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THE PALAKKAD BRAHMINS (IYERS) (A CRITICAL ANALYSIS) The Palakkad Brahmins are early settlers from Tamil Nadu and are scattered all over Kerala and the major concentration being Palakkad,Tiruvananthapuram,Thrissur and Calicut.The Palakkad District consists of about 92 villages (Agraharams) and were 100% brahmin occupied but quite recently this has been eroded by other communities due to indiscriminate/distress disposal of properties by Brahmins. The community is fragmented on the basis of sub sects and groups such as Brahacharanam,Vadama,Vathyama, Ashtasahasram, Chozian etc and generally do not inter mix. Each family is identified by its respective Gothram(lineage). During the initial stages of the original settlement, their main occupations were as land lords, temple assistants, musicians, cooks and in later stages this, diversified into all other fields such as Jurists and Lawyers, Engineers, Scientists, Teachers, Priests etc. Usually they are well educated with the exception of a few. These Brahmins had a very inflexible lifestyle full of rigid customs, superstitious beliefs, untouchability and are intricately wedded to temple culture. Also for economic reasons and consequent to the Kerala State Land Act, a major part of brahmins migrated to cities and other parts of the country and overseas, in search of jobs. Most of these Brahmins excelled in stenography, civil services and professional vocations  etc. Till recently and even in modern days, the brahmins marry from within their own relations subject to the Gothrams being different, such as uncles/nieces etc where conveniently the aspect of horoscope matching is ignored. Otherwise, in case of outside marriages preferably from the vicinity of their dwellings, the horoscope matching is seldom compromised. Of late due to migration to other places for vocational reasons, cross country alliances also happen but with stringent conditions. Horoscope is most important. The marriages are quite elaborate, very expensive with a display of opulence. In far too many cases, these also end up in disharmony and divorces. Generally, these brahmins opted for an opportunistic and fragile joint family system, which in the current times has failed and nuclear families have sprung up. They are selfish and will compromise all values with ridiculous arguments and an enormous ego plays a major part. Quarrels for properties among the family members, be it a brother or sister or in some cases even with own sons and daughters are quite common. They also at convenience take the help of religious authority like Vedas or Sastras or other scriptures to get out of their embarrassments with no inner knowledge of the same. Majority of these Brahmins actually do not believe with conviction in anything but will change to their conveniences, so as to avoid embarrassments. At will, they talk of God’s existence and contradict the same as it suits them. They appear to take a lot of interest in temple affairs but only with a selfish motive of personal benefit, cheap recognition with a select group of people and to exercise their non-existent authority. To achieve this they will form into select favorite groups. There are always frequent quarrels among groups without any tangible purpose but only to honor their respective egos. They like flattery, to pretend what they are not, to exhibit false and borrowed opulence, to hate neighbors, though they may act friendly and generally are not people of helping tendencies. Basically they are self centered and stingy. They are known for their ability to exercise authority over their own sons, daughters and daughter-in-laws through emotional blackmailing. This community still believes in untouchability, shuddha acharas (madi). They believe, a bath in the morning, after which adorning  Vibhuthi and visiting the temple or by chanting a few verses at home, without  knowing  its meaning, they are on their way to Salvation and are considered pious and perfect. Many of the brahmins (males)till recent years had extra marital affairs (sambandham) with non brahmin women, in some cases with the knowledge of his legal wife and even maintained parallel families, in which cases, part of his wealth will have to be shared, the painful part being, the wealth is not self earned but ancestral and is used for selfish perversions but normally would have been inherited by his legal offsprings. Due to this enormous urge and perversion, there are families which have been ruined as well. Many of them are alcoholic/drug addicts as well. They will still talk of shuddha acharas, devotion (bakti) and sastras. These brahmins generally do not have leadership qualities but are very fearful and ruled by enormous ego. They will not get into anything that they may have to confront and will avoid such issues, simply stating: Nadu odumbol naduve odannam (literally meaning-when the whole town is running, you should join the run in the centre) They do not trust anyone. They avoid litigations to the best extent possible and always preferred compromise through third party mediation. They will always shy away from confrontation by citing some silly excuses. As for any common causes like representing to Local Authorities etc where it requires a joint and unified approach, they avoid .The mentality is that what others will get ,we will also. They blame all their failures or drawbacks on Providence stating: Munjanma Papam or Poorvajanma Sukrutam. A majority is ignorant or has no knowledge of Astrology which is often a subject of convenience where ever it suits them. They run to an astrologer for solace from troubles mostly self created and pretend to be believers. They easily shun the same and even blame the astrologer if it is not to their benefit. The most common phrases used as excuse are: Jathaka dhosham,Nakshtra dosham,Dosha Dasa, Kemadruma Yogam,Sukra Dasai etc They also pretend to be pious by sticking to a temple culture which is very fragile. They put on a tremendous act of dressing suitably with Vibhuthi all over and put on a show of participation in temple affairs and rituals but the moment they feel their ego is hurt, they walk out. Here as mentioned in earlier Para, groupism  works and they will not compromise on personal benefits or a false reputation/recognition that they may earn among the clan. The most alarming thing is that they know very little about the rituals or the mantras and the temple priest who invariably plays on the sentiments and emotions mainly with the women folk, makes the most benefits for himself. A Kumbhabhishekam is performed in a temple normally only if there is damage to the Idol or degradation of the Ashtabandham used for fixing the Idol which used to be over many years depending on the affordability but of late this has become a regular feature over a period of twelve years without any Vedic or Scriptural justification and the so called priests and vested interests in the community have to be blamed for this. Public funds are squandered to a high degree. Most of the temple Archakas do not chant Moola Mantra which is required for invoking the Divinity on daily basis. The Moola Mantra has to be imbibed from a suitable Guru through Upadesham and not by self. Most of the Brahmins are unaware of this and very little importance is attached to proper propitiation on a daily basis which actually renders a kumbhabhishekam or other rituals, periodic or daily, redundant. It is also clearly ordained in the Scriptures that depending on the presiding deity, the Vaikhanasa or Agama Sastras have to be followed and the Kumbhabhishekam can be performed only by Scholars in the respective Sastra but this is compromised due to personal and favoritism considerations, thus rendering the whole ritual ineffective. Another major wasteful public expenditure invariably resorted to is the elaborate sumptuous feast for every function under the guise of ANNA DHAANAM. A dhaanam has to be to a deserving and poor or starving person or else how is it construed as dhaanam? This needs a constructive introspection, thereby avoiding huge expense. The participation in any function will be very little if no sumptuous food is provided !!! There is also priestly clan who conducts the individual house rituals such as Sradhas,ayushya homam and such other bigger functions like marriages, upanayanam etc. It is a known fact that methods, procedures and even the connected mantras are not known to these Brahmins and the concerned priest. It is true that these priests also require a good life, good education for their children and such other worldly possessions and pleasures but the experience is that they simply exploit by playing on sentiments and their influence on individuals by charging exorbitant remuneration called Dakshina. In recent times a kind of Union mentality has dawned on these because they very well know that sentiments and fear play a major part and money can be extracted by emotional blackmail. They offer to conduct rituals and functions on turnkey basis. Similarly, cooks have also formed convenient groups who call themselves as event managers, offering to take up jobs on  turnkey basis at exorbitant costs. Thus through a kind of sentimental blackmail, and these Brahmins to project their false opulence, fall an easy prey, thereby only making the cook and the priest richer. The Kerala Brahmana Sabha was formed in seventies, the idea being, it as an organization to work for community social causes, upliftment etc and was to be disassociated from religious factors. The working of the Sabha for constraints discussed above is pathetic. There are,according to a reasonable estimate, a hundred thousand families in Palakkad District but the Sabha membership is roughly, a dismal two thousand. Each Brahmin, to quote John Kennedy, should ask of himself as to what he has done for the Sabha and society at large instead of complaining that the Sabha does nothing. Each one needs to introspect and support this organization wholeheartedly. It is certainly worthy to mention here that the Sabha runs a Higher Secondary School and an old age home. To conclude, if this community does not give up its ego, superstitions, groupism, Acharas of convenience and unify to pool their abilities through selflessness, positive forward thinking, financial resources etc, it will be needless, to mention here that the community will inflict upon itself irreparable harm, damage and disrepute. The community must strive unitedly for Government representations, for promoting  education, employment, medical facilities,  etc and for general upliftment. Already the Brahmin population is dwindling due to current economic situations and the fact that many youngsters opt for inter religious alliances; it is but certain that the community will destroy itself in the foreseeable future. This desire to opt for inter religious marriages is mainly due to economic considerations, rigid, unwanted and avoidable customs. “MAY WISER COUNSEL PREVAIL”.

K.M.Y.NARAYAN CSPURAM PALAKKAD Email prabha.narayan@gmail.com