Talk:Ambalavasi
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"The Ambalavasis proper including Warriers, Pothuvals, save for the Pisharodys have originated from prohibited unions between Nair men and Namboodiri women. Since they came from a patriarchal Brahmin mother and a matriarchal Nair father they were given a position below the Brahmins but above the Nairs. They donot perform the Upanayanam but instead around the 16th age they have a ceremony by which they are initiated by certain Vaishnavite or Saivite mantras into the Grihasthashrama. The Pisharodys have originated from a Brahmin who was on the verge of becoming a Sanyasin as per the then existant customs but ran away in the last moment. That is also the reason why Pisharodys did not burn their dead."
Is there any historical basis to corroborate these facts or are these just some concotions? Will231982 16:07, 25 June 2007 (UTC)will231982
- The information has been taken from the book of the official Travancore census writer, the first census writer of that country to which these communities belong. He did extensive research and published the book , the Travancore State Manuals, after the approval of the Maharajah of Travancore. These are the traditional origins of these castes Manu
[edit] Brahmin - Non Brahmin
To my understanding, Ilayathu is a Brahmin and is above Mootrhathu who is a non brahmin. Ilayathu is among the lowest of the brahmins and moothath the highest among non brahmins.
There are several areas of overlap across the communities in Kerala. Example: The surname Antharjanam is normally used by brahmin women. But there are thiyyattunni families where women are called as antharjanams and the houses are referred to as Illam. --K N Unni (talk) 07:49, 22 February 2008 (UTC)
[edit] Latest Edits
The last few edits have reverted parts where the Ambalavasis are stated to be a caste between Brahmins and Kshatriyas. This is incorrect. With reference to the chapter on Castes in the Travancore Manuals of 1906, Ambalavasis are an intermediate caste between the Brahmins and the Nairs. The Jati Nirnayam states : 8 Brahmins castes, 2 Nunajatis or minorities namely the Kshatriyas and Samanthans, 12 Antralajatis ie the Ambalavasis and the 18 Sudras ie Nairs including Marar. Thus the position of the Ambalavasi is below the Kshatriya. Similarly Moosad is not a caste which provided priests for Nairs. They are considered the highest of Ambalavasis and hence called Moosad implying senior. They were once Brahmins who lost caste when they tatooed themselves with Shaivite Images. The Elayaths lost caste because they took up the priesthood of the Nairs and hence became the junior most or elayath of Brahmin castes of Kerala. Similarly Poduvals also have an origin from an illicit relation between a Brahmin and Nair like the Variars. They are not Nairs. This information is sourced from the Travancore Manual Manu
