Ambalavasi

Ambalavasi is a caste of Semi-Brahmins in Kerala. They are Brahmins who carry on the various activities of the temple,though not the actual ceremonies. The Ambalavasis were the people who conducted the ceremonies for the lower castes on behalf of the Namboodiri priest. Ambalavasis lived on the income of the temple and were under its care. The Ambalavasi caste encompasses surnames like Unni,Nambissan,Ilayathu,Muttatu,Warrier,Marayar(Marar),Pisharody,Nambiar,Nambidi,Gurukkal(Kurukkal) etc.Each set of people carried out certain jobs.For instance the Warriers made the garlands, Marayars were the ceremonial musicians etc.Of these the Unnis and Nambissans belong to the Viswamitra Gotram which adheres to the 'Gayatri' mantra. Warriers and Marayars belong to the Kailasa Gotram which adheres to the 'Maha-Namah-Shivaya' mantra. Ilayathu, Muttatu,Nambidi, Unni and Nambeesan wear the sacred thread "Yajnjopavitam" (Poonool). Most of the remaining Ambalavasi castes donot wear the sacred thread.

Ambalavasis are temple employees but they were not aristocratic as the Nambootiris till the 1800's. In the past they resided within the temples in their quarters and were sustained by the temple. They were simple people who lived at the benevolence of the temple. The Ambalavasis were used to marrying into the priestly Namboodiri caste in the past. They were matriarchal and so the children of a Namboodiri and Ambalavasi lady would belong to the Ambalavasi caste.

Other than their services in the temple the Ambalavasis were the priests for the lower castes as well. Moosad (Muttatu), Elayatu(Ilayathu), Nambidi and Nambeesans conducted the various religious sacrifices for the Nairs, though not in the temples while the Marayars conducted the birth, wedding and death ceremonies of lower Nair subcastes in Travancore. Elayatu is the traditional purohit (priest) of Nayars who conduct the after-death rites for them in Malabar.

Origin

As per the famous Parasurama myth, Kerala which was under the rule of the Nairs, then known as Nakas was a Pagan Dravidian country. Parasurama is said to have brought a group of Brahmins to Kerala of which 64 families were allowed to conduct the ceremonies in the temples. They became the Namboodiris. The remaining families of Brahmins became their assistants and were not allowed inside the Sree Kovil or main shrine of the temple. The Namboodiris were allowed land and money but the Ambalavasis lived within the temple premises managing the various affairs other than the ceremonies, at the expense of the temple. Their work was socially very respectable.

Other theories state that the Ambalavasis were Nairs elevated from Sudra status so as to make them eligible to work in the temples. Other theories also state that prior to the 1200's the childen born to Namboodiri fathers and Nair mothers or vice versa were employed in the temples as Ambalavasis. A third theory states that they came from outside Kerala. Anyhow, Ambalavasis were generally called and practically located between the Namboodiris and Kshatriyas and Nairs. They were called intermediate castes in the past.

Classification

The Ambalavasis show attributes of both the Brahmins and Kshatriyas. As per the caste system of Kerala they were the caste between the Brahmins and Kshatriyas. While most of them donot wear the sacred thread of Brahmins and follow the matriarchal system like the Nairs and Kshatriyas, they learn Sanskrit, Shlokas, Mantras etc and do priestly duties for lower castes. This was the reason why they were called an intermediate caste between Brahmins and Kshatriyas.Besides unlike the Nairs they all have Gotras. This caste is found only in Kerala. Besides all foreign travellers in Kerala classed the Ambalavasis with the Foreign Brahmins like Kokanastha Brahmins, Iyers etc while making records.

Ambalavasi Dominance

In Kerala till 1812 all the land was under the Namboodiris. The Nairs were their tenants. The act passed by the British Dewan of Travancore, Colonel Munro, in 1812 called the Pattom act ended this tenantship and all the lands held by a family became theirs. Following this when Sanketams or regions where the Namboodiris autonomously ruled, were banned, the Ambalavasis who were sustained by the temple gained land as well. All the land owned by the temple was divided among the Ambalavasi families living in the premises. It was since then, 1812 that the Ambalavasi caste started dominating the various scenes of social and political life in Kerala.

Famous Ambalavasis

• Ikkanda warrier - Prime Minister of Cochin
• K Karunakaran Marar Former chief minister of Kerala, Politician
• Manju Warrier - Actress
• P.S Warrier.

External Links

• Ambalavasi Group
• Variars Website
• Pisharody site