Nambidi
Encyclopedia
Nambidi is a caste from Kerala, which is considered half Brahmin
and half Kshatriya
. Nambidi is believed to be an artificial caste which came in to existence when a section of the Nambuthiris got degraded or a section of the Nair
s got upgraded in the caste system.
Nambidis are divided in to two: the ones who wear the sacred thread and perform the Upanayanam
and the ones who do not. The former are Nambuthiris who were degraded to the Brahmakshatriya
status since their ancestors had committed a heinous act by murdering a ruler of Kerala
. On their return the other Namboodiris welcomed them but they refused to seat themselves with the other Brahmin
s owing to the sin they committed and instead sat on the steps of the hall. They came to be known as Nom Padimels or those on the steps and this term was later corrupted into Nambidi. The latter are Nair
s who were assigned the Nambidi title. Nair Nambidis have the right to enter any temple without the sacred thread and eat with the Brahmins. The Kollengode royal family is believed to have been descended from them. The Rajas of Kollengode in Palghat district are the classic examples of the descendants of Nambidi Clan.
Death pollution is observed for 12 days (Unlike other Brahmakshatriya
s like Thampans and Thampurans, who observe it for a total of 11 days). The Nambidis were counted as Samanta Kshatriya during the Travancore census of 1901 and as Samanthan Nair during the Cochin Census of 1891.
Brahmin
Brahmin Brahman, Brahma and Brahmin.Brahman, Brahmin and Brahma have different meanings. Brahman refers to the Supreme Self...
and half 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...
. Nambidi is believed to be an artificial caste which came in to existence when a section of the Nambuthiris got degraded or a section of the 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...
s got upgraded in the caste system.
Nambidis are divided in to two: the ones who wear the sacred thread and perform the Upanayanam
Upanayanam
Upanayana is the initiation ritual by which initiates are invested with a sacred thread, to symbolize the transference of spiritual knowledge .- Significance of the sacred thread :...
and the ones who do not. The former are Nambuthiris who were degraded to the Brahmakshatriya
Brahmakshatriya
Brahmakshatriya or Murdhabhishikta is a term applied in Hindu varna division to people who have a Brahmin father and a Kshatriya mother. According to Manusmriti, such people are treated equal to Brahmins. Parasurama is a classical example of a Brahmakshatriya...
status since their ancestors had committed a heinous act by murdering a ruler 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....
. On their return the other Namboodiris welcomed them but they refused to seat themselves with the other Brahmin
Brahmin
Brahmin Brahman, Brahma and Brahmin.Brahman, Brahmin and Brahma have different meanings. Brahman refers to the Supreme Self...
s owing to the sin they committed and instead sat on the steps of the hall. They came to be known as Nom Padimels or those on the steps and this term was later corrupted into Nambidi. The latter are 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...
s who were assigned the Nambidi title. Nair Nambidis have the right to enter any temple without the sacred thread and eat with the Brahmins. The Kollengode royal family is believed to have been descended from them. The Rajas of Kollengode in Palghat district are the classic examples of the descendants of Nambidi Clan.
Death pollution is observed for 12 days (Unlike other Brahmakshatriya
Brahmakshatriya
Brahmakshatriya or Murdhabhishikta is a term applied in Hindu varna division to people who have a Brahmin father and a Kshatriya mother. According to Manusmriti, such people are treated equal to Brahmins. Parasurama is a classical example of a Brahmakshatriya...
s like Thampans and Thampurans, who observe it for a total of 11 days). The Nambidis were counted as Samanta Kshatriya during the Travancore census of 1901 and as Samanthan Nair during the Cochin Census of 1891.