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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.