Kaimal
Encyclopedia
Kaimal was a title of nobility conferred on the Nair
s of Kerala
by the rulers of Cochin
and Travancore
. The term Kaimal is derived from Kai which in Malayalam means hand, signifying power. Earlier Kaimals were either recognised chieftains, such as the Kaimal of Vaikattillam,Kaimal of Niranampetti,the Anchu or five Kaimals of Cochin
, Thachudaya Kaimal of Irinjalakuda Temple etc. Others were in charge of the treasury, which according to custom, could not be seen even by the kings except in their presence. The counsel of the Kaimals was sought in all matters by their King.
The constant warfare between Kodassery Karthavu with the Koratty Kaimal had created instability in the southern Thrissur District in the Portuguese period in the 16th century.
Their women used the honorific title of Kunjamma, indicative of their greater status among the Nair community, where ladies unanimously used the title of Amma
Keralolpathi a historical book written in the 17th century says that the Kaimal title was given to the sons of Kolathiri
rulers of Kannur whom Keralolpathi addressed as Cheraman Vadakkan Perumal. Keralolpathi
says that Kolathiri
s were the descendents of a Tulu prince brother of Tulu king Kavi Rajasinghan who established the Kolathiri
dynasty in the 12th century at Valapattanam near Kannur. The Matriarchal dynasty established at closely followed the customs of Bunt (community)
such as Matriarchy
which was not practised by the earlier Tamil rulers of Chera Dynasty
. Keralolpathi
says that the Tulu invader sent as Viceroy of Kerala by Krishnaraya of Rashtrakuta dynasty, declared himself as Cheraman Perumal. The sons of this first Tulu Cheraman Perumal were called Ner Ninta Kaimal(The straight Kaimal) and Chuzhanuu Vanna Kaimal (The Kaimal who came in a twisted way). The son born of a Kshatriya queen was called Straight Kaimal while the descendent of Vellala (agriculturist) was called Twisted Kaimal according to Keralolpathi
. Thus the Kaimal title is equivalent to the Thambi title of Travancore.
Nair
Nair , also known as Nayar , refers to "not a unitary group but a named category of castes", which historically embody several castes and many subdivisions, not all of whom bore the Nair title. These people historically live in the present-day Indian state of Kerala...
s of Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
by the rulers of Cochin
Kingdom of Cochin
Kingdom of Cochin was a late medieval Hindu kingdom and later Princely State on the Malabar Coast, South India...
and Travancore
Travancore
Kingdom of Travancore was a former Hindu feudal kingdom and Indian Princely State with its capital at Padmanabhapuram or Trivandrum ruled by the Travancore Royal Family. The Kingdom of Travancore comprised most of modern day southern Kerala, Kanyakumari district, and the southernmost parts of...
. The term Kaimal is derived from Kai which in Malayalam means hand, signifying power. Earlier Kaimals were either recognised chieftains, such as the Kaimal of Vaikattillam,Kaimal of Niranampetti,the Anchu or five Kaimals of Cochin
Kingdom of Cochin
Kingdom of Cochin was a late medieval Hindu kingdom and later Princely State on the Malabar Coast, South India...
, Thachudaya Kaimal of Irinjalakuda Temple etc. Others were in charge of the treasury, which according to custom, could not be seen even by the kings except in their presence. The counsel of the Kaimals was sought in all matters by their King.
The constant warfare between Kodassery Karthavu with the Koratty Kaimal had created instability in the southern Thrissur District in the Portuguese period in the 16th century.
Their women used the honorific title of Kunjamma, indicative of their greater status among the Nair community, where ladies unanimously used the title of Amma
Keralolpathi a historical book written in the 17th century says that the Kaimal title was given to the sons of Kolathiri
Kolathiri
Kolathiri or Kolathiri Rājā was the title by which the senior most male along the matilinial line of the Mushika or Kolathunādu Royal Family was styled...
rulers of Kannur whom Keralolpathi addressed as Cheraman Vadakkan Perumal. Keralolpathi
Keralolpathi
The Keralolpathi is a Malayalam work that deals with the origin of the land of Kerala. Shungunny Menon ascribes the authorship of this work to Thunchaththu Ramanujan Ezhuthachan, a 17th century scholar of the Malabar region of India. The Keralolpathi is mostly an expansion from an earlier Sanskrit...
says that Kolathiri
Kolathiri
Kolathiri or Kolathiri Rājā was the title by which the senior most male along the matilinial line of the Mushika or Kolathunādu Royal Family was styled...
s were the descendents of a Tulu prince brother of Tulu king Kavi Rajasinghan who established the Kolathiri
Kolathiri
Kolathiri or Kolathiri Rājā was the title by which the senior most male along the matilinial line of the Mushika or Kolathunādu Royal Family was styled...
dynasty in the 12th century at Valapattanam near Kannur. The Matriarchal dynasty established at closely followed the customs of Bunt (community)
Bunt (community)
Bunt , previously spelled Bant, are a community of erstwhile nobility, feudatory and gentry from the region of Tulu Nadu in the south west of India which comprises the districts of Udupi and Dakshina Kannada in the Indian state of Karnataka and Kasaragod taluk of Kerala...
such as Matriarchy
Matriarchy
A matriarchy is a society in which females, especially mothers, have the central roles of political leadership and moral authority. It is also sometimes called a gynocratic or gynocentric society....
which was not practised by the earlier Tamil rulers of Chera Dynasty
Chera dynasty
Chera Dynasty in South India is one of the most ancient ruling dynasties in India. Together with the Cholas and the Pandyas, they formed the three principle warring Iron Age Tamil kingdoms in southern India...
. Keralolpathi
Keralolpathi
The Keralolpathi is a Malayalam work that deals with the origin of the land of Kerala. Shungunny Menon ascribes the authorship of this work to Thunchaththu Ramanujan Ezhuthachan, a 17th century scholar of the Malabar region of India. The Keralolpathi is mostly an expansion from an earlier Sanskrit...
says that the Tulu invader sent as Viceroy of Kerala by Krishnaraya of Rashtrakuta dynasty, declared himself as Cheraman Perumal. The sons of this first Tulu Cheraman Perumal were called Ner Ninta Kaimal(The straight Kaimal) and Chuzhanuu Vanna Kaimal (The Kaimal who came in a twisted way). The son born of a Kshatriya queen was called Straight Kaimal while the descendent of Vellala (agriculturist) was called Twisted Kaimal according to Keralolpathi
Keralolpathi
The Keralolpathi is a Malayalam work that deals with the origin of the land of Kerala. Shungunny Menon ascribes the authorship of this work to Thunchaththu Ramanujan Ezhuthachan, a 17th century scholar of the Malabar region of India. The Keralolpathi is mostly an expansion from an earlier Sanskrit...
. Thus the Kaimal title is equivalent to the Thambi title of Travancore.
See also
- NairNairNair , also known as Nayar , refers to "not a unitary group but a named category of castes", which historically embody several castes and many subdivisions, not all of whom bore the Nair title. These people historically live in the present-day Indian state of Kerala...
- Kingdom of CochinKingdom of CochinKingdom of Cochin was a late medieval Hindu kingdom and later Princely State on the Malabar Coast, South India...
- TravancoreTravancoreKingdom of Travancore was a former Hindu feudal kingdom and Indian Princely State with its capital at Padmanabhapuram or Trivandrum ruled by the Travancore Royal Family. The Kingdom of Travancore comprised most of modern day southern Kerala, Kanyakumari district, and the southernmost parts of...
- KeralaKeralaor Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
- JenmiJenmiJenmi is the term used to refer to the landlords of the Nair and Namboothiris castes from Kerala. In the past the majority, if not all the land was owned by these Jenmimar , and it was not unusual for an aristocratic family to own up to of land...
- Bunt (community)Bunt (community)Bunt , previously spelled Bant, are a community of erstwhile nobility, feudatory and gentry from the region of Tulu Nadu in the south west of India which comprises the districts of Udupi and Dakshina Kannada in the Indian state of Karnataka and Kasaragod taluk of Kerala...