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Nambootiris
On a broad basis, the accepted caste division of the Hindu community was
into four groups the Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and Sudras and then
the lowest, the out castes.
The Malayali Brahmins or Nambootiris and the
Tamil Brahmins occupied a very influential position in the caste order,
but the Nambootiris always held their supremacy as the purest stock of
Hindu hierarchy. Their contributions to Malayalam poetry, drama, astrology,
astronomy, medicine and arts are indisputable. There are many Brahmin
sub-castes like Ilayatu, Muttatu, Unni, Pisharoti, Nambiti Gurukkal many
of whom belong to the Ambalavasi class. A Pisharoti does not wear the
sacred thread and so also Warrier. Elayatu is the traditional purohit
(priest) of Nayars who conduct the after-death rites for them. They wear
the sacred thread and do the puja in the temples, but they are not aristocratic
as the Nambootiris. Pushpakas and Warriers are temple employees mainly
engaged in making flower garlands for offering to the deity. The Warrier
community is famous for their learning in Sanskrit literature. Marans
who belong to the community of Nayars, are temple musicians who are main
custodians of the Sopana system of music or the music of the sanctum sanctorum
of the temple. They are experts in percussion instruments like Maddalam,
Chenda, Edakka. Poduval is another caste of temple musicians
Women of the Nambootiri community had to live cloistered
in the inner chambers of their homes (manas or illams). They hide their
faces and bodies from public view during daily visits to their family
temple, under the' marakkuta' (covered-umbrella) and the 'ghosha' (veil)
within their homes. The life of a Nambootiri women was incredibly miserable
with a succession of harrowing experiences. Majority of them had to marry
at a very young age to senile infirm men and became widows early in life
or remain spinsters for life.
The ultimate ambition in life of several younger sons of Nambootiri families
was priesthood in some temple for a livelihood and convenient marriage
relations with Nayar women. For the elder sons, marriage with Nambootiri
girls was an attractive proposition for vast amount of dowry they got.
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