Mannadiyar
Encyclopedia
Mannadiar is a Hindu caste primarily located in Palakkad
district of Kerala
, South India.
. Agriculture and business were their traditional ways of earning livelihood in olden days. They follow Makkathaayam tradition and the after-death pollution time (pula) for family members is for 10 days.
Male members are identified by their family (tharavad) name and female members migrate to their husbands' family after marriage and keep the husband's family name. The practice of using title "Guptan" is normally seen after middle age. Married female members were earlier addressed as "Akathaal" (in short as "Thaal" - means the person leaves inside the house)and with the time, the suffix transformed to "Ammal" and later to Amma and Mannadiar.
, Mannampetta, Pulappetta, Peringode, Kongad, Karimba, Karakurussi, Pallikkurup, Mannarkkad
, Thachanattukara, Attasseri, Edathanattukara
, Chethallur
etc.
Food habits of Guptans are a mix of vegetarian and non-vegetarian. Though many women still prefer to be vegetarian but men are mostly non-vegetarians (mainly fish and chicken). Other than the normal Hindu festivals like Onam
, Vishu
, Thiruvathira
, Karthika Vilakku, Deepavali and Dussehra are also celebrated by the new generation.
Marriage is normally called paanigrahanam (പാണീഗ്രഹണം) and it is a simple function nowadays (earlier marriage was eventful for four days and groom used to travel to bride's house on an elephant). Today's marriages are for one day and some major customs still followed are ayiru unnal (ayinioonu) - having a feast (for groom and his aid, normally brother-in-law)before starting from the house, kuda pidiykkal - groom's aid will hold umbrella till they reach bride's house irrespective of the weather and nadhaswaram - treated as sacred music will be accompanied, thalappoli - receiving function at bride's residence (marriage hall)by girls with a tray of flowers and oil lamp, kaalu kazhukal - Bride's younger brother will clean the groom's feet while receiving him to the mandapam, thalikettu (solemn vow) - Tying the thali
chain in the bride's neck and exchange of rings there after, paanigrahanam (accepting the bride by taking holy vows)- Bride's uncle( or father)will perform the "kanya daanam" by keeping the hand of bride into the hand of groom and agni pradhakshinam - after holding the hands mutually by a knot of their small fingers, groom and bride together move around the "Vivaha-homa agni"-the sacred fire.
Kaikottikkali, an important art form used to be performed in bride's house(previous night of the marriage) and groom's residence (on the day of marriage after receiving bride & groom )in olden days. Elite class used to conduct Kathakali
too. Palum Pazhavum ( feeding sweet milk and banana after marriage) and Kavukeral ( visiting their respective paradevatha temples after 7 days of marriage) are other customs related to marriage.
or in a near by river on 10th day or after an year.
Palakkad
Palakkad , formerly known as Palghat, is a municipality and a town in the state of Kerala in southern India, spread over an area of 26.60 km2.The city is situated about north of state capital Thiruvananthapuram. It is the administrative headquarters of Palakkad District...
district 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....
, South India.
Gothram
Mannadiars belong to Kailasa gothramGotra
In the Hindu society, the term Gotra broadly refers to people who are descendants in an unbroken male line from a common male ancestor. Panini defines gotra for grammatical purposes as apatyam pautraprabhrti gotram , which means "the word gotra denotes the progeny beginning with the son's son"...
. Agriculture and business were their traditional ways of earning livelihood in olden days. They follow Makkathaayam tradition and the after-death pollution time (pula) for family members is for 10 days.
Male members are identified by their family (tharavad) name and female members migrate to their husbands' family after marriage and keep the husband's family name. The practice of using title "Guptan" is normally seen after middle age. Married female members were earlier addressed as "Akathaal" (in short as "Thaal" - means the person leaves inside the house)and with the time, the suffix transformed to "Ammal" and later to Amma and Mannadiar.
Demographics
Mannadiar population is spread within Palakkad district only. The major pockets being Palakkad Town, Chittur, Kollengode, Koduvayur, Tattamangalam, Pattanchery, Cherpullassery, Karippode, Nemmara, Katampazhippuram, Mangalamkunnu, Thiruvazhiyode, Punchapadam, SreekrishnapuramSreekrishnapuram
Sreekrishnapuram is a small village near Cherpulassery in Palakkad District of Kerala State, South India. The village was once the seat of Nedunganad Rulers. Later on Eralpad Raja, the second Raja of Zamoorin defeated the Nedungadies and annexed it to their principality.- Language & Religion :The...
, Mannampetta, Pulappetta, Peringode, Kongad, Karimba, Karakurussi, Pallikkurup, Mannarkkad
Mannarkkad
Mannarkkad , formerly known as Mannarghat is a town in Palakkad district of Kerala State, South India. It is the headquarters of Mannarkkad Taluk, and is one of the largest revenue Taluks in Kerala. It is situated 40 km north-east of the district headquarters Palakkad, on the way to...
, Thachanattukara, Attasseri, Edathanattukara
Edathanattukara
Edathanattukara is a village in Palakkad District, Kerala, India.-History:There are differences of opinion about the origin of the village's name. The Edathanattukara is derived from the word kara. The ancient people had witnessed that it got the name because it is situated in between northern...
, Chethallur
Chethallur
Chethallur is an Indian village situated in Palakkad District of Kerala. The population of the village is around 5000. This village attained the media interest recently, because of the construction of the new muriyankanni bridge. This bridge may reduce the calicut- palakkad distance by around...
etc.
Culture
Mannadiars were traditionally farmers and agriculture was their main way of earning livelihoods in olden days. Families without even a small paddy field was very rare in those times. The cross section of the community was a blend, ranging from poor farmers to big feudal land lords. Most of their houses were called "Kalam" which means the place for after - harvesting activities of paddy. After the land reforms, the attraction of agriculture was in the downward trend and some have shifted to plantation field and later focused on education, business and service sectors. Teaching was the most popular profession in earlier days among the community and many prominent teachers with their proud disciples had positively contributed towards the improvement of their community as well as the society in general. Today's generations are more focused on professional education and many have excelled in the fields of Engineering, Medical Science, Robotics, Space Technology, Computer Software, etc. But there is almost a vacuum in the area of political and civil administration.Food habits of Guptans are a mix of vegetarian and non-vegetarian. Though many women still prefer to be vegetarian but men are mostly non-vegetarians (mainly fish and chicken). Other than the normal Hindu festivals like Onam
Onam
Onam is a Hindu festival celebrated by the people of Kerala, India. The festival commemorates the Vamana avatar of Vishnu and the subsequent homecoming of the legendary Emperor Mahabali. It falls during the month of Chingam and lasts for ten days...
, Vishu
Vishu
Vishu is a Hindu festival celebrated in the Indian state of Kerala, usually on April 14 of the Gregorian calendar. This occasion signifies the Sun's transit into the Mesha Raasi , according to Indian astrological calculations, and represents the vernal equinox...
, Thiruvathira
Thiruvathira
Thiruvathira is a Hindu festival celebrated in the southern Indian state of Kerala on the full moon day of the month of Dhanu . The festival commemorates the death of Kamadeva, the Hindu god of love...
, Karthika Vilakku, Deepavali and Dussehra are also celebrated by the new generation.
Marriage customs
Mannadiar' marriage related processes start from "Ashtamangalyam" (അഷ്ടമംഗല്യം) function- the engagement at bride's residence. After horoscope matching, on the day of "Ashtamangalyam", a "Thamboola Prasnam" - astrological prediction based on Beettle leaves and Deepam (oil lamp) - will be conducted as a ritual and results of the "Prasna" will be interpreted to all relatives assembled there.(This is to take remedial measures and precautions for hurdles foreseen in the future married life, if any.). Other customs connected to this function are tying of horoscopes of bride & groom together symbolically for the fixation of marriage and "Pon veykkal" ( presenting Gold ornament to bride)by Groom's relatives (normally sister of groom) followed by feast.Marriage is normally called paanigrahanam (പാണീഗ്രഹണം) and it is a simple function nowadays (earlier marriage was eventful for four days and groom used to travel to bride's house on an elephant). Today's marriages are for one day and some major customs still followed are ayiru unnal (ayinioonu) - having a feast (for groom and his aid, normally brother-in-law)before starting from the house, kuda pidiykkal - groom's aid will hold umbrella till they reach bride's house irrespective of the weather and nadhaswaram - treated as sacred music will be accompanied, thalappoli - receiving function at bride's residence (marriage hall)by girls with a tray of flowers and oil lamp, kaalu kazhukal - Bride's younger brother will clean the groom's feet while receiving him to the mandapam, thalikettu (solemn vow) - Tying the thali
Thali
Thali is a Western, Central, and North-Western Indian meal with contents varying from one region to another. More usual and famous thalis are Maharashtrian, Gujarati and Rajasthani. A thali is a selection of different dishes, usually served in small bowls on a round tray. The round tray is...
chain in the bride's neck and exchange of rings there after, paanigrahanam (accepting the bride by taking holy vows)- Bride's uncle( or father)will perform the "kanya daanam" by keeping the hand of bride into the hand of groom and agni pradhakshinam - after holding the hands mutually by a knot of their small fingers, groom and bride together move around the "Vivaha-homa agni"-the sacred fire.
Kaikottikkali, an important art form used to be performed in bride's house(previous night of the marriage) and groom's residence (on the day of marriage after receiving bride & groom )in olden days. Elite class used to conduct Kathakali
Kathakali
Kathakali is a highly stylized classical Indian dance-drama noted for the attractive make-up of characters, elaborate costumes, detailed gestures and well-defined body movements presented in tune with the anchor playback music and complementary percussion...
too. Palum Pazhavum ( feeding sweet milk and banana after marriage) and Kavukeral ( visiting their respective paradevatha temples after 7 days of marriage) are other customs related to marriage.
Birth customs
On birth of a child in the family, the main rituals are "Irupathettu" - the first birth day (star) as per lunar calender (28th day after birth) and choroon (ചോറൂണ്)- first feeding of food (annaprasam)in 6th month along with child's naming ceremony. Shashtipoorthy (ഷഷ്ഠിപൂര്ത്തി)- 60th birthday & Sathabhishekam(ശതാഭിഷേകം)- seeing of 1000 full moon/84th birth day, are celebrated widely .Death customs
Mannadiayr observe 10 days of defilement (pula- after death pollution time). After cremation (sometimes buriel in olden days), the eldest son will follow deeksha for these days (or for a mandalam - 41 days or an year). On 9th day is Athazha oottu and on 10th day, Sanchayanam - collection of bones of the demised person- followed by Baliitharppanam by seshakriyakkar . Nimanjanam of the collected bones will be done at Thirunelli, ThirunavayaThirunavaya
Thirunavaya is a small village in Malappuram district of Kerala, south India. This village is famed as the theatre of the Mamankam festival held in the Thirunavaya Temple on the banks of the Bharathapuzha River....
or in a near by river on 10th day or after an year.
Notables
- CS Sukumaran, state president
- Unnikrishnan Thiruvazhiyode, civil servant and author