Panicker was a title conferred by the king of

Travancore The Kingdom of Travancore ( /ˈtrævənkɔːr/), also known as the Kingdom of Thiruvithamkoor, was an Indian kingdom from c. 1729 until 1949. It was ruled by the Travancore Royal Family from Padmanabhapuram, and later Thiruvananthapuram. At ...

to distinguished individuals. Kiriyathil/Illathu Nair panickers should not be confused with Kalari Panicker They were well known as the masters of

Kalari A kalari is a gymnasium or training space primarily associated with the martial art of Kalaripayattu. The word ''kalari'' comes from Malayalam. In the past, village schools in Kerala, typically run by the traditional astrologer families, were kn ...

tradition, having their ''Nalpatheeradi Kalari'' (name derived from its area of 42 x 21 feet). They are the people who propagated and practised Kalaripayattu, the martial art form of Kerala.Some of them were Kalari masters while the others trained and recruited men for the King or chief's army.

Etymology

The Portuguese traveller

Duarte Barbosa Duarte Barbosa (c. 14801 May 1521) was a Portuguese writer and officer from Portuguese India (between 1500 and 1516). He was a Christian pastor and scrivener in a '' feitoria'' in Kochi, and an interpreter of the local language, Malayalam. Barbo ...

said that "''They are the skillful men who teach this art

Kalarippayattu Kalaripayattu (; also known simply as Kalari) is an Indian martial art that originated in modern-day Kerala, a state on the southwestern coast of India. Kalaripayattu is known for its long-standing history within Indian martial arts, and is ...

, and they are called the Panickers: these are the captains in war."'' In Journal of the Epigraphical Society of India it, is given that "The teachers of martial arts in order to distinguish themselves from other Panikkars, named themselves as Vanma, Varma Panikkars, Other titles include a middle name of "Kalarikkal" (literally, '''of the kalari')'' generally following the name of the respective 'kalari' to which he/she belongs to

Meloot Panicker

"Meloot (descendant of Chera dynasty) is a prominent varma family in

kerala Kerala ( ; ) is a state on the Malabar Coast of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, following the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, by combining Malayalam-speaking regions of the erstwhile regions of Cochin, Malabar, South ...

kalari A kalari is a gymnasium or training space primarily associated with the martial art of Kalaripayattu. The word ''kalari'' comes from Malayalam. In the past, village schools in Kerala, typically run by the traditional astrologer families, were kn ...

tradition. During their dynasty period, The Meloot family branched themselves into two formations - Ruling authority and Military authority. Henceforth the military authority Meloot Varmas were acknowledged as Panickers (warrior) and upheld the kingdom's shield and administration. Varmas received principal royalty status from The Kingdom of Travancore Since 1827 for their service . They are chiefly known as Meloot Varma Panickers or Meloot Panickers." At present , Kalaripayattu is not practiced or followed in some of the Meloot families, yet they keep their tradition and heritage very close to them. "Although Panicker title are commonly used by other castes in Kerala they are different from Melootu Varma caste as " Panicker" is the title they got rewarded for their renowned military administration"

Mathur Panicker

'Mathur' is located in Nedumudi in Alappuzha district, the home of Mathur Panicker, the Nair General of the Chembakassery King. The Mathur Temple and the Mathur Gallery are there. The place is famous for the arts of Kathakali and Velakali. Kunjan nambiar stayed at the Mathur temple for Bhajan and offered prayers to Bhagwati. There are Padma Shri award winning artists including Mathur Govindan Kutty. There is also references to Mathur Panikker in English and Dutch documents. There is existing the pathinaru kettu of Mathur built entirely of wood.

Notable people

Muloor S. Padmanabha Panicker Mooloor S. Padmanābha Panicker (a.k.a. Mooloor Asān or Sarasa Kavi, meaning "humour poet") (1869-1931) was a poet and a prominent social reform activist from the Travancore region of present-day Kerala. Early years Padmanābhan was born in hi ...

, Malayalam poet and prominent social reformer * Achyuta Panikkar, astronomer of Kerala *

Dinesh Panicker Dinesh Panicker is an Indian film producer, actor and TV producer. He entered the film industry in 1989 by producing '' Kireedam'', a critically acclaimed and commercially successful film. He went on to produce different genre films in Mollywo ...

, film producer and actor *

Ayyappa Paniker Dr. K. Ayyappa Paniker, sometimes spelt "Ayyappa Panicker" (12 September 1930 – 23 August 2006), was a Malayalam poet, literary critic, and an academic and a scholar in modern and post-modern literary theories as well as ancient Indian aesthe ...

, poet * G.N.Panicker, literary figure * K. M. Panikkar (1895–1963), statesman and diplomat, professor, newspaper editor, historian and novelist * K. N. Panikkar (born 1936), historian * Kadammanitta Ramakrishnan (born M. R. Ramakrishna Panicker), writer *

Kavalam Madhava Panikkar Kavalam Madhava Panikkar (3 June 1895 – 10 December 1963), popularly known as Sardar K. M. Panikkar, was an Indian statesman and diplomat. He was also a professor, newspaper editor, historian and novelist. He was born in Travancore, then a ...

, diplomat and writer * Kavalam Narayan Panikkar, dramatist and poet *

Kavalam Narayana Panicker Kavalam Narayana Panicker (1 May 1928 – 26 June 2016) was an Indian dramatist, theatre director, and poet. He has written over 26 Malayalam plays, many adapted from classical Sanskrit drama and Shakespeare, notably Kalidasa's ''Vikramorvasiy ...

, dramatist, theater director, and poet * N. Kesava Panikkar, zoologist *

P. K. Narayana Panicker P. K. Narayana Panicker (15 August 1930 – 29 February 2012) was the President and General Secretary of the Nair Service Society (NSS), the social service organization established in 1914. He is the second-longest-serving general secretar ...

, former General Secretary and President of the

Nair Service Society The Nair Service Society (NSS) is an organisation created for the social advancement and welfare of the Nair community that is found primarily in the state of Kerala in Southern part of India. It was established under the leadership of Mannathu ...

* P. N. Panicker, father of the Library Movement * Prem Panicker, cricket journalist ** Puthumana Panicker: Title held by the Padanair( head of army) from Puthumana family **Chandroth Panicker: Title held by the Padanair from Chandroth family, 15-year-old boy warrior chandroth chanthunni hailed from chandroth family **Kokat Panicker: Title held by the Padanair from Kokat family **Verkot Panicker: Title held by the Padanair from Verkot family * Rahul Panicker, entrepreneur, president and co-founder of Embrace Innovations *

Renji Panicker Renji Panicker (born 23 September 1960) is an Indian actor, scriptwriter, director, film producer, and journalist best known for his Malayalam films. He made his debut as a director with '' Bharatchandran IPS'' in 2005. Early life He did hi ...

, journalist, script writer, producer, actor, and director * Niranam poets: ** Madhava Panikkar, one of the Niranam poets ** Rama Panikkar, one of the Niranam poets ** Sankara Panikkar, one of the Niranam poets See also Panikkar

References

{{surname Titles in India