Pisharody

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Pisharody (also spelled Pisharodi, Pisharadi, Pisharoty, or Pisharoti; colloquially known as Sharody) is a sub-caste of the Pushpaka Brahmin caste in Kerala. As 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). Most Pisharams (Pisharody households) 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. Pisharodi

[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.

The bhattaraka origins as well as other details of origins of the pisharody can be accessed from the authoritative book called 'The castes and Tribes of South India' written during the British era ( [1] ) .

There is also another theory behind the origin of the name Pisharody. According to this, Pisharodys are descendants of a group of Namboothiris who intended to be Sanyasis. During the process of initiation to sanyasam, the aspirants are referred to as "psharas" in Sanskrit. However, the group could not complete the process to become sanyasis. By then they had discarded almost all rituals usually performed by Namboothiris and hence they could not return to their original cast. Thereafter this 'Pshara' group and their descendants were called as psharody, later coloqualized into Pisharody, Pisharady and Sharoty. Pisharodys 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 been a sanyasi and attained samadhi; The last rites are oriented towards "Vishnusayoojyam".

It is quite common in middle and northern parts of Kerala to use the sufix 'ody' or 'ady' to the cast name (eg., Vellody, Erady, Adiyody).

[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 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 ( [2] ). 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 Pisharams

Anayath Pisharam(Thiruvegappura) Thonnangamath Pisharam, Thrissur Sukapurath Pisharam, sukapuram For an exhaustive list of Pisharams, inclusive of the above fortunately-famous ones and a lot many of the not-so-famous ones, refer the list of Pisharams

[edit] Famous Pisharodis

[edit] See also

[edit] External links