kochi society

7/23/2019 Kochi Society

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KOCHI SOCIETY: A HISTORICAL OUTLINETejaswini Krishna P



• A society is constituted by the union of individuals eithervoluntarily or by the use of force by an ‘external agency’. Butwe would like to emphasize the idea of ‘union of individuals’.

• Division of labour in the society in terms of the varyingcapacities of the individuals gave rise to the creation ofcaste groups in the Indian social environment.

• he land of !erala could be treated as the ‘Museum of

Castes’" because it presents the picture of the existence ofmultiple caste groups.

• he basic and underlying criterion for the creation of castesin !erala" as in the other parts of India" was ‘specialization

of profession’.

• he central part of !erala" controlled by the rulers of !ochi"was the seat of Nambutiri orthodoxy and Nairaristocracy which it has inherited from the days of the#erumals.



he ma$or caste divisions in !ochi

%ambutiris #aradesiBrahmans

!shatriyas Ambalavasis

&amantha

%airs

&udras

ampurakkals

Adhyans 'isishta

&amanyas

(atimatras or

(atimatranmar

&apagrasthas.

amilBrahmans

uluBrahmans

!onkaniBrahmans

who wear punul

who donotwear punul

!iriyattil

Ittahi

&warupattil

#adamangalan

#allicham

'attekad

'aniyans

)hempukothi

*tittu

'elakkathalavan

'eluthedan

)haliyan

!adupattans

harakan

he caste system evolves three things

1. Seperation+A caste remained pure byperforming rituals

,. Heirarchy+ the 'arna scale of the Brahmins"!hatriyas 'yshysas and &udras

-. Hereditary specialization of profession



• ampura!!als

• "dhyansa retired life andspend their time in studying the'edas and practicing acts ofpiety and charity" andbenevolence" receiving no giftsor danams.

• #isishta• Samanyas$ he ordinary

%ambuthiris" who study the'edas" perform religious servicesin temples and practicemanthravadams

• %atimatras -the eight families ofphysicians

spiritual samrats/sovereigns0

%ambutiri brahman family

• amil brahmans were from the )hola and #andyan kingdoms• he &mbrans /tulu brahmans0 found in the state are &ivite and

'aishnate Brahmans from all these sections acting as priests intemples" or doing services as assistants under %ambutiris or cooks inpalaces and private houses.

• 'o(da Saras(atha )on!ani *rahmins " the 1a$a of !ochi granted a

royal neettu to the !onkani Brahmins.



%air



2ower castes



axes and laws

kochi society

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