Theeyattunni (also written as Theeyatt Unni) or Theeyadi Unni is a caste of Hindu Brahmins of Kerala, India. [1] They are a part of the Pushpaka Brahmins and Ambalavasi community in Kerala. Theeyattunnis are traditionally the performers of an ancient art form called Theeyatt. Theeyattunnis have the right for Tantric Poojas and other privileges enjoyed by the Nambudiri caste.
Unni is used as a first name in Kerala, India. In the Malayalam language, it is also used as an adjective meaning an infant boy. Thus, Unnikrishnan or Unnikannan means Lord Krishna in the infant form and Unniyesu means Yesu in the infant form. The word is also the name of a caste among Hindus in the Southern India State of Kerala.
Sopana Sangeetham is a form of Indian classical music that developed in the temples of Kerala in south India in the wake of the increasing popularity of Jayadeva's Gita Govinda or Ashtapadis.
Pushpaka is a caste of Hindu Brahmins of Kerala. In Malayalam language, this caste is also referred to as Pushpakan, Pushpakar, Pushpaka Unni or Pushpakan Unni. They are a part of the Ambalavasi community in Kerala. They carry out the various activities of the temple like teaching of sacred texts, garland making, lamp works etc., and sometimes they perform actual priestly activities also. The male members of this caste generally use the surname Unni with their name. They also use the surnames Nambi and Sarma.
Chakyar is an intermediate priestly caste coming under the Ambalavasi community of Hindus in the Kerala state of India. The women in this caste are called Illotammas.
Variyar is a Upper Caste Non Brahmin Hindu Community. This surname is not related to Varrier, a Kashmiri Muslim surname, or the English name 'Warrior'.
The caste system in Kerala differed from that found in the rest of India. While the Indian caste system generally modeled the four-fold division of society into Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and Shudras, in Kerala the Nambudiri Brahmins formed the priestly class and only rarely recognized anyone else as being other than Shudra or untouchables, the latter being outside the caste system entirely. Thus, the Kerala caste system was ritualized but it was not the varna model found elsewhere. In Southern India, only in Kerala did there appear warrior lineages approximate to the Kshatriya model. These warriors never lost their identity as Sudras. Nayar Kshatriya hood is based on special ecological conditions and it is a case of elevated sudra to Kshatriya status.
Nambeesan is a Pushpaka Brahmin caste of Kerala, India.
Sambandham was an informal mode of marriage followed by Nairs, Samantha Kshatriya and Ambalavasis with Nambudiris, in what is the present day state of Kerala, India. All of these were matrilineal communities. The custom is no longer observed. Alternate names for the system were used by different social groups and in different regions; they included Pudavamuri, Pudavakoda, Vastradanam, Vitaram Kayaruka, Mangalam and Uzhamporukkuka.
Brahmanippattu is a type of domestic devotional offering performed usually in connection with marriages. Women of the Nambeesan caste called Brahmanis or Pushpinis alone are entitled to do it.
The term Malayali Brahmins or Malayala Brahmananmaar applies groups of Brahmins from the Indian state of Kerala. The groups include the Nambudiri, Pushpaka Unni, Nambidi, Moos, Ilayath, Nambeesan, Chakyar, Sivadvija, and the Potti.
Maaraar or Marar is the name given to the temple musicians of Travancore, Cochin and Malabar region in the state of Kerala, whose primary duty was to provide the traditional temple Sopanam music. They live in the vicinity of temples; and are related with the temple and temple customs.
Ambalavasi, lit. 'temple-dwelling', is a generic name for a group of castes among Hindus in Kerala, India, who render temple services. Some Ambalavasi castes are patrilineal, while the others are matrilineal. Those that practise matrilineality share many cultural similarities with the Nair caste. Their ritual rank in Hinduism lies below the Brahmin castes and above the Nairs.
Pushpaka Brahmin is a generic term that refer to a group of various Hindu Brahmin castes of Kerala in the Ambalavasi community. Pushpaka Brahmin include primarily two castes - Pushpakas and Nambeesans, who were assigned the job of tending flowers and making garlands in the Hindu temples and were given rights to teach sacred texts and Sanskrit language in the Pathasalas associated with Hindu temples. Later some other communities like Theeyatt Unnis, Kurukkals, and Puppallis having similar culture and temple-related jobs were also considered to be Pushpaka Brahmins.
Ilayathu is a Hindu community in Kerala, India, and belong to a sect of Malayala Brahmins. The house of an Ilayath is known as Illam. The origin of this community like those of Nampoothiris and Nairs and perhaps most of the upper-class communities in Kerala is shrouded in mystery. And what remains is a few legends and traditions.
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 Keralans speak the Malayalam language, various ethnic groups may speak other languages as well.
Perumthachan is a 1991 Indian Malayalam-language Period drama film directed by Ajayan and written by M. T. Vasudevan Nair. It is based on Perumthachan of the Parayi Petta Panthirukulam, a legend in the Kerala folklore. The problems caused by the generation gap are explored through the relationship between a skilled carpenter and his tradition-breaking son. The film won the National Film Award for Best First Film of a Director and Filmfare Award for Best Film - Malayalam. It was nominated for the Golden Leopard Award.
There are numerous ceremonies and customs adopted by the Nair caste, who are prominent in the South Indian state of Kerala.
Punyam Aham is a 2010 Indian Malayalam-language film directed by Raj Nair. Prithviraj, Samvrutha Sunil and Nedumudi Venu play the lead roles in this film.
Nambidi is a caste of Kerala, India. The form a part of the Brahmin community. They are considered to be KeralaBrahmins and to have originated when a section of the Nambudiris was degraded or a section of the Nairs was upgraded in the caste system. They also have the same rights and rituals of nambudiri's. The nambidi ladies are usually called Mandals / Atholammas used to wear the cheruthalis and are similar to Antharjanams. The nambidi's also had great economic and Societic importance and have the same grade of Nambudiris in the Society. They have no right to do Poojas in temples. Nambidis are divided into two: the ones who wear the sacred thread and perform the Upanayanam and the ones who do not. The former are Nambudiris who were degraded to the [Brahmins]] status since their ancestors had committed a heinous act by murdering a ruler of Kerala. On their return the other Nambudiris welcomed them but they refused to seat themselves with the other Brahmins owing to the sin they committed and instead sat on the steps of the hall. They came to be known as Nom Padimels or those on the steps and this term was later corrupted into Nambidi. The latter are Nairs who were assigned the Nambidi title. Namboodiris will Join with nambidi's in all their functions and rituals.
Sree Pushpakabrahmana Seva Sangham (SPSS) is a registered charitable organisation which works for the progress of Pushpaka Brahmins, a group of culturally identical Brahmin castes like Pushpaka Unnis, Theeyatt Unnis, Kurukkals, Nambeesans etc. in Kerala.