Nair Dynasty
Encyclopedia
A number of Nair dynasties existed in present day Kerala state, South India
in the middle ages. These Hindu
dynasties ruled tiny city states called "nadus" and were in frequent warfare with each other. Though served as a powerful militia and hereditary governors under the Later Chera rule in Kerala
, the independent Nair
kingdoms emerged only in 12th century, after the fall of Mahodayapuram
in the hands of Later Cholas. They are one of the archaic
dynasty in civilization and the only archaic community which is still hailing and existing with its most ancient inheritance, customs, usages, practices, and serpent worship. Nair clan is well-known as supreme at endurance, rage, jurisprudence, special status to women, and expertise of weaponry.
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...
in the middle ages. These Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
dynasties ruled tiny city states called "nadus" and were in frequent warfare with each other. Though served as a powerful militia and hereditary governors under the Later Chera rule 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....
, the independent Nair
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...
kingdoms emerged only in 12th century, after the fall of Mahodayapuram
Kodungallur
Kodungallur is a municipality in Thrissur District, in the state of Kerala, India on the Malabar Coast. Kodungallur is located about 29 km northwest of Kochi city and 38 km Southwest of Thrissur, on National Highway 17 . Muziris the ancient seaport at the mouth of the Periyar River was...
in the hands of Later Cholas. They are one of the archaic
Archaic
Archaic may refer to a period of time preceding a "classical period":*List of archaeological periods**Archaic Greece**Archaic period in the Americas**Early Dynastic Period of Egypt*Archaic Homo sapiens, people who lived about 300,000 to 30,000 B.P...
dynasty in civilization and the only archaic community which is still hailing and existing with its most ancient inheritance, customs, usages, practices, and serpent worship. Nair clan is well-known as supreme at endurance, rage, jurisprudence, special status to women, and expertise of weaponry.
See Also
- Martial RaceMartial RaceMartial Race was a designation created by Army officials of British India, where they classified each ethnic group into one of two categories: 'Martial' and 'Non-Martial'. A 'martial race' was typically considered brave and well built for fighting. The 'non-martial races' were those whom the...
- KalarippayattuKalarippayattuKalaripayattu is a southern Indian martial art originating in Tamil Nadu but also practiced in contiguous parts of Kerala and Karnataka.Kalari payat includes strikes, kicks, grappling, preset forms, weaponry and healing methods...
- List of Nairs
- Forward Castes
- Ettuveetil PillaiEttuveetil PillamarThe Ettuveetil Pillamar were a group of nobles from eight Nair Houses in erstwhile Venad in present day Kerala state, South India. They were associated with the Padmanabhaswamy temple in Thiruvananthapuram and the Ettara Yogam. They were known by the villages in which they resided and all of them...
- Onnu Kure Áyiram YogamOnnu Kure Áyiram YogamOnnu Kure Áyiram Yogam , also called OKAY, is an association of members of the Nair society in the Kodungallur region of Kerala state, India. Literally Onnu Kure Áyiram Yogam means an association of one minus one thousand...