Ahmjit at 11:27, 2 November 2025

2025-11-02T11:27:12Z

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{{Short description|Group of Hindu castes in Kerala, India}}
{{pp-extended|small=yes}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2019}}
'''Ambalavasi''', more properly '''Ampalavasi''', ([[IAST]]: Ampalavāsi, {{ipa|ml|ɐmbɐlɐʋaːsi|ipa}}; {{literally|temple-dwelling}}) is the generic name for a group of [[Caste system in India|castes]] among [[Hindus]] in [[Kerala]], India, who have traditionally rendered temple services.<ref name="fuller">{{cite book |title=The Nayars Today |first1=Christopher J. |last1=Fuller |publisher=Cambridge University Press |year=1976 |isbn=978-0-52129-091-3 |page=13 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yQM4AAAAIAAJ&pg=PA13}}</ref>

==Castes==
[[File:Ampalavasi Women Old Image.png|thumb|right|Ampalavasi women with flower baskets- An old image]]

The Ambalavasis are broadly divided into two groups, being those who wear the [[sacred thread]] and those who do not.

===Sacred thread wearers===
====Pushpakan====
{{main|Pushpakan}}
* [[Pushpaka]] (Pushpakan Unni)<ref name="fuller"/>
* [[Theeyattunni|Theeyatt Unni]]{{cn|date=October 2023}}
* [[Puppalli]]{{cn|date=October 2023}}
* [[Plappalli (caste)|Plappalli]] (Pilappalli){{cn|date=October 2023}}
* [[Nambidi]]{{cn|date=October 2023}}
* [[Nambeesan]]{{Citation needed|date=August 2024}}

===Threadless Ambalavasis===
*[[Pisharody]]<ref name="Gough1961"/>
*[[Marar (Caste)|Marar]]<ref name=":0" />
*[[Variar|Varyar]]<ref name="Gough1961">{{cite book |title=Matrilineal Kinship |editor1-first=David Murray |editor1-last=Schneider |editor-link=David M. Schneider |editor2-first=Kathleen |editor2-last=Gough |chapter=Nayars: Central Kerala |first1=Kathleen |last1=Gough |year=1961 |publisher=University of California Press |pages=309–311 |isbn=978-0-520-02529-5 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lfdvTbfilYAC&pg=PA311 |author-link=Kathleen Gough}}</ref>
*[[Pothuval]]<ref name="Gough1961"/>
====Others====
* [[Chakyar]]<ref name="Gough1961"/>
* [[Nambiar (Ambalavasi/Mizhavu)|Nambiar]]<ref name="Gough1961"/>
* [[Kurukkal]]
* [[Padamangalam Nair|Padamangalam]]

==Temple services==

Though all Ampalavāsis have to do service in temples, they have sufficiently distinct functions to perform. Pushpakans and Nambeesans are teachers in the Pathasalas or Mutts and suppliers of flowers to temple.<ref name="fuller"/> Chakyar stages dramas called [[Kooth]] and [[Koodiyattam]].<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Daugherty |first1=Diane |title=The Nangyār: Female Ritual Specialist of Kerala |journal=Asian Theatre Journal |volume= 13 |date=Spring 1996 |issue=1 |pages=54–67 |doi=10.2307/1124302|jstor=1124302}}</ref> Marars are temple musicians. Variar and Poduval performed managerial and executive functions of temple committees and served as storekeepers and watchmen.<ref>{{cite book |title=People of India - India's Communities N-Z|date=1998 |publisher=Oxford University Press|pages=2861–2863}}</ref>

==Social status ==
Their ritual rank in Hinduism lies between that of a [[Brahmin]] and [[Nair]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Census commissioner Cochin (India). |first1=Achyuta menon B A |title=Report on the Census of Cochin, 1891 A.D. - 1066 M.E. |date=10 November 1893 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NUVIAAAAYAAJ&pg=RA1-PA32}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Gundert |first1=Hermann |title=Keralolpathi |date=1868}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Census report of cochin |date=1901}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Pisharoti |first1=Rama |title=Pisharoti rituals |journal=The Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland |date=1926 |volume=56 |issue= |pages=83–89 |doi=10.2307/2843601 |jstor=2843601 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/2843601|url-access=subscription }}</ref> Ambalavasis who wear the sacred thread are Brahmins, while those who do not wear the thread, are not considered Brahmins in temple rituals. Ambalavasis were known as Antharala Jathikal.{{Citation needed|date=September 2025}}

==Kazhakams==
''Kazhakams'' or ''Ambalakkazhakams'' refer to associations of Ambalavasi peoples in a temple to perform specific duties in the temple.<ref>{{cite book |title=People of India - India's Communities N-Z|date=1998 |publisher=Oxford University Press|pages=3605–3607}}</ref>

==Temple arts==
[[File:Margi madhu in koodiyattam as ravanan.JPG|thumb|right|200px|Koodiyattam]]
[[File:Bhadrakali Theeyattu.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Theeyattam]]
[[File:Idakka-1.jpg|thumb|200px|Idakka artist<br>Sri. Chendamangalam Unnikrishna Maarar in action - In the middle.]]

Traditionally, Ambalavasis are associated with various types of temple arts. Earlier, each of these temple arts were performed only by specific Ambalavasi castes. Now there is no community or caste barrier.{{citation needed|date=October 2018}}

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Temple Art !! Associated<br>Ambalavasi castes
|-
| [[Koodiyattam]] || [[Chakyar]]<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Narayanan |first1=Mundoli |title=Over-Ritualization of Performance: Western Discourses on Kutiyattam |journal=TDR |date=2006 |volume=50 |issue=2 |pages=136–153 |doi=10.1162/dram.2006.50.2.136 |jstor=4492680 |s2cid=57567794 }}</ref>
|-
| [[Kooth]] || [[Chakyar]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/story.aspx?Title=Bhagavadhoothu+chakyar+koothu+at+Oottupura&artid=5M4Hn2iFH8=&SectionID=9R67TMeNb/w=&MainSectionID=9R67TMeNb/w=&SEO=&SectionName=gUhH3Holuas= |title=Latest India News | Breaking News | World & Business News | Sports & Entertainment news |publisher=Expressbuzz.com |access-date=2013-09-30 }}{{Dead link|date=October 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> [[Nambiar (Ambalavasi caste)|Nangyar]] (women of Nambiar)<ref>{{cite news |title=The 'Florance' of Nangiar Koothu |url=https://english.mathrubhumi.com/the-%60florance-of-nangiar-koothu--1.522820 |access-date=17 February 2019 |issue=10 September 2015 |publisher=Mathurubhumi Daily |date=10 September 2015}} Quote: Nangyarkoothu is a traditional artform performed by the women of the Ambalavasi Nambiar community of Kerala, called Nangyaramma. However, people from other castes also has been performing the artform since the second half of the 20th century.</ref>
|-
| Certain roles of [[Krishnanattam]]||
|-
| [[Mizhavu]] (Musical Instrument)|| [[Nambiar (Ambalavasi caste)|Nambiar]]<ref>{{cite book |last1=Dutta |first1=Madhumita |title=Let's Know Music and Musical Instruments of India |date=2008 |publisher=Star Publications |page=16}}</ref>
|-
| [[Ottan Thullal|Thullal]] ||
|-
| [[Pathakam]] || [[Nambiar (Ambalavasi caste)|Nambiar]]<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/Padakam-the-poor-cousin-of-Chakyarkoothu/articleshow/53285438.cms|title=Padakam, the poor cousin of Chakyarkoothu - Times of India|work=The Times of India|access-date=2018-01-16}}</ref>
|-
| [[Theeyattu]] ||
|-
| [[Ilathalam]] (Musical instrument) ||
|-
| Vadyams (Musical instruments) like <br>[[Chenda]], [[Thimila]], [[Idakka]], [[Udukku]] etc. || [[Marar (Caste)|Marar]]<ref name=":0">{{cite news |last1=Lalitha |first1=Nandini |title=This instrument represents the sastras and vedas |newspaper=The Hindu |date=27 December 2018 |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/music/idakka-the-folk-instrument-of-kerala/article25840844.ece}}</ref>
|-
| [[Sopana Sangeetham|Sopanasangeetham]] ||
|-
| [[Panchavadyam]] ||
|-
| [[Thayampaka]] ||
|-
| [[Pandi Melam]] ||
|-
| [[Panchari Melam]] ||
|-
| [[Brahmanippattu]] || [[Nambeesan|Brahmani]] (women of Nambeesan)<ref>{{cite book |title=Folklore: The Identity of Culture |first1=M.V. Vishnu |last1=Nampoothiri |publisher=Department of Information & Public Relations, Government of Kerala |year=2012 |page=73 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=The Secret Chamber: A Historical, Anthropological & Philosophical Study of the Kodungallur Temple|first1=Induchudan |last1=V.T. |publisher=Cochin Devaswom Board|year=1969 |page=260 }}</ref>
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Social groups of Kerala]]
[[Category:Liturgical castes]]
[[Category:Indian castes]]
[[Category:Ethnic groups in India]]
[[Category:South Indian communities]]

Ambalavasi - Revision history

Ahmjit at 11:27, 2 November 2025