Chakyar ( ml, ചാക്യാർ; ; ; also spelled Cakyar, Chakkiar, Chakiar, etc.) is an intermediate priestly

caste Caste is a form of social stratification characterised by endogamy, hereditary transmission of a style of life which often includes an occupation, ritual status in a hierarchy, and customary social interaction and exclusion based on cultura ...

coming under the Ambalavasi community of

Hindu Hindus (; ) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism.Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pages 35–37 Historically, the term has also been used as a geographical, cultural, and later religious identifier for ...

s in the Kerala state of India. The women in this

are called ''Illotammas''. Mani Madhava Chakyar

They occupy a position in the

Temple in managing the affairs of the temple, though not the actual conduct of ceremonies. They are assigned with the holy temple ritualistic performance called Chakyar Koothu and Koodiyattam, which is the only surviving ancient Sanskrit theatre in India. Chakyar is the main actor who performs the ritualistic ''Koothus'' and ''Koodiyattams'' inside the temple or in '' Koothambalams''. Their women, ''Illotammas'', are not allowed to participate in these. The women roles are done by ladies of Nambiar community called ''Nangyarammas''. Nambiar plays the holy drum '' Mizhavu''. There were 18 Chakyar families throughout Kerala, but now their number is small. ''Mani'' family is one of them. The greatest Koodiyattam and Chakyar koothu exponent, Natyashastra scholar and world-renowned Guru, (late) ''Natyacharya Vidushakaratnam'' Padma Shri Mani Madhava Chakyar belonged to this family. Chakyars preferred to associate themselves more with the Ambalavasis than what they considered the unequal status amongst the

Namboothri The Nambudiri (), also transliterated as Nampoothiri, Nambūdiri, Namboodiri, Nampoothiri, and Nampūtiri, are a Malayali Brahmin caste, native to what is now the state of Kerala, India, where they constituted part of the traditional feudal ...

References

* Natyakalpadrumam, by Guru Mani Madhava Chakyar,1975.

External links

*{{cite journal, jstor=606843, title=Aj amila-Moksa-Prabandha of Narayana Bhatta, first=V. Venkatarāma Śarmā, last=Śāstrī, date=1 January 1926, journal=Bulletin of the School of Oriental Studies, University of London, volume=4, issue=2, pages=295–300, doi=10.1017/S0041977X00089217
Shree Painkulam Raman Chakyar
Social groups of India Indian surnames Kerala society Indian castes Malayali people Social groups of Kerala Hindu communities

See also

References

External links