Thampan is the name of a

Kshatriya Kshatriya ( hi, क्षत्रिय) (from Sanskrit ''kṣatra'', "rule, authority") is one of the four varna (social orders) of Hindu society, associated with warrior aristocracy. The Sanskrit term ''kṣatriyaḥ'' is used in the con ...

clan from the

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Etymology

The word Thampanot/Thampran is a contraction of the term Thampuran which is a corrupt version of the

Sanskrit Sanskrit (; attributively , ; nominally , , ) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in South Asia after its predecessor languages had diffused there from the northwest in the late ...

term Samrat and stands for Your Lordship. The title of Varma is sometimes affixed to the name of a Thampan. In Travancore, Thampans, along with the Thirumulpads form a part of the third tier of Royalty, after the Koil Thampurans who form the first tier and the

Raja ''Raja'' (; from , IAST ') is a royal title used for South Asian monarchs. The title is equivalent to king or princely ruler in South Asia and Southeast Asia. The title has a long history in South Asia and Southeast Asia, being attested f ...

s who form the second tier. In

North Malabar North Malabar refers to the geographic area of southwest India covering the state of Kerala's present day Kasaragod, Kannur, and Wayanad districts, and the taluks of Vatakara, Koyilandy, and Thamarassery in the Kozhikode District of Kerala and t ...

, most prominent of the Thampans are the sons of the Nileshwaram Rajahs, who form a part of the Kiryathil Nair caste.

Occupation

The Thampans were once ruling classes but by the

17th century The 17th century lasted from January 1, 1601 ( MDCI), to December 31, 1700 ( MDCC). It falls into the early modern period of Europe and in that continent (whose impact on the world was increasing) was characterized by the Baroque cultural moveme ...

they became vassals to other kings – mainly the three large kingdoms 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 ...

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and

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. They were the deshavazhi (Landlords) community in many parts of kerala until 20th century. Famous Kunjunni Varma Thampan (Kaipuzha Thampan) of Amanthur Kovilakam at Kaipuzha was a local ruler and landlord of the region, through him Pandya king (Later Pandalam royalty) established a full-fledged kingdom around c. 370 ME (1194 CE) by obtaining the land.

General customs

The customs of the Thampans are same like the Rajahs of Kerala. They are invested with the sacred thread at the age of sixteen and are allowed to recite the Gayatri incantation ten times, thrice a day. Birth and Death pollutions are observed for eleven days. Namboodiri Brahmins are the priests of the Thampans. The Thali Kettu Kalyanam ceremony for girls, which is the actual marriage ceremony, takes place between the ages of seven and fourteen and Brahmins of a class called Aryapattar tie the Thali while Vedic hymns are chanted by the Namboodiri Brahmins. Syrian Christian Thampans also performed sacred thread ceremony for boys at the age of 7 and only inherit the title to the eldermost son upon the death of father, which symbolises by the ring ceremony. These practices were very private and only immediate family will be present.

References

Nagam Aiya, V., Travancore State Manual Volume II under caste Travancore State Manual Travancore Census Report, 1901

References

Social groups of Kerala Indian castes Kerala society South Indian communities {{India-ethno-stub

Etymology

Occupation

General customs

References

Further reading

References