Namboothiri

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(Tagged January 2006)

The Namboothiris (Malayalam :നമ്പൂതിരി)are the Brahmins of Kerala. They adhere to the Advaita philosophy propounded by Sri Adi Shankaracharya and are Smartha's. Indeed, Sri Adi Shankaracharya himself was born into this community. In Malayalam, Namboothiri is Nambu means sacred or trustworthy,thiri means Light.

According to some traditions that ascribe, controversially, a non-Indian origin to Indo-Aryans, the Namboothiris are thought to have migrated from North India, or countries further north, into Kerala during the 7th century AD. According to Namboothiri mythology, Sri Parashuraaman created the land (of Kerala) and bestowed it upon them. However, this myth also exist in an old Chera lore about King Velkezu Kuttavan. According to this myth, the king flings his spear into the sea to claim land from it. This lore was modified later in Malayalam language by the Namboothiris as part of their campaign to establish themselves in Kerala. In the Namboothiri version, Parashuraaman uses his Parashu (Axe), to create new land for the Brahmins.

Hindus of Kerala mostly follow Smartha tradition of worship but Shaivism and Vaishnavism are also present to a minor extent. Namboothiris are traditionally accompanied by Nairs, a warrior caste of Kerala. Earlier days Nair men used to protect Namboothiris. Nair women are allowed to Namboothiris and the children born are considered as Nairs as Nair caste adheres to women supremacy. However Aitha exists for them also.

The Namboothiri women are called Antherjanam, the literal meaning being "people inside the house." Only the eldest son of the Namboothiri could marry namboothiri girl and other younger ones marry girls from Kshatriya caste till recently. The travel of Namboothiri girls were limited to the temples or to the house of their immediate relatives, but that too had to be accompanied by a maidservant.

The Namboothiris were considered to be the most orthodox brahmins of India till recently. They established superiority over the "Patters", the Tamil Brahmins, and "Embranthiris," the Thulu Brahmins in Kerala. Tamil brahmins follow Vedic mantra for ritual and worship which is different from the Tantric tradition followed in the Kerala Temples by Namboothiris. However, Namboothiris made use of their services in the administration of the Veda padhasalas (schools), establishment of Yajur Vedic school and some domestic services.

Namboothiris used to practice Aitha or untouchability. Not only lower castes, even higher castes were not allowed inside Namboothiri houses. Migrant Brahmins like Iyers, Saraswat Brahmins are also considered lower in status because of their non-priestly occupations in Kerala. Thus the Namboothiris had a strong sense of superiority over other castes, highlighting their position as the highest order of brahmins in Kerala.

The Namboothiris played a major role in precipitating the emergence of Malayalam as a language distinct from Tamil. This is indicated by the fact that the Malayalam language has significant Sanskrit influence.

The Namboothiris are acknowledged as being among the foremost vedic scholars of India. In fact, among all the various Brahmin groups in India, it is only in the vedic chanting of the Namboothiris that one can find a relic of the PIE (Proto-Indo-European) language (in the form of some specific raised accent). This ancient oral tradition of Vedic chanting is getting extinct after merging of the erstwhile Princely ruled states of Cochin and Travancore to the Indian Union in A.D. 1947.

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