Malayala Kshatriyas
Encyclopedia
The term Malayala Kshatriya is used to denote a number of warrior and aristocratic clans belonging to the Nair caste
claiming the mythical Chandravanshi and Nagavanshi
Kshatriya
descent in Kerala
, South India
. The Nagavanshi claiming Kshatriyas of Kerala closely resemble the Bunts
of Tulunadu.
Before the British intervention in 1792, the Kerala region contained small feudal kingdoms in each of which the royal and noble lineages, the militia, and most land managers were drawn from the Nairs and related castes. The Malayala Kshatriya dynasties followed Matriarchy
unlike the earlier Tamil
patriarchal kings from Chera dynasty
, Ay kingdom
.
Present day Kerala and surrounding regions were ruled by the Chera (Kulasekhara) kings in the post-Sangam
period. By 12th century, the kingdom of the Kulasekharas was devastated by the continuous attacks from the Cholas. After a number of bloody campaigns, at the end, Chera kingdom was liberated from Chola control with the active support of the Nair governors and their suicide squads known as "chavers" called "ayirathil", "pathinayirathil" etc. But, the frequent wars with the Chola and Pandya kingdoms had weakened the Chera kingdom and finally led to their breakdown shortly after the victory over the Cholas. And these wars made changes in society and structure of Chera kingdom as the new Caste system and the Brahmanical ascendancy started. After and around the end of the Chera (Kulasekhara) kingdom, the Nair provincial governors and chieftains proclaimed independence. The Nair states (known as swaroopams) were confined to small areas but they frequently fought each other for domination over each other. By the mid-thirteenth century, the above said NaIr chieftains were ruling most of the Kerala region as independent kings.
The northern most part of the present day state of Kerala was called Ezhimala kingdom or Mooshika kingdom, it's not clear to historians that this kingdom was ever under the Cheras, or if was when proclaimed independence. However, at earlier stages they practiced patriarchy. However it is hardly estimated that the Mooshika dynasty after the end of the Chera rule in Kerala started practising Matriarchy, probably indicating the suspected influence of the tribes of Tulunad on them. The same confusions and debates are also arisen in the case other major kingdoms. Four major kingdoms were Kolathunad, Kozhikode
, Perumpadappu
Kochi and Venad
.
Elayidathu Swaroopam, Odanad Swaroopam, Purakad Swaroopam, Karapuram Kaimal, Kuthiravattathu Moopil Nair, Kavalappara Swaroopam, Venganadu, Thekkumkur, Vadakkumkur, Alengad, Parur, Kodungalloor, Thalappilly, Valluvanad, Kadathanad, Polanad, Kurumbranad, Poonjar Swaroopam, Kumbala Swaroopam, Neeleswaram - Alladathu Swaroopam, Papu Kovil Swaroopam(Beypore), Tanur Swaroopam or Vettattnad
, etc. were some of the feudal states.
The Nambudiri Brahmins stated that since the Nairs are not original Vedic Kshatriyas, the ruling dynasties can only be created if a Nambudiri degrades his caste and becomes a Kshatriya called Brahmana Kshatriyas.
Most notable example has been that of the Raja of Ambalappuzha, Pulikkal Chempakasseri Madathil Deva Narayanan. This dynasty was recognized as Brahmin by caste and therefore it was a "grave sin" to kill anyone from those clans. So, when Marthanda Varma
of Venad invaded Ambalappuzha, he ordered the former king, Pulikkal Chempakasseri Madathil Deva Narayanan to be banished from his native place rather than capturing and executing him. The Pulikkal Chempakasseri dynasty became extinct during the 1890s and the rituals and religious duties which were formerly performed by the royal family is currently performed by another Nambudiri family (called Véliyāmköl Illam).
Since the Nambudiris were not willing to officially coronate them, Nair kings had to depend either on the Arya Pattar (Kerala Iyers) community as in the case of kings of Palghat or the Embraanthiri community as in the cases of Travancore kings, Chirakkal kings. etc. for their coronation ceremonies. Some of the ruling clans started performing the ritual of Upanayanam (wearing sacred thread) during 17th century. Since the Nambudiris refused to perform this ceremony, Embraanthiris were asked to perform it. The first Malayala Kshatriya to undergo Upanayanam was Kolathiri Udaya Varman in AD 1617.
) as well as the Thampan
s and Thirumulpad
s of the kingdom of Cochin formed the highest subdivision of Malayala Kshatriya. They were recognized as Samanta Kshatriya without the so called Hiranyagarbha ceremony. They claim the mythical Chandravanshi descent.
The Rajas of the kingdom of Travancore (Travancore Royal Family
), Samanthan Nairs and a few Kiryathil Nair
families like Beypore Moopil Nair (Moopil Nair
) formed the next highest subdivision. They were required to undertake the Hiranyagarbha ceremony.
The other subdivisions are:
Kiryathil Nair
(Malabar), Illathu Nair
(Travancore), Swaroopathil Nair
, Menokki, Charna Nair, Padamangalam Nair
, Tamil Padam Nair
, Pallichan Nair (Malabar and Cochin), Nedungadi
of Nedunganad and Swaroopams. Kurumbiathiri of Raja of Kurumbranad (including 30 koottams, viz., Tacholi Koottam, Moodadi
Koottam, Balussery Koottam, Koilandi Koottam) claimed descent from Kolathiri
.
and the Kodungalloor
.
During Mysore ruler Tipu Sultan
's military intervention of the Malabar coast, some more Koil Thampurans immigrated to Travancore from Malabar and settled in Kirtipuram (near Kandiyoor in Mavelikkara), Pallam (in Kottayam), Paliyakkara (in Thiruvalla) and Nirazhi palace (in Changanasseri). The original clans split among themselves and new clans were established at Anantapuran (in Karthikapalli) and Chemprol (in Thiruvalla). Finally, three more Nair clans arrived from Malabar and established themselves at Cherukol, Karamma and Vatakkematham.
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...
claiming the mythical Chandravanshi and Nagavanshi
Nagavanshi
The Nagavanshi dynasty is one of the ancient Kshatriya dynasties of India. The Vedas do not mention Kshatriyas of either Suryavanshi, Chandravanshi, Nagavanshi, Agnivanshi or such Vanshas or lineages. The Puranas, of debatable dating, constructed such genealogies. The Puranas were supposedly...
Kshatriya
Kshatriya
*For the Bollywood film of the same name see Kshatriya Kshatriya or Kashtriya, meaning warrior, is one of the four varnas in Hinduism...
descent in 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....
, South India
South India
South India is the area encompassing India's states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu as well as the union territories of Lakshadweep and Pondicherry, occupying 19.31% of India's area...
. The Nagavanshi claiming Kshatriyas of Kerala closely resemble the Bunts
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...
of Tulunadu.
Before the British intervention in 1792, the Kerala region contained small feudal kingdoms in each of which the royal and noble lineages, the militia, and most land managers were drawn from the Nairs and related castes. The Malayala Kshatriya dynasties followed 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....
unlike the earlier Tamil
Tamil people
Tamil people , also called Tamils or Tamilians, are an ethnic group native to Tamil Nadu, India and the north-eastern region of Sri Lanka. Historic and post 15th century emigrant communities are also found across the world, notably Malaysia, Singapore, Mauritius, South Africa, Australia, Canada,...
patriarchal kings from 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...
, Ay kingdom
Ay kingdom
The Ay was the earliest ruling dynasty of the southern parts of present-day Kerala, south India. The Ay kings claimed descent from Yadavas or Ayar....
.
Origin of Nair swaroopams (feudal states)
The earliest reference to Nairs may be from the Greek Megasthenes. In his accounts of ancient India, he refers to the Narae of a region which may be Malabar.Present day Kerala and surrounding regions were ruled by the Chera (Kulasekhara) kings in the post-Sangam
Sangam
The Tamil Sangams were assemblies of Tamil scholars and poets that, according to traditional Tamil accounts, occurred in the remote past. Three assemblies are described...
period. By 12th century, the kingdom of the Kulasekharas was devastated by the continuous attacks from the Cholas. After a number of bloody campaigns, at the end, Chera kingdom was liberated from Chola control with the active support of the Nair governors and their suicide squads known as "chavers" called "ayirathil", "pathinayirathil" etc. But, the frequent wars with the Chola and Pandya kingdoms had weakened the Chera kingdom and finally led to their breakdown shortly after the victory over the Cholas. And these wars made changes in society and structure of Chera kingdom as the new Caste system and the Brahmanical ascendancy started. After and around the end of the Chera (Kulasekhara) kingdom, the Nair provincial governors and chieftains proclaimed independence. The Nair states (known as swaroopams) were confined to small areas but they frequently fought each other for domination over each other. By the mid-thirteenth century, the above said NaIr chieftains were ruling most of the Kerala region as independent kings.
The northern most part of the present day state of Kerala was called Ezhimala kingdom or Mooshika kingdom, it's not clear to historians that this kingdom was ever under the Cheras, or if was when proclaimed independence. However, at earlier stages they practiced patriarchy. However it is hardly estimated that the Mooshika dynasty after the end of the Chera rule in Kerala started practising Matriarchy, probably indicating the suspected influence of the tribes of Tulunad on them. The same confusions and debates are also arisen in the case other major kingdoms. Four major kingdoms were Kolathunad, Kozhikode
Kozhikode
Kozhikode During Classical antiquity and the Middle Ages, Kozhikkode was dubbed the "City of Spices" for its role as the major trading point of eastern spices. Kozhikode was once the capital of an independent kingdom of the same name and later of the erstwhile Malabar District...
, Perumpadappu
Perumpadappu
For the kingdom of Cochin or Perumpadapu Swaroopam, see Perumpadapu SwaroopamPerumpadappu is a small area of Palluruthy region of Cochin city of Ernakulam district, Kerala. It is stretch around 4 km2. It holds 3 temples and 2 main churches and a mosque to its credit...
Kochi and Venad
Venad
Venad Swarupam was one of the three prominent late medieval Hindu feudal kingdoms on Malabar Coast, south India, along with Kingdom of Calicut and Kingdom of Cannanore. In the early 14th century, Venad ruler Ravi Varma Kulasekhara had established a short-lived supremacy over southern India...
.
Elayidathu Swaroopam, Odanad Swaroopam, Purakad Swaroopam, Karapuram Kaimal, Kuthiravattathu Moopil Nair, Kavalappara Swaroopam, Venganadu, Thekkumkur, Vadakkumkur, Alengad, Parur, Kodungalloor, Thalappilly, Valluvanad, Kadathanad, Polanad, Kurumbranad, Poonjar Swaroopam, Kumbala Swaroopam, Neeleswaram - Alladathu Swaroopam, Papu Kovil Swaroopam(Beypore), Tanur Swaroopam or Vettattnad
Vettattnad
Vettathunad or Tanur swaroopam was a small erstwhile feudal kingdom in southern Malabar on Arabian Sea in southwest India ruled by a Hindu dynasty known as Tanur dynasty, over whom the Zamorin of Calicut claimed certain nominal suzerain rights.The King was called 'raja'or 'thampuran' or...
, etc. were some of the feudal states.
Skirmishes with Nambudiri Brahmans
In order to attain the official recognition from the Nambudiris, the Nair kings of Kerala had to undergo a ceremony known as Hiranyagarbha, which grants them Samanta Kshatriya status. But, a majority of the kings in Kerala refused to undergo this ceremony, challenging the Nambudiri priesthood.The Nambudiri Brahmins stated that since the Nairs are not original Vedic Kshatriyas, the ruling dynasties can only be created if a Nambudiri degrades his caste and becomes a Kshatriya called Brahmana Kshatriyas.
Most notable example has been that of the Raja of Ambalappuzha, Pulikkal Chempakasseri Madathil Deva Narayanan. This dynasty was recognized as Brahmin by caste and therefore it was a "grave sin" to kill anyone from those clans. So, when Marthanda Varma
Marthanda Varma
Marthanda Varma , was the founder of the Indian Hindu feudal kingdom of Travancore from Venad SwaroopamHe ruled from 1729 till his death in 1758, having succeeded his maternal uncle Dharma Raja.King Marthanda Varma is usually credited as the "founder of Kingdom of Travancore" from...
of Venad invaded Ambalappuzha, he ordered the former king, Pulikkal Chempakasseri Madathil Deva Narayanan to be banished from his native place rather than capturing and executing him. The Pulikkal Chempakasseri dynasty became extinct during the 1890s and the rituals and religious duties which were formerly performed by the royal family is currently performed by another Nambudiri family (called Véliyāmköl Illam).
Since the Nambudiris were not willing to officially coronate them, Nair kings had to depend either on the Arya Pattar (Kerala Iyers) community as in the case of kings of Palghat or the Embraanthiri community as in the cases of Travancore kings, Chirakkal kings. etc. for their coronation ceremonies. Some of the ruling clans started performing the ritual of Upanayanam (wearing sacred thread) during 17th century. Since the Nambudiris refused to perform this ceremony, Embraanthiris were asked to perform it. The first Malayala Kshatriya to undergo Upanayanam was Kolathiri Udaya Varman in AD 1617.
Subdivisions of Malayala Kshatriya
The Koil Thampurans of the kingdom of Travancore (Travancore Royal FamilyTravancore Royal Family
The Travancore Royal Family descended from the Venad line of the Cheras and ruled over the Indian state of Travancore until 1947.The Royal family, alternatively known as the Kupaka Royal Family, Thripappur Swaroopam, Venad Swaroopam, Vanchi Swaroopam etc., has its seat today at Trivandrum in...
) as well as the Thampan
Thampan
-Etymology:The word Thampan is a contraction of the term Thampuran which is a corrupt version of the Sanskrit term Samrat and stands for Your Lordship. The title of Varma is some times affixed to the name of a Thampan...
s and Thirumulpad
Thirumulpad
Tirumalpād or Thirumalpād is a Hindu Kshatriya title used in North and Central Kerala, India . The title is used independently by certain sections of Samanthan Nairs and Samanta Kshatriya as well as by some Namboothiri clans. Sāmantha Thirumalpād is investituted with a sacred thread and observes...
s of the kingdom of Cochin formed the highest subdivision of Malayala Kshatriya. They were recognized as Samanta Kshatriya without the so called Hiranyagarbha ceremony. They claim the mythical Chandravanshi descent.
The Rajas of the kingdom of Travancore (Travancore Royal Family
Travancore Royal Family
The Travancore Royal Family descended from the Venad line of the Cheras and ruled over the Indian state of Travancore until 1947.The Royal family, alternatively known as the Kupaka Royal Family, Thripappur Swaroopam, Venad Swaroopam, Vanchi Swaroopam etc., has its seat today at Trivandrum in...
), Samanthan Nairs and a few Kiryathil Nair
Kiryathil Nair
Kiryathil Nair or Kiriyathil Nair is a subcaste of the Nair community who traditionally lived in the region now known as Kerala, India. The 17th century Keralolpathi states them to be descendants of warrior Nāga tribes who came to Kerala from the north along the western coast...
families like Beypore Moopil Nair (Moopil Nair
Moopil Nair
Moopil Nair is the term used to denote Nair Naduvazhis and Desavazhis of tiny feudal kingdoms on the Malabar Coast, present day Kerala state, South India. Moopil Nairs belonged to the Samanthan Nair subcaste of the Nair caste in the Hindu Caste system...
) formed the next highest subdivision. They were required to undertake the Hiranyagarbha ceremony.
The other subdivisions are:
Kiryathil Nair
Kiryathil Nair
Kiryathil Nair or Kiriyathil Nair is a subcaste of the Nair community who traditionally lived in the region now known as Kerala, India. The 17th century Keralolpathi states them to be descendants of warrior Nāga tribes who came to Kerala from the north along the western coast...
(Malabar), Illathu Nair
Illathu Nair
Illathu Nair is one of the subcastes of the Nair community among Keralites. They are mostly found in the Travancore and Cochin areas. Illathu Nairs were considered highest in the Nair hierarchy in Travancore. Purification rites by the Maarans and priestly service from the Elayatus distinguished the...
(Travancore), Swaroopathil Nair
Swaroopathil Nair
Swaroopathil Nairs or Charna Nairs were one of the subcastes belonging to the Nair community in Kerala. They were warriors of Samanta Kshatriya Royal Households known as Swaroopams. This subcaste is found only in Travancore...
, Menokki, Charna Nair, Padamangalam Nair
Padamangalam Nair
Padamangalam Nair is one of the subcastes belonging to the Nair community in Kerala. They were migrants from Tamil Nadu who were embraced into the Nair community...
, Tamil Padam Nair
Tamil Padam Nair
Tamil Padam Nair is one of the subcastes belonging to the Nair community in Kerala. This class of Nairs, as the name indicates, were migrants from Tamil Nadu who were embraced into the Nair community. Most of them belonged to the Maravar community which composed the Maravar Pada or secondary army...
, Pallichan Nair (Malabar and Cochin), Nedungadi
Nedungadi
is a Samanthan last name, coming from the Indian state of Kerala. They belong to Samanthan section of the Malabar ruling class.Samanthans were the erstwhile rulers of small Nadus under the Chera Dynasty. The name Nedungadi is believed to be derived from the word "Nedunganadu" and the word...
of Nedunganad and Swaroopams. Kurumbiathiri of Raja of Kurumbranad (including 30 koottams, viz., Tacholi Koottam, Moodadi
Moodadi
-Demographics: India census, Moodadi had a population of 29607 with 14248 males and 15359 females....
Koottam, Balussery Koottam, Koilandi Koottam) claimed descent from 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...
.
Koil Thampuran
The highest ranking Malayala Kshatriya were some of the royal or chieftain subdivisions belonging to the Samanta Kshatriya sub-caste, popularly known as Koil Thampurans. There were ten Koil Thampuran clans in Travancore, the most ancient were the ones settled at Kilimanoor (in Attingal). The highest ranking clans among the Koil Thampurans, and thus the highest ranking Malayala Kshatriya, were those belonging to the four royal families of Kottayam(Malabar), Beypore, CochinCochin Royal Family
The Cochin royal family were rulers of Cochin, or Kochi, India. They were also known as Perumpadapu Swaroopam or Kuru Swaroopam.-Tradition of Perumpadapu Swaroopam:...
and the Kodungalloor
Kodungallur Kovilakam
Kodungallur Kovilakam refers to palace of Royal Family of Kodungallur. Kodungallur was an autonomous principality subordinate to the Raja of Cochin until Indian Independence in 1947....
.
During Mysore ruler Tipu Sultan
Tipu Sultan
Tipu Sultan , also known as the Tiger of Mysore, was the de facto ruler of the Kingdom of Mysore. He was the son of Hyder Ali, at that time an officer in the Mysorean army, and his second wife, Fatima or Fakhr-un-Nissa...
's military intervention of the Malabar coast, some more Koil Thampurans immigrated to Travancore from Malabar and settled in Kirtipuram (near Kandiyoor in Mavelikkara), Pallam (in Kottayam), Paliyakkara (in Thiruvalla) and Nirazhi palace (in Changanasseri). The original clans split among themselves and new clans were established at Anantapuran (in Karthikapalli) and Chemprol (in Thiruvalla). Finally, three more Nair clans arrived from Malabar and established themselves at Cherukol, Karamma and Vatakkematham.
See also
- Tulunad Kshatriya
- Nāga Kshatriya
- Samantha Kshatriya
- Organization of KaulasOrganization of KaulasKaula is a Tantrik tradition of Hinduism. It is a Culture and rich tradition of Sanatana Culture of Vedic way of life. Almost all Royal Families of Kerala of Kerala were Kaulas, as they performed Tamasa Pooja...