Variar

Warrier (Warrier/Varier/Variyar) is a South Indian, Hindu caste of the Ambalavasi (temple-personnel) community from Kerala, India. They are engaged to assist the Namboodiri priests in temple-related chores, primarily catering to the floral requirements and daily maintenance of the temple.[1]

A few variars have also served as ministers(diwans) in erstwhile princely states of Kerala.

Origin

There is a range of theories of the origin of a separate caste of variars. Some of the theories are mythological, while the others give more down-to-earth explanations.

In some books it is mentioned that Variyars derive from the marriage of a Brahmin men with a shudra women.They are said to be corrupt form of parasiva.

According to Jati-nirnaya, variyars were originally Brahmins, who were degraded during the Treta-yuga, and they belong to the group of ambalavasis called bharatabhattaraka. A bhattaraka was a Jain head of monastery, and it is possible that as with the pisharodys, the Jain-Buddhist traditions in kerala which were squashed after Adi-Shankaracharya and the Bhakti movement, left a respectable group of monastery administrators, who were inducted into temples to help the priest in his activities.

Another account is given in Kerala Mahatmya "A young Brahman girl was married to an aged man. Not confident in unaided human effort, under circumstances such as hers, she devoted a portion of her time daily to preparing flower garlands for the deity of the nearest temple, and conceived. But the Brahman welcomed the little stranger by getting the mother thrown out of caste. Her garlands could no longer be accepted, but, nothing daunted, she worked as usual, and made a mental offering of the garlands she prepared, which, through an unseen agency, became visible on the person of the deity. Though the people were struck with shame at their unkind treatment of the innocent girl, they were not prepared to take her back. The Variyan caste was accordingly constituted, and her child was brought up by �the Azhvanchery Thamprakkal, and accommodated in the padippura or out-house at the entrance gate. "

Another theory is that warriers being Kailasa gotra are direct descendants Of Lord Shiva from kailas . So coming from North part of India though they were Shaivaites va arya(i.e. are they aryas) a doubt was there in south and they were named as 'warriers later. So they are Shaivaites and their moola mantra is a sloka meditating on Lord Shiva as a family man( Moole Kalpadrumasya...)

Occupation

The primary duty of Variars was to assist the namboodiri in priestly activities, outside the inner shrine. Traditionally, variars worked in Shiva temples, while their counterparts the Pisharodys worked in Vaishnavite temples. Managing the temple and providing materials required for "nivedyam," preparing garlands for decorating the deity, cleaning vessels used for the preparation of "nivadyam" and "Puja", daily maintenance of the temple premises, etc., were responsibilities of the Variyar's family.

In addition to Kazhakam (temple activities), Variars are also well-versed in Sanskrit. Many of the court tutors of Sanskrit were variars, and they were given the title "asan" or teacher. The Variars of Kottakkal (Vaidyaratnam P. S. Varier's Arya Vaidya Sala, Kottakkal) were (and continue to be) authorities on ayurveda.

After the Namboothiries' capture of landed properties through a bloodless coup or cultural revolution called "Bhramaswam", "Janmaswam" and "Kaanam" (claiming that the whole land was gifted to them by Parasurama and that they are the original owners of the entire land in Kerala), the Variar was made as "kazhakakkaran", or temple assistant. However, through close association with the Namboothiries, Variars became proficient in Sanskrit, as well as, through the knowledge of Sanskrit, astrology and Ashtanga Hridayam (Ayurveda).

Lifestyle

Most of the ceremonies observed by Malayali Brahmans are also performed by the Variyars, the vratas and upanayana being among those which are omitted. An important ceremony in their lives is Shivadiksha which is observed between the twelfth and sixteenth years, important for a variar to enter grihastha.

Variyar marriages were traditionally in the form of Kudivaippu, similar to Sarvaswadhanam. For widows, when the first husband dies, clothes may be received from another Variyar, or a Brahman, whose wife the woman becomes. Many old age and middle age variars followed typical ambalavasi customs. Variars believed that by serving god they will be freed from the sins which were done by their ancestors This caste is one of the most progressive among ambalavasis many of its members have earned western education and also have raised their Social Status for betterment of living conditions. The young generation has become more flexible regard to traditions.

Inheritance

The inheritance of Variars is a long, matrilineal pattern, as they trace their maternal ancestry to Goddess Parvati. In this respect, the Payyannur Gramam of Nambuthiris also follow a similar pattern of inheritance as also the Nairs.

A female heir is usually preferred than a male due to the matrilineal nature of the variar caste in the continuation of the family name as well as property inheritance.

The inheritance lineage was, in fact, created by the Namboodiries, to ensure that children of their male members on Variyar or other such community ladies in Kerala, do not have any right on the Namboodiri father's family property. Traditionally, only the eldest member of a Namboodiri family used to have an official marital relationship. All the younger male members used to have a socially-approved wife-and-husband relationship through a system called "sammmantham", or "sambandham" and were called "Sammanthakkaran".

[2]

Prominent Variars (Warriers)

See also

References

  1. ↑ .
  2. ↑ Dr

External links