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'''Kartha''' or '''Karthavu''' means Lord or Legend and this [[Hindu]] [[Nair]] title name specifically means ("doer"). It was conferred by the king to powerful Nair families. They enjoyed Raja or Naduvazhi Status.<ref name=g1>{{cite web|title=Kartha }} {{google books|id=4bfmnmsBfQ4C|p=1520}}</ref> Kartha chieftains were bestowed with extraordinary rights and authorities by the erstwhile kings and they always had a special status in the royal court. They used to own vast acres of Land. History has it that members of Kartha community also used to work as supreme commanders in royal army, some Kartha families were also quite renowned for their expertise in traditional [[Ayurveda]] medicine.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mevadathampans.com/|title=Mevada Thampans renowned Thamban Vaidyan Kartha Family|date=2020-04-27|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200427174022/http://www.mevadathampans.com/|archive-date=2020-04-27|access-date=2020-04-27}}</ref> Most Kartha families have their ancestral tutelary deity as [[Hindu]] Goddess [[Bhadrakali]] or Goddess [[Durga]]. A few families also consider their ancestral deity as [[Vettakkorumakan]], a Hindu deity worshiped in parts of North Kerala. The number of Kartha families are a few in Kerala now.<br />
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[[File:Pattupurackal Bhagavathy Temple-OwnedBy-Kartha Family-Front.jpg|thumb|An Age-old [[Hindu]] Devi Temple of Goddess [[Bhadrakali]]. The temple belongs to Edamana Kartha Family.(Pattupurackal Bhagavathy Temple)]]<br />
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==Legend==<br />
Kartha, as a community, ruled smaller principalities or worked mainly in the Army, Police or as tax collectors. They were troop leaders. The Kartha surname is still used, although it is less prominent.<ref name=g1/><br />
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The title Kartha, ("doer"), appears to have been used as a titular name by some of the rulers of Madura. During the Madras census of 1901, the title Kartha was returned by Balijas claiming to be descendants of the Nayak kings of Madura and Tanjore. The Tekkumkur and Vadakkumkur Rajas are said to have first conferred the title Kartha on certain influential Nayar families who were related by blood to the Rajas. In social matters the authority of the Kartha was supreme. Only on important points were higher authorities called on to intercede. <ref>{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/stream/castestribesofso05thuriala/castestribesofso05thuriala_djvu.txt |title=Full text of "Castes and tribes of southern India" |access-date=22 September 2013}}</ref><br />
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==Caste system ==<br />
All Karthas belong to the Illam sub division of the Nair caste.<ref>{{Cite journal|title=Castes and Tribes of Southern India.By Edgar Thurston|journal=British Anthropologist|volume=5|pages=295}}</ref><br />
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==See also==<br />
*[[Caste system in Kerala]]<br />
*[[Eshmanan]]<br />
*[[Madampi (Nair title)]]<br />
*[[Mannadiar]]<br />
*[[Pillai (Kerala title)|Pillai]]<br />
*[[Nayanar (Nair subcaste)]]<br />
*[[Samanta Kshatriya]]s<br />
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==References==<br />
{{Reflist}}<br />
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[[Category:Indian castes]]<br />
[[Category:Nair]]</div>imported>Extraordinary Writ