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Ammachi Panapillai Amma was the title held by the consort of the ruling 
Its literal translation is 'consort' since as per the formerly existent matriarchal system in Travancore, the Maharajah's sister was the Maharani, and not his wife. Thus the wife, a non-royal, took the title of Ammachi Panapillai Amma.
The Ammachis were mostly from families of the
Maharajah
Maharaja (also spelled Maharajah or Maharaj; ; feminine: Maharani) is a royal title in Indian subcontinent of Sanskrit origin. In modern India and medieval northern India, the title was equivalent to a prince. However, in late ancient India ...
of Travancore
The kingdom of Travancore (), also known as the kingdom of Thiruvithamkoor () or later as Travancore State, was a kingdom that lasted from until 1949. It was ruled by the Travancore Royal Family from Padmanabhapuram, and later Thiruvanan ...
as well as those of other title-holding male members of the Travancore Royal Family.Travancore State Manual Vol ii 1940 by TK Velu Pillai and TSM Vol II 1906 by V Nagam Aiya
Its literal translation is 'consort' since as per the formerly existent matriarchal system in Travancore, the Maharajah's sister was the Maharani, and not his wife. Thus the wife, a non-royal, took the title of Ammachi Panapillai Amma.
The Ammachis were mostly from families of the Nair
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 ...
nobility. The Maharajahs married these ladies through the Sambandham form of wedlock known as ''Pattum Parivattavum''.
Origin
The Maharajahs of Travancore (current south Kerala) adopted the Matrilineal custom and inheritance prevalent in the land around the 14th Century AD. Accordingly, when a king died, his nephew (sister's son) would become the next ruler.Ammaveedus
Families from where Maharajas got married were known as Ammaveedus. It is believed that when the then Travancore King, Maharajah Sree Karthika Thirunal Dharamaraja shifted capital from Padmanabhapuram to Thiruvananthapuram, he brought along his four wives who belonged to the places namely Vadasseri, Nagercoil, Arumana, and Thiruvattar. The new houses, referred to as Ammaveedus (ancestral homes of Ammachis) were constructed in the new capital and were named Arumana Ammaveedu, Vadasseri Ammaveedu, Nagercoil Ammaveedu, Thiruvattar Ammaveedu. The Maharajah also passed a rule that all the Royal male members should only marry from one of the above-mentioned four Ammaveedus. This gave social prominence to the Ammachis as well as their homes. The Kings of Travancore traditionally took wives from Ammaveedus and the Consorts, known as ''Ammachis'' would get the additional title of ''Panapillai Amma''. If at all another lady from outside the Ammaveedu's was to be married to the King, she would be adopted to one of the Ammaveedus first and then wed to the King. This was the case in the marriage of Maharajah Swathi Thirunal, Maharajah Ayilyam Thirunal and Maharajah Moolam Thirunal.Social Status
Even though Ammachis and her children were held in high social esteem, they had neither any royal rights nor any political power, because of the matrilineal system followed by Royal families. The next Rani (queen) is the sister of Maharaja (King) not his wife. The wife remained outsiders and were not considered as part of Royal family and neither they had any communications with other royal members. The Ammachis were not supposed to be seen publicly with their royal spouses; they couldn't travel in the same carriages. If at all they travelled with the Maharajah they were to be seated opposite to their spouses and never beside them. The Maharajahs neither partook any food cooked by their consorts nor the consorts were allowed to take food alongside royal members. As times changed, the restrictions also got reduced. Rev. Samuel Mateer in 19th Century observed the following about the position of Ammachis of Travancore: Despite all these limitations, historians point out that the Ammachis were compensated with material benefits like tax exemption to land and other properties, comfortable living provisions as well as other honours.References
* Travancore State Manual by V.Nagam Aiya {{DEFAULTSORT:Amma, Panapillai Indian court titles Noble titles of women Titles in India People from Thiruvananthapuram Travancore royal family Nair Women from the Kingdom of Travancore People from the Kingdom of Travancore