Ambalavasi

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Ambalavasi (also written as Ampalavasi) is a generic name for a group of castes among Hindu Brahmins in Kerala who render temple services. They consist of Pushpakas, Nambeesans, Theeyattunnis, Nambidis, Moothath, Ilayath, Chakyar, Adikal, Pisharadi, Varyar, Marar, Nambiar, Kurukkal, Pothuval, Puppalli, Pilappalli, Pidarar and Brahmani-Daivampadi.[1][2][3][4]

Some ambalavasi castes are patrilineal and the remaining ambalavasi castes are matrilineal.[5] Those that practise matrilineality share many cultural similarities with the Nair caste and are probably related to them.[6] Their ritual rank in Hinduism lies somewhere between the Brahmin castes and the Nairs.[7]

Etymology

The term 'Ambalavasi' (precisely, 'Ampalavasi') (Malayalam: അമ്പലവാസി) means one who lives in temple.[8] The term Ambalavasi is originated from two malayalam terms Ambalam (precisely, 'Ampalam') (Malayalam: അമ്പലം) meaning a temple and vasi (Malayalam: വാസി) meaning dweller. Thus, the term Ambalavasi means a dweller in a temple.[9]

The terms such as 'ardha brahmanar' and 'antaralars' are also applied to Ambalavasis.

Castes and professions

The ambalavasi community include a large number of Hindu castes. Each of the castes was associated with specific temple related jobs and had fixed duties to perform.

Ambalavasi Castes and their Professions
Sl.
No. 		Caste Male
surname(s) 		Female
surname(s) 		Profession House Notes
1 Pushpaka Unni Unni, Nambi or Sarma Amma or
Devi 		Teaching, Lamp works, Collecting Flowers, Garland Making, Floral works Madham or Pushpakam Associated with Teaching and Garland Making
2 Theeyattunni Unni or Sarma Amma, Ittiyamma or Antharjanam Performing Bhadrakai Theeyattu - a form of fire-dance Madham or Pushpakam or Illam Associated with temple art form - Bhadrakali Theeyattu
3 Nambeesan Nambeesan Brahmaniyamma or Amma Instructors in arms, Temple cleaning and Garland making Pushpakam
4 Moothathu Moothathu Manayamma Performing rituals for Nairs,"vidhyam" Illam
5 Ilayathu Ilayathu Kunjamma, Illotamma or Amma Performing rituals for Nairs Illam In Malabar region, Ilayathu is the traditional priest of Nayars for conducting the after-death rites.
6 Nambidi Nambidi Amma Assist in sacrifices They are mainly confined to North-Kerala; very rare in Travancore
7 Pothuval Pothuval Pothuvalasyar Temple management, store-keeping and accounting Pothuvatt Poduvals were originally Jains, in the post-vedic period they are converted to Hinduisam. They were originally managers of the temple and the term is derived from Pothu (Common) Aalu (person), meaning a common manager of affairs in the temple
8 Chakyar Chakyar Illottamma Performers of Kooth Madhom Nagam Aiya states that they are descendants of Namboodiri Brahmins who were excommunicated for various offences.
9 Nambiar Nambiar Nangyar or Nangyaramma Temple arts like Tiyattu, Kooth,Thullal Madhom Theeyattu Nambiars are associated with Ayyappan Theeyattu and Mizhavu Nambiars are associated with Kooth and Thullal
10 Variar Varyar Varasyar Temple accountants and managers; Sweeping the outer premises, Cleaning the Utensils Varyam Varyars were managers in Temples, while their women, Varasyars, were garland makers and temple sweepers.
11 Marar Marar Marasyar or Amma Temple music like Sopana Sangeetam Marath
12 Adikal Adikal Adisyar or Adiyaramma Performing rituals in Bhadrakali temples Madhom They are said to have been pure Brahmins initially but were degraded by officiating as priests in temples of Bhadrakali where offerings of liquor were received
13 Pisharody Pisharody or Sharody Pisharasyar or Sharasyar Temple related activities essentially in Devi temples Pisharam Pisharodys were originally Buddhists, in the post-vedic period they are converted to vedic Hinduism.
14 Kurukkal Kurukkal Amma Suppliers of milk and milk-related products to temples Madhom
15 Pilappalli Pilappalli They are mainly confined to Ambalappuzha
16 Puppalli Puppalli Sweeping the inner premises of temples, clearing and cleaning the utensils
17 Pidarar Pidarar or Bhattarar Priestly activities of Sakteya Kavus in North Kerala, singing devotional songs and hymns, playing Nadasvaram Illam
18 Brahmani-Daivampadi Daivampadi or Theyyampadi Priestly duties for lower castes, Parayettu ritual, Kalamezhthum Pattum ritual

Among the various ambalavasi castes, some castes such as Pushpakanunnis, Theeyattunnis, Nambeesans, Kurukkal and Nambidi are clubbed under a generic name Pushpaka Brahmins. Some of the ambalavasi castes like Pushpakanunnis, Theeyattunnis, etc. are patrilineal whereas some of the ambalavasi castes like Kurukkal, Marar etc. are matrilineal.

The castes which comprised the Ambalavasi community each contained only a few members. They lived in villages either where the land was owned solely by one Nambudiri Brahmin family or where the land was owned by a temple, the running of which was in the control of a group of Nambudiri families. The latter villages were called sanketams.[6]

The temples in which they worked comprised four basic types:[6]

  • those in sanketams were large and were dedicated to deities which were worshipped throughout India, such as Shiva and Vishnu.
  • private temples, owned by Nambudiri families, which were smaller versions of those found in the sanketams.
  • the private temples of the royal lines, feudatory chiefs and vassal chiefs of what is now Kerala, which were dedicated to Bhagavati and Bhadrakali
  • village temples dedicated to Bhagavati and run by senior Nairs who had been appointed by local rulers

Notable people

References

  1. ^ S.N., Sadasivan (2000). A Social History of India. A.P.H. Publishing Corporation, New Delhi. p. 335.
  2. ^ Garg, Ganga Ram (2000). Encyclopaedia of the Hindu World. A.P.H. Publishing Corporation, New Delhi.
  3. ^ Thurston, Edgar (2001). Castes and Tribes of Southern India, Volume 1. Asian Educational Services, New Delhi & Madras. p. 149.
  4. ^ V., Nagam Aiya (1999). The Travancore State Manual, Volume 3. Kerala Gazetteers Department, Kerala.
  5. ^ Fuller, Christopher J. (1976). The Nayars Today. Cambridge University Press. p. 34. ISBN 978-0-52129-091-3.
  6. ^ a b c Gough, E. Kathleen (1961). "Nayars: Central Kerala". In Schneider, David Murray; Gough, E. Kathleen (eds.). Matrilineal Kinship. University of California Press. pp. 309–311. ISBN 978-0-520-02529-5.
  7. ^ Fuller, Christopher J. (1976). The Nayars Today. Cambridge University Press. p. 13. ISBN 978-0-52129-091-3.
  8. ^ Farmers of India, Volume 2. Indian Council of Agricultural Research. 1961. p. 361.
  9. ^ V., Nagam Aiya (1999). The Travancore State Manual, Volume 3. Kerala Gazetteers Department, Kerala.
  10. ^ a b Joseph, George Gheverghese (2016). Indian Mathematics: Engaging with the World from Ancient to Modern Times. World Scientific. p. 357. ISBN 978-1-78634-063-4.

External links

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