Ambalavasi Explained
Ambalavasi, more properly Ampalavasi, (IAST: Ampalavāsi;) is the generic name for a group of castes among Hindus in Kerala, India, who have traditionally rendered temple services.[1]
Castes
The Ambalavasis are broadly divided into two groups, being those who wear the sacred thread and those who do not.
Sacred thread wearers
Pushpakan
See main article: Pushpakan.
Others
Threadless Ambalavasis
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.[1] Chakyar stages dramas called Kooth and Koodiyattam.[3] Marars are temple musicians. Variar and Poduval did managerial and executive functions of temple committees and served as storekeepers and watchmen.[4]
Customs
Their ritual rank in Hinduism lies between that of a Brahmin and Nair.[5] [6] [7] [8] Ambalavasis were known as Antharala Jathikal.
Kazhakams
Kazhakams or Ambalakkazhakams refer to associations of Ambalavasi peoples in a temple to perform specific duties in the temple.[9]
Temple arts
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.
Notes and References
- Book: The Nayars Today . Christopher J. . Fuller . Cambridge University Press . 1976 . 978-0-52129-091-3 . 13 .
- Book: Matrilineal Kinship . David Murray . Schneider . David M. Schneider . Kathleen . Gough . Nayars: Central Kerala . Kathleen . Gough . 1961 . University of California Press . 309–311 . 978-0-520-02529-5 . https://books.google.com/books?id=lfdvTbfilYAC&pg=PA311 . Kathleen Gough.
- Daugherty . Diane . The Nangyār: Female Ritual Specialist of Kerala . Asian Theatre Journal . 13 . Spring 1996 . 1 . 54–67 . 10.2307/1124302. 1124302.
- Book: People of India - India's Communities N-Z. 1998 . Oxford University Press. 2861–2863.
- Web site: Census commissioner Cochin (India). . Achyuta menon B A . Report on the Census of Cochin, 1891 A.D. - 1066 M.E. . 10 November 1893 .
- News: Gundert . Hermann . Keralolpathi . 1868.
- News: Census report of cochin . 1901.
- Pisharoti . Rama . Pisharoti rituals . The Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland . 1926 . 56 . 83–89 . 10.2307/2843601 . 2843601 .
- Book: People of India - India's Communities N-Z. 1998 . Oxford University Press. 3605–3607.
- Narayanan . Mundoli . Over-Ritualization of Performance: Western Discourses on Kutiyattam . TDR . 2006 . 50 . 2 . 136–153 . 10.1162/dram.2006.50.2.136 . 4492680 . 57567794 .
- Web site: Latest India News | Breaking News | World & Business News | Sports & Entertainment news . Expressbuzz.com . 2013-09-30 .
- News: The 'Florance' of Nangiar Koothu . 17 February 2019 . 10 September 2015 . Mathurubhumi Daily . 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.
- Book: Dutta . Madhumita . Let's Know Music and Musical Instruments of India . 2008 . Star Publications . 16.
- News: Padakam, the poor cousin of Chakyarkoothu - Times of India. The Times of India. 2018-01-16.
- News: Lalitha . Nandini . This instrument represents the sastras and vedas . The Hindu . 27 December 2018 .
- Book: Folklore: The Identity of Culture . M.V. Vishnu . Nampoothiri . Department of Information & Public Relations, Government of Kerala . 2012 . 73 .
- Book: The Secret Chamber: A Historical, Anthropological & Philosophical Study of the Kodungallur Temple. Induchudan . V.T. . Cochin Devaswom Board. 1969 . 260 .
