NADAR (HINDU)

Nadar are also known as Channars. The word shanrar means a learned man or a scholar. Simple meaning of the word Nadar is a group of persons who lives in a nadu (region). According to a legend their ancestors are the sons of seven virgins who gave birth to seven boys and abandoned. Goddess Bhadrakali brought them up. Along with milk, the goddess gave them akkani, a type of toddy tapped from palm. One of the above boys had chosen tapping of akkani as his occupation and he is the ancestor of Nadar. Another version about the origin of the community is that they were descent from Chandravamsa (moon dynasty).  The Nadar community is a major community in Thiruvananthapuram District.  They are also inhabited in Kollam, Kottayam, Alappuzha, Idukki and Palakkad Districts. Their language is Malayalam with Tamil accent. In Kerala they are grouped under Other Backward Classes. Traditionally they engaged in toddy tapping, making palm jaggery. Many of them landowners and they are good agriculturists. Some of them are experts in traditional medicinal practice (sidhamarma vaidyam) and kalari vidya, the martial art form of Kerala. They follow Hinduism. Goddess Bhadarakali is their deity.

In olden days they follow marumakkathayam, but not now. The Nadar observe pulikudy, a pre-delivery ritual in the seventh month. Post delivery pollution continues for 16 days. They hold irupathyettukettu on the 28th day of birth. They observe mundan ceremony for boys after one year. When girls attain puberty, they perform therandukalyanam. Their marriage has different types of rituals viz., kainappu (formal interview of elders with the girl), jathakomkoda (exchange of horoscope) mothiram mattal (exchange of rings) and finally thalikettu (tying of thali - real marriage). Generally they cremate the dead.  Sanchayanam is performed and on 16th day they perform pulakuli. 

NAIRS

Nairs are a strong group of people having deep-rooted influence over Kerala.  No other society had possessed their status or standard.  They were deeply immersed with the history and culture of Kerala.  Truly speaking, the history of Nairs is indeed the history of Kerala.

It may not be easy to trace out the exact date of the origin of Nairs.  It is certain that they belonged to the Dravidian group, not the Aryan.  It is believed that in the Aryan society the rulers were Kshatriyas.  Chera rulers who ruled over Kerala from AD 130 to AD 1100 were not Kshatriyas.  But they belonged this place.  So it can reasonably be presumed that they were Nairs and Nairs were the rulers of the country in the past.  Greek ambassador in the court of Chandra Gupta, Megasthenes refers in around 300 BC about the Nairs and the kingdom of Cheras, where there were female sovereigns, in his account of ancient India. There is no ample evidence to prove the advent of Aryans to Kerala or their establishment of kingdoms here.  But there are clear evidences for the involvement of Nairs in the rule of the country. Wickiepedia says that all the Cheras were Nairs and Kerala history is more or less connected to Nair caste.

The word ‘Nair’ was authoritatively recorded in the 9th century Thirukodithana (Trikodisthanam) command of Vijayaragadeven.  Mention to Nair was also seen in the Thirunelli Pattayam of Bhaskararavi Varma.  There are inferences about to ‘Padanairs’ (warriors) in two stone carvings of Nedumpuram Thali.  It was recorded in the stonewall of Suchindram Dwaraka Temple which belongs to AD 400 that ‘Pallikkkan Nair’ was the temple uralan. During the beginning of the 19th century Nair became a caste name in Venad.  Before that, the word was used to mean “warrior”. One finds mention of the Nairs during the reign of the King Rama Varma Kulashekhara (1020-1102) of second Chera dynasty, when the Cholas attacked the Chera Kingdom. The Nairs fought by forming suicide squads (Chavers) against the invading force.

There are differences of opinion about the origin of Nair community.  One argument is that Nairs are descendents of Nagas, once a mighty group of India.  Nagas were the oldest and strongest group lived in India before the Aryan insurgency.  Before the advent of Namboodiris, an organized war-like group of people exercised supremacy over Kerala.  Their origin was unknown.  Owing to the worship of Naga (snake), this set of people came to be known as Nagas.  They exercised control over Adivasis, put them to hard fieldwork and made them slaves, says K.M.Panicker (Keralathile Swathanthrasamaram). Kodungallur Kunhikuttan Thampuran in his book ‘Keralathil’ firmly ascertains that Nairs are same as Nagas. P.Damodaran Pillai says that Nagas were the group of people who moved to southwards from North India during pre-historic times.  They became the Nairs of today.  Some are of opinion that the nairs are the descendents of snake worshipping Scythians, who came to India through northwest border and settled down in different parts of the country. According to K.P.Padmanabha Menon, Keralan or Cheralan who ruled Kerala centuries ago, brought Nagas and permitted to settle here and these Nagas were later were known as Nairs and Ambalavasis.

There is another version that Nairs belonged to Dravidian group of people, which stretched from Europe to eastern end of Asia.  Some believe that Nairs were transitioned Naeri people who inhabited on the banks of Euphrates and Tigris rivers during very ancient times. By about BC 3000 Urathier Naeri of Hurien tribe attacked their country.  The war lasted for a very long period.  In the end Sarhan-I conquered the Naeri land completely by BC 2018.  Naeris fled to different parts in different groups.  Those who reached India settled in various places like Lothal area, between Goa and Kannur, Thakshsila, Katmandu, North Bihar, Bengal and in some places near Madras (now Chennai).  Those who reached Karnataka settled in Tulunadu and Kadathanadu.  Another group crossed the Sahya Mountains and reached Kerala.  These Naeri settlers later become Nairs. 

It is believed that there were 64 classifications in Nair society.  Nairs were grouped as Sudras were turned into three main groups called Illam, Swaroopam and Padamangalam.  The first group were servants of Brahmin houses, second were servants in Kshatriya homes and the third were servants of temples.  Besides, there were a number of sub castes among Nairs like Idachery Nairs, Maranmar, Athikurichikal, Chembukottikal, Odat nair, Chalia Nairs, Kalamkotti Nair, Pallichal Nairs, Veluthedathu Nairs, and Vilakkithala Nairs etc.

According to Keralolpathy, Nairs were classified into 18 sub castes based on profession. They are:

There are certain classifications in the community on the basis of awards, positions and honorofic titles, which are as given below:

Pillai is the award or title given by the Maharajah to the Nairs who hold Thirumukom

Chembakaraman Pillai is anaward introduced by His Highness Anizham Thirunal Marthandavarma.

Kartha is one of the positions given to the Nairs of Travancore. It is also believed that Thekkumkur-Vadukkumkur rajahs gave the title to some landlords.

Kurup is one who gave Kalari training to the members of royal family.

Panicker is also one those who gave training in weapons to the royal family members.  Panickers were also known as Asans. They enriched history as saviors of the land.

Kaimals were experts in warfare and financial management.  Unnithan, Valyathan, Menon, Menokki were also titles conferred on those who performed remarkable deeds.

Moopil Nair, Nayanar, Adiyodi, Kurup of Malabar, Menon, Marar of Cochin were also honours conferred by the rulers. Those who were in high positions in Nair community in Cochin won the titles of Karthavu, Kaimal, Thamban etc. due to their intimacy to the royal family and appeasement to Brahmins.  Among the various groups like Akath Charnnavar, Purathu Charnnavar, Nambiar, Kurup etc. of the Nairs of Malabar, Nairs and Kurups were soldiers. Purathu Charnnavar and Akathu Charnnavar were servants of the royal family.  Out of this, supremacy is for Purathu Charnnavar.  Nair priests who performed rituals in Kalaries were known as Kuruppans, Unnikal, Kurukkal, Adikal etc.

The Nair community has attracted the attention of hisitorians, sociologists and anthroplogists because of the unique matrilineal joint family system, rituals like thalikettykalyanam and sambandham type of marriage.  In the matrilineal system, Nair women enjoyed equal rights with men. They had the right of inheritance and possess decision-making powers and control over family.  .  The protection and independence enjoyed by the nair women in the matrilineal joint family system was lacking in other systems.  Thalikettukalyanam and sambandham were the two types of marriages rituals performed by Nairs in the past. Thalikettukalyanam was obligatory to all girls before they attain puberty while sambandham is held after girls became adult.  Nairs are Hindus. Traditionally they were a military class. Agricultural was also their traditional occupation in the past. Now they are engaged in trade, business, government service and other professions apart from agriculture. 

Nairs observe pulikudy during the seventh month of pregnancy.  Birth pollution is for 16 days. They celebrate irupathyettukettu on the 28th day after birth. Choroonu is performed after six months. Therandukalyanam or Therandukuly was observed with detailed rituals in the past; but not observed now a day. Similarly, sambandham type of marriage does not exist now.  Nair marriage is known as Kalyanam, Vivaham, Mangalyam, Pudvakoda or Pudamuri. Marriage is taken place either at the bride’s residence, temples or at Kalyana Mandapams (special halls or auditoriums). Tying thali around the neck of bride, presentation of a set of cloth, exchange of garlands and finger rings are the main rituals.  Nair cremate the dead. The death pollution (pula) lasts for 16 days.  In certain areas, it is observed for 11 days. Pulakuli is held to end the death pollution on the 11 / 16 day.

The Nambidis are descendants of the Brahmins.  They wear poonool (sacred thread). They belong to Hindu religion and follow Brahmin customs. They consider themselves below Namboothiri Brahmins but above Kshathriyas.   They are inhabited in Palakkad and Thrissur Districts. Nambidi were landlords and agriculturists in the past. Consequent on the introduction of land reforms, now they possess small landholdings. Now they engage other occupations for their livelihood.    

In the past, the Nambidi women had sambandham alliances with Namboothiri Brahmins and Nambidi men with Nayar women. Similarly, they celebrated thalikettukalyanam in the olden days.  They follow all the life cycle rituals as per shodasacharangal of Brahmins. They observe birth pollution for ten days. They observe Namakaranam, Choroonu, Upanayanam, therendukuly rituals. The veli (marriage) is conducted at the bride’s residence. Tying thali is an important ritual of the marriage. The Nambidi cremate the dead. Death pollution (Pula) lasts for 11 days. 

NAMBOOTHIRI

The Namboothiri are the Malayala Brahmins.  Brahmins are the highest ranking of the four varnas, (social classes). The elevated position of the Brahmans goes back to the late Vedic period, when settlers in northern India were divided into Brahmans (priests), Kshatriya (warriors), Vaisya (traders), and Sudra (labourers). Since then there has been no fundamental change in their relative position, and the Brahmans still enjoy great prestige and many privileges. The basis of the age-old veneration of Brahmans is the belief that they are inherently of greater ritual purity than members of other castes and that they alone are capable of performing certain vital religious tasks. The study and recitation of the sacred scriptures was traditionally reserved for this spiritual elite. Because of their high prestige and tradition of education, they acted as advisers and ministers of ruling class. According to legend,Parasurama created Kerala. After creation he brought from

from all parts of India and allowed to settle in Kerala, which was divided into sixty-four gramas (villages). They were declared as the lords of the land and allowed special privileges by Parasurama. He also prescribed the customs and manners to be followed by the new settlers.

NASSUVAN

The Nassuvan are inhabited in Palakkad, Kozhikode and Kannur districts. They were the migrants from Kongu Nadu (Coimbatore). Their mother tongue is Tamil. Traditionally they are barbers and they are experts in hair cutting and dressing. .

They observe seemantham. Birth pollution lasts for 15 days. Mundan ceremony is performed when the child attain three months. They celebrate puberty rite known as savanja kalyanam. Marriage takes place in bride’s residence. Tying thali is the important function of marriage. They cremate their dead.  Death pollution (Pula) continues for ten days.

The word Nayadi means a hunter and as indicated the name they are hunters.  They are one of the Scheduled Castes inhabited in Malappuram district. They were nomadic food gathers. A document of 1924 accounted that they cover their nakedness by tying around the waist strings of leaves and plants. In past they consumed the meat of the animals that they hunted.  The Census of Cochin 1931 described them as nomadic unclean group of people who eat vermin and reptiles. Now, they use clothes like mundu (dhothi), shirt, jacket (blouse) and even saris. Their food habits have also been changed to that of other communities. They were considered as the most untouchable community and they had to keep a distance of 300 feet from a Brahmin. 
 
They observe pulikudy at the seventh month of pregnancy.  Birth pollution lasts for 15 days. Naming ceremony is held on the 28th day. They perform puberty rite when their girls attain maturity. Marriage takes place in bride’s residence. A type of beads known as pasikal is used as thali – the symbol of marriage. They bury their dead and Death pollution (Pula) (Pula) terminates after 15 days by observing pulakuli.