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Ambalavasi

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Ambalavasi, more properly Ampalavasi, (Malayalam: അമ്പലവാസി; IAST: Ampalavāsi; lit. 'temple-dwelling') is the generic name for a group of castes among Hindus in Kerala, India, who have traditionally rendered temple services.[1]

Castes

Ampalavasi women with flower baskets- An old image

The Ambalavasis are broadly divided into two groups, being those who wear the sacred thread and those who do not.

Sacred thread wearers

Pushpaka Brahmins

Main article: Pushpaka Brahmin

Others

Threadless Ambalavasis

The feminine names of threadless ambalavasi castes are formed by adding the suffix -syar to the masculine names as Pisharadi-Pisharasyar, Marar-Marasyar, Variar-Varasyar, Poduval-Poduvalsyar.[citation needed]

Temple services

Though all Ampalavāsis have to do service in temples, they have sufficiently distinct functions to perform. Pushpakans and Nambeesans are teachers in the Pathasalas or Mutts and suppliers of flowers to temple.[1] Chakyar stages dramas called Kooth and Koodiyattam.[10][4] Marars are temple musicians. Variar and Poduval did managerial and executive functions of temple committees and served as storekeepers and watchmen.[11][12]

Customs

The customs of Ambalavasis vary according to castes. Ambalavasis are generally vegetarians. Some Ambalavasi castes are patrilineal, while the others are matrilineal.

Their ritual rank in Hinduism is highly disputed.[6] Ambalavasi castes who wear Sacred Thread and adhere Vedic rituals are classified as Brahmins or as lower rung of Brahmins. Some castes are classified as intermediate class between Brahmins and Kshatriyas while some other castes are classified as intermediate class between Kshatriyas and Shudras (Nairs). So they were called as antharala jathikal (intermediate castes).

Kazhakams

Kazhakams or Ambalakkazhakams refer to associations of ambalavasi peoples in a temple to perform specific duties in the temple.[13]

Temple arts

Koodiyattam
Theeyattam
Idakka artist
Sri. Chendamangalam Unnikrishna Maarar in action - In the middle.

Traditionally, Ambalavasis are associated with various types of temple arts. Earlier, each of these temple arts were performed only by specific Ambalavasi castes. Now there is no community or caste barrier.[citation needed]

Temple Art Associated
Ambalavasi castes
Koodiyattam Chakyar,[14] Pushpakan Unni
Kooth Chakyar,[15] Nangyar (women of Nambiar)[16]
Certain roles of Krishnanattam Nambeesan or Pushpaka Unni[17][page needed]
Mizhavu (Musical Instrument) Nambiar[18]
Thullal Nambiar[citation needed]
Pathakam Nambiar[19]
Theeyattu Theeyatt Unni, Thiyyadi Nambiar[citation needed]
Kuzhithalam (Musical Instrument) Nangyar (women of Nambiar)[citation needed]
Ilathalam (Musical Instrument) Marar and various other Ambalavasi castes
Vadyams (Musical Instruments) like
Chenda, Thimila, Idakka, Udukku etc.		 Marar[7]
Sopanasangeetham Marar,[8] Pothuval[8]
Panchavadyam Marar[citation needed]
Thayampaka Marar
Pandi Melam Marar
Panchari Melam Marar
Brahmanippattu Brahmani (women of Nambeesan)[20][21]

Community welfare

Various service organizations are in operation for the welfare of various castes or groups in the Ambalavasi Community.

  1. Sree Pushpakabrahmana Seva Sangham[22] is working for the welfare of Pushpaka Brahmins comprising Pushpaka Unnis, Theeyattunnis, Nambeesans, Kurukkal, Puppalli, Pilappalli, Brahmani-daivampadi etc. Its headquarters is in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. Sangham publishes a monthly magazine called 'Pushpakadhwani'.
  2. Chakyar-Nambiar Samajam is working for the welfare of Chakyars and Nambiars. Its headquarters is at Kochi, Ernakuklam, Kerala. The Nambiar samajam publishes a magazine called 'Mizhavu'.
  3. Pisharody Samajam[23] with its headquarters at Ayyanthole, Thrissur, Kerala. Pisharody samajam brings out a magazine named 'Thulaseedalam'.
  4. Warrier Samajam[24] with its headquarters at Guruvayur, Thrissur, Kerala. Warrier samajam publishes a monthly magazine called 'Theertham' to convey its various activities to its members.
  5. Akhila Kerala Marar Kshema Sabha is working for the welfare of Marars. Its headquarters is at Thrissur. Marar Kshema Sabha publishes a magazine called 'Sopanadhwani'.[25]
  6. Poduval Samajam[26] with its headquarters at Vellinezhi, Palakkad, Kerala. Poduval samajam publishes a quarterly magazine called 'Nirmalyam'.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Fuller, Christopher J. (1976). The Nayars Today. Cambridge University Press. p. 13. ISBN 978-0-52129-091-3.
  2. ^ a b Report on the Socio-economic Survey on Castes/communities, Kerala 1968. Bureau of Economics & Statistics, Government of Kerala. 1969. p. 42.
  3. ^ a b c Report of the Commission for Reservation of Seats in Educational Institutions, Kerala, 1965. Kerala: Commission for Reservation of Seats in Educational Institutions, Kerala, India. 1966. p. 140.
  4. ^ a b c d e History of Kerala : A history of Kerala written in the form of notes on Visscher's letters from Malabar. Vol. 1. New Delhi: New Delhi : Asian Educational Services. 1989. p. 147.
  5. ^ Temple, Richard Carnac (1908). The Indian Antiquary Vol-xxxvii. Brotrtu, London: British India Press. pp. 335–337.
  6. ^ a b c d e f Gough, Kathleen (1961). "Nayars: Central Kerala". In Schneider, David Murray; Gough, Kathleen (eds.). Matrilineal Kinship. University of California Press. pp. 309–311. ISBN 978-0-520-02529-5.
  7. ^ a b Lalitha, Nandini (27 December 2018). "This instrument represents the sastras and vedas". The Hindu.
  8. ^ a b c KELI, malayalasangeetham. "Articles On Shadkala Govinda Marar And Sopanasangeetham". SCRIBD.
  9. ^ Census of India 1911. Vol. 23, Travancore. Pt. 2, Imperial tables. 1912. p. 53.
  10. ^ Daugherty, Diane (Spring 1996). "The Nangyār: Female Ritual Specialist of Kerala". Asian Theatre Journal. 13 (1): 54–67. doi:10.2307/1124302. JSTOR 1124302.
  11. ^ Madhavan, K.S. (2001). "INTERNALIST PERCEPTION OF "JATI" — A STUDY OF BRAHMANICAL CANONICAL LITERATURE IN KERALA". Proceedings of the Indian History Congress. 62: 84–97.
  12. ^ People of India - India's Communities N-Z. Oxford University Press. 1998. pp. 2861–2863.
  13. ^ People of India - India's Communities N-Z. Oxford University Press. 1998. pp. 3605–3607.
  14. ^ Narayanan, Mundoli (2006). "Over-Ritualization of Performance: Western Discourses on Kutiyattam". TDR. 50 (2): 136–153. doi:10.1162/dram.2006.50.2.136. JSTOR 4492680. S2CID 57567794.
  15. ^ "Latest India News | Breaking News | World & Business News | Sports & Entertainment news". Expressbuzz.com. Retrieved 30 September 2013.[permanent dead link]
  16. ^ "The 'Florance' of Nangiar Koothu". No. 10 September 2015. Mathurubhumi Daily. 10 September 2015. Retrieved 17 February 2019. Quote: Nangyarkoothu is a traditional artform performed by the women of the Ambalavasi Nambiar community of Kerala, called Nangyaramma. However, people from other castes also has been performing the artform since the second half of the 20th century.
  17. ^ Sikora, Martha Bush (1993). Krishnanattam. Oxford & IBH Publishing Company.
  18. ^ Dutta, Madhumita (2008). Let's Know Music and Musical Instruments of India. Star Publications. p. 16.
  19. ^ "Padakam, the poor cousin of Chakyarkoothu - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
  20. ^ Nampoothiri, M.V. Vishnu (2012). Folklore: The Identity of Culture. Department of Information & Public Relations, Government of Kerala. p. 73.
  21. ^ V.T., Induchudan (1969). The Secret Chamber: A Historical, Anthropological & Philosophical Study of the Kodungallur Temple. Cochin Devaswom Board. p. 260.
  22. ^ "Sree Pushpakabrahmana Seva Sangham". SPSS.
  23. ^ "Pisharody Samajam". Pisharody Samajam. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
  24. ^ "Warrier Samajam". warriers.org. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
  25. ^ "Sopanadhwani". readwhere. Retrieved 13 July 2022.
  26. ^ "Poduval Samajam". Poduval Samajam. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
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