Samantha Kshatriya
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The Malayala Kshatriyas were a group of people who belonged to the Kshatriya division of the Hindu Caste System found in the Indian state of Kerala.
Kshatriyas
The term Kshatriya generally includes all those castes and communities with martial traditions that produced warriors and consisted the feudal aristocracy such as the Marathas, Nairs, Jats etc. Though these were warrior clans, they did not technically belong to the Kshatriya caste under the traditional caste system as they did not perform the required ceremonies like Upanayanam and the like. Hence the term Malayala Kshatriyas does not encompass all the martial castes of Kerala but merely the Royal families who performed the required ceremonies to become pure Kshatriyas.
Malayala Kshatriyas
The Malayala Kshatriyas were the Royal families of Kerala, earlier divided into three geographical parts: Travancore, Cochin and Malabar. They performed the Upanayanam ceremony for men while females had the Nair custom of Kettu Kalyanam. Form of marriage was known as Sambandham and most commonly Namboodiri Brahmin husbands were sought for females. An exception is the Travancore Royal Family who choose spouses for their womenfolk from Kshatriya families only while in the Kingdom of Cochin, Namboodiri husbands are permitted to enter into Sambandham with the princesses. The females were known as Thampuratis or Princesses while males used the title of Thampuran prefixed by Varma, indicative of Kshatriya rank. Males married either from other Malayala Kshatriya houses, known as Kovilakams or Kottarams meaning Palace, or else ladies of the Nair nobility. In the case of the Travancore family the children of the Thampurans from Nair wives, known as Panapillai Ammas were bestowed the title of Thampi. Again form of marriage was Sambandham. The Malayala Kshatriyas were all followers of the matriarchal Marumakkathayam system of inheritance and lineage.
Subdivisions
The Malayala Kshatriyas are subdivided into three main groups excluding the Cochin Royal Family which is considered the supreme Kshatriya family of Kerala with rights of serving food to Namboodiri Brahmins and dining with them (This privelege belongs also to a Nair dignitary of the Irinjalakuda Temple known as Tachoda Kaimal):
- Koil Thampurans- These are all related to each other by blood and are found only in Travancore. They secured a separate place among the Malayala Kshatriyas since the migrated at different times into Travancore from their original homes. Ceremonies such as Jata Karma, Namakarana, Annaprasana, Vidyarambha etc. are practised by them. In matter of dress and ornaments males resembled Namboodiri Brahmins while females resembled the Nair ladies. Among the Koil Thampurans, the eldest born was always named Rajaraja Varma Koil Thampuran while among females the names Amba, Ambalika and Ambika were common. The males have to repeat the Gayatri mantra ten times thrice a day.
- Thampurans also known as Rajahs- They follow almost all the manners of the Koil Thampurans. The Kettu Kalyanam ceremony of their females is performed by Koil Thampurans who may later enter into Sambandham with them. If their husband dies his brother unites himself to the Thampurati through a ceremony known as Kootu Irikuka which means to keep company. Pollution after deaths in the family is for ten days as with the Koil Thampurans.
- Thampans and Thirumulpads- These were once ruling families of Thampurans who became later, owing to loss of sovereignity, inferior among the Malayala Kshatriyas and served the Kshatriyas above them.
Nambidis
The Nambidis are a special group of people who are considered half Brahmin and half Kshatriya. Legend has it that their ancestors had degraded themselved by murdering a ruler of Kerala. On their return the other Namboodiris welcomed them but they refused to seat themselves with the other Brahmins owing to the sin they committed and instead sat on the steps of the hall. They came to be known as Nom Padimels or those on the steps and this term was later corrupted into Nambidi. They are of two subdivisions; the ones who wear the sacred thread and perform the Upanayanam and the ones who do not. The latter are practically Nairs who were given the Nambidi title.
Samantha Kshatriyas
Samantha Kshatriyas were some groups of people from Kerala, mostly from Malabar region who were considered inferior to the Malayala Kshatriyas but superior to the Nairs who were of the Sudra caste although of martial heritage. They claimed to be Kshatriyas but there is nothing, excepting the nominal difference of name, between them and Nairs. The Zamorin of Calicut is a Samantha Kshatriya.
Famous Malayala Kshatriyas
- Maharani Gowri Lakshmi Bayi
- Maharani Gowri Parvati Bayi
- Maharani Sethu Lakshmi Bayi
- Raja Ravi Varma
- Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma
- Moolam Thirunal Maharajah
- Balarama Varma Avittam Thirunal
- Ayilyam Thirunal Maharajah
See Also
References
- Travancore State Manual Vol. II page 297 by V.Nagam Aiya
- History of Travancore by Shungoony Menon