[edit] Hindu
[edit] Samanta Kshatriya
Main article: Samanta Kshatriya
The Samanta Kshatriyas (also known as Malayala Kshatriya) who use the surname Varma or Raja, are a group of people who belonged to the Chandravanshi Kshatriya division of the Hindu caste system among Malayalees and their residences were traditionally called Kovilakams or Kottaram or Swaroopams. They themselves belong to a subgroup of Nairs and they form the highest ranking division among Nairs. In traditional texts such as the Keralolpathi they are referred to as "Samantha Kshatriyas".[edit] Nambudiri
Main article: Nambudiri
The Nambudiri Brahmins are the indigenous Brahmins of Kerala, who are considered the most orthodox Brahmins in India.[8] They perform rituals in temples of Kerala based on Tantra Vidhi, a complex and ancient branch of Tantric traditions found only in Kerala, and some Mahakshetras ("Great Temples") around India (which have a Nambudiri acting as the Head Priest). Namboothiris follow the conservative and ritualistic Śrauta traditions and the ancient Purva Mimamsa, unlike the majority of other Brahmins in India who follow the Vedanta.[edit] Nair
Main article: Nair
Nairs (sometimes spelled Nayar) are a Hindu upper caste, they were soldiers were local kings but their main job was the care taking of temple land, servants at Namboothiri houses etc. Also, during the 16th to the 20th century they rose in power especially in the kingdom of Travancore where they were dewans or prime ministers and some became land owning lords. An example would be the ettuveetill pillamars. However, the power in Kerala was still under the Namboothiris.[9][10][11][12] and figure prominently in the history of Kerala. The Nairs form the second largest Hindu community in Kerala.
[edit] Ambalavasi
Main article: Ambalavasi
Ambalavasi is the name of a Kerala community (not to be confused with caste) composed of a number of Hindu castes such as Pushpakas (Unni, Nambeesan, etc.), Chakyars, Moothaths, Ilayaths, Kurukkals, Warriers, Marars, Nambiars, Pisharody, etc. Traditionally, they perform temple related jobs and art forms.[edit] Ezhava
Main article: Ezhava
The Ezhavas, also known as Thiyyas, are the largest Hindu community in Kerala. Ezhavas are also found amongst the Malayali diaspora around the world. Ezhavas are today a social group sharing a common history from the pre-social reform era. With a population of 7.3 million Ezhavas are the largest Hindu community in Kerala.[edit] Pulaya
Main article: Pulayar
The Pulayas, also known as Pulayar are one of the main social groups found in the Kerala society, who were traditionally engaged in various agriculture-related occupations. Ayyankali (1863–1914), one among the great social reformers of India, who was praised by Mahatma Gandhi when he visited Venganoor, was born to a Malayali Pulaya family.
[edit] Muslim
Main article: Mappila
Malayali Muslims are members of a Malayalam-speaking Islamic community spread across Kerala, Lakshadweep, Kodagu and across Malayali Diaspora around the world. In North Kerala they are known as Mappilas or Moplahs. The word mappila is derived from the old (pure) Malayalam words Amma and pilla meaning Child Mother. The Mappilas are believed to be the earliest known Indian Muslim community, having existed since the 8th century CE, when Arab merchants who had long been trading with the Chera kingdom settled in Kerala. The Muslims in Kerala cannot be easily distinguished in the community as they still retain their Malayali features.[citation needed] They follow the preachings of monotheism by Muhammad in Arabia. They propagated their faith along the Malabar Coast. Most Mappila Muslims follow the Shafi'i school of Muslim Jurisprudence (in contrast to the Hanafi school followed by most South Asian Muslims). A good amount of mappila's find their income from gulf region. In north malabar, from malappuram to kasargod, at least one of 3 Muslim house have foreign income.[edit] Christian
Main article: Saint Thomas Christians
Christians form the third largest group in Kerala. Over the centuries, they have blended well with the changing socio-cultural environment of the region, becoming uniquely Indian and Christian.Christianity in India dates to Thomas the Apostle’s conversion of Jewish population in Kerala during the 1st century CE.[13] The 3rd and 4th centuries saw an influx of Christians from the Middle East. Knanaya communities arrived during this time. Distance kept the community of St Thomas Christians separate from other Christian communities until about the 8th century, when they started receiving bishops and support from the Chaldean Church. The arrival of Europeans in the 15th century and discontent with Portuguese interference in religious matters fomented schism into Catholic and Orthodox communities. Further schism, rearrangements, and missionary activity led to the formation of the other Indian Churches. Latin Rite Christians were converted by the Portuguese in the 16th and 19th centuries from lower castes where fishing was the traditional occupation. Anglo-Indian Christian communities formed around this time as Europeans and local Malayalis intermarried. Protestantism arrived a few centuries later with missionary activity during British rule. The community today can broadly divided into Catholic, Orthodox, Pentecost and Protestant groups. It is important to note that despite being a heterogeneous group, Malayali Christians find unity in a common history and faith.
[edit] Jewish
Cochin Jews, also called Malabar Jews (Malabar Yehudan) are the ancient Jews and their descendants of the erstwhile state of Kingdom of Cochin which includes the present day port city of Kochi.[14] They traditionally spoke Judeo-Malayalam, a form of the Malayalam tongue, native to the state of Kerala. The Jews of Cochin did not adhere to the Talmudic prohibition, followed by other Orthodox Jews, against public singing by women, and therefore have a rich tradition of Jewish prayers and narrative songs performed by women in Judeo-Malayalam.
Their population has been greatly reduced from historical numbers, as many have emigrated to Israel to settle in the Negev. Part of the decline in Kerala's Jewish population can also be attributed to conversion.[15] Many of the Jews that converted during the time of Saint Thomas became Kerala's Nasrani or Saint Thomas Christians.[15]
[edit] Unclassified
Main article: Atheism in Kerala
With the growth in intermarriage between Malayali communities and also with other groups, especially outside Kerala, many people who identify themselves with Kerala or with Malayali culture can not readily be labeled as members of one of the historic castes or communities listed above. Also, although a number of these groups were historically affiliated to one or other religion or sect, many of their modern members may be agnostic or atheist, or identify more strongly with some other religious or non-religious ideology. Nevertheless, Malayalis have been a open-minded people who are accepting of various groups irrespective of caste and class in their community.[edit] Culture
Malayali cultural genesis can be traced to their membership (around the 3rd century CE) in a well defined historical region known as Tamilakam, encompassing the Chera, Chola, and Pandya kingdoms and southern coastal Karnataka. Later upon the arrival of other ethnic groups such as Namboothiris, Nairs, etc. the distinct culture took shape. This was later elaborated upon by centuries of contact with foreign cultures such as Syrian, Judeo, Arabian, Portuguese, English communities which have left their mark.[16] These foreign communities often settled in Kerala and assimilated with the local population resulting in different ethnic groups such as the Cochin Jews, Mappilas, Syrian Malabar Nasranis, and Anglo Indian.[edit] Language and Literature
File:Asan1.jpg
Mahakavi Kumaran Asan was one of the Triumvirate poets of modern Malayalam
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Malayalam literature is ancient in origin. The oldest literature works in Malayalam, distinct from the Tamil tradition, is dated between 9th century and 11th century.[17] Malayalam literature includes the 14th century Niranam poets (Madhava Panikkar, Sankara Panikkar and Rama Panikkar), whose works mark the dawn of both modern Malayalam language and indigenous Keralite poetry. The Triumvirate of poets (Kavithrayam: Kumaran Asan, Vallathol Narayana Menon and Ulloor S. Parameswara Iyer)[18] are recognized for moving Keralite poetry away from archaic sophistry and metaphysics and towards a more lyrical mode.In the second half of the 20th century, Jnanpith awardees like G. Sankara Kurup, S. K. Pottekkatt, Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai and M. T. Vasudevan Nair have made valuable contributions to the Malayalam literature. Later, such Keralite writers as O. V. Vijayan, Kamaladas, M. Mukundan, and Booker Prize winner Arundhati Roy, whose 1996 semi-autobiographical bestseller[19] The God of Small Things is set in the Kottayam town of Ayemenem, have gained international recognition.[20][21]
[edit] Tharavadu
Main article: Tharavadu
Tharavadu is a system of joint family practised by Malayalis, especially castes like Nambudiris, Nairs, and Ezhavas. Each Tharavadu has a unique name. The Tharavadu was administered by the Karanavan, the oldest male member of the family.[22] He would be the eldest maternal uncle of the family as well. The members of the Tharavadu consisted of mother, daughters, sons, sisters and brothers. The fathers and husbands had very minimal role to play in the affairs of the Tharavadu. It was a true matrilineal affair. The Karanavar took all major decisions. He was usually autocratic. However, the consent of the eldest female member of the family was taken before implementing the decisions. This eldest female member would be his maternal grandmother, own mother, mother's sister, his own sister or a sister through his maternal lineage. Since the lineage was through the female members, the birth of a daughter was always welcomed. Each Tharavadu also has a Para Devatha (clan deity) revered by those in the particular Tharavadu. Temples were built to honor these deities.Kerala's society is less patriarchical than the rest of the Majority World.[23][24] Certain Hindu communities such as the Nairs, some Ezhava families in Travancore and Cochin, Ezhavas in north Kerala and Muslims around Kannur used to follow a traditional matrilineal system known as marumakkathayam which has in the recent years (post Indian independence) ceased to exist. Christians, Muslims, and some Hindu castes such as the Namboothiris and some Ezhavas follow makkathayam, a patrilineal system.[25] Kerala's gender relations are among the most equitable in India and the Majority World.[26][27]
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