Ambalavasi

Ambalavasi, more properly Ampalavasi, (IAST: Ampalavāsi; lit. 'temple-dwelling') is the generic name for a group of castes among Hindus in Kerala, India, who have traditionally rendered temple services.^[1] They live in the vicinity of temples; related with the temple and temple rituals.

Castes

Ampalavasi women with flower baskets- An old image

• Pushpaka (Pushpakan Unni)^[1]
• Theeyatt Unni^{[citation needed]}
• Puppalli^{[citation needed]}
• Plappalli (Pilappalli)^{[citation needed]}
• Nambidi^{[citation needed]}
• Nambeesan^{[citation needed]}
• ^[2]Pisharody^[3]
• Marar^[4]
• Varyar^[3]
• Pothuval,^[3]

^[5]

Others

• Chakyar^[3]
• Nambiar^[3]
• Kurukkal^{[citation needed]}

Temple services

Though all Ampalavāsis have to do service in temples, they have sufficiently distinct functions to perform. Pushpakans and Nambeesans are teachers in the Pathasalas or Mutts and suppliers of flowers to temple.^[1] Chakyar stages dramas called Kooth and Koodiyattam.^[6] Marars are temple musicians. Variar and Poduval performed managerial and executive functions of temple committees and served as storekeepers and watchmen.^[7]

Social status

Their ritual rank in Hinduism lies between that of a Brahmin and Nair .^{[8][9][10][11]} Ambalavasis were known as Antharala Jathikal.

Kazhakams

Kazhakams or Ambalakkazhakams refer to associations of Ambalavasi peoples in a temple to perform specific duties in the temple.^[12]

Temple arts

Koodiyattam

Theeyattam

Idakka artist
Sri. Chendamangalam Unnikrishna Maarar in action - In the middle.

Traditionally, Ambalavasis are associated with various types of temple arts. Earlier, each of these temple arts were performed only by specific Ambalavasi castes. Now there is no community or caste barrier.^{[citation needed]}

Temple Art	Associated Ambalavasi castes
Koodiyattam	Chakyar[13]
Kooth	Chakyar,[14] Nangyar (women of Nambiar)[15]
Certain roles of Krishnanattam
Mizhavu (Musical Instrument)	Nambiar[16]
Thullal
Pathakam	Nambiar[17]
Theeyattu
Ilathalam (Musical instrument)
Vadyams (Musical instruments) like Chenda, Thimila, Idakka, Udukku etc.	Marar[4]
Sopanasangeetham
Panchavadyam
Thayampaka
Pandi Melam
Panchari Melam
Brahmanippattu	Brahmani (women of Nambeesan)[18][19]