Maniyani Nair മണിയാണി നായർ | |
---|---|
Classification | Lunar dynasty |
Religions | Hinduism |
Languages | Malayalam |
Country | India |
Populated states | Kerala • Puduchery |
Related groups | Nair • Nambiar [1] |
The Maniyani Nair [2] (also known as Kolaya, Kolari, Ayar, Konar , or Urali Nair [3] [4] in different areas) is a nair sub-caste [5] and Malayalam speaking Yadava community, [6] native to Kerala state of South India. [7] They are mainly distributed in Kozhikode, Palakkad, Kannur, Kasaragod and Wayanad districts. They are a pastoral community and their traditional occupation is tending cattle and cultivation. [8]
The Maniyanis are believed to have come from the ancient Yadava clan and associate themselves closely with the god Krishna. [9] It is believed that from Gokarnam, a group of those who set out for various parts of India, reached the Kolat land and the Tulu land via Mangalore.
The majority of the Maniyanis are concentrated in the districts of Kannur and Kasaragod. [8] They follow similar birth, marriage & death customs and rituals like other Nair sub-castes. Even though they practice endogamy, they do sometimes intermarry with other castes like Nambiar [10] , Payyanur Poduval, Nair, and Vaniya-Vattakad Nairs. [11] [12] [13]
Today, two sub-castes among the Nairs, namely Pallichan and Maniyani, are theyyam worshippers, and they have their own shrines for their theyyams. [14]
Kannangattu bhagavathi is the tutelary deity of Maniyanis. Kannangattu bhagavathi has permanent place in every Muchilot Bhagavathi temple since Maniyanis have special brotherly relationship with Vaniya-Vattakad Nairs. Maniyanis also perform Poorakkali in Muchilot bhagavathi temples. [15]
Kasaragod is a municipal town and administrative headquarters of Kasaragod district in the state of Kerala, India. Established in 1966, Kasaragod was the first municipal town in the district. It is the northernmost district of Kerala and is also known as Sapta Bhasha Sangama Bhumi.
Kannur is one of the 14 districts along the west coast in the state of Kerala, India. The city of Kannur is the district headquarters and gives the district its name. The old name, Cannanore, is the anglicized form of the Malayalam name "Kannur". Kannur district is bounded by Kasaragod District to the north, Kozhikode district to the south, Mahé district to the southwest and Wayanad District to the southeast. To the east, the district is bounded by the Western Ghats, which forms the border with the state of Karnataka. The Arabian Sea lies to the west. Paithalmala is the highest point in Kannur District (1,372m). Enclosed within the southern part of the district is the Mahé district of the Union Territory of Puducherry. The district was established in 1957.
Theyyam is a Hindu religious ritual practiced in northern Kerala and some parts of Karnataka. Theyyam is also known as Kaḷiyāṭṭaṁ or Tiṟa. Theyyam consists of traditions, rituals and customs associated with temples and sacred groves of Malabar. The people of the region consider Theyyam itself as a channel to a god and they thus seek blessings from Theyyam.
The culture of Kerala has developed over the past millennia, influences from other parts of India and abroad. It is defined by its antiquity and the organic continuity sustained by the Malayali people. Modern Kerala society took shape owing to migrations from different parts of India and abroad throughout Classical Antiquity.
Mushika dynasty, also spelled Mushaka, was a minor dynastic power that held sway over the region in and around Mount Ezhi (Ezhimala) in present-day North Malabar, Kerala, India. The country of the Mushikas, ruled by an ancient lineage of the Hehaya clan of the same name, appears in early historic (pre-Pallava) south India and it is believed that Mushika dynasty has their descents from Heheya Kingdom. Early Tamil poems contain several references to the exploits of Nannan of Ezhimalai. Nannan was known as a great enemy of the pre-Pallava Chera chieftains. The clan also had matrimonial alliances with the Chera, Pandya and Chola chieftains. The Kolathunadu (Kannur) Kingdom, which was the descendant of Mushika dynasty, at the peak of its power, reportedly extended from Netravati River (Mangalore) in the north to Korapuzha (Kozhikode) in the south with Arabian Sea on the west and Kodagu hills on the eastern boundary, also including the isolated islands of Lakshadweep in the Arabian Sea.
Kannapuram is a census town and grama panchayat in Kannur district of North Malabar region in the Indian state of Kerala.
Kasaragod (Malayalam:[kaːsɐrɡoːɖɨ̆] is one of the 14 districts in the southern Indian state of Kerala. Its northern border Thalappady is located just 9 km south to Ullal, which is the southernmost portion of the major port city Mangalore, on the southwestern Malabar coast of India.
Madayikavu (Māḍāyik्kavu), also known as Thiruvarkadu Bhagavathi Temple, is a significant ancient Kaula Shakti shrine in Kerala, located near Pazhayangadi, Kannur. With a distinguished history spanning over two millennia, the Kavu was administered by various regional dynasties. The Bhagavathi was revered by these dynasties as their royal family deity, and they also carried out renovations of the Kavu at multiple junctures throughout history.
The population of Kerala, India is a heterogenous group that comprises many ethnic groups that originated in other parts of India as well as the world, with distinctive cultural and religious traditions. While the majority of Keralites speak the Malayalam language, various ethnic groups may speak other languages as well.
North Malabar refers to the geographic area of southwest India covering the state of Kerala's present day Kasaragod and Kannur districts, Mananthavady taluk of Wayanad district, and the taluks of Vatakara and Koyilandy in the Kozhikode District of Kerala and the entire Mahé Sub-Division of the Union Territory of Puducherry. Traditionally North Malabar has been defined as the northern portion of the erstwhile Malabar District which lies between Chandragiri River and Korapuzha River. The region between Netravathi River and Chandragiri River, which included the portions between Mangalore and Kasaragod, are also often included in the term North Malabar.
There are places of worship considered important in the Kannur district. Kannur District is one of the 14 districts in the state of Kerala, India. The town of Kannur is the district headquarters, and gives the district its name.
Chakkala Nair, also known as Vattakkat Nair, and Vaniya Nair is one of the intermediate subcastes of the Nair community. They are distributed throughout Kerala. In Travancore, they are known as Chakkala, while in Cochin and Malabar they are Vattakattu and In the extreme north of Malabar they are called Vaniya
Pallichan Nair is an intermediate Malayali caste who had adopted Nair surname and thus classified under Nairs seen predominantly in Malabar and Cochin areas. They are found in Travancore in very low numbers. They are the palanquin / pallak bearers for the ruling dynasties, at some places for the Janmi Namboothiris and Nair chieftains. Vaniya Nairs, Pallichan Nairs and Maniyani Nairs are Theyyam worshippers and they have their own shrines for their Theyyams.
Gavli is a Hindu caste in the Indian states of Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. They are a part of the Yadav community.
Vishnumoorthy Theyyam is a Thiyya community temple ritual form of dance worship in Kerala and Karnataka, India. Theyyam consisted of several thousand-year-old traditions, rituals and customs. The performance includes complicated rites and rituals. The peculiar drum-beats can be heard up to a distance of 2 km from where the performance of the Vishnumoorthi Theyyam takes place. The enactment involving the Narasimha Avatar of Lord Vishnu by the Koladhari especially thrills the devotees and the spectators as a result of the body movements involved in it.
Muchilot Bhagavathi is the tutelary deity of the Vaniyas social class of North Malabar, in southwest India. Muchilot Bhagavathi is also worshipped as Eezhala Bhagavati, Kaniyal bagavathi and Maññaḷamma. There are 108 Muchilot temples spread across Northern Kerala resembling the 108 Shiva Temples mentioned in the Shivalaya Stothram .Muchilot Bhagavati, who is adorned with all beauty, is like a goddess of beauty and is widely considered as the most elaborate and gorgeous theyyam. Being in Swatika Bhava, Muchilot Bhagavathi has only very gentle movements.Anna dhanam(Serving Food) is very important in Muchilot Bhagavathi temples during the Kaliyattam festival.
Sree Madiyan Koolom Temple is located near Kanhangad in the Indian state of Kerala. It is one of the most prominent Hindu temples in Kasargod district, and is some 500 years old. It is dedicated to deity Kshetrapalakan Eswaran, the mother Goddess known as Kalarathri Amma (Bhadrakali).
Mappila Theyyams are a variant of Theyyam performed in North Malabar especially in Kasaragod district it is related to the Mappila Muslims of Malabar Coast. This Theyyam is deified by Mavilan, Koppalan and Vannan communities and is done with the cooperation of Hindus and Muslims. The characters of this theyyam are mostly spirits of Mappilas that are related to the local deities. The common names of male Mappila theyyams are Aali, Aandi, Mukri, Poker, Bappiriyan, Kunhali, Mammu, Mammad etc. Ummachi and Naithiyar are the common names attributed to female theyyams.The dialogues of Mappila theyyams have mentions about Islamic migration to Kerala in the 7th century and communal harmony.
Uchitta Bhagavathy is a regional Hindu goddess worshipped in the North Malabar region in Kerala, India. Uchitta is worshiped and performed as Theyyam form. The main temples of this deity are spread over Kannur and Kasaragod districts in Kerala.