Times were when, just after Saraswati Yamam¹, one could see the scantily clad Pattar² in a hurry to get to the Puzha Kadavu³, for his morning bath. Smearing of holy ash over his forehead, chest, hands and neck and off to the Gramam temple for a darshanam⁴ of his Ishta Devata⁵. Hours of pooja, before he could have his first morsel of food. The chanting of mantras reverberated through out the Agraharams.

No one adjective fits the Palakkad Iyer perfectly. He is a combination of various elements, has varied interests, which combines well with his Smartha⁶ roots. Palakkad Iyers are eternal travellers. History might have different versions of their arrival at Palakkad, a journey that began decades ago and still continues. Call it a Theerthadanam⁷ or a quest for lively hood, today the PI Diaspora is spread through out India and in many countries abroad. I wonder whether they were born with six chakras on their fingertips, like the Triloka Sanchari⁸.

The initial reception to the Chera⁹ land was not euphoric, but the travellers took to the new land of opportunities as truly theirs, and established 64 Agraharams¹⁰ over a period of time. They settled and founded the roots of a unique community that came to be known as ‘Palakkad Iyers’. Unique architectural layouts, with a mix of Tanjavur and Kerala styles, with rows of houses sharing a common wall, and their Gramam temples at two ends of the main street, rivaled the Illams¹¹, Mannas¹² and Tharavads¹³ of Namboodiri’s¹⁴ and Nairs¹⁵, who were the established communities in Kerala.

Over time the Palakkad Iyers developed a unique style of spoken language and cuisine. They imbibed the local Malayalam language to come up with a unique vani, the PI Bashai¹⁶. The cuisine too gracefully accepted the best of local ingredients, and the resulting amalgam was an eclectic Palakkad Iyer cuisine. With time the resilience and intellect of the ‘Pardeshi¹⁷ Brahmins’ were acknowledged by the people of Kerala. The saying ‘Pattaril Pottan Illa’¹⁸ still resonates in the Malayali mindset.

From priestly duties, they expanded their expertise to other trades like cooking, education and music. Study of Vedas was still a major academic pursuit, and a brigade of young pundits provided representation even at the highest Vedic debates and discussions in Kashi¹⁹.

Music to the Palakkad Iyers is like a second cousin. Many musicians have come from this land – Sangeetha Kalanidhis²⁰, who created a niche for themselves in the world of Carnatic Music.

Life was simple for this community as for other Indians, before the realities of a nation that was born, but plundered by the British, hit hard on individuals of society. The Kerala Land Reforms Acts, 1963²¹ did not help matters either. The ever resilient Palakkad Iyer, took to various trades, made sure English education was not sneered upon, and made the most of opportunities. When local jobs started drying up, the sojourner in them began looking for greener pastures.

Palakkad Iyers reached far shores of Bombay, Calcutta, and other regions of India, and adopted them as their Karmabhoomi²². The tumultuous political climate of the 60′s and 70′s, did not deter them. The humble Madrasi²³ intellect was highly sort after; they were the first choice for clerical and administrative jobs. The roots still firmly entrenched; they established their culture and language on foreign shores. Quest for knowledge, ensured that successive generations kept their sights on the ladders of progress. Palakkad Iyers priority was and is always education. The umbilical bond between the Janmabhoomi²³ and Karmabhoomi however remained unsevered; they still seek out the land that they once travelled to settle down, make their own.

This website is an attempt to create a platform for the Palakkad Iyers to come together. We endeavour to, give a glimpse of our traditional and cotemporary life-style; talk about our ancestry and history, through various articles topics of common interest[s] and hope to understand the new generation and its undercurrents while inculcating in them pride for the community. We need your best wishes in carrying this mission forward. We invite fellow Palakkad Iyers to make their contributions in making this site a meaningful portal of communication.

Please write to us at @iyers.palakkad@gmail.com

Saraswati Yamam¹ (the time before dawn)

Pattar² – Colloquial name for Palakkad Iyers in Kerala

Puzha Kadavu³ – River front used to take bath

Darshanam⁴ – auspicious viewing

Ishta Devata⁵ – favourite god

Smartha⁶- followers of Smarthism

Theerthadanam⁷ – Pilgrimage

Triloka Sanchari⁸- Traveller of 3 worlds

Chera⁹- Chera in South India is one of the most ancient ruling dynasties in India. Together with the Cholas and the Pandyas, they formed the three principle warring Tamil kingdoms in southern India. Reference: Wikipedia

Agraharams¹⁰ – Brahmin dwelling

Illams¹¹ – Palatial Houses of Namboothiries

Mannas¹² – Palatial Houses of Namboothiries

Tharavads¹³ – Palatial Houses of Nairs

Namboodiri’s¹⁴ – Kerala Brahmins

Nairs¹⁵ – Kerala Ksatriyas

Bashai¹⁶ – Language

‘Pardeshi¹⁷ – In reference to the Palakkad Iyers coming from outside Kerala

‘Pattaril Pottan Illa’¹⁸ – A Malayalam saying that means it is hard to find a stupid among Palakkad Iyers

Kashi¹⁹ – know also as Benaras, Varanasi

Sangeetha Kalanidhis²⁰ – Annual title awarded to an expert Carnatic Musician by the Madras Music Academy.

Kerala Land Reforms Acts, 1963²¹ – Reference http://india.gov.in/govt/documents/amendment/amend29.htm

Karmabhoomi²² – Land where one works.

Madrasi²³ – Colloquial name for south Indians

Janmabhoomi²³ – Land where one is born.