Pothuval
Encyclopedia
Pothuval is a caste of Ambalavasi
s (Brahmins with non-priestly duties) in Kerala
. Ambalavasis are broadly grouped into the sacred thread (Upanayana
) wearing castes and the non-threaded castes, and Pothuvals belong to the latter group. The males were usually employed as managers, accountants or store-keepers in temples. Pothuval women are known as Pothuvalsiars. A Pothuval house is known as Pothuvattu. Many Pothuval ancestral house (tharavad) names thus have suffix attu.
There are two classes in Pothuval community: Akappothuval and Purappthuval. Akappothuval works inside the Chuttampalam
and Purappothuval works outside the Chuttampalam. Pothuvals are said to be descended from Nambuthiri fathers and Nair
mothers. But unlike the Nambiars, who observe the death pollution for 12 days, the Pothuvals observe a total of 13 days of death.
Purappothuval comprises Mālappothuval and Chendappothuval. Mālappothuvals, like Varriers and Pushpakan
Unnis, are garland makers. Chendappothuvals, like Marars in Kochi, are temple musicians. As temple musicians, they play instruments like Chenda
, Idakka
or Madhalam
. They also sing Sopanam music, a style of music unique to Kerala, based on Jayadeva
's Gita Govinda
or Ashtapadi.
Payyanur
Pothuuvals, from Kannur
District in Kerala, are different from the Pothuvals described above. In olden days they were mainly associated with Payyanur Subramanayaswami Temple and were called achans. Male members were not allowed to travel beyond Thejaswini river (near Nileshwar] and Perumba River (Payyanur). Female members were not allowed to cover the upper half of their body with a Melmundu by a decree by Raja of Chirakkal. These Pothuvals are not considered as a a sub caste of Nairs.They have an association called Skandadas Samajam headquartered in Payyanur.
Ambalavasi
Ambalavasi is a generic name for a collection of castes among Hindus in Kerala who render temple services.-Etymology:The term Ambalavasi is derived from two Malayalam words, being Ambalam and Vasi...
s (Brahmins with non-priestly duties) 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....
. Ambalavasis are broadly grouped into the sacred thread (Upanayana
Upanayana
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 :...
) wearing castes and the non-threaded castes, and Pothuvals belong to the latter group. The males were usually employed as managers, accountants or store-keepers in temples. Pothuval women are known as Pothuvalsiars. A Pothuval house is known as Pothuvattu. Many Pothuval ancestral house (tharavad) names thus have suffix attu.
There are two classes in Pothuval community: Akappothuval and Purappthuval. Akappothuval works inside the Chuttampalam
Sreekovil
The Sreekovil, also known as the Sanctum sanctorum, is the building in which the idol of the deity in a Hindu temple is installed.The area around the Sreekovil is referred as to the Chuttapalam, which generally includes other deities and the main boundary wall of the temple...
and Purappothuval works outside the Chuttampalam. Pothuvals are said to be descended from Nambuthiri fathers and 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...
mothers. But unlike the Nambiars, who observe the death pollution for 12 days, the Pothuvals observe a total of 13 days of death.
Purappothuval comprises Mālappothuval and Chendappothuval. Mālappothuvals, like Varriers and Pushpakan
Ambalavasi
Ambalavasi is a generic name for a collection of castes among Hindus in Kerala who render temple services.-Etymology:The term Ambalavasi is derived from two Malayalam words, being Ambalam and Vasi...
Unnis, are garland makers. Chendappothuvals, like Marars in Kochi, are temple musicians. As temple musicians, they play instruments like Chenda
Chenda
The Chenda is a cylindrical percussion instrument used widely in the state of Kerala, and Tulu Nadu of Karnataka State in India. In Tulu Nadu it is known as Chande....
, Idakka
Idakka
The idakka , also spelt edaykka, is an hourglass-shaped drum from Kerala in south India. This handy percussion instrument is very similar to the pan-Indian damaru. While the damaru is played by rattling knotted cords against the resonators, the idakka is played with a stick...
or Madhalam
Madhalam
The maddalam or madhalam is a drum made out of the wood of the jackfruit tree. It has two sides for playing, made out of leather, and has different kind of sounds on each side...
. They also sing Sopanam music, a style of music unique to Kerala, based on Jayadeva
Jayadeva
Jayadeva was a Sanskrit poet circa 1200 AD. He is most known for his composition, the epic poem Gita Govinda, which depicts the divine love of Krishna-an avatar of Vishnu and his consort, Radha, and it is mentioned that Radha is greater than Hari, and is considered an important text in the...
's Gita Govinda
Gita Govinda
The Gita Govinda is a work composed by the 12th-century poet, Jayadeva, who was born in Kenduli Sasan near Puri in Orissa. It describes the relationship between Krishna and the gopis of Vrindavana, and in particular one gopi named Radha...
or Ashtapadi.
Payyanur
Payyanur
Payyanur is a Municipal Town situated at the northern end of Kannur district in North Malabar region of Kerala, India. This Municipality consists of three administrative villages viz. Vellur, Korom and Payyannur. Other villages are; Annur and Kokkanissery....
Pothuuvals, from Kannur
Kannur
Kannur , also known as Cannanore, is a city in Kannur district in the Indian state of Kerala. It is the administrative headquarters of the District of Kannur and 518km north of state capital Trivandrum. During British rule in India, Kannur was known by its old name Cannanore, which is still in...
District in Kerala, are different from the Pothuvals described above. In olden days they were mainly associated with Payyanur Subramanayaswami Temple and were called achans. Male members were not allowed to travel beyond Thejaswini river (near Nileshwar] and Perumba River (Payyanur). Female members were not allowed to cover the upper half of their body with a Melmundu by a decree by Raja of Chirakkal. These Pothuvals are not considered as a a sub caste of Nairs.They have an association called Skandadas Samajam headquartered in Payyanur.
Prominent Pothuvals
- Neralattu Rama PoduvalNeralattu Rama PoduvalNeralattu Rama Poduval or Njaralathu Rama Poduval was an exponent of the ashtapadi/sopanam music form practised in Kerala in southern India...
- ( SopanamSopanamSopana Sangeetham is a form of Indian classical music that developed in the temples of Kerala in south India in the wake of the increasing popularity of Jayadeva's Gita Govinda or Ashtapadis.-Etymology:...
artist, recipient of Kendra Sahitya Academy award) - Aliparambil Sivarama Poduval (1925–2006)- ThayambakaThayambakaThayambaka or tayambaka is a type of solo chenda performance that developed in the south Indian state of Kerala, in which the main player at the centre improvises rhythmically on the beats of half-a-dozen or a few more chenda and ilathalam players around.A thayambaka performance on the chenda has...
, MelamMelamMelam is the common name for percussion instruments that are unique to Tamilnadu, Kerala and parts of South India. The most traditional of all melams is the Pandi Melam, which is generally performed outside the temple. Another melam called the Panchari Melam, which is similar to Pandi Melam, but...
, Sopana Sangeethacharyan - T.R Rama Poduval (Founder of Poduval Samajam)
- Krishnankutti Poduval - ChendaChendaThe Chenda is a cylindrical percussion instrument used widely in the state of Kerala, and Tulu Nadu of Karnataka State in India. In Tulu Nadu it is known as Chande....
Artist - Appukkutty Poduval - MadhalamMadhalamThe maddalam or madhalam is a drum made out of the wood of the jackfruit tree. It has two sides for playing, made out of leather, and has different kind of sounds on each side...
Artist - A.K. Poduval - Freedom Fighter, Former Panchayath President of Taliparamba.C.P.I.Leader in Kannur District.Awarded Thamra pathra by Govt.of India.