Kurup (Nair caste)
Kerala title or caste name From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Kurup or Nair Kurup is a title of nobility used by Nairs in Kerala,[1] They were Nairs who were experts in Kalaripayyattu and had their own Nair army in many parts of Kerala, many among them were powerful warlords, also serving as warriors and army generals. Additionally, a segment of the Nair Kurup belonged to the "Naaduvaazhi" and landlord class in Venad until the 17th century. The Nair Kurup caste is unrelated to other Kurups. It is important not to confuse them with the Ambalavasi Kurup, Kurup Caste, Kalari Kurup, etc., as they have distinct identities and no relation with the Nair caste Kurup.[1]
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (May 2020) |
| Regions with significant populations | |
|---|---|
| Kerala | |
| Languages | |
| Malayalam, Sanskrit | |
| Religion | |
| Hinduism | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Nair Pillai, Madampi, Malayali Brahmin |
Etymology
Summarize
Perspective
"Kurup" is a title of nobility among the Nairs, historically given by different kingdoms to Nair individuals or families who have reached a high level of expertise in Kalaripayattu or warfare.
"Kurup" is a title of nobility among Nair subcastes, other higher titles of nairs such as Pillai, Unnithan, Thampi, Varma, etc.[1] They were warrior class and well-respected families in the Venad kingdom. These class of Nairs ranked above ordinary Nairs but below the king, similar to the Samantha Nair class in present-day Kerala.[1]
Well-known Kurups of Travancore include Azhakath Kurup, a Nair noble man who represented Nairs in the Ettara Yogam or the King and Council of Eight, the longstanding administrative setup of the Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple for centuries.[1][2]
The power of Kurup reduced after the formation of Travancore kingdom, Kurup title was later given to the High Steward of Travancore (Great officers of Travancore).
They mostly belong to the highest Nair subcastes of Travancore, including the Illam Nair caste and other subcastes within the Travancore Nair caste.
In the North Malabar region, it is also used by Nair families who expertise in Kalaripayattu, similar to the Nambiar subcaste. These families were later considered part of the Kiriyathil Nair caste.
It is also used by Nairs in the Cochin region. They were considered similar to the Menon title and worked as scribes in Swaroopams.
Notable people
- Azhakathu Padmanabha Kurup, Indian scholar
- O. N. V. Kurup, Indian poet
- Madavoor Vasudevan Nair, Kathakali artist
- Raghava Kurup Narendra Prasad, Indian actor
- K. N. P. Kurup, Indian politician
- K. Narayana Kurup, Indian politician
- Parvathy Jayaram, Indian actress
- Guru Kunchu Kurup, Kathakali artist
- M. R. Kurup, Indian scientist
- P. Narayana Kurup, Indian poet
- Vennikkulam Gopala Kurup, Indian poet
- Bhama Kurup, Indian actress
- Saiju Kurup, Indian actor
References
Wikiwand - on
Seamless Wikipedia browsing. On steroids.