NAMPOOTHIRIES – PART 2
Dear friends,
Thefollowing are a few information I have collected and compiled
fromNampoothiri.com long back. I am postinginteresting things as compilation.
Long descriptions are avoided. Hope aninteresting reading.
Sincerely,
GopalaKrishnan 11-8-2021
2bEquality in Food
InNamboothiri Illams, it was the same food, same items, that everyone - the
headof the family, other members, stray guests and servants - got. In olden
days, there were quitea few Namboothiri families who were dependent on one
well-to-do family in the area.Often, even on ordinary days, there were more
outsiders eating in such Illamsthan their own members.
Inshort, Namboothiris were certainly very fond of food, but were not
gluttons.They knew how to prepare tasty and nutritious food, serve well, and,
of course,enjoy eating it too. The Namboothiris found pleasure in the
laborious,physically demanding, yet exhilerating art of cooking. Though some of
thepractices are defunct, many continue to be followed even to this day,
andparticularly with regard to feasts.
>From an Article by : V T NarayananBhattathiripad, Thazhathu Mana, P O:
>Mezhathur, Via: Thrithala - 679534, Palakkad Dist. Phone: 0492-673249
3 DRESS of Namboothiris-
Namboothirisin general were no sticklers for fashionable dress. There was no
place in theirlife for fancy colours and shiny clothes. On this issue there was
no differenceamong the rich, middle class or poor.
Thepresent day media (cinema, TV, etc.) often portray Namboothiris as
wearingear-rings, gold chains, rings on all ten fingers, broad-bordered or
gilt-edged("Kasavu") cloth ("Mundu") and towel ("Veshti"),and so on. This is
contrary to reality.
Theywere much too simple, at least until recently.
The same is true about Antharjanams(Namboothiri women). Theynever used
colourful and silky clothes and glittering jewelry, unlike mostother
communities. The concept of beauty was non-existent or limited to naturaland
simple tastes. While most other South Indian Braahmanawomen drew beautiful
designs ("Kolam") daily in front of the house,Antharjanams made a perfunctory
sketch ("Aninju Mathilidal") withrice paste, that too only on special
occasions.
Theirstress was on the daily rituals and observance of "Vrathams"
(solemnvows).
3a Namboothiris (Male)
Untilthe early twentieth century, male Namboothiris wrapped around their waist
only a bath towel("Thorthu"). This was true even among the aristocracy.
Whenthey had to travel to other villages, they usually hung a second
towel("Randaam Mundu") on their shoulder; the aristocrats wore a longcloth
("Valiya Mundu") instead of the wrap-around towel.
My note- In Cherthala Dhanwantharitemple I have seen recentlyalso the senior
Nampoothiri wearing thorthu and doing pooja.
In my home during my student days, thepriest Godavarman Nampoothiri usedto wear
thorthu only. However if he came to pooja in our home, he used to weardhoti. On
special occasions like temple festival, sreebhootha bali . he used towear
double thorthu
Itwas customary for most Namboothiris to perform a daily ritual called
"Swaadhhyaayam", forwhich they had to wear a double towel or cloth ("Vasthram")
ina special way ("Thattudukkal"). This Vasthram was often used later inthe day
as the Randaam Mundu. Normally, the Vasthram was changed to Mundu onlyafter
lunch, though many wore it till evening.
Onspecial days, they wore a long cloth with a thin border of gilt or some
colour(Kasavu or Eerkkilakkara), which perhaps, was their best dress.
Duringmarriages, bridegrooms wore a Vasthram of four lengths, and another
similarcloth was twisted and worn ("Uthareeyam") in the form of a largePoonool
("Yajnopaveetham" or sacred thread).
Everyonefrom little boys after "Choroonu" ("Annapraasanam" or riceeating
ceremony) to old men, invariably applied ("Kuriyidal") "Bhasmam" (ash),while
additionally "Chandanam" (sandal paste) was alsoquite common. The daily
"Vaisya-homam" (for married men) requireChandanam application, and after the
Homam, the "Vaisyappottu" - wetapplication of Bhasmam taken from the Homam
fire, which usually looked greyish.
3b Boys (Before "Samaavarthanam")
Boyswore "Ilakkonakam" (loin cover made of a strip of plantain leafsoftened by
heat treatment, over fire) before "Upanayanam", and"Seelakkonakam" (cloth loin
cover) afterwards."Upanichunnis" (between Upanayanam and Samaavarthanam) wore
Poonooland "Krishnaajinam" across the chest and a white thread (to supportthe
loin cloth) and "Mekhhala" at the waist. Krishnaajinam is an inchwide untanned
leather from the skin of "Krishna Mrigam" - black buck(Antelope cervicapra).
Mekhhala is a three-strand string worn around the waistand made of a special
kind of grass called "Mekhhalappullu".
3d Antharjanams
Antharjanamsand older girls wore clothes ("Udukkuka") with border lines,
andalike. There were two types - with "Koluthu", or with"Paappam". The former
was for Aadhhyans on ordinary days, whileAasyans used the latter, also called
"Okkuvechu Udukkuka", or"Njerinju Udukkuka".
For Aadhhyans on special occasions, a gilt-edged cloth(Kasavukara Putava)
with the gilt border made somewhat reddish by washing theborder area with water
mixed with dried and powdered flower of Plaasu (Buteamonosperma) - "Pilaasam"
(a process known as"Poovittalakkal") - and worn in a manner called
"EduthukuthiUdukkal".
Aasyans, even on special occasions,dressed in their normalway. While
performing religious rituals ("Vaidika Karmams"),Aadhhyans wore a four-length
new Vasthram in a manner called "PoovuvechuUdukkal".
Ghosha (veil) was prevalent in thecommunity. When women hadto go out, they
used to cover themselves with "Puthappum Kudayum"(wrap-around shawl and palm
leaf parasol). The shawl was a smooth, nice andbroad "Chelapputhappu", which
was also used as a bed-sheet.
The shape and size of the parasoldiffered among Sukapuram, Perumanam and
Irinjalakuda Graamams.The first used a large one, the second was larger than
ordinary parasols butwith shorter handle (called "Manakkuda"), and the third
used"Kundankuda", a deeper one with a very short handle.
Women applied sandal paste daily ontheir forehead in the formof a crescent or
a horizontal line and also a "Chaanthu" dot. Earlier,"Ambilikkuri" (3-tier
crescent) for Aadhhyans and "VarachuKuri" (three horizontal lines applied from
left to right) for Aasyans werethe norm. The latter was also called "Kolkkuri",
perhaps because astick ("Kol") had to be used to make it look good.
Applyingof mascara was also common. Betel chewing - "Moonnum Koottal",
withbetel leaf, lime and specially treated arecanut called "Kaliyatakka",and
with no tobacco, of course - was quite common to make lips red. Older girls
followed the same,but did not apply Chaanthu.
3e Girls
Girlstill the age of 8 or 9 wore just a loin cover (like boys) of
heat-treatedpalm-leaf. After they come of age ("Uduthu Thudangal"), they
dresslike Antharjanams do. Girls do not decorate their hair withjasmine flower,
until after marriage.
3f Brides
Eventhe bride's dress was quite simple. A four-length Mundu was worn("Muzhuvan
Udukkal") and another was pleated and worn covering theupper part and the head
including the face. Muzhuvan Udukkal was done alsoduring some ritual offerings
("Nedikkal" with 16 or 7 lamps) andduring "Kutiveppu" (ceremonial receiving of
the bride in the groom'shouse after marriage).
Thepalms and feet of the bride were decorated with henna ("Mailaanchi" -Losonia
inarmis).
3g Widows
Widowswore plain clothes without borders. Application of Chaanthu on the
forehead was taboo, butsandal paste, "Bhasmam" (ash) and "Gopikkatta"
(yellowochre) are permitted, the latter too only after wetting them.
REMARKS
The traditional dress described here isnot very relevant anymore. Now-a-days,
Namboothiri women cannot bedistinguished from others, and even among themselves
- Aadhhyan, Aasyan, etc. -as they all wear the same kind of dress like
churidar, maxi, sari or Mundu andVeshti (set-Mundu). Even widows cannot be
distinguished.
Article by : Leela Nambudripad["Sumangala"], Desamangalam Mana, Kumaranellur -
680590,
Mynote- During my college days one Nampoothiri from Thazhamon mana(Chengannur)
used to perform pooja in Pulikkunnu sastha temple on Saturday and Sunday in
my home on renovation.He used to wear dhoti and shirt for journey. I was his
assistant.
Fromhis talks on later date I could gather his brother’s daughter was
studyingsenior to me with Bsc. Botany in my home college. She used to come
wearingwearing saree and known for her brightness in studies. This was the case
in1964, ABOUT 60 decades back.
I will continue in next posting
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