article
Namboodiri Brahmins: an analysis of a traditional elite in Kerala
Journal of Asian and African studies • 1 (3) • Published In 1966 • Pages: 183-196
By: Mencher, Joan P..
AbstractBrief abstract written by HRAF anthropologists who have done the subject indexing for the document
The patrilineal Namboodiri Brahmins historically constituted a wealthy, aristocratic, landed caste group of high ritual and secular rank. The main principles of social organization that helped them stay at the apex of the caste hierarchy were the custom of ultimogeniture, and the complex ties senior family members pragmatically established with lower-ranking matrilineal castes. These principles had complementary outcomes: while the youngest sons of each family continued to be bearers of a class of elite families, their landless and, strictly speaking, "unmarried" siblings moved one step down the hierarchy to join matrilineally organized Nayar families. However, with the advent of colonialism the Namboodiri elite were at a disadvantage responding to the changes that followed because they lacked the flexibility to leave the land for cities to attend schools or work at salaried jobs.
- SubjectsDocument-level OCM identifiers given by the anthropology subject indexers at HRAF
- Castes
- Status, role, and prestige
- Accumulation of wealth
- Inheritance
- Inter-community relations
- Regulation of marriage
- Family relationships
- Rule of descent
- Lineages
- Avoidance and taboo
- Priesthood
- Prophets and ascetics
- Political movements
- External relations
- Acculturation and culture contact
- Functional and adaptational interpretations
- Education system
- Congregations
- Prayers and sacrifices
- cultureCulture name from the Outline of World Cultures (OWC)
- Kerala
- HRAF PubDateThe date HRAF published the document
- 2017
- RegionThe area the document pertains to
- Asia
- Sub RegionThe more specific area the document pertains to, which is located within the Region
- South Asia
- Document TypeMay include journal articles, essays, collections of essays, monographs, or chapters/parts of monographs
- article
- Evaluation
- Creator TypeThe type of person writing the document, e.g. Ethnographer, Missionary, Archaeologist, Folklorist, Linguist, Indigenous Person, and so on.
- Anthropologist
- Document Rating A ranking done by HRAF anthropologists based on the strength of the source material on a scale of 1 to 5, as follows: 1 - poor; 2 - fair; 3 - good, useful data, but not uniformly excellent; 4 - excellent secondary data; 5 - excellent primary data.
- 5: Excellent Primary Data
- AnalystThe HRAF anthropologist who subject indexed the document and prepared other materials for the eHRAF culture/tradition collection
- Teferi Abate Adem ; 2016
- Field DateThe date the researcher conducted the fieldwork or archival research that produced the document
- 1958-1960, 1962
- Coverage DateThe date or dates that the information in the document pertains to
- 1900-1962
- Coverage PlaceLocation of the research culture or tradition (often a smaller unit such as a band, community, or archaeological site)
- northern Kerala, India
- NotesAdditional notes
- Joan P. Mencher
- Includes bibliographical references (p. 194-196)
- LCCNLibrary of Congress Control Number
- 75001539
- LCSHLibrary of Congress Subject Headings
- Kerala (India)