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| {{Short description|Caste in Kerala, India}} | |||
| '''Pushpaka Brahmin''' is a generic term that refer to a group of various ] ] castes of ] in the ] community.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JmjaAAAAMAAJ&q=puspakar |title=Polity, Society, and Women: With Special Reference to Travancore, 1700-1900 A.D. |first=Suma |last=Rose |publisher=Carmel International Publishing House |year=2004 |page=217 |isbn=9788187655374 |accessdate=2013-04-30}}</ref> Pushpaka Brahmin include primarily two castes - ] (or Pushpaka Unnis) and ], who were assigned the job of tending flowers and making garlands in the Hindu temples and were given rights to teach sacred texts and Sanskrit language in the Pathasalas associated with Hindu temples. Later some other communities like ], ], ] etc. having similar culture and temple related jobs were also considered to be Pushpaka Brahmins.<ref>{{cite book |title=Report of the Commission for Reservation of Seats in Educational Institutions, Kerala, 1965 |date=1965 |publisher=Commission for Reservation of Seats in Educational Institutions |location=Kerala}}</ref> | |||
| '''Pushpaka''' is a generic term that refers to a group of certain ] ] castes in ].<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JmjaAAAAMAAJ&q=puspakar |title=Polity, Society, and Women: With Special Reference to Travancore, 1700-1900 A.D. |first=Suma |last=Rose |publisher=Carmel International Publishing House |year=2004 |page=217 |isbn=9788187655374 |accessdate=2013-04-30}}</ref> | |||
| ==Castes== | |||
| {| class="wikitable sortable" | |||
| |- | |||
| ! No.!! Castes!! Malayalam Name !! Feminine Names !! House Name !! Remarks | |||
| |- | |||
| | 1 || Pushpaka<br>(Pushpaka Unni) || പുഷ്പകൻ<br>(പുഷ്പക ഉണ്ണി)|| Atheramma (ആത്തേരമ്മ)<ref>{{cite book |title=Sarvavijnanakosam |publisher=Government of Kerala |page=Ampalavasikal (അമ്പലവാസികള്)|url=http://web-edition.sarvavijnanakosam.gov.in |language=Malayalam}} Quote: "പുഷ്പകന് (ഉണ്ണി) - പുഷ്പിണി (അത്തേരമ്മ) - ഇവര് ആചാരനടപടികളിലും മറ്റും നമ്പീശന്മാരോടു സമാനരാണ്; പേരില് ഭേദമുണ്ടെങ്കിലും." </ref>;<br>Pushpini, Pushpakathi || Madom, Veedu || | |||
| |- | |||
| | 2 || Theeyattunni<br>(Thiyyadi)<ref>{{cite book |last1=Puthenkalam |first1=Joseph |title=Marriage and the family in Kerala: with special reference to matrilineal castes |date=1977 |publisher=Dept. of Sociology, University of Calgary |page=233 |accessdate=27 February 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Bhattathiripad |first1=V.T. |title=Kanneerum Kinavum |date=1970 |edition=1}}</ref> || തീയാട്ടുണ്ണി<br>(തിയ്യാടി) || || Madom || | |||
| |- | |||
| | 3 || Nambeesan || നമ്പീശൻ || Brahmani Amma|| Pushpakam || | |||
| |- | |||
| | 4 || Kurukkal || കുരുക്കൾ || || Madom || | |||
| |- | |||
| | 5 || Puppalli<br>(Puppalikan or Plappalli or Pilappalli) || പൂപ്പള്ളി<br>(പൂപ്പാലികൻ / പ്ലാപ്പള്ളി / പിലാപ്പള്ളി) || || Pushpakam, Pumadom, Pumuttam || | |||
| |- | |||
| | 6 || Daivampadi<br>(Theyyampadi) || ദൈവമ്പാടി<br>(തെയ്യമ്പാടി) || || || | |||
| |} | |||
| The term ''Pushpaka'' applies primarily to a caste known itself as ] (or Pushpakan Unni) in South Kerala (Travancore). Pushpakas were assigned the job of tending flowers and making garlands in the Hindu temples. They were also given rights to teach sacred texts including Sanskrit language in the Pathasalas associated with Hindu temples in Central and North Kerala. They are often referred to as Pushpakas owing to their cultural similarity with Pushpakas in South Kerala. In addition to these two castes, the term ''Pushpaka'', in a wider sense, applies to certain other ] like ]s, ]s, ]s, ], ]s, ] and ]s. All these castes are associated with temple related jobs who render services to the temple and have many socio-cultural similarities. | |||
| ==Traditional profession== | |||
| ] |
] | ||
| Pushpaka Brahmins are traditionally occupied in temple related jobs and arts. | |||
| They are generally engaged in jobs like teaching of Sanskrit language and sacred texts in the Pathasalas associated with temples, bringing flowers for ] and ], garland making, lighting the temple lamps, carry the lamps when idols are taken round in procession, distribution of prasadam and flowers, serving of consecrated water, preparation of food to be offered to deity, cleaning the temple etc. | |||
| They also perform actual priestly activities of the temple, but only on behalf of the main priest or in the absence of main priest. The main priest will be generally from ] community. However, the Kurukkal and Pushpakan castes have tantric rights in certain Siva temples and Devi temples of South Kerala. | |||
| In Yajnas, their primary function is to serve as Adhvaryu (the priest's assistant) and is in charge of the physical details of the ritual like measuring the ground, building the ''homakunda'' etc. The adhvaryu offers oblations. | |||
| They are also associated with art-forms like Koodiyattam and Theeyattu. Pushpakan (Unni) perform certain roles of Koodiyattam. Theeyattunnis are associated with ]. Women of Nambeesan caste, known as Brahmani Ammas, are associated with ]. | |||
| ==Customs== | |||
| Pushpaka Brahmins have resemblance with ]s in their dress and customs. Traditionally they are vegetarians. They practice s''hodasa samskaras'' of Hindu tradition. In the past, '']'' - the sacred thread wearing ceremony, was carried out for four days, but in contemporary times it is observed only for one day. | |||
| * The punyaha or purificatory ceremony after pollution for Pushpaka Brahmins was performed through the agency of Namboothiris. At the present time, learned men from Pushpaka Brahmins are employed for this purpose. | |||
| * The punyaha of Nambeesans was performed by Pushpakans or Nambeesans themselves. | |||
| * The neck ornament of women was Cheruthalikkoottam, and the ear ornament was Kathila. | |||
| ] | |||
| * Namboothiri women (Antharjanams) were not allowed to wear coloured dress. They were supposed to wear only white dress. They were not allowed to pierce nose. Further, a Namboothiri woman was not allowed to look at any man other than her husband, father, grandfather or her brothers on either side. Namboothiri women were not allowed to move out of the house without a maid. These types of restrictions were not generally observed by Pushpaka Brahmin women. | |||
| * Brahmanis (women of Nambeesans) sing religious songs on the occasion of marriage among all castes from Kshatriyas to Nāyars.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Sarabhai |first1=Mallika |title=Performing Arts of Kerala |date=1994 |publisher=Mapin Pub.}}</ref> However, Pushpaka women or Kurukkal women never go out to sing on marriage occasions. | |||
| * During Achamana, Namboothiris were not allowed to take bath before sunrise. Such a restriction was not observed by Pushpaka Brahmins. | |||
| * In the wedding rituals (i.e. Vivaha), a Namboothiri bride always wear white dress while the Pushpaka bride will wear coloured dress, preferably red. The auspicious thread which is knotted around the bride's neck is referred to by Pushpakabrahmins as Mangalyasutra, whereas it is referred to by Namboodiris as Kanthasutra. In a Pushpaka Brahmin marriage, it is the groom who ties it around the bride's neck, whereas in a Namboodiri marriage, it is the bride's father who ties the Kanthasutra to bride's neck. | |||
| * Like Namboothiris, Pushpaka Brahmins also wear only one "Poonool" (Yajnopaveetham, sacred thread) even after marriage, whereas Paradesi brahmins wear two sacred threads after marriage. | |||
| * Upon father's or mother's death, Namboothiris were bound to observe "Deeksha" for one year and at the end of "Deeksha" on the 12th month, Sapindi was performed. Pushpaka Brahmins generally didn't practice this one year Deeksha. | |||
| ==Community welfare== | ==Community welfare== | ||
| Nowadays, Pushpaka Brahmins are reluctant to cling to their traditional line of profession like priesthood,<ref>{{cite news |title=62 Priests to Travancore Devaswam Board |url=https://www.manoramaonline.com/news/kerala/06pta-tdb-poojari-list.html# |publisher=Malayala Manorama|language=Malayalam}} Quote:തിരുവിതാംകൂർ ദേവസ്വം ബോർഡ് ക്ഷേത്രങ്ങളിലേക്ക് 62 ശാന്തിക്കാർ കൂടി - നായർ, വാരിയർ, മാരാർ, പുഷ്പകർ എന്നീ വിഭാഗങ്ങളിൽനിന്ന് ആരുമില്ല.</ref> | |||
| ''adhyapanam'' (teaching) in Pathasalas, ''malakettu'' (garland making), ''vilakkeduppu'' (lamp bearing), thidambettu (bearing replica of deity on religious procession) etc. due to low income from these professions. | |||
| ] is an organisation working for the welfare of Pushpaka Brahmin castes.{{cn|date=January 2019}} | |||
| ==Prominent Pushpaka Brahmins== | |||
| * ] - renowned Malayalam writer ] - renowned Malayalam writer]] | |||
| * ] - renowned Sanskrit scholar ] - renowned Sanskrit scholar]] | |||
| * ] - cine actress and classical dancer | |||
| * ] - cine actress and singer | |||
| * ] - cine actress | |||
| ==References== | ==References== | ||
Latest revision as of 08:26, 24 December 2024
Caste in Kerala, IndiaPushpaka is a generic term that refers to a group of certain Hindu Ambalavasi castes in Kerala.
The term Pushpaka applies primarily to a caste known itself as Pushpaka (or Pushpakan Unni) in South Kerala (Travancore). Pushpakas were assigned the job of tending flowers and making garlands in the Hindu temples. They were also given rights to teach sacred texts including Sanskrit language in the Pathasalas associated with Hindu temples in Central and North Kerala. They are often referred to as Pushpakas owing to their cultural similarity with Pushpakas in South Kerala. In addition to these two castes, the term Pushpaka, in a wider sense, applies to certain other Ambalavasi castes like Theeyatt Unnis, Kurukkals, Puppallis, Plappallis, Nambidis, Nambeesans and Daivampadis. All these castes are associated with temple related jobs who render services to the temple and have many socio-cultural similarities.
Community welfare
Nowadays, Pushpaka Brahmins are reluctant to cling to their traditional line of profession like priesthood, adhyapanam (teaching) in Pathasalas, malakettu (garland making), vilakkeduppu (lamp bearing), thidambettu (bearing replica of deity on religious procession) etc. due to low income from these professions.
Sree Pushpakabrahmana Seva Sangham is an organisation working for the welfare of Pushpaka Brahmin castes.
References
- Rose, Suma (2004). Polity, Society, and Women: With Special Reference to Travancore, 1700-1900 A.D. Carmel International Publishing House. p. 217. ISBN 9788187655374. Retrieved 2013-04-30.
- "62 Priests to Travancore Devaswam Board" (in Malayalam). Malayala Manorama. Quote:തിരുവിതാംകൂർ ദേവസ്വം ബോർഡ് ക്ഷേത്രങ്ങളിലേക്ക് 62 ശാന്തിക്കാർ കൂടി - നായർ, വാരിയർ, മാരാർ, പുഷ്പകർ എന്നീ വിഭാഗങ്ങളിൽനിന്ന് ആരുമില്ല.