Kurukkal in the context of Samantha Kshatriya

⭐ Core Definition: Kurukkal

The Kurukkal, also known as Gurukkal are an Ambalavasi caste of Tamil origin. Originally a patrilineal community found in Travancore and Malabar region of present-day Kerala, whose traditional function was that of temple servants, they became matrilineal towards the end of the 18th century under the influence of Nair caste. Their rank lies below the Nambudhiri, Varma, Pillai, Sacred thread wearing Ambalavasi castes of Travancore and Malabar. Kurukkal women had hypergamous marriages with higher caste men of Travancore and Kurukkal men struck similar relationships with women from the matrilineal Maran caste.

The community's position in the Hindu ritual ranking system known as varna is disputed. In Kerala, they generally claim to be Tamil Iyer Brahmins and Ambalavasi caste.

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Kurukkal in the context of Pushpaka Brahmins

Pushpaka is a generic term that refers to a group of certain Hindu Ambalavasi castes in Kerala.

The term Pushpaka applies primarily to a caste known itself as Pushpaka (or Pushpakan Unni) in South Kerala (Travancore). Pushpakas were assigned the job of tending flowers and making garlands in the Hindu temples. They were also given rights to teach sacred texts including Sanskrit language in the Pathasalas associated with Hindu temples in Central and North Kerala. They are often referred to as Pushpakas owing to their cultural similarity with Pushpakas in South Kerala. In addition to these two castes, the term Pushpaka, in a wider sense, applies to certain other Ambalavasi castes like Theeyatt Unnis, Kurukkals, Puppallis, Plappallis, Nambidis, Nambeesans and Daivampadis. All these castes are associated with temple related jobs who render services to the temple and have many socio-cultural similarities.

View the full Wikipedia page for Pushpaka Brahmins

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