Amabalavasi is a Temple servant community in Kerala. Ambalam(अम्बलम्) means Temple and Vasi(वासी) means dweller. So, Ambalavasi means Temple dweller. The sub-castes of Ambalavasi community are as follows Adikal, Moothathu(Moosad), Elayathu, Kurukkal, Nambeesan, Puppali, Pushpaka Unni, Theeyattu Unni, Chakyar, Ambalavasi Nambiar, Marar, Pisharody, Pothuval, Warrier, Pulikkal Marar and Asthikurichi Marar(Sheetikan). There profession in Temples were cleaning, garland making, playing devotional music and performing devotional dance.
In 'Devadasi system in medieval Tamil Nadu' it is mentioned that "Tiruvachagam lays stress on garland making, sweeping, smearing and dancing as the duties of Devadasis. Devadasis of Tiruvallam Temple picked up flowers and strung them into garlands." Do not mistake the ancient Devadasis as Devadasis of today. Ancient Devadasis were not bad charactered women. They only did temple duties. In ancient times, some women of this community never got married and dedicated their whole life in serving the Temple.
Ambalavasis are similar to Isai Vellalars of Tamil Nadu and Devadigars of Karnataka. Some of the Ambalavasis wear Poonoolu((Yajnopavita or Janeu) and claim that they are Brahmins but their is no proof for it. So, first we should look at what is the difference between a Brahmin and an Ambalavasi.
Differences between a Nambūthiri and an Ambalavāsi
Nambuthiris are the genuine Malayali Brahmins of India. They have seven Gotras: Kamsha, Kasyapa, Bharadwaja, Vatsya, Kaundinya, Atri, and Tatri. There Vedic school is Brahmaswam Mattham(ब्रह्मस्वम् मठम्), that is, the institution where the Nambuthiris learn the Holy Vedas right from their childhood. Amabalavasis do not have Gotras, that is, they are not the descendants of Maharishis. Also, Ambalavasis don't learn Vedas. In India, Vedas are only learned by genuine Brahmins.
Ambalavasis learn to play musical instruments and to perform devotional dances right from their childhood. Mizhaavu, Edakka, Chenda are some of the musical instruments used by Ambalavasis. Similarly, Koodiyaattam, Nangiyaar Koothu, Theeyaattu are some the devotional dance forms performed by them. Nambuthiris do not play music, perform dance and make garlands in Temples. In ancient times, Nambuthiris never learned performing arts.
Poonoolu wearing ritual and Achamana ritual of Nambuthiris and Ambalavasis are completely different. In Nambuthiri community, these rituals are performed according to Vedas. Whereas in Ambalavasi community these rituals are different from that of Vedas.
Marriage in Nair community
As genuine Brahmins are the highest caste of India, a child born to a genuine Brahmin and a non-Brahmin is accepted as a non-Brahmin. A male child born from such a marriage will not have the Poonoolu ceremony and also he will not be admited to Vedic schools. He will grow up as pure non-Brahmin child. Girls don't wear Poonoolus and they are not taught Vedas.
Nairs are allowed to marry genuine Brahmins, Hindu Royal Kshatriyas and from their own community. Though some of the Ambalavasis claim that their community is related to Nairs, Nairs don't agree with it. Because Nairs are Nagavanshis. First Naganvashis are believed to be the children of Maharishi Kashyapa and Princess Kadru. Princess Kadru was the daughter of King Daksha. As she was a non-Brahmin woman her children were never accepted as Brahmins. Ambalavasis don't have Gotras and Vanshas/Vamshas. This is the reason why Nairs don't marry from Ambalavasi community. As far as I have known Ambalavasi commuity is not mentioned in Keralolpaththi. In other states of India Temple servants are included in Shudra Varna.
Kiriyathil-Illathu Nairs too never learned performing arts
Nair men were landlords, soldiers, ministers, governers, accountants, custodians of treasures and teachers of martial arts. Nair women did household works in their Tharavadus. The Nair families were so strict that the young Nair women mostly stayed indoors. Some of them learned music in their childhood but they never learned performing arts. They only learned Kaikottikkali and performed it on the day of Onam and Thiruvathira in front of their family members only.
The women of Padamangalam/Tamil Padam(पडमंगलम्/तमिल पडम्) community were Temple dancers in ancient times. Later people of this community started to claim that they are Nairs and they also began to add Nair surnames with their names. They actually belong to Maravar community and are not at all related to Nairs.
In 'Devadasi system in medieval Tamil Nadu' it is mentioned that "Tiruvachagam lays stress on garland making, sweeping, smearing and dancing as the duties of Devadasis. Devadasis of Tiruvallam Temple picked up flowers and strung them into garlands." Do not mistake the ancient Devadasis as Devadasis of today. Ancient Devadasis were not bad charactered women. They only did temple duties. In ancient times, some women of this community never got married and dedicated their whole life in serving the Temple.
Ambalavasis are similar to Isai Vellalars of Tamil Nadu and Devadigars of Karnataka. Some of the Ambalavasis wear Poonoolu((Yajnopavita or Janeu) and claim that they are Brahmins but their is no proof for it. So, first we should look at what is the difference between a Brahmin and an Ambalavasi.
Differences between a Nambūthiri and an Ambalavāsi
Nambuthiris are the genuine Malayali Brahmins of India. They have seven Gotras: Kamsha, Kasyapa, Bharadwaja, Vatsya, Kaundinya, Atri, and Tatri. There Vedic school is Brahmaswam Mattham(ब्रह्मस्वम् मठम्), that is, the institution where the Nambuthiris learn the Holy Vedas right from their childhood. Amabalavasis do not have Gotras, that is, they are not the descendants of Maharishis. Also, Ambalavasis don't learn Vedas. In India, Vedas are only learned by genuine Brahmins.
Ambalavasis learn to play musical instruments and to perform devotional dances right from their childhood. Mizhaavu, Edakka, Chenda are some of the musical instruments used by Ambalavasis. Similarly, Koodiyaattam, Nangiyaar Koothu, Theeyaattu are some the devotional dance forms performed by them. Nambuthiris do not play music, perform dance and make garlands in Temples. In ancient times, Nambuthiris never learned performing arts.
Poonoolu wearing ritual and Achamana ritual of Nambuthiris and Ambalavasis are completely different. In Nambuthiri community, these rituals are performed according to Vedas. Whereas in Ambalavasi community these rituals are different from that of Vedas.
Marriage in Nair community
As genuine Brahmins are the highest caste of India, a child born to a genuine Brahmin and a non-Brahmin is accepted as a non-Brahmin. A male child born from such a marriage will not have the Poonoolu ceremony and also he will not be admited to Vedic schools. He will grow up as pure non-Brahmin child. Girls don't wear Poonoolus and they are not taught Vedas.
Nairs are allowed to marry genuine Brahmins, Hindu Royal Kshatriyas and from their own community. Though some of the Ambalavasis claim that their community is related to Nairs, Nairs don't agree with it. Because Nairs are Nagavanshis. First Naganvashis are believed to be the children of Maharishi Kashyapa and Princess Kadru. Princess Kadru was the daughter of King Daksha. As she was a non-Brahmin woman her children were never accepted as Brahmins. Ambalavasis don't have Gotras and Vanshas/Vamshas. This is the reason why Nairs don't marry from Ambalavasi community. As far as I have known Ambalavasi commuity is not mentioned in Keralolpaththi. In other states of India Temple servants are included in Shudra Varna.
Kiriyathil-Illathu Nairs too never learned performing arts
Nair men were landlords, soldiers, ministers, governers, accountants, custodians of treasures and teachers of martial arts. Nair women did household works in their Tharavadus. The Nair families were so strict that the young Nair women mostly stayed indoors. Some of them learned music in their childhood but they never learned performing arts. They only learned Kaikottikkali and performed it on the day of Onam and Thiruvathira in front of their family members only.
The women of Padamangalam/Tamil Padam(पडमंगलम्/तमिल पडम्) community were Temple dancers in ancient times. Later people of this community started to claim that they are Nairs and they also began to add Nair surnames with their names. They actually belong to Maravar community and are not at all related to Nairs.
