Vol. 56, 1926 (1926), pp. 83-89
- a weird thread with discussions on origins
- assessment by Mr William Logan, in the Malabar manual , page 130 regarding his views on the origins of the Pisharodis
- Castes and Tribes of South India By Edgar Thurston, K. Rangachari page 199 onwards
- Malayala Manorama article on Aryabhata and the Kallil pisharam