Chakkala Nair

Chakkala Nair, also known as Vattakkat Nair,^[1] and Vaniya Nair^[2][3] is one of the intermediate subcastes^[4][5][6] of the Nair community. They are distributed throughout Kerala. In Travancore, they are known as Chakkala, while in Cochin and Malabar they are Vattakattu^[7] and In the extreme north of Malabar they are called Vaniyar.^[8][3]

The Chakkala Nairs traditionally engaged in the hereditary occupations of oil trading and village teaching^[9][10].In addition to these roles, they were also trained as soldiers, and when conflict arose, they were duty-bound to abandon their usual occupations, arm themselves, and serve their respective kings in battle.^[11]

Vattakattu Nairs^[6] is a Forward caste and are now part of the mainstream Nair caste,^[12][13][6] while vaniya nairs and chakkala nairs were recently added to the central OBC category and get a minimal reservation of 3% sharing with 70 other castes on a rotational basis.

It was the duty of Peru Vaniyan Nambiar^[14][15] section among Vaniya nairs in Kurumbranad to present the Kurumbranad Raja with oil on the occasion of his formal installation.^[16]

Vattakkat Nairs were the hereditary Velichappadu of traditional Nambudiri-led Bhagavathi Temples in Kerala^[17] and even held priesthood roles in some temples, such as the famous Kadakkal Devi Temple, where a Chakkala Nair with the title Nettur Kurup serves as the head priest.^[18]

Muchilot Bhagavthi is the patron deity of Vaniya Nairs and the community serve as the custodian of 108 Muchilot Bhagavathi temples^[19] spread across North Malabar from Tulu Nadu to Kozhikode resembling the 108 Shiva Temples mentioned in the Shivalaya Stothram. It is believed that Bhagavathi first manifested herself to Muchilot PadaNair, a chieftain of Mushika dynasty from the Vaniya nair sect.^[20][21]

According to eminent scholars Thunchaththu Ezhuthachan was born in a Chakkala Nair family of Thrikkandiyoor Amsam in Vettathunadu.^[22]

Historically, the Chakkala Nair community fostered inter-religious harmony by engaging with various groups, including the Jacobite Syrian Church. A notable example of this is during the Saint Baselios Yeldo festival day, when a Chakkala Nair youth would carry the church's traditional lamp, leading the 'Rassa'—the customary church procession—to the church, symbolizing unity and mutual respect.^[23][24]

See also

• chettiar
• Pallicchan Nair
• Swaroopathil Nair
• Nambiar (Nair subcaste)
• Padamangalam Nair