Pisharody
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Pisharody (also spelled Pisharodi, Pisharadi, Pisharoty, or Pisharoti; colloquially known as Sharody) is a sub-caste of Pushpaka Brahmin(Ambalavasi) caste in Kerala. Pisharodys are Vaishnavite Brahmins. Pisharodys were traditionally caretakers of Hindu temples, with temple related jobs (Kazhakam) and hence clubbed under Ambalavasis (ambalam = temple, vasi = resident in Malayalam) or temple based brahmins. Most Pisharams (Pisharody household) are situated near Vaishnavite or Bhagawathy (Hindu Goddess) temples.
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[edit] Origins
The Pisharodys belong to the Narayana Dasa Gotram, based on the folklore that the earliest Pisharody was a patron saint who later took on the title Shri Swamy Narayana Dasa, and brought his disciples (Budhdhist/Jainist origins) to merge with the Vaishnavaite school of thought in the post Adi Shankaracharya period in Kerala. The time frame also coincides with the acceptance of Lord Buddha as an incarnation of Lord Vishnu and the gradual decline in Buddhist and Jain influence in Kerala.
[edit] Etymology
Etymologically, the word owes its origins to the saintly antecedents of the community. Bhikhshuvar (monk/mendicant)+ Adikal (reverential addressing / honorific suffix) = Bhikhshuvaradikal, later corrupted to Pisharodikal and pisharody ( pishara itself being a term for a younger sanyasi) . Interestingly, in contrast to the pisharodikal, an ambalavasi community named adikal exist that carry out the priestly duties at kodungallur. On account of the animal sacrifices and various other scandalous activities that have long been associated with the kodungalur temple, nambudiris have generally avoided the priestly duties by delegating the same to the adikal, although the tantri remains a nambudiri. Shri Attoor Krishna Pisharody has referred to the saintly rituals of the community in his treatise named Bhattaraka Vijayam.
There is also another theory which looks more logical. According to this theory, the Pisharoties are descendants of a group of Namboothiris who intended to be Sanyasins. During the process of initiation to sanyasam, the aspirants are refered to as "psharas" in sanskrit. However, the group could not complete the process and become sanyasins. By then they had discarded almost all rituals usually performed by Namboothiris and hence they could not return to their original cast. Thereafter the group and their descendants were called as psharoty (derived from the word pshara). Psharoty when coloqualised became pisharoty and pisharady. Psharoties do not wear the sacred thread nor can perform puja in temples as per the tradition. They do not cremate the dead, instead bury as if the person has attained samadhi and the last rites are oriented towards "Vishnusayoojyam".
It is common in middle and north Kerala to use the sufix 'ody' or 'ady' to the cast name (eg., Vellody, Erady).
[edit] Historic Perspective
The Buddhist and Jain influence (which was closely related to the trading centres and routes) was significant in the region around kodungallur, the most important trading centre of India in olden days. Kodungallur was also known as primum emporium indiae ( a self explanatory latin term) to the western world. Famous present day hindu temples like kodungallur bhagawathy temple, vadakkunathan temple in trichur and koodalmanikyam Temple at irinjalakuda were Buddhist temples once ( [1] ). It is no surprise therefore that around this coastal region extending from the mouth of the Purna river ( periyar ) to the mouth of the Bharathapuzha and into its adjacent hinterland that one comes across a vast majority of the present day pisharams ( nearly 90% ).
[edit] Famous Pisharodys
- Attoor Krishna Pisharody
- Thrikkandiyoor Achutha Pisharody
- Cherukadu Govinda Pisharody
- Dr. K.N. Pisharody
- K. P. K. Pisharody
- E. P. Bharatha Pisharody
- Pazhayannoor Rama Pisharody
- Panditharathnam Prof. K. P. Narayana Pisharody
- Prof. P. R. Pisharody
- Mundur Krishnankutty
- Kalamandalam Vasu Pisharody
[edit] See also
- Pushpaka Brahmins
- Sree Pushpaka Seva Sangham
- Pushpakadhwani
- List of Ambalavasi Families
