Nambiar (Ambalavasi caste) - Revision history

Editorial Oversight: Reverted 1 edit by 103.166.245.158 (talk)

2026-09-27T16:14:10Z

Reverted 1 edit by 103.166.245.158 (talk)

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:44, 27 September 2026
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	The '''Nambiar''' (also written as '''Nambyar''') is a [[Hindu]] [[Ambalavasi]] caste of [[Kerala]].		The '''Nambiar''' (also written as '''Nambyar''') is a [[Hindu]] [[Ambalavasi]] caste of [[Kerala]].
	Ambalavasi Nambiars wear sacred thread like [[Brahmins]] and is traditionally considered as a higher caste to [[Nairs]]<ref>{{Cite book \|last=Sinha \|first=Surajit \|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pjVdJMBeXU8C&dq=ambalavasi&pg=PA588 \|title=Anthropology of Weaker Sections \|date=1993 \|publisher=Concept Publishing Company \|isbn=978-81-7022-491-4 }}</ref> including same name bearing Nair-[[Nambiar (Nair subcaste)\|Nambiar]] caste which usually leads to confusion. However, the caste group called Chengazhi Nambi [Chengazhi Nambiar] is distinct from the Ambalavasis. They are people who have the Upanayana samskara, and are also a section that held / adorned the position of Naduvazhi of Chengazhi Nadu.		Ambalavasi Nambiars wear sacred thread like [[Brahmins]] and is traditionally considered as a higher caste to [[Nairs]]<ref>{{Cite book \|last=Sinha \|first=Surajit \|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pjVdJMBeXU8C&dq=ambalavasi&pg=PA588 \|title=Anthropology of Weaker Sections \|date=1993 \|publisher=Concept Publishing Company \|isbn=978-81-7022-491-4 }}</ref> including same name bearing Nair-[[Nambiar (Nair subcaste)\|Nambiar]] caste which usually leads to confusion.

	==See also==		==See also==

103.166.245.158 at 16:07, 27 September 2026

2026-09-27T16:07:38Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:37, 27 September 2026
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	The '''Nambiar''' (also written as '''Nambyar''') is a [[Hindu]] [[Ambalavasi]] caste of [[Kerala]].		The '''Nambiar''' (also written as '''Nambyar''') is a [[Hindu]] [[Ambalavasi]] caste of [[Kerala]].
	Ambalavasi Nambiars wear sacred thread like [[Brahmins]] and is traditionally considered as a higher caste to [[Nairs]]<ref>{{Cite book \|last=Sinha \|first=Surajit \|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pjVdJMBeXU8C&dq=ambalavasi&pg=PA588 \|title=Anthropology of Weaker Sections \|date=1993 \|publisher=Concept Publishing Company \|isbn=978-81-7022-491-4 }}</ref> including same name bearing Nair-[[Nambiar (Nair subcaste)\|Nambiar]] caste which usually leads to confusion.		Ambalavasi Nambiars wear sacred thread like [[Brahmins]] and is traditionally considered as a higher caste to [[Nairs]]<ref>{{Cite book \|last=Sinha \|first=Surajit \|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pjVdJMBeXU8C&dq=ambalavasi&pg=PA588 \|title=Anthropology of Weaker Sections \|date=1993 \|publisher=Concept Publishing Company \|isbn=978-81-7022-491-4 }}</ref> including same name bearing Nair-[[Nambiar (Nair subcaste)\|Nambiar]] caste which usually leads to confusion. However, the caste group called Chengazhi Nambi [Chengazhi Nambiar] is distinct from the Ambalavasis. They are people who have the Upanayana samskara, and are also a section that held / adorned the position of Naduvazhi of Chengazhi Nadu.

	==See also==		==See also==

Ajay Kumar: Added citation to support the statement.

2023-07-23T15:03:40Z

Added citation to support the statement.

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:33, 23 July 2023
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	{{use dmy dates\|date=January 2018}}		{{use dmy dates\|date=January 2018}}

			The '''Nambiar''' (also written as '''Nambyar''') is a [[Hindu]] [[Ambalavasi]] caste of [[Kerala]].
	The '''Nambiar''' (also written as '''Nambyar''') is a [[Hindu]] [[Ambalavasi]] caste of [[Kerala]]. ~~Nambiar ladies are called Nangyar. Although they are in minority~~ and ~~It must not be confused with the~~ higher ~~community~~ caste ~~that’s in par with~~ Nairs ~~with the~~ same name - Nambiar		Ambalavasi Nambiars wear sacred thread like [[Brahmins]] and is traditionally considered as a higher caste to [[Nairs]]<ref>{{Cite book \|last=Sinha \|first=Surajit \|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pjVdJMBeXU8C&dq=ambalavasi&pg=PA588 \|title=Anthropology of Weaker Sections \|date=1993 \|publisher=Concept Publishing Company \|isbn=978-81-7022-491-4 }}</ref> including same name bearing Nair-[[Nambiar (Nair subcaste)\|Nambiar]] caste which usually leads to confusion.

	==See also==		==See also==
	*[[~~Chakyar Koothu~~]]		*[[Kunchan Nambiar]]
	*[[~~Mani Madhava~~ Chakyar]]		*[[Mizhavu]]
			*[[Ottan Thullal]]
			*[[Chakyar koothu]]

	==References==		==References==
			{{Reflist}}

	* {{Citation		* {{Citation
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	\| publisher=[[Sangeet Natak Akademi]], [[New Delhi]]		\| publisher=[[Sangeet Natak Akademi]], [[New Delhi]]
	\| year=1975		\| year=1975
	\| ID=		\| id=
	}}		}}

WikiDwarf at 15:49, 16 October 2022

2022-10-16T15:49:37Z

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 {{use dmy dates|date=January 2018}}
-'''Nambiar''' (also written as '''Nambyar''') is a [[Hindu]] [[Ambalavasi]] caste in [[Kerala]]. There is a Nambiar caste belonging to Nair community as well. Based on their profession, there are two subcastes - Mizhavu Nambiar and Thiyyadi Nambiar.  Mizhavu Nambiars are associated with temple art forms like [[Koothu]], [[Koodiyattam]] and [[Ottan thullal|Ottanthullal]], where as Thiyyadi Nambiars  are associated with the art form [[Theeyattu|Ayyappan Theeyattu]]. Nambiars followed the [[marumakkathayam]] (matrilineal) system of inheritance.
+The '''Nambiar''' (also written as '''Nambyar''') is a [[Hindu]] [[Ambalavasi]] caste of [[Kerala]].  Nambiar ladies are called Nangyar. Although they are in minority and It must not be confused with the higher community caste that’s in par with Nairs with the same name - Nambiar
 ==See also==
 *[[Chakyar Koothu]]
 *[[Mani Madhava Chakyar]]
 ==References==

WikiDwarf: Reverted edits by 172.71.202.31 (talk) to last revision by 2001:8F8:1E6D:B4E4:648C:278E:B96E:CDCA

2022-10-16T15:48:53Z

Reverted edits by 172.71.202.31 (talk) to last revision by 2001:8F8:1E6D:B4E4:648C:278E:B96E:CDCA

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 {{use dmy dates|date=January 2018}}
-The Nambyar (do not confuse with Nambiar) community is a primitive minority Hindu Ambalavasi caste of Kerala. It is not the same as the higher community caste that’s in par with Nairs who are known as - Nambiars
+[[Image:Vidushaka-Mani Madhava Chakyar.jpg|[[Mani Madhava Chakyar]] performing Chakyar koothu|thumb|right|150px]]
 * {{Citation
   | last=Chakiar
   | first=Mani Madhava
-  | title=[[Nātyaka
+  | title=[[Nātyakalpadrumam]]
 [[Category:Social groups of India]]
 [[Category:Indian castes]]

172.71.202.31 at 08:39, 16 October 2022

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 {{use dmy dates|date=January 2018}}
-[[Image:Vidushaka-Mani Madhava Chakyar.jpg|[[Mani Madhava Chakyar]] performing Chakyar koothu|thumb|right|150px]]
+The Nambyar (do not confuse with Nambiar) community is a primitive minority Hindu Ambalavasi caste of Kerala. It is not the same as the higher community caste that’s in par with Nairs who are known as - Nambiars
 * {{Citation
   | last=Chakiar
   | first=Mani Madhava
-  | title=[[Nātyakalpadrumam]]
+  | title=[[Nātyaka
 [[Category:Social groups of India]]
 [[Category:Indian castes]]

2001:8F8:1E6D:B4E4:648C:278E:B96E:CDCA at 16:48, 13 November 2021

2021-11-13T16:48:22Z

New page

{{use Indian English|date=January 2018}}
{{use dmy dates|date=January 2018}}

[[Image:Vidushaka-Mani Madhava Chakyar.jpg|[[Mani Madhava Chakyar]] performing Chakyar koothu|thumb|right|150px]]

'''Nambiar''' (also written as '''Nambyar''') is a [[Hindu]] [[Ambalavasi]] caste in [[Kerala]]. There is a Nambiar caste belonging to Nair community as well. Based on their profession, there are two subcastes - Mizhavu Nambiar and Thiyyadi Nambiar. Mizhavu Nambiars are associated with temple art forms like [[Koothu]], [[Koodiyattam]] and [[Ottan thullal|Ottanthullal]], where as Thiyyadi Nambiars are associated with the art form [[Theeyattu|Ayyappan Theeyattu]]. Nambiars followed the [[marumakkathayam]] (matrilineal) system of inheritance.

[[Image:Mizhavu.jpg|Mizhavu kept in ''Mizhavana'' (wooden box made especially to keep mizhavu).|thumb|200px]]

==Etymology==
The [[Sanskrit]] name of Nambiar is '''Pānivāda'''. 'pāni' means ''hands'' and 'vāda' comes from the verb 'vādanam' meaning ''playing''; altogether meaning the one who plays with hands, since Nambiars are assigned to play the holy drum "[[Mizhavu]]", which they play with their hands only. Nambiars are assigned to play the drum "Mizhavu" in ritualistic temple performances like Koodiyattam and koothu in [[Koothambalam]]s inside the temples. These highly refined art forms narrating stories from Hindu epics and puranas, combined with prevailing socio-political events, were originally performed in temples in connection with festivals by members of this community along with [[Chakyar]] community. {{citation needed|date=January 2018}}

==Mizhavu Nambiars==

The Nambiars who play mizhavu are sometimes called ''Chakyar Nambiars'' or ''Mizhavu Nambiars''. Their ladies are called '''Nangyarammas'''. While Nambiars were allowed to play mizhavu, Nangyarammas performs lady characters in Koodiyattam along with Chakyar. Another ritualistic performance done by Nangyarammas inside the temple is [[Nangiar koothu]], which is an allied art of Kutiyattam.{{citation needed|date=January 2018}}

There were originally 18 Nambyar families (''Madhams'') in Kerala. ''Kochampilly'', ''Kannoth'',''Kalakkattu'', ''Meledath'', ''Villuvatattu'', ''Kuzhuppully'', ''Trikkariyur'' and ''Cherumanattu'' are some among them.{{citation needed|date=January 2018}}

==Thiyyadi Nambiars==
There is another group of Ambalavasi Nambiars called '''Thiyyadi Nambiars'''. The adjectival word Thiyyadi is used to denote that they are the performers of an art form called Ayyappan [[Tīyāttu]]. Their ladies are known as '''Marumakalamma'''s.{{citation needed|date=January 2018}}

==Contributions==
Nambiars are traditionally Sanskrit scholars and held prominent positions in academics. The famous [[Malayalam]] satire poet [[Kunchan Nambiar]], who is believed to be the Sanskrit poet Rama Pānivāda, belongs to this caste. The chief contribution of Kunchan Nambiar is the invention and popularisation of a new performing art known as Thullal.{{citation needed|date=January 2018}}

==Community welfare==
A service organisation named Chakyar-Nambiar Samajam is in operation at Kochi.

==See also==
*[[Chakyar Koothu]]
*[[Mani Madhava Chakyar]]
*[[List of Ambalavasis]]

==References==

* {{Citation
| last=Chakiar
| first=Mani Madhava
| title=[[Nātyakalpadrumam]]
| publisher=[[Sangeet Natak Akademi]], [[New Delhi]]
| year=1975
| ID=
}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nambiar (Ambalavasi Mizhavu)}}
[[Category:Social groups of India]]
[[Category:Indian castes]]
[[Category:Kerala society]]
[[Category:Malayali Brahmins]]
[[Category:Hindu communities]]