Created by Pachu Kannan
Last edited March 11, 2026
->Pachu Kannan
Undid revision 1032259440 by RGarudan (talk) removing sourced content.
 
enhanced references for consistency
 
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{{Short description|Intermediate sub-caste}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2019}}
'''Pallichan Nair''' is an intermediate [[Nair]] sub-caste,<ref>{{cite book |title=Census of India, 1961 - Volume 7 |page=19}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=T. Madhava Menon |title=A handbook of Kerala, Volume 2 |publisher=International School of Dravidian Linguistics, 2002 |page=800}}</ref> seen predominantly in [[Malabar (Northern Kerala)|Malabar]] and [[Cochin]] areas. They are found in [[Travancore]] in very low numbers. They are the palanquin / pallak bearers for the ruling dynasties, at some places for the Janmi Namboothiris<ref>{{cite book |title=Census of India, 1961, Vol 7 |publisher=India Office of Registrar General, 1965 |page=19}}</ref> and Nair chieftains.<ref>{{cite book |title=Journal of Kerala studies, Vol 4 |publisher=University of Kerala, 1977 |page=152}}</ref> The conventional prayer 'Pana' was performed by Pallichan Nairs.{{Citation needed|date=April 2019}} They were also employed as warriors, and the Pada Nairs of Kavalappara Moopil Nair constituted mainly Pallichan nairs.{{Citation needed|date=April 2019}} Vaniya Nairs, Pallichan Nairs,  and Maniyanis, are Theyyam worshippers(The former being superior) and they have their own shrines for their Theyyams.<ref>{{cite book |last1=A. M. Abraham Ayrookuzhiel |title=The Sacred in Popular Hinduism: An Empirical Study in Chirakkal, North Malabar |publisher=Christian Institute for the Study of Religion and Society, Bangalore, 1983 |page=16}}</ref>
'''Pallichan Nair''' is an intermediate Nair subcaste <ref>{{cite book |title=Census of India, 1961 - Volume 7 |page=19}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=T. Madhava Menon |title=A handbook of Kerala, Volume 2 |publisher=International School of Dravidian Linguistics, 2002 |page=800}}</ref> seen predominantly in [[Malabar (Northern Kerala)|Malabar]] and [[Cochin]] areas. They are found in [[Travancore]] in very low numbers. They are the palanquin / pallak bearers for the ruling dynasties, at some places for the Jenmi Namboothiris<ref>{{cite book |title=Census of India, 1961, Vol 7 |publisher=India Office of Registrar General, 1965 |page=19}}</ref> and Nair chieftains.<ref>{{cite book |title=Journal of Kerala studies, Vol 4 |publisher=University of Kerala, 1977 |page=152}}</ref> Today, two sub-castes among the Nairs, Pallichan and [[Maniyani (caste)|Maniyani]], are theyyam worshippers, and they have their own shrines for their theyyams.<ref name ="The Sacred in Popular Hinduism">{{ cite book|title= The Sacred in Popular Hindusim: n Empirical Study in Chirakkal, North Malabar | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=29IcAAAAMAAJ&focus=searchwithinvolume&q=maniyani}}</ref>


Pallichan and [[Chakkala Nair|Vattakad]] were treated as an intermediate class of Shudras because there was neither inter-dining nor inter-marriage between the members of these subdivisions and the high caste Shudras.<ref>{{cite book |title=Census of India, 1961 - Volume 7 |page=19}}</ref>
Pallichan and [[Chakkala Nair|Vattakad]] were treated as an intermediate class.<ref>{{cite book |title=Census of India, 1961 - Volume 7 |page=19}}</ref>
 
==Notable people==
<!---♦♦♦ Only add a person to this list if they already have their OWN article on the English Bharatpedia ♦♦♦--->
<!---♦♦♦ Please keep the list in alphabetical order by LAST NAME ♦♦♦--->
* [[Nalapat Narayana Menon]] - writer
* [[Kamala Surayya]] - poet


==References==
==References==

Latest revision as of 19:10, 11 March 2026


Pallichan Nair is an intermediate Nair subcaste [1][2] seen predominantly in Malabar and Cochin areas. They are found in Travancore in very low numbers. They are the palanquin / pallak bearers for the ruling dynasties, at some places for the Jenmi Namboothiris[3] and Nair chieftains.[4] Today, two sub-castes among the Nairs, Pallichan and Maniyani, are theyyam worshippers, and they have their own shrines for their theyyams.[5]

Pallichan and Vattakad were treated as an intermediate class.[6]

Notable people[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. Census of India, 1961 - Volume 7. p. 19.
  2. T. Madhava Menon. A handbook of Kerala, Volume 2. International School of Dravidian Linguistics, 2002. p. 800.
  3. Census of India, 1961, Vol 7. India Office of Registrar General, 1965. p. 19.
  4. Journal of Kerala studies, Vol 4. University of Kerala, 1977. p. 152.
  5. Census of India, 1961 - Volume 7. p. 19.