Unni
Encyclopedia
Unni is used as a first name in and Kerala
, India. In Malayalam language
, it is also used as an adjective meaning an infant boy. Thus, Unnikrishnan means Lord Krishna in the infant form and Unniyesu means Yesu (Jesus in Malayalam) in the infant form. The word is also the name of a caste among Hindus in the Southern India State of Kerala.
Unni is a sub-group of Pushpaka Brahmin
(Ambalavasi) caste, which comes under the Pancha-Dravida regional group of Brahmin
s. They use the surnames Sharma
and Nambi also. They belong to the Viswamitra
Gotra
m. They wear the sacred thread "Yajñopavītam
" (Pūnūl) and adhere to the 'Gayatri
mantra'. They follow makkattayam (patrilineal) heritage system.
In the early days they were a group of brahmins who provided "immediate assistance" to the main priests in the temples. They assisted the main priest by gathering flowers, leaves and water, making garlends, lightening the lamps (Vilakku), and in preparing and distributing temple materials. They also served as teacher
s in Pāṭhaśālas associated with temples and as managers of different activities in temples.
Since they entered in their career at an early age (of about 16 or 20), soon after their formal education, generally they were very much younger than the main priest. So the main priest used to call his assistants by the name Unni (meaning 'Young Boy') or by suffixing the name Unni with their actual name. Gradually this name became the surname of this group of Pushpaka Brahmins.
There is a common belief that Unnis are sub-divided into Pushpaka, Tiyattunnis, Pattarunni etc. which is actually absurd. In fact these are entirely different communities in a common class of Kerala Brahmins and there were no inter caste marriages among these communities anciently. Tīyāttunnis were traditionally the performers of an ancient art form called Tīyāttu. The famous Malayalam writer Kottarathil Sankunni
was a Tīyāttunni whereas famous essayist D. Padmanabhanunni was a Pushpakanunni. Some of the tiyattunnis are known as Sharma and Nambi.
Theeyattunnis have the right for Tantric Poojas and other privileges enjoyed by the Nambudiri caste.
From Europe
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. In Malayalam language
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...
, it is also used as an adjective meaning an infant boy. Thus, Unnikrishnan means Lord Krishna in the infant form and Unniyesu means Yesu (Jesus in Malayalam) in the infant form. The word is also the name of a caste among Hindus in the Southern India State of Kerala.
Unni is a sub-group of Pushpaka Brahmin
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...
(Ambalavasi) caste, which comes under the Pancha-Dravida regional group of Brahmin
Brahmin
Brahmin Brahman, Brahma and Brahmin.Brahman, Brahmin and Brahma have different meanings. Brahman refers to the Supreme Self...
s. They use the surnames Sharma
Sharma
Sharma Hindi शर्मा, Urdu شرمہ, ) is a name used in the Indian subcontinent mostly in Northern India as a surname or given name. As a noun in Sanskrit, Sharma has various positive connotations, such as "bliss", "happiness", "shelter", "laid back" and "protection."Sharma is a surname of brahmin...
and Nambi also. They belong to the Viswamitra
Viswamitra
Brahmarshi Vishvamitra is one of the most venerated rishis or sages of ancient times in India. He is also credited as the author of most of Mandala 3 of the Rigveda, including the Gayatri Mantra. The Puranas mention that only 24 rishis since antiquity have understood the whole meaning of, and...
Gotra
Gotra
In the Hindu society, the term Gotra broadly refers to people who are descendants in an unbroken male line from a common male ancestor. Panini defines gotra for grammatical purposes as apatyam pautraprabhrti gotram , which means "the word gotra denotes the progeny beginning with the son's son"...
m. They wear the sacred thread "Yajñopavītam
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 :...
" (Pūnūl) and adhere to the 'Gayatri
Gayatri
Gayatri 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'. They follow makkattayam (patrilineal) heritage system.
Origin, Etymology and History
It is believed that Unnis, like other ambalavasis, are the successors of the brahmins brought to Vaikom Thrikkovil by Parasurama.In the early days they were a group of brahmins who provided "immediate assistance" to the main priests in the temples. They assisted the main priest by gathering flowers, leaves and water, making garlends, lightening the lamps (Vilakku), and in preparing and distributing temple materials. They also served as teacher
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
s in Pāṭhaśālas associated with temples and as managers of different activities in temples.
Since they entered in their career at an early age (of about 16 or 20), soon after their formal education, generally they were very much younger than the main priest. So the main priest used to call his assistants by the name Unni (meaning 'Young Boy') or by suffixing the name Unni with their actual name. Gradually this name became the surname of this group of Pushpaka Brahmins.
There is a common belief that Unnis are sub-divided into Pushpaka, Tiyattunnis, Pattarunni etc. which is actually absurd. In fact these are entirely different communities in a common class of Kerala Brahmins and there were no inter caste marriages among these communities anciently. Tīyāttunnis were traditionally the performers of an ancient art form called Tīyāttu. The famous Malayalam writer Kottarathil Sankunni
Kottarathil Sankunni
Kottarathil Sankunni is a well known author of Malayalam literature, was born on 23 March 1855 in Kottayam, Travancore. He made huge contributions in both poetry and prose. He died on 22 July 1937. He started compiling the legends of Kerala in 1909 and completed the work in eight volumes over a...
was a Tīyāttunni whereas famous essayist D. Padmanabhanunni was a Pushpakanunni. Some of the tiyattunnis are known as Sharma and Nambi.
Theeyattunnis have the right for Tantric Poojas and other privileges enjoyed by the Nambudiri caste.
Prominent Unnis
From Kerala- E. P. UnniE. P. UnniE. P. Unny is a renowned political cartoonist in India. He became a professional since 1977. E. P. Unny has worked with The Hindu, Sundaymail, The Economic Times and is now the Chief Political Cartoonist with The Indian Express Group. He has drawn and written graphic novels in Malayalam and is now...
, Indian political cartoonist. - Kottarathil SankunniKottarathil SankunniKottarathil Sankunni is a well known author of Malayalam literature, was born on 23 March 1855 in Kottayam, Travancore. He made huge contributions in both poetry and prose. He died on 22 July 1937. He started compiling the legends of Kerala in 1909 and completed the work in eight volumes over a...
- Famous Malayalam writer; Writer of Aithihyamala and many other works - K. S. Neelakantan Unni (1895-1980), Sanskrit scholar, compiled many legends about temples, famous persons, etc and translated Kalidasa's Shakuntalam to Malayalam
- S. Damodaran Unni - Performer of Bhadrakali Tīyāttu, author of the monograph Tiyyattunnikal
- Divya UnniDivya UnniDivya Unni is an Indian actress of Malayalam and Tamil films. She appeared in films like Pranayavarnangal and Bharathan's last movie Churam, in which she acted alongside Manoj K. Jayan. She migrated to the US after her marriage.-Dance career:...
(born 1981), Indian actress of Malayalam and Tamil films - Jyothirmayi, Malayalam film actor
- P. Unni KrishnanP. Unni KrishnanP. Unnikrishnan is a Carnatic vocalist and a national award winning playback singer.-Early life and background:Unnikrishnan was born to K.Radhakrishnan and Dr.Harini Radhakrishnan, in Palakkad, Kerala....
, (born 1966), Carnatic vocalist and playback singer.
From Europe
- Unni AnisdahlUnni AnisdahlUnni Anisdahl is a Norwegian former handball player, and later sports reporter for the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation. She played 72 matches for the national handball team in the 1970s, including the 1971, 1973 and 1975 World Women's Handball Championships.-References:...
(born 1947), Norwegian former handball player - Unni Krishnan Karunakara (born 1964), International President, Médecins Sans Frontières
- Unni LarsenUnni LarsenUnni Larsen is a Norwegian former racing cyclist and dogsled racer. She participated at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles where he placed fourth. She has fifteen victories in various Norwegian cycling championships, and is also Scandinavian champion in road racing. She is national champion...
(born 1959), Norwegian former racing cyclist and dogsled racer - Unni LehnUnni LehnUnni Lehn is a Norwegian football midfielder. She has 133 appearances for Norway's national team. In 2000 Lehn played 86 minutes of the Olympic Final in Sydney, in which Norway beat the USA in extra time to take the Gold medal...
, (born 1977), Norwegian football midfielder - Unni LindellUnni LindellUnni Maria Lindell is a Norwegian writer. She is best known for her crime novels , but has also written a collection of poems and several children's and young adult books....
(born 1957), Norwegian writer. - Unni LøvlidUnni LøvlidUnni Løvlid is a Norwegian musician. She grew up in Hornindal, Sogn og Fjordane, where she learnt to play piano, fiddle, and Hardanger fiddle. Her interest in folk songs came from her mother, Oline Ragnhild Løvlid who taught her about traditional music of Nordfjord. After studying music at Firda...
(born 1976 ), Norwegian musician - Unni Nyhamar HinkelUnni Nyhamar HinkelUnni Nyhamar Hinkel is a Norwegian handball player. She played fifty matches for the Norway women's national handball team between 2001 and 2003.-References:...
, Norwegian handball player. - Unni StraumeUnni StraumeUnni Straume is a Norwegian film director and screenwriter. Her film Drømspel was screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the 1994 Cannes Film Festival.-Filmography:* Til en ukjent * Avsporing...
(born 1955), Norwegian film director and screenwriter - Unni WarrierUnni WarrierUnni Warrier is the co-founder, and former president, chairman, and CEO of CyberMedia, a public company providing automatic service and support software for the PC.-Biography:...
, co-founder, and former president, chairman, and CEO of CyberMedia - Unni WikanUnni WikanUnni Wikan is a Norwegian professor of social anthropology at the University of Oslo and is the second wife of the well-known Norwegian social anthropologist Fredrik Barth...
(born 1944), Norwegian professor of Social anthropology - UnniUnni (archbishop)Saint Unni was an archbishop of Hamburg-Bremen . He died as a missionary in Birka in Sweden, where he tried to continue Ansgar's work....
, (916–936) Archbishop of HamburgHamburg-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
.