History of Nair Community from Kerala

Theories of Nair's Orgin:

Ancient South Indian history, historians, and foreign travellers referred to the Nair's as a dignified martial nobility. The earliest reference to Nair's comes from the Greek ambassador Megasthenes. In his accounts of ancient India, he refers to the "Nayars of Malabar" & the "Kingdom of Chera". However, the earlier origin of the Nair caste is uncertain & several alternate & sometimes conflicting theories exist.

Nair is the name of a Hindu Kshatriya caste in the southern Indian state of Kerala. Nairs are an integral part of Kerala's culture & have a long history. The Nair caste was a martial nobility, similar to the Samurai of Japan & figure prominently in Kerala history, origins & history. Ancient South Indian history as well as eminent historians, and foreign travelers refer to the Nairs as a martial nobility, similar to the Samurais of Japan.

The origin of the Nair caste is uncertain. Some anthropologists are of the view that the Nairs are not indigenous to Kerala, as many customs & traditions distinguished them from other Keralites. Some examples are their own form of inheritance (Marumakkathaayam), warfare (Kalaripayattu), gods & goddesses (Nagas or serpents & Bhadhrakali), numerous sub-castes & surnames. There is also a belief that the Nairs are Nagas.

Velu Pillai, in the 'Travancore State Manual', explains how the Namboodiris (indigenous Brahmins of Kerala) were met by the martial Dravidian Nagas who had migrated like them, from the North. The Keralolpathi, which is a compilation of myths, mentions that Varuna had gifted land in Kerala to Nagas & the Nairs descended from these Naga ladies & the Namboodiri Brahmin men. The affinity of the Nair community to Serpents & Serpent worship is indisputable & might have given rise to their reputed Naga origin. Naga worship might have also given rise to the mythical version of Nairs being Kshatriyas belonging to the Serpent dynasty (Nagavansham) who removed their sacred thread & migrated south to escape the wrath of a vengeful Parasurama. The belief amoungst Nair community is that they originated from Aryans & they call themselves as Malayala Kshathriya, but Brahmins call them "Samanta Kshathriya" because they lack the sacred thread.

According to Chatampi Swamigal who interpreted old Tamil texts, the Nair's were Naka (Naga or Snake) Lords who ruled as feudal lords in the Chera kingdom. A Nair Lady, by Ravi Varma One finds mention of the Nair's during the reign of the King Rama Varma Kulashekhara (1020-1102) of the second Chera dynasty, when the Chera Kingdom was attacked by the Cholas. The Nair's fought by forming suicide squads (Chavers) against the invading force. It is not clear whether the Cheras themselves were Nair's, or if the Cheras employed the Nair's as a warrior class. All the Kings of Kerala boasted of how many Nair's were there in their army.The Nair's gradually lost their supremacy over the land after the collapse of the second Chera kingdom. The Namboothiris became more powerful.
Some also believe NAir's came from Sindh province by sailing through the Arabian Sea, that however it is crystal clear that Nair's invaded to Kerala relatively very recently (5th centruy AD to 10th Century AD). Most of their physical features, superiority in warfare & administration, rituals & religious ceremonies strongly support the conclusion that Nair community in Kerala have an Aryan origin.

However Nair's continued to be the feudal lords (less commonly royalty, as in Palakkad & Kozhikode) & land owners right up to the British times. They dominated the civil, administrative & military elite of the Pre-British era of Kerala.

The 17th century the Brahmin-inspired Keralolpathi & Grama Padhati describes the Nair’s of Kerala & the Bunts of Southern Tulu Nadu as descendants of the Sudras who accompanied the Brahmins to Kerala & Tulu nadu respectively from Ahichatra/Ahikshetra in southern Panchala. In addition, Manual of Madras Administration Vol II (printed in 1885) notes that the Nadavas/Nair’s of Malabar and the Bunts of Southern Tulu Nadu are same.

Irrespective of the different theories that seek to explain the origin of Nair’s, it is clear that till the early 20th century, Nair’s exerted their influence in medieval Kerala society as feudal lords and owned large estates. The decline of Nair dominance came about in multiple stages. During colonial times, the British perceived that Nair’s were an inherent threat to their hegemony in the region & therefore outlawed their right to bear weapons and by banning the Nair martial art of Kalaripayattu. Weapons were integral to the Nair psyche & power & combined with repressive legislation led to a loss of social standing for Nair’s. Later during post-colonial years, the Land reforms of 1950's led to massive loss of land-ownership by Nair feudal Lords & some Nair gentry were relegated to poverty overnight. Thus, the decline of Nair dominance came to a full circle by mid the 20th century.

The word Nayar is either derived from the Sanskrit word Nayaka (leader) or Naga (snakes, which the Nairs worshipped). Nair is also seen in other parts of the world - although no direct linkages with Nairs in Kerala have been established.

Etymology:

The word Nair lends itself to two etymological interpretations. The first interpretation is that the word Nair could have been derived from the Sanskrit word Nayaka which means leader. The Sanskrit word Nayaka which appears in various forms in southern India (Nayakan/Naicker/ Nayak in Karnataka & Maharashtra & Nayudu in Andhra Pradesh) could have been corrupted as Nair's in Malayalam. The second interpretation is that the word Nair is a corrupted form of the word Nagar serpent men because Nair's practiced snake worship. in Tamil Nadu. 

The word Nair also occurs in other parts of the world although no direct linkages with the Nair's in Kerala have been established.

Physical Features in Nair's:
The following are the defining aryan features that are clearly visible in this picture: 

The forehead is vertical.

There is no nasal depression. The nose bridge is full, such that there is continuity between the forehead & nose bridge.

The eyes and cheekbones are set significantly deeper than the forehead & nose bridge.

The front of the jaw (both mandible & maxilla) is much narrower than the cheekbones. This results in a fleshy area between the cheekbones & the front of the jaw, which has a slight concavity to it.

The cheekbones are 'squared off', being flat on their front side & sharply angling backward on their outer edge.

There is a subtle diagonal line in the flesh, starting at the inner tip of the eye & moving in an outward-downward direction over the cheek.

The nose is straight & relatively narrow.

There is relatively little distance between the bottom of the nose & the top of the upper lip. (in stark contrast to Australoid, many Africans & Indigenous Irish)

The eyes do not bug out at all. (unlike those of many Africans & Turks)

When the eyes are open, there are no significant lines that distinguish the eyelids.

The lips are of medium thickness. (in stark contrast to the exceptionally thin lips of some indigenous Western Europeans)

There is no unibrow hair.

The eyebrows are relatively straight and horizontal.

Hairy body, relatively dark eye & dark hair unlike Indigenous Europeans. (Blue, Grey & Green eyes & blond hair is the speciality of Indigenous Europeans)                      

    
Typical Nair Last Names:

Achan	Adiyodi	Asan	Elayidom
Eradi	Ilayadam	Kaimal	Karnavar
Kartha	Kunnath	Kitavu	Kurup
Mannadiar	Menon	Nambiar	Nayanar
Nayar	Nedungadi	Padanayar	Panicker
Pandala	Pillai	Saamoothiri	Thampi
Thankkal	Unnithan	Valiathan	Valliath
Vazhunnor	Vellodi

Nair surnames were traditionally carried through matri-lineality, although most modern Nair's follows patri-lineal nomenclature. The surname Nair is commonly used by all sub-castes belonging to Nair caste. However, there are surnames which are reminders of the honours conferred upon individuals by the powers that be from time to time in acknowledgement of exceptional acts of valour, erudition and scholarship, or excellence in chosen field of endeavor. The families of these individuals inherited the titles. It is also possible that in the majority of cases, such honours were bestowed by the Royalty in return for services rendered and in recognition of a display of loyalty. In general, the system of conferring honours points to the ruling Monarch's dependence on the Nair's who provided them with military and administrative support. While most of these are ranks and positions in a feudal set up (similar to the Mughals' Mansabdari system), such royal patronage was crucial to the development and promotion of strikingly singular forms of dance and drama such as Kathakali of which, the Nair's were exponents.

Nair Sub-Castes: 

V Nagam Aiya, Dewan Peishcar, Travancore, in his Travancore State Manual states that although all the Malayala Sudras were classed under the general head of Nair, in reality there were only five "genuine" Nair castes. These included:

Kiryathil Nair’s	They are the highest class of Nair’s found usually in Malabar & Cochin & rarely in Travancore. In the caste hierarchy, they were considered superior to Illathu Nair’s, but inferior to Samanthan Nair’s. The caste boundary between Kiryathil Nair & Samanthan Nair is very vague & therefore some families among the Kiryathils in the   course of time may be recognised as Samanthan & vice versa. Kiryathil Nair’s were feudal lords, known as Naduvazhi’s & controlled a limited number of militiamen known as Charnavar’s under their command. These soldiers usually belonged to the Purattu Charna Nair sub-caste. The 17th century Keralolpathi states them to be descendants of warrior Naga tribes who came to Kerala from the north along the western coast. It may be noted that the earlier Keralamahatmayam, a Hindu Purana, does not make mention of any sub-castes among the Nair’s but only states them to be the military caste of Kerala.
Illathu Nair’s	They were brought in by Parasurama, as per the Keralolpathi (it's a 17th century book written by Namputhiris to protect the caste interest of them), to serve the Brahmins as tenants, servants, warriors, cultivators etc. Purificatory rites by the Marars Elayatus distinguished the Illathu Nair’s & priestly service from them.
Swaroopathil Nair’s or Cherna Nair’s	They were one of the sub castes belonging to Nair community in Kerala. They were warriors or Samanta Kshatriya Royal Households known as Swaroopams. This subcaste is found only in Travancore. In Malabar, two related sub-castes, Akathu Charna Nairs & Purathu Charna Nair’s are treated as equivalent to Swaroopathil Nair’s in caste hierarchy.
Padamangalam Nair’s	They were the Nair’s appointed by Parasurama to serve in temples. They migrated from Tamil Nadu of the Pandayan kingdom as it was then known.
Tamil Padam Nair’s	This class of Nair’s, as the name indicates, were migrants from Tamil Nadu who were embraced into the Nair community.

Nair Appearances:

The following information has been condensed from the Travancore State Manual by V. Nagam Aiya. The General appearance of the Nair's will be clear from the following quote, as noted by the author in 1901.

“The Appearance of the well-nourished Nair is perhaps among the finest in all India The men & women among the Nair's are models of neatness and simplicity particularly in their dress, food and living. The men keep a small tuft of hair hanging in front, tied into a knot which is thrown behind or on the side, quite similar to the Tamil Brahmins while women have long black hair growing luxuriantly which they keep neat & orderly by constant bathing, rubbing of oil and use of comb. They tie it in a large bun suspended on the left side or in front. This is a very pretty observance and one that is worth imitation in more civilized countries.”

Nair’s Attire (Men & Women):

·        Nair Males: Males wear a kaupinam & a single strip of cloth, four for five meters in lenght, known as the Mundu round the waist. Another one is thrown over the shoulder or worn like a shawl (Vesti). The lower cloth is not tucked between the legs as in Northern India but is left to hang loose to the ground. The upper cloth is known as the Neriatu which may be tied as turban on the head while walking outside. Men usually, besides weare amulets & rings & have their ears bored & wore earrings studded with precious gems.
       

·       Nair Women: The dress of the women is not generally distinguishable from the men. On festive occasions the Pudava is worn which is a gilt bordered mundu, also known as a Pattukara. This dressing style of women is no longer practiced & introduction of the Rauka blouse in the early 20th century made it extremely popular among the Nair women. The mundu is still widely used by almost everybody in Kerala, though modern clothing, naturally has found tremendous use as well. 
        Women had for the neck ornaments such as the Kantasaram, Nalupanti, Addiyal, Ponnu-Nool Nagapadam (Most important ornament of a Nair lady), Arimbu Mani, Jnali Kuzhal, Minnum Maniyum, Arasillatali, Pachakkatali, Kasu Malai, Kuzhalmala, Rasi Tali, Padakkatali etc. For the nose, pendants called Mukuttis were worn set with ruby or diamond generally. For the arms, bangles such as Kattikappu, Maniyalakappu,  Swarna-Sangala Muduku etc. were worn. For the waist, ornaments known as Kacchapuram Thanda or Padaswaram. The Nair ladies extended their ear lobes & the only two types of ornaments which were worn in the ears was a type of cylindrical ornament known as Takka or a two lipped biconvex disc considered more fashionable, known as the Toda. Jewels were not worn on the head. Tattooing was not favored among the Nair's & was considered derogatory. Young girls even wore ornaments on their feet, known as padaswaram. 

Nair's Food & Drinking Habits:

Boiled rice & rice gruel known as Kanjee (pronounced kun-jee) form the staple food of the Nair's. The coconut, jack, plantain, mango and other vegetable products are widely used in cooking among the Nair's as also coconut oil which is used widely for frying. Ghee was used in well to do families & on festive occasions. Kanjee was had thrice a day at mealtimes & formed the major part of the diet of the Nair's. Animal food was not objectionable & fish was the most commonly consumed commodity, fowl being less in demand. Beef was barred for the Nair's. Alcoholic drinks as a rule were prohibited.

Marumakkathayam (Matrilineal Sytem) & Tharavadu (Dwelling Place):

Nair’s followed the Marumakkathayam (Matri-lineal) system of inheritance & lived in units called Tharavadus (Matri-lineal joint-family). The tharavadu referred to relations of property (mudal sambandham) shared by a group tracing descent from a common ancestress. The outer boundary of tharavadus seems to have been defined by relations of pollution (pula sambandham), whereby a wider matrilineal kin group was knit by symbolic ties prominently in sharing birth and death pollution & a memory of common descent. However, there are indications that when expediency demanded it was possible to even break off pollution ties. For instance, in the case of a numerically large tharavadu, comprising a considerable section of the population of territory, death & birth pollution spelt a great inconvenience. In such cases it could be decided to terminate pollution ties, even while the related groups continued to share a cremation ground.

Architecturally wealthy tharavadus encompassed a Naalukettu or Ettukettu, a Kulam Sarpa Kavu (a sacred grove with trees and thick foliage for worship of the Nagathaan (Serpents) while in the case of some exceptionally wealthy families a private temple as well. The water body served the purpose of ritual baths, followed by Tantric worship in the Sarpakavu, phased out into rituals and ceremonies that repeated in cycles of days, months & years often accompanied by feasts that witnessed a grand assembly of kin.

Interestingly, even though tharavadus existed based on descent from a common ancestress, it was comparatively rare for a remembered founder of a tharavadu to be a woman alone & it showed a "structural" patriarchy of the Karnavar (Senior most male member). For instance in management of the tharavadu, Nair women managed domestic affairs in their natal tharavadus & the senior woman’s decision making role was restricted to the inner domain of larger tharavadus in central & north Kerala. However it was also not that the Karnavartharavadu, but unlike in patrilineal families there was more than one node of power and a plural authority structure. In practice, the senior woman, was not necessarily determined by seniority & might well be the oldest competent woman & yet seniority was a crucial factor in determining power relations between the Karnavar & the senior woman. If the Karnavar was the son or younger brother of the senior woman, she might indeed be the de facto head of the group keeping accounts in her own hands & counselling him. But were he the older brother of the senior woman then she was subordinate to him. In some wealthy tharavadus lands were set aside for women as stanum (a special status) property or otherwise over which they enjoyed varied claims does not in any way suggest ‘separate rights’ or access to their own separate revenues and properties. In the matrilineal Tharavadus customary practice, rather than any religious precepts embodied in written sources, was the source of personal/family law.

The marumakkathayam system & tharavadu system are not viable anymore & has declined in tune with the social & cultural changes which have taken their toll on many old institutions. Social reforms spread with modern education. In other words, Nair’s switched over to the patriarchal model of kinship & inheritance. The partition of tharavadus into individual shares (Alohari Bhaagam) followed the enactment of Land Reforms Ordinance that stipulated upper limits on land holdings. Many tharavadus, already bursting at the seams with internal dissensions & strife, collapsed under the pressure. The matrifocal system disintegrated. Fathers took charge of their sons & daughters & husband & wife started living together with their offspring. The "Marumakkathayam Law" which sanctioned dismantling of the tharavadus & the partition of property, came into vogue in the year 1933. 32,900 families were partitioned in Travancore alone by 1938. The tharavadu system of living became a thing of the past by the 1940s. Naalukettu & Ettukettu structures began to collapse, or were sold off.

Kalarippayattu:

The Vadakkan, or northern, style of Kalarippayattu is associated with the Nair’s. In earlier times, Kalarippayattu was an essential component of education for Nair’s. Nair men and even women learned the art of Kalaripayattu at an early age & used their skills in war & combat. From Kalaripayattu, comes Marma Adi. Marmam shastra was an advanced way to temporarily or permanently disable or kill an opponent through a tap with a finger on a specific nerve. Marma Adi capitalised on the knowledge of acupuncture points. In recent times, however, Marmam Shastra & Marma Adi have been used only for therapeutic purposes. The Nair sub-castes known as Kurup & Panicker were traditionally teachers of the Kalari Martial Arts. Kalari may have given rise to Kung Fu according to ancient documents. It was outlawed by British in 1793, leading to great loss of self-esteem among Nair’s.

Nair’s Marriage System:

In the past Nair’s had three major marriage/rite of passage ceremonies.

Kettu Kalyanam (Mock marriage ceremony)	The thaali tying rite took place before the onset of puberty. During this ceremony the girl was married to a man, preferably a Namboothiri Brahman. The ritual husband had no further duties to the girl after the completion of this ritual, although she had to observe a period of death impurity upon the death of her ritual husband. The thaali ceremony was a female centered ritual which emphasized fertility & household prosperity. This ceremony had to be performed on pain of excommunication
Thirandukalyanam (Announcement & Celebration of puberty)	The Thirandukalyanam ceremony was the puberty ceremony, during which femininity is celebrated as women occupy the parts of the household typically inhabited by men.
Sambandham/Podamuri (Casual marriage alliance)	The Sambandham ritual is less auspicious than the thaali & puberty rites. It literally means "alliance" or "relationship". It was the customary institution that framed casual marriage alliances between men & women following marumakkathayam. This ritual marks the union of the bride & groom & was not necessarily a permanent arrangement. However, it was this innate weakness of sambandham that helped maintaining the integrity of the matrilineal tharavadu. Sambandham denoted hypergamy between Nair women & Namboothiri men as well as reciprocal marriage among Nair’s. However, such an alliance was not recognized as constituting marriage by Namboothiri Brahmins as well as by colonial courts but was seen as comparable to concubinage. Two reasons cited for this were that dissolution of sambandham was fairly easy & that it did not give rise to property relations. Though viewed by Namboothiri Brahmins & European commentators as immoral, allied with polyandry, or even prostitution, sambandham was nothing of that sort for the Nair women. Sambandham essentially gave a Nair woman the liberty to initiate, consent to, or terminate a sexual relationship with any man & thereby formed one of the foundations of matri-lineality. In case of sambandham with Namboothiri men, the system benefited both the Namboothiri Brahmins as well as matrilineal castes like the Nairs for two reasons. First, Namboothiri brahmins had institutionalized primogeniture, permitting only the eldest son to marry within the caste. Younger sons (also called aphans) in Namboothiri families were expected to establish sambandham with Nair’s & Ambalavasi (Temple service castes) women. Secondly, Nair families encouraged the sambandham arrangement with Namboothiri men, thereby increasing their tharavadu & caste status. Such alliances between Nair women & Namboothiri men came to an end after the efforts of V.T Bhattathirippad in 1933. In case of sambandham with Nair men, The Malabar Marriage Act, 1896 (Act IV of 1896) succeeded to alter by statute, the personal law of the Hindu matrilineal castes of Malabar & South Canara districts of the erstwhile Madras Presidency. It was a permissive legislation that made it possible for people following marumakkathayam & aliyasantana law (matrilineal law) to register their marriages, if they so wished. The Act enabled people to be legally married, something that was not possible under matrilineal law as interpreted in the colonial civil courts. Similar legislations in the southern parts followed much later as is evidenced by Travancore Nair Act of 1912, 1925 & the Cochin Nair Act of 1920.

Vivaham (Older Form):

Presently the Nair’s do not practice either of the three forms of marriages described above but perform Vivaham (Marriage) recognized by the Hindu Marriage Act of 1955. It is ceremonially the shortest in comparison to its counterparts from other Indian castes and regions. The marriage ceremony among Nair’s has changed considerably over the past two hundred years.

·    Originally, the process starts with the examination of the horoscopes of the bride & bridegroom to see if their respective stars agree astrologically. This is still done today in some conservative Nair families. If the stars do not match, families may go so far as to cancel the marriage & seek another prospective bride or groom. If the astrological predictions are favourable, further examination is undertaken to appoint an auspicious date & time for the ceremony.

·    During the celebration, there would be a presentation of danom (wealth or alms) to Brahmins & a sadhya (feast). The bride brid& egroom would meet in the central room of the house, rice would be sprinkled on their heads. This was the essence of a basic Nair marriage about two hundred years ago. In addition to these general ceremonies, there are local variations. In North Malabar (Northern Kerala), there is a Podamuri or Vastradanam ceremony.

·    In this ceremony, the initial examination of horoscopes takes place at the house of the bride in the presence of the bride's & bridegroom's families. The astrologer writes his calculations & opinion on a piece of palmyra leaf and hands it over to the bridegroom's relations. If the horoscopes match, a day is fixed for the ceremony. This date is also written down & handed to the bride's Karnavar & to the bridegroom's relations. The astrologer & the bridegroom's party are then invited to a feast in the bride's house. The astrologer also receives gifts in the form of money or cloth.

·    Three to four days prior to the wedding date, the bridegroom visits his Karnavars & caste elders to receive permission to leave for the wedding. The bridegroom presents them with betel leaves & areca nuts & obtains formal sanction for the wedding. The bridegroom then proceeds, accompanied by a number of his friends to the house of his bride. He is received at the gate of the house by the bride's relations & is led with his friends, to seats provided in the thekina (southern hall) of the house. The bridegroom distributes gifts to all the Brahmins present. After this, the whole party is invited to take part in another sadhya.

·      The astrologer then announces the auspicious hour that has been fixed & leaves after receiving his dues. The bridegroom is then taken by one of his friends to the padinitta (Principal/Western room of the house, where religious ceremonies are conducted). New clothes, betel leaves & areca nuts brought by the bridegroom's party are placed in this room. The room is decorated and turned into a bedroom for the occasion. In this room are placed a number of lamps as well as the ashtamangaliyam (eight articles symbolizing mangaliyam or marriage). These are rice, paddy, the tender leaves of the coconut tree, an arrow, a looking glass, a well-washed cloth, a burning fire & a small rounded wooden box called a cheppu. The bridegroom with his groomsman enters the room through the eastern door, while the bride, dressed in beautiful clothes and jewelry, enters the room through the western door accompanied by her aunt or another elderly lady of the family. The bride stands facing east with the ashtamangalyam & lamps in front of her. The groomsman hands over to the bridegroom a few pieces of the new cloth and the bridegroom puts them into the hands of the bride. After this, the lady who accompanied the bride sprinkles rice over the lit lamps & over the heads & shoulders of the bride & bridegroom. The bridegroom then leaves the room to go to the thekina to present his elders & friends with cakes, betel leaves and areca nuts. After the guests have left, bride & bridegroom retire to the bedroom. Next morning, the vettilakettu or salkaram  ceremony is conducted & the bridegroom's female relations take the bride to the husband's house, where a feast is held in honour of the occasion. After marriage, the bride remains in her tharavaadu & her husband will often visit her, while remaining a member of his own tharavaadu. The children, of course, will belong to their mother's tharavaadu in accordance with the marumakkathaayam system.

Vivaham (Newer Form):

These days, a number of the individual ceremonies have been abandoned or condensed. However, one can still see elements of the older ceremonies in the new ones. Families may observe all or part of the following ceremonies.

·   The first ceremony is the Vivaha Nischayam or simply Nischayam. In this ceremony, an astrologer is consulted to set an auspicious date for the wedding. Horoscopes may or may not be compared depending on the wish of the individual or their families. After both families consent to the marriage, the couple visits the bride's home. This meeting may be a simple affair, or a large celebration. During the celebration, there may be a mothiram mattal (ring exchange) ceremony. This ceremony may also be conducted later, during the actual vivaham ceremony. If it is done at bride's house, it is usually done around a lit nila vilakku (brass oil lamp).

·    On the evening before the wedding the families of both the bride & the groom, gather in their respective homes to bless them. On the day of the wedding, the bride & the groom will separately visit a temple near their homes. The temple can belong to any God except Lord Ayyappan or Lord Hanuman as they are bachelors. The bride's parents carry the mangalyasutram or taali, a necklace that is a symbol of eternal union, to be blessed by the priests. Upon returning home, the bride & groom touch the feet of the elders of the family & receive blessings. This is called Namaskaaram.

·    The actual wedding may take place in a kalyana mandapam (Hall rented for the occasion), temple, or hotel. The bride's family receives the groom's family at the entrance of the venue to the tune of nadaswarams (long wind-instruments) & the beats of the thayli (large drums beaten with curved sticks). The groom stands on a wooden plank while the bride's younger brother washes his feet. The bride's aunts perform aarti for the groom with a thaali (platter), on which are arranged wicks made of twisted cotton. The groom is then escorted to the mandapamchangala vatta (platform constructed to perform the wedding rites), by two rows of young girls, one girl carries sacred oil lamp, while another carries the ashtamangaliyam. The girls following the first two, carry the taala phuli (platters of rice, turmeric, and flowers on which oil lamps made of coconut shells are placed). With his parents on either side, the groom follows the girls around the mandapam and seats himself on the right side of the canopy, which is decorated by flowers, fabric, palm fronds, and banana stalks. The bride is then escorted by her aunt to the mandapam to the sound of the nadaswarams & thaylis. All those who are present on the mandapam stand when the bride arrives. She stands facing to the east, with the groom facing her. At the auspicious moment set by the astrologer for the muhurtham (the most auspicious time), the groom ties the thali around the bride's neck to the beating of drums. He is assisted by the bride's uncle because on no account should the thaali be allowed to fall. In some Nair communities, the traditional thaali is a gold pendant strung on a yellow thread. The bride has to wear this for three days after the wedding ceremony. After the three days have passed, the thread is replaced by a golden chain.

·    After the tying of the thaali, the groom gifts the bride a sari & a blouse on a platter. This signifies that he will now assume the responsibility of providing for her. The groom's mother also gifts the bride with some jewellery at this time. The couple then exchange garlands accepting each other as life partners. The bride's father then places the bride's hand in the groom's, thus handing over his daughter to the groom in holy matrimony. The couple is then escorted to a room by their older relatives, who bless them. After the marriage ceremony, the bride gets a send-off from her house. The couple leaves for the groom's house escorted by a few people from the bride's family. The groom's mother & older female relatives perform aarti with an oil lamp (which rests on a platter heaped with rice mixed with turmeric) & receive them at the entrance. Both bride & groom enter the house, right foot forward. The bride is then required to kick over a large pot containing rice, symbolizing prosperity.

    After the wedding ceremony a wedding reception may be performed at the grooms place if the families so wish.

Other Nair Marriage Customs:

Nair’s have customs & rituals which are an amalgamation of indigenous rituals & the rituals of Nambothiri Brahmins. Generally, there are local variations for such customs. However, the basic framework of many of the rituals is more or less the same.

Other Nair Ceremonies & Events:

Seemantham (Garbhamthozhikka-Preparation for Childbirth):

Seemantham (also known as Pulikudi or Garbhamthozhikkal) denotes the preparation for childbirth & is performed between the fifth & seventh months of pregnancy. On an auspicious day, after being massaged with homemade ayurvedic oil, the woman has a customary bath with the help of the elderly women in the family. After this, the family deity is worshiped, invoking all the paradevatas & a concoction of herbal medicines prepared in the traditional way, is given to the woman. The woman is dressed in new clothes & jewellery used for such occasions. Among some Nairs of Malabarm two local ritualistic additions called ariyidal & Garbha Prashnam are performed. In the ariyidal the seated pregnant lady is given rice & appams in her lap. In the Garbha Prashnam, an astrologer prescribes ritualistic remedies (if needed) for the protection of the mother & child as well as for smooth child birth in the event of any astrological obstacles. Afterwards, the pregnant lady visits four temples, including her own ancestral temple & prays to the deities for a healthy child & for a smooth delivery. After this she begins to observe Pula or birth pollution, which extends up to 15 days after childbirth. The family then holds a feast for all the relatives. Medicines & routines are prescribed for the woman, which are to be followed till childbirth.

Irupethi Ettu (28^th Day baby Ceremony):

This ceremony is performed on the 28^th day after birth of the child, as this is the first time the nakshatram (star) of the child repeats according to the Malayalam calendar. During the ceremony, charadu (thread), one in black cotton & the other in gold are intertwined & tied around the waist of the child. The child's eyes are lined with mayye or kannumashi (Kohl). A black spot is placed on one cheek or asymmetrically on the forehead, to ward off evil eyes. A mixture of ghee (melted & clarified butter) & honey is given to the infant as a base for its various foods in the future. This is similar to the Jaathakarmam ceremony of the Namboothiris. In many instances, honey is rubbed with gold on a stone, which is then mixed with Vayampu, an herbal medicine. This mixture is then applied on the tongue of the new-born. In certain areas, the child's horoscope is usually made out between the birth & the Irupethi Ettu so that a name based on an ideal first letter prescribed by his horoscope can be used to name the child. This name-giving ceremony is similar to the Naamakaranam ceremony of the Namboothiris. In some instances, piercing of the lower lobes of the ears for both baby boy & baby girl (Karnavedham) is also done on the same day. Otherwise, it is done separately on an auspicious day. Unlike the Namboothiris who perform Jaathakarmam & Namakaranam as separate rituals, Nair’s mostly tend to perform them together on the Irupathi Ettu.

Choroonu (1^st Rice Feeding Ceremony):

Choroonu is the ritual of feeding rice to the child for the first time. Rice is the primary food of Nair’s, which is why the first intake of purified rice is celebrated on an auspicious day. After manthrams are chanted to request Agni to purify the food, a mixture of melted ghee and honey, followed by boiled rice is served to the child. This ceremony is performed during the 6^th month or after the 7^th month of child birth.

Thulamasakkuli Ceremony:

During the Malayalam month of Thulam (October to November) all the women & girls in the family bathe in the river or family pond before sunrise. They will then perform rituals of worship at home, or visit a temple for Nirmalyam (viewing the deity for the first time for the day).

Thiruvathirakkali Ceremony:

Thiruvathira is observed on the full-moon day of Dhanu Masam, on the day of the Thiruvathira (Alpha Orionis). It is believed this is the day, the Goddess Parvathi finally met Lord Siva, after her long penance. It is believed that observing Thiruvathira Vratham would ensure that a woman's husband would have a long life. The Nair women, including little girls, would get up early in the morning during the whole of Dhanu Masam & go to the kulam (Pond) or river to take a bath. They will go in a sort of procession, singing various songs. They sing and play while taking bath. This is called Thudichukkuli. After bathing, they go to the temple dressed in their finest clothers. Thiruvathira is a day of fasting. No one eats rice preparations, but they are allowed to eat things made of wheat & all types of fruit. The practice of presenting bunches of bananas to the elders was common. During this season, huge swings (oonjal) are erected in the backyards of most of the houses. These swings are hung from branches of tall trees such as mango or jack-fruit trees. The swings are made of ropes hung from the branch with a wooden plank for the seat. They can also be made from a well grown bamboo tree shoot, which is vertically split into two. After lunch, the Thiruvathirakkali  in Thiruvathirapaattu are played/witten in Malayalam & are set in a specific meter. The dance is also called Kaikotti Kali (dancing while clapping hands) and is also performed during the festival of Onam.

Poorakkali (Festival in Malayalam):

Pooram means "festival" in Malayalam. In regions south of Korapuzha, this is mainly a temple celebration. However, in regions north of Korapuzha, especially north Malabar, Pooram is predominantly a Nair household festival during the month of Meenam (March-April). The festival lasts for 9 days, starting from Karthika day to Pooram day. Among unmarried Nair women of north Malabar, Pooram was celebrated to praise & please Kamadeva, the God of Love. On each of the day an idol of Kamadeva made out of clay is worshipped at different locations starting from the steps of the pond (1^st Day) to the inner house (9^th Day). The song sung by the group leader is repeated by the others and the song begins Thekkan dikkil povalle kamaa. Eendola panayil iruthume kamaa. (Do not leave us & go the south & various reasons are provided as to why he will be treated better in the north. These are sung in the form of puns). Dances are performed around a sacred lamp with elegant steps resembling thiruvathirakkali. While dancing, the players clap their hands uniformly to the tune of the song & to the thaalam (rhythm or beat) of the group leader. Poorakkali has 18 different forms.

Stories from the epic Ramayana often constitute the subject matter of the ritual songs. The ritual dance form warrants intense training & good physical stamina. The forward & backward movements & the abrupt variations in the speed and directions enthrals the spectators. Invariably, Poorakkali is followed by a duel of wits staged to test the intellectual capacity of the rival group leaders. This is known as Marathukali. During the debate, intriguing questions are put by one leader to the other side.

In Central & South Kerala, several poorams or festivities during this season are observed in all important temples of the different deshams. The most famous of all these, is the Thrissur Pooram. Before the advent of the Thrissur Pooram, the largest temple festival during summer in central Kerala was the one-day festival held at Aarattupuzha. Temples in & around Thrissur were regular participants of this religious exercise until they were once denied entry by the responsible chief of the Peruvanam area of Cherpu, known for its Namboothiri supremacy. As an act of reprisal & also in a bid to assuage their wounded feelings, Prince Rama Varma (1751-1805), also known as Sakthan Thampuran (Ruler of the erstwhile Cochin state ) invited all these temples to bring their deities to Thrissur where they could pay obeisance to Lord Vadakunnathan, the deity of the Vadakunnathan temple. Further, he directed the main temples of Thrissur, Thruvambadi & Pamamekkavu to extend all help & support to these temples. It is this historical background that determined the course of the Thrissur Pooram program & it is specifically because of the ruler's antipathy to the Brahmin aristocracy, that he opened Thrissurpooram to the common man.

Socio Political movement among Nair’s:

1.  Chattampi Swamikal: A number of socio-religious reform movements, which were also the earliest democratic mass movements in Kerala, took shape from late 1800 s.The Nairs also felt the need for reform in response to such changes. Throughout the medieval period and until well into the 19th century, the Nairs had a pre-eminent role in Kerala. By the middle of the 19th century, however, this dominance started waning. Institutions like the sambandham and the matrilineal joint family system which had ensured the strength of the Nair community earlier, now became productive of many evils in changing socio-political background of Kerala. The impact of the market economy, the disappearance of traditional military training, the absorption of new values through the new system of education, the self-consciousness being generated among the lower castes and their cry for equality and privileges - all these factors brought about a decline of Nair dominance. The sense of decline gave an impetus to the spirit of reform that expressed itself in the work of religious men like Chattambi Swamikal, in literature, on the press and platform and later in legislative enactments in respect of marriage, inheritance, property rights, etc. Ultimately, the movements crystallized in the foundation of the Nair Service Society, in 1914.

2.  Nair Service Society (NSS): NSS is an organization created for the upliftment & welfare of the Nair community. It is headquartered at Perunna in the town of Chaganaserry in Kottayam (Kerala State). It was established under the leadership of Mannathu Padmanabhan. The NSS is a three-tier organisation with Karayogams at the base level, Taluk Unions at the intermediate level and the Headquarters at the apex level. The Society owns & manages a large number of educational institutions and hospitals. These include the NSS College of Engineering at Palakkad, NSS Hindu College at Changanassery, NSS College at Pandalam, Mahatma Gandhi College at Thiruvananthapuram, Pazhassi Raja NSS College at Mattanur, Kannur & the Women's College at Niramankara, Thiruvananthapuram.

3.  NSS Leads by Expatriate Nair’s: Taking the lead given by Mannathu Padmanabhan, expatriate Nair’s both in other states of India as well as in countries other than India have formed Nair Service Societies in their states & countries of domicile. Examples are Karnataka Nair Service Society with 21 karayogams in Bangalore, Calcutta Nair Service Society in Kolkata. These Societies of Non-Kerala origin retain the cultural uniqueness of the Nair’s at the same time adapting many practices to the times and country of their adoption. Efforts are on to bring together all Nair groups the world over under an umbrella " International Federation of Nair Societies".