Extracts

Extracts from William Logan (1887) Malabar Manual, Vol-I

Of the East coast or Paradesi Brahmins, it is unnecessary to say much as they differ in no respect ordinary east coast Brahmins. They are calleThey are called PATTARS, a transformation of the Sanskrit word Bhattar. They engage in trade and agriculture and in domestic and other services. In former times they were used as confidential messengers and spies. One class of them are styled as Choliya or Aryapattars and instead of wearing the top knot of hair (Kudumi) on the back of their head as other east coast Brahmins, these wear it on the top of their head like Namboothiris.
The great Pattar settlements in Malabar lie in Palakkad Taluk, a taluk that if ever was occupied by Namboothiris for a long time past has been deserted by them. The Pattars live in gramam or villages, the houses being arranged in rows and streets like those of the east coast villages.

Differences between Malabar Brahmins and Pattars

Another distinguishing feature of Namboothiris and Pattars is Smartha Vicharam. In this trial (Smartha) a women suspected to be guilty of light conduct is under pain of excommunication from Namboothiri fold. Pattars do not have such trials. When the trial is finished a night is set apart for pronouncing sentence or as it is called " for delivering the true figure frame or aspect of the matter." It takes place in the presence of local chieftain. The Smartha winds up with the statement that "Kutti-Pattar or boy pattar or servant pattar will name the adulterer or adulterers.There upon the servant comes forward steps on to a low stool and proclaims the name or names.
A man of the pattar caste invariably performs this duty. It is essential that the man who does it should himself be a Brahmin as no Namboothiri or Embrandiri would do it for love or money.
A needy Pattar is found and paid handsomely for doing it. Directly after he has performed the duty he proceeds to the nearest piece of water, there to immerse his whole body and wash away the sin he has committed. (pp 128)

Extracts from Sri K P Padmanabha Menon History of Kerala- Appendix Letters from Malabar by Vrischer

The Pattars, who are many thousands in number, are Brahmins dwelling among and beyond the mountain range. Their native countries the districts round Tuticorin, Coromandel, Madurai and their neighborhood. They held themselves higher than Malabar Brahmins and Namboothiris, who they say sprang from fisherman elevated to Brahminical dignity by Parusuraman. The Pattars take no share in the administration of government in Malabar, being regarded as foreigners although they spend 3-4 hundred years in the coast. Their occupation consists in trading and the conveyance of commodities in to the interior. They do not deal with the company or other Europeans, but with the Canarese, Moors and Jews whose goods they buy. They have rented factories for trading purposes at Quilon, Kochi, Trichur Ponnani and Calicut where they posses also magazines. The Rajah of Malabar have granted them certain commercial privileges to Pattars (Letter XXII).

The first is the exemption to a great degree from customs. They pay only half the duty for loads that they carry on their heads and nothing for those that they carry on their backs so that we generally see them laden with two packages. They are restricted themselves to such goods as they can carry themselves over land. Their second privilege is an allowance of food gratis at any Pagoda (Ootu pura or way side eatery) they visit so long as they remain there. In return for this, they are bound to sweep and clean the building when required. They enjoy the same privilege at the courts of several Rajahs where they appear in great numbers in festival days and take the opportunity to eat voraciously. (On these occasions they receive also a few panams -gold coins)

The Pattars trace the date of their first congregation to the period of earliest Kshatriya princes. The first outstanding person we hear among those who had come from the east coast is Uddanda Sastrigal. His period can be correctly fixed for he was a friend of Chennas Namboothiri to whose Tantra Samuchayam he contributed as a bond of friendship a Store in description of the bath after sacrificial avaohratha snanam. That work gives the kali year of composition, which is 4528, which corresponds to ME 602 and AD 1427.

Pattars build their own houses contiguously to one another in straight lines. They form themselves in to Samoohams. These Samooham madams (body of Pattars) have generally common funds replenished by the contributions made by the community.

Their object is only to accumulate as much wealth as possible with which to retire to their families by whom they are rarely accompanied. They do not generally build their houses in the country but manage to get a room in a Nair house and more often ally themselves in the sambandam with the female members of the Nair family who out of their superstitious reverence to their sacred order minister to them without stint. Thus they live enjoying all the comforts of life, till they are able to accumulate some wealth which being accomplished they coolly retire to their own country caring little for the offspring they may be leaving behind.

The pattar is found in every walk of life and he makes his presence felt by his superior intelligence, application and industry. They are the Sowcars of Malabar. But as merchants and moneylenders their reputation has not been all together enviable. Even under Nairs they serve as cooks. (refers to 15th century) . Later Brahmins rose to higher posts in government. The celebrated Rama Ayyan Dalawai (the General Ram mentioned by Col.Wilkins) who worked so admirably with the famous Travancore King Marthanda Verma in restructuring, unifying and consolidating the state belonged to Pattar Brahmins.

Source Courtesy: Sri V R Venkiteswaran, Trivandrum.