Kurukkal

Kurukkal is a caste of Ambalavasi Brahmins of Kerala, India. The Kurukkal are probably of Tamil origin. The name Kurukkal is the Tamil form of Gurukkal. They were conducting Pujas in temples dedicated to Siva and officiating as priests of the Non-Brahminical Hindus. Originally a patrilineal community of Travancore, whose traditional function was that of temple servants, they became matrilineal towards the end of the 18th century.

History

Twenty families of Kurukkals are believed to have been imported into Travancore from the Tamil region for services in the Padmanabhaswami Temple and Travancore royal family temples. Their original abode was Chidambaram and they had front tufts. Of the imported families, ten Madakkars were appointed to do service in the Padmanabhaswamy temple and the other ten attached to the service of Royal House of Travancore. They were also servants of the Padmanabhaswamy temple.

Later, under the command of the Maharajah, the ten families were, sent out of the kingdom which then extended only as far as Quilon (Present Kollam) in the north. These families settled themselves north of Quilon, at Chavara, Panmana and Tevalakara. They were called Kolia Kurukkals (i. e. Quilon Kurukkals). Thenceforward they had no temple service. The other Kurukkals at Trivandrum do not admit them into their community. This expulsion is believed to have taken place about 907 M. E. (CE: 1732). The Kurukkals that are now found at Thiruvananthapuram, Neyyattinkara, Nedumangad, etc., are the descendants of the ten families of Palli-Thevara Kurukkals. They had close association with the Pushpakas of Travancore.

Traditional occupation

Some were priests at the non-Brahminical temples such as that at Mandakad in South Travancore. Others rendered various temple services.

Manners and customs

Their dress and ornaments were in most respects like those of Nayars among whom they live. The females wear the cherutali round the neck and their ear ornament is the toda. Their original dress and ornaments were of the Tamil fashion. Tattooing is in great favour among them. Their homes are now called Vidus and sometimes Madams, though first they were called Tirumadams as is evidenced by a royal neett now existing dated 18th Adi 939 ME (August 1764 AD). They have priests among themselves. The priest or Vadhyan is granted a neett by the Maharajah authorising him to perform all the religious and other functions pertaining to his caste. The profession is hereditary. Formerly a Uajahhogam of one fanani per year was being paid by a Vadhyan to Government ; it is now abolished. The caste-government of the Kurukkals is in the hands of the Yogaikkars of the Sri Padmanahhaswamy temple, the chief of whom is the Kupakkara Potti . Difficult questions regarding the observances and ceremonies were referred to the Nambudiri Vadhyans, Akkittiris, Somatiripads and the Kupakkara Potti under the command of the Maharajah. T

• The Punyaham or purification ceremony is performed by the caste priests and not by the Nambudiri Brahmins as in the case of all other Ambalavasi brahmins. This is the important distinction between the Kurukkals and the other Ambalavasi brahmins.

• On the day previous to the Upanayanam, the family priest performs the Punyaha and ties the Pratisara string round the boy’s right wrist. On the second day is the tonsure. The next day the Yajnopavita or sacred thread is worn and the Gayatri hymn is first recited. For four succeeding days the Samitadhana or worship of the sacred fire is observed. Ten Gayatris may be recited each time.

• The TalikeMu ceremony of a girl is done between the ages of eight and twelve. If the tali-tier himself continues to be the husband for life, the female and her eldest son observe pollution and make funeral offerings at his death. The Kurukkals also observe the Pulikudi ceremony of the Nayar in the place of the Pumsavanam and Seemanthonnayanam ceremonies of other Brahmins.

• Pollution is observed for twelve days, the Punyaham ceremony being performed on the thirteenth day.

• After a person’s death the Samskara, Sanchayanam, Dasabali, Pindavi, Punyaham and Sapindi Sraddham are performed.

Inheritance

The system of inheritance was in the female line. The Kurukkals were originally Makkattayis. There are even now a few families in South Travancore who follow the Makkathaya system of inheritance and who adopt the Tamil dress.

See also

• Pushpaka
• Pushpaka Brahmins