Mannadiyar

Mannadiyar (or Mannadiar) is a Malayalam speaking Hindu forward caste from Palakkad region of Kerala state. Majority of Mannadiars are land owners, agriculture being their traditional occupation, ranging from farmers to big feudal landlords (Janmis). The house (Tharavad) of Mannadiars are called "Mannattu" like illams for Namboothiris. Related castes of Mannadiar are Guptan, Pathukudi (also known as "Dashagotram" or "Pathu Madom") and Tharakan. Mannadiar belongs to Kshatriyas sub Group, like Kaimal and Kartha which occupies second position in the Indian Caste system. Also the Caste is identified as a Sub Caste of Nair, as Kiriyathil Kiryathil Nair )

Manadiar is an honorofic title possessed by ancient landlords. The word is rooted from Mun or Mannu (earth) and Nediyavars or udayors (lords, Jenmi or earners) clubbed to form Mannadiars.

Mannadiyar was a title used to be awarded to the eldest member of each family by the ruling head. The title holders were entitled to certain previleges. When the practice of awarding the title became a story of the past, even the younger members began to use the surname Mannadiar, by time.

connoting some sort of connection with the Tamil aristocracy of the neighbouring (presently Pollachi) taluk.

Male members are identified by their family (Tharavad) name and female members migrate to their husbands' family after marriage and keep the husband's family name except a few families practice matrilenial hierarchy like Nairs. The practice of using title "Guptan and Tharakan" is normally seen after middle age. Married female members were earlier addressed as "Akathaal" (in short as "Akathaal" - means the person especially lady lives inside the house) and with the time, the suffix transformed to "Ammal" and later to Amma and Mannadiar. Also as a sign of respect, male members are addressed as "Mannattappan" and female members as "Mannattamma" (from Dravidian Mannadi : Immigrant land owners in Palakkad and Dravidian appan meaning father). In some Mannadiyar families who are matrilenial, especially, Panikkath Tharavad the female members are called "Maruvulamma". This section were so intermixed with Nairs as not to be distinguished from them except when a Tiyyan addresses them and respectfully gives them the appellation Mannadiyar, instead of Nayar

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