Kaniyar Panicker
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Kaniyar Panicker (Kaniyan, Kanisan, Ganaka, Kalari Panicker, Kalari Kurupu) is a community in Kerala State, India.
This community is famous for traditional Astrology. In olden days, this community was well-known for the people with deep knowledge in Sanskrit and Puranas. They conducted Pallikoodams (schools) for teaching others. So they are also known as 'Ashaans' or 'Gurukkal', both meaning teachers. As they do astrological calculations, they have got good understanding of mathematics and so got the name ganaka or ganakan.
Kalari Panicker and Kalari Kurupu belong to central part of Kerala and are well-known for Kalaripayattu. They conducted "Kalari" to practice and teach the other people. Nairs were the soldiers of encient kerala and kalari panicker or kalari kurupu were the gurus in the kalaris(school or field were the practitioner get training). But its not very clear if the Kaniyans of south Kerala and Kalari Panikers of the central and north Kerala are of the same caste group. In its notifications, the Kerala Public Service Commission (KPSC) considers 'Kani, Kaniyan, Ganaka, Kanisan and Kamman, Kani and Kaniyar Panicker' as one group and 'Kalari Panicker and Kalari Kurupu' as another group.
They were very good physicians in the system of traditional ayurvedic treatment, especially baala chikitsa (pediatrics) of kerala and they developed thanthric science in kerala. They have got fourth place in palace conference or sittings.
Kaniyar (Kaniya, Kaniyaru, Kaniyan)
The term Kaniyar means people who cultivate and predict. They are located in the districts of Bangalore, Mysore, Chamarajanagar Mandya, Hassan and Dakshina Kannada of Karnataka.
However, the community is notified as a scheduled tribe under the nomenclature Kaniyan and Kanyan in Kollegal taluk. They speak Kannada. Adult marriage is the rule and mates for marriage are acquired through negotiations. Monogamy is the general form. Residence is patrilocal. The nuclear families predominate. Parental property is divided equally among the sons and the eldest son inherits succeeds the father. Women take part in economic activities and contribute to family income. Ancestor worship exists. Astrology, the practice of herbal medicine and exorcism are the traditional occupations. In villages, agricultural labour, silkworm rearing and silk reeling are the other occupations followed by them. They have a community association. They are Hindus and the followers of Ramanujacharya. They celebrate festivals. They have positive attitude towards formal education, modern health system and family welfare.
There may be some relations between Karnataka kaniyars and Kerala Kaniyars.
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