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Kerala Iyer

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Kerala Iyers

File:CEC TN Seshan.jpg

Justice V. R. Krishna Iyer • Sir K. Seshadri Iyer
Jayaram • T. N. Seshan
Trisha Krishnan • Priyamani
Vidya Balan
Total population
390,000 (estimated)[1]
Regions with significant populations
Palakkad district, Kerala
Thrissur district, Kerala
Ernakulam district, Kerala
South Kerala
Malappuram district, Kerala
Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu
Chennai
Mumbai
Languages
Kerala sub-dialects of Brahmin Tamil
Religion
Hinduism
Related ethnic groups
Iyers, Tamil people, Tamil Brahmin, Malayali Brahmins

Kerala Iyers, colloquially called Pattars, are Tamil Iyers of the Indian state of Kerala who were the original residents of Travancore and also people who migrated from present day Tamil Nadu in different waves starting from the medieval period onwards. The community consists of two groups - the Palakkad Iyers and Iyers of the erstwhile Travancore and Cochin states.

The first wave of Iyers settled down in Palakkad district at the beginning of the medieval period. Migrations to the Travancore and Cochin regions took place mostly in the 16th and 17th centuries AD. Many of the Diwans or Prime Ministers of the princely state of Travancore were Tamil brahmins.[2]

Kerala Iyers, like the Iyers of Tamil Nadu, belonged to the Pancha Dravida classification of India's Brahmin community. They mostly belonged to the Vadama and Brahacharanam sub-sects.

History

The waves of Tamil Brahmin migration into Kerala continued till the first half of 14th century, a few centuries after the decline of all the great Hindu empires of Tamil Nadu (such as Chola and Pandya dynasties). During the invasions of Malik Kafur and subsequent Muslim kingdoms, large numbers of Tamil Brahmins migrated and settled down on the western side of the Western Ghats which provided them security and safety from the invaders. Occasionally, Iyers also migrated from Tamil Nadu at the invitation from the Rajas of Kerala. The waves of Tamil Brahmin migration into Kerala continued till the first half of 20th century.

Over the years these migrants built up their own individual culture and established an identity of their own. In Kerala, they are commonly referred to as Pattars. The word 'Pattar' is derived from the word 'Bhattar', a Sanskrit word indicating Brahmins. This was one of the earlier surnames used by the Tamil Brahmins.

Palakkad Iyers

The Tamil Brahmins who settled down in Palakkad district of Kerala, which is close to Tamil Nadu, are known as Palakkad Iyers. They were mainly from the Tanjore district in the State of Tamil Nadu. From Palghat they migrated to other parts of North Kerala which were part of the erstwhile Madras Presidency like Kozhikode. The mother tongue of Iyers is Tamil but the dialect that an Iyer speaks is heavily influenced by Sanskrit and Malayalam vocabulary.

The Palghat Iyers was a land holding community owning extensive cultivable land in Palghat, Chittoor and surrounding areas. They were in a majority in Palghat town. The members of the community held the office of the Municipal Chairman for a number of years.

Each Palakkad Iyer family is associated with a temple or kavu close to their land. Here,the next generation is named and their horoscope is documented.

The Palakkad Iyers were greatly affected by the Kerala Agrarian Relations Bill, 1957 (repealed in 1961 and substituted by The Kerala Land Reforms Act, 1963) which abolished the tenancy system.[3]

Travancore Iyers

Many of the Travancore Iyers were the original residents of Travancore. There were Iyers in Venad which later on grew to be the Travancore state. Shungoonny Menon calls them Native Brahmins of Travancore.[4]

There has also been a continuous inflow from Thirunelveli and Ramnad districts of Tamil Nadu which are contiguous to erstwhile princely state of Travancore. Many parts of the present Thirunelveli district were part of the old Travancore state. Some of these migrated to Cochin and later to Palakkad and Kozhikode districts.

Unlike Palakkad Iyers, Travancore Iyers language is more Malayalam with only a slight mix of Tamil words.

Society

The Kerala Iyers lived in clusters of houses called Agraharams compared to the other communities who lived in scattered houses. They called it Gramams ( Tamil name for villages). There are sixty agraharams in Palakkad. Agraharams existed in Trivandrum and Kottayam.

The Kerala Iyers have their own community centers called Samoohams. They still exist in Trichur, Trivandrum, Ernakulam and Kozhicode. They started Vedapatashalas to teach the Vedas.

Caste system and temple worship in Kerala

Though they were classified as the highest cate in Tamil Nadu, Kerala Iyers (Tamil Brahmins) were ranked below the Namboothiris in the caste system of Kerala. But they were accorded a higher status than the Nairs who were considered shudras.

The Tamil Brahmins did not take up the profession of priesthood in Kerala temples as

1. They were Vaidika Brahmins. Vaidika Brahmins could not take up priesthood either in Tamil Nadu or in Kerala because the temple worship in Tamil Nadu is according to Agamas and the worship in Kerala is according to Kerala Tantras.

2. The sub castes which were in Kerala did not include Gurukkal brahmins who are the traditional priests in temples of Tamil Nadu.

However they officiated as priests in temples erected by themselves in their agraharams.

Socio-economic Impact

The Iyers were one of the first to take to English education. A large number of them were employed in the government of the erstwhile states of Travancore and Cochin. A large number of government officials at the time of formation of Kerala were from the community. There were also a number of lawyers, doctors, engineers and traders.

The Travancore Pattars have played a very important role in the history of Travancore. The community was close to the Royal family of Travancore. They occupied the post of Karyasthas to the royal family members. Travancore Pattars had a number of Dewans and administrators from the community.

The Kerala Iyers have also played an important role as indigenous Bankers. Later on they have been instrumental in forming a number of Banking companies. They played a prominent role in the formation and running of the erstwhile Travancore Bank Ltd which is now State Bank of Travancore.

Kerala Iyers played an important role in developing the culture of Kerala. They effectively imported the dance form of Bharathanatyam and Carnatic music to Kerala.

The Kerala Iyers were well known for their culinary skills. Most of the temples employed them as cooks. They started eateries called Brahmin Mess or Brahmin Hotel all over Kerala. Initially they catered to only the community because of the restrictions in taking food from outside. However later they served all the communities and became popular. They developed the local cuisine by introducing flavours of Tamil food.

List of Kerala Iyers

Journalists and writers

Advocates and social activists

  • V. R. Krishna Iyer (b. 1915), judicial expert and Justice, Supreme Court of India, minister in first kerala ministry
  • P. R. Sundaram Iyer (1862–1913), Indian lawyer and founder of Madras Law Journal. Grandfather of cinematographer P. C. Sreeram

Sportspersons

Artists and musicians

Scientists and academicians

Entertainers

Politicians and administrators

People with Kerala Iyer ancestry or heritage

Notes

  1. ^ http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Pattars/message/1445 Pattar population
  2. ^ List of Dalwa in Indian Princely states
  3. ^ "Landmark Legislations - Land Reforms". Kerala Legislative Assembly. Retrieved 2008-08-27.
  4. ^ A History of Travancore, by P. Shungoonny Menon.
  5. ^ "The trio in action again". The Hindu. 2005-08-26. Retrieved 12 September 2011.
  6. ^ "Never Say Never Again". The Indian Express. 2005-07-03. Retrieved 12 September 2011.

References

  • P.Sangunny Menon (1878 (Reprint 1983)). A History of Travancore. Kerala books and Publications Society, Cochin. ISBN 81-85499-14-4. {{cite book}}: Check date values in: |year= (help)CS1 maint: year (link)
  • Thurston, Edgar (1909). Castes and Tribes of Southern India Volume I - A and B. Madras: Government Press. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
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