Ahmjit at 11:27, 2 November 2025

2025-11-02T11:27:12Z

CleanupBot: /* Pushpaka Brahmins */clean up

2022-01-03T12:41:46Z

Pushpaka Brahmins: clean up

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:11, 3 January 2022
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	* [[Theeyattunni\|Theeyatt Unni]]{{citation needed\|date=June 2020}}		* [[Theeyattunni\|Theeyatt Unni]]{{citation needed\|date=June 2020}}
	* [[Nambeesan]]<ref name="Reserv1965">{{cite book \|title=Report of the Commission for Reservation of Seats in Educational Institutions, Kerala, 1965 \|date=1966 \|publisher=Commission for Reservation of Seats in Educational Institutions, Kerala, India \|location=Kerala \|page=140}}</ref>		* [[Nambeesan]]<ref name="Reserv1965">{{cite book \|title=Report of the Commission for Reservation of Seats in Educational Institutions, Kerala, 1965 \|date=1966 \|publisher=Commission for Reservation of Seats in Educational Institutions, Kerala, India \|location=Kerala \|page=140}}</ref>
	* [[Kurukkal]]<ref name="~~Reserv1965~~"/><ref name="~~Report~~"/>		* [[Kurukkal]]<ref name="Report"/><ref name="Reserv1965"/>
	* [[Puppalli]]<ref>{{cite book \|last1=Temple \|first1=Richard Carnac \|title=The Indian Antiquary Vol-xxxvii \|date=1908 \|publisher=British India Press \|location=Brotrtu, London \|pages=335–337}}</ref>		* [[Puppalli]]<ref>{{cite book \|last1=Temple \|first1=Richard Carnac \|title=The Indian Antiquary Vol-xxxvii \|date=1908 \|publisher=British India Press \|location=Brotrtu, London \|pages=335–337}}</ref>
	* [[Nambidi]]<ref name="Reserv1965"/>		* [[Nambidi]]<ref name="Reserv1965"/>

>Arjayay: Reverted edits by 103.149.159.152 (talk) to last version by Lithopsian

2021-07-04T12:27:36Z

Reverted edits by 103.149.159.152 (talk) to last version by Lithopsian

← Older revision	Revision as of 17:57, 4 July 2021
(No difference)

>Lithopsian: /* Temple arts */ use this spelling since Marar hasn't been a relevant redirect for over a decade

2021-05-04T13:48:57Z

Temple arts: use this spelling since Marar hasn't been a relevant redirect for over a decade

New page

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2019}}
'''Ambalavasi''', ({{lang-ml|അമ്പലവാസി}}; [[IAST]]:Ampalavāsi) {{literally|temple-dwelling}}, is a generic name for a group of [[Caste system in India|castes]] among [[Hindus]] in [[Kerala]], India, who render temple services. Some Ambalavasi castes are [[Patrilineality|patrilineal]], while the others are [[Matrilineality|matrilineal]]. Those that practise matrilineality share many cultural similarities with the [[Nair]] caste. Their ritual [[Varna (Hinduism)|rank]] in Hinduism lies below the [[Brahmin]] castes and above the Nairs.<ref name="fuller">{{cite book |title=The Nayars Today |first1=Christopher J. |last1=Fuller |publisher=Cambridge University Press |year=1976 |isbn=978-0-52129-091-3 |page=13 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yQM4AAAAIAAJ&pg=PA13}}</ref><ref name="Gough1961" />

==Castes==
[[File:Ampalavasi Women Old Image.png|thumb|right|Ampalavasi women with flower baskets- An old image]]

The Ambalavasis are broadly divided into two groups, being those who wear the [[sacred thread]] and those who do not.

===Sacred thread wearers===
====Pushpaka Brahmins====
{{main|Pushpaka Brahmin}}
* [[Pushpaka]] (Pushpakan Unni), who bring flowers to the temples<ref name="fuller"/><ref name="Report">{{cite book |title=Report on the Socio-economic Survey on Castes/communities, Kerala 1968|publisher=Bureau of Economics & Statistics, Government of Kerala|year=1969|page=42}}</ref>
* [[Theeyattunni|Theeyatt Unni]]{{citation needed|date=June 2020}}
* [[Nambeesan]]<ref name="Reserv1965">{{cite book |title=Report of the Commission for Reservation of Seats in Educational Institutions, Kerala, 1965 |date=1966 |publisher=Commission for Reservation of Seats in Educational Institutions, Kerala, India |location=Kerala |page=140}}</ref>
* [[Kurukkal]]<ref name="Reserv1965"/><ref name="Report"/>
* [[Puppalli]]<ref>{{cite book |last1=Temple |first1=Richard Carnac |title=The Indian Antiquary Vol-xxxvii |date=1908 |publisher=British India Press |location=Brotrtu, London |pages=335–337}}</ref>
* [[Nambidi]]<ref name="Reserv1965"/>

====Others====
* [[Chakyar]],<ref name="Gough1961"/> who stages dramas called [[Kooth]] and [[Koodiyattam]]<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Daugherty |first1=Diane |title=The Nangyār: Female Ritual Specialist of Kerala |journal=Asian Theatre Journal |volume= 13 |date=Spring 1996 |issue=1 |pages=54–67 |doi=10.2307/1124302|jstor=1124302}}</ref>
* [[Nambiar (Ambalavasi/Mizhavu)|Nambiar]]<ref name="Gough1961"/>

===Threadless Ambalavasis===

*[[Pisharody]]<ref name="Gough1961"/>
*[[Maaran|Marar]],<ref name="Gough1961"/> who act as temple musicians
*[[Variar|Warrier]],<ref name="Gough1961">{{cite book |title=Matrilineal Kinship |editor1-first=David Murray |editor1-last=Schneider |editor-link=David M. Schneider |editor2-first=Kathleen |editor2-last=Gough |chapter=Nayars: Central Kerala |first1=Kathleen |last1=Gough |year=1961 |publisher=University of California Press |pages=309–311 |isbn=978-0-520-02529-5 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lfdvTbfilYAC&pg=PA311 |author-link=Kathleen Gough}}</ref> though some families are known to conduct "[[Upanayana|yajnopaveetham]]" but remove the thread immediately after.
*[[Poduval]],<ref name="Gough1961"/> who works as temple watchman<ref>{{cite book |title=People of India - India's Communities N-Z|date=1998 |publisher=Oxford University Press|pages=2861–2863}}</ref><ref name="Census">{{cite book |title=Census of India 1911. Vol. 23, Travancore. Pt. 2, Imperial tables|year=1912|page=53}}</ref>

The feminine names of threadless ''ambalavasi'' castes are formed by adding the suffix ''-syar'' to the masculine names as Adi-Adisyar, Pisharadi-Pisharasyar, Marar-Marasyar, Variar-Varasyar, Poduval-Poduvalsyar.{{citation needed|date=June 2020}}

==Temple services==

Though all Ampalavāsis have to do service in temples, they have sufficiently distinct functions to perform. Pushpakans and Nambeesans are teachers in the Pathasalas or Mutts and suppliers of flowers to temple. Chakyar stages drama. Marar serves as temple musician. Variar and Poduval did managerial and executive functions of temple committees and served as storekeepers <ref>{{cite journal |last1=Madhavan |first1=K.S. |title=INTERNALIST PERCEPTION OF "JATI" — A STUDY OF BRAHMANICAL CANONICAL LITERATURE IN KERALA |journal=Proceedings of the Indian History Congress |volume= 62 |year=2001 |pages=84–97}}</ref>

==Kazhakams==
''Kazhakams'' or ''Ambalakkazhakams'' refer to associations of ambalavasi peoples in a temple to perform specific duties in the temple.<ref>{{cite book |title=People of India - India's Communities N-Z|date=1998 |publisher=Oxford University Press|pages=3605–3607}}</ref>

==Temple arts==
[[File:Margi madhu in koodiyattam as ravanan.JPG|thumb|right|200px|Koodiyattam]]
[[File:Bhadrakali Theeyattu.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Theeyattam]]
[[File:Idakka-1.jpg|thumb|200px|Idakka artist<br>Sri. Chendamangalam Unnikrishna Maarar in action - In the middle.]]

Traditionally, Ambalavasis are associated with various types of temple arts. Earlier, each of these temple arts were performed only by specific Ambalavasi castes. Now there is no community or caste barrier.{{citation needed|date=October 2018}}

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Temple Art !! Associated<br>Ambalavasi castes
|-
| [[Koodiyattam]] || [[Chakyar]],<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Narayanan |first1=Mundoli |title=Over-Ritualization of Performance: Western Discourses on Kutiyattam |journal=TDR |date=2006 |volume=50 |issue=2 |pages=136–153 |doi=10.1162/dram.2006.50.2.136 |jstor=4492680 |s2cid=57567794 }}</ref> [[Pushpakan Unni]]
|-
| [[Kooth]] || [[Chakyar]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/story.aspx?Title=Bhagavadhoothu+chakyar+koothu+at+Oottupura&artid=5M4Hn2iFH8=&SectionID=9R67TMeNb/w=&MainSectionID=9R67TMeNb/w=&SEO=&SectionName=gUhH3Holuas= |title=Latest India News | Breaking News | World & Business News | Sports & Entertainment news |publisher=Expressbuzz.com |access-date=2013-09-30 }}{{Dead link|date=October 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> [[Nambiar (Ambalavasi caste)|Nangyar]] (women of Nambiar)<ref>{{cite news |title=The 'Florance' of Nangiar Koothu |url=https://english.mathrubhumi.com/the-%60florance-of-nangiar-koothu--1.522820 |access-date=17 February 2019 |issue=10 September 2015 |publisher=Mathurubhumi Daily |date=10 September 2015}} Quote: Nangyarkoothu is a traditional artform performed by the women of the Ambalavasi Nambiar community of Kerala, called Nangyaramma. However, people from other castes also has been performing the artform since the second half of the 20th century.</ref>
|-
| Certain roles of [[Krishnanattam]]|| [[Nambeesan]] or [[Pushpaka Unni]]<ref>{{cite book |last1=Sikora |first1=Martha Bush |title=Krishnanattam |date=1993 |publisher=Oxford & IBH Publishing Company}}</ref>{{page needed|date=October 2018}}
|-
| [[Mizhavu]] (Musical Instrument)|| [[Nambiar (Ambalavasi caste)|Nambiar]]<ref>{{cite book |last1=Dutta |first1=Madhumita |title=Let's Know Music and Musical Instruments of India |date=2008 |publisher=Star Publications |page=16}}</ref>
|-
| Kuzhithalam (Musical Instrument)|| [[Nambiar (Ambalavasi caste)|Nangyar]] (women of Nambiar){{citation needed|date=October 2018}}
|-
| [[Ottan Thullal|Thullal]] || [[Nambiar (Ambalavasi caste)|Nambiar]]{{citation needed|date=October 2018}}
|-
| [[Theeyattu]] || [[Theeyatt Unni]], [[Nambiar (Ambalavasi caste)|Thiyyadi Nambiar]]{{citation needed|date=October 2018}}
|-
| [[Pathakam]] || [[Nambiar (Ambalavasi caste)|Nambiar]]<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/Padakam-the-poor-cousin-of-Chakyarkoothu/articleshow/53285438.cms|title=Padakam, the poor cousin of Chakyarkoothu - Times of India|work=The Times of India|access-date=2018-01-16}}</ref>
|-
| Vadyams (Musical Instruments) like <br>[[Chenda]], [[Idakka]], [[Udukku]] etc. || [[Maarar]]{{citation needed|date=October 2018}}
|-
| [[Panchavadyam]] || [[Marar]]{{citation needed|date=October 2018}}
|-
| [[Sopana Sangeetham|Sopanasangeetham]] || [[Marar]], [[Pothuval]]{{citation needed|date=October 2018}}
|-
| [[Brahmanippattu]] || [[Nambeesan|Brahmani]] (women of Nambeesan)<ref>{{cite book |title=Folklore: The Identity of Culture |first1=M.V. Vishnu |last1=Nampoothiri |publisher=Department of Information & Public Relations, Government of Kerala |year=2012 |page=73 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=The Secret Chamber: A Historical, Anthropological & Philosophical Study of the Kodungallur Temple|first1=Induchudan |last1=V.T. |publisher=Cochin Devaswom Board|year=1969 |page=260 }}</ref>
|}

==Temple types==

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''.<ref name="Gough1961"/>

The temples in which they worked comprised four basic types:<ref name="Gough1961"/>
*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 the 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]] ([[Bhadrakali]])

==See also==
*[[Nair]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Social groups of Kerala]]
[[Category:Liturgical castes]]

Ambalavasi - Revision history

Ahmjit at 11:27, 2 November 2025

CleanupBot: /* Pushpaka Brahmins */clean up

>Arjayay: Reverted edits by 103.149.159.152 (talk) to last version by Lithopsian

>Lithopsian: /* Temple arts */ use this spelling since Marar hasn't been a relevant redirect for over a decade