Thampan

Thampan is the name of Kshatriya clan from the state of Kerala in India. Etymology The word Thampanot/Thampran is a contraction of the term Thampuran which is a corrupt version of the Sanskrit term Samrat and stands for Your Lordship. The title of Varma is sometimes affixed to the name of a Thampan. In Travancore, Thampans, along with the Thirumulpads form a part of the third tier of Royalty, after the Koil Thampurans who form the first tier and the Rajas who form the second tier. In North Malabar, most prominent of the Thampans are the sons of the Nileshwaram Rajahs, who form a part of the Kiryathil Nair caste. Some Deshavazhi syrian Christian families of central travancore region like Kunnumpurath family of Kottayam who were the chieftain family for the Chembakasseril Raja on the 15th century were bestowed the title of Thampan as performing kshatriya dharma.

Etymology

The word Thampanot/Thampran is a contraction of the term Thampuran which is a corrupt version of the Sanskrit term Samrat and stands for Your Lordship. The title of Varma is sometimes affixed to the name of a Thampan. In Travancore, Thampans, along with the Thirumulpads form a part of the third tier of Royalty, after the Koil Thampurans who form the first tier and the Rajas who form the second tier. In North Malabar, most prominent of the Thampans are the sons of the Nileshwaram Rajahs, who form a part of the Kiryathil Nair caste.

Occupation

The Thampans were once ruling classes but by the 17th century they became vassals to other kings – mainly the three large kingdoms of Travancore, Kochi and Kozhikode. They were the deshavazhi (Landlords) community in many parts of kerala until 20th century. Famous Kunjunni Varma Thampan (Kaipuzha Thampan) of Amanthur Kovilakam at Kaipuzha was a local ruler and landlord of the region, through him Pandya king (Later Pandalam royalty) established a full-fledged kingdom around c. 370 ME (1194 CE) by obtaining the land.

General customs

The customs of the Thampans are same like the Rajahs of Kerala. They are invested with the sacred thread at the age of sixteen and are allowed to recite the Gayatri incantation ten times, thrice a day. Birth and Death pollutions are observed for eleven days. Namboodiri Brahmins are the priests of the Thampans. The Thali Kettu Kalyanam ceremony for girls, which is the actual marriage ceremony, takes place between the ages of seven and fourteen and Brahmins of a class called Aryapattar tie the Thali while Vedic hymns are chanted by the Namboodiri Brahmins. Syrian Christian Thampans also performed sacred thread ceremony for boys at the age of 7 and only inherit the title to the eldermost son upon the death of father, which symbolises by the ring ceremony. These practices were very private and only immediate family will be present.

References

Nagam Aiya, V., Travancore State Manual Volume II under caste

Travancore State Manual Travancore Census Report, 1901

Further reading

• Nagam Aiya, V., Travancore State Manual Volume II under caste
• Travancore State Manual Travancore Census Report, 1901