https://indianpedia.org/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=ChakyarChakyar - Revision history2026-07-30T13:05:24ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.45.4https://indianpedia.org/index.php?title=Chakyar&diff=398483&oldid=prevAjay Kumar at 14:35, 23 July 20232023-07-23T14:35:44Z<p></p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}}<br />
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2019}}<br />
{{Hinduism small}}<br />
<br />
'''Chakyar''' ({{lang-ml|ചാക്യാർ}}; {{IAST|Cākyār}}; {{IPA-ml|tɕäkjär}}; also spelled '''Cakyar, Chakkiar, Chakiar''', etc.) is an intermediate priestly [[caste]] coming under the [[Ambalavasi]] community of [[Hindu]]s in the [[Kerala]] state of [[India]]. The women in this [[Caste system in India|caste]] are called ''Illotammas''.<br />
<br />
[[File:Mani Madhava Chakyar.jpg|Mani Madhava Chakyar (1899 - 1990)- the doyen of Kutiyattam and ''Abhinaya'' (acting)|thumb|left]]<br />
They occupy a position in the [[Hindu]] [[Temple]] in managing the affairs of the temple, though not the actual conduct of ceremonies. They are assigned with the holy temple ritualistic performance called [[Chakyar Koothu]] and [[Koodiyattam]], which is the only surviving ancient [[Sanskrit]] theatre in [[India]].<br />
<br />
Chakyar is the main actor who performs the ritualistic [[Koothus and Koodiyattams|''Koothus'' and ''Koodiyattams'']] inside the temple or in ''[[Koothambalam]]s''. Their women, ''Illotammas'', are not allowed to participate in these. The women roles are done by ladies of [[Nambiar (Ambalavasi)|Nambiar]] community called ''Nangyarammas''. [[Nambiar (Ambalavasi)|Nambiar]] plays the holy drum ''[[Mizhavu]]''.<br />
<br />
There were 18 Chakyar families throughout Kerala, but now their number is small. '''''Mani''''' family is one of them. The greatest Koodiyattam and Chakyar koothu exponent, [[Natyashastra]] scholar and world-renowned [[Guru]], (late) ''Natyacharya Vidushakaratnam'' [[Padma Shri]] [[Mani Madhava Chakyar]] belonged to this family.<br />
<br />
Chakyars preferred to associate themselves more with the [[Ambalavasi]]s than what they considered the unequal status amongst the [[Namboothri]]s.{{Citation needed|date=September 2011}}<br />
{{-}}<br />
<br />
==See also==<br />
* [[Ammannur Madhava Chakyar]]<br />
* [[Ammannur Rajaneesh Chakyar]]<br />
* [[Mani Damodara Chakyar]]<br />
* [[Mani Madhava Chakyar]]<br />
* [[Painkulam Raman Chakyar]]<br />
* [[List of Ambalavasis]]<br />
<br />
==References==<br />
* [[Natyakalpadrumam]], by Guru [[Mani Madhava Chakyar]],1975.<br />
<br />
==External links==<br />
*{{cite journal|jstor=606843|title=Aj amila-Moksa-Prabandha of Narayana Bhatta|first=V. Venkatarāma Śarmā|last=Śāstrī|date=1 January 1926|journal=Bulletin of the School of Oriental Studies, University of London|volume=4|issue=2|pages=295–300|doi=10.1017/S0041977X00089217 }}<br />
*[http://www.ramanchakyar.com Shree Painkulam Raman Chakyar]<br />
<br />
[[Category:Social groups of India]]<br />
[[Category:Indian surnames]]<br />
[[Category:Kerala society]]<br />
[[Category:Indian castes]]<br />
[[Category:Malayali people]]<br />
[[Category:Social groups of Kerala]]<br />
[[Category:Hindu communities]]</div>Ajay Kumar