Tuesday, August 21, 2012

History of Nairs, Ezhavas (Billava), Syrian Christians and Namboodiris of Kerala

History of Nairs, Ezhavas (Billava), Syrian Christians and Namboodiris of Kerala


The Nestorians appeared in Kerala only after the Arab ships of Iraq / Bhagdad after 800 AD. Tharissappalli Shasanam issued by Venads Tamil Ay King Ayyanadikal Thiruvadikal in 825 AD granting permission to build a Church at Tharissappalli to Nestorian Syrian trader Marvan Sapir Easho was the first authentic Dravidian document in Tamil. The signatories of Tharissapalli Sashanam had signed in three languages Hebrew Pahlavi and Kufric languages indicating that they are with Jewish Persian and Palestinian roots. Christianity was not a known religeon to Dravidian Tamils of Kerala in ancient or medival times until the end of 13th century except few immigrant Nestorian Syrians (Nasrani Mapillas) practiced it.

The ancient Tamil Sangam literature (470 books) many written by Tamil aristocracy of Kerala speak about Jainism Dravidian Hinduism and Buddhism but not Christianity. Silappatikaram a Tamil work written by Chera Dynasty prince Ilango Adigal at 4th century from his palace at Kana Vayil Kottam (ancient Kochi) gives vivid accounts about ancient Kerala. Syrian Christians or Jews were never mentioned in Sangam literature. Saint Thomas was not known to ancient Tamils of Tamilakam (Tamil Nadu and Kerala). Nambudiri Brahmins are not Tamils but ar from Tulunadu who had migrated from Ahichatra in Nepal-Uttarkhand to Banavasi in Karnataka in 345 AD. Nambudiris appeared in Kerala only in the 8th century AD when Karnatakas Chalukya dynasty invaded and subjugated Kerala.

The Nestorians appeared in Kerala only after the Arab ships of Iraq / Bhagdad after 800 AD. Tharissappalli Shasanam issued by Venads Tamil Ay King Ayyanadikal Thiruvadikal in 825 AD granting permission to build a Church at Tharissappalli to Nestorian Syrian trader Marvan Sapir Easho was the first authentic Dravidian document in Tamil. The signatories of Tharissapalli Sashanam had signed in three languages Hebrew Pahlavi and Kufric languages indicating that they are with Jewish Persian and Palestinian roots.

Christianity was not a known religeon to Dravidian Tamils of Kerala in ancient or medival times until the end of 13th century though few immigrant Nestorian Syrians (Nasrani Mapillas) practiced it. The ancient Tamil Sangam literature (470 books) many written by Tamil aristocracy of Kerala speak about Jainism Dravidian Hinduism and Buddhism but not Christianity. Silappatikaram a Tamil work written by Chera Dynasty prince Ilango Adigal at 4th century from his palace at Kana Vayil Kottam (ancient Kochi) gives vivid accounts about ancient Kerala. Syrian Christians or Jews were never mentioned in Sangam literature. Saint Thomas was not known to ancient Tamils of Tamilakam (Tamil Nadu and Kerala). Nambudiri Brahmins are not Tamils but are from Tulunadu who had migrated from Ahichatra in Nepal-Uttarkhand to Banavasi in Karnataka in 345 AD. Nambudiris appeared in Kerala only in the 8th century AD when Karnatakas Chalukya dynasty invaded and subjugated Kerala. Prior to 800 AD none of the Dravidian documents mention Christians in Kerala neither foreign nor Tamil.

Christianity was not a known religeon to Dravidian Tamils of Kerala in ancient or medival times until the end of 13th century though few immigrant Nestorian Syrians (Nasrani Mapillas) practiced it. The ancient Tamil Sangam literature (470 books) many written by Tamil aristocracy of Kerala speak about Jainism Dravidian Hinduism and Buddhism but not Christianity. Silappatikaram a Tamil work written by Chera Dynasty prince Ilango Adigal at 4th century from his palace at Kana Vayil Kottam (ancient Kochi) gives vivid accounts about ancient Kerala. Syrian Christians or Jews were never mentioned in Sangam literature. Saint Thomas was not to ancient Tamils of Tamilakam (Tamil Nadu and Kerala). Nambudiri Brahmins are not Tamils but are from Tulunadu who had migrated from Ahichatra in Nepal-Uttarkhand to Banavasi in Karnataka in 345 AD. Nambudiris appeared in Kerala only in the 8th century AD when Karnatakas Chalukya dynasty invaded and subjugated dKerala. Prior to 800 AD none of the Dravidian documents mention Christians in Kerala neither foreign nor Tamil.

John of Monte Corvino and Friar Jordanus Catalanini (1324 AD) were the first ever European missionaries to convert Indians to Latin Christianity who at Quilon converted few thousand Malali Tamils at Kollam. Kollam Latin Catholics faced threat from Arabs as well as Pandyan Kingdom. But after 1350 the Latin missionaries stopped coming the Latin Catholics might have joined the Nestorians of Kollam. When Portuguese came in 1498 AD the Latin Catholics of Kollam had completely integrated with the Nestorian Syriac Christianity (Nasrani Mappilla). Only Nestorian Syrian Christianity under Eastern Orthodox Christianity existed in Kerala at 1498 AD. Thus European missionaries like Giovanni Montecorvino and Friar Jordanus might have been responsible for increasing the Nasrani Mapilla population of Kollam from few hundred to three thousands in the 14th century. These middle eastern immigrants with some local mixture were called Nasrani (Christian) Mappilla (Son in law) because the Syrian sailors married Kerala girls. As the trade winds which would enable their return journey to Iraq wil blow in the reverse direction only after six months they married hence called Syrian Mapillas. Portuguese Mestizo community had integrated these Syrian Mappillas into Latin Catholicism and army.

When Portuguese came to Kerala Keralas language was Tamil. However the Tamil Chera (Villavar) Vellalar and Ayar aristocracy had been defeated and replaced by Tulu tribes (Nayara Menava Samantha) by the invasion of Malik Kafur in 1310 AD. Portuguese printed many books in the native language Lingua Malabar Tamul. Early Lingua Malabar Tamul or Malayalam-Tamil Christian books were using Portuguese script to write alternating lines of Portuguese and Tamil. Jesuits of Angamaly Kollam and Thalassery printed books in Tamil (eg Flos Sanctorum or Thamburan Vanakkam written bz Henrique , copies preserved at Copenhagen).In the 16th century except a few Paravas of Tuticorin Tamilnadu did not have Christians. Thousands of Tamil books printed in Kerala in the 16th to 18 th centuries by the Jesuits or Eesho Sabha at Angamaly Quilon and Thalssery suggest that Mestizo-Syrian catholics were using Tamil as their Liturgical language used in Church. Though Portuguese established a Syriac college Syriac was never used for preaching or giving sermons. Few lines of Syriac was read out by the Kattiyakaran in the Churches 17th century onwards which Malayalees never understood. Similarly Sanskrit was never used by Keralas Christians prior to British residency. Monro-Mecaulay Dewan-Resident of Kerala in the 1815 forced Kerala Christians to adopt the Tulu-Sanskrit language of Nambudiris as Malayalam while using Tulu script to write it. (See: Neria Haris Hebbar Tulu language)

Friar Jordanus Catalanini was the first ever European missionary to convert Indians to Latin Christianity who at Quilon converted few thousand Malali Tamils at Kollam. Kollam Latin Catholics faced threat from Arabs as well as Pandyan Kingdom. But after 1350 the Latin missionaries stopped coming. When Portuguese came in 1498 AD the Latin Catholics had completely integrated into the Nestorian Syriac Christianity (Nasrani Mappilla). Only Nestorian Syrian Christianity under Eastern Orthodox Christianity existed in Kerala at 1498 AD. These middle eastern immigrants with some local mixture were called Nasrani (Christian) Mappilla (Son in law) because these sailors married Kerala girls. Portuguese Mestizo community had integrated these Syrian Mappillas into Latin Catholicism and army.

When Portuguese came to Kerala Keralas language was Tamil. However the Tamil Chera (Villavar) Vellalar and Ayar aristocracy had been defeated and replaced by the the invasion of Malik Kafur in 1310 AD. After 1310 Kerala was occupied and ruled by Tulu tribes (Nayara Menava Samantha) etc. The new rulers of Kerala after 1310 might descend from the Naga tribes brought by Karnatakas kadamba kings from Nepal as slave warriors hence called Bunts. Bands of Nagas from Ahichatram had migrated to Tulunadu under Brahmin(Nambudiri Shivally Brahmins). Since the Buntas were not allowed to marry or have families a Matriarchal society had evolved. The Tulunadus Bunt/Nair dynasties of Kerala practiced Matriarchy and Polyandry. Tamil Chera Pandya or Chola dynasties had never practised Matriarchy. Kerala with a Tamil population,(Villavar/Panickar Vellalar/Pillai Parathavar and Ayar) ruled by ethnically and culturally different Bunts (Samantha Nayara Menava Kuruba etc) and Nambudiris with Tulumadu roots. Portuguese chose to support the primitive weak Matriarchal Tulu Samantha rulers with their Christian Mestizo army. The Mestizo support to the Tulu Samantha rulers with Nepalese/Ahichatra origins led to the destruction of Dravidian Tamil culture of Kerala.

The Indian Mestizo Christian army might have been a racial intermixture of Poruguese Syriac and Tamils. Nestorianism was abandoned and Catholicism became official. Chavittu Natakams or Tromping dance performed in Tamil was the main entertaintment of Malayali Christians throughout colonial period. Chinnathambi Annavi a migrant from south was the Shakspeare for Portuguese printed many books in the native language of Kerala Lingua Malabar Tamul or Malayalam-Tamil. Jesuits of Angamaly Kollam and Thalassery printed books in Tamil (eg Flos Sanctorum or Thamburan Vanakkam , copies preserved at Copenhagen). The political alignment of Portuguese with the Tulu migrants (Bunt/Nair and Nambudiri) against Tamils(Villavar Vellalar Ayar Paradavar etc) declined. NonDravidianTulunadu customs such as Matriarchy and Polyandry flourised as the colonial rulers supported the Tulu tribes with their Mestizo Christian army. The decline and disappearance of Tamils in Kerala was the result of genocide. Though Malayalam-Tamil survived till 19th century the British replaced it with the Tulu-Sanskrit language of Nambudiris written with Tulu script in the 19th century

European missionaries claimed that ancient Tamiakam was dominated by Many of the Syrian family names are in medival Tamil indicating military service eg Padayattil Payinedathu( payilunnedathu) etc. Thachil (Carpenter house in Tamil) Tharakan (broker) Mapillai(Son in law) etc. After the Portuguese left the Portuguese mixed Catholics of Kerala were left in the care of new Dutch Colonial rulers in 1660. Dutch were Protestants. So some of the Mestizo-Syrians left Latin Catholicism and founded Syro-Malabar Catholic sect in 1662 when Pope sent an emissary. Some Mestizo-Syrians founded Syro-Malankara (Jacobite) sect under Western Orthodoxy (Nestorians had been under Eastern Orthodox y ) in 1665 when the Bishop of Jerusalem was sent by Syriac Patriarch of Antioch Turkey. Syro-Malankara split into various modern sects Marthomite Jacobite, Orthodox Reeth and Knanaya sects. Only Foreign Methrons (Bishops) were allowed till 1875. Syrian Christians were integral part of European colonialism who occupied high offices. British tried to rule Kerala with Thachil Mathu Tharakan in 1800s provoking a revolt by Veluthampi Thampy Thalava. British appointed Syrian Judges and ministers in the 19th century.

British missionaries claimed that Nambudiris (with Ahichatra Tulunadu roots) owned ancient Kerala not Tamils. Europeans could claim that Saint Thomas came and converted Nambudiris .Only Tamils (Villavar Vellala Meenavar Maravar etc)are mentioned in ancient records of Kerala. Jews or Syrian Christians or Nambudiris were unknown to ancient Tamils of Keralas Chera Kingdom.

The important landmarks 1)As the Arab ships from Bhagdadian empire of Iraq started dominating the waterways first Syrian Mappillas appeared in Kerala as mentioned in the Tharisappalli shasanam of 825 AD. Mar Sapir Esho Mor Proth and perhaps Kanai Thomman may belong to this group as Kodungaloor became famous only after the Arab ships started frequenting Keralas port cities after 800 AD (The Second Chera empire). Tha Nasrani Mapillas were very few perhaps few hundred who stayed around Kollam, Kayaal and other port cities along with Arabs. 2)Patriarch John of Monte Corvino and Friar Jordanus Catalini convert many to Latin Christianity who join the Nestorian Mappillas after the Italian franciscans stopped coming after 1350s.
3)Portugguese soldiers establish a strong Mestizo community with three subsects Mestizo, Castizo and Toepass.
4)The alignment of Portuguese with the Tulu Bunt/Samantha/Nair ruler of cochin leader leads to the strengthening of the Mestizos who mostly practiced Latin Catholicism

During Portuguese period (1498-to 1660) the Portuguese period only Roman Catholicism ie Latin Catholicism existed.It is ridiculous to say that Syrian Christians were revoliting against Portuguese. Only after the Portuguese came Christian population leaped to thousands. as The Mestizos were owning vast tracts of land and doing Pepper cultivations. The Mestizo sub castes Castizo Mestizo and Toepass are mentioned in the Portuguese and Dutch records not Syrian Christians. Syrian Christians were integral part of the Portuguese colonialim and Mestizo culture.Koonan Kurisu was itself situated at the Portuguese fortified port of Mattancherry where only Portuguese soldiers were allowed entry. The 2000 strong Syrian Christians who demonstrated at Koonan Kurisu at 1653 in a peaceful manner by tying a rope and singing songs were left alive by the Portuguese because of their Mestizo connection. Though the Mestizos survived in the Dutch period (1660 to 1760) they were relatively weak as the Portuguese mixed inland Christian community of Kerala increasing identified themselves as Syrian Christians. Even during the British period the Syrian Christians were a pillars of the British colonial rule. Thachil Mathu Tharakan was appointed along with Sankaran Namboothiri and Sankaran Chetty as the administrators of Travancore. Velluthampi Thalava revolted against them. Still Mathu Tharakan continued as the first ever Christian minister of Kerala. The Forest minsister Mathu Tharakan stripped Keralas forests to aid the British in the Nepoleanic wars. Palayayam Horona Palli was built by him. The Syrian Christians were appointed as judges by the British in the 1800s who aided British. The European colonilalism favoured group of Christians of Kerala with Syrian Mapilla-Mestizo roots who inturn supported colonialism.

http://www.gnosis.org/library/actthom.htm
Saint Thomas did come to the Kingdom of Gondophares at Takshashila at the Indo-Persian border. But Gondohphares was not an ethnic Indian but a Persian (Parthian) with Greek mixture. This kingdom was situated at presentday northern borders of Pakistan. Saint Thomas visited the kingdom Gondophares as a building contractor promising a palace to the king.Because of Gad Saint Thomas escaped Gondophares wrath. However Saint Thomas earned the wrath of King Misdeus of Persia when saint Thomas converted Princess Tertia, son Juzanes courtiers Marikia Carisius and Princess Mygdonia (Mygdonia is a province between Euphrates and Tigris). Saint Thomas became a martyr in Persia when King Misdeus or Mazdai ordered four of his soldiers to take him to a nearby hill and execute him by pierching with spears. Saint Thomas could not talk any language other than Hebrew. Even in the Gondophares kindom a Hebrew girl translated his language to the king.
Edessa where the Mortal remains of Saint Thomas was taken was also in Persia. Many of the Indian Nasrani Mapillas also come from Iraq and Persia. But there is absolutely no evidence to suggest that Saint Thomas came to Chera Pandya or Chola kingdoms of Tamils. Not only Jews were not known to ancient Tamils. Jews though very important people to Christianity were perhaps only sheperds who were mostly slaves to Persians Romans and Assyrians. Greeks and Romans were well known to ancient Tamils who were known as Yavana (Ionian).Portuguese used the Saint Thomas legend to their own advantage. Marco Polo initially identified the Saint Thomas grave at Kayalpattinam. But once Portuguese had interests at Bombay Cochin and Madras Portuguese declared all these places were visited by Saint Thomas. Thus King Misdeus of Persian became a Tamil king from Madras. King Gondophares comfortably became Cheraman Perumal. Nasrani Mapillas from Iraq were declared as Brahmin Namboothiri converts who were not even present in South India in the early Christian era.Portuguese also had suggested the Bombay Kalyan could be Calamina (possibly if Madras failed they can shift the Portuguese empire to Bombay). None of the Dravidian legends support such Portuguese fabrications. Gonophares, Misdeus,Tertia, Carisius, Syphorus, Juzanes all these names of Greco-Persian and not Tamil names. Madras gained importance only after it became the southernmost outpost of the Delhi Sulthanate in the 13th century. The Earlier Chola kingdom never knew about Saint Thomas or Christianity. But it is quite possible that some of the earlier Nasrani Mapillas were converted by Saint Thomas before they booked a deck in an Iraqi ship to come to India. But after Portuguese came only Mestizos existed

All the Non-Dravidian people of South India joined the European colonial rulers during the five hundered years of colonial rule in the South India.Thus Aryan Brahmins who migrated to south India (Nambudiris migrated from Ahichatra in Uttarpradesh Nepal border at 345 AD during the rule of Kadamba king Mayuravarma to Banavasi and Tamil and Telugu Brahmmins otherwise called migrated from Narmadha river basin after the Somnathpur attack in the 13th century. Tamil and Telugu Brahmins still wear the Gujarati dress and have fair colour and northern accent) in the past 2000 years eagerly join Syrian Christians often supporting their claims. Ancient Dravidian Hinduism was radically different from laterday Aryanised Hinduism. Anthanar Vediar, Maraialar Velar were the priests in the ancient Dravidian country. The word Brahmin was rarely used to denote priesthood. Most of the priests were Dravidians some of whom was trained in Vedas. Kapilar was a Dravidian priest not an Aryan Brahmin. Vedic Yagas were conducted in the ancient Dravidian country Palyaghasalai Mudhukudumin Peruvazhuthi was a ancient king who performed Yagas. While the early Brahmins were called Parpanars or supervisors of the Vedic rites. Parpanassery Parapanagadi are few placed linked with them.The Aryan Brahmins (Aryar or Ayyars) have Gotras to indicate their Aryan origins (Kasyapa(Caspian) Bhargava or Angirasa(Anglo)Kaudinya(Afganistan ancient Kaund)). The ancient Dravidian priests like Kapilar or Gauthamar never had these Aryan Gotras. British not only organised all the Non-Dravidian people against the Dravidians they did everything to undermine the Dravdian culture. The indigenous Dravidian Malyalam-Tamil or Malayanma language was banned by British thereby destroying all the Kerala records since time immemorial. They replaced Keralas langauge with the Tulu- Sanskrit langugge of Nambuthiris. Most of GRANTHA books of Nambuthiris written in the 17th and 18th centuries were not at all Malayalam but Sanskrit written with Tulu Script even today unintelligible to most Malayalees. (Tulu Script was banned in Tulu Nadu by the British while it was being promoted in Kerala http://shivallibrahmins.com/tulu-language/tulu-language-and-script/).
The British ruled Kerala with Syrian Christians and Madras Brahmins (Telugu and Tamil Brahmins). British Government in Tamil Nadu and Kerala were dominated by Non-Dravidians.

I am convinced that the modern day syrian Christians of Kerala are the descendants of Persian settlers who were present in large numbers in Kerala, for many centuries. There is also a possibility of these Persians intermarrying the local keralites, to give rise to the present day Syrian Christians. Whatever it may be, the syrian Christians have a distinct culture and tradition, and they enjoy a very high social status in kerala.. They were traditionally aristocratic, wealthy and educated, and were known for their loyalty, Valour and hardwork. They are strictly endogamous too.

While it remains that the bulk of the SYrian Christians of Kerala are the descendants of the Persian settlers, who came to India at least 1500 years ago, the are some who clearly trace their ancestral origins to authentic namboothri Brahmin families - Brahmins who converted to Christianity centuries ago. These conversions might have occurred due to the active evangelization by Syrian and Persian missionaries, who did carry out such missions from the 9nth century onwards. So one cannot thoroughly say that there are no Christians who are of brahminical descent. Many traditional and aristocratic Syrian Christian families such as pakalomattom, shankarapuri, kalliyankel, and kalliyil trace their roots to brahminical origins.

18 comments:

  1. vivarakkedu vilambunnathinum oru athiru venam !! Go and study the real hostory first ..

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  2. It is true that the syrian C:hristians in Kerala are the descendants of the Nestorian Christians migrated to Kerala at various periods two of which are documented. To say that they are strictly endogamous is true only in the case of Kananayi Christians of Kottayam Catholic diocese. Why the Latin Catholics or Catholics of Roman rite ( 7% of Kerala's population) are not mentioned? One third of them are Latinized Syrians, one third are mixed groups like Anglo Indians and one third are converts from various non Christian Communities of Kerala

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  3. St. Thomas visited Kerala and introduced Christianity .After St. Thomas other missionaries from Persia came to Kerala and converted many people.. The early converts in Kerala belonging to different grades in society on the basis of occupation were commonly called Christians But the name Christian was changed to Nasrani when the Arabs (Moplahs) came to Kerala. Muslims used the word Nasrani in a contemptuous and derogatory manner. Christians and Jews were hated by Muslims in the Middle East and so they used the word 'Nasrani' in a derogatory and spiteful manner, as the Greeks called others 'barbarians.' Muslims quote the Koran to call Christians and Jews as 'Nasranis.'
    This is the basis of the verse. " Jews say: 'Uzair is the son of God' and the Christians say: 'The Messiah, son of God'. Such is their saying with their mouths; they imitate the infidels saying earlier. Allah has cursed them, how are they to turn? "(Surat al-Tawbah: 30) By this interpretation, Muslims regard Christians and Jews infidels and collectively call them ‘Nasrani.’
    Even today all Christians are contemptuously called Nasranis in the Middle East by the Arabs. In Kerala also, after the Arabs gave the derogatory name 'Nasranis' to Christians, Brahmins and Nairs also used that word in a derogatory and insulting manner till the arrival of colonial powers. Vrahnins and Nairs made Christians work as coolies, agricultural labourers in their farmlands and compulsory service called ‘oozhiyam.’ The true economic and social condition of the Christians who were ridiculously called Nasranis was recorded by a missionary when European powers were slowly establishing their authority; Abbe J.A. Dubois, a missionary in Mysore, in his letter dated August 7, 1815, writes: “The Jesuits, on their first arrival in India, hearing of them, in one way or other converted the greatest part to the Catholic faith. Their liturgy is to this day in the Syrian language, and in the performance of their religious ceremonies they use this ancient dead tongue. There remains still among them large congregations, consisting of 70 or 80,000 Christians, of whom two-thirds are Catholics, and a third Nestorians. They are all designated under the contemptuous name of Nazarany, and held by the pagans in still greater contempt than the Christians of this part of the country. The Nairs chiefly keep them at a greatest distance, and they form a separate caste.”
    (to be continued)

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  4. (contd. from previous post)
    When the Portuguese and the British educated these hapless Christians and appointed them as soldiers, businessmen and planters, Christians ascended to top position in the fields of education, business, plantations, and commerce making Brahmins and Nairs inferiors. The Portuguese were in Kerala for 150 years and during this period there was widespread inter racial marriage between Portuguese and local Hindus. Albuquerque officially encouraged such marriages to increase Christian population. Later the offspring of such marriages married local Christians which eventually led to change in skin color and personality. Gradually the contemptuous name Nasrani was given up and the words, ‘Christians’ and ‘Syrian Christians’ became common usage. But in Arab countries Christians are even today called in a vulgar form, ‘Nasranis.” In a recent riot in Cairo when Muslim fanatics attacked Christians, the Huffington Post dated August 17, 2013 reported the following incident
    “Naguib’s home supplies store on a main commercial street in the provincial capital, also called Minya, was torched this week and the flames consumed everything inside.
    "A neighbor called me and said the store was on fire. When I arrived, three extremists with knifes approached me menacingly when they realized I was the owner," recounted Naguib. His father and brother pleaded with the men to spare him. Luckily, he said, someone shouted that a Christian boy was filming the proceedings using his cell phone, so the crowd rushed toward the boy shouting "Nusrani, Nusrani," the Quranic word for Christians which has become a derogatory way of referring to them in today's Egypt.”

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    1. This comment has been removed by the author.

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    2. Mr. Radhakrishnan,Its very clear your contempt for Syrian Christians comes out of the typical "Nair" jealousy for any community or individuals who are successful.
      According to your logic put on syrian christians,Nair's are a bunch of knife wielding ,Cuckold coolies to the Namboothiris,who would pride on the number of Namboothiri males who visit there mother ,wife or daughter. Lets also explore how an entire new caste called menons came from the exceptional pimping work your ancestors did with your wives ,mothers and daughter ,you should also do a research on that.
      Nowadays the term Nair is synonymous with treachery ,backstabbing and pimp work.Lets not talk on the reputation of the present day nairs. Let me list a few for your research saritha nair,shalu menon,Kavitha Pilllai Sreeshanth...these vermin are in all field and is much hated everywhere don't mind selling there mother for money just like there golden days.

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    3. 9009knight, What you have said is fact, although the language used is a little bitter.
      Syrian christians or who ever the oldest christian people of kerala, they have no link with Namboodiri caste. No namboodiri never ever need to convert to Christianity. Syrian christians think that if they could establish that thay are desendents of namboothiris it would give them some special supermacy and uplift. The fact is NO. Even namboodiris are not given any special supermacy. HISTORY WRITTEN IS FALSE.

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  5. 9009knight's remarks are too ugly... It shows the ugly mindset and low standard.... By the by am not a Nair... But digging old histories and compare to the new time is not proper.... Can you assure whole Christians sexual discipline life in present day.... they are very greedy and crooked minded to my perception...

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    1. I agree that 9009knight's remarks are really ugly. He should have presented facts regarding the Nairs in a more appropriate manner. I should also say that your remarks too on the Syrian Christians are kind of inappropriate. I wonder on what basis you call the Syrian Christians 'greedy' and 'crooked minded'! I am sure of the fact that there's no community in the state who are as society oriented and charitable as the Syrian Christians (i don't refer to all groups of the Syrian Christians). This can be inferred from the fact that most of the orphanages, old age homes, self help groups, learning centers for the differently abled etc are run by members of this community, particularly the Catholic Syrian Christians. There are Syrian Christian men and women (nuns and priests) who have consecrated their lives for the purpose of charity and service to the society. I'm sure that you won't find this degree of commitment among any section of the Hindus or Muslims.

      Also, Syrian Christian schools and colleges set up in almost every nook and corner of the state have made their solid contributions to the society, in educating thousands of Non Christians right from the beginning of the 20th century. I would say this is the chief reason for Kerala to be superior to every other state in the Country in terms of literacy rate and quality of education.

      So think before you make your remarks.

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  6. @9009knight
    Why are you so upset when Mr. Radhakrishnan has presented an accurate survey of Kerala history? How can Syrian Christians claim Nambudhiri conversion when they outnumber Nambudhiri population in Kerala? Who were the Nambudhiris converted by Christian missionaries? So on population basis, the false claim of Nambudhiri conversion is exposed. In socio-cultural lifestyle, Syrian Christians are beef and pork eaters, despised by Brahmins. Nambudhiris wear sacred thread (ponnol) and Syraian cannot use it.Then, are you not ashamed to use someone's caste, just to hide your untouchability past?

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  7. @Rajan Rajiv,

    I agree that the way 9009knight replied to Mr Pattom Radhakrishnan is ugly. But you should also understand the fact that there is a conspiracy by certain sections of Hindus (you know who i am talking about- ofcourse those who lost their socioeconomic prominence to the Syrian Christians at the turn of the 19nth century) to degrade the identity of the Syrian Christians of Kerala. This is evident from their aggression to counter the established views on the origin of the Nasrani community. And it is every Nasrani's moral responsibility i believe, to respond to such retards and prove them wrong in the light of true history.

    i personally don't adhere to the 'Brahmin conversion by St. Thomas' legend that has been perpetuated among many Syrian Christian families today. There are ample proofs pointing to the the West Asian/ Persian origin of the Syrian Christians, which i will be posting in detail, another time. When the bulk of the Nasranis are descendants of Persian traders/immigrants who intermarried with the local people of Kerala, there were also stray cases of conversion of caste Hindus such as Nampoothiris and Nairs, especially in the Trissur- Ernakulam side, and more particularly in places north of the river Periyar. There are plenty of internal evidences for such conversions that took place in the early part of the 2nd millenium. A few to mention are:

    1. The traditional attire if the Syrian Christians of erstwhile Cochin state resembled the caste hindus- they maintained a 'munkudumi', and this could be seen in an old European painting titled 'Syrian Christians of Cochin' which is available in Wikipedia.

    2. The Trissur side Syrian Christians have more cultural similarity with their caste Hindu brethren, unlike the distinct 'Nasrani' culture of their fellow counterparts in Travancore. Many Trichur Nasranis had traditionally followed vegetarian diet till recently, unlike the Travancore Syrians who were and are predominantly non vegan.

    3. Many Syrian families of Trissur have
    a genetic haplotype called R1a, which is found only among the Aryan Nampoothiris and Nairs.

    4. The comparitively high status of the Syrians of the erstwhile Cochin Kingdom. The Syrians and Nairs were permitted to touch each other, and the two communities had been the traditional land owning class of the region, even,before the advent of the Europeans. The family histories of many Nair families around Irinjalakkuda and North Paravoor records that they bought vast areas of lands from Syrian Christian land lords. Also, the rulers of Cochin such as 'Shakthan Tamburan' honoured the Syrian Christians by granting them lands, special privileges and building churches etc.

    These are a few observations and facts on the Syrian Christians, substantiating the 'Nampoothiri and Nayar' conversion theories. (I only mean stray cases of conversion, which is highly possible)

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    1. Oh what a tragedy..... . See, All christians are converted hindus especially from the downtrodden plane, their may be rare exceptions. It would be more attractive if you could say these christians what you say Syrians came along with St Thomas and started living here. Why you people are sticking to Namboodiris and Nains , are they the only cast's with supermacy. You know nairs are the servants of namboodiris. Now only they took some relief.

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  8. St. Thomas was not martyred in Persia. He was killed somewhere around Madras.

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  9. In physic and looks and in charector nairs, Muslims ,christians and namboothiis appears similer like brothers.we have all son in lows and daughters from other cast and religeion.with different gods faith riutuels malayalees are rich.why you using nasty ugly words against your brothers.may be 1 %of malayalees are creating this issues.

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  10. Nice effort by the author. Thanks you for enlighten us..

    Forget the "story" of "St. Thomas" at his 90's who waked from Israel to Sindh (Pakistan) and from there to India. There is no proof of Jesus himself existed. Josephus Flavious who wrote the 1st Bible in Greek was a Hebrew? Father of Jesus? Some people use tricks, magics, money and "stories" for power and controlling the societies.. And lo.. there are some blind believers for their support..
    Not intented to hurt anybody's feelings, but I would like to put forth different opinions of reseacrchers other than colonial dictations..

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=An8XoyeVYHo

    https://beyondallreligion.net/2012/01/21/how-christianity-was-invented/

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    1. Previous youtube link was broken. Please find the new one.

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkUjkQ48TN8

      Delete
  11. Please rename the content to History of Syrian Christians, Namboodris and Nairs in Kerala.

    As you dint blog about the other.

    ReplyDelete