പുഷ്പക ബ്രാഹ്മിന്‍

Pushpaka Brahmins (Malayalam:പുഷ്പക ബ്രാഹ്മണര്‍) or simply Pushpakas (Malayalam:പുഷ്പകര്‍) are a class of Brahmins in Kerala. They carry out the various activities of the temple, though not actual priestly activities. Pushpakas lived on the income of the temple and were under its care. Pushpaka Brahmins are generally clubbed under the Ampalavasi community in Kerala. There are two major subcastes with in Pushpakas viz., Unnis and Nambeesans.
Contents[hide]
1 Introduction
2 Classification
3 Surname Variations
4 Temple services
5 Art forms
6 History
6.1 Origin
7 Gotra and Pravaras
8 Customs
8.1 Pumsavanam
8.2 Seemantham
8.3 Jaathakarmam
8.4 Naamakaranam
8.5 Nishkramanam
8.6 Annapraasanam
8.7 Choodakaranam
8.8 Karnavedham
8.9 Vidyaarambham
8.10 Upanayanam
9 Prominent Pushpakas
10 See also
11 References
12 External links
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[edit] Introduction
Pushpakas perform various temple related activities like teaching of sacred texts, garlend making and lamp works. They were not allowed to take priesthood in the main shrine of the temple. Even though they learn Sanskrit texts, shlokas, mantras etc. and work as teachers in Pathasalas associated with temples. They also do priestly duties and ceremonies for the lower castes on behalf of the Namboothiri priest. They are also performers of temple art forms such as Theeyaattam and Brahmanippaattu

[edit] Classification
This class is generally considered as an intermediate class between Brahmins and Kshatriyas. The pushpakas are believed to possess the attributes of both Brahmins and Kshatriyas. They are commonly known as Arddhabrahmanar i.e. Semi-Brahmins. There are similar Brahmin communities found all over India: like Niyogi Brahmins of Andhra Pradesh, Chithpaavan Brahmins of Maharashtra, Bhumihars of Bihar, Mohyal of Punjab or Tyagis of West Uttar Pradesh. These are Brahmin communities which have the same status of Ambalavasis in Kerala.
Besides all, the foreign travellers in Kerala classed the Pushpakas (along with many other Ambalavasi castes) with the lower or foreign Brahmins like Konkanastha Brahmins, Iyers etc. while making records.

[edit] Surname Variations
Pushpaka brahmins use the surname Sharma in common. However, there are various subcastes and accordingly there are different surnames in use. The most common surnames are Unni, Nambeesan (also spelt as Nambissan or Nambisan). Their exists surnames like Nambi and Nambidi also.
The surname Nambeesan is used by the Pushpakas in the north and central Kerala. Surname Unni is used in central and southern Kerala.

[edit] Temple services
Pushpaka Brahmins were temple employees but they were not aristocratic like the Nampoothiris. In the past they resided within the temples in their quarters and were sustained by the temple. They were simple people who lived at the benevolence of the temple. The major temple services of Pushpakas are:
Teaching of vedic texts and other sacred texts in Pathasalas associated with temples and their own houses known as Mathas
Making flower-garlands for decorating the vigraha and the temple
Cleaning the inner-temple
Lighting of oil lamps in the tample
Holding the traditional hindu-lamps in various temple ceremonies
Distribution of sacred theertham, chandanam, prasadam etc. to the devotees
Priestly duties to lower castes

[edit] Art forms
The contribution of Ambalavasis of Kerala to the cultural heritage of India in the fields of art is substantial in everysense. They have through the centuries developed several art forms of a religious or quasi-religious character. The major art forms developed and maintained by Pushpakas are:
Tīyāttu
Brahmanippattu
These art forms grew in the atmosphere of temples which have all long been centres of great cultural activity.

[edit] History

[edit] Origin
As per the famous Parasurama myth, the warrior sage Bhargava Rama (Parasurama) is said to have brought a group of Brahmins to Kerala of which 64 families were allowed to conduct the priestly duties in the temples. They became the Namboothiris. The remaining families of Brahmins became their assistants and were not allowed inside the Sree Kovil or main shrine of the temple. Since they resided in the premises of temple, like many other castes in kerala , they were also clubbed under the community Ambalavasis, meaning Temple-inmates.
The Pushpaka Brahmins lived within the temple premises managing the various affairs (other than the ceremonies in Sree Kovil) of the temple. Their work was socially very respectable.

[edit] Gotra and Pravaras
Pushpaka brahmins wear Yajñopavītam and adhere to the 'Gayatri' mantra. The pushpaka brahmins belong to various Gotras and each gotara has associated pravaras. The gotras are Vasishta, Gautama, Atreya, Kashyapa, BharadvajaViswamitra and Agastya. Each gotra has distinct pravaras.
Marriages within the gotra ("swagotra vivaha") are banned under the rule of exogamy in the traditional matrimonial system. People within the gotra are regarded as kin and marrying such a person would be thought of as incest. Since it is believed that gotra membership passed from father to children, marriages were permitted between cross-cousins (children of brother and sister). Thus, a man is allowed to marry his maternal uncle's daughter or his paternal aunt's daughter but is not allowed to marry his father's brother's daughter, a parallel cousin, who is treated as a sister. This dubious explanation of gotra based marriages has long been a source of discontentment and criticism.

[edit] Customs
Most of the Pushpaka Brahmins used to follow complex rituals in connection with major events in their lives, such as pregnancy, childbirth, education, marriage, and death. The majaor Samskarams are illustrated below:

[edit] Pumsavanam
Pumsavanam is a ritual connected with third month of pregnancy. If it is the first pregnancy, it can be performed in the forth month also. The pregnant woman consumes one head of barley and two beads of black grain, along with a little curd. This is accompanied by religious chanting. (Among Nayars and Ezhavas the ceremony is known as 'Pulikudi' - a customary rite in which women, during their first pregnancy, drink the juice of sour fruits)

[edit] Seemantham
Seemantam sacrament is performed in the fourth month of a woman's first pregnancy. Seemantam is conducted for the protection of the mother at the critical period of gestation. If the child is still-born, this has to be prepared during the next pregnancy.

[edit] Jaathakarmam
Jātakarmam is meant for the development of the intellect of the child. When a male child is born, the ritual connected with birth is performed immediately (within 90 Naazhika). A small portion of a mixture of gold, ghee and honey is given to the new born infant.

[edit] Naamakaranam
Nāmakaranam (Perideel) ceremony is performed to name the child. It is performed on the12th day after birth. The father calls the child's name in its right ear three times. At this time, male children are given the surname ‘Sharma’ and female children are given the surname 'De'. Then the mother takes the child by calling him (her) without surname. (Among the Nayars and Ezhavas this ritual is done on the 28th day.)

[edit] Nishkramanam
Nishkramanam (Vathilpurappadu)is when the child is first taken out of its home and into the open. The child is usually taken out only in the 4th month.

[edit] Annapraasanam
Annaprāsam (Chorūnu)ritual, which takes place when a child is six months old, is the first time the child eats solid food. A few grains of rice mixed with ghee are fed to the infant. This is an important ritual among all sections of Hindus. "Chorūnu" literally means "rice-eating" in the South Indian language of Malayalam.

[edit] Choodakaranam
Choodakaranam (Choulam) In the child's third or fifth year, the head is shaved, leaving behind a small tuft of hair known as a 'Kutuma'. (Nowadays this ritual is not practiced.)

[edit] Karnavedham
Karnavedham or (Kaathukuthu)is the piercing the ears. This is done with a particular thorn. Butter is applied to the wound. It is applicable to both male and female children. (In the modern age, this is done only for female children.)

[edit] Vidyaarambham
Vidyārambham (Ezhuthiniruthu)is done either when the child attains three or five years. On the tongue of the child the letters "Hari Sri Ganapataye Namah Avignamastu "and all the alphabets are written with a piece of gold. The child is made to write the same letters from "Hari Sri" onwards with its ring finger on raw rice in a bell metal vessel and the child is made to utter each word when it is written. Either the father of the child or an eminent teacher officiates at this ritual.

[edit] Upanayanam
Upanayanam: When the child attains eight years, the wearing of the sacred thread “Yajñopaveetam”, is ceremoniously done. This is only in the case of the boys. It is taking the child to the teacher for initiation of formal education. Along the sacred thread, the hide of the antelope called Krishnajinam is also worn by the boy.
Praishartham
Learning of Vedas and Upanishads in‘Gurukulam’ or ‘Pāṭhaśāla’. In the beginning of each academic period there is a ceremony called Upakarma and at the end of each academic period there is another ceremony called Upasarjana.
Samāvartanam (Snanam)
The ceremony associated with the end of formal education of Vedas in ‘Gurukulam’ or ‘Pāṭhaśāla’
Rithusuddhi
This is a ceremony associated with a girl’s first mensturation.
Vivaham – Marriage
Nishekam – First sexual intercourse. In the night of 4th day after marriage.
Anthyeshti
These are the rituals associated with Funeral. Sanchayanam is function performed in the 4th day, after funeral. Pindam is function performed in the 11th day after funeral. It is followed by Sapindi Sapindi. Bali is done in every year.

[edit] Prominent Pushpakas
Kottarathil Sankunni - Legendary Malayalam folklore writer
Dr. S. Vasudev - late Eminent Professor/Scientist
Kalamandalam Neelakantan Nambisan - late Kathakali musician
Dr. M. Leelavathy - Malayalam literary critic
Hariharan - Malayalam filmmaker
Vijay Nambisan - English columnist
Kalamandalam Narayanan Nambisan - Maddalam arist
Divya Unni - Film actress
Ramya Nambissan - Actress
Dr. Pradeep Jeothi - Technocrat

[edit] See also
Brahmin
Sree Pushpaka Seva Sangham - A society established in 1968 for the socio-economic development of Pushpaka Brahmins
Pushpakadhwani - monthly publication of Sree Pushpaka Seva Sangham

[edit] References
Official website of Sree Pushpaka Seva Sangham