Panicker was an honorary title conferred by the Kings in Kerala to distinguished individuals. This title was given to prominent

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 ...

, Saint Thomas Christians,

Kaniyar Kaniyar is a caste from the Indian state of Kerala. There are regional variations in the name used to define them. They are listed under the Other Backward Communities (OBC) by the Kerala Government. Traditions of origin Kathleen Gough has r ...

and Ezhava Communities. Panickers were landlords and they were prominent warriors and led the soldiers. 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 Tamil. In the past, village schools in Tamilnadu, typically run by the traditional astrologer families, were k ...

tradition, having their ''Nalpatheeradi Kalari'' (name derived from its area of 42 x 21 feet). They are the people who propagated and practised

Kalaripayattu Kalaripayattu (), also known simply as Kalari, is an Indian martial art that originated on the southwestern coast of India, in what is now Kerala, during the 3rd century BCE. Etymology Kalaripayattu is a martial art which developed out of co ...

, the martial art form of Kerala.

History

Kalaris in Kerala were established during different periods. The formation of Kerala is interlinked with the story of

Parashurama Parashurama (), also referred to as Rama Jamadagnya, Rama Bhargava and Virarama, is the sixth avatar among the Dashavatara of the preserver god Vishnu in Hinduism. Hindu tradition holds him to be the destroyer of the evil on Earth. According t ...

. It is believed that Parashurama established 108 kalaris across Kerala. Several kalaris were established during the reign of ''Kulasekharas''. In the 12th century towards the end of Perumal era, the present state of Kerala was divided into small autonomous provinces called ''Nadus'' and ruled by its Kings. During the ''Kulasekhara'' rule and later the kings of ''Nadus'' brought in warriors from

Tulu Nadu Tulu Nadu, or Tulunad, is a region and Proposed states and union territories of India, proposed state on the southwestern coast of India. The Tulu people, known as 'Tuluva' (pl. 'Tuluver') are speakers of Tulu language, Tulu, a Dravidian langu ...

. The Portuguese traveller Duarte Barbosa said that "''They are the skillful men who teach this art Kalarippayattu, 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' is a prominent varma family in

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 ...

. 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.

Mathur Panicker

'Mathur' is located in Nedumudi in the 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

* Arattupuzha Velayudha Panicker, 19th Century Warrior and Social Reformer. * Muloor S. Padmanabha Panicker, Malayalam poet and prominent social reformer * Dinesh Panicker, film producer and actor * Ayyappa Paniker, poet * Cherayi Panicker, Army head of Zamorin * 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, diplomat and writer *

Kavalam Narayana Panicker Kavalam Narayana Panikkar (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, former General Secretary and President of the Nair Service Society * 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, screenwriter, director, film producer, and journalist known for his works in Malayalam films. He made his debut as a director with '' Bharatchandran IPS'' in 2005. Early life He di ...

, 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