Thampan

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Thampan is the name of Kshatriya clan from the state of Kerala in India. Unlike the common belief, Thampans are not members of the Nair community but included as members of the small caste group known as the Malayala Kshatriyas.

[edit] Etymology

The word Thampan is a contraction of the term Thampuran which is a corrup version of the Sanskrit term Samrat and stands for Your Lordship. The title of Varma is always affixed to the name of a Thampan male.unnithiri,thirumulpadu,thampi,unnithan,valyathan,eradi,adiyodi,nedungadi,vellodi etc are similar casts

[edit] Occupation

The Thampans were once ruling classes but by the 17th century they became subordinate to other Kings. Thenceforth their occupation was mostly attendance on these Rajahs.

[edit] General Customs

The Customs of the Thampans are same like the Rajahs of Kerala(though both are comes from nair clans and practiced "marumakkthayam",they are more brahmanised than nairs). They are invested with the sacred thread at the age of sixteen and are allowed to recite the Gayatri incantation ten times, thrice a day. Birth and Death pollutions are observed for eleven days. Namboodiri Brahmins are the priests of the Thampans. The Thali Kettu Kalyanam ceremony for girls, which is the actual marriage ceremony, takes place between the ages of seven and fourteen and Brahmins of a class called Aryapattar tie the Thali while Vedic hymns are chanted by the Namboodiri Brahmins. The girl may have a Sambandham (actual marriage) later with a Namboodiri Brahmin.and males are marrying from other nair/samantha families.