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67-486: Bhattathiri are members of the Namboothiri community of Kerala , India. The Namboothiris ( Malayalam : നമ്പൂതിരി ) are upper class Brahmins . The three types of Bhattathiris are Saasthra Bhattathiris, Smaartha Bhattathiris and Bhaagavatha Bhattathiris. These are titles gained due to scholarship. Historically, Namboothiris have focused on the acquisition and application of knowledge. Saasthra Bhattathiris received

134-652: A Malayali Brahmin caste, native to what is now the state of Kerala , India, where they constituted part of the traditional feudal elite. Headed by the Azhvanchery Thamprakkal Samrāṭ , the Nambudiris were the highest ranking caste in Kerala. They owned a large portion of the land in the region of Malabar , and together with the Nair monarchs, the Nambudiris formed the landed aristocracy known as

201-662: A separate state named Tulu Nadu for themselves. Organisations like the Tulu Rajya Horata Samiti have taken up the cause of the Tuluvas and meetings and demonstrations were held at towns like Mangalore and Udupi to voice their demand. Religion in South Canara (1951) Language in South Canara (1951) South Kanara had a total population of 1,748,991 in 1951, of whom 76.58% were Hindus, 14.31% Muslim and 8.85% Christian. The most widely spoken language

268-460: A historical area, encompassing the undivided territory of the contemporary Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts of Karnataka State and Kasaragod district of Kerala state forms the cultural area of the Tuluver. Dravidian folk religion , Islam , Christianity , Hinduism , Jainism are the most followed religions of Tulunad, CPI(M) , SDPI , IUML , BJP Karnataka , Karnataka Congress are

335-576: A vasthram. Nambudiris wore their traditional hair tufts ( kuṭumi or śikhā ) on the front like the Dikshitars of Tamil Nadu. Nambudiri Brahmin families practised a more strict version of primogeniture than Brahmin communities elsewhere in India. Under this custom, only the eldest son could marry a Nambudiri woman and thus produce an heir to the family property. Younger sons were restricted to sambandam relationships with non-Brahmin women, whom

402-526: Is Tulu which belongs to the Dravidian family of languages, and whose native speakers are referred to as Tuluva . The number of Tulu speakers was estimated to be about 1.7 million in 2001, although some sources quote as many as 3 million. The other languages spoken in Tulu Nadu include Kundagannada , Arebhashe , Malayalam , Konkani , Koraga and Beary . The Tulu script , originating from

469-502: Is a unique form of folk dance in the region fascinating the young and the old alike, which is performed during Marnemi (as Dussehra is called in Tulu) and Krishna Janmashtami . Karadi Vesha (Bear Dance) is one more popular dance performed during Dasara in Tulu Nadu. Daivaradhane (Spirit worship), which is usually done at night is practised here. Kambala (Buffalo race) is conducted in water filled paddy fields. The Bhuta Kola

536-419: Is certain that in theory hypergamy can cause a shortage of marriageable women in the lowest ranks of a caste and promote upwards social movement from the lower Nair subdivisions, the numbers involved would have been very small. It was not a common practice outside the higher subcaste groups and the Nambudiris had mostly stopped the practice by the 1920s. The form of Sanskrit theatre known as Koodiyattam , which

603-414: Is increasing drastically due to large-scale deforestation and increase in automobile use. A public sector petroleum refinery ( MRPL ) was established in the 1990s. Some chemical plants (e.g., fertilizers and pesticides) have been established. This region contributes the second highest revenue to Karnataka state after the city of Bangalore . This region has an international airport at Mangalore which

670-471: Is native to Kerala, was traditionally patronised by Nambudiris. Tulu Nadu Tulu Nadu or Tulunad ( Malayalam : തുളുനാഡ് , Urdu : تُلُنَاڈْ , Hindi : तुळुनाड् , Tulu : ತುಳುನಾಡ್ ) is a region and a proposed state on the southwestern coast of India. The Tulu people , known as 'Tuluva' (plural 'Tuluver'), speakers of Tulu , a Dravidian language , are the preponderant ethnic group of this region. South Canara , an erstwhile district and

737-685: Is similar to Theyyam in North Malabar . Korikatta ( cockfight ) is another favourite sport for the people. Nagaradhane (Snake worship) is practised in the Tulu Nadu according to the popular belief of the Naga Devatha to go underground and guard the species on the top. Udupi cuisine is popular across South India , mostly due to Udupi restaurants, which are primarily vegetarian. Apart from Southern India, there are famous Udupi Hotels in Mumbai and New Delhi too. Historically, Tulu Nadu

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804-769: Is very rich concerning rainforests and backwaters. The region has a tropical climate; with hot and humid summers, hot winter days, and heavy monsoon. Summer and winter months experience similar temperate conditions, with average temperatures ranging from 24–33 °C (75–91 °F). with monsoon having cooler weather. Monsoon starts in the beginning of June, heaviest rainfall during Aati month, which spans from mid-July to mid-august. Occasional rain persists till deepawali and marnemi festivals in October–November. Winter lasts from December to early February. Summer from mid-February till May. With occasional tropical rain during April and may. According to Kerala Muslim tradition,

871-440: Is well connected to the rest of India and middle eastern countries. New Mangalore Port (NMPT) is one of the major port of India located at Panambur , Mangalore. Tulu Nadu is one of the most prominent educational hub on the western coast of India. There are hundreds of professional colleges in Tulu Nadu. Thousands of students from all over India and countries abroad study in these institutions. Mangalore and Manipal are

938-672: The Masjids at Kodungallur , Kollam , Madayi , Barkur , Mangalore, Kasaragod , Kannur , Dharmadam , Panthalayani ( Koyilandy ), and Chaliyam , were built during the era of Malik Dinar ; they are among the oldest Masjid s in Indian Subcontinent . It is believed that Malik Dinar died at Thalangara in Kasaragod town. Three of them, Mangalore, Barkur , and Kasaragod , are in Tulunad . Muslims are most common in

1005-509: The Arabian Sea by the axe-wielding warrior sage Parashurama , the sixth avatar of Vishnu (hence, Kerala is also called Parasurama Kshetram 'The Land of Parasurama' ). Parasurama threw his axe across the sea, and the water receded as far as it reached. According to legend, this new area of land extended from Gokarna to Kanyakumari . The land which rose from sea was filled with salt and unsuitable for habitation; so Parasurama invoked

1072-630: The Grantha script , and bears high similarity to the Malayalam script . It was used by Tuluvas for centuries before it was eventually replaced by the Kannada script . Most Sanskrit works and Tulu classics are present in this script, with a few in other scripts. This script was used by Brahmins. Tulu Nadu lies along the Konkan Coast . Tulu Nadu is bounded on the west by the Arabian Sea and on

1139-600: The Jenmimar , until the Kerala Land Reforms starting in 1957. The Nambudiris have traditionally lived in ancestral homes known as Illams and have been described by anthropologist Joan Mencher as, "A wealthy, aristocratic landed caste of the highest ritual and secular rank." Venerated as the carriers of the Sanskrit language and ancient Vedic culture, the Nambudiris held more power and authority than

1206-687: The Masjid Zeenath Baksh at Mangalore is one of the oldest mosques in Indian subcontinent . According to the Legend of Cheraman Perumals , the first Indian mosque was built in 624 AD at Kodungallur with the mandate of the last the ruler (the Cheraman Perumal) of Chera dynasty , who left from Dharmadom to Mecca and converted to Islam during the lifetime of Muhammad (c. 570–632). According to Qissat Shakarwati Farmad ,

1273-647: The Palakkad Gap , which is also the largest opening in the southern Western Ghats , and settled around the river Bharathappuzha . The region around Coimbatore near Karnataka - western Tamil Nadu border was ruled by the Cheras during Sangam period between 1st and the 4th centuries CE and it served as the eastern entrance to the Palakkad Gap , the principal trade route between the Malabar Coast and Tamil Nadu . The Azhvanchery Thamprakkal , who were

1340-723: The Thanjavur and Ganjam districts, as the three districts of the Madras Presidency where Brahmins are most numerous. The majority of the people were Billavas and Bunts . There were more Brahmins (12% of the population) in South Kanara than any other district of the Madras Presidency making South Kanara, along with Tanjore and Ganjam as one of the three districts of the province where Brahmins were most numerous. The original indigenous people of

1407-508: The state of Mysore after independence. Mangalore played a prominent role in Tipu's battles with the British. The British gained full control by 1801 (Mysore has since been renamed Karnataka ). The British ruled the region with Madras (now Chennai ) as its headquarters. Under the British, the region was organised into the districts of North Canara and South Canara respectively. When

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1474-435: The "Bhatta" title after passing examinations on their scholarship. All Saasthra Namboothiris are from Aadu or Edu class, the elite Namboothiris. The Smaartha Bhattathiris specialized in conducting trials of Namboothiris. Judgements would be pronounced based on their findings. This trial process was called Jaathi Saasyam or Smaartha Vichaaram , and the expert conducting it was called Smaarthan or Smaartha Bhattathiri , with

1541-519: The 16th century, there was a large influx of Catholics to Tulu Nadu from Goa. Under Portuguese rule , the region was called the Misao do Sul (Mission of the South). In the mid to late 18th century, it was conquered by Hyder Ali , the de facto ruler of Mysore . After the British defeated Haidar's successor Tipu Sultan in 1799, the region was attached to the Madras Presidency before being reverted to

1608-568: The 2nd-century geographer identifies the Tulu Nadu region as Olokhoira which is widely believed to be a corruption of the term Alva Kheda , 'the land of the Alvas'. Historically, Tulu Nadu included the two separate lands of Haiva and Tuluva. The longest-ruling and oldest known native dynasty of Tulu Nadu was that of the Alupas ( c. 5th – 14th century CE). Their kingdom was also known as Alvakheda . They initially ruled independently and later were

1675-625: The Brahmins who migrated through the Palakkad Gap . Anthropologists Heike Moser and Paul Younger note that the Nambudiri Brahmin presence predates the 9th century, as attested by grants of land given to them by ruling families. According to the historian Romila Thapar , local kings and chiefs encouraged them to move to the area by offering such tax-exempt land grants in return for them officiating in Vedic rites that would legitimise

1742-688: The Chief Priest at the Badrinath Temple , one of the holiest temples for Hindus. Furthermore, the spiritual leader of the Nambudiri Brahmins is given the title Azhvanchery Thamprakkal Samrāṭ , with the word "Samrāṭ" meaning "Emperor" in the Sanskrit language. Aside from holding rights over the sacred Guruvayur Temple , the presence and blessings of the Azhvanchery Thamprakkal was a ritual necessity during

1809-532: The Kasaragod and Mangalore taluks, about half of the whole being in the former taluk and three-fifths of the remainder in Mangalore. They are mainly Moplahs or Mappillas, descendants of Arab settlers, who married women of the country, but their ranks have also been largely swelled by converts. The Yakshagana is a night-long dance and drama performance practised in Tulu Nadu with great fanfare. Pilivesha

1876-471: The Nair aspirational culture whereby they would seek to improve their status within the caste. Furthermore, that: ... among the higher-ranking Nayars (and Kshatriyas and Samantans) in contradistinction to the "commoner" Nayars, no two subdivisions admitted to equal status. Thus the relations set up by the tali-rite [ie: the thalikettu kalyanam ] and the sambandham union were always hypergamous. Although it

1943-442: The Nambudiris considered to be concubines and whose offspring could not inherit. This tradition limited the extent of marriage within their own caste and led to the practice of hypergamy with the Nair community. Kathleen Gough notes that: These hypergamous unions were regarded by Brahmans as socially acceptable concubinage , for the union was not initiated with Vedic rites, the children were not legitimized as Brahmans, and neither

2010-442: The Nambudiris could be found in all matters related to Kerala , including religion, politics, society, economics and culture. Operating from their illam houses, Nambudiris' ownership of agricultural land under the janmi system increased over many centuries and, according to Moser and Younger, they "established landholding temples and taught the people the rules of caste". The Nambudiris have been described to be responsible for

2077-533: The Sanskrit influence on Malayalam , a Dravidian language, due to the Nambudiri Brahmin's mixing of Sanskrit and the local Tamil language. Medieval Kerala has been characterised as an oligarchy which was dominated by the Nambudiris, who owned all the temples and their subsidiary villages. The Nambudiris had influence with the ruling class through the practice of sambandam , where younger Nambudiris used to have relationships with Kshatriya women or women from

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2144-551: The Snake King Vasuki , who spat holy poison and converted the soil into fertile lush green land. Out of respect, Vasuki and all snakes were appointed as protectors and guardians of the land. P. T. Srinivasa Iyengar theorised, that Senguttuvan may have been inspired by the Parashurama legend, which was brought by early Aryan settlers. According to the works of Sangam literature (300 BCE – 300 CE), Tulu Nadu

2211-760: The Tolaharas of Suralu (c. 1139–1800), the Bangas of Bangadi (c. 1410–1800), the Rajas of Kumbla (c. 12th century – 1800) and the Rajas of Vitla (c. 1436–1800). The region became extremely prosperous during the Vijayanagara period with Barkur and Mangalore gaining importance. After the decline of the Vijayanagara Empire , the Keladi Nayakas of Ikkeri controlled much of Tulu Nadu. Over

2278-602: The Vijayanagara Empire took control of Tulu Nadu from 14th to the 17th centuries. During the rule of Vijayanagara , Tulu Nadu was administered in two parts – Mangaluru Rajya and Barkuru Rajya . Tulu Nadu was governed by the native feudatories of the Vijayanagara Empire until the 18th century. These feudatories gained power towards the end of the Alupa period. An Old Malayalam inscription ( Ramanthali inscriptions ), dated to 1075, mentioning king Kunda Alupa,

2345-547: The area, sociologist Randall Collins thinks it is unlikely that such a change could be imposed and says that "more probably it was the result of a process of marriage politics spread by emulation in the decentralised situation of status competition." Some other scholars believe that the matrilineal customs predate the period entirely and cite the queens of the Pandyan dynasty as evidence for this. The unwillingness of Nambudiris to adapt to changes in wider society persisted until

2412-496: The basis of the Malayalam language version of the epic. There are lots of theories as to how Nambudiri Brahmins came to settle in Kerala, the commonly accepted point of view is that they moved in from North India via Tulu Nadu or Karnataka . Another theory based on the retention of Mahabharata types as memorized by different Brahmin communities points to Tamil Nadu as the base from which they migrated to Kerala via

2479-518: The coronation of the Zamorin , the Nair king of Kozhikode . They have historically been distinguished by rare practices such as the adherence to Śrauta ritualism , the Pūrva-Mīmāṁsā school of Hindu philosophy and orthodox traditions, as well as many idiosyncratic customs that are unique among Brahmins , including primogeniture . Cyriac Pullapilly mentions that the dominating influence of

2546-408: The early part of the 21st century the area has been transforming itself into a hub of the information technology and medical services industries. There has been large-scale decline in agriculture and related industries due to the non-availability of labour and preference for white-collar jobs . Agricultural land is being converted to commercial and real estate properties, and environmental pollution

2613-503: The early years of the 20th century but Susan Bayly believes that their decline in significance can be traced to the period 1729-1748 when Marthanda Varma established the Kingdom of Travancore and chose to use Iyer and Deshastha Brahmins from Tamil Nadu in his civil service. She believes that decision undermined the relationship between the Nambudiri Brahmins and royalty in the region, although others have said that Varma's influence

2680-465: The east by the Western Ghats . With Chandragiri river forming a historical southern border. Tulu Nadu spans an area of 8,441 km (3,259 sq mi), roughly 4.4 per cent of the total geographical area of present-day Karnataka and Kasaragod district is the northernmost district of Kerala. Tulu Nadu also experiences heavy rainfalls during Monsoon season. The coastal area of Tulu Nadu

2747-464: The feudatories of the prominent dynasties. The Kadamba dynasty of Banavasi was the earliest, under which the Alupas flourished. Later the Rashtrakutas of Manyakheta, Chalukyas of Badami, Chalukyas of Kalyani, Hoysalas of Dwarasamudra ( Halebidu ) and Rayas of Vijayanagara were the overlords. The Alupas, however, were independent and their subordination was nominal at best. They ruled until

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2814-733: The following many centuries, more ethnic groups migrated to the area. Konkanis from Goa arrived by sea, as Mangalore was a major port that served not only the Portuguese but also the Arabs for maritime trades. Jains were already a prominent group and even today are uniquely preserved in Tulu Nadu. Though small in number, the Jains left behind indelible reminders of their glory with temples ( bastis ) in ( Moodabidri ) and monolithic statues of Bahubali in Karkala , Venoor and Dharmasthala . In

2881-471: The fourth largest (in terms of area and population) and a major city of Karnataka is the largest city of Tulu Nadu. Udupi and Kasaragod are the other major cities of this region. Moreover, the term "Tulunad" is cited as "Tuḷu Nāṭṭu" in the " Akananuru ", which is a classical Tamil poetic work and part of the "Eight Anthologies" ( Ettuthokai ), a collection of Sangam literature composed around more than 2000 years ago. According to Keralolpathi ,

2948-476: The grantors' status as rulers. They also gained land and improved their influence over the socio-economic life of the region by helping rulers during the wars between the Chola and Chera dynasties when Vedic schools were turned into military academies. Adi Shankara , one of the most revered Vedic scholars of Hinduism, was a Nambudiri ascetic who initiated the protocol of permitting only Nambudiris to lead as

3015-405: The kings and were "above and outside the political systems of the kingdoms." Nambudiri mythology associates their immigration to Kerala from the banks of Narmada , Krishna , Kaveri rivers with the legendary creation of Kerala by Parashurama , the sixth avatar of Vishnu . According to this legend, the region was created when Parashurama threw his axe into the sea Although it is known that

3082-622: The landholdings, inheritance customs and marriage arrangements of both the Nambudiris and Nairs. The traditional basis of life was challenged by these and other changes, affecting also the other major ethnic groups of the area, such as the Ezhavas and the Syrian Christians . Like others, the desire for social reform went strong among the Nambudiris which led to the formation of the Yogakshema movement in 1908 in order to agitate for

3149-620: The major political parties of Tulunad. Historically, Tulu Nadu lay between the Gangavalli River ( Uttara Kannada district) in the north and the Chandragiri River ( Kasaragod district) in the south. Currently, Tulu Nadu consists of the Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts of Karnataka state and Kasaragod district of Kerala state. This region is not an official administrative entity. Mangalore ,

3216-701: The marriage of all the junior males within the community itself. It also focused on popularising the English language study and abolishing the Purdah system among the Nambudiri females. The Nambudhiri Brahmins are a super-minority community in Kerala. According to the 1901 Census reports, they represent 0.47% of the total population of Nambudiris within Kerala. They are dominant and highly influential in British Malabar , where they account for more than 66% of

3283-504: The name Tuluva comes from that of one of the Cheraman Perumal kings of Kerala , who fixed his residence in the northern portion of his dominions just before its separation from Kerala , and who was called Tulubhan Perumal . According to mythology, the district was reclaimed by Parashurama from the sea. According to the 17th-century Malayalam work Keralolpathi , the lands of Kerala and Tulu Nadu were recovered from

3350-545: The oldest Nambudiri settlements of Kerala are situated around the River Bharathappuzha . The Kingdom of Tanur , Kingdom of Valluvanad , Perumpadappu Swaroopam , and the kingdom of Palakkad , located around the river Bharathappuzha , were once strongholds of Nambudiris. The introduction of Grantha script which later got evolved into Malayalam script , and the evolution of Malayalam language through Sanskritisation of Middle Tamil are highly related to

3417-565: The oldest known rituals, was maintained by Nambudiri Brahmins until at least 1975. Although it may have largely died out elsewhere in India and thus be symptomatic of the community's resistance to change, David Knipe notes that it is still performed regularly in Andhra Pradesh and has been for centuries. Traditionally, they wore a simple cloth around the waist called a thorthu (or thortumundu ), in domestic settings. When they had to travel, they wore two sets of cloth in addition known as

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3484-410: The practice of strict primogeniture and patrilineal inheritance. Despite their younger members having hypergamous relationships with Nairs , whose caste traditions were matrilineal , Nambudiri families remained aloof from general society. Although the historian E. K. Pillai has claimed that the Nambudiris from the 1100s enforced matrilineal polyandry on the previously patrilineal communities of

3551-583: The present-day region of Kerala was once governed by the Chera dynasty , little information exists regarding its early ethnography. Brahmin presence in the Tamil country is attested from the Sangam period onward. Based on the fact that Nambudiris are Pūrvaśikhā Brahmins wearing the traditional hair tuft on the front, T.P Mahadevan proposes that they are the descendants of these Sangam age Brahmins who moved west into

3618-580: The region are Tuluvas ( Bunts , Billavas , Mogaveeras , Tulu gowda, Kulalas , Devadigas , Bearys , Jogis ) and Malayalis in the Kasaragod Taluk ( Nambudiris , Nairs , Thiyyas , Mappilas etc.). The Brahmins who settled first belonged chiefly to the Sthanika and thus they were called as Tulu Brahmins. Others were Shivalli , Saraswat , Havyaka , Kotaha sub-sections, Mahars, the hill-tribes ( Koragas ). The most widely spoken Language

3685-584: The region of Malabar during the Kalabhra interregnum, with those remaining behind in what is today Tamil Nadu composing the Śōḻiya Brahmins. This sets them apart from the later Aparaśikhā Brahmin (wearing their hair tufts on the back) migrants to South India such as the Tamil Iyers . According to T.P Mahadevan, the Nambudiris brought with them a very early recension of the Mahabharata which became

3752-425: The ruler of Alupa dynasty of Mangalore , can be found at Ezhimala (the former headquarters of Mushika dynasty ), near Payyanur , in Kerala State. Notable among them were the Chowtas of Ullal and Moodabidri ( c.  1160  – c.  1801   CE ), Ajilas of Venur (c. 1418–1800), the Savanta or Samantha Rajas of Mulki (c. 1411–1700), the Bhairarasa Odeyas of Karkala (c. 1240–1650),

3819-404: The states were reorganised on linguistic basis in 1956, Tulu Nadu (South Canara) which was earlier a part of Madras Presidency and North Canara which was a part of Bombay Presidency became part of the newly formed Mysore state, which was later renamed as Karnataka. Kasargod became part of the newly formed state of Kerala . The Tuluvas began demanding official language status for Tulu and

3886-507: The term Bhattathiri meaning "expert". Bhaagavatha Bhattathiris specialize in the recitation of puraanams ( epics ). Namboothiri families of various classes were Bhaagavatha Bhattathiris. This article about an Indian ethnicity or social group is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Namboothiri The Nambudiri ( Malayalam pronunciation: [n̪ɐmbuːd̪iɾi] ), also transliterated as Nampoothiri , Nambūdiri , Namboodiri , Namboothiri and Nampūtiri , are

3953-427: The titular head of all Nambudiri Brahmins of Kerala, originally had right over parts of present-day Palakkad Taluk. Later they moved westwards along the River Bharathappuzha and settled around the river. Finally the Azhvanchery Thamprakkal bought Athavanad- Tirunavaya region in present-day Tirur Taluk and gave Palakkad to Palakkad Raja s ( Tarur Swaroopam ) who were originally from Athavanad region. Many of

4020-462: The total population of Nambudiris in Kerala. Most of them reside in the Palakkad and Kozhikode districts of South Malabar and the Kannur district of North Malabar . A small Population is also found in Cochin and Travancore Kingdom . The following Vedic recensions are attested among them. The ancient Vedic ritual of Agnicayana (the altar of fire), which spans a 12-day period and which Frits Staal and Robert Gardner claim to be one of

4087-421: The upper sections of the Nair caste. The children of such unions were not considered Nambudiris, but a part of their matrilocal lineages. As a result of such unions, many kings and ruling chiefs in Kerala would be the offspring of Nambudiri fathers. These arrangements allowed the Nambudiris to gain political power in addition to religious and cultural dominance. The Nambudiri's grip on land was maintained through

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4154-405: The woman nor her child was accorded the rights of kin. By the matrilineal castes, however, the same unions were regarded as marriage, for they fulfilled the conditions of ordinary Nayar marriage and served to legitimize the child as an acceptable member of his matrilineal lineage and caste." The disparity in caste ranking in a relationship between a Brahmin man and a Nair woman meant that the woman

4221-463: Was Tulu which was the mother tongue of 40 percent of the population, followed by Malayalam which formed the mother tongue of 24 percent each of the population. Around 17 percent of the total population spoke Kannada. Around 13 percent of the population speaks Konkani as their mother tongue. In 1901, South Kanara had a density of 109 inhabitants per square kilometre (282/sq mi). The 1908 Imperial Gazetteer of India lists South Canara, along with

4288-568: Was one of the 12 socio-geographical regions included in the ancient Tamilakam . Tulu Nadu must certainly at one time have formed part of ancient Kerala ( Chera dynasty ), where the western coastal dialect of Middle Tamil was spoken. It must have separated from Tamilakam sometime between 300 CE and 500 CE, when the Kadambas invaded the northern portions of Chera kingdom . No definite historical record relating to Tulu Nadu, other than those were found from Sangam literature , have been found of earlier date than 8th or 9th century CE. Ptolemy ,

4355-552: Was primarily dependent on agriculture and fishing. The main crops grown were rice, Bengal gram , horse gram , vegetables and fruits. Plantation crops like coconut, areca nut, cocoa, cashew nut, and pepper are also grown. In the early 20th century, the Mangalore tile industry, cashew nut processing, and the banking industry grew substantially. Tulu Nadu is called "the cradle of Indian banking". Five major banks of India ( Syndicate Bank , Canara Bank , Corporation Bank , Vijaya Bank and Karnataka Bank ) have their origins here. In

4422-413: Was short-lived and that the main cause of change was the influence of British diplomats who worked with the Travancore Maharaja in the 19th century. After the passing of the Charter Acts of 1833 and 1853 in the British Parliament, the British encouraged the work of Christian missionaries, notably in provision of education, and began the introduction of a judicial system that would have a significant impact on

4489-403: Was unable to live with her husband(s) in the Brahmin family and so remained in her own family. The children resulting from such marriages always became Nairs. K. M. Panikkar argues that it is this type of relationship that resulted in the matrilineal and matrilocal system. It has also been argued that the practice, along with judicious selection of the man who tied the thali , formed a part of

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