Chakyar

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Chakyar (also; Cakyar, Chakkiar, Chakiar, etc.) is an intermediate priestly caste coming under the Ambalavasi community of Hindus in the Kerala state of South India. The women in this caste are called Illotammas.

Mani Madhava Chakyar (1899 - 1990)- the doyen of Kutiyattam and Abhinaya (acting)

They occupy a position in the Hindu Temple in managing the affairs of the temple, though not the actual conduct of ceremonies. They are assigned with the holy temple ritualistic performance called Chakyar Koothu and Koodiyattam, which is the only surviving ancient Sanskrit theatre in India.

Chakyar is the main actor who performs the ritualistic Koothus and Koodiyattams inside the temple or in Koothambalams. Their women's- Illotammas are not allowed to participate in that. The women roles are done by ladies of Nambiar community called Nangyarammas. Nambiar plays the holy drum Mizhavu.

There were 18 Chakyar families throughout Kerala, but now their number is small. Mani family is one of them. The greatest Koodiyattam and Chakyar koothu exponent, Natyashastra scholar and world-renowned Guru, (late)Natyacharya Vidushakaratnam Padma Shri Mani Madhava Chakyar belonged to this family.

Chakyars preferred to associate themselves more with the Ambalavasis than what they considered the unequal status amongst the Namboothris.

See also

• Ammannur Madhava Chakyar
• Ammannur Rajaneesh Chakyar
• Mani Damodara Chakyar
• Mani Madhava Chakyar
• Painkulam Raman Chakyar

References

• Natyakalpadrumam, by Guru Mani Madhava Chakyar,1975.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Brahmins.

• Śāstrī, V. Venkatarāma Śarmā (1 January 1926). "Aj amila-Moksa-Prabandha of Narayana Bhatta". Bulletin of the School of Oriental Studies, University of London. 4 (2): 295–300. JSTOR 606843. 
• Shree Painkulam Raman Chakyar