Nambiar

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Nambiar (also written Nambiyar or Nambier ) is an Indian Jati (sub-caste). It belongs to the Varna of the Kshatriya from the Malabar region in the north of the southern Indian state of Kerala . The name Nambiar also denotes a numerically smaller group of members of the Ambalavasi Brahmin caste.

origin

The Nambiars probably immigrated to Kerala with members of the Nambudiri between the 2nd and 7th centuries . They have significantly different habits and traditions than indigenous Keralese, but their habits are strikingly similar to those of the people of northern India. It is believed that the origin of the name "Nambiar" is a symbiosis of " Nair " and "Nambudiri".

Kshatriya Nambiar

Nambiar
Caste: Kshatriya
Dynasty: Nagavanshi
Place: Malabar
Language: Malayalam
Religion: Hinduism

Dynasties

The Nambiar belong to the Nagavanshi (snake) dynasty, but can also be associated with other Rajput dynasties such as the Suryavanshi (solar), Chandravanshi (moon) or Agnivanshi (fire) dynasties.

Position in society

Nambiars are classified as Kiriyathil- Nayars , although due to the migrations, belonging to this group is not certain from a cultural-historical point of view.

Members of the Nambiar traditionally went through a formal education in keeping with their class, as was previously reserved for higher-ranking caste members. The Nambiar caste is closely related to the earliest form of traditional Indian martial art, Kalarippayat .

As a high caste they were very influential in the past. Although much of this influence was lost through British colonial rules and Muslim invasions in the time of the sultanates , they are still counted among the Indian nobility today.

In the temples of the god Ayyappan or in the houses of the Nambudiri, Nambiar perform the ritual drama Ayyappan tiyatta .

Traditions

Some of the Nambiar traditions are no longer practiced today. These include the system of matrilineal succession and cousin marriage . The earlier practice of marrying, especially of those entitled to inheritance among relatives (cousin marriage), has now been almost completely abandoned, mainly due to the associated genetic risk . Three generations ago, however, cousin marriage was still widespread. Its underlying purpose was to fix the social status quo and secure princely property within the family.

Ambalavasi - Brahmin Nambiar

Nambiar
Caste: Pushpaka Brahmins
Language: Malayalam
Religion: Hinduism

Some members of the Ambalavasi caste community have adopted the name “Nambiar”, although they have no direct cultural connection to the Kshatriya Nambiar. The reason for this is the meaning of the name. "Nambiar" means Panivada in Sanskrit . The word part "pani" means "hands" and 'vada' is a derivative of the verb "vadanam" which means "to play". Taken together, it means "who plays with his hands". The Ambalavasis perform tasks in the temple service. This includes the ritual playing of the drum mizhavu , performed solely by hand , as is part of the ceremonies of Kutiyattam and Kuthu in the Kuthambalam Theater. The female Nambiar, on the other hand, take on the performing roles in the temple service of Kuthambalam, they are called Nangyaramma. These belong to the Chakyar caste.
The task of helping in the temple service originally only belonged to members of the casts Nambuthiri, Nambiar or Unnithan. Only recently has this office been transferred to the Ambalavasi.

Traditionally, the members of the Ambalavasi caste were Sanskrit scholars. The famous Malayalam satirist Kunchan Nambiar and the great Rama Panivada belonged to the Ambalavasi caste.

Nambiar as a name outside of India

The name Nambiar also exists in the English county of Suffolk , within the old noble family of the Lord of the Manor , without reference to the Indian Jati or the Nambiar of the temple service. In the middle of the 17th century, the name was carried on in many variations with the great migration from Europe to the east coast of North America. It is particularly common on the eastern seaboard of Newfoundland , Maine , Virginia and the islands. Some of the first settlers of this name had name variants such as Nanby, Nanbie, Namby, Nambie and others.

Name bearer