Malayali Brahmins (; also known as Malayala Brahmanar) or Kerala Brahmins are the group of

Brahmins Brahmin (; ) is a ''Varna (Hinduism), varna'' (theoretical social classes) within Hindu society. The other three varnas are the ''Kshatriya'' (rulers and warriors), ''Vaishya'' (traders, merchants, and farmers), and ''Shudra'' (labourers). Th ...

from the Indian state of

Kerala Kerala ( , ) is a States and union territories of India, 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 ...

. The proper Malayali brahmin castes are the

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

, and the

Potti Etymology ''Potti'' is a Tamil word meaning "deep respect for someone" and is used for Tulu-Malayali Brahmins. History At present, Pottis are often identified as Embrandiris or Tulu Brahmin immigrants. However, there were three classes of Pot ...

Pushpaka Brahmin Pushpaka 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 ...

, Nambeeshan,

Nambidi Nambidi is a Brahmin Caste of Kerala, India. They are considered to be Malayali Brahmins and to have originated when a section of the Nambudiris was degraded. They also have the same rights and rituals of nambudiri's. The nambidi ladies are u ...

, Chakyar,

Nambiar Nambiar may refer to: *Nambiar (caste surname), a surname used by multiple caste groups *Nambiar (Ambalavasi caste), a surname of Pushpaka Brahmin from Kerala, India *Nambiar (Nair subcaste), a surname of Nair from North Malabar, India People * ...

, Ilyathu, etc., are other semi-Brahmin castes, which are part of the

Ambalavasi Ambalavasi, more properly Ampalavasi, (IAST: Ampalavāsi; ) is the generic name for a group of Caste system in India, castes among Hindus in Kerala, India, who have traditionally rendered temple services. Castes The Ambalavasis are broadly div ...

community. They are not directly involved in priestly duties but rather engaged in non-priestly temple activities. Like ambalavasis, a higher section of

Nairs The Nair (, ) also known as Nayar, are a group of Indian Hindu castes, described by anthropologist Kathleen Gough as "not a unitary group but a named category of castes". The Nair include several castes and many subdivisions, not all of whom hi ...

which includes Pillais,

Kurup Kurup is an Indic surname. Notable people with this surname include: * Achutha Kurup (died 2017), Indian volleyball player, coach and naval officer *Arthur Joseph Kurup (born 1982), Malaysian politician, lawyer and economist * Ashwathy Kurup (born ...

and

Menon Menon may refer to: People *Menon (subcaste), an honorary title accorded to some Nairs. Surnamed *Menon (surname), a surname used historically by those with the title of Menon and now by their descendants. Given named * Menon (cookbook author), ...

comes under semi-brahmin class mostly engaged in Kshatriya functions, administrative duties and control over temples, who have similar rights of

community.

References

{{India-ethno-stub Malayali Brahmins