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<hr />
<div>[[Image:Nasrani menorah.JPG|thumbnail|left|125px|The [[Nasrani Menorah|Nasrani Menorah]] also known as the Mar Thoma sliba]]<br />
<br />
{{Ethnic group<br />
|group=Knanaya<br />
<br />
<gallery><br />
Image:Knai_Tho.jpg|Knai Thoma<br />
</gallery><br />
|poptime=2001: (approx) '''252,600'''<br />
|popplace=<span style="font-size:105%;">'''Majority Population:'''<br />
{{IND}} <br><br />
'''Significant Populations:'''<br><br />
{{USA}}<br><br />
{{GBR}}<br><br />
|langs=[[Malayalam]], [[English language|English]].<br />
|rels= Majority: Syrian Jacobites, Syrian Catholics. Some Protestants. <br />
|related=<br />
*[[Saint Thomas Christians]]<br />
*[[Nasrani]]<br />
*[[Syrian Malabar Nasrani]]<br />
*[[Jewish Christians]] <br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''Knanaya''' (Heb:קנאים, Malayalam: ക്നാനായ), literally meaning "Knai people", are a group of [[endogamous]] Christians from [[Kerala]], [[India]].<ref name = Menachery>Menachery G. 1973, 1998; Vellian Jacob 2001; Weil,S. 1982; Podipara, Placid J. 1970</ref> Their heritage and culture is syriac-[[Keralite]], their language [[Malayalam]]. <ref name = Menachery>Menachery G. 1973, 1998; Vellian Jacob 2001; Weil,S. 1982; Podipara, Placid J. 1970</ref> Their loyalties are with the [[Syrian Malabar Nasrani|Nasrani]] community of [[Syriac Christian]]s from Kerala. <ref name = Menachery>Menachery G. 1973, 1998; Vellian Jacob 2001; Weil,S. 1982; Podipara, Placid J. 1970</ref><br />
<br />
==Early History==<br />
<br />
In the year 345 A.D., Knai Thoma, a rich merchant, and 72 families from Edessa (or modern Urfa), immigrated to Malabar (presently Kerala) and established their colony. In the group there were also priests, deacons and their bishop, Uraha Mor Ouseph (Bishop Joseph of Uraha/Urfa). Knai Thoma and his people were welcomed by Cheraman Perumal, the Emperor of Kerala, and were given permission to settle down in Kodungalloor. They built a town in Kodungalloor with a church and 72 houses. The name "Kodungallur" is supposed to originate from "An Ur of a Kodi Lingams or Town of a thousand Shiva lingams". It is also known as "Mahadevar Pattanam" meaning "town of Lord Mahadeva or Shiva".<br />
<br />
K’naneans (Cananaean according to the Gospel of Luke) are a very distinct ethnic and religious group whose ancestry traces back to Abraham, the Patriarch of the Old Testament. The Israelites became slaves in Egypt and God delivered them through Moses. He gave Moses the Ten Commandments and the Holy Laws so as to administer to the needs of the community to lead a very prosperous, religious and civilized life in the land of Canaan. In celebration for having received the Holy Constitution, Moses built a sacrificial altar out of 12 stones and celebrated Mass in honour of God with an animal sacrifice. In order to preserve the sacred constitution, he appointed 72 elders to memorise the Laws and to ensure its preservation and interpretation on behalf of the entire community. He appointed Judges to enforce the Divine Laws while dealing with issues facing the people. He appointed Aaron as the High Priest and the descendants of Levi (Levites) to assist Aaron in the preservation of the sacred scrolls, vessels and other Holy equipments used during the worship of the Almighty. Phinehas, the grandson of Aaron showed his zeal for the Divine Laws during a period of crisis when the Faith of the Israelites were put to test by Balaam. Pleased with his display of zealousness, the Almighty Lord blessed Phinehas and his descendents with an eternal pledge of High Priesthood, just as he was to later bless David and his Descendants with eternal Lordship over the Israelites. The zeal of Phinehas was the inspiration of the later day Zealots (Q'nanaya in Aramaic) beginning with the Maccabean Dynasty in 186 BC.<br />
<br />
Twenty years after the Nicean Council (synod), Knai (or Q'nai) Thoma, an influential merchant from Cana, brought a colony of 400 Syrian Christians consisting of 72 families belonging to 7 clans with instructions from the Bishop of Antioch (Antioch had not been declared a Patriarchate then), Mor Eusthathius, to the Malabar coast of India. The group included men, women, children, priests, deacons and their bishop Mor Joseph of Urfa (Uraha/Edessa). The names of the seven clans, according to Mr. E M Philip, were: Bagi, Belkuth, Hadai, Kujalik, Koja, Mugmuth, and Thegmuth. The legend is that Mor Joseph had a startling dream (vision) in which he saw the plight of the Christian church in Malabar established by St. Thomas, the Apostle, in the 1st Century. Meanwhile, Knai Thoma, who frequented the shores of Kodungallur in search of spices and other Indian wealth to be exported back to the World trade ports of Baghdad and Egypt, noticed on the shores of Kodungallur, local men who carried on their bare trunk, crosses to mark their religious beliefs. But they were not of high disposition as they were subjected to persecution by their chaste brethren in lieu of their belief in an unknown and unseen God. Thomas interviewed them and found that they were the descendants of formerly high ranking brahmin families who had accepted the way of the cross as preached by St. Thomas between 52 – 72 AD. He also learnt that the Saint was martyred at the Corromandel coast and they took him along on their annual pilgrimage to Malayattoor and from thence to Mylapore. From them, he learnt that St. Thomas had preached the Word of God in Hebrew and his first converts/disciples were about 500 Jews in Kodungallur, who were well versed in the semitic language of Aramaic as well as could converse in the local dialect of that period with the natives. But after the martyrdom of the Saint, they became orphaned for want of a spiritual guide who could nourish the fledgling Nazarene community.<br />
<br />
Mor Joseph (known as Aithlaha according to the Edessene Scrolls) became the Bishop of Edessa in 324 AD, a year before the Synod of Nicea. Mor Aithlaha had the fortune to complete the Eastern side of the Church of Edessa as well as made a cemetery for the Church (the first recorded cemetery for the Christians according to historical records). The original Church of Edessa, the Church of St. Thomas, built around the time he left for India in 52 AD, had been washed away in a great flood in 203 AD during the reign of King Abgar. A second flood washed through Edessa and laid it waste in 303 AD. Ten years later, the foundations of a new Church was laid at Edessa and that was completed in the days of Mor Aithlaha. He took Knai Thoma to the Catholicos of Selucia – Steciphon (modern Baghdad) who was his spiritual superior and who was given temporal power by the Bishop of Antioch to administer to the churches of the Far East. Mor Eustathius was the Bishop of Antioch during this period.<br />
<br />
Mor Eustathius, who was Bishop of Berœa in Syria, was transferred to Antioch in 324 AD. He was one of the most prominent opponents of Arianism at the Council of Nicæa in 325 AD and from 325 – 330 he was engaged in a continuous literary warfare against the Arians. He was supported by Mor Ethalaha, the Bishop of Edessa who too attended the Synod. By his fearless denunciation of Arianism and his refusal to engage any Arian priests in his diocese, he incurred the hatred of the Arians, who, headed by Eusebius of Cæsarea and his namesake of Nicomedia, held a synod at Antioch in 331 AD at which Mor Eustathius was accused of Sabellianism, incontinency, cruelty, and other crimes. He was deposed by the synod and banished to Trajanopolis in Thrace by order of the Emperor Constantine. The people of Antioch, who loved and revered their holy and learned Patriarch, became indignant at the injustice done to him and were ready to take up arms in his defence. But Mor Eustathius kept them in check, exhorted them to remain true to the orthodox faith and humbly left for his place of exile, accompanied by a large body of his clergy. The adherents of Mor Eustathius at Antioch formed a separate community by the name of Eustathians and refused to acknowledge the bishops set over them by the Arians. The knanaya zealots of Edessa, led by their Bishop, Mor Joseph (Aithlaha), too were Eustathians, and so when Mor Eustathius was excommunicated, they took a vow never to fall prey to the Arian heresy and their propagandists, which included even the highly placed Bishops who had conducted the Synod at Nicæa.<br />
<br />
It was during this period that Thomas of Cana reported the status of the St. Thomas Nazarenes of India to his Bishop. So they consulted with Mor Eustathius and took his blessings to prepare themselves to migrate to India to serve the cause of the St. Thomas converts of India. In 345 AD, Knai Thomas and Mor Joseph (Aithlaha) left Edessa and Aithlaha was succeeded by Mor Abraham. (This succession has been documented in the Edessene Chronicles, which has been preserved and translated by Scholars today). In 373 AD, Edessa was run over by the Arians and the Eustathians had to leave Edessa because of the persecutions of the Arians. Five years later, the Orthodox Christians reclaimed the Church of Edessa. In 393 AD, the coffin (glossocom) of St. Thomas containing the remaining relics was brought to Edessa from India, and placed in the Church built in his name in the days of Mor Cyrus, the Bishop.<br />
<br />
==The Migration==<br />
The 72 Knanaya zealot families led by Thomas and Mor Joseph landed in Kodungalloor (Crangannoore) in 345 AD. Knai Thoma and his group sailed in three ships. The leading ship called "Babylonia" had three masts. The main mast flew King David's flag, the second mast flew the Roman flag with the cross, and the third flew the Edessene flag. Knai Thoma and his people were heartily welcomed by Cheraman Perumal, the Emperor. Cheraman Perumal sent his brother, Ramavarma, and his minister, Vettathu Mannan, to receive Knai Thoma and his people. Knai Thoma and his people were given permission to settle down in Kodungalloor and to do business. Later Cheraman Perumal bestowed Knai Thoma and his people with 72 princely privileges and thereby elevated them over 17 castes. This proclamation was made on a Saturday in March (Kumbham 29), 345 and it was recorded on copper plates given to Knai Thoma (known later as the 'Knai Thomman Cheppedu'). Knai Thoma and his people built a town in Kodungalloor with a church and 72 houses. The place awarded to the immigrants was at "Mahadevar Pattanam" meaning "Town of Lord Shiva and Parvathi". They were also called Southists (Thekkumbhagar) because they lived on the south side of the Kodungalloor Mahadevar Temple. The St. Thomas Christians (native Christians of Kerala) lived on the northern side of this Syrian settlement and served their Syrian masters. They were liberated from the strictly enforced caste system by payment of money to the caste Brahmins as compensation for their spritual liberation and they consisted of converted Hindus from various caste levels of the Hindu society. They were unified under the singular label of Vadakkumbhagor and were not permitted to identify with their former religion or caste.<br />
<br />
==Jewish Traditions==<br />
Knananites did not intermarry with native Christians and maintained their endogamous Jewish tradition originating from Abraham. To this day, the Knananites continue as an endogamous community. Striking similarities exist between Knanaya Nasranis and the Cochin Jews. Both groups were granted 72 privileges by the ruling Cheraman Perumals. Copper plates given to the Jews (kept in the Mattancherry Synagogue) were handed to Joseph Rabban just as Knai Thoma was given similar copper plates during the fourth century. Both groups are endogamous. The similarities between these two groups were brought out in a research done by Dr. Shalva Weil, an Anthropologistand senior researcher from the NCJW Research Institute for Innovation in Education, Hebrew University in 1982 titled “Symmetry between Christians and Jews in India: the Cnanite Christians and the Cochin Jews of Kerala,” – Contributions to Indian Sociology, Vol. 16, No. 2: 175-196.<br />
<br />
==19th and 20th Century==<br />
During the 18th and 19th centuries, Syrian Christians became involved in several internal conflicts. One of the major disputes was regarding the ownership of funds and its interest bestowed upon the Ancient Syrian Church by the British (known also as Vattippanam). After years of legal battle, the Court, declared that the group led by Mor Dionysus Joseph Pulikkottil, the Malankara Metropolitan, being the original Syrian Church, and hence they became the beneficiary of the funds. The person who helped Mor Dionysus win this renowned court battle was Edavazhickal Pothachan (E. M. Philip). His dedication to the cause of the Syrian Church won him the title "Nasrani Simham" meaning Lion of the Nazarenes.<br />
<br />
On January 21 (Makaram 8), 1882, with the blessings of Mor Joseph Pulikkottil, eleven Knanaya priests assembled at St. Stephen's Knanaya Church, Veliyanad, and formed an organization called "Malankara Jacobite Syrian Knanaya Committee". The meeting unanimously elected Mr. E. M. Philip Edavazhickal as the secretary and Uthuppan Thomma Puthenpurackal (Vazhayil) as the treasurer. The formation of this Knanaya Committee was a significant turning point in the Knanaya history. The Knanaya Committee codified rules and guidelines for the administration of the nine Knanaya churches which existed as of that date. Further, the Knanaya Committee was instrumental in bringing together the Knananites spread from Ramamangalam to Ranny based on their endogamous nature. In 1910, upon the Knanaya Committee's request, Patriarch Ignatius Abdulla created a Knanaya Diocese with personal jurisdiction considering their ethnic background (i.e., all Knananites and their churches, irrespective of location, will be administered by the Knanaya Diocese). On August 31, 1910, the Patriarch ordained Fr. Geevarghese Edavazhickal (Mar Severious) as the first Knanaya Bishop.<br />
<br />
The Knanaya Diocese which started with 9 churches now has 107 churches spread all over the world.<br />
<br />
==Persecution by Portuguese==<br />
{{main|Portuguese Inquisition}}<br />
The ''Nasranis'', who were, until then, the "living fossils" of the Christian tradition, lost their very defining ethos.<ref name= "CBuchanan>Claudius Buchanan, 1811</ref> The only Nasranis who managed to preserve some elements of their earlier origin were the Knanaya people, because of their tradition of being [[endogamy|endogamous]] within their own community and therefore preserving their tradition.<ref name= "Poomangalam">Weil, S. 1982; Jessay, P.M. 1986 Vellian Jacob 2001; Poomangalam C.A 1998</ref> An Imperial Order was passed to confiscate and sell under public auction the properties of those who celebrated Passover. It was perhaps because of this Order that the Knanaites celebrate Passover in a very private manner without inviting any Christian friend for sharing the Holy Meal.<ref>http://knanaya.weebly.com/who-is-a-knanaite.html</ref><br />
<br />
==Contemporary Knanaya==<br />
<br />
[[Image:Kottayam Valia Palli02.jpg|thumb|300px|left|Inside a Knanaya Church in Thazhathangadi, Kottayam]]<ref name = Koder>Weil,S. 1982; Jessay, P.M. 1986; Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Thomas Puthiakunnel 1973; Vellian Jacob 2001; Koder S. 1973; Vellian, J 1988</ref> Kna people are strictly endagamous and no one may convert to join the Kna people although marrying out is an increasing concern for the community. The Knanaya and other Nasranis as a whole maintained close relationship with the Jews of Kerala, (known today as [[Cochin Jews]]) until the [[Portugal|Portuguese]] inquisition of the Jews and Nasranis in the early 1500s. <ref name = Koder>Weil,S. 1982; Jessay, P.M. 1986; Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Thomas Puthiakunnel 1973; Vellian Jacob 2001; Koder S. 1973; Vellian, J 1988</ref> Kna people are also the victims of increasing missionary efforts not only from Protestant groups ecouraging them to give up on their Syrian-Christian customs and traditions, but also from some Jewish groups. They descend from 72 priestly families descended from the same [[desposyni]] that Thomas Jude belonged to. the number 72 has a significance for the 72 nations of the world and each of the 72 families have their own unique family rule. <br />
<br />
Although grape produce is now consumed as a result of Portuguese influence, this was originally not the case among the Knanaya people. The tradition is preserved in the consumption of ''Pesaha pal'' (passover coconut milk) instead of wine on the night of [[passover]] along with ''Pesaha-appam'' (unleavened passover bread). <ref name = Koder>Weil,S. 1982; Jessay, P.M. 1986; Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Thomas Puthiakunnel 1973; Vellian Jacob 2001; Koder S. 1973; Vellian, J 1988</ref> . This tradition of ''Pesaha appam'' is observed by the entire Nasrani people till this day. <ref name = Koder>Weil,S. 1982; Jessay, P.M. 1986; Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Thomas Puthiakunnel 1973; Vellian Jacob 2001; Koder S. 1973; Vellian, J 1988</ref> The bridal canopy or nuppah is part of the Knanaya wedding ceremony and there is aceremonial bathing on the eve of the wedding that is parallel to the Jewish mikrah. The dead are buried facing the east to Jerusalem. <ref name = Koder>Weil,S. 1982; Jessay, P.M. 1986; Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Thomas Puthiakunnel 1973; Vellian Jacob 2001; Koder S. 1973; Vellian, J 1988</ref> Thanksgiving blessings which the Knanaya people use which follow the Hebrew formula, Birkat HaMazon ברוך אתה ה' א‑לוהינו מלך העולם, המוציא לחם מן הארץ when initiating a Eucharistic Mass.<br />
<br />
==Knanaya community at present==<br />
The first belonging to the [[Syriac Orthodox Church]] in India and second to the [[Syro-Malabar Catholic Church]]. <ref name = Weil>Weil, S. 1982; Jessay, P.M. 1986; Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Vellian Jacob 2001</ref>. Knanaya are very much conscious about their origin and up until today safeguard their ethnic character by marrying people from within the community regardless of rite. A Knanaya Syriac Orthodox diocese, established in 1910, is administered by an [[archbishop]] who reports directly to the Patriarch of Antioch of the [[Syrian Orthodox Church]]. The Knanaya Catholics have been acknowledged by the [[Holy See|Vatican]] under [[Pope Pius X]], by instituting in 1911 a diocese only for the Syrian-catholic of Kerala. <ref name = Weil>Weil, S. 1982; Jessay, P.M. 1986; Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Vellian Jacob 2001</ref> This diocese is called the ''Arch Diocese of Kottayam'' and is in the district of [[Kottayam]] in Kerala. <ref name = Weil>Weil, S. 1982; Jessay, P.M. 1986; Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Vellian Jacob 2001</ref><br />
<br />
The approximate population of Knanaya people as of 2001: (divided by different denominations)<br />
<br />
*''Knanaya Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Christians'': 100,000<br />
*''Knanaya Syrian Malabar Catholic Christians'': 140,000<br />
In all over 250,000 Knanayas continue in the ancient [[Hebrews|Hebrew]]-Christian tradition.<br />
<br />
==See also==<br />
* [[Cochin Jews]]<br />
* [[Kanahi]]<br />
* [[Kenites]]<br />
* [[Masada]]<br />
* [[Saint Thomas Christians]]<br />
* [[Syrian Malabar Nasrani]]<br />
* [[Zealots]]<br />
* [[Syro-Malabar Catholic Church]]<br />
<br />
==Notes==<br />
{{reflist}}<br />
<br />
==References==<br />
* Menachery, G. (1973) ''The St. Thomas Christian Encyclopedia of India'', Ed. George Menachery, B.N.K. Press, vol. 2, ISBN 81-87132-06-X, Lib. Cong. Cat. Card. No. 73-905568 ; B.N.K. Press<br />
* Vellian, Jacob (2001) ''Knanite community: History and culture''; Syrian church series; vol.XVII; Jyothi Book House, Kottayam<br />
* "In Universi Cristiani" (Latin Text of the Papal erection of the Knanaya Diocese of Kottayam)<br />
* Puthiakunnel, Thomas. (1973) "Jewish colonies of India paved the way for St. Thomas", ''The Saint Thomas Christian Encyclopedia of India'', ed. George Menachery, Vol. II., Trichur.<br />
* Koder, S. (1973) "History of the Jews of Kerala".''The St. Thomas Christian Encyclopaedia of India'',Ed. G. Menachery.<br />
* Vellian, J (1988) Marriage Customs of the Knanites, Christian Orient, 9, Kottayam.<br />
* Weil, S. (1982) "Symmetry between Christians and Jews in India: The Cananite Christians and Cochin Jews in Kerala. in Contributions to Indian Sociology, 16.<br />
* Jessay, P.M. (1986) "The Wedding Songs of the Cochin Jews and of the Knanite Christians of Kerala: A Study in Comparison." Symposium.<br />
* James Hough (1893) "The History of Christianity in India".<br />
* Menachery, G (ed); (1998) "The Indian Church History Classics", Vol.I, ''The Nazranies'', Ollur, 1998. [ISBN 81-87133-05-8].<br />
* Poomangalam, C.A. (1998) ''The Antiquities of the Knanaya Syrian Christians''; Kottayam, Kerala.<br />
* Podipara, Placid J. (1970) "The Thomas Christians". London: Darton, Longman and Tidd.<br />
<br />
==External links==<br />
*[http://www.knanayadiocese.com/ Official Site]<br />
*[http://www.knanayavaliyapally.com/ St. Jacob's Knanaya Valiyapalli, Ramamangalam, Kerala, India]<br />
*[http://www.stjohnsputhenpally.org/ St. Johns Puthenpally Chingavanam, Kerala, India]<br />
*[http://www.stthomasnj.org/ St. Thomas Syrian Orthodox Knanaya Church, New Jersey, US]<br />
*[http://www.stthomasknanayachurch.org St. Thomas Syrian Orthodox Knanaya Church, Irving, Texas, US]<br />
*[http://www.stpetersknanaya.org/ St. Peter's Knanaya Church, New York, US]<br />
*[http://knanayayouth.com/ St. Mary's Knanya Jacobite Church, Chicago, US]<br />
*[http://knanayachurchtoronto.com/ St. Ignatious Knanaya Jacobite Church, Toronto, Canada]<br />
*[http://www.edmontonknanayachurch.org The Church of Knanaites in Edmonton, Canada]<br />
*[http://www.knanayagulf.com/Churches.aspx St.Mary's Knanaya Church, Sharjah]<br />
*[http://www.knanayagulf.com/Churches.aspx Mor Gregorios Knanaya Church, Abu Dhabi]<br />
*[http://www.knanaya.net Knanaya finder]<br />
*[http://www.knaconvention.com Knanaya Jacobite Annual Convention]<br />
*[http://www.indianchristianity.com Indian Christianity]<br />
*[http://www.kottayamad.org/ Archdiocese of Kottayam]<br />
<br />
<br />
[[Category:Archdiocese of Changanassery]]<br />
[[Category:Kerala society]]<br />
[[Category:Knanaya Community| ]]<br />
[[Category:Malayali people]]<br />
[[Category:Saint Thomas Christians]]<br />
[[Category:Syro-Malabar Catholic Church]]<br />
[[Category:Jewish ethnic groups]]<br />
[[Category:Jewish Christians]]<br />
[[Category:Semitic peoples]]<br />
<br />
[[de:Knananiten]]<br />
[[fr:Knanayas]]<br />
[[mk:Кнанаја]]</div>Zubinrajhttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Knanaya&diff=263136761Knanaya2009-01-10T07:19:54Z<p>Zubinraj: /* External links */</p>
<hr />
<div>[[Image:Nasrani menorah.JPG|thumbnail|left|125px|The [[Nasrani Menorah|Nasrani Menorah]] also known as the Mar Thoma sliba]]<br />
<br />
{{Ethnic group<br />
|group=Knanaya<br />
<br />
<gallery><br />
Image:Knai_Tho.jpg|Knai Thoma<br />
</gallery><br />
|poptime=2001: (approx) '''252,600'''<br />
|popplace=<span style="font-size:105%;">'''Majority Population:'''<br />
{{IND}} <br><br />
'''Significant Populations:'''<br><br />
{{USA}}<br><br />
{{GBR}}<br><br />
|langs=[[Malayalam]], [[English language|English]].<br />
|rels= Majority: Syrian Jacobites, Syrian Catholics. Some Protestants. <br />
|related=<br />
*[[Saint Thomas Christians]]<br />
*[[Nasrani]]<br />
*[[Syrian Malabar Nasrani]]<br />
*[[Jewish Christians]] <br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''Knanaya''' (Heb:קנאים, Malayalam: ക്നാനായ), literally meaning "Knai people", are a group of [[endogamous]] Christians from [[Kerala]], [[India]].<ref name = Menachery>Menachery G. 1973, 1998; Vellian Jacob 2001; Weil,S. 1982; Podipara, Placid J. 1970</ref> Their heritage and culture is syriac-[[Keralite]], their language [[Malayalam]]. <ref name = Menachery>Menachery G. 1973, 1998; Vellian Jacob 2001; Weil,S. 1982; Podipara, Placid J. 1970</ref> Their loyalties are with the [[Syrian Malabar Nasrani|Nasrani]] community of [[Syriac Christian]]s from Kerala. <ref name = Menachery>Menachery G. 1973, 1998; Vellian Jacob 2001; Weil,S. 1982; Podipara, Placid J. 1970</ref><br />
<br />
==Early History==<br />
<br />
In the year 345 A.D., Knai Thoma, a rich merchant, and 72 families from Edessa (or modern Urfa), immigrated to Malabar (presently Kerala) and established their colony. In the group there were also priests, deacons and their bishop, Uraha Mor Ouseph (Bishop Joseph of Uraha/Urfa). Knai Thoma and his people were welcomed by Cheraman Perumal, the Emperor of Kerala, and were given permission to settle down in Kodungalloor. They built a town in Kodungalloor with a church and 72 houses. The name "Kodungallur" is supposed to originate from "An Ur of a Kodi Lingams or Town of a thousand Shiva lingams". It is also known as "Mahadevar Pattanam" meaning "town of Lord Mahadeva or Shiva".<br />
<br />
K’naneans (Cananaean according to the Gospel of Luke) are a very distinct ethnic and religious group whose ancestry traces back to Abraham, the Patriarch of the Old Testament. The Israelites became slaves in Egypt and God delivered them through Moses. He gave Moses the Ten Commandments and the Holy Laws so as to administer to the needs of the community to lead a very prosperous, religious and civilized life in the land of Canaan. In celebration for having received the Holy Constitution, Moses built a sacrificial altar out of 12 stones and celebrated Mass in honour of God with an animal sacrifice. In order to preserve the sacred constitution, he appointed 72 elders to memorise the Laws and to ensure its preservation and interpretation on behalf of the entire community. He appointed Judges to enforce the Divine Laws while dealing with issues facing the people. He appointed Aaron as the High Priest and the descendants of Levi (Levites) to assist Aaron in the preservation of the sacred scrolls, vessels and other Holy equipments used during the worship of the Almighty. Phinehas, the grandson of Aaron showed his zeal for the Divine Laws during a period of crisis when the Faith of the Israelites were put to test by Balaam. Pleased with his display of zealousness, the Almighty Lord blessed Phinehas and his descendents with an eternal pledge of High Priesthood, just as he was to later bless David and his Descendants with eternal Lordship over the Israelites. The zeal of Phinehas was the inspiration of the later day Zealots (Q'nanaya in Aramaic) beginning with the Maccabean Dynasty in 186 BC.<br />
<br />
Twenty years after the Nicean Council (synod), Knai (or Q'nai) Thoma, an influential merchant from Cana, brought a colony of 400 Syrian Christians consisting of 72 families belonging to 7 clans with instructions from the Bishop of Antioch (Antioch had not been declared a Patriarchate then), Mor Eusthathius, to the Malabar coast of India. The group included men, women, children, priests, deacons and their bishop Mor Joseph of Urfa (Uraha/Edessa). The names of the seven clans, according to Mr. E M Philip, were: Bagi, Belkuth, Hadai, Kujalik, Koja, Mugmuth, and Thegmuth. The legend is that Mor Joseph had a startling dream (vision) in which he saw the plight of the Christian church in Malabar established by St. Thomas, the Apostle, in the 1st Century. Meanwhile, Knai Thoma, who frequented the shores of Kodungallur in search of spices and other Indian wealth to be exported back to the World trade ports of Baghdad and Egypt, noticed on the shores of Kodungallur, local men who carried on their bare trunk, crosses to mark their religious beliefs. But they were not of high disposition as they were subjected to persecution by their chaste brethren in lieu of their belief in an unknown and unseen God. Thomas interviewed them and found that they were the descendants of formerly high ranking brahmin families who had accepted the way of the cross as preached by St. Thomas between 52 – 72 AD. He also learnt that the Saint was martyred at the Corromandel coast and they took him along on their annual pilgrimage to Malayattoor and from thence to Mylapore. From them, he learnt that St. Thomas had preached the Word of God in Hebrew and his first converts/disciples were about 500 Jews in Kodungallur, who were well versed in the semitic language of Aramaic as well as could converse in the local dialect of that period with the natives. But after the martyrdom of the Saint, they became orphaned for want of a spiritual guide who could nourish the fledgling Nazarene community.<br />
<br />
Mor Joseph (known as Aithlaha according to the Edessene Scrolls) became the Bishop of Edessa in 324 AD, a year before the Synod of Nicea. Mor Aithlaha had the fortune to complete the Eastern side of the Church of Edessa as well as made a cemetery for the Church (the first recorded cemetery for the Christians according to historical records). The original Church of Edessa, the Church of St. Thomas, built around the time he left for India in 52 AD, had been washed away in a great flood in 203 AD during the reign of King Abgar. A second flood washed through Edessa and laid it waste in 303 AD. Ten years later, the foundations of a new Church was laid at Edessa and that was completed in the days of Mor Aithlaha. He took Knai Thoma to the Catholicos of Selucia – Steciphon (modern Baghdad) who was his spiritual superior and who was given temporal power by the Bishop of Antioch to administer to the churches of the Far East. Mor Eustathius was the Bishop of Antioch during this period.<br />
<br />
Mor Eustathius, who was Bishop of Berœa in Syria, was transferred to Antioch in 324 AD. He was one of the most prominent opponents of Arianism at the Council of Nicæa in 325 AD and from 325 – 330 he was engaged in a continuous literary warfare against the Arians. He was supported by Mor Ethalaha, the Bishop of Edessa who too attended the Synod. By his fearless denunciation of Arianism and his refusal to engage any Arian priests in his diocese, he incurred the hatred of the Arians, who, headed by Eusebius of Cæsarea and his namesake of Nicomedia, held a synod at Antioch in 331 AD at which Mor Eustathius was accused of Sabellianism, incontinency, cruelty, and other crimes. He was deposed by the synod and banished to Trajanopolis in Thrace by order of the Emperor Constantine. The people of Antioch, who loved and revered their holy and learned Patriarch, became indignant at the injustice done to him and were ready to take up arms in his defence. But Mor Eustathius kept them in check, exhorted them to remain true to the orthodox faith and humbly left for his place of exile, accompanied by a large body of his clergy. The adherents of Mor Eustathius at Antioch formed a separate community by the name of Eustathians and refused to acknowledge the bishops set over them by the Arians. The knanaya zealots of Edessa, led by their Bishop, Mor Joseph (Aithlaha), too were Eustathians, and so when Mor Eustathius was excommunicated, they took a vow never to fall prey to the Arian heresy and their propagandists, which included even the highly placed Bishops who had conducted the Synod at Nicæa.<br />
<br />
It was during this period that Thomas of Cana reported the status of the St. Thomas Nazarenes of India to his Bishop. So they consulted with Mor Eustathius and took his blessings to prepare themselves to migrate to India to serve the cause of the St. Thomas converts of India. In 345 AD, Knai Thomas and Mor Joseph (Aithlaha) left Edessa and Aithlaha was succeeded by Mor Abraham. (This succession has been documented in the Edessene Chronicles, which has been preserved and translated by Scholars today). In 373 AD, Edessa was run over by the Arians and the Eustathians had to leave Edessa because of the persecutions of the Arians. Five years later, the Orthodox Christians reclaimed the Church of Edessa. In 393 AD, the coffin (glossocom) of St. Thomas containing the remaining relics was brought to Edessa from India, and placed in the Church built in his name in the days of Mor Cyrus, the Bishop.<br />
<br />
==The Migration==<br />
The 72 Knanaya zealot families led by Thomas and Mor Joseph landed in Kodungalloor (Crangannoore) in 345 AD. Knai Thoma and his group sailed in three ships. The leading ship called "Babylonia" had three masts. The main mast flew King David's flag, the second mast flew the Roman flag with the cross, and the third flew the Edessene flag. Knai Thoma and his people were heartily welcomed by Cheraman Perumal, the Emperor. Cheraman Perumal sent his brother, Ramavarma, and his minister, Vettathu Mannan, to receive Knai Thoma and his people. Knai Thoma and his people were given permission to settle down in Kodungalloor and to do business. Later Cheraman Perumal bestowed Knai Thoma and his people with 72 princely privileges and thereby elevated them over 17 castes. This proclamation was made on a Saturday in March (Kumbham 29), 345 and it was recorded on copper plates given to Knai Thoma (known later as the 'Knai Thomman Cheppedu'). Knai Thoma and his people built a town in Kodungalloor with a church and 72 houses. The place awarded to the immigrants was at "Mahadevar Pattanam" meaning "Town of Lord Shiva and Parvathi". They were also called Southists (Thekkumbhagar) because they lived on the south side of the Kodungalloor Mahadevar Temple. The St. Thomas Christians (native Christians of Kerala) lived on the northern side of this Syrian settlement and served their Syrian masters. They were liberated from the strictly enforced caste system by payment of money to the caste Brahmins as compensation for their spritual liberation and they consisted of converted Hindus from various caste levels of the Hindu society. They were unified under the singular label of Vadakkumbhagor and were not permitted to identify with their former religion or caste.<br />
<br />
==Jewish Traditions==<br />
Knananites did not intermarry with native Christians and maintained their endogamous Jewish tradition originating from Abraham. To this day, the Knananites continue as an endogamous community. Striking similarities exist between Knanaya Nasranis and the Cochin Jews. Both groups were granted 72 privileges by the ruling Cheraman Perumals. Copper plates given to the Jews (kept in the Mattancherry Synagogue) were handed to Joseph Rabban just as Knai Thoma was given similar copper plates during the fourth century. Both groups are endogamous. The similarities between these two groups were brought out in a research done by Dr. Shalva Weil, an Anthropologistand senior researcher from the NCJW Research Institute for Innovation in Education, Hebrew University in 1982 titled “Symmetry between Christians and Jews in India: the Cnanite Christians and the Cochin Jews of Kerala,” – Contributions to Indian Sociology, Vol. 16, No. 2: 175-196.<br />
<br />
==19th and 20th Century==<br />
During the 18th and 19th centuries, Syrian Christians became involved in several internal conflicts. One of the major disputes was regarding the ownership of funds and its interest bestowed upon the Ancient Syrian Church by the British (known also as Vattippanam). After years of legal battle, the Court, declared that the group led by Mor Dionysus Joseph Pulikkottil, the Malankara Metropolitan, being the original Syrian Church, and hence they became the beneficiary of the funds. The person who helped Mor Dionysus win this renowned court battle was Edavazhickal Pothachan (E. M. Philip). His dedication to the cause of the Syrian Church won him the title "Nasrani Simham" meaning Lion of the Nazarenes.<br />
<br />
On January 21 (Makaram 8), 1882, with the blessings of Mor Joseph Pulikkottil, eleven Knanaya priests assembled at St. Stephen's Knanaya Church, Veliyanad, and formed an organization called "Malankara Jacobite Syrian Knanaya Committee". The meeting unanimously elected Mr. E. M. Philip Edavazhickal as the secretary and Uthuppan Thomma Puthenpurackal (Vazhayil) as the treasurer. The formation of this Knanaya Committee was a significant turning point in the Knanaya history. The Knanaya Committee codified rules and guidelines for the administration of the nine Knanaya churches which existed as of that date. Further, the Knanaya Committee was instrumental in bringing together the Knananites spread from Ramamangalam to Ranny based on their endogamous nature. In 1910, upon the Knanaya Committee's request, Patriarch Ignatius Abdulla created a Knanaya Diocese with personal jurisdiction considering their ethnic background (i.e., all Knananites and their churches, irrespective of location, will be administered by the Knanaya Diocese). On August 31, 1910, the Patriarch ordained Fr. Geevarghese Edavazhickal (Mar Severious) as the first Knanaya Bishop.<br />
<br />
The Knanaya Diocese which started with 9 churches now has 107 churches spread all over the world.<br />
<br />
==Persecution by Portuguese==<br />
{{main|Portuguese Inquisition}}<br />
The ''Nasranis'', who were, until then, the "living fossils" of the Christian tradition, lost their very defining ethos.<ref name= "CBuchanan>Claudius Buchanan, 1811</ref> The only Nasranis who managed to preserve some elements of their earlier origin were the Knanaya people, because of their tradition of being [[endogamy|endogamous]] within their own community and therefore preserving their tradition.<ref name= "Poomangalam">Weil, S. 1982; Jessay, P.M. 1986 Vellian Jacob 2001; Poomangalam C.A 1998</ref> An Imperial Order was passed to confiscate and sell under public auction the properties of those who celebrated Passover. It was perhaps because of this Order that the Knanaites celebrate Passover in a very private manner without inviting any Christian friend for sharing the Holy Meal.<ref>http://knanaya.weebly.com/who-is-a-knanaite.html</ref><br />
<br />
==Contemporary Knanaya==<br />
<br />
[[Image:Kottayam Valia Palli02.jpg|thumb|300px|left|Inside a Knanaya Church in Thazhathangadi, Kottayam]]<ref name = Koder>Weil,S. 1982; Jessay, P.M. 1986; Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Thomas Puthiakunnel 1973; Vellian Jacob 2001; Koder S. 1973; Vellian, J 1988</ref> Kna people are strictly endagamous and no one may convert to join the Kna people although marrying out is an increasing concern for the community. The Knanaya and other Nasranis as a whole maintained close relationship with the Jews of Kerala, (known today as [[Cochin Jews]]) until the [[Portugal|Portuguese]] inquisition of the Jews and Nasranis in the early 1500s. <ref name = Koder>Weil,S. 1982; Jessay, P.M. 1986; Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Thomas Puthiakunnel 1973; Vellian Jacob 2001; Koder S. 1973; Vellian, J 1988</ref> Kna people are also the victims of increasing missionary efforts not only from Protestant groups ecouraging them to give up on their Syrian-Christian customs and traditions, but also from some Jewish groups. They descend from 72 priestly families descended from the same [[desposyni]] that Thomas Jude belonged to. the number 72 has a significance for the 72 nations of the world and each of the 72 families have their own unique family rule. <br />
<br />
Although grape produce is now consumed as a result of Portuguese influence, this was originally not the case among the Knanaya people. The tradition is preserved in the consumption of ''Pesaha pal'' (passover coconut milk) instead of wine on the night of [[passover]] along with ''Pesaha-appam'' (unleavened passover bread). <ref name = Koder>Weil,S. 1982; Jessay, P.M. 1986; Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Thomas Puthiakunnel 1973; Vellian Jacob 2001; Koder S. 1973; Vellian, J 1988</ref> . This tradition of ''Pesaha appam'' is observed by the entire Nasrani people till this day. <ref name = Koder>Weil,S. 1982; Jessay, P.M. 1986; Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Thomas Puthiakunnel 1973; Vellian Jacob 2001; Koder S. 1973; Vellian, J 1988</ref> The bridal canopy or nuppah is part of the Knanaya wedding ceremony and there is aceremonial bathing on the eve of the wedding that is parallel to the Jewish mikrah. The dead are buried facing the east to Jerusalem. <ref name = Koder>Weil,S. 1982; Jessay, P.M. 1986; Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Thomas Puthiakunnel 1973; Vellian Jacob 2001; Koder S. 1973; Vellian, J 1988</ref> Thanksgiving blessings which the Knanaya people use which follow the Hebrew formula, Birkat HaMazon ברוך אתה ה' א‑לוהינו מלך העולם, המוציא לחם מן הארץ when initiating a Eucharistic Mass.<br />
<br />
==Knanaya community at present==<br />
The first belonging to the [[Syriac Orthodox Church]] in India and second to the [[Syro-Malabar Catholic Church]]. <ref name = Weil>Weil, S. 1982; Jessay, P.M. 1986; Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Vellian Jacob 2001</ref>. Knanaya are very much conscious about their origin and up until today safeguard their ethnic character by marrying people from within the community regardless of rite. A Knanaya Syriac Orthodox diocese, established in 1910, is administered by an [[archbishop]] who reports directly to the Patriarch of Antioch of the [[Syrian Orthodox Church]]. The Knanaya Catholics have been acknowledged by the [[Holy See|Vatican]] under [[Pope Pius X]], by instituting in 1911 a diocese only for the Syrian-catholic of Kerala. <ref name = Weil>Weil, S. 1982; Jessay, P.M. 1986; Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Vellian Jacob 2001</ref> This diocese is called the ''Arch Diocese of Kottayam'' and is in the district of [[Kottayam]] in Kerala. <ref name = Weil>Weil, S. 1982; Jessay, P.M. 1986; Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Vellian Jacob 2001</ref><br />
<br />
The approximate population of Knanaya people as of 2001: (divided by different denominations)<br />
<br />
*''Knanaya Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Christians'': 100,000<br />
*''Knanaya Syrian Malabar Catholic Christians'': 140,000<br />
In all over 250,000 Knanayas continue in the ancient [[Hebrews|Hebrew]]-Christian tradition.<br />
<br />
==See also==<br />
* [[Cochin Jews]]<br />
* [[Kanahi]]<br />
* [[Kenites]]<br />
* [[Masada]]<br />
* [[Saint Thomas Christians]]<br />
* [[Syrian Malabar Nasrani]]<br />
* [[Zealots]]<br />
* [[Syro-Malabar Catholic Church]]<br />
<br />
==Notes==<br />
{{reflist}}<br />
<br />
==References==<br />
* Menachery, G. (1973) ''The St. Thomas Christian Encyclopedia of India'', Ed. George Menachery, B.N.K. Press, vol. 2, ISBN 81-87132-06-X, Lib. Cong. Cat. Card. No. 73-905568 ; B.N.K. Press<br />
* Vellian, Jacob (2001) ''Knanite community: History and culture''; Syrian church series; vol.XVII; Jyothi Book House, Kottayam<br />
* "In Universi Cristiani" (Latin Text of the Papal erection of the Knanaya Diocese of Kottayam)<br />
* Puthiakunnel, Thomas. (1973) "Jewish colonies of India paved the way for St. Thomas", ''The Saint Thomas Christian Encyclopedia of India'', ed. George Menachery, Vol. II., Trichur.<br />
* Koder, S. (1973) "History of the Jews of Kerala".''The St. Thomas Christian Encyclopaedia of India'',Ed. G. Menachery.<br />
* Vellian, J (1988) Marriage Customs of the Knanites, Christian Orient, 9, Kottayam.<br />
* Weil, S. (1982) "Symmetry between Christians and Jews in India: The Cananite Christians and Cochin Jews in Kerala. in Contributions to Indian Sociology, 16.<br />
* Jessay, P.M. (1986) "The Wedding Songs of the Cochin Jews and of the Knanite Christians of Kerala: A Study in Comparison." Symposium.<br />
* James Hough (1893) "The History of Christianity in India".<br />
* Menachery, G (ed); (1998) "The Indian Church History Classics", Vol.I, ''The Nazranies'', Ollur, 1998. [ISBN 81-87133-05-8].<br />
* Poomangalam, C.A. (1998) ''The Antiquities of the Knanaya Syrian Christians''; Kottayam, Kerala.<br />
* Podipara, Placid J. (1970) "The Thomas Christians". London: Darton, Longman and Tidd.<br />
<br />
==External links==<br />
*[http://www.knanayadiocese.com/ Official Site]<br />
*[http://www.knanayavaliyapally.com/ St. Jacob's Knanaya Valiyapalli, Ramamangalam, Kerala, India]<br />
*[http://www.stjohnsputhenpally.org/ St.Johns Puthenpally Chingavanam, Kerala, India]<br />
*[http://www.stthomasnj.org/ St. Thomas Syrian Orthodox Knanaya Church, New Jersey, US]<br />
*[http://www.stthomasknanayachurch.org St. Thomas Syrian Orthodox Knanaya Church, Irving, Texas, US]<br />
*[http://www.stpetersknanaya.org/ St. Peter's Knanaya Church, New York, US]<br />
*[http://knanayayouth.com/ St. Mary's Knanya Jacobite Church, Chicago, US]<br />
*[http://knanayachurchtoronto.com/ St. Ignatious Knanaya Jacobite Church, Toronto, Canada]<br />
*[http://www.edmontonknanayachurch.org The Church of Knanaites in Edmonton, Canada]<br />
*[http://www.knanayagulf.com/Churches.aspx St.Mary's Knanaya Church, Sharjah]<br />
*[http://www.knanayagulf.com/Churches.aspx Mor Gregorios Knanaya Church, Abu Dhabi]<br />
*[http://www.knanaya.net Knanaya finder]<br />
*[http://www.knaconvention.com Knanaya Jacobite Annual Convention]<br />
*[http://www.indianchristianity.com Indian Christianity]<br />
*[http://www.kottayamad.org/ Archdiocese of Kottayam]<br />
<br />
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[[Category:Archdiocese of Changanassery]]<br />
[[Category:Kerala society]]<br />
[[Category:Knanaya Community| ]]<br />
[[Category:Malayali people]]<br />
[[Category:Saint Thomas Christians]]<br />
[[Category:Syro-Malabar Catholic Church]]<br />
[[Category:Jewish ethnic groups]]<br />
[[Category:Jewish Christians]]<br />
[[Category:Semitic peoples]]<br />
<br />
[[de:Knananiten]]<br />
[[fr:Knanayas]]<br />
[[mk:Кнанаја]]</div>Zubinrajhttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Knanaya&diff=263134319Knanaya2009-01-10T06:57:38Z<p>Zubinraj: </p>
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<div>[[Image:Nasrani menorah.JPG|thumbnail|left|125px|The [[Nasrani Menorah|Nasrani Menorah]] also known as the Mar Thoma sliba]]<br />
<br />
{{Ethnic group<br />
|group=Knanaya<br />
<br />
<gallery><br />
Image:Knai_Tho.jpg|Knai Thoma<br />
</gallery><br />
|poptime=2001: (approx) '''252,600'''<br />
|popplace=<span style="font-size:105%;">'''Majority Population:'''<br />
{{IND}} <br><br />
'''Significant Populations:'''<br><br />
{{USA}}<br><br />
{{GBR}}<br><br />
|langs=[[Malayalam]], [[English language|English]].<br />
|rels= Majority: Syrian Jacobites, Syrian Catholics. Some Protestants. <br />
|related=<br />
*[[Saint Thomas Christians]]<br />
*[[Nasrani]]<br />
*[[Syrian Malabar Nasrani]]<br />
*[[Jewish Christians]] <br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''Knanaya''' (Heb:קנאים, Malayalam: ക്നാനായ), literally meaning "Knai people", are a group of [[endogamous]] Christians from [[Kerala]], [[India]].<ref name = Menachery>Menachery G. 1973, 1998; Vellian Jacob 2001; Weil,S. 1982; Podipara, Placid J. 1970</ref> Their heritage and culture is syriac-[[Keralite]], their language [[Malayalam]]. <ref name = Menachery>Menachery G. 1973, 1998; Vellian Jacob 2001; Weil,S. 1982; Podipara, Placid J. 1970</ref> Their loyalties are with the [[Syrian Malabar Nasrani|Nasrani]] community of [[Syriac Christian]]s from Kerala. <ref name = Menachery>Menachery G. 1973, 1998; Vellian Jacob 2001; Weil,S. 1982; Podipara, Placid J. 1970</ref><br />
<br />
==Early History==<br />
<br />
In the year 345 A.D., Knai Thoma, a rich merchant, and 72 families from Edessa (or modern Urfa), immigrated to Malabar (presently Kerala) and established their colony. In the group there were also priests, deacons and their bishop, Uraha Mor Ouseph (Bishop Joseph of Uraha/Urfa). Knai Thoma and his people were welcomed by Cheraman Perumal, the Emperor of Kerala, and were given permission to settle down in Kodungalloor. They built a town in Kodungalloor with a church and 72 houses. The name "Kodungallur" is supposed to originate from "An Ur of a Kodi Lingams or Town of a thousand Shiva lingams". It is also known as "Mahadevar Pattanam" meaning "town of Lord Mahadeva or Shiva".<br />
<br />
K’naneans (Cananaean according to the Gospel of Luke) are a very distinct ethnic and religious group whose ancestry traces back to Abraham, the Patriarch of the Old Testament. The Israelites became slaves in Egypt and God delivered them through Moses. He gave Moses the Ten Commandments and the Holy Laws so as to administer to the needs of the community to lead a very prosperous, religious and civilized life in the land of Canaan. In celebration for having received the Holy Constitution, Moses built a sacrificial altar out of 12 stones and celebrated Mass in honour of God with an animal sacrifice. In order to preserve the sacred constitution, he appointed 72 elders to memorise the Laws and to ensure its preservation and interpretation on behalf of the entire community. He appointed Judges to enforce the Divine Laws while dealing with issues facing the people. He appointed Aaron as the High Priest and the descendants of Levi (Levites) to assist Aaron in the preservation of the sacred scrolls, vessels and other Holy equipments used during the worship of the Almighty. Phinehas, the grandson of Aaron showed his zeal for the Divine Laws during a period of crisis when the Faith of the Israelites were put to test by Balaam. Pleased with his display of zealousness, the Almighty Lord blessed Phinehas and his descendents with an eternal pledge of High Priesthood, just as he was to later bless David and his Descendants with eternal Lordship over the Israelites. The zeal of Phinehas was the inspiration of the later day Zealots (Q'nanaya in Aramaic) beginning with the Maccabean Dynasty in 186 BC.<br />
<br />
Twenty years after the Nicean Council (synod), Knai (or Q'nai) Thoma, an influential merchant from Cana, brought a colony of 400 Syrian Christians consisting of 72 families belonging to 7 clans with instructions from the Bishop of Antioch (Antioch had not been declared a Patriarchate then), Mor Eusthathius, to the Malabar coast of India. The group included men, women, children, priests, deacons and their bishop Mor Joseph of Urfa (Uraha/Edessa). The names of the seven clans, according to Mr. E M Philip, were: Bagi, Belkuth, Hadai, Kujalik, Koja, Mugmuth, and Thegmuth. The legend is that Mor Joseph had a startling dream (vision) in which he saw the plight of the Christian church in Malabar established by St. Thomas, the Apostle, in the 1st Century. Meanwhile, Knai Thoma, who frequented the shores of Kodungallur in search of spices and other Indian wealth to be exported back to the World trade ports of Baghdad and Egypt, noticed on the shores of Kodungallur, local men who carried on their bare trunk, crosses to mark their religious beliefs. But they were not of high disposition as they were subjected to persecution by their chaste brethren in lieu of their belief in an unknown and unseen God. Thomas interviewed them and found that they were the descendants of formerly high ranking brahmin families who had accepted the way of the cross as preached by St. Thomas between 52 – 72 AD. He also learnt that the Saint was martyred at the Corromandel coast and they took him along on their annual pilgrimage to Malayattoor and from thence to Mylapore. From them, he learnt that St. Thomas had preached the Word of God in Hebrew and his first converts/disciples were about 500 Jews in Kodungallur, who were well versed in the semitic language of Aramaic as well as could converse in the local dialect of that period with the natives. But after the martyrdom of the Saint, they became orphaned for want of a spiritual guide who could nourish the fledgling Nazarene community.<br />
<br />
Mor Joseph (known as Aithlaha according to the Edessene Scrolls) became the Bishop of Edessa in 324 AD, a year before the Synod of Nicea. Mor Aithlaha had the fortune to complete the Eastern side of the Church of Edessa as well as made a cemetery for the Church (the first recorded cemetery for the Christians according to historical records). The original Church of Edessa, the Church of St. Thomas, built around the time he left for India in 52 AD, had been washed away in a great flood in 203 AD during the reign of King Abgar. A second flood washed through Edessa and laid it waste in 303 AD. Ten years later, the foundations of a new Church was laid at Edessa and that was completed in the days of Mor Aithlaha. He took Knai Thoma to the Catholicos of Selucia – Steciphon (modern Baghdad) who was his spiritual superior and who was given temporal power by the Bishop of Antioch to administer to the churches of the Far East. Mor Eustathius was the Bishop of Antioch during this period.<br />
<br />
Mor Eustathius, who was Bishop of Berœa in Syria, was transferred to Antioch in 324 AD. He was one of the most prominent opponents of Arianism at the Council of Nicæa in 325 AD and from 325 – 330 he was engaged in a continuous literary warfare against the Arians. He was supported by Mor Ethalaha, the Bishop of Edessa who too attended the Synod. By his fearless denunciation of Arianism and his refusal to engage any Arian priests in his diocese, he incurred the hatred of the Arians, who, headed by Eusebius of Cæsarea and his namesake of Nicomedia, held a synod at Antioch in 331 AD at which Mor Eustathius was accused of Sabellianism, incontinency, cruelty, and other crimes. He was deposed by the synod and banished to Trajanopolis in Thrace by order of the Emperor Constantine. The people of Antioch, who loved and revered their holy and learned Patriarch, became indignant at the injustice done to him and were ready to take up arms in his defence. But Mor Eustathius kept them in check, exhorted them to remain true to the orthodox faith and humbly left for his place of exile, accompanied by a large body of his clergy. The adherents of Mor Eustathius at Antioch formed a separate community by the name of Eustathians and refused to acknowledge the bishops set over them by the Arians. The knanaya zealots of Edessa, led by their Bishop, Mor Joseph (Aithlaha), too were Eustathians, and so when Mor Eustathius was excommunicated, they took a vow never to fall prey to the Arian heresy and their propagandists, which included even the highly placed Bishops who had conducted the Synod at Nicæa.<br />
<br />
It was during this period that Thomas of Cana reported the status of the St. Thomas Nazarenes of India to his Bishop. So they consulted with Mor Eustathius and took his blessings to prepare themselves to migrate to India to serve the cause of the St. Thomas converts of India. In 345 AD, Knai Thomas and Mor Joseph (Aithlaha) left Edessa and Aithlaha was succeeded by Mor Abraham. (This succession has been documented in the Edessene Chronicles, which has been preserved and translated by Scholars today). In 373 AD, Edessa was run over by the Arians and the Eustathians had to leave Edessa because of the persecutions of the Arians. Five years later, the Orthodox Christians reclaimed the Church of Edessa. In 393 AD, the coffin (glossocom) of St. Thomas containing the remaining relics was brought to Edessa from India, and placed in the Church built in his name in the days of Mor Cyrus, the Bishop.<br />
<br />
==The Migration==<br />
The 72 Knanaya zealot families led by Thomas and Mor Joseph landed in Kodungalloor (Crangannoore) in 345 AD. Knai Thoma and his group sailed in three ships. The leading ship called "Babylonia" had three masts. The main mast flew King David's flag, the second mast flew the Roman flag with the cross, and the third flew the Edessene flag. Knai Thoma and his people were heartily welcomed by Cheraman Perumal, the Emperor. Cheraman Perumal sent his brother, Ramavarma, and his minister, Vettathu Mannan, to receive Knai Thoma and his people. Knai Thoma and his people were given permission to settle down in Kodungalloor and to do business. Later Cheraman Perumal bestowed Knai Thoma and his people with 72 princely privileges and thereby elevated them over 17 castes. This proclamation was made on a Saturday in March (Kumbham 29), 345 and it was recorded on copper plates given to Knai Thoma (known later as the 'Knai Thomman Cheppedu'). Knai Thoma and his people built a town in Kodungalloor with a church and 72 houses. The place awarded to the immigrants was at "Mahadevar Pattanam" meaning "Town of Lord Shiva and Parvathi". They were also called Southists (Thekkumbhagar) because they lived on the south side of the Kodungalloor Mahadevar Temple. The St. Thomas Christians (native Christians of Kerala) lived on the northern side of this Syrian settlement and served their Syrian masters. They were liberated from the strictly enforced caste system by payment of money to the caste Brahmins as compensation for their spritual liberation and they consisted of converted Hindus from various caste levels of the Hindu society. They were unified under the singular label of Vadakkumbhagor and were not permitted to identify with their former religion or caste.<br />
<br />
==Jewish Traditions==<br />
Knananites did not intermarry with native Christians and maintained their endogamous Jewish tradition originating from Abraham. To this day, the Knananites continue as an endogamous community. Striking similarities exist between Knanaya Nasranis and the Cochin Jews. Both groups were granted 72 privileges by the ruling Cheraman Perumals. Copper plates given to the Jews (kept in the Mattancherry Synagogue) were handed to Joseph Rabban just as Knai Thoma was given similar copper plates during the fourth century. Both groups are endogamous. The similarities between these two groups were brought out in a research done by Dr. Shalva Weil, an Anthropologistand senior researcher from the NCJW Research Institute for Innovation in Education, Hebrew University in 1982 titled “Symmetry between Christians and Jews in India: the Cnanite Christians and the Cochin Jews of Kerala,” – Contributions to Indian Sociology, Vol. 16, No. 2: 175-196.<br />
<br />
==19th and 20th Century==<br />
During the 18th and 19th centuries, Syrian Christians became involved in several internal conflicts. One of the major disputes was regarding the ownership of funds and its interest bestowed upon the Ancient Syrian Church by the British (known also as Vattippanam). After years of legal battle, the Court, declared that the group led by Mor Dionysus Joseph Pulikkottil, the Malankara Metropolitan, being the original Syrian Church, and hence they became the beneficiary of the funds. The person who helped Mor Dionysus win this renowned court battle was Edavazhickal Pothachan (E. M. Philip). His dedication to the cause of the Syrian Church won him the title "Nasrani Simham" meaning Lion of the Nazarenes.<br />
<br />
On January 21 (Makaram 8), 1882, with the blessings of Mor Joseph Pulikkottil, eleven Knanaya priests assembled at St. Stephen's Knanaya Church, Veliyanad, and formed an organization called "Malankara Jacobite Syrian Knanaya Committee". The meeting unanimously elected Mr. E. M. Philip Edavazhickal as the secretary and Uthuppan Thomma Puthenpurackal (Vazhayil) as the treasurer. The formation of this Knanaya Committee was a significant turning point in the Knanaya history. The Knanaya Committee codified rules and guidelines for the administration of the nine Knanaya churches which existed as of that date. Further, the Knanaya Committee was instrumental in bringing together the Knananites spread from Ramamangalam to Ranny based on their endogamous nature. In 1910, upon the Knanaya Committee's request, Patriarch Ignatius Abdulla created a Knanaya Diocese with personal jurisdiction considering their ethnic background (i.e., all Knananites and their churches, irrespective of location, will be administered by the Knanaya Diocese). On August 31, 1910, the Patriarch ordained Fr. Geevarghese Edavazhickal (Mar Severious) as the first Knanaya Bishop.<br />
<br />
The Knanaya Diocese which started with 9 churches now has 107 churches spread all over the world.<br />
<br />
==Persecution by Portuguese==<br />
{{main|Portuguese Inquisition}}<br />
The ''Nasranis'', who were, until then, the "living fossils" of the Christian tradition, lost their very defining ethos.<ref name= "CBuchanan>Claudius Buchanan, 1811</ref> The only Nasranis who managed to preserve some elements of their earlier origin were the Knanaya people, because of their tradition of being [[endogamy|endogamous]] within their own community and therefore preserving their tradition.<ref name= "Poomangalam">Weil, S. 1982; Jessay, P.M. 1986 Vellian Jacob 2001; Poomangalam C.A 1998</ref> An Imperial Order was passed to confiscate and sell under public auction the properties of those who celebrated Passover. It was perhaps because of this Order that the Knanaites celebrate Passover in a very private manner without inviting any Christian friend for sharing the Holy Meal.<ref>http://knanaya.weebly.com/who-is-a-knanaite.html</ref><br />
<br />
==Contemporary Knanaya==<br />
<br />
[[Image:Kottayam Valia Palli02.jpg|thumb|300px|left|Inside a Knanaya Church in Thazhathangadi, Kottayam]]<ref name = Koder>Weil,S. 1982; Jessay, P.M. 1986; Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Thomas Puthiakunnel 1973; Vellian Jacob 2001; Koder S. 1973; Vellian, J 1988</ref> Kna people are strictly endagamous and no one may convert to join the Kna people although marrying out is an increasing concern for the community. The Knanaya and other Nasranis as a whole maintained close relationship with the Jews of Kerala, (known today as [[Cochin Jews]]) until the [[Portugal|Portuguese]] inquisition of the Jews and Nasranis in the early 1500s. <ref name = Koder>Weil,S. 1982; Jessay, P.M. 1986; Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Thomas Puthiakunnel 1973; Vellian Jacob 2001; Koder S. 1973; Vellian, J 1988</ref> Kna people are also the victims of increasing missionary efforts not only from Protestant groups ecouraging them to give up on their Syrian-Christian customs and traditions, but also from some Jewish groups. They descend from 72 priestly families descended from the same [[desposyni]] that Thomas Jude belonged to. the number 72 has a significance for the 72 nations of the world and each of the 72 families have their own unique family rule. <br />
<br />
Although grape produce is now consumed as a result of Portuguese influence, this was originally not the case among the Knanaya people. The tradition is preserved in the consumption of ''Pesaha pal'' (passover coconut milk) instead of wine on the night of [[passover]] along with ''Pesaha-appam'' (unleavened passover bread). <ref name = Koder>Weil,S. 1982; Jessay, P.M. 1986; Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Thomas Puthiakunnel 1973; Vellian Jacob 2001; Koder S. 1973; Vellian, J 1988</ref> . This tradition of ''Pesaha appam'' is observed by the entire Nasrani people till this day. <ref name = Koder>Weil,S. 1982; Jessay, P.M. 1986; Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Thomas Puthiakunnel 1973; Vellian Jacob 2001; Koder S. 1973; Vellian, J 1988</ref> The bridal canopy or nuppah is part of the Knanaya wedding ceremony and there is aceremonial bathing on the eve of the wedding that is parallel to the Jewish mikrah. The dead are buried facing the east to Jerusalem. <ref name = Koder>Weil,S. 1982; Jessay, P.M. 1986; Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Thomas Puthiakunnel 1973; Vellian Jacob 2001; Koder S. 1973; Vellian, J 1988</ref> Thanksgiving blessings which the Knanaya people use which follow the Hebrew formula, Birkat HaMazon ברוך אתה ה' א‑לוהינו מלך העולם, המוציא לחם מן הארץ when initiating a Eucharistic Mass.<br />
<br />
==Knanaya community at present==<br />
The first belonging to the [[Syriac Orthodox Church]] in India and second to the [[Syro-Malabar Catholic Church]]. <ref name = Weil>Weil, S. 1982; Jessay, P.M. 1986; Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Vellian Jacob 2001</ref>. Knanaya are very much conscious about their origin and up until today safeguard their ethnic character by marrying people from within the community regardless of rite. A Knanaya Syriac Orthodox diocese, established in 1910, is administered by an [[archbishop]] who reports directly to the Patriarch of Antioch of the [[Syrian Orthodox Church]]. The Knanaya Catholics have been acknowledged by the [[Holy See|Vatican]] under [[Pope Pius X]], by instituting in 1911 a diocese only for the Syrian-catholic of Kerala. <ref name = Weil>Weil, S. 1982; Jessay, P.M. 1986; Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Vellian Jacob 2001</ref> This diocese is called the ''Arch Diocese of Kottayam'' and is in the district of [[Kottayam]] in Kerala. <ref name = Weil>Weil, S. 1982; Jessay, P.M. 1986; Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Vellian Jacob 2001</ref><br />
<br />
The approximate population of Knanaya people as of 2001: (divided by different denominations)<br />
<br />
*''Knanaya Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Christians'': 100,000<br />
*''Knanaya Syrian Malabar Catholic Christians'': 140,000<br />
In all over 250,000 Knanayas continue in the ancient [[Hebrews|Hebrew]]-Christian tradition.<br />
<br />
==See also==<br />
* [[Cochin Jews]]<br />
* [[Kanahi]]<br />
* [[Kenites]]<br />
* [[Masada]]<br />
* [[Saint Thomas Christians]]<br />
* [[Syrian Malabar Nasrani]]<br />
* [[Zealots]]<br />
* [[Syro-Malabar Catholic Church]]<br />
<br />
==Notes==<br />
{{reflist}}<br />
<br />
==References==<br />
* Menachery, G. (1973) ''The St. Thomas Christian Encyclopedia of India'', Ed. George Menachery, B.N.K. Press, vol. 2, ISBN 81-87132-06-X, Lib. Cong. Cat. Card. No. 73-905568 ; B.N.K. Press<br />
* Vellian, Jacob (2001) ''Knanite community: History and culture''; Syrian church series; vol.XVII; Jyothi Book House, Kottayam<br />
* "In Universi Cristiani" (Latin Text of the Papal erection of the Knanaya Diocese of Kottayam)<br />
* Puthiakunnel, Thomas. (1973) "Jewish colonies of India paved the way for St. Thomas", ''The Saint Thomas Christian Encyclopedia of India'', ed. George Menachery, Vol. II., Trichur.<br />
* Koder, S. (1973) "History of the Jews of Kerala".''The St. Thomas Christian Encyclopaedia of India'',Ed. G. Menachery.<br />
* Vellian, J (1988) Marriage Customs of the Knanites, Christian Orient, 9, Kottayam.<br />
* Weil, S. (1982) "Symmetry between Christians and Jews in India: The Cananite Christians and Cochin Jews in Kerala. in Contributions to Indian Sociology, 16.<br />
* Jessay, P.M. (1986) "The Wedding Songs of the Cochin Jews and of the Knanite Christians of Kerala: A Study in Comparison." Symposium.<br />
* James Hough (1893) "The History of Christianity in India".<br />
* Menachery, G (ed); (1998) "The Indian Church History Classics", Vol.I, ''The Nazranies'', Ollur, 1998. [ISBN 81-87133-05-8].<br />
* Poomangalam, C.A. (1998) ''The Antiquities of the Knanaya Syrian Christians''; Kottayam, Kerala.<br />
* Podipara, Placid J. (1970) "The Thomas Christians". London: Darton, Longman and Tidd.<br />
<br />
==External links==<br />
*[http://www.knanayadiocese.com/ Official Site]<br />
*[http://www.knanayavaliyapally.com/ St. Jacob's Knanaya Valiyapalli, Ramamangalam]<br />
*[http://www.knanaya.net Knanaya finder]<br />
*[http://www.knaconvention.com Knanaya Jacobite Annual Convention]<br />
*[http://www.indianchristianity.com Indian Christianity]<br />
*[http://www.kottayamad.org/ Archdiocese of Kottayam]<br />
*[http://www.stjohnsputhenpally.org/ St.Johns Puthenpally Chingavanam]<br />
<br />
[[Category:Archdiocese of Changanassery]]<br />
[[Category:Kerala society]]<br />
[[Category:Knanaya Community| ]]<br />
[[Category:Malayali people]]<br />
[[Category:Saint Thomas Christians]]<br />
[[Category:Syro-Malabar Catholic Church]]<br />
[[Category:Jewish ethnic groups]]<br />
[[Category:Jewish Christians]]<br />
[[Category:Semitic peoples]]<br />
<br />
[[de:Knananiten]]<br />
[[fr:Knanayas]]<br />
[[mk:Кнанаја]]</div>Zubinrajhttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Knanaya&diff=263134086Knanaya2009-01-10T06:55:31Z<p>Zubinraj: /* Knanaya community at present */</p>
<hr />
<div><gallery><br />
<br />
</gallery><br />
<br />
[[Image:Nasrani menorah.JPG|thumbnail|left|125px|The [[Nasrani Menorah|Nasrani Menorah]] also known as the Mar Thoma sliba]]<br />
<br />
{{Ethnic group<br />
|group=Knanaya<br />
<br />
<gallery><br />
Image:Knai_Tho.jpg|Knai Thoma<br />
</gallery><br />
|poptime=2001: (approx) '''252,600'''<br />
|popplace=<span style="font-size:105%;">'''Majority Population:'''<br />
{{IND}} <br><br />
'''Significant Populations:'''<br><br />
{{USA}}<br><br />
{{GBR}}<br><br />
|langs=[[Malayalam]], [[English language|English]].<br />
|rels= Majority: Syrian Jacobites, Syrian Catholics. Some Protestants. <br />
|related=<br />
*[[Saint Thomas Christians]]<br />
*[[Nasrani]]<br />
*[[Syrian Malabar Nasrani]]<br />
*[[Jewish Christians]] <br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''Knanaya''' (Heb:קנאים, Malayalam: ക്നാനായ), literally meaning "Knai people", are a group of [[endogamous]] Christians from [[Kerala]], [[India]].<ref name = Menachery>Menachery G. 1973, 1998; Vellian Jacob 2001; Weil,S. 1982; Podipara, Placid J. 1970</ref> Their heritage and culture is syriac-[[Keralite]], their language [[Malayalam]]. <ref name = Menachery>Menachery G. 1973, 1998; Vellian Jacob 2001; Weil,S. 1982; Podipara, Placid J. 1970</ref> Their loyalties are with the [[Syrian Malabar Nasrani|Nasrani]] community of [[Syriac Christian]]s from Kerala. <ref name = Menachery>Menachery G. 1973, 1998; Vellian Jacob 2001; Weil,S. 1982; Podipara, Placid J. 1970</ref><br />
<br />
==Early History==<br />
<br />
In the year 345 A.D., Knai Thoma, a rich merchant, and 72 families from Edessa (or modern Urfa), immigrated to Malabar (presently Kerala) and established their colony. In the group there were also priests, deacons and their bishop, Uraha Mor Ouseph (Bishop Joseph of Uraha/Urfa). Knai Thoma and his people were welcomed by Cheraman Perumal, the Emperor of Kerala, and were given permission to settle down in Kodungalloor. They built a town in Kodungalloor with a church and 72 houses. The name "Kodungallur" is supposed to originate from "An Ur of a Kodi Lingams or Town of a thousand Shiva lingams". It is also known as "Mahadevar Pattanam" meaning "town of Lord Mahadeva or Shiva".<br />
<br />
K’naneans (Cananaean according to the Gospel of Luke) are a very distinct ethnic and religious group whose ancestry traces back to Abraham, the Patriarch of the Old Testament. The Israelites became slaves in Egypt and God delivered them through Moses. He gave Moses the Ten Commandments and the Holy Laws so as to administer to the needs of the community to lead a very prosperous, religious and civilized life in the land of Canaan. In celebration for having received the Holy Constitution, Moses built a sacrificial altar out of 12 stones and celebrated Mass in honour of God with an animal sacrifice. In order to preserve the sacred constitution, he appointed 72 elders to memorise the Laws and to ensure its preservation and interpretation on behalf of the entire community. He appointed Judges to enforce the Divine Laws while dealing with issues facing the people. He appointed Aaron as the High Priest and the descendants of Levi (Levites) to assist Aaron in the preservation of the sacred scrolls, vessels and other Holy equipments used during the worship of the Almighty. Phinehas, the grandson of Aaron showed his zeal for the Divine Laws during a period of crisis when the Faith of the Israelites were put to test by Balaam. Pleased with his display of zealousness, the Almighty Lord blessed Phinehas and his descendents with an eternal pledge of High Priesthood, just as he was to later bless David and his Descendants with eternal Lordship over the Israelites. The zeal of Phinehas was the inspiration of the later day Zealots (Q'nanaya in Aramaic) beginning with the Maccabean Dynasty in 186 BC.<br />
<br />
Twenty years after the Nicean Council (synod), Knai (or Q'nai) Thoma, an influential merchant from Cana, brought a colony of 400 Syrian Christians consisting of 72 families belonging to 7 clans with instructions from the Bishop of Antioch (Antioch had not been declared a Patriarchate then), Mor Eusthathius, to the Malabar coast of India. The group included men, women, children, priests, deacons and their bishop Mor Joseph of Urfa (Uraha/Edessa). The names of the seven clans, according to Mr. E M Philip, were: Bagi, Belkuth, Hadai, Kujalik, Koja, Mugmuth, and Thegmuth. The legend is that Mor Joseph had a startling dream (vision) in which he saw the plight of the Christian church in Malabar established by St. Thomas, the Apostle, in the 1st Century. Meanwhile, Knai Thoma, who frequented the shores of Kodungallur in search of spices and other Indian wealth to be exported back to the World trade ports of Baghdad and Egypt, noticed on the shores of Kodungallur, local men who carried on their bare trunk, crosses to mark their religious beliefs. But they were not of high disposition as they were subjected to persecution by their chaste brethren in lieu of their belief in an unknown and unseen God. Thomas interviewed them and found that they were the descendants of formerly high ranking brahmin families who had accepted the way of the cross as preached by St. Thomas between 52 – 72 AD. He also learnt that the Saint was martyred at the Corromandel coast and they took him along on their annual pilgrimage to Malayattoor and from thence to Mylapore. From them, he learnt that St. Thomas had preached the Word of God in Hebrew and his first converts/disciples were about 500 Jews in Kodungallur, who were well versed in the semitic language of Aramaic as well as could converse in the local dialect of that period with the natives. But after the martyrdom of the Saint, they became orphaned for want of a spiritual guide who could nourish the fledgling Nazarene community.<br />
<br />
Mor Joseph (known as Aithlaha according to the Edessene Scrolls) became the Bishop of Edessa in 324 AD, a year before the Synod of Nicea. Mor Aithlaha had the fortune to complete the Eastern side of the Church of Edessa as well as made a cemetery for the Church (the first recorded cemetery for the Christians according to historical records). The original Church of Edessa, the Church of St. Thomas, built around the time he left for India in 52 AD, had been washed away in a great flood in 203 AD during the reign of King Abgar. A second flood washed through Edessa and laid it waste in 303 AD. Ten years later, the foundations of a new Church was laid at Edessa and that was completed in the days of Mor Aithlaha. He took Knai Thoma to the Catholicos of Selucia – Steciphon (modern Baghdad) who was his spiritual superior and who was given temporal power by the Bishop of Antioch to administer to the churches of the Far East. Mor Eustathius was the Bishop of Antioch during this period.<br />
<br />
Mor Eustathius, who was Bishop of Berœa in Syria, was transferred to Antioch in 324 AD. He was one of the most prominent opponents of Arianism at the Council of Nicæa in 325 AD and from 325 – 330 he was engaged in a continuous literary warfare against the Arians. He was supported by Mor Ethalaha, the Bishop of Edessa who too attended the Synod. By his fearless denunciation of Arianism and his refusal to engage any Arian priests in his diocese, he incurred the hatred of the Arians, who, headed by Eusebius of Cæsarea and his namesake of Nicomedia, held a synod at Antioch in 331 AD at which Mor Eustathius was accused of Sabellianism, incontinency, cruelty, and other crimes. He was deposed by the synod and banished to Trajanopolis in Thrace by order of the Emperor Constantine. The people of Antioch, who loved and revered their holy and learned Patriarch, became indignant at the injustice done to him and were ready to take up arms in his defence. But Mor Eustathius kept them in check, exhorted them to remain true to the orthodox faith and humbly left for his place of exile, accompanied by a large body of his clergy. The adherents of Mor Eustathius at Antioch formed a separate community by the name of Eustathians and refused to acknowledge the bishops set over them by the Arians. The knanaya zealots of Edessa, led by their Bishop, Mor Joseph (Aithlaha), too were Eustathians, and so when Mor Eustathius was excommunicated, they took a vow never to fall prey to the Arian heresy and their propagandists, which included even the highly placed Bishops who had conducted the Synod at Nicæa.<br />
<br />
It was during this period that Thomas of Cana reported the status of the St. Thomas Nazarenes of India to his Bishop. So they consulted with Mor Eustathius and took his blessings to prepare themselves to migrate to India to serve the cause of the St. Thomas converts of India. In 345 AD, Knai Thomas and Mor Joseph (Aithlaha) left Edessa and Aithlaha was succeeded by Mor Abraham. (This succession has been documented in the Edessene Chronicles, which has been preserved and translated by Scholars today). In 373 AD, Edessa was run over by the Arians and the Eustathians had to leave Edessa because of the persecutions of the Arians. Five years later, the Orthodox Christians reclaimed the Church of Edessa. In 393 AD, the coffin (glossocom) of St. Thomas containing the remaining relics was brought to Edessa from India, and placed in the Church built in his name in the days of Mor Cyrus, the Bishop.<br />
<br />
==The Migration==<br />
The 72 Knanaya zealot families led by Thomas and Mor Joseph landed in Kodungalloor (Crangannoore) in 345 AD. Knai Thoma and his group sailed in three ships. The leading ship called "Babylonia" had three masts. The main mast flew King David's flag, the second mast flew the Roman flag with the cross, and the third flew the Edessene flag. Knai Thoma and his people were heartily welcomed by Cheraman Perumal, the Emperor. Cheraman Perumal sent his brother, Ramavarma, and his minister, Vettathu Mannan, to receive Knai Thoma and his people. Knai Thoma and his people were given permission to settle down in Kodungalloor and to do business. Later Cheraman Perumal bestowed Knai Thoma and his people with 72 princely privileges and thereby elevated them over 17 castes. This proclamation was made on a Saturday in March (Kumbham 29), 345 and it was recorded on copper plates given to Knai Thoma (known later as the 'Knai Thomman Cheppedu'). Knai Thoma and his people built a town in Kodungalloor with a church and 72 houses. The place awarded to the immigrants was at "Mahadevar Pattanam" meaning "Town of Lord Shiva and Parvathi". They were also called Southists (Thekkumbhagar) because they lived on the south side of the Kodungalloor Mahadevar Temple. The St. Thomas Christians (native Christians of Kerala) lived on the northern side of this Syrian settlement and served their Syrian masters. They were liberated from the strictly enforced caste system by payment of money to the caste Brahmins as compensation for their spritual liberation and they consisted of converted Hindus from various caste levels of the Hindu society. They were unified under the singular label of Vadakkumbhagor and were not permitted to identify with their former religion or caste.<br />
<br />
==Jewish Traditions==<br />
Knananites did not intermarry with native Christians and maintained their endogamous Jewish tradition originating from Abraham. To this day, the Knananites continue as an endogamous community. Striking similarities exist between Knanaya Nasranis and the Cochin Jews. Both groups were granted 72 privileges by the ruling Cheraman Perumals. Copper plates given to the Jews (kept in the Mattancherry Synagogue) were handed to Joseph Rabban just as Knai Thoma was given similar copper plates during the fourth century. Both groups are endogamous. The similarities between these two groups were brought out in a research done by Dr. Shalva Weil, an Anthropologistand senior researcher from the NCJW Research Institute for Innovation in Education, Hebrew University in 1982 titled “Symmetry between Christians and Jews in India: the Cnanite Christians and the Cochin Jews of Kerala,” – Contributions to Indian Sociology, Vol. 16, No. 2: 175-196.<br />
<br />
==19th and 20th Century==<br />
During the 18th and 19th centuries, Syrian Christians became involved in several internal conflicts. One of the major disputes was regarding the ownership of funds and its interest bestowed upon the Ancient Syrian Church by the British (known also as Vattippanam). After years of legal battle, the Court, declared that the group led by Mor Dionysus Joseph Pulikkottil, the Malankara Metropolitan, being the original Syrian Church, and hence they became the beneficiary of the funds. The person who helped Mor Dionysus win this renowned court battle was Edavazhickal Pothachan (E. M. Philip). His dedication to the cause of the Syrian Church won him the title "Nasrani Simham" meaning Lion of the Nazarenes.<br />
<br />
On January 21 (Makaram 8), 1882, with the blessings of Mor Joseph Pulikkottil, eleven Knanaya priests assembled at St. Stephen's Knanaya Church, Veliyanad, and formed an organization called "Malankara Jacobite Syrian Knanaya Committee". The meeting unanimously elected Mr. E. M. Philip Edavazhickal as the secretary and Uthuppan Thomma Puthenpurackal (Vazhayil) as the treasurer. The formation of this Knanaya Committee was a significant turning point in the Knanaya history. The Knanaya Committee codified rules and guidelines for the administration of the nine Knanaya churches which existed as of that date. Further, the Knanaya Committee was instrumental in bringing together the Knananites spread from Ramamangalam to Ranny based on their endogamous nature. In 1910, upon the Knanaya Committee's request, Patriarch Ignatius Abdulla created a Knanaya Diocese with personal jurisdiction considering their ethnic background (i.e., all Knananites and their churches, irrespective of location, will be administered by the Knanaya Diocese). On August 31, 1910, the Patriarch ordained Fr. Geevarghese Edavazhickal (Mar Severious) as the first Knanaya Bishop.<br />
<br />
The Knanaya Diocese which started with 9 churches now has 107 churches spread all over the world.<br />
<br />
==Persecution by Portuguese==<br />
{{main|Portuguese Inquisition}}<br />
The ''Nasranis'', who were, until then, the "living fossils" of the Christian tradition, lost their very defining ethos.<ref name= "CBuchanan>Claudius Buchanan, 1811</ref> The only Nasranis who managed to preserve some elements of their earlier origin were the Knanaya people, because of their tradition of being [[endogamy|endogamous]] within their own community and therefore preserving their tradition.<ref name= "Poomangalam">Weil, S. 1982; Jessay, P.M. 1986 Vellian Jacob 2001; Poomangalam C.A 1998</ref> An Imperial Order was passed to confiscate and sell under public auction the properties of those who celebrated Passover. It was perhaps because of this Order that the Knanaites celebrate Passover in a very private manner without inviting any Christian friend for sharing the Holy Meal.<ref>http://knanaya.weebly.com/who-is-a-knanaite.html</ref><br />
<br />
==Contemporary Knanaya==<br />
<br />
[[Image:Kottayam Valia Palli02.jpg|thumb|300px|left|Inside a Knanaya Church in Thazhathangadi, Kottayam]]<ref name = Koder>Weil,S. 1982; Jessay, P.M. 1986; Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Thomas Puthiakunnel 1973; Vellian Jacob 2001; Koder S. 1973; Vellian, J 1988</ref> Kna people are strictly endagamous and no one may convert to join the Kna people although marrying out is an increasing concern for the community. The Knanaya and other Nasranis as a whole maintained close relationship with the Jews of Kerala, (known today as [[Cochin Jews]]) until the [[Portugal|Portuguese]] inquisition of the Jews and Nasranis in the early 1500s. <ref name = Koder>Weil,S. 1982; Jessay, P.M. 1986; Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Thomas Puthiakunnel 1973; Vellian Jacob 2001; Koder S. 1973; Vellian, J 1988</ref> Kna people are also the victims of increasing missionary efforts not only from Protestant groups ecouraging them to give up on their Syrian-Christian customs and traditions, but also from some Jewish groups. They descend from 72 priestly families descended from the same [[desposyni]] that Thomas Jude belonged to. the number 72 has a significance for the 72 nations of the world and each of the 72 families have their own unique family rule. <br />
<br />
Although grape produce is now consumed as a result of Portuguese influence, this was originally not the case among the Knanaya people. The tradition is preserved in the consumption of ''Pesaha pal'' (passover coconut milk) instead of wine on the night of [[passover]] along with ''Pesaha-appam'' (unleavened passover bread). <ref name = Koder>Weil,S. 1982; Jessay, P.M. 1986; Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Thomas Puthiakunnel 1973; Vellian Jacob 2001; Koder S. 1973; Vellian, J 1988</ref> . This tradition of ''Pesaha appam'' is observed by the entire Nasrani people till this day. <ref name = Koder>Weil,S. 1982; Jessay, P.M. 1986; Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Thomas Puthiakunnel 1973; Vellian Jacob 2001; Koder S. 1973; Vellian, J 1988</ref> The bridal canopy or nuppah is part of the Knanaya wedding ceremony and there is aceremonial bathing on the eve of the wedding that is parallel to the Jewish mikrah. The dead are buried facing the east to Jerusalem. <ref name = Koder>Weil,S. 1982; Jessay, P.M. 1986; Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Thomas Puthiakunnel 1973; Vellian Jacob 2001; Koder S. 1973; Vellian, J 1988</ref> Thanksgiving blessings which the Knanaya people use which follow the Hebrew formula, Birkat HaMazon ברוך אתה ה' א‑לוהינו מלך העולם, המוציא לחם מן הארץ when initiating a Eucharistic Mass.<br />
<br />
==Knanaya community at present==<br />
The first belonging to the [[Syriac Orthodox Church]] in India and second to the [[Syro-Malabar Catholic Church]]. <ref name = Weil>Weil, S. 1982; Jessay, P.M. 1986; Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Vellian Jacob 2001</ref>. Knanaya are very much conscious about their origin and up until today safeguard their ethnic character by marrying people from within the community regardless of rite. A Knanaya Syriac Orthodox diocese, established in 1910, is administered by an [[archbishop]] who reports directly to the Patriarch of Antioch of the [[Syrian Orthodox Church]]. The Knanaya Catholics have been acknowledged by the [[Holy See|Vatican]] under [[Pope Pius X]], by instituting in 1911 a diocese only for the Syrian-catholic of Kerala. <ref name = Weil>Weil, S. 1982; Jessay, P.M. 1986; Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Vellian Jacob 2001</ref> This diocese is called the ''Arch Diocese of Kottayam'' and is in the district of [[Kottayam]] in Kerala. <ref name = Weil>Weil, S. 1982; Jessay, P.M. 1986; Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Vellian Jacob 2001</ref><br />
<br />
The approximate population of Knanaya people as of 2001: (divided by different denominations)<br />
<br />
*''Knanaya Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Christians'': 100,000<br />
*''Knanaya Syrian Malabar Catholic Christians'': 140,000<br />
In all over 250,000 Knanayas continue in the ancient [[Hebrews|Hebrew]]-Christian tradition.<br />
<br />
==See also==<br />
* [[Cochin Jews]]<br />
* [[Kanahi]]<br />
* [[Kenites]]<br />
* [[Masada]]<br />
* [[Saint Thomas Christians]]<br />
* [[Syrian Malabar Nasrani]]<br />
* [[Zealots]]<br />
* [[Syro-Malabar Catholic Church]]<br />
<br />
==Notes==<br />
{{reflist}}<br />
<br />
==References==<br />
* Menachery, G. (1973) ''The St. Thomas Christian Encyclopedia of India'', Ed. George Menachery, B.N.K. Press, vol. 2, ISBN 81-87132-06-X, Lib. Cong. Cat. Card. No. 73-905568 ; B.N.K. Press<br />
* Vellian, Jacob (2001) ''Knanite community: History and culture''; Syrian church series; vol.XVII; Jyothi Book House, Kottayam<br />
* "In Universi Cristiani" (Latin Text of the Papal erection of the Knanaya Diocese of Kottayam)<br />
* Puthiakunnel, Thomas. (1973) "Jewish colonies of India paved the way for St. Thomas", ''The Saint Thomas Christian Encyclopedia of India'', ed. George Menachery, Vol. II., Trichur.<br />
* Koder, S. (1973) "History of the Jews of Kerala".''The St. Thomas Christian Encyclopaedia of India'',Ed. G. Menachery.<br />
* Vellian, J (1988) Marriage Customs of the Knanites, Christian Orient, 9, Kottayam.<br />
* Weil, S. (1982) "Symmetry between Christians and Jews in India: The Cananite Christians and Cochin Jews in Kerala. in Contributions to Indian Sociology, 16.<br />
* Jessay, P.M. (1986) "The Wedding Songs of the Cochin Jews and of the Knanite Christians of Kerala: A Study in Comparison." Symposium.<br />
* James Hough (1893) "The History of Christianity in India".<br />
* Menachery, G (ed); (1998) "The Indian Church History Classics", Vol.I, ''The Nazranies'', Ollur, 1998. [ISBN 81-87133-05-8].<br />
* Poomangalam, C.A. (1998) ''The Antiquities of the Knanaya Syrian Christians''; Kottayam, Kerala.<br />
* Podipara, Placid J. (1970) "The Thomas Christians". London: Darton, Longman and Tidd.<br />
<br />
==External links==<br />
*[http://www.knanayadiocese.com/ Official Site]<br />
*[http://www.knanayavaliyapally.com/ St. Jacob's Knanaya Valiyapalli, Ramamangalam]<br />
*[http://www.knanaya.net Knanaya finder]<br />
*[http://www.knaconvention.com Knanaya Jacobite Annual Convention]<br />
*[http://www.indianchristianity.com Indian Christianity]<br />
*[http://www.kottayamad.org/ Archdiocese of Kottayam]<br />
*[http://www.stjohnsputhenpally.org/ St.Johns Puthenpally Chingavanam]<br />
<br />
[[Category:Archdiocese of Changanassery]]<br />
[[Category:Kerala society]]<br />
[[Category:Knanaya Community| ]]<br />
[[Category:Malayali people]]<br />
[[Category:Saint Thomas Christians]]<br />
[[Category:Syro-Malabar Catholic Church]]<br />
[[Category:Jewish ethnic groups]]<br />
[[Category:Jewish Christians]]<br />
[[Category:Semitic peoples]]<br />
<br />
[[de:Knananiten]]<br />
[[fr:Knanayas]]<br />
[[mk:Кнанаја]]</div>Zubinrajhttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Knanaya&diff=263133315Knanaya2009-01-10T06:49:16Z<p>Zubinraj: </p>
<hr />
<div><gallery><br />
<br />
</gallery><br />
<br />
[[Image:Nasrani menorah.JPG|thumbnail|left|125px|The [[Nasrani Menorah|Nasrani Menorah]] also known as the Mar Thoma sliba]]<br />
<br />
{{Ethnic group<br />
|group=Knanaya<br />
<br />
<gallery><br />
Image:Knai_Tho.jpg|Knai Thoma<br />
</gallery><br />
|poptime=2001: (approx) '''252,600'''<br />
|popplace=<span style="font-size:105%;">'''Majority Population:'''<br />
{{IND}} <br><br />
'''Significant Populations:'''<br><br />
{{USA}}<br><br />
{{GBR}}<br><br />
|langs=[[Malayalam]], [[English language|English]].<br />
|rels= Majority: Syrian Jacobites, Syrian Catholics. Some Protestants. <br />
|related=<br />
*[[Saint Thomas Christians]]<br />
*[[Nasrani]]<br />
*[[Syrian Malabar Nasrani]]<br />
*[[Jewish Christians]] <br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''Knanaya''' (Heb:קנאים, Malayalam: ക്നാനായ), literally meaning "Knai people", are a group of [[endogamous]] Christians from [[Kerala]], [[India]].<ref name = Menachery>Menachery G. 1973, 1998; Vellian Jacob 2001; Weil,S. 1982; Podipara, Placid J. 1970</ref> Their heritage and culture is syriac-[[Keralite]], their language [[Malayalam]]. <ref name = Menachery>Menachery G. 1973, 1998; Vellian Jacob 2001; Weil,S. 1982; Podipara, Placid J. 1970</ref> Their loyalties are with the [[Syrian Malabar Nasrani|Nasrani]] community of [[Syriac Christian]]s from Kerala. <ref name = Menachery>Menachery G. 1973, 1998; Vellian Jacob 2001; Weil,S. 1982; Podipara, Placid J. 1970</ref><br />
<br />
==Early History==<br />
<br />
In the year 345 A.D., Knai Thoma, a rich merchant, and 72 families from Edessa (or modern Urfa), immigrated to Malabar (presently Kerala) and established their colony. In the group there were also priests, deacons and their bishop, Uraha Mor Ouseph (Bishop Joseph of Uraha/Urfa). Knai Thoma and his people were welcomed by Cheraman Perumal, the Emperor of Kerala, and were given permission to settle down in Kodungalloor. They built a town in Kodungalloor with a church and 72 houses. The name "Kodungallur" is supposed to originate from "An Ur of a Kodi Lingams or Town of a thousand Shiva lingams". It is also known as "Mahadevar Pattanam" meaning "town of Lord Mahadeva or Shiva".<br />
<br />
K’naneans (Cananaean according to the Gospel of Luke) are a very distinct ethnic and religious group whose ancestry traces back to Abraham, the Patriarch of the Old Testament. The Israelites became slaves in Egypt and God delivered them through Moses. He gave Moses the Ten Commandments and the Holy Laws so as to administer to the needs of the community to lead a very prosperous, religious and civilized life in the land of Canaan. In celebration for having received the Holy Constitution, Moses built a sacrificial altar out of 12 stones and celebrated Mass in honour of God with an animal sacrifice. In order to preserve the sacred constitution, he appointed 72 elders to memorise the Laws and to ensure its preservation and interpretation on behalf of the entire community. He appointed Judges to enforce the Divine Laws while dealing with issues facing the people. He appointed Aaron as the High Priest and the descendants of Levi (Levites) to assist Aaron in the preservation of the sacred scrolls, vessels and other Holy equipments used during the worship of the Almighty. Phinehas, the grandson of Aaron showed his zeal for the Divine Laws during a period of crisis when the Faith of the Israelites were put to test by Balaam. Pleased with his display of zealousness, the Almighty Lord blessed Phinehas and his descendents with an eternal pledge of High Priesthood, just as he was to later bless David and his Descendants with eternal Lordship over the Israelites. The zeal of Phinehas was the inspiration of the later day Zealots (Q'nanaya in Aramaic) beginning with the Maccabean Dynasty in 186 BC.<br />
<br />
Twenty years after the Nicean Council (synod), Knai (or Q'nai) Thoma, an influential merchant from Cana, brought a colony of 400 Syrian Christians consisting of 72 families belonging to 7 clans with instructions from the Bishop of Antioch (Antioch had not been declared a Patriarchate then), Mor Eusthathius, to the Malabar coast of India. The group included men, women, children, priests, deacons and their bishop Mor Joseph of Urfa (Uraha/Edessa). The names of the seven clans, according to Mr. E M Philip, were: Bagi, Belkuth, Hadai, Kujalik, Koja, Mugmuth, and Thegmuth. The legend is that Mor Joseph had a startling dream (vision) in which he saw the plight of the Christian church in Malabar established by St. Thomas, the Apostle, in the 1st Century. Meanwhile, Knai Thoma, who frequented the shores of Kodungallur in search of spices and other Indian wealth to be exported back to the World trade ports of Baghdad and Egypt, noticed on the shores of Kodungallur, local men who carried on their bare trunk, crosses to mark their religious beliefs. But they were not of high disposition as they were subjected to persecution by their chaste brethren in lieu of their belief in an unknown and unseen God. Thomas interviewed them and found that they were the descendants of formerly high ranking brahmin families who had accepted the way of the cross as preached by St. Thomas between 52 – 72 AD. He also learnt that the Saint was martyred at the Corromandel coast and they took him along on their annual pilgrimage to Malayattoor and from thence to Mylapore. From them, he learnt that St. Thomas had preached the Word of God in Hebrew and his first converts/disciples were about 500 Jews in Kodungallur, who were well versed in the semitic language of Aramaic as well as could converse in the local dialect of that period with the natives. But after the martyrdom of the Saint, they became orphaned for want of a spiritual guide who could nourish the fledgling Nazarene community.<br />
<br />
Mor Joseph (known as Aithlaha according to the Edessene Scrolls) became the Bishop of Edessa in 324 AD, a year before the Synod of Nicea. Mor Aithlaha had the fortune to complete the Eastern side of the Church of Edessa as well as made a cemetery for the Church (the first recorded cemetery for the Christians according to historical records). The original Church of Edessa, the Church of St. Thomas, built around the time he left for India in 52 AD, had been washed away in a great flood in 203 AD during the reign of King Abgar. A second flood washed through Edessa and laid it waste in 303 AD. Ten years later, the foundations of a new Church was laid at Edessa and that was completed in the days of Mor Aithlaha. He took Knai Thoma to the Catholicos of Selucia – Steciphon (modern Baghdad) who was his spiritual superior and who was given temporal power by the Bishop of Antioch to administer to the churches of the Far East. Mor Eustathius was the Bishop of Antioch during this period.<br />
<br />
Mor Eustathius, who was Bishop of Berœa in Syria, was transferred to Antioch in 324 AD. He was one of the most prominent opponents of Arianism at the Council of Nicæa in 325 AD and from 325 – 330 he was engaged in a continuous literary warfare against the Arians. He was supported by Mor Ethalaha, the Bishop of Edessa who too attended the Synod. By his fearless denunciation of Arianism and his refusal to engage any Arian priests in his diocese, he incurred the hatred of the Arians, who, headed by Eusebius of Cæsarea and his namesake of Nicomedia, held a synod at Antioch in 331 AD at which Mor Eustathius was accused of Sabellianism, incontinency, cruelty, and other crimes. He was deposed by the synod and banished to Trajanopolis in Thrace by order of the Emperor Constantine. The people of Antioch, who loved and revered their holy and learned Patriarch, became indignant at the injustice done to him and were ready to take up arms in his defence. But Mor Eustathius kept them in check, exhorted them to remain true to the orthodox faith and humbly left for his place of exile, accompanied by a large body of his clergy. The adherents of Mor Eustathius at Antioch formed a separate community by the name of Eustathians and refused to acknowledge the bishops set over them by the Arians. The knanaya zealots of Edessa, led by their Bishop, Mor Joseph (Aithlaha), too were Eustathians, and so when Mor Eustathius was excommunicated, they took a vow never to fall prey to the Arian heresy and their propagandists, which included even the highly placed Bishops who had conducted the Synod at Nicæa.<br />
<br />
It was during this period that Thomas of Cana reported the status of the St. Thomas Nazarenes of India to his Bishop. So they consulted with Mor Eustathius and took his blessings to prepare themselves to migrate to India to serve the cause of the St. Thomas converts of India. In 345 AD, Knai Thomas and Mor Joseph (Aithlaha) left Edessa and Aithlaha was succeeded by Mor Abraham. (This succession has been documented in the Edessene Chronicles, which has been preserved and translated by Scholars today). In 373 AD, Edessa was run over by the Arians and the Eustathians had to leave Edessa because of the persecutions of the Arians. Five years later, the Orthodox Christians reclaimed the Church of Edessa. In 393 AD, the coffin (glossocom) of St. Thomas containing the remaining relics was brought to Edessa from India, and placed in the Church built in his name in the days of Mor Cyrus, the Bishop.<br />
<br />
==The Migration==<br />
The 72 Knanaya zealot families led by Thomas and Mor Joseph landed in Kodungalloor (Crangannoore) in 345 AD. Knai Thoma and his group sailed in three ships. The leading ship called "Babylonia" had three masts. The main mast flew King David's flag, the second mast flew the Roman flag with the cross, and the third flew the Edessene flag. Knai Thoma and his people were heartily welcomed by Cheraman Perumal, the Emperor. Cheraman Perumal sent his brother, Ramavarma, and his minister, Vettathu Mannan, to receive Knai Thoma and his people. Knai Thoma and his people were given permission to settle down in Kodungalloor and to do business. Later Cheraman Perumal bestowed Knai Thoma and his people with 72 princely privileges and thereby elevated them over 17 castes. This proclamation was made on a Saturday in March (Kumbham 29), 345 and it was recorded on copper plates given to Knai Thoma (known later as the 'Knai Thomman Cheppedu'). Knai Thoma and his people built a town in Kodungalloor with a church and 72 houses. The place awarded to the immigrants was at "Mahadevar Pattanam" meaning "Town of Lord Shiva and Parvathi". They were also called Southists (Thekkumbhagar) because they lived on the south side of the Kodungalloor Mahadevar Temple. The St. Thomas Christians (native Christians of Kerala) lived on the northern side of this Syrian settlement and served their Syrian masters. They were liberated from the strictly enforced caste system by payment of money to the caste Brahmins as compensation for their spritual liberation and they consisted of converted Hindus from various caste levels of the Hindu society. They were unified under the singular label of Vadakkumbhagor and were not permitted to identify with their former religion or caste.<br />
<br />
==Jewish Traditions==<br />
Knananites did not intermarry with native Christians and maintained their endogamous Jewish tradition originating from Abraham. To this day, the Knananites continue as an endogamous community. Striking similarities exist between Knanaya Nasranis and the Cochin Jews. Both groups were granted 72 privileges by the ruling Cheraman Perumals. Copper plates given to the Jews (kept in the Mattancherry Synagogue) were handed to Joseph Rabban just as Knai Thoma was given similar copper plates during the fourth century. Both groups are endogamous. The similarities between these two groups were brought out in a research done by Dr. Shalva Weil, an Anthropologistand senior researcher from the NCJW Research Institute for Innovation in Education, Hebrew University in 1982 titled “Symmetry between Christians and Jews in India: the Cnanite Christians and the Cochin Jews of Kerala,” – Contributions to Indian Sociology, Vol. 16, No. 2: 175-196.<br />
<br />
==19th and 20th Century==<br />
During the 18th and 19th centuries, Syrian Christians became involved in several internal conflicts. One of the major disputes was regarding the ownership of funds and its interest bestowed upon the Ancient Syrian Church by the British (known also as Vattippanam). After years of legal battle, the Court, declared that the group led by Mor Dionysus Joseph Pulikkottil, the Malankara Metropolitan, being the original Syrian Church, and hence they became the beneficiary of the funds. The person who helped Mor Dionysus win this renowned court battle was Edavazhickal Pothachan (E. M. Philip). His dedication to the cause of the Syrian Church won him the title "Nasrani Simham" meaning Lion of the Nazarenes.<br />
<br />
On January 21 (Makaram 8), 1882, with the blessings of Mor Joseph Pulikkottil, eleven Knanaya priests assembled at St. Stephen's Knanaya Church, Veliyanad, and formed an organization called "Malankara Jacobite Syrian Knanaya Committee". The meeting unanimously elected Mr. E. M. Philip Edavazhickal as the secretary and Uthuppan Thomma Puthenpurackal (Vazhayil) as the treasurer. The formation of this Knanaya Committee was a significant turning point in the Knanaya history. The Knanaya Committee codified rules and guidelines for the administration of the nine Knanaya churches which existed as of that date. Further, the Knanaya Committee was instrumental in bringing together the Knananites spread from Ramamangalam to Ranny based on their endogamous nature. In 1910, upon the Knanaya Committee's request, Patriarch Ignatius Abdulla created a Knanaya Diocese with personal jurisdiction considering their ethnic background (i.e., all Knananites and their churches, irrespective of location, will be administered by the Knanaya Diocese). On August 31, 1910, the Patriarch ordained Fr. Geevarghese Edavazhickal (Mar Severious) as the first Knanaya Bishop.<br />
<br />
The Knanaya Diocese which started with 9 churches now has 107 churches spread all over the world.<br />
<br />
==Persecution by Portuguese==<br />
{{main|Portuguese Inquisition}}<br />
The ''Nasranis'', who were, until then, the "living fossils" of the Christian tradition, lost their very defining ethos.<ref name= "CBuchanan>Claudius Buchanan, 1811</ref> The only Nasranis who managed to preserve some elements of their earlier origin were the Knanaya people, because of their tradition of being [[endogamy|endogamous]] within their own community and therefore preserving their tradition.<ref name= "Poomangalam">Weil, S. 1982; Jessay, P.M. 1986 Vellian Jacob 2001; Poomangalam C.A 1998</ref> An Imperial Order was passed to confiscate and sell under public auction the properties of those who celebrated Passover. It was perhaps because of this Order that the Knanaites celebrate Passover in a very private manner without inviting any Christian friend for sharing the Holy Meal.<ref>http://knanaya.weebly.com/who-is-a-knanaite.html</ref><br />
<br />
==Contemporary Knanaya==<br />
<br />
[[Image:Kottayam Valia Palli02.jpg|thumb|300px|left|Inside a Knanaya Church in Thazhathangadi, Kottayam]]<ref name = Koder>Weil,S. 1982; Jessay, P.M. 1986; Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Thomas Puthiakunnel 1973; Vellian Jacob 2001; Koder S. 1973; Vellian, J 1988</ref> Kna people are strictly endagamous and no one may convert to join the Kna people although marrying out is an increasing concern for the community. The Knanaya and other Nasranis as a whole maintained close relationship with the Jews of Kerala, (known today as [[Cochin Jews]]) until the [[Portugal|Portuguese]] inquisition of the Jews and Nasranis in the early 1500s. <ref name = Koder>Weil,S. 1982; Jessay, P.M. 1986; Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Thomas Puthiakunnel 1973; Vellian Jacob 2001; Koder S. 1973; Vellian, J 1988</ref> Kna people are also the victims of increasing missionary efforts not only from Protestant groups ecouraging them to give up on their Syrian-Christian customs and traditions, but also from some Jewish groups. They descend from 72 priestly families descended from the same [[desposyni]] that Thomas Jude belonged to. the number 72 has a significance for the 72 nations of the world and each of the 72 families have their own unique family rule. <br />
<br />
Although grape produce is now consumed as a result of Portuguese influence, this was originally not the case among the Knanaya people. The tradition is preserved in the consumption of ''Pesaha pal'' (passover coconut milk) instead of wine on the night of [[passover]] along with ''Pesaha-appam'' (unleavened passover bread). <ref name = Koder>Weil,S. 1982; Jessay, P.M. 1986; Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Thomas Puthiakunnel 1973; Vellian Jacob 2001; Koder S. 1973; Vellian, J 1988</ref> . This tradition of ''Pesaha appam'' is observed by the entire Nasrani people till this day. <ref name = Koder>Weil,S. 1982; Jessay, P.M. 1986; Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Thomas Puthiakunnel 1973; Vellian Jacob 2001; Koder S. 1973; Vellian, J 1988</ref> The bridal canopy or nuppah is part of the Knanaya wedding ceremony and there is aceremonial bathing on the eve of the wedding that is parallel to the Jewish mikrah. The dead are buried facing the east to Jerusalem. <ref name = Koder>Weil,S. 1982; Jessay, P.M. 1986; Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Thomas Puthiakunnel 1973; Vellian Jacob 2001; Koder S. 1973; Vellian, J 1988</ref> Thanksgiving blessings which the Knanaya people use which follow the Hebrew formula, Birkat HaMazon ברוך אתה ה' א‑לוהינו מלך העולם, המוציא לחם מן הארץ when initiating a Eucharistic Mass.<br />
<br />
==Knanaya community at present==<br />
[[Image:A Syro Malabar Knanaya Catholic Church.JPG|thumbnail|left|An unvelied tabernacle of a Knanaya 'palli' with 12 candlesticks in the background for the 12 tribes of ancient Israel.]]<br />
<br />
The first belonging to the [[Syriac Orthodox Church]] in India and second to the [[Syro-Malabar Catholic Church]]. <ref name = Weil>Weil, S. 1982; Jessay, P.M. 1986; Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Vellian Jacob 2001</ref>. Knanaya are very much conscious about their origin and up until today safeguard their ethnic character by marrying people from within the community regardless of rite. A Knanaya Syriac Orthodox diocese, established in 1910, is administered by an [[archbishop]] who reports directly to the Patriarch of Antioch of the [[Syrian Orthodox Church]]. The Knanaya Catholics have been acknowledged by the [[Holy See|Vatican]] under [[Pope Pius X]], by instituting in 1911 a diocese only for the Syrian-catholic of Kerala. <ref name = Weil>Weil, S. 1982; Jessay, P.M. 1986; Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Vellian Jacob 2001</ref> This diocese is called the ''Arch Diocese of Kottayam'' and is in the district of [[Kottayam]] in Kerala. <ref name = Weil>Weil, S. 1982; Jessay, P.M. 1986; Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Vellian Jacob 2001</ref><br />
<br />
The approximate population of Knanaya people as of 2001: (divided by different denominations)<br />
<br />
*''Knanaya Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Christians'': 100,000<br />
*''Knanaya Syrian Malabar Catholic Christians'': 140,000<br />
In all over 250,000 Knanayas continue in the ancient [[Hebrews|Hebrew]]-Christian tradition.<br />
<br />
==See also==<br />
* [[Cochin Jews]]<br />
* [[Kanahi]]<br />
* [[Kenites]]<br />
* [[Masada]]<br />
* [[Saint Thomas Christians]]<br />
* [[Syrian Malabar Nasrani]]<br />
* [[Zealots]]<br />
* [[Syro-Malabar Catholic Church]]<br />
<br />
==Notes==<br />
{{reflist}}<br />
<br />
==References==<br />
* Menachery, G. (1973) ''The St. Thomas Christian Encyclopedia of India'', Ed. George Menachery, B.N.K. Press, vol. 2, ISBN 81-87132-06-X, Lib. Cong. Cat. Card. No. 73-905568 ; B.N.K. Press<br />
* Vellian, Jacob (2001) ''Knanite community: History and culture''; Syrian church series; vol.XVII; Jyothi Book House, Kottayam<br />
* "In Universi Cristiani" (Latin Text of the Papal erection of the Knanaya Diocese of Kottayam)<br />
* Puthiakunnel, Thomas. (1973) "Jewish colonies of India paved the way for St. Thomas", ''The Saint Thomas Christian Encyclopedia of India'', ed. George Menachery, Vol. II., Trichur.<br />
* Koder, S. (1973) "History of the Jews of Kerala".''The St. Thomas Christian Encyclopaedia of India'',Ed. G. Menachery.<br />
* Vellian, J (1988) Marriage Customs of the Knanites, Christian Orient, 9, Kottayam.<br />
* Weil, S. (1982) "Symmetry between Christians and Jews in India: The Cananite Christians and Cochin Jews in Kerala. in Contributions to Indian Sociology, 16.<br />
* Jessay, P.M. (1986) "The Wedding Songs of the Cochin Jews and of the Knanite Christians of Kerala: A Study in Comparison." Symposium.<br />
* James Hough (1893) "The History of Christianity in India".<br />
* Menachery, G (ed); (1998) "The Indian Church History Classics", Vol.I, ''The Nazranies'', Ollur, 1998. [ISBN 81-87133-05-8].<br />
* Poomangalam, C.A. (1998) ''The Antiquities of the Knanaya Syrian Christians''; Kottayam, Kerala.<br />
* Podipara, Placid J. (1970) "The Thomas Christians". London: Darton, Longman and Tidd.<br />
<br />
==External links==<br />
*[http://www.knanayadiocese.com/ Official Site]<br />
*[http://www.knanayavaliyapally.com/ St. Jacob's Knanaya Valiyapalli, Ramamangalam]<br />
*[http://www.knanaya.net Knanaya finder]<br />
*[http://www.knaconvention.com Knanaya Jacobite Annual Convention]<br />
*[http://www.indianchristianity.com Indian Christianity]<br />
*[http://www.kottayamad.org/ Archdiocese of Kottayam]<br />
*[http://www.stjohnsputhenpally.org/ St.Johns Puthenpally Chingavanam]<br />
<br />
[[Category:Archdiocese of Changanassery]]<br />
[[Category:Kerala society]]<br />
[[Category:Knanaya Community| ]]<br />
[[Category:Malayali people]]<br />
[[Category:Saint Thomas Christians]]<br />
[[Category:Syro-Malabar Catholic Church]]<br />
[[Category:Jewish ethnic groups]]<br />
[[Category:Jewish Christians]]<br />
[[Category:Semitic peoples]]<br />
<br />
[[de:Knananiten]]<br />
[[fr:Knanayas]]<br />
[[mk:Кнанаја]]</div>Zubinrajhttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Knanaya&diff=263133200Knanaya2009-01-10T06:48:17Z<p>Zubinraj: </p>
<hr />
<div><gallery><br />
<br />
</gallery><br />
<br />
[[Image:Nasrani menorah.JPG|thumbnail|left|125px|The [[Nasrani Menorah|Nasrani Menorah]] also known as the Mar Thoma sliba]]<br />
<br />
{{Ethnic group<br />
|group=Knanaya<br />
<br />
<gallery><br />
Image:Knai_Tho.jpg|Knai Thoma<br />
</gallery><br />
|poptime=2001: (approx) '''252,600'''<br />
|popplace=<span style="font-size:105%;">'''Majority Population:'''<br />
{{IND}} <br><br />
'''Significant Populations:'''<br><br />
{{USA}}<br><br />
{{GBR}}<br><br />
|langs=[[Malayalam]], [[English language|English]].<br />
|rels= Majority: Syrian Jacobites, Syrian Catholics. Some Protestants. <br />
|related=<br />
*[[Saint Thomas Christians]]<br />
*[[Nasrani]]<br />
*[[Syrian Malabar Nasrani]]<br />
*[[Jewish Christians]] <br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''Knanaya''' (Heb:קנאים, Malayalam: ക്നാനായ), literally meaning "Knai people", are a group of [[endogamous]] Christians from [[Kerala]], [[India]].<ref name = Menachery>Menachery G. 1973, 1998; Vellian Jacob 2001; Weil,S. 1982; Podipara, Placid J. 1970</ref> Their heritage and culture is syriac-[[Keralite]], their language [[Malayalam]]. <ref name = Menachery>Menachery G. 1973, 1998; Vellian Jacob 2001; Weil,S. 1982; Podipara, Placid J. 1970</ref> Their loyalties are with the [[Syrian Malabar Nasrani|Nasrani]] community of [[Syriac Christian]]s from Kerala. <ref name = Menachery>Menachery G. 1973, 1998; Vellian Jacob 2001; Weil,S. 1982; Podipara, Placid J. 1970</ref><br />
<br />
==Early History==<br />
<br />
In the year 345 A.D., Knai Thoma, a rich merchant, and 72 families from Edessa (or modern Urfa), immigrated to Malabar (presently Kerala) and established their colony. In the group there were also priests, deacons and their bishop, Uraha Mor Ouseph (Bishop Joseph of Uraha/Urfa). Knai Thoma and his people were welcomed by Cheraman Perumal, the Emperor of Kerala, and were given permission to settle down in Kodungalloor. They built a town in Kodungalloor with a church and 72 houses. The name "Kodungallur" is supposed to originate from "An Ur of a Kodi Lingams or Town of a thousand Shiva lingams". It is also known as "Mahadevar Pattanam" meaning "town of Lord Mahadeva or Shiva".<br />
<br />
K’naneans (Cananaean according to the Gospel of Luke) are a very distinct ethnic and religious group whose ancestry traces back to Abraham, the Patriarch of the Old Testament. The Israelites became slaves in Egypt and God delivered them through Moses. He gave Moses the Ten Commandments and the Holy Laws so as to administer to the needs of the community to lead a very prosperous, religious and civilized life in the land of Canaan. In celebration for having received the Holy Constitution, Moses built a sacrificial altar out of 12 stones and celebrated Mass in honour of God with an animal sacrifice. In order to preserve the sacred constitution, he appointed 72 elders to memorise the Laws and to ensure its preservation and interpretation on behalf of the entire community. He appointed Judges to enforce the Divine Laws while dealing with issues facing the people. He appointed Aaron as the High Priest and the descendants of Levi (Levites) to assist Aaron in the preservation of the sacred scrolls, vessels and other Holy equipments used during the worship of the Almighty. Phinehas, the grandson of Aaron showed his zeal for the Divine Laws during a period of crisis when the Faith of the Israelites were put to test by Balaam. Pleased with his display of zealousness, the Almighty Lord blessed Phinehas and his descendents with an eternal pledge of High Priesthood, just as he was to later bless David and his Descendants with eternal Lordship over the Israelites. The zeal of Phinehas was the inspiration of the later day Zealots (Q'nanaya in Aramaic) beginning with the Maccabean Dynasty in 186 BC.<br />
<br />
Twenty years after the Nicean Council (synod), Knai (or Q'nai) Thoma, an influential merchant from Cana, brought a colony of 400 Syrian Christians consisting of 72 families belonging to 7 clans with instructions from the Bishop of Antioch (Antioch had not been declared a Patriarchate then), Mor Eusthathius, to the Malabar coast of India. The group included men, women, children, priests, deacons and their bishop Mor Joseph of Urfa (Uraha/Edessa). The names of the seven clans, according to Mr. E M Philip, were: Bagi, Belkuth, Hadai, Kujalik, Koja, Mugmuth, and Thegmuth. The legend is that Mor Joseph had a startling dream (vision) in which he saw the plight of the Christian church in Malabar established by St. Thomas, the Apostle, in the 1st Century. Meanwhile, Knai Thoma, who frequented the shores of Kodungallur in search of spices and other Indian wealth to be exported back to the World trade ports of Baghdad and Egypt, noticed on the shores of Kodungallur, local men who carried on their bare trunk, crosses to mark their religious beliefs. But they were not of high disposition as they were subjected to persecution by their chaste brethren in lieu of their belief in an unknown and unseen God. Thomas interviewed them and found that they were the descendants of formerly high ranking brahmin families who had accepted the way of the cross as preached by St. Thomas between 52 – 72 AD. He also learnt that the Saint was martyred at the Corromandel coast and they took him along on their annual pilgrimage to Malayattoor and from thence to Mylapore. From them, he learnt that St. Thomas had preached the Word of God in Hebrew and his first converts/disciples were about 500 Jews in Kodungallur, who were well versed in the semitic language of Aramaic as well as could converse in the local dialect of that period with the natives. But after the martyrdom of the Saint, they became orphaned for want of a spiritual guide who could nourish the fledgling Nazarene community.<br />
<br />
Mor Joseph (known as Aithlaha according to the Edessene Scrolls) became the Bishop of Edessa in 324 AD, a year before the Synod of Nicea. Mor Aithlaha had the fortune to complete the Eastern side of the Church of Edessa as well as made a cemetery for the Church (the first recorded cemetery for the Christians according to historical records). The original Church of Edessa, the Church of St. Thomas, built around the time he left for India in 52 AD, had been washed away in a great flood in 203 AD during the reign of King Abgar. A second flood washed through Edessa and laid it waste in 303 AD. Ten years later, the foundations of a new Church was laid at Edessa and that was completed in the days of Mor Aithlaha. He took Knai Thoma to the Catholicos of Selucia – Steciphon (modern Baghdad) who was his spiritual superior and who was given temporal power by the Bishop of Antioch to administer to the churches of the Far East. Mor Eustathius was the Bishop of Antioch during this period.<br />
<br />
Mor Eustathius, who was Bishop of Berœa in Syria, was transferred to Antioch in 324 AD. He was one of the most prominent opponents of Arianism at the Council of Nicæa in 325 AD and from 325 – 330 he was engaged in a continuous literary warfare against the Arians. He was supported by Mor Ethalaha, the Bishop of Edessa who too attended the Synod. By his fearless denunciation of Arianism and his refusal to engage any Arian priests in his diocese, he incurred the hatred of the Arians, who, headed by Eusebius of Cæsarea and his namesake of Nicomedia, held a synod at Antioch in 331 AD at which Mor Eustathius was accused of Sabellianism, incontinency, cruelty, and other crimes. He was deposed by the synod and banished to Trajanopolis in Thrace by order of the Emperor Constantine. The people of Antioch, who loved and revered their holy and learned Patriarch, became indignant at the injustice done to him and were ready to take up arms in his defence. But Mor Eustathius kept them in check, exhorted them to remain true to the orthodox faith and humbly left for his place of exile, accompanied by a large body of his clergy. The adherents of Mor Eustathius at Antioch formed a separate community by the name of Eustathians and refused to acknowledge the bishops set over them by the Arians. The knanaya zealots of Edessa, led by their Bishop, Mor Joseph (Aithlaha), too were Eustathians, and so when Mor Eustathius was excommunicated, they took a vow never to fall prey to the Arian heresy and their propagandists, which included even the highly placed Bishops who had conducted the Synod at Nicæa.<br />
<br />
It was during this period that Thomas of Cana reported the status of the St. Thomas Nazarenes of India to his Bishop. So they consulted with Mor Eustathius and took his blessings to prepare themselves to migrate to India to serve the cause of the St. Thomas converts of India. In 345 AD, Knai Thomas and Mor Joseph (Aithlaha) left Edessa and Aithlaha was succeeded by Mor Abraham. (This succession has been documented in the Edessene Chronicles, which has been preserved and translated by Scholars today). In 373 AD, Edessa was run over by the Arians and the Eustathians had to leave Edessa because of the persecutions of the Arians. Five years later, the Orthodox Christians reclaimed the Church of Edessa. In 393 AD, the coffin (glossocom) of St. Thomas containing the remaining relics was brought to Edessa from India, and placed in the Church built in his name in the days of Mor Cyrus, the Bishop.<br />
<br />
<br />
==The Migration==<br />
The 72 Knanaya zealot families led by Thomas and Mor Joseph landed in Kodungalloor (Crangannoore) in 345 AD. Knai Thoma and his group sailed in three ships. The leading ship called "Babylonia" had three masts. The main mast flew King David's flag, the second mast flew the Roman flag with the cross, and the third flew the Edessene flag. Knai Thoma and his people were heartily welcomed by Cheraman Perumal, the Emperor. Cheraman Perumal sent his brother, Ramavarma, and his minister, Vettathu Mannan, to receive Knai Thoma and his people. Knai Thoma and his people were given permission to settle down in Kodungalloor and to do business. Later Cheraman Perumal bestowed Knai Thoma and his people with 72 princely privileges and thereby elevated them over 17 castes. This proclamation was made on a Saturday in March (Kumbham 29), 345 and it was recorded on copper plates given to Knai Thoma (known later as the 'Knai Thomman Cheppedu'). Knai Thoma and his people built a town in Kodungalloor with a church and 72 houses. The place awarded to the immigrants was at "Mahadevar Pattanam" meaning "Town of Lord Shiva and Parvathi". They were also called Southists (Thekkumbhagar) because they lived on the south side of the Kodungalloor Mahadevar Temple. The St. Thomas Christians (native Christians of Kerala) lived on the northern side of this Syrian settlement and served their Syrian masters. They were liberated from the strictly enforced caste system by payment of money to the caste Brahmins as compensation for their spritual liberation and they consisted of converted Hindus from various caste levels of the Hindu society. They were unified under the singular label of Vadakkumbhagor and were not permitted to identify with their former religion or caste.<br />
<br />
==Jewish Traditions==<br />
Knananites did not intermarry with native Christians and maintained their endogamous Jewish tradition originating from Abraham. To this day, the Knananites continue as an endogamous community. Striking similarities exist between Knanaya Nasranis and the Cochin Jews. Both groups were granted 72 privileges by the ruling Cheraman Perumals. Copper plates given to the Jews (kept in the Mattancherry Synagogue) were handed to Joseph Rabban just as Knai Thoma was given similar copper plates during the fourth century. Both groups are endogamous. The similarities between these two groups were brought out in a research done by Dr. Shalva Weil, an Anthropologistand senior researcher from the NCJW Research Institute for Innovation in Education, Hebrew University in 1982 titled “Symmetry between Christians and Jews in India: the Cnanite Christians and the Cochin Jews of Kerala,” – Contributions to Indian Sociology, Vol. 16, No. 2: 175-196.<br />
<br />
==19th and 20th Century==<br />
During the 18th and 19th centuries, Syrian Christians became involved in several internal conflicts. One of the major disputes was regarding the ownership of funds and its interest bestowed upon the Ancient Syrian Church by the British (known also as Vattippanam). After years of legal battle, the Court, declared that the group led by Mor Dionysus Joseph Pulikkottil, the Malankara Metropolitan, being the original Syrian Church, and hence they became the beneficiary of the funds. The person who helped Mor Dionysus win this renowned court battle was Edavazhickal Pothachan (E. M. Philip). His dedication to the cause of the Syrian Church won him the title "Nasrani Simham" meaning Lion of the Nazarenes.<br />
<br />
On January 21 (Makaram 8), 1882, with the blessings of Mor Joseph Pulikkottil, eleven Knanaya priests assembled at St. Stephen's Knanaya Church, Veliyanad, and formed an organization called "Malankara Jacobite Syrian Knanaya Committee". The meeting unanimously elected Mr. E. M. Philip Edavazhickal as the secretary and Uthuppan Thomma Puthenpurackal (Vazhayil) as the treasurer. The formation of this Knanaya Committee was a significant turning point in the Knanaya history. The Knanaya Committee codified rules and guidelines for the administration of the nine Knanaya churches which existed as of that date. Further, the Knanaya Committee was instrumental in bringing together the Knananites spread from Ramamangalam to Ranny based on their endogamous nature. In 1910, upon the Knanaya Committee's request, Patriarch Ignatius Abdulla created a Knanaya Diocese with personal jurisdiction considering their ethnic background (i.e., all Knananites and their churches, irrespective of location, will be administered by the Knanaya Diocese). On August 31, 1910, the Patriarch ordained Fr. Geevarghese Edavazhickal (Mar Severious) as the first Knanaya Bishop.<br />
<br />
The Knanaya Diocese which started with 9 churches now has 107 churches spread all over the world.<br />
<br />
==Persecution by Portuguese==<br />
{{main|Portuguese Inquisition}}<br />
The ''Nasranis'', who were, until then, the "living fossils" of the Christian tradition, lost their very defining ethos.<ref name= "CBuchanan>Claudius Buchanan, 1811</ref> The only Nasranis who managed to preserve some elements of their earlier origin were the Knanaya people, because of their tradition of being [[endogamy|endogamous]] within their own community and therefore preserving their tradition.<ref name= "Poomangalam">Weil, S. 1982; Jessay, P.M. 1986 Vellian Jacob 2001; Poomangalam C.A 1998</ref> An Imperial Order was passed to confiscate and sell under public auction the properties of those who celebrated Passover. It was perhaps because of this Order that the Knanaites celebrate Passover in a very private manner without inviting any Christian friend for sharing the Holy Meal.<ref>http://knanaya.weebly.com/who-is-a-knanaite.html</ref><br />
<br />
==Contemporary Knanaya==<br />
<br />
[[Image:Kottayam Valia Palli02.jpg|thumb|300px|left|Inside a Knanaya Church in Thazhathangadi, Kottayam]]<ref name = Koder>Weil,S. 1982; Jessay, P.M. 1986; Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Thomas Puthiakunnel 1973; Vellian Jacob 2001; Koder S. 1973; Vellian, J 1988</ref> Kna people are strictly endagamous and no one may convert to join the Kna people although marrying out is an increasing concern for the community. The Knanaya and other Nasranis as a whole maintained close relationship with the Jews of Kerala, (known today as [[Cochin Jews]]) until the [[Portugal|Portuguese]] inquisition of the Jews and Nasranis in the early 1500s. <ref name = Koder>Weil,S. 1982; Jessay, P.M. 1986; Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Thomas Puthiakunnel 1973; Vellian Jacob 2001; Koder S. 1973; Vellian, J 1988</ref> Kna people are also the victims of increasing missionary efforts not only from Protestant groups ecouraging them to give up on their Syrian-Christian customs and traditions, but also from some Jewish groups. They descend from 72 priestly families descended from the same [[desposyni]] that Thomas Jude belonged to. the number 72 has a significance for the 72 nations of the world and each of the 72 families have their own unique family rule. <br />
<br />
Although grape produce is now consumed as a result of Portuguese influence, this was originally not the case among the Knanaya people. The tradition is preserved in the consumption of ''Pesaha pal'' (passover coconut milk) instead of wine on the night of [[passover]] along with ''Pesaha-appam'' (unleavened passover bread). <ref name = Koder>Weil,S. 1982; Jessay, P.M. 1986; Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Thomas Puthiakunnel 1973; Vellian Jacob 2001; Koder S. 1973; Vellian, J 1988</ref> . This tradition of ''Pesaha appam'' is observed by the entire Nasrani people till this day. <ref name = Koder>Weil,S. 1982; Jessay, P.M. 1986; Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Thomas Puthiakunnel 1973; Vellian Jacob 2001; Koder S. 1973; Vellian, J 1988</ref> The bridal canopy or nuppah is part of the Knanaya wedding ceremony and there is aceremonial bathing on the eve of the wedding that is parallel to the Jewish mikrah. The dead are buried facing the east to Jerusalem. <ref name = Koder>Weil,S. 1982; Jessay, P.M. 1986; Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Thomas Puthiakunnel 1973; Vellian Jacob 2001; Koder S. 1973; Vellian, J 1988</ref> Thanksgiving blessings which the Knanaya people use which follow the Hebrew formula, Birkat HaMazon ברוך אתה ה' א‑לוהינו מלך העולם, המוציא לחם מן הארץ when initiating a Eucharistic Mass.<br />
<br />
==Knanaya community at present==<br />
[[Image:A Syro Malabar Knanaya Catholic Church.JPG|thumbnail|left|An unvelied tabernacle of a Knanaya 'palli' with 12 candlesticks in the background for the 12 tribes of ancient Israel.]]<br />
<br />
The first belonging to the [[Syriac Orthodox Church]] in India and second to the [[Syro-Malabar Catholic Church]]. <ref name = Weil>Weil, S. 1982; Jessay, P.M. 1986; Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Vellian Jacob 2001</ref>. Knanaya are very much conscious about their origin and up until today safeguard their ethnic character by marrying people from within the community regardless of rite. A Knanaya Syriac Orthodox diocese, established in 1910, is administered by an [[archbishop]] who reports directly to the Patriarch of Antioch of the [[Syrian Orthodox Church]]. The Knanaya Catholics have been acknowledged by the [[Holy See|Vatican]] under [[Pope Pius X]], by instituting in 1911 a diocese only for the Syrian-catholic of Kerala. <ref name = Weil>Weil, S. 1982; Jessay, P.M. 1986; Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Vellian Jacob 2001</ref> This diocese is called the ''Arch Diocese of Kottayam'' and is in the district of [[Kottayam]] in Kerala. <ref name = Weil>Weil, S. 1982; Jessay, P.M. 1986; Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Vellian Jacob 2001</ref><br />
<br />
The approximate population of Knanaya people as of 2001: (divided by different denominations)<br />
<br />
*''Knanaya Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Christians'': 100,000<br />
*''Knanaya Syrian Malabar Catholic Christians'': 140,000<br />
In all over 250,000 Knanayas continue in the ancient [[Hebrews|Hebrew]]-Christian tradition.<br />
<br />
==See also==<br />
* [[Cochin Jews]]<br />
* [[Kanahi]]<br />
* [[Kenites]]<br />
* [[Masada]]<br />
* [[Saint Thomas Christians]]<br />
* [[Syrian Malabar Nasrani]]<br />
* [[Zealots]]<br />
* [[Syro-Malabar Catholic Church]]<br />
<br />
==Notes==<br />
{{reflist}}<br />
<br />
==References==<br />
* Menachery, G. (1973) ''The St. Thomas Christian Encyclopedia of India'', Ed. George Menachery, B.N.K. Press, vol. 2, ISBN 81-87132-06-X, Lib. Cong. Cat. Card. No. 73-905568 ; B.N.K. Press<br />
* Vellian, Jacob (2001) ''Knanite community: History and culture''; Syrian church series; vol.XVII; Jyothi Book House, Kottayam<br />
* "In Universi Cristiani" (Latin Text of the Papal erection of the Knanaya Diocese of Kottayam)<br />
* Puthiakunnel, Thomas. (1973) "Jewish colonies of India paved the way for St. Thomas", ''The Saint Thomas Christian Encyclopedia of India'', ed. George Menachery, Vol. II., Trichur.<br />
* Koder, S. (1973) "History of the Jews of Kerala".''The St. Thomas Christian Encyclopaedia of India'',Ed. G. Menachery.<br />
* Vellian, J (1988) Marriage Customs of the Knanites, Christian Orient, 9, Kottayam.<br />
* Weil, S. (1982) "Symmetry between Christians and Jews in India: The Cananite Christians and Cochin Jews in Kerala. in Contributions to Indian Sociology, 16.<br />
* Jessay, P.M. (1986) "The Wedding Songs of the Cochin Jews and of the Knanite Christians of Kerala: A Study in Comparison." Symposium.<br />
* James Hough (1893) "The History of Christianity in India".<br />
* Menachery, G (ed); (1998) "The Indian Church History Classics", Vol.I, ''The Nazranies'', Ollur, 1998. [ISBN 81-87133-05-8].<br />
* Poomangalam, C.A. (1998) ''The Antiquities of the Knanaya Syrian Christians''; Kottayam, Kerala.<br />
* Podipara, Placid J. (1970) "The Thomas Christians". London: Darton, Longman and Tidd.<br />
<br />
==External links==<br />
*[http://www.knanayadiocese.com/ Official Site]<br />
*[http://www.knanayavaliyapally.com/ St. Jacob's Knanaya Valiyapalli, Ramamangalam]<br />
*[http://www.knanaya.net Knanaya finder]<br />
*[http://www.knaconvention.com Knanaya Jacobite Annual Convention]<br />
*[http://www.indianchristianity.com Indian Christianity]<br />
*[http://www.kottayamad.org/ Archdiocese of Kottayam]<br />
*[http://www.stjohnsputhenpally.org/ St.Johns Puthenpally Chingavanam]<br />
<br />
[[Category:Archdiocese of Changanassery]]<br />
[[Category:Kerala society]]<br />
[[Category:Knanaya Community| ]]<br />
[[Category:Malayali people]]<br />
[[Category:Saint Thomas Christians]]<br />
[[Category:Syro-Malabar Catholic Church]]<br />
[[Category:Jewish ethnic groups]]<br />
[[Category:Jewish Christians]]<br />
[[Category:Semitic peoples]]<br />
<br />
[[de:Knananiten]]<br />
[[fr:Knanayas]]<br />
[[mk:Кнанаја]]</div>Zubinrajhttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kerala&diff=261843918Kerala2009-01-04T06:32:55Z<p>Zubinraj: /* History */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{Infobox Indian Jurisdiction<br />
|type = state<br />
|native_name = Kerala<br />
|other_name = {{Kerala in Malayalam}}<br />
|state_name = Kerala<br />
|capital = [[Thiruvananthapuram]]<br />
|latd = 08.47<br />
|longd = 76.95<br />
|region = South India<br />
|largest_city = [[Thiruvananthapuram]]<br />
|largest_metro = [[Kochi metropolitan area]]<br />
|abbreviation = IN-KL <br />
|official_languages = [[Malayalam language|Malayalam]]<br />
|legislature_type = Unicameral <br />
|legislature_strength = 141<sup>‡</sup><br />
|leader_title_1 = [[Governors of Kerala|Governor]]<br />
|leader_name_1 = [[R.S. Gavai]]<br />
|leader_title_2 = [[Chief Ministers of Kerala|Chief Minister]]<br />
|leader_name_2 = [[V.S. Achuthanandan|V.S.&nbsp;Achuthanandan]]<br />
|established_date = 1 November 1956<br />
|area_total = 38863 <br />
|area_rank = 21st <br />
|area_magnitude = 10<br />
|area_order = 10 <br />
|population_total = 31838619<br />
|population_rank = 12th <br />
|population_as_of = 2001<br />
|population_density = 819 <br />
|districts = [[Districts of Kerala|14]]<br />
|major cities = [[Thiruvananthapuram]], [[Kochi, India|Kochi]], [[Thrissur]], [[Kollam]], and [[Kozhikode]]<br />
|website = kerala.gov.in<br />
|seal = KeralaSeal.jpg<br />
|portal = Kerala<br />
|footnotes = <sup>‡</sup> 140 elected, 1 nominated<br />
|nickname = God's Own Country<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''Kerala''' ({{IPAudio|Kerala.ogg|['keːɹəˌɭɐ}}); ([[Malayalam language|Malayalam]]: {{Kerala in Malayalam}}<sup>[[WP:COMPLEX|<span class="t_nihongo_icon" style="color:#00e;font:bold 80% sans-serif;text-decoration:none;padding:0 .1em;">?</span>]]</sup>; ''{{Unicode|Kēraḷaṁ}}'') is a [[Indian Union|union]] [[States and territories of India|state]] located in the southwestern part of [[India]]. With an [[Arabian sea]] coastline on the west, it is bordered on the north by [[Karnataka]] and by [[Tamil Nadu]] on the south and east. Major cities are [[Thiruvananthapuram]] (the capital), [[Kochi]], and [[Kozhikode]]. The principal [[spoken language]] is [[Malayalam language|Malayalam]] but many other languages are also spoken.<br />
<br />
[[Kerala (Mahabharata)|Kerala]] is mentioned in the ancient epic [[Mahabharata]] (800 BC) at several instances as a tribe, as a region and as a kingdom. The first written mention of Kerala is seen in a 3rd-century-BC rock inscription by emperor [[Asoka the Great]], where it is mentioned as ''Keralaputra''. This region formed part of ancient [[Tamilakam]] and was ruled by the [[Cheras]]. They had extensive trade relations with the [[ancient Greece|Greeks]], [[Ancient Rome|Romans]] and [[Arabs]]. In the 1st century AD [[Jewish]] immigrants arrived, and it is believed that [[St. Thomas the Apostle]] visited Kerala in the same century<ref>"Kerala." Encyclopædia Britannica. 2008. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. 18 Jun. 2008 <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/315300/Kerala>.</ref>. The Chera Kingdom and later the feudal [[Nair]] and [[Namboothiri]] [[Brahmin]] city-states became [[Great power|major powers]] in the region.<ref name="keralagovl">{{cite web |title=Early history of Kerala |publisher=Government of Kerala |accessdate=2007-05-16 |url=http://www.kerala.gov.in/history&culture/earlyhistory.htm }}</ref> Early contact with Europeans later gave way to struggles between colonial and native interests. The [[States Reorganisation Act]] of 1 November 1956 elevated Kerala to statehood.<br />
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Late-19th-century social reforms by [[Kingdom of Cochin|Cochin]] and [[Travancore]] were expanded by post-[[Independence of India|independence]] governments. Since then, the [[demographics of Kerala|people of Kerala]] continue to rank among the healthiest, best educated, and most gender-equitable in India.<ref>{{cite news |author=McKibben B |title=The Enigma of Kerala: One state in India is proving development experts wrong |publisher=DoubleTake |year=1995 |accessdate=2007-11-12 |url=http://www.utne.com/archives/TheEnigmaofKerala.aspx }}</ref><ref name="McKibben_2006"/><ref name="nfhsindia.org"/> The state is more environmentally sustainable than [[Europe]] and [[North America]].<ref>{{cite book |author=Heinberg R |title=Powerdown: Options And Actions For A Post-Carbon World |publisher=New Society Publishers |year=2004 |isbn=0-8657-1510-6 |accessdate=2007-11-11 |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=iAx1Jmyvz5wC |page=105 }}</ref> A survey conducted in 2005 by [[Transparency International]] ranked Kerala as the least corrupt state in the country.<ref>{{cite web |title=India Corruption Study — 2005 |publisher=[[Transparency International]] |month=June | year=2005 |accessdate=2007-11-11 |url=http://www.transparency.org/regional_pages/asia_pacific/newsroom/news_archive__1/india_corruption_study_2005 }}</ref> The state confronts comparatively high suicide, [[alcoholism]], and unemployment rates.<ref>{{cite web |title=The extent of problem of Mental Health in the State |work=Kerala State Mental Health Authority |publisher=Government of Kerala |accessdate=2007-11-11 |url=http://www.ksmha.org/kerala.htm }}</ref> <br />
A large proportion of the population has moved away and Kerala is uniquely dependent on [[remittances]], mainly from the [[Persian Gulf|Gulf]] countries.<ref name="rem1">{{cite web|url=http://ideas.repec.org/p/ind/cdswpp/328.html|title=Kerala's Gulf connection: Emigration, remittances and their macroeconomic impact 1972-2000|year=2002|author=K.P. Kannan, K.S. Hari}}</ref><ref name="rem2">{{cite web|url=http://www.iss.nl/content/download/8303/81035/file/Panel%202_Rajan.pdf|title=Remittances and its impact on the Kerala Economy and Society|year=2007|author=S Irudaya Rajan, K.C. Zachariah}}</ref><ref name="abroad">{{cite web|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/07/world/asia/07migrate.html?_r=1&pagewanted=1|title=Jobs Abroad Support ‘Model’ State in India|publisher=New York Times|year=2007}}</ref><br />
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== Etymology ==<br />
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''Kerala'' has an uncertain etymology. ''Keralam'' may stem from the [[Classical Tamil]] ''chera-alam'' ("[[wikt:declivity|declivity]] of a hill or a mountain slope")<ref name="Menon_1967">{{cite book |author=Menon AS |year=1967 |title=A Survey of Kerala History |publisher=Sahitya Pravarthaka Cooperative Society }}</ref> or ''chera alam'' ("Land of the Cheras").<ref>{{cite book |author=George KM |title=A Survey of Malayalam Literature |publisher=Asia Publishing House |year=1968 }}</ref>{{rp|2}} ''Kerala'' may represent an imperfect Malayalam portmanteau fusing ''kera'' ("coconut palm tree") and ''alam'' ("land" or "location").<ref name="Dobbie_2006">{{cite book |author=Dobbie A |title=India: The Elephant's Blessing |publisher=Melrose Press |year=2006 |isbn=1-9052-2685-3 |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=ckpEd4emnCkC |accessdate=2009-01-02 }}</ref>{{rp|122}} Natives of Kerala, known as ''Keralites'' or ''[[Malayali]]s'', refer to their land as ''Keralam''.<br />
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A 3rd-century-BC [[Asoka]]n rock inscription mentioning a "Keralaputra" is the earliest surviving attestation to Kerala.<ref name="Encyclopædia">"Kerala." Encyclopædia Britannica. 2008. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. 8 June 2008</ref> In written records, Kerala was mentioned in the [[Sanskrit literature|Sanskrit epic]] ''[[Aranyaka|Aitareya Aranyaka]]''. [[Katyayana]], [[Patanjali]], [[Pliny the Elder]], and the unknown author of the ''[[Periplus of the Erythraean Sea]]'' displayed familiarity with Kerala.<ref name="Veliath007">Pliny's ''[[Naturalis Historia]]'', Book 6, Chapter 26</ref> In the last centuries BC, the region became famous among the [[Ancient Greece|Greeks]] and [[Roman Empire|Romans]] for its spices, particularly [[black pepper]].<ref name="Encyclopædia"/><br />
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== History ==<br />
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{{main|History of Kerala}}<br />
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[[Image:MarayoorDolmen.JPG|thumb|right|A ''Muniyara'', [[dolmen]]s erected by Neolithic tribesmen, in [[Marayoor]].]]<br />
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It is not certain if the region was inhabited during [[Neolithic]] times. However, there is evidence of the emergence of prehistoric pottery and granite burial monuments in the form of [[megalithic tomb]]s in the 10th century BC; they resemble their counterparts in Western Europe and other parts of Asia. These are thought to be produced by speakers of a proto-Tamil language.<ref name="GOK_2005">{{harvnb|Government of Kerala|2005}}.</ref> Kerala and [[Tamil Nadu]] once shared a common language, ethnicity and culture; this common area was known as [[Tamilakam]].<br />
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[[Image:Parshuramsaraswats.jpg|thumb|left|125px|[[Parashurama|Parasurama]], surrounded by settlers, commanding [[Varuna]] to part the seas and reveal Kerala.]]<br />
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According to legend, Kerala was an [[Asura]]-ruled kingdom under [[Mahabali]]. [[Onam]], the national festival of Kerala, is dedicated to Maveli's memory. Another legend has [[Parasurama]], an [[avatar]] of [[Mahavishnu]], throwing his battle axe into the sea; from those waters, Kerala arose.<ref>{{cite book |author=Aiya VN |title=The Travancore State Manual |publisher=Travancore Government Press |pages=210–212 |year=1906 |accessdate=2007-11-12 |url=http://books.google.com/books?ie=UTF-8&hl=en&id=RdzaPW-kEvQC }}</ref><br />
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The ancient [[Chera dynasty|Cheras]], whose [[mother tongue]] and court language was [[Tamil language|Tamil]], ruled Kerala from their capital at [[Vanchi (Indian Capital)|Vanchi]]. They were constantly at war with the neighbouring [[Chola]] and [[Pandya]] kingdoms. A Keralite identity, distinct from the [[Tamil people|Tamils]] and associated with the second Chera empire, became linguistically separate under the [[Kulasekhara]] dynasty (c. 800–1102). By the beginning of the 14th century, Ravi Varma Kulasekhara of Venad established a short-lived supremacy over southern India. After his death, Kerala became a conglomeration of warring chieftaincies, among which the most important were [[Calicut]] in the north and [[Venad]] in the south.<br />
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[[Image:A chegada de Vasco da Gama a Calicute em 1498.jpg|thumb|right|Artist's rendition of [[Vasco da Gama]]'s 1498 landing in Calicut, now [[Kozhikode]].]]<br />
<!--[[Image:Kottayam Valia Palli01.jpg|thumb|right|The [[Syrian Orthodox Church|Syrian Orthodox]] Valia Palli ([[St. Mary]]’s Church) in Thazhathangadi, [[Kottayam]]. Built in 1550 AD, it hosts an 8th-century Persian cross and [[Sassanid]] [[Pahlavi script|Pahlavi]] inscriptions.]]--><br />
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The Chera kings' dependence on trade meant that merchants from West Asia and Southern Europe established coastal posts and settlements in Kerala.<ref name="Iyengar_2001">{{cite book |author=Iyengar PTS |year=2001 |title=History Of The Tamils: From the Earliest Times to 600 A.D. |publisher=Asian Educational Services |isbn=8-1206-0145-9 |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=ERq-OCn2cloC |accessdate=2008-12-29 }}</ref>{{rp|192–195, 303–307}} The Jewish, Christian, and Muslim immigrants established [[Syrian Malabar Nasrani|Nasrani Mappila]] and [[Mappila|Muslim Mappila]] communities.<ref>{{cite book |author=Milton J, Skeat WW, Pollard AW, Brown L |title=The Indian Christians of St Thomas |publisher=Cambridge University Press |date=[[1982-08-31]] |isbn=0-5212-1258-8 |page=171 }}</ref> The Jews first arrived in Kerala in 573 [[Before Christ|BC]].<ref>De Beth Hillel, David (1832). ''Travels'' ([[Madras]] publication).</ref><ref>Lord, James Henry (1977). ''The Jews in India and the Far East''; Greenwood Press Reprint; ISBN.</ref> The works of scholars and [[Eastern Christianity|Eastern Christian]] writings state that [[Thomas the Apostle]] visited [[Muziris]] in Kerala in 52 AD to proselytize amongst Kerala's Jewish settlements.<ref name= "GPress">Medlycott, A E. 1905 "India and the Apostle Thomas"; Gorgias Press LLC; ISBN</ref><ref> Thomas Puthiakunnel, (1973) "Jewish colonies of India paved the way for St. Thomas", The Saint Thomas Christian Encyclopedia of India, ed. George Menachery, Vol. II.</ref> However, the first verifiable migration of [[Knanaya|Nasrani]] families to Kerala is of the arrival of Knai Thoma in 345 AD&nbsp;.<ref name="Mundadan_1984">{{cite book |author=Mundadan AM |year=1984 |title=Volume I: From the Beginning up to the Sixteenth Century (up to 1542) |series=History of Christianity in India |publisher=Theological Publications |others=Church History Association of India |location=Bangalore }}</ref> [[Malik ibn Dinar|Muslim merchants]] ([[Malik ibn Dinar]]) settled in Kerala by the 8th century AD and introduced Islam. After [[Vasco Da Gama]]'s arrival in 1498, the Portuguese gained control of the lucrative [[spice trade|pepper trade]] by subduing Keralite communities and commerce.<ref>{{cite book |author=Ravindran PN |title=Black Pepper: Piper Nigrum |publisher=CRC Press |year=2000 |accessdate=2007-11-11 |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=VaGCgSLrdr4C |page=3 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |author=Curtin PD |title=Cross-Cultural Trade in World History |publisher=Cambridge University Press |year=1984 |isbn=0-5212-6931-8 |page=144}}</ref> <br />
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Conflicts between [[Kozhikode]] (Calicut) and [[Kochi, India|Kochi]] (Cochin) provided an opportunity for the Dutch to oust the Portuguese. In turn, the Dutch were ousted by [[Marthanda Varma]] of the [[Travancore Royal Family]] who routed them at the [[Battle of Colachel]] in 1741. In 1766, [[Hyder Ali]], the ruler of [[Kingdom of Mysore|Mysore]] invaded northern Kerala, capturing Kozhikode in the process. In the late 18th century, [[Tipu Sultan]], Ali’s son and successor, launched campaigns against the expanding [[British East India Company]]; these resulted in two of the four [[Anglo-Mysore Wars]]. He ultimately ceded [[Malabar District]] and [[South Kanara]] to the Company in the 1790s. The Company then forged tributary alliances with Kochi (1791) and Travancore (1795). Malabar and South Kanara became part of the [[Madras Presidency]].<ref>{{cite book |author=Superintendent of Government Printing |title=Imperial Gazetteer of India (Provincial Series): Madras |publisher=Government of India |location=Calcutta |year=1908 |accessdate=2007-11-11 |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=xXglUxeS_WkC |page=22 }}</ref><br />
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[[Image:VeeraPazhassi.JPG|thumb|right|[[Pazhassi Raja]], the "Lion of Kerala", who waged a guerilla war against the British in the late 18th century.]]<br />
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Kerala saw comparatively little defiance of the [[British Raj]]. Nevertheless, several rebellions occurred, including the 1946 Punnapra-Vayalar revolt,<ref>{{cite web |year=2002 |title=Emergence of Nationalism: Punnapra-Vayalar revolt |publisher=Department of Public Relations (Government of Kerala) |accessdate=2006-01-14 |url=http://www.prd.kerala.gov.in/prd2/keralam/vayalar.htm |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20050223090751/http://www.prd.kerala.gov.in/prd2/keralam/vayalar.htm |archivedate=2005-02-23 }}</ref> and leaders like [[Velayudan Thampi Dalava]], [[Kunjali Marakkar]], and [[Pazhassi Raja]] earned their place in history and folklore. Many actions, spurred by such leaders as [[Ayya Vaikundar|Vaikunda Swami]]<ref>[http://www.education.kerala.gov.in/englishmedium/historyeng/chapter9.pdf www.education.kerala.gov.in]Towards Modern Kerala, 10th Standard Text Book, Chapter 9, Page 101. See this Pdf</ref>, [[Sree Narayana Guru]] and [[Chattampi Swamikal]], instead protested such conditions as [[Dalit (outcaste)|untouchability]]; notable was the 1924 ''[[Vaikom Satyagraham]]''. In 1936, [[Chitra Thirunal Bala Rama Varma]] of Travancore issued the [[Temple Entry Proclamation]] that opened Hindu temples to all castes; [[Cochin]] and [[Malabar]] soon did likewise. The 1921 [[Moplah Rebellion]] involved Mappila Muslims rioting against Hindus and the [[British Raj]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Qureshi |first=MN |title=Pan-Islam in British Indian Politics: A Study of the Khilafat Movement, 1918–1924 |year=1999 |pages=445–447 |isbn=9-0041-0538-7 |publisher=Brill |location=Leiden [u.a.] |oclc=231706684}}</ref><br />
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After India gained its independence in 1947, [[Travancore]] and [[Kingdom of Cochin|Cochin]] were merged to form [[Travancore-Cochin]] on 1 July 1949. On 1 January 1950 ([[Republic Day of India|Republic Day]]), Travancore-Cochin was recognised as a state. The Madras Presidency was organised to form [[Madras State]] several years prior, in 1947. Finally, the [[Government of India]]'s 1 November 1956 [[States Reorganisation Act]] inaugurated the state of Kerala, incorporating Malabar district, Travancore-Cochin (excluding four southern taluks, which were merged with Tamil Nadu), and the [[tehsil|taluk]] of [[Kasargod]], [[South Kanara]].<ref name = "Plunkett"/> A new legislative assembly was also created, for which elections were first held in 1957. These resulted in a [[communist]]-led government through ballot—the world's first of its kind—headed by [[E.M.S. Namboodiripad]].<ref name="Plunkett">{{harvnb|Plunkett|Cannon|Harding|2001|p=24}}.</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=Jose D |title=EMS Namboodiripad dead |work=[[Rediff.com|Rediff]] |publisher=Press Trust of India |date=[[1998-03-19]] |accessdate=2007-11-12 |url=http://www.rediff.com/news/1998/mar/19ems.htm}}</ref> Subsequent social reforms favoured tenants and labourers.<ref name="Cheriyan_2004">{{cite journal |author=Cheriyan O |year=2004 |title=Changes in the mode of labour due to shift in the land use pattern |journal=Centre for Development Studies |url=http://krpcds.org/publication/downloads/81.pdf |format=PDF |accessdate=2008-12-28 }}</ref>{{rp|22–23, 43–44}} Improvements in living standards, education, and life expectancy outpaced those of India as a whole.<br />
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== Geography ==<br />
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{{main|Geography of Kerala}}<br />
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{{#switch: {{#expr: {{CURRENTHOUR}} mod 3}}<br />
|0 = [[Image:Landscape Tekkady Kerala India.jpg|thumb|right|Landscape near [[Thekkady]], [[Idukki district|Iddukki]].]]<br />
|1 = [[Image:Kollam (78).JPG|thumb|right|A ''[[Chinese fishing nets (of Kochi)|cheena vala]]'' (fishing net) in the [[Kerala Backwaters|Backwaters]] region of [[Kollam]].]]<br />
|2 = [[Image:Wayanad scenery.JPG|thumb|right|Rice paddies in the [[Wayanad district|Wayanad]] countryside.]]<br />
}}<br />
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Kerala is wedged between the [[Arabian Sea]] and the [[Western Ghats]]. Lying between north latitudes 8°18' and 12°48' and east longitudes 74°52' and 72°22',<ref name = "GOK_2005b"/> Kerala is well within the humid [[equatorial]] tropics. Kerala’s coast runs for some 580&nbsp;km (360 miles), while the state itself varies between 35 and 120&nbsp;km (22–75 miles) in width. Geographically, Kerala can be divided into three climatically distinct regions: the eastern highlands (rugged and cool mountainous terrain), the central midlands (rolling hills), and the western lowlands (coastal plains). Located at the extreme southern tip of the [[Indian subcontinent]], Kerala lies near the centre of the [[Indian Plate|Indian]] [[tectonic plate]]; as such, most of the state is subject to comparatively little [[earthquake|seismic]] and volcanic activity.<ref>{{cite map |publisher=United Nations Development Programme |year=2002 |title=Map Showing Multi Hazard Zones in Kerala |url=http://www.undp.org.in/dmweb/Multihazard/Maps/Multihazard/kerala.jpg |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20061108004906/http://www.undp.org.in/dmweb/Multihazard/Maps/Multihazard/kerala.jpg |archivedate=2006-11-08 |accessdate=2006-01-12 }}</ref> [[Pre-Cambrian]] and [[Pleistocene]] geological formations compose the bulk of Kerala’s terrain.<br />
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<!--{| align="right"<br />
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| style="vertical-align:top;" | [[Image:Kerala ecozones map labelled3.png|thumb|left|125px|Kerala's agroecological zones.]]<br />
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Eastern Kerala consists of high mountains, gorges and deep-cut valleys immediately west of the Western Ghats' [[rain shadow]]. Forty one of Kerala’s west-flowing rivers, and three of its east-flowing ones originate in this region. The Western Ghats form a wall of mountains interrupted only near Palakkad, where the [[Palakkad Gap]] breaks through to provide access to the rest of India. The Western Ghats rises on average to 1,500&nbsp;m (4920 ft) above sea level, while the highest peaks may reach to 2,500&nbsp;m (8200 ft). Just west of the mountains lie the midland plains comprising central Kerala, dominated by rolling hills and valleys.<ref name = "GOK_2005b"/> Generally ranging between elevations of 250–1,000&nbsp;m (820–3300 ft), the eastern portions of the [[Nilgiri Hills|Nilgiri]] and [[Palni Hills]] include such formations as [[Agastyamalai]] and [[Anamalai]].<br />
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{{#switch: {{#expr: {{CURRENTHOUR}} mod 3}}<br />
|0 = [[Image:NelliampathiWatterfall1.jpg|thumb|right|A small mountain stream in the [[Nelliampathi]] mountains.]]<br />
|1 = [[Image:Perunthenaruvi01.jpg|thumb|right|Perunthenaruvi Falls, near Pathanamthitta.]]<br />
|2 = [[Image:Vazhachal-falls1.jpg|thumb|right|A view of [[Vazhachal Falls]].]]<br />
|3 = [[Image:Athi.jpg|right|thumb|200*300px|Athirapilly Water Falls]]<br />
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Kerala’s western coastal belt is relatively flat, and is criss-crossed by a network of interconnected [[brackish]] [[canal]]s, lakes, [[estuary|estuaries]], and rivers known as the [[Kerala Backwaters]]. Lake [[Vembanad Lake|Vembanad]]—Kerala’s largest body of water—dominates the Backwaters; it lies between Alappuzha and Kochi and is more than 200&nbsp;km² in area. Around 8% of India's waterways (measured by length) are found in Kerala.<ref name="IWAI_2005">{{harvnb|Inland Waterways Authority of India|2005}}.</ref> The most important of Kerala’s [[List of rivers in Kerala|forty four rivers]] include the [[Periyar River|Periyar]] (244&nbsp;km), the [[Bharathapuzha]] (209&nbsp;km), the [[Pamba]] (176&nbsp;km), the [[Chaliyar River|Chaliyar]] (169&nbsp;km), the Kadalundipuzha (130&nbsp;km) and the [[Achankovil River|Achankovil]] (128&nbsp;km). The average length of the rivers of Kerala is 64 km. Most of the remainder are small and entirely fed by [[monsoon]] rains.<ref name = "GOK_2005b"/> These conditions result in the nearly year-round water logging of such western regions as [[Kuttanad]], 500&nbsp;km² of which lies below sea level. As Kerala's rivers are small and lack [[river delta|deltas]], they are more prone to environmental factors. Kerala's rivers face many problems, including summer droughts, the building of large dams, sand mining, and pollution.<br />
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== Climate ==<br />
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{{main|Climate of Kerala}}<br />
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With 120–140 rainy days per year, Kerala has a wet and maritime tropical climate influenced by the seasonal heavy rains of the [[Monsoon#South-West Summer Monsoon|southwest summer monsoon]].<ref name="Chacko_2002">{{cite journal |author=Chacko T |coauthors=Renuka G |year=2002 |title=Temperature mapping, thermal diffusivity and subsoil heat flux at Kariavattom, Kerala |journal=Proc Indian Acad Sci (Earth Planet Sci) }}</ref>{{rp|80}} In eastern Kerala, a drier tropical wet and dry climate prevails. Kerala's rainfall averages 3,107&nbsp;mm annually. Some of Kerala's drier lowland regions average only 1,250&nbsp;mm; the mountains of eastern Idukki district receive more than 5,000&nbsp;mm of [[Precipitation (meteorology)#Orographic precipitation|orographic precipitation]], the highest in the state.<br />
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In summers, most of Kerala is prone to gale force winds, storm surges, [[cyclone]]-related torrential downpours, occasional droughts, and rises in sea level and storm activity resulting from [[global warming]].<ref name="Brenkert_Malone_2003">{{cite journal |author=Brenkert A |coauthors=Malone E |year=2003 |title=Vulnerability and resilience of India and Indian states to climate change: a first-order approximation |journal=Joint Global Change Research Institute }}</ref>{{rp|26, 46, 52}} Daily temperature maxima average 36.7&nbsp;°C; minima 19.8&nbsp;°C.<ref name = "GOK_2005b"/> Mean annual temperatures range from 25.0–27.5&nbsp;°C in the coastal lowlands to 20.0–22.5&nbsp;°C in the eastern highlands.<ref name="Brenkert_Malone_2003"/>{{rp|65}}<br />
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== Flora and fauna ==<br />
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{{main|Flora and fauna of Kerala}}<br />
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{{#switch: {{#expr: {{CURRENTHOUR}} mod 1<!--3-->}}<br />
|1 = [[Image:Blue Tiger (Tirumala limniace) Kerala India.jpg|thumb|right|A [[Blue Tiger|blue tiger]] (''Tirumala limniace'') butterfly in [[Chalakudy]], near [[Thrissur]].]]<br />
|0 = [[Image:Blue Tiger Tirumala limniace Kerala India.jpg|thumb|right|A [[Blue Tiger|blue tiger]] (''Tirumala limniace'') butterfly.Image: Challiyil Eswaramangalath Vipin]]<br />
|2 = [[Image:Fulvous forest skimmer.jpg|thumb|right|A [[fulvous forest skimmer]] (''Neurothemis fulvia'') in [[Chalakudy]], near [[Thrissur]].]]<br />
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Much of Kerala's notable biodiversity is concentrated and protected in the [[Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve]] in the eastern hills. Almost a fourth of India's 10,000 plant species are found in the state. Among the almost 4,000 [[flowering plant]] species (1,272 of which are [[endemic (ecology)|endemic]] to Kerala and 159 threatened) are 900 species of highly sought [[Herbalism|medicinal plant]]s.<ref name="GOK_2004f_141"/><ref name="Sreedharan_2004">{{cite journal |author=Sreedharan TP |year=2004 |title=Biological Diversity of Kerala: A survey of Kalliasseri panchayat, Kannur district |journal=Centre for Development Studies |url=http://krpcds.org/publication/downloads/62.pdf |format=PDF |accessdate=2008-12-28 }}</ref>{{rp|11}}<br />
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{{#switch: {{#expr: {{CURRENTHOUR}} mod 2}}<br />
|0 = [[Image:Gloriosa lilly.jpg|thumb|left|125px|Petals of the [[gloriosa (plant)|gloriosa lily]] (''Gloriosa superba'') flower curve upward into a claw-like shape; below, its stamens grow radially outwards.]]<br />
|1 = [[Image:Nelliampathi-Monkey.jpg|thumb|left|125px|A [[Bonnet Macaque]] in [[Nelliampathi]].]]<br />
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Its 9,400&nbsp;km² of forests include tropical wet evergreen and semi-evergreen forests (lower and middle elevations—3,470&nbsp;km²), tropical moist and dry deciduous forests (mid-elevations—4,100&nbsp;km² and 100&nbsp;km², respectively), and montane subtropical and [[temperate]] (''shola'') forests (highest elevations—100&nbsp;km²). Altogether, 24% of Kerala is forested.<ref name="Sreedharan_2004"/>{{rp|12}} Two of the world’s [[Ramsar Convention]] listed [[wetland]]s—[[Sasthamkotta Lake|Lake Sasthamkotta]] and the [[Vembanad Lake|Vembanad-Kol wetlands]]—are in Kerala, as well as 1455.4&nbsp;km² of the vast [[Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve]]. Subjected to extensive clearing for cultivation in the 20th century,<ref name="Jayarajan_2004">{{cite journal |author=Jayarajan M |year=2004 |title=Sacred Groves of North Malabar |journal=Centre for Development Studies |url=http://krpcds.org/publication/downloads/92.pdf |format=PDF |accessdate=2008-12-28 }}</ref>{{rp|6–7}} much of the remaining forest cover is now protected from [[clearfelling]]. Kerala's fauna are notable for their diversity and high rates of endemism: 102 species of [[mammal]]s (56 of which are endemic), 476 species of birds, 202 species of freshwater [[fish]]es, 169 species of [[reptile]]s (139 of them endemic), and 89 species of [[amphibian]]s (86 endemic).<ref name="GOK_2004f_141">{{harvnb|Government of Kerala|2004f|p=141}}.</ref> These are threatened by extensive habitat destruction, including soil erosion, landslides, salinization, and resource extraction.<ref name="GOK_2004f_142-145">{{harvnb|Government of Kerala|2004f|pp=142–145}}.</ref><br />
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{{#switch: {{#expr: {{CURRENTHOUR}} mod 1}}<br />
|0 = [[Image:Bengal Tiger Kerala India.jpg|thumb|right|The [[Bengal Tiger]] inhabits Kerala's eastern forests.]]<br />
}}<br />
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Eastern Kerala’s windward mountains shelter [[Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests|tropical moist forests]] and [[Tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests|tropical dry forests]], which are common in the Western Ghats. Here, ''sonokeling'' (Indian [[rosewood]]), ''anjili'', ''mullumurikku'' (''[[Erythrina]]''), and ''[[Cassia]]'' number among the more than 1,000 species of trees in Kerala. Other plants include bamboo, wild [[black pepper]], wild [[cardamom]], the [[calamus (palm genus)|calamus]] [[rattan]] palm (a type of climbing palm), and aromatic [[vetiver]] grass (''[[Vetiver|Vetiveria zizanioides]]'').<ref name="Sreedharan_2004"/>{{rp|12}} Living among them are such fauna as [[Asian Elephant]], [[Bengal Tiger]], [[Leopard]] (''Panthera pardus''), [[Nilgiri Tahr]], [[Common Palm Civet]], and [[Grizzled Giant Squirrel]].<ref name="Sreedharan_2004"/>{{rp|12, 174–175}} Reptiles include the [[King Cobra|king cobra]], [[viper]], [[Pythonidae|python]], and [[crocodile]]. Kerala's birds are legion—[[Peafowl]], the [[Great Hornbill]], [[Indian Grey Hornbill]], [[Indian Cormorant]], and [[Jungle Myna]] are several emblematic species. In lakes, wetlands, and waterways, fish such as ''kadu'' ([[Catfish|stinging catfish]] and ''Choottachi'' (Orange chromide—''Etroplus maculatus''; valued as an [[aquarium]] specimen) are found.<ref name="Sreedharan_2004"/>{{rp|163–165}}<br />
<br />
== Subdivisions ==<br />
<br />
{{main|Districts of Kerala|Corporations, Municipalities and Taluks of Kerala}}<br />
<br />
[[Districts of Kerala|Kerala's fourteen districts]] are distributed among Kerala's three historical regions: Malabar (northern Kerala), Kochi (central Kerala), and Travancore (southern Kerala). Kerala's modern-day districts (listed in order from north to south) correspond to them as follows:<br />
<br />
[[Image:Kerala density map1.PNG|left|125px|Population density map of Kerala graded from darkest shading (most dense) to lightest (least dense).]]<br />
<br />
* '''[[Malabar]]''': [[Kasaragod District|Kasaragod]], [[Kannur District|Kannur]], [[Wayanad District|Wayanad]], [[Kozhikode District|Kozhikode]], [[Malappuram District|Malappuram]], [[Palakkad District|Palakkad]]<br />
* '''[[Kingdom of Cochin|Kochi]]''': [[Thrissur District|Thrissur]], [[Ernakulam District|Ernakulam]]<br />
* '''[[Travancore]]''': [[Kottayam District|Kottayam]], [[Idukki District|Idukki]], [[Alappuzha District|Alappuzha]], [[Pathanamthitta District|Pathanamthitta]], [[Kollam District|Kollam]], [[Thiruvananthapuram District|Thiruvananthapuram]]<br />
<br />
Kerala comprises the regions of [[Central Travancore]], [[Chera Nadu]], [[Kuttanad]], [[Malabar region|Malabar]], [[Onattukara]], [[Travancore]], [[Valluvanadu]], and [[Venad]]. Kerala's 14 revenue districts are subdivided into 62 [[Taluks of Kerala|taluks]], 1453 revenue villages and 1007 [[Gram panchayat]]s.<br />
<br />
Mahé, a part of the Indian union territory of Puducherry (Pondicherry), is a coastal exclave surrounded by Kerala on all of its landward approaches. [[Thiruvananthapuram]] (Trivandrum) is the state capital and most populous city.<ref name=largestcity>[http://www.world-gazetteer.com/wg.php?x=&men=gcis&lng=en&dat=32&geo=-104&srt=dnpn&col=aohdq&pt=c&va=x&srt=pdnn "World Gazetteer:India - largest cities (per geographical entity")]</ref> [[Kochi, India|Kochi]] is the most populous [[urban agglomeration]]<ref name=largestUA>[http://www.world-gazetteer.com/wg.php?x=&men=gcis&lng=en&dat=32&geo=-104&srt=pdnn&col=aohdq&pt=a&va=x&srt=pdnn "World Gazetteer: India - largest cities (per geographical entity")]</ref> and the major port city in Kerala. [[Kozhikode]], [[Thrissur]], and [[Kannur]] are the other major commercial centers of the state. The [[High Court of Kerala]] is located at [[Ernakulam]]. Kerala's districts, which serve as the administrative regions for taxation purposes, are further subdivided into 63 [[tehsil|taluks]]; these have fiscal and administrative powers over settlements within their borders, including maintenance of local land records.<br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
{| class="navbox" width="97%"<br />
!colspan="12" style="padding:0.3em 0; line-height:1.2em; font-size:110%;"| Largest cities in Kerala<br/>{{nobold|<small>(2001 Census of India estimate)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.citypopulation.de/India-Kerala.html |title=Kerala |publisher=Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner |date=2007-03-18 |accessdate=2008-07-23}}</ref></small>}}<br />
|-<br />
! Rank !! City !! District !! Population !! rowspan=11 | <!--{{Tnavbar|Largest cities in Kerala|plain=1}}--><br />
[[Image:Tvmcityview.jpg|border|135px|Thiruvananthapuram]]<br><br />
[[Thiruvananthapuram]]<br><br />
[[Image:Kochi India.jpg|border|135px|Kochi]]<br><br />
[[Kochi]]<br />
|-<br />
| align=center | 01 ||align=left | '''[[Thiruvananthapuram]]''' || [[Thiruvananthapuram district|Thiruvananthapuram]] || 744,983<br />
|-<br />
| align=center | 02 ||align=left | '''[[Kochi]]''' || [[Ernakulam district|Ernakulam]] || 595,575<br />
|-<br />
| align=center | 03 ||align=left | '''[[Kozhikode]]''' || [[Kozhikode district|Kozhikode]] || 436,556<br />
|-<br />
| align=center | 04 ||align=left | '''[[Kollam]]''' || [[Kollam district|Kollam]] || 361,560<br />
|-<br />
| align=center | 05 ||align=left | '''[[Thrissur]]''' || [[Thrissur district|Thrissur]] || 317,526 <br />
|-<br />
| align=center | 06 ||align=left | '''[[Alappuzha]]''' || [[Alappuzha district|Alappuzha]] || 177,029<br />
|-<br />
| align=center | 07 ||align=left | '''[[Palakkad]]''' || [[Palakkad district|Palakkad]] || 130,767<br />
|-<br />
| align=center | 08 || align=left | '''[[Thalassery]]''' || [[Kannur district|Kannur]] || 99,387<br />
|-<br />
| align=center | 09 ||align=left | '''[[Ponnani]]''' || [[Malappuram district|Malappuram]] || 87,495<br />
|-<br />
| align=center | 10 ||align=left | '''[[Manjeri]]''' || [[Malappuram district|Malappuram]] || 83,707<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
== Government ==<br />
<br />
{{main|Government of Kerala }}<br />
{{kerala symbols}}<br />
<br />
Like other Indian states, Kerala is governed through a [[parliamentary system]] of [[representative democracy]]; [[universal suffrage]] is granted to state residents. There are three branches of government. The [[unicameralism|unicameral]] [[legislature]], known as the [[Kerala Legislative Assembly|legislative assembly]], comprises elected members and special office bearers (the Speaker and Deputy Speaker) elected by the members from among themselves. Assembly meetings are presided over by the Speaker and in his absence by the Deputy Speaker. Kerala has 140 Assembly constituencies. The state sends 20 members to the [[Lok Sabha]] and 9 to the [[Rajya Sabha]], the [[Parliament of India|Indian Parliament]]'s upper house.<br />
<br />
{{#switch: {{#expr: {{CURRENTHOUR}} mod 2}}<br />
|0 = [[Image:Assembly11.jpg|thumb|left|125px|The Legislative Assembly Building in Trivandrum.]]<br />
|1 = [[Image:High Court of Kerala.jpg|thumb|left|125px|The Kerala High Court in Ernakulam.]]<br />
}}<br />
<br />
The constitutional head of state is the [[Governors of Kerala|Governor of Kerala]], who is appointed by the [[President of India]]. The [[executive (government)|executive authority]] is headed by the [[Chief Minister of Kerala]], who is the ''de facto'' head of state and is vested with most of the executive powers; the Legislative Assembly's majority party leader is appointed to this position by the Governor. The Council of Ministers, which answers to the Legislative Assembly, has its members appointed by the Governor; the appointments receive input from the Chief Minister.<br />
<br />
The [[judiciary]] comprises the [[Kerala High Court]] (including a Chief Justice combined with 26 permanent and two additional (''pro tempore'') justices) and a system of lower courts. The High Court of Kerala is the apex court for the state; it also hears cases from the Union Territory of [[Lakshadweep]]. Auxiliary authorities known as ''[[panchayat]]s'', for which [[Local Body Election in Kerala|local body elections]] are regularly held, govern local affairs.<br />
<br />
The state's 2005–2006 budget was 219&nbsp;billion&nbsp;[[Indian Rupee|INR]].<ref>[http://www.kerala.gov.in/budget2005-6/a01.pdf Budget at a Glance]</ref> The state government's tax revenues (excluding the shares from Union tax pool) amounted to 111,248&nbsp;million&nbsp;[[Indian Rupee|INR]] in 2005, up from 63,599&nbsp;million in 2000. Its non-tax revenues (excluding the shares from Union tax pool) of the Government of Kerala as assessed by the Indian Finance Commissions reached 10,809&nbsp;million&nbsp;INR in 2005, nearly double the 6,847&nbsp;million&nbsp;INR revenues of 2000.<ref>[http://fincomindia.nic.in/ Finance Commission (Ministry of Finance, Government of India)]</ref> However, Kerala's high ratio of taxation to gross state domestic product (GSDP) has not alleviated chronic budget deficits and unsustainable levels of government debt, impacting social services.<ref>[http://fincomindia.nic.in/pubsugg/memo_ker.pdf Memoranda from States: Kerala]</ref><br />
<br />
== Politics ==<br />
{{main|Politics of Kerala}}<br />
Kerala hosts two major political alliances: the [[United Democratic Front (India)|United Democratic Front]] (UDF—led by the [[Indian National Congress]]) and the [[Left Democratic Front]] (LDF—led by the [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)]] (CPI(M)). At present, the LDF is the ruling coalition in government; [[V.S. Achuthanandan]] of the CPI(M) is the Chief Minister of Kerala and [[Oommen Chandy]] of the UDF is the Chief Opposition leader.<br />
[[Image:Cpmernakulam (40).jpg|thumb|left|125px|A CPI(M) rally in Ernakulam.]]<br />
<br />
Kerala is one of the few regions in the world where communist parties are democratically elected in a parliamentary democracy. Compared with most other Indians, Keralites are well versed and keen participants in the political process; many elections are decided by razor-thin margins of victory. Strikes, protests, rallies, and marches are ubiquitous.<ref>{{cite web |title= Protest against frequent strikes |work=The Hindu |publisher=The Hindu |date=5 July 2005 |accessdate=2007-11-26 |url=http://www.hindu.com/2005/07/05/stories/2005070513110300.htm}}</ref><br />
<br />
== Economy ==<br />
<br />
{{main|Economy of Kerala}}<br />
[[Image:SouthernIndia1b.jpg|thumb|right|In the Backwaters, waterways are key thoroughfares for merchants selling fish, rice, and other products. Pictured is a waterway bordering a farm.]]<br />
<br />
Since independence, Kerala was managed as a [[democratic socialism|democratic socialist]] [[welfare economy]]. Since the 1990s, [[neoliberalism|liberalisation]] of the [[mixed economy]] allowed onerous [[Licence Raj]] restrictions against the [[free market]] and [[foreign direct investment]] to be lightened, leading to economic expansion and job creation. In fiscal year 2004–2005, nominal [[gross domestic product|gross state domestic product]] (GSDP) was {{INRConvert|89451.99|c}}.<ref>{{cite news |title=Kerala's GDP hits an all-time high |work=[[Press Trust of India]] |publisher=Press Trust of India |date=2006-02-09 |url=http://www.rediff.com/money/2006/feb/09ker.htm |accessdate=2008-12-29 }}</ref> Recent GSDP growth (9.2% in 2004–2005 and 7.4% in 2003–2004) has been robust compared to historical averages (2.3% annually in the 1980s and between 5.1%<ref name="Mohindra_2003">{{cite journal |author=Mohindra KS |year=2003 |title=A report on women Self-Help Groups (SHGs) in Kerala state, India: a public health perspective |journal=Université de Montréal Département de médecine sociale et prévention }}</ref>{{rp|8}} and 5.99%<ref name = "GOK_2004_2"/> in the 1990s).<ref name="Mohindra_2003"/>{{rp|8}}<!--Rapid expansion in services like banking, real estate, and tourism (13.8% growth in 2004–2005) outpaced growth in both agriculture (2.5% in 2004–2005) and the industrial sector (&minus;2% in 2004–2005).<ref name="PTI_2006"/>--> The state clocked 8.93% growth in enterprises from 1998 to 2005 compared with 4.80% nationally.<ref>[http://mospi.nic.in/economic_census_prov_results_2005.pdf High growth in enterprises in Kerala]</ref> Relatively few such enterprises are major corporations or manufacturers.<ref name="Brenkert_Malone_2003"/>{{rp|49}} [[Remittance]]s totaling {{INRConvert|18500|c}}<ref name="Rajan_Zachariah_2007">{{cite journal |author=Rajan SI |coauthors=Zachariah KC |year=2007 |month=May |title=Economic and social dynamics of migration in Kerala, 1999-2004: analysis of panel data |journal=Centre for Development Studies |url=http://www.cds.edu/download_files/wp384.pdf |format=PDF |accessdate = 2008-12-29 }}</ref>{{rp|6}} annually contribute a fifth of GSDP.<ref name="Hari_Kannan_2002">{{cite journal |author=Hari KS |coauthors=Kannan KP |year=2002 |title=Kerala's gulf connection: emigration, remittances, and their macroeconomic impact |journal=Centre for Development Studies }}</ref> Per-capita GSDP is {{INRConvert|11819}},<ref name="Raman_2005">{{cite news |author=Raman N |date=2005-05-17 |title=How almost everyone in Kerala learned to read |agency=Christian Science Monitor |url=http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0517/p12s01-legn.html |accessdate=2008-12-29 }}</ref> higher than most Indian states and far below the world average.<ref name="Mohindra_2003"/>{{rp|8}} Kerala's [[Human Development Index]] and [[standard of living]] statistics are the nation's best.<ref name="Varma_2005">{{cite news |author=Varma MS |title=Nap on HDI scores may land Kerala in an equilibrium trap |work=The Financial Express |date=2005-04-04 |accessdate=2007-11-12 |url=http://www.financialexpress.com/old/print.php?content_id=86925 }}</ref> This apparently paradoxical "Kerala phenomenon" or "[[Kerala model|Kerala model of development]]" of high human and low economic development results from the strong service sector.<ref name="Brenkert_Malone_2003"/>{{rp|48}}<ref name="Tharamangalam_2005">{{cite journal |author=Tharamangalam J |year=2005 |title=The Perils of Social Development without Economic Growth: The Development Debacle of Kerala, India |journal=Political Economy for Environmental Planners |url=http://www.infra.kth.se/courses/1H1142/Kerala_Paper_4.pdf |format=PDF |accessdate=2008-12-28 }}</ref>{{rp|1}}<br />
<br />
[[Image:Kerala 15.jpg|thumb|left|125px|Rural women processing coir threads.]]<br />
<!--[[Image:Tea Estate Munnar Kerala India.jpg|thumb|left|125px|Tea gardens near [[Munnar]], Idukki district.]]--><br />
<br />
The service sector (including tourism, public administration, banking and finance, transportation, and communications—63.8% of GSDP in 2002–2003) and the agricultural and fishing industries (together 17.2% of GSDP) dominate the economy.<ref name="GOK_2004_2">{{harvnb|Government of Kerala|2004|p=2}}.</ref><ref name = "GOK_2004c_24"/> Nearly half of Kerala's people are dependent on agriculture alone for income.<ref name = "GOK_2005c"/> Some 600 varieties<ref name="Sreedharan_2004"/>{{rp|5}} of rice (Kerala's most important [[staple food]] and [[cereal]] crop)<ref name="Balachandran_2004">{{cite journal |author=Balachandran PG |year=2004 |title=Constraints on Diffusion and Adoption of Agro-mechanical Technology in Rice Cultivation in Kerala |journal=Centre for Development Studies |url=http://krpcds.org/publication/downloads/59.pdf |accessdate=2008-12-28 }}</ref>{{rp|5}} are harvested from 3105.21&nbsp;km² (a decline from 5883.4&nbsp;km² in 1990)<ref name="Balachandran_2004"/>{{rp|5}} of [[paddy field]]s; 688,859&nbsp;[[tonne]]s are produced per annum.<ref name = "GOK_2005c"/> Other key crops include coconut (899,198&nbsp;ha), tea, coffee (23% of Indian production,<ref name="Joy_2004">{{cite journal |author=Joy CV |year=2004 |title=Small Coffee Growers of Sulthan Bathery, Wayanad |journal=Centre for Development Studies |url=http://krpcds.org/publication/downloads/83.pdf |accessdate=2008-12-28 }}</ref>{{rp|13}} or 57,000&nbsp;tonnes<ref name="Joy_2004"/>{{rp|6–7}}), rubber, cashews, and spices—including pepper, cardamom, vanilla, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Around 1.050&nbsp;million fishermen haul an annual catch of 668,000 tonnes (1999–2000 estimate); 222 fishing villages are strung along the 590&nbsp;km coast. Another 113 fishing villages dot the hinterland.<br />
<br />
<!--{{#switch: {{#expr: {{CURRENTHOUR}} mod 2}}<br />
|0 = [[Image:Tejomaya Infopark Kochi.jpg|thumb|right|The ''Tejomaya'' building at [[InfoPark, Kochi]].]]<br />
|1 = [[Image:Bhavaniinterior.jpg|thumb|right|Interior of the [[Technopark, Kerala|Technopark]], Thiruvananthapuram.]]<br />
}}--><br />
Traditional industries manufacturing such items as [[coir]], handlooms, and [[handicraft]]s employ around one million people. Around 180,000 small-scale industries employ around 909,859 Keralites; 511 medium and large scale manufacturing firms are located in Kerala. A small mining sector (0.3% of GSDP)<ref name="GOK_2004c_24">{{harvnb|Government of Kerala|2004c|p=24}}.</ref> involves extraction of [[ilmenite]], [[kaolin]], [[bauxite]], [[silica]], [[quartz]], [[rutile]], [[zircon]], and [[sillimanite]].<ref name="GOK_2005c">{{harvnb|Government of Kerala|2005c}}.</ref> [[Home gardens]] and animal husbandry also provide work for hundreds of thousands of people. Other major sectors are [[tourism in Kerala|tourism]], manufacturing, and [[business process outsourcing]]. As of March 2002, Kerala's banking sector comprised 3341 local branches; each branch served 10,000 persons, lower than the national average of 16,000; the state has the third-highest bank penetration among Indian states.<ref name="RBI_2002">{{cite web |url=http://rbidocs.rbi.org.in/rdocs/Publications/PDFs/35585.pdf |title=State/Union Territory-Wise Number of Branches of Scheduled Commercial Banks and Average Population Per Bank Branch |month=March |year=2002 |work=Reserve Bank of India |accessdate=2008-12-28 |format=PDF}}</ref> Unemployment in 2007 was estimated at 9.4%;<ref>{{cite news |author=Kumar KG |title=Jobless no more? |publisher=The Hindu |date=2007-10-08 |url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2007/10/08/stories/2007100850911500.htm |quote=A study by K.C. Zacharia and S. Irudaya Rajan, two economists at the Centre for Development Studies (CDS), Thiruvananthapuram, unemployment in Kerala has dropped from 19.1[%] in 2003 to 9.4[%] in 2007.}}</ref> [[underemployment]], low employability of youths, and a 13.5% female [[labor force|participation rate]] are chronic issues.<ref name="Nair_2004">{{cite book |author=Nair NG |editor=Nair PRG, Shaji H |title=Measurement of Employment, Unemployment, and Underemployment |series=Kerala Research Programme on Local Level Development |publisher=Centre for Development Studies |location=Thiruvananthapuram |isbn=81-87621-75-3 |url=http://krpcds.org/publication/downloads/72.pdf |format=PDF |accessdate=2008-12-31 }}</ref>{{rp|5, 13}}<ref name="GOK_2004_4">{{harvnb|Government of Kerala|2004|p=4}}.</ref> [[Poverty line|Poverty rate]] figures range from 12.71%<ref>{{cite news |author=Dhar A |title=260 million Indians still below poverty line |publisher=The Hindu |date=[[2006-01-28]] |accessdate=2007-11-11 |url=http://www.hindu.com/2006/01/28/stories/2006012803971100.htm }}</ref> to as high as 36%.<ref name="GOK_2006">{{harvnb|Government of Kerala|2006|p=1}}.</ref> More than 45,000 residents live in slum conditions.<ref name="FOH_2002">{{Harv|Foundation For Humanization|2002}}.</ref><br />
<br />
== Transport ==<br />
<br />
{{seealso|Roads in Kerala}}<br />
<br />
{{#switch: {{#expr: {{CURRENTHOUR}} mod 2}}<br />
|0 = [[Image:India Bridge.jpg|thumb|right|The Chinese Fishing Net Bridge in Kochi.]]<br />
|1 = [[Image:marinedrive.jpg|thumb|right|A bridge on the [[Marine Drive, Kochi|Marine Drive]] walkway in Kochi.]]<br />
}}<br />
<br />
Kerala has {{km to mi|145704}} of roads (4.2% of India's total). This translates to about {{km to mi|4.62|precision=2}} of road per thousand population, compared to an all India average of {{km to mi|2.59|precision=2}}. Virtually all of Kerala's villages are connected by road. Traffic in Kerala has been growing at a rate of 10–11% every year, resulting in high traffic and pressure on the roads. [[Roads in Kerala|Kerala's road]] density is nearly four times the national average, reflecting the state's high population density. Kerala's annual total of road accidents is among the nation's highest.<ref>{{cite news |author=Kumar KG |title=Accidentally notorious |publisher=[[The Hindu]] [[Business Line]] |date=[[2003-09-22]] |accessdate=2007-11-11 |url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2003/09/22/stories/2003092201111300.htm }}</ref><br />
<br />
{{#switch: {{#expr: {{CURRENTHOUR}} mod 2}}<br />
|0 = [[Image:TRVIntl.jpg|thumb|left|125px|[[Trivandrum International Airport]].]]<br />
|1 = [[Image:Tvmcentral.jpg|thumb|left|125px|[[Trivandrum Central]] Railway Station.]]<br />
}}<br />
<br />
India's national highway network includes a Kerala-wide total of {{km to mi|1524|precision=0}}, which is 2.6% of the national total. There are eight designated national highways in the state. The Kerala State Transport Project (KSTP), which includes the [[GIS]]-based Road Information and Management Project (RIMS), is responsible for maintaining and expanding the {{km to mi|1600}} of roadways that compose the [[List of State Highways in Kerala|state highways system]]; it also oversees major district roads.<ref>{{cite news |author=Kumar VS |title=Kerala State transport project second phase to be launched next month |publisher=[[The Hindu]] [[Business Line]] |date=[[2006-01-20]] |accessdate=2007-11-11 |url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2006/01/20/stories/2006012002272100.htm }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=Kumar VS |title=Institutional Strengthening Action Plan (ISAP) |work=Public Works Department |publisher=Government of Kerala |year=2003 |accessdate=2007-11-11 |url=http://www.keralapwd.gov.in/pwd/public/isap.jsp }}</ref> Most of Kerala's west coast is accessible through two [[List of National Highways in India|national highways]], [[National Highway 47 (India)|NH 47]], and [[National Highway 17 (India)|NH 17]].<br />
<br />
The state has three major international airports at [[Trivandrum International Airport|Thiruvananthapuram]], [[Cochin International Airport|Kochi]], and [[Calicut International Airport|Kozhikode]], that link the state with the rest of the nation and the world.Fourth international airport is coming up at [[Kannur]],once operational Kannur international airport will be the largest airport in Kerala. The Cochin International Airport at Kochi is the first international airport in India that was built without [[Government of India|Central Government]] funds, and is also the country's first publicly owned airport.<ref>{{cite news |title=The three airports in Kerala can be in business without affecting each other |publisher=[[Rediff.com|Rediff]] |date=[[1999-12-06]] |accessdate=2007-11-11 |url=http://www.rediff.com/business/1999/dec/06inter.htm }}</ref> The backwaters traversing the state are an important mode of [[inland navigation]]. The [[Indian Railways]]' [[Southern Railway (India)|Southern Railway]] line runs throughout the state, connecting all major towns and cities except those in the highland districts of Idukki and Wayanad. Kerala's major railway stations are [[Trivandrum Central]], Kollam Junction, [[Ernakulam Junction]], Kannur, Kozhikode, [[Shoranur|Shoranur Junction]], and Palakkad.<br />
<br />
== Demographics ==<br />
<br />
{{main|Demographics of Kerala}}<br />
{{IndiaCensusPop<br />
|title = Population trend<ref name="Census Population"/><ref name="Tharakan_Navaneetham_1999"/><br />
|1951 = 13549000<br />
|1961 = 16904000<br />
|1971 = 21347000<br />
|1981 = 25454000<br />
|1991 = 29099000<br />
|2001 = 31841000<br />
|estimate = 35005000<br />
|estyear = 2006<br />
|estref = <ref name="Tharakan_Navaneetham_1999">{{cite journal |author=Tharakan PKM |coauthors=Navaneetham K |year=1999 |month=June |title=Population Projection and Policy Implications for Education: A Discussion with Reference to Kerala |journal=Centre for Development Studies |url=http://unpan1.un.org/intradoc/groups/public/documents/APCITY/UNPAN010702.pdf |format=PDF |accessdate=2008-12-28}}</ref>{{rp|17}}<br />
|footnote = Source: 2001 Census of India<ref name="Census Population">{{cite web |title=Population of India (1951-2001) |work=Census of India |year=2007 |publisher=Indian Ministry of Finance |url=http://indiabudget.nic.in/es2006-07/chapt2007/tab97.pdf |format=PDF |accessdate=2008-12-28 }}</ref><br />
}}<br />
<br />
The 31.8&nbsp;million<ref name="ORG_2001b">{{harvnb|Office of the Registrar General|2001b}}.</ref> Keralites are predominantly of [[Malayali]] ethnicity, while the rest is mostly made up of [[Jew]]ish and [[Arab]] elements in both culture and ancestry. Kerala's 321,000 indigenous tribal ''[[Adivasi]]s'', 1.10% of the population, are concentrated in the east.<ref name="Kalathil_2004">{{cite book |author=Kalathil MJ |year=2004 |editor=Nair PRG, Shaji H |title=Withering Valli: Alienation, Degradation, and Enslavement of Tribal Women in Attappady |series=Kerala Research Programme on Local Level Development |publisher=Centre for Development Studies |location=Thiruvananthapuram |isbn=81-87621-69-9 |url=http://krpcds.org/publication/downloads/66.pdf |format=pdf |accessdate=2008-12-29 }}</ref>{{rp|10–12}} [[Malayalam]] is Kerala's [[official language]]; [[Tamil language|Tamil]] and various ''Adivasi'' languages are also spoken by [[ethnic minority|ethnic minorities]].<br />
<br />
Kerala is home to 3.44% of India's people; at 819 persons per km², its land is nearly three times as densely settled as the rest of India, which is at a population density of 325 persons per km².<ref name="ORG_2001">{{harvnb|Office of the Registrar General|2001}}.</ref> Kerala's rate of population growth is India's lowest,<ref name="GOK_2004c_26">{{harvnb|Government of Kerala|2004c|p=26}}.</ref> and Kerala's decadal growth (9.42% in 2001) is less than half the all-India average of 21.34%.<ref name="GOK_2004c_27">{{harvnb|Government of Kerala|2004c|p=27}}.</ref> Whereas Kerala's population more than doubled between 1951 and 1991 by adding 15.6&nbsp;million people to reach 29.1&nbsp;million residents in 1991, the population stood at less than 32 million by 2001. Kerala's coastal regions are the most densely settled, leaving the eastern hills and mountains comparatively sparsely populated.<ref name="GOK_2005b">{{harvnb|Government of Kerala|2005b}}.</ref><br />
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[[Image:Fischer backwaters.JPG|thumb|left|125px|Most Keralites, such as this fisherman, live in rural areas.]]<br />
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Women compose 51.42% of the population.<ref name="Venkitakrishnan_Kurien_2003">{{cite book |author=Venkitakrishnan U |coauthors=Kurien SG |year=2003<br />
|editor=Nair PRG, Shaji H |title=Rape Victims in Kerala |series=Kerala Research Programme on Local Level Development |publisher=Centre for Development Studies |location=Thiruvananthapuram |url=http://krpcds.org/publication/downloads/52.pdf |format=PDF |accessdate=2008-12-28 }}</ref>{{rp|26}} Kerala's principal religions are [[Hinduism in Kerala|Hinduism]] (56.2%%), [[Islam in Kerala|Islam]] (24.70%), and [[Christianity in Kerala|Christianity]] (19.00%).<ref name="ORG_India_2004">{{harvnb|Office of the Registrar General|2004}}.</ref> Remnants of a once substantial [[Cochin Jews|Cochin Jewish]] population also practice Judaism. In comparison with the rest of India, Kerala experiences relatively little sectarianism.<ref>{{cite journal |author=Heller P |title=Social capital as a product of class mobilization and state intervention: Industrial workers in Kerala, India |publisher=[[University of California]] |pages=49–50 |date=4 May 2003 |accessdate=2007-02-25 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/2999683.stm }}</ref><br />
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Kerala's society is less patriarchal than the rest of the [[Third World]].<ref name="McKibben_2006"/><ref name="Lindberg_2004">{{cite journal |author=Lindberg A |year=2004 |month=July |title=Modernization and Effeminization in India: Kerala Cashew Workers since 1930 |journal=18th European Conference on Modern South Asian Studies (EASAS) |url=http://www.sasnet.lu.se/EASASpapers/16AnnaLindberg.pdf |accessdate=2008-12-28 }}</ref>{{rp|18–19}} Gender relations are among the most equitable in India and the Third World<ref name="GOK_2004r_366">{{harvnb|Government of Kerala|2004r|p=366}}</ref>, despite discrepancies among low caste men and women.<ref name="Lindberg_2004"/>{{rp|1}} Certain Hindu communities such as the [[Nair]]s, some [[Ezhava]]s and the Muslims around [[Kannur]] used to follow a traditional matrilineal system known as ''[[marumakkathayam]]'', although this practice ended in the years after Indian independence. Other Muslims, Christians, and some Hindu castes such as the Namboothiris and the Ezhavas follow ''makkathayam'', a patrilineal system.<ref name="GOK_2002b">{{harvnb|Government of Kerala|2002b}}.</ref> Owing to the former matrilineal system, women in Kerala enjoy a high social status.<ref name="Encyclopædia"/><br />
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[[Image:Sari-and-Mundu.png|thumb|right|Traditional dress of Kerala: a Malayali woman in a ''[[set-sari]]'' (''tradition being wearing a [[mundum neriyathum]]'') and a Malayalee man wearing a ''[[mundu]]'' with a shirt (''tradition being not wearing a shirt'').]]<br />
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Kerala's human development indices—elimination of poverty, primary level education, and health care—are among the best in India. According to a 2005-2006 national survey, Kerala has one of the highest literacy rates (89.9%) among Indian states<ref name="nfhsindia.org">[http://www.nfhsindia.org/pdf/KE.pdf 2005-2006 National Family Health Survey]</ref> and life expectancy (73 years) was among the highest in India in 2001.<ref name="UNDP_2001">{{cite paper |publisher=United Nations Development Programme |year=2001 |title=Kerala: Human Development Fact Sheet |pages=p. 1 }}</ref> Kerala's rural poverty rate fell from 69% (1970–1971) to 19% (1993–1994); the overall (urban and rural) rate fell 36% between the 1970s and 1980s.<ref name="Mohindra_2003_8-9">{{harvnb|Mohindra|2003|pp=8–9}}.</ref> By 1999–2000, the rural and urban poverty rates dropped to 10.0% and 9.6% respectively.<ref>{{cite journal |author=Deaton A |date=[[2003-08-22]] |title=Regional poverty estimates for India, 1999-2000 |pages=p. 6 |accessdate=2007-11-12 |format=PDF |url=http://www.princeton.edu/~rpds/downloads/deaton_regionalpovertyindia.pdf }}</ref> These changes stem largely from efforts begun in the late 19th century by the kingdoms of Cochin and Travancore to boost social welfare.<ref>{{cite journal |title=EFA (Education for All) Global Monitoring Report |year=2003 |publisher=UNESCO |pages=p. 156 |accessdate=2007-11-12 |format=PDF |url=http://www.unesco.org/education/efa_report/chapter4.pdf }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |author=Kutty VR |year=2000 |title=Historical analysis of the development of health care facilities in Kerala State, India |journal=Health Policy and Planning |volume=15 |issue=1 |pages=103–109 |accessdate=2007-11-12 |format=PDF |url=http://heapol.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/reprint/15/1/103.pdf |doi=10.1093/heapol/15.1.103 |pmid=10731241 }}</ref> This focus was maintained by Kerala's post-independence government.<ref name="Varma_2005"/><ref name="Brenkert_Malone_2003"/>{{rp|48}}<br />
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== Health ==<br />
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Kerala's healthcare system has garnered international acclaim. The [[United Nations Children's Fund]] (UNICEF) and the [[World Health Organization]] designated Kerala the world's first "baby-friendly state". For example, more than 95% of Keralite births are hospital-delivered.<ref name="Kutty_2004">{{cite book |author=Kutty VR |editor=Nair PRG, Shaji H |year=2004 |title=Why low birth weight (LBW) is still a problem in Kerala: A preliminary exploration |series=Kerala Research Programme on Local Level Development |publisher=Centre for Development Studies |location=Thiruvananthapuram |isbn=81-87621-60-5 |accessdate=2008-12-28 |format=PDF |url=http://krpcds.org/publication/downloads/57.pdf}}</ref>{{rp|6}} Aside from ''[[ayurveda]]'' (both elite and popular forms),<ref name="Unnikrishnan_2004">{{cite journal |last=Unnikrishnan |first=E |year=2004 |title=''Materia Medica'' of the Local Health Traditions of Payyannur |journal=Centre for Development Studies |url=http://krpcds.org/publication/downloads/80.pdf |accessdate=2006-01-22}}.</ref>{{rp|13}} ''[[siddha]]'', and ''[[unani]]'', many endangered and endemic modes of [[traditional medicine]], including ''kalari'', ''marmachikitsa'',<ref name="Unnikrishnan_2004"/>{{rp|17}} and ''vishavaidyam'', are practiced. These propagate via ''[[gurukula]]'' discipleship,,<ref name="Unnikrishnan_2004"/>{{rp|5–6}} and comprise a fusion of both medicinal and supernatural treatments,<ref name="Unnikrishnan_2004"/>{{rp|15}} and are partly responsible for drawing increasing numbers of [[medical tourism|medical tourist]]s.<br />
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A steadily aging population (11.2% of Keralites are over age 60<ref name="Varma_2005"/>) and low birthrate<ref name="McKibben_2006">{{cite journal |author=McKibben B |year=2006 |title=Kerala, India |journal=National Geographic Traveller |accessdate=2007-11-12 |url=http://www.nationalgeographic.com/traveler/articles/1028kerala.html }}</ref> (18 per 1,000)<ref name="Kutty_2004_6">{{cite book |author=Kutty VR |editor=Nair PRG, Shaji H |year=2004 |title=Why low birth weight (LBW) is still a problem in Kerala: A preliminary exploration |series=Kerala Research Programme on Local Level Development |publisher=Centre for Development Studies |location=Thiruvananthapuram |isbn=81-87621-60-5 |accessdate=2007-11-12 |format=PDF |url=http://krpcds.org/publication/downloads/57.pdf |page=6 }}</ref> make Kerala one of the few regions of the Third World to have undergone the "[[demographic transition]]" characteristic of such [[developed nation]]s as Canada, Japan, and Norway.<ref name="Tharamangalam_2005"/>{{rp|1}} In 1991, Kerala's [[total fertility rate]] (children born per women) was the lowest in India. Hindus had a TFR of 1.66, Christians 1.78, and Muslims 2.97.<ref>{{cite journal |author=Alagarajan M |month=December |year=2003 |url=http://www.springerlink.com/index/H18J4H5W37507H21.pdf |title=An analysis of fertility differentials by religion in Kerala: A test of the interaction hypothesis |journal=Population Research and Policy Review |doi=10.1023/B:POPU.0000020963.63244.8c|format=PDF |volume=22 |pages=557}}</ref> Kerala's [[sex ratio|female-to-male ratio]] (1.058) is significantly higher than that of the rest of India.<ref name="UNDP_2001">{{harvnb|United Nations Development Programme|2001|p=1}}.</ref><ref name="Tharamangalam_2005"/>{{rp|2}} The same is true of its [[sub-replacement fertility]] level and [[infant mortality rate]] (estimated at 12<ref name="Kutty_2004_6"/><ref name="Brenkert_Malone_2003"/>{{rp|49}} to 14<ref name="Krishnaswami_2004">{{cite book |author=Krishnaswami P |editor=Neelakantan S, Nair PRG, Shaji H |year=2004 |title=Morbidity Study: Incidence, Prevalence, Consequences, and Associates |series=Kerala Research Programme on Local Level Development |publisher=Centre for Development Studies |location=Thiruvananthapuram |isbn=81-87621-66-4 |url=http://krpcds.org/publication/downloads/63.pdf |format=PDF |accessdate=2008-12-31 }}</ref>{{rp|5}} deaths per 1,000 live births).<br />
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However, Kerala's [[morbidity rate]] is higher than that of any other Indian state—118 (rural Keralites) and 88 (urban) per 1,000 people. The corresponding all India figures are 55 and 54 per 1,000, respectively.<ref name="Krishnaswami_2004"/>{{rp|5}} Kerala's 13.3% [[prevalence]] of low [[birth weight]] is substantially higher than that of [[First World]] nations.<ref name="Kutty_2004_6"/> Outbreaks of [[water-borne disease]]s such as [[diarrhoea]], [[dysentery]], [[hepatitis]], and [[typhoid]] among the more than 50% of Keralites who rely on 3&nbsp;million water [[well]]s is a problem worsened by the widespread lack of [[sewer]]s.<ref name="Roy_2004">{{cite book |author=Roy MKP |year=2004 |title=Water quality and health status in Kollam Municipality |journal=Centre for Development Studies |isbn=81-87621-59-5 |url=http://krpcds.org/publication/downloads/56.pdf |format=PDF |accessdate=2008-12-28 }}</ref>{{rp|5–7}}<br />
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== Education ==<br />
{{main|Education in Kerala}}<br />
[[Image:School children line Cochin Kerala India.jpg|thumb|right|Children lining up for school in Kochi.]]<br />
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The antiquity and robustness of Kerala's education system is underscored by her status as one of the most literate states in the country. The local dynastic precursors of modern-day Kerala made significant contributions to the progress on education by sponsoring ''sabha mathams'' that imparted [[Vedas|Vedic]] knowledge. Apart from ''[[kalari]]s'', which taught martial arts, there were village schools run by Ezhuthachans or Asans. The history of western education in Kerala can be traced to [[Christian missionaries]] who set up numerous schools and colleges.<br />
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The schools and colleges in Kerala are run by the government or private trusts or individuals. Each school is affiliated with either the [[Indian Certificate of Secondary Education]] (ICSE), the [[CBSE|Central Board for Secondary Education]] (CBSE), or the [[Kerala State Education Board]]. English is the language of instruction in most private schools, while government run schools offer English or Malayalam as medium. After 10 years of secondary schooling, students typically enroll at [[junior college|Higher Secondary School]] in one of the three streams—[[liberal arts]], [[commerce]] or [[science]]. Upon completing the required coursework, students can enroll in general or professional degree programmes. Kerala topped the Education Development Index (EDI) among 21 major states in India in year 2006-2007. EDI is calculated using indicators such as access, infrastructure, teachers and outcome.<ref>[http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Kerala_tops_primary_education_index/articleshow/3587924.cms Kerala tops primary education index]</ref><br />
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[[Image:KU 2.jpg|thumb|left|125px|The University of Kerala's administrative building in Thiruvananthapuram.]]<br />
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Thiruvananthapuram, one of the state's major academic hubs, hosts the [[University of Kerala]] and several professional education colleges, including 15 engineering colleges, three medical colleges, three [[Ayurveda]] colleges, two colleges of [[homeopathy]], six other medical colleges, and several law colleges.<ref name="Technical Education">{{cite web |publisher=Kerala Government |work=Professional Colleges in Thiruvananthapuram |url=http://www.kerala.gov.in |title=Technical Education in Kerala - Department of Technical education |accessdate=2006-08-25 }}</ref> [[Trivandrum Medical College]], Kerala's premier health institute, one of the finest in the country, is being upgraded to the status of an [[All India Institute of Medical Sciences]] (AIIMS). The [[College of Engineering, Trivandrum]] is one of the prominent engineering institutions in the state. The Asian School of Business and IIITM-K are two of the other premier [[Management|management study]] institutions in the city, both situated inside [[Technopark Kerala|Technopark]]. The [[Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology, Thiruvananthapuram|Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology]], first of its kind in India, is situated in the state capital.<br />
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Kochi is another major educational hub. The [[Cochin University of Science and Technology]] (also known as "Cochin University") is situated in the suburb of the city. Most of the city's colleges offering [[tertiary education]] are affiliated to the [[Mahatma Gandhi University]]. Other national educational institutes in Kochi include the [[Central Institute of Fisheries Nautical and Engineering Training]], the [[National University of Advanced Legal Studies]], the [[National Institute of Oceanography]], Central Institute of Fisheries Technology and the [[Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute]].The only [[College of Fisheries]] in the State is situated at Panangad, a suburban area of the City. The College comes under the [[Kerala Agricultural University]].<br />
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The district of [[Thrissur]] holds some premier institutions in Kerala. Kerala Agricultural University is situated in this city. Thrissur Medical College, The Government Engineering College, Govt. Law College, Ayurveda College, Govt.Fine Arts College, College of Co-operation & Banking and Management, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, College of Horticulture, College of Forestry etc are situated in Thrissur. Thrissur is also a main center of coaching for the entrance examinations for engineering and medicine.<br />
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[[Kottayam]] also acts as a main educational hub. According to the 1991 census, [[Kottayam District]] of Kerala is the first district to achieve full [[Literacy_in_India#Literacy_rate|literacy rate]] in the whole of India. [[Mahatma Gandhi University]], [[CMS College]](the first institution to start English education in Southern India), [[Medical College, Kottayam]], and the [[Labour India Educational Research Center]] are some of the important educational institutions in the district.<br />
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[[Kozhikode]] is is home to two of the premier educational institutions in the country; the [[IIMK]], one of the seven [[Indian Institutes of Management]].[[Image:IIMK Postcard 2008.jpg|thumb|The picturesque IIMK Campus, from a poster|200px|right|The picturesque IIMK Campus, from a poster]], and the premier [[National Institute of Technology Calicut]], the [[NITC]].[[Image:NITC CRL.jpg|left|thumb|300px|Aerial view of the [[NITC]] classroom Complex.]]. [[Calicut Medical College]], the second medical college in Kerala is affiliated to the [[University of Calicut]] and serves 2/5 of the population of Kerala. [[Government Law College Calicut|Government Law College]] situated in outskirts of Calicut City is owned by the Government of Kerala and caters to the needs of the entire north Malabar region of Kerala.<br />
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== Culture ==<br />
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{{main|Arts of Kerala|Culture of Kerala}}<br />
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[[Image:Kerala boatrace.jpg|thumb|right|The annual [[Vallam Kali|snake boat race]] is performed during [[Onam]] Celebrations on the [[Pamba River]] at [[Aranmula]] near [[Pathanamthitta]].]]<br />
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[[Culture of Kerala|Kerala's culture]] is derived from both a [[:Category:Tamil culture|Tamil-heritage]] region known as [[Tamilakam]] and southern coastal [[Karnataka]]. Later, Kerala's culture was elaborated upon through centuries of contact with neighboring and overseas cultures.<ref name="Bhagyalekshmy_2004_7">{{harvnb|Bhagyalekshmy|2004|pp=6–7}}.</ref> Native [[performing arts]] include ''[[koodiyattom]]'' (a 2000 year old Sanskrit theatre tradition, officially recognised by [[UNESCO]] as a [[Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity]]<ref>[http://www.unesco.org/culture/intangible-heritage/masterpiece.php?id=0010&lg=en UNESCO Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity : "Kutiyattam, Sanskrit Theatre"]</ref>), ''[[kathakali]]''—from ''katha'' ("story") and ''kali'' ("performance")—and its offshoot ''[[Kerala Natanam|Kerala natanam]]'', ''[[koothu]]'' (akin to stand-up comedy), ''[[mohiniaattam]]'' ("dance of the enchantress"), ''[[thullal]]'', ''[[padayani]]'', and ''[[theyyam]]''.<br />
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{{#switch: {{#expr: {{CURRENTHOUR}} mod 3}}<br />
|0 = [[Image:Kathakali Kerala India.jpg|thumb|left|125px|A close-up of a ''[[kathakali]]'' artist.]]<br />
|1 = [[Image:Onam Flowers Pookkalam Kerala India.jpg|thumb|left|125px|During [[Onam]], Keralites create floral ''pookkalam'' designs in front of their houses.]]<br />
|2 = [[Image:House-in-Kerala.jpg|thumb|left|125px|A typical Kerala-style house with a ''thulasi thara'', a platform for ''[[Ocimum tenuiflorum|tulasi]]'', in the front.]]<br />
}}<br />
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Other forms of art are more religious or tribal in nature. These include ''[[chavittu nadakom]]'', ''[[oppana]]'' (originally from Malabar), which combines dance, rhythmic hand clapping, and ''ishal'' vocalisations. However, many of these art forms largely play to tourists or at youth festivals, and are not as popular among most ordinary Keralites. These people look to more contemporary art and performance styles, including those employing mimicry and parody.<br />
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[[Music of Kerala|Kerala's music]] also has ancient roots. [[Carnatic music]] dominates Keralite traditional music. This was the result of [[Swathi Thirunal Rama Varma]]'s popularisation of the genre in the 19th century.<ref name="Bhagyalekshmy_2004d_29">{{harvnb|Bhagyalekshmy|2004d|p=29}}.</ref><ref name="Bhagyalekshmy_2004d_32">{{harvnb|Bhagyalekshmy|2004d|p=32}}.</ref> Raga-based renditions known as ''sopanam'' accompany ''[[kathakali]]'' performances. ''Melam'' (including the ''paandi'' and ''panchari'' variants) is a more percussive style of music; it is performed at [[mandir|Kshetram]] centered festivals using the ''[[chenda]]''. ''Melam'' ensembles comprise up to 150 musicians, and performances may last up to four hours. ''Panchavadyam'' is a different form of percussion ensemble, in which up to 100 artists use five types of percussion instrument. Kerala has various styles of folk and tribal music. The popular music of Kerala is dominated by the ''[[filmi]]'' music of [[Indian cinema]]. Kerala's visual arts range from [[Murals of Kerala|traditional murals]] to the works of [[Raja Ravi Varma]], the state's most renowned painter.<br />
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[[Image:Thrippunithura-Elephant-end-of-pooram-2 crop.jpg|thumb|right|[[elephants in Keralite culture|Keralite elephants]], [[caparison]]ed, during the [[Sree Poornathrayesa Temple]] festival.]]<br />
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Kerala has its own [[Malayalam calendar]], which is used to plan agricultural and religious activities. Kerala's cuisine is typically served as a ''[[sadhya]]'' on green banana leaves. Such dishes as ''[[idli]]'', ''[[payasam]]'', ''pulisherry'', ''puttucuddla'', ''puzhukku'', ''[[rasam]]'', and ''[[sambar]]'' are typical. Keralites—both men and women alike—traditionally don flowing and unstitched garments. These include the ''[[mundu]]'', a loose piece of cloth wrapped around men's waists. Women typically wear the ''[[sari]]'', a long and elaborately wrapped banner of cloth, wearable in various styles.<br />
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The [[elephants in Kerala culture|elephants]] are an integral part of the daily life in Kerala. These [[Indian elephant]]s are loved, revered, groomed and given a prestigious place in the state's culture. Elephants in Kerala are often referred to as the 'sons of the ''[[Sahyadri|sahya]]''.' The elephant is the state animal of Kerala and is featured on the emblem of the [[Government of Kerala]].<br />
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== Language ==<br />
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{{main|Malayalam language|Malayalam literature}}<br />
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The predominant spoken language in Kerala is Malayalam, most of whose speakers live in Kerala. [[Malayalam literature]] is ancient in origin, and includes such figures as the 14th century [[Niranam poets]] (Madhava Panikkar, Sankara Panikkar and Rama Panikkar), and the 17th century poet [[Ezhuthachan|Thunchaththu Ezhuthachan]] whose works mark the dawn of both modern Malayalam language and indigenous Keralite poetry. The "[[Triumvirate poets of modern malayalam|triumvirate of poets]]" (''Kavithrayam''), [[Kumaran Asan]], [[Vallathol Narayana Menon]], and [[Ulloor S. Parameswara Iyer]], are recognised for moving Keralite poetry away from archaic sophistry and metaphysics, and towards a more [[lyrics|lyrical]] mode.<br />
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In the second half of the 20th century, [[Jnanpith]] awardees like [[G. Sankara Kurup]], [[S. K. Pottekkatt]], [[Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai]] and [[M. T. Vasudevan Nair]] have made valuable contributions to the Malayalam literature. Later, such Keralite writers as [[O. V. Vijayan]], [[Kamaladas]], [[M. Mukundan]], and [[Booker Prize]] winner [[Arundhati Roy]], whose 1996 semi-[[autobiography|autobiographical]] bestseller<ref>{{cite web |author=Cooper KJ <!--|last=Cooper |first=Kenneth--> |title=For India, No Small Thing; Native Daughter Arundhati Roy Wins Coveted Booker Prize |publisher=[[The Washington Post]] |date=20 October 1997 |accessdate=2008-12-28 |url=http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/19563051.html?dids=19563051:19563051&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=OCT+20%2C+1997&author=Kenneth+J.+Cooper&pub=The+Washington+Post&desc=For+India%2C+No+Small+Thing%3B+Native+Daughter+Arundhati+Roy+Wins+Coveted+Booker+Prize&pqatl=google }}</ref> ''[[The God of Small Things]]'' is set in the [[Kottayam]] town of Ayemenem, have gained international recognition.<ref>{{cite web |title=Indian's First Novel Wins Booker Prize in Britain |publisher=[[The New York Times]] |date=15 October 1997 |accessdate=2007-11-11 |url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A01E6DD173FF936A25753C1A961958260 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Winds, Rivers & Rain |publisher=[[Salon.com|Salon]] |month=September | year=1997 |accessdate=2007-11-11 |url=http://www.salon.com/sept97/00roy.html }}</ref><br />
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== Media ==<br />
{{main|Media in Kerala}}<br />
[[Image:Malayalam print and spectacles.jpg|thumb|right|Printed Malayalam text magnified by spectacles.]]<br />
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Dozens of newspapers are published in Kerala; they are printed in nine major languages.<ref name=rniindia>{{cite web<br />
|url = https://rni.nic.in/pii.htm| title = General Review| accessdate = 2006-09-01<br />
|publisher = Registrar of Newspapers for India }}</ref> The principal languages of publication are Malayalam and English. The most widely circulating [[List of Malayalam language newspapers|Malayalam-language newspapers]] include ''[[Malayala Manorama]]'', ''[[Mathrubhumi]]'', ''[[Deepika (newspaper)|Deepika]]'', ''[[Kerala Kaumudi]]'',''[[Madhyamam]]'' and ''[[Desabhimani]]''. Among [[List of Malayalam periodicals|major Malayalam periodicals]] are ''[[India Today|India Today Malayalam]]'', ''[[Vanitha]]'', ''[[Veedu]]'', ''[[Gruhalakshmi]]'', ''[[Chithrabhumi]]'', ''[[Kanyaka (magazine)|Kanyaka]]'', and ''[[Bhashaposhini]]''. A Malayalam version of [[Google News]] was launched in September 2008.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.google.com/news?ned=ml_in|title=Google Malayalam News}}</ref><br />
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[[Doordarshan]] is the state-owned television broadcaster. [[Multi system operator]]s provide a mix of Malayalam, English, and international channels via [[cable television]].There are 17 malayalam channels which makes the countries maximum number in regional language.[[Asianet]],[[Surya TV]],[[Kairali TV]] and [[Amrita TV]] are among the Malayalam-language channels that compete with the major national channels. [[All India Radio]], the national radio service, reaches much of Kerala via its Thiruvananthapuram 'A' Malayalam-language broadcaster. [[BSNL]], [[Reliance Infocomm]], [[Tata Indicom]], [[Vodafone]] and [[Airtel]] compete to provide [[cell phone|cellular]] phone services. [[Broadband]] internet is available in most of the towns and cities and is provided by different agencies like the state-run Kerala Telecommunications (which is run by BSNL) and by other private companies like [[Asianet|Asianet Satellite communications]], [[VSNL]]. BSNL provides 2 Mbit/s and 8 Mbit/s broadband service in most of the cities. Kerala accounts for the highest number of PC users and software engineers in India.<br />
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A substantial [[Malayalam Cinema|Malayalam film]] industry effectively competes against both [[Bollywood]] and [[Hollywood]]. Television (especially "mega serials" and cartoons) and the Internet have affected Keralite culture. Yet Keralites maintain high rates of newspaper and magazine subscriptions; 50% spend an average of about seven hours a week reading novels and other books. A sizeable "people's science" movement has taken root in the state, and such activities as writers' cooperatives are becoming increasingly common.<ref name="Ranjith_2004">{{cite book |author=Ranjith KS |editor=Nair PRG, Shaji H |year=2004 |title=Rural Libraries of Kerala |series=Kerala Research Programme on Local Level Development |publisher=Centre for Development Studies |location=Thiruvananthapuram |isbn=81-87621-81-8 |pages=20–21 |url=http://krpcds.org/publication/downloads/78.pdf |format=PDF |accessdate=2008-12-28 }}</ref><ref name="Tharamangalam_2005"/>{{rp|2}}<br />
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== Sports ==<br />
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{{main|Sports in Kerala}}<br />
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[[Image:KalariPuttara.jpg|thumb|right|Kalari ''[[puttara]]'' shrines are seven-tiered platform-altars where ''kalaripayattu'' practitioners pray to the guardian deity.]]<br />
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Several ancient ritualised arts are Keralite in origin. These include ''[[kalaripayattu]]''—''[[kalari]]'' ("place", "threshing floor", or "battlefield") and ''payattu'' ("exercise" or "practice"). Among the world's oldest martial arts, oral tradition attributes ''kalaripayattu'''s emergence to Parasurama. Other ritual arts include ''[[theyyam]]'' and ''[[poorakkali]]''. However, larger numbers of Keralites follow sports such as [[cricket]], ''[[kabaddi]]'', [[soccer]], and [[badminton]]. Dozens of large stadiums, including Kochi's [[Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Kochi|Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium]] and Thiruvananthapuram's Chandrashekaran Nair Stadium, attest to the mass appeal of such sports among Keralites.<br />
<br />
Kerala has been the athletics powerhouse of India for decades, and several Keralite athletes have attained world-class status, including [[P. T. Usha]], [[Suresh Babu]], [[Shiny Wilson]], [[K. M. Beenamol]], [[M. D. Valsamma]] and [[Anju Bobby George]].<br />
<br />
As in the rest of India, cricket is the most popular sport in the state but it has an illustrious history in other sports/games, including football. Some notable football stars from Kerala include [[I. M. Vijayan]], [[V. P. Sathyan]], and [[Jo Paul Ancheri]].<br />
[[Volleyball]], another popular sport, is often played on makeshift courts on sandy beaches along the coast. [[Jimmy George]], born in [[Peravoor]], [[Kannur]], was a notable Indian volleyball player, regarded in his prime as among the world's ten best players.<ref>{{cite web |title=Jimmy George |work=Sports Portal |publisher=Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports |accessdate=2007-11-11 |url=http://sportal.nic.in/legenddetails.asp?sno=667&moduleid=&maincatid=59&subid=0&comid=55 }}</ref><br />
<br />
It is from the 1990s that cricket started growing in popularity. The 21st century saw two Kerala [[Ranji Trophy]] players gain test selection. [[Shanthakumaran Sreesanth]], born in [[Kothamangalam]], has represented India since 2005, and is the most successful cricketer from Kerala.<ref>{{cite web |title=India Wins World Twenty20 Thriller |publisher=The Hindu |date=[[2007-09-25]] |accessdate=2007-11-11 |url=http://www.hindu.com/2007/09/25/stories/2007092559400100.htm }}</ref>. Among less successful Keralite cricketers is [[Tinu Yohannan]], son of [[Olympic Games|Olympic]] [[long jump]]er [[T. C. Yohannan]].<ref>{{cite web |title=It's advantage Tinu at the Mecca of cricket |publisher=The Hindu |date=[[2002-06-13]] |accessdate=2007-11-11 |url=http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/mp/2002/06/13/stories/2002061300030400.htm }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=India Squad Profiles: Tinu Yohannan |publisher=[[BBC Sport]] |year=2002 |accessdate=2007-11-11 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/cricket/england/england_v_india_2002/india_player_profiles/2049702.stm }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Warriors from Kerala |publisher=The Hindu |date=[[2002-01-20]] |accessdate=2007-11-11 |url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/mag/2002/01/20/stories/2002012000160300.htm }}</ref><br />
<br />
== Tourism ==<br />
<br />
{{main|Tourism in Kerala}}<br />
<br />
[[Image:Sunset at Varkala Beach Kerala India.jpg|thumb|right|Sunset at [[Varkala|Varkala Beach]].]]<br />
<br />
Kerala, situated on the lush and tropical Malabar Coast, is one of the most popular tourist destinations in India. Named as one of the "ten paradises of the world" and "50 places of a lifetime" by the [[National Geographic Traveler]] magazine, Kerala is especially known for its [[ecotourism]] initiatives.<ref>{{cite web |title=Paradise Found: Kerala, India |work=Fifty places of a lifetime |publisher=National Geographic Traveler |url=http://www.nationalgeographic.com/traveler/kerala.html |accessdate=2007-11-11 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Tourism beckons |publisher=The Hindu |date=[[2004-05-11]] |accessdate=2006-08-09 |url=http://www.hindu.com/edu/2004/05/11/stories/2004051100040100.htm }}<br />
</ref> Its unique [[culture of Kerala|culture and traditions]], coupled with its varied [[demographics of Kerala|demographics]], has made Kerala one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. Growing at a rate of 13.31%, the state's tourism industry is a major contributor to the [[economy of Kerala|state's economy]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Tourist Statistics — 2005 (Provisional) |work=Department of Tourism |publisher=Government of Kerala |year=2005 |accessdate=2007-11-11 |url=http://www.keralatourism.org/php/media/data/tourismstatistics/TOURISTSTATISTICS2005.pdf|format=PDF}}</ref><br />
<br />
[[Image:Kerala 06 dance.jpg|thumb|left|125px|A ''[[mohiniaattam]]'' performance.]]<br />
<br />
Until the early 1980s, Kerala was a relatively unknown destination;<ref>{{cite web |author=Santhanam K |title=An ideal getaway |work=The Hindu Magazine |publisher=The Hindu |date=27 January 2002 |accessdate=2007-11-11 |url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/mag/2002/01/27/stories/2002012700400800.htm}}</ref> most tourist circuits focused on [[North India]]. Aggressive marketing campaigns launched by the [[Kerala Tourism Development Corporation]], the government agency that oversees tourism prospects of the state, laid the foundation for the growth of the tourism industry. In the decades that followed, Kerala's tourism industry was able to transform the state into one of the niche holiday destinations in India. The tagline ''[[God's Own Country|Kerala- God's Own Country]]'', originally coined by [[Vipin Gopal]], has been widely used in Kerala's tourism promotions and soon became synonymous with the state. In 2006, Kerala attracted 8.5 million tourist arrivals, an increase of 23.68% over the previous year, making the state one of the fastest-growing destinations in the world.<ref>{{cite web |title=Tourist Statistics — 2006 |work=Department of Tourism |publisher=Government of Kerala |year=2006 |accessdate=2007-11-11 |url=http://www.keralatourism.org/php/media/data/tourismstatistics/TS2006.pdf|format=PDF}}</ref><br />
<br />
Popular attractions in the state include the beaches at [[Kovalam]], [[Cherai]] and [[Varkala]]; the [[hill station]]s of [[Munnar]], [[Nelliampathi]], [[Ponmudi]] and [[Wayanad]]; and national parks and wildlife sanctuaries at [[Thekkady|Periyar]] and [[Eravikulam National Park]]. The "[[Kerala Backwaters|backwaters]]" region, which comprises an extensive network of interlocking rivers, lakes, and canals that centre on [[Alleppey]], [[Kollam]], [[Kumarakom]], and [[Punnamada]] (where the annual Nehru Trophy Boat Race is held in August), also see heavy tourist traffic. Heritage sites, such as the [[Padmanabhapuram Palace]] and the [[Mattancherry Palace]], are also visited. Cities such as Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram are popular centres for their shopping and traditional theatrical performances. During early summer, the [[Thrissur Pooram]] is conducted, attracting foreign tourists who are largely drawn by the festival's elephants and celebrants.<ref>{{cite web |title=The stars of Pooram show are jumbos |publisher=The Hindu |date=26 May 2006 |accessdate=2007-11-11 |url=http://www.hindu.com/2006/05/26/stories/2006052610410500.htm }}</ref><br />
<br />
== Resources ==<br />
Black sand of the Kerala coast are rich in rutile, zircon, monazite, sillimanite and garnet. India is developing [[thorium]] [[breeder reactor]] technology to tap these natural resources.<br />
<br />
== See also ==<br />
<br />
{{Kerala topics|state=expanded}}<br />
<br />
== Notes ==<br />
<br />
<div class="references-small"><br />
* {{cnote|α|Around the 9th century, the Cheras fell from power. Several small kingdoms (''swaroopams'') formed under the leadership of Nair chieftains, filling the resulting political vacuum.<ref name="Mundadan_1984"/>}}<br />
</div><br />
<br />
== Citations ==<br />
<br />
{{reflist|3}}<br />
<br />
== References ==<br />
<br />
<div class="references-small"><br />
* {{harvard reference<br />
|Last1 = Bhagyalekshmy <br />
|Given1 = S<br />
|Year = 2004<br />
|Title = Contribution of Travancore to Karnatic Music <br />
|Journal = Information & Public Relations Department—Thiruvananthapuram (Government of Kerala)<br />
|URL = http://www.kerala.gov.in/music/music1.pdf<br />
|Access-date = 12 January 2006<br />
}}.<br />
* {{harvard reference<br />
|Last1 = Bhagyalekshmy <br />
|Given1 = S<br />
|Year = 2004d<br />
|Title = Contribution of Travancore to Karnatic Music <br />
|Journal = Information & Public Relations Department—Thiruvananthapuram (Government of Kerala)<br />
|Pages = 29–37<br />
|URL = http://www.kerala.gov.in/music/music4.pdf<br />
|Access-date = 20 January 2006<br />
}}.<br />
* {{harvard reference<br />
|Author = Foundation For Humanization<br />
|Last1 = Foundation For Humanization<br />
|Year = 2002<br />
|Title = Human Index <br />
|Journal = Humanscape<br />
|Volume = IX<br />
|Issue = V<br />
|URL = http://www.humanscape.org/Humanscape/new/may02/humanindex.htm<br />
|Access-date = 22 February 2006<br />
}}.<br />
* {{harvard reference<br />
|Author = Government of Kerala<br />
|Last1 = Government of Kerala<br />
|Year = 2001<br />
|Title = Ranking of districts by Sex Ratio and Population density<br />
|Journal = Statistics for Planning 2001 (Government of Kerala)<br />
|URL = http://www.kerala.gov.in/statistical/vitalstatistics/1.03.pdf<br />
|Access-date = 12 January 2006<br />
}}.<br />
* {{harvard reference<br />
|Author = Government of Kerala<br />
|Last1 = Government of Kerala<br />
|Year = 2002b<br />
|Title = Marumakkathayam<br />
|Journal = Department of Public Relations (Government of Kerala)<br />
|URL = http://www.prd.kerala.gov.in/prd2/keralam/kathayam.htm<br />
|Access-date = 29 January 2006<br />
}}.<br />
* {{harvard reference<br />
|Author = Government of Kerala<br />
|Last1 = Government of Kerala<br />
|Year = 2004<br />
|Title = Economic Review 2004: An Overview<br />
|Journal = Department of Planning and Economic Affairs (Government of Kerala)<br />
|URL = http://www.kerala.gov.in/dept_planning/er/chapter1.pdf<br />
|Access-date = 15 March 2006<br />
}}.<br />
* {{harvard reference<br />
|Author = Government of Kerala<br />
|Last1 = Government of Kerala<br />
|Year = 2004c<br />
|Title = Economic Review 2004: Income and Population<br />
|Journal = Department of Planning and Economic Affairs (Government of Kerala)<br />
|URL = http://www.kerala.gov.in/dept_planning/er/chapter3.pdf<br />
|Access-date = 15 March 2006<br />
}}.<br />
* {{harvard reference<br />
|Author = Government of Kerala<br />
|Last1 = Government of Kerala<br />
|Year = 2004f<br />
|Title = Economic Review 2004: Environment<br />
|Journal = Department of Planning and Economic Affairs (Government of Kerala)<br />
|URL = http://www.kerala.gov.in/dept_planning/er/chapter6.pdf<br />
|Access-date = 15 March 2006<br />
}}.<br />
* {{harvard reference<br />
|Author = Government of Kerala<br />
|Last1 = Government of Kerala<br />
|Year = 2004r<br />
|Title = Economic Review 2004: Gender and Development<br />
|Journal = Department of Planning and Economic Affairs (Government of Kerala)<br />
|URL = http://www.kerala.gov.in/dept_planning/er/chapter18.pdf<br />
|Access-date = 25 March 2006<br />
}}.<br />
* {{harvard reference<br />
|Author = Government of Kerala<br />
|Last1 = Government of Kerala<br />
|Year = 2005<br />
|Title = History & Culture: Early History<br />
|Journal = Government of Kerala<br />
|URL = http://www.kerala.gov.in/<br />
|Access-date = 12 January 2006<br />
}}.<br />
* {{harvard reference<br />
|Author = Government of Kerala<br />
|Last1 = Government of Kerala<br />
|Year = 2005b<br />
|Title = General Features<br />
|Journal = Government of Kerala<br />
|URL = http://www.kerala.gov.in/knowkerala/generalfeatures.htm<br />
|Access-date = 18 January 2006<br />
}}.<br />
* {{harvard reference<br />
|Author = Government of Kerala<br />
|Last1 = Government of Kerala<br />
|Year = 2005c<br />
|Title = Kerala at a Glance<br />
|Journal = Government of Kerala<br />
|URL = http://www.kerala.gov.in/<br />
|Access-date = 22 January 2006<br />
}}.<br />
* {{harvard reference<br />
|Author = Government of Kerala<br />
|Last1 = Government of Kerala<br />
|Year = 2006<br />
|Title = Towards an entitlement-based approach to poverty reduction: Development and application of entitlement index.<br />
|Journal = Government of Kerala<br />
|URL = http://www.kerala.gov.in/archive/111.pdf<br />
|Access-date = 22 February 2006<br />
}}.<br />
* {{harvard reference<br />
|Author = Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI—Ministry of Shipping)<br />
|Last1 = Inland Waterways Authority of India<br />
|Year = 2005<br />
|Title = Introduction to Inland Water Transport<br />
|Journal = IWAI (Ministry of Shipping)<br />
|URL = http://iwai.nic.in/Introduction.html<br />
|Access-date = 19 January 2006<br />
}}.<br />
* {{harvard reference<br />
|Author = Office of the Registrar General (Government of India)<br />
|Last1 = Office of the Registrar General<br />
|Year = 2001<br />
|Title = Chapter 5: Density of Population<br />
|Journal = Census of India (2001)<br />
| URL = http://www.censusindia.gov.in/ <br />
|Access-date = 12 January 2006<br />
}}.<br />
* {{harvard reference<br />
|Author = Office of the Registrar General (Government of India)<br />
|Last1 = Office of the Registrar General<br />
|Year = 2001b<br />
|Title = Census of India 2001: Provisional Population Totals<br />
|Journal = Census of India (2001)<br />
| URL = http://www.censusindia.gov.in/ <br />
|Access-date = 12 January 2006<br />
}}.<br />
* {{harvard reference<br />
|Author = Office of the Registrar General (Government of India)<br />
|Last1 = Office of the Registrar General<br />
|Year = 2001c<br />
|Title = Number of Literates & Literacy Rates<br />
|Journal = Census of India (2001)<br />
| URL = http://www.censusindia.gov.in/ <br />
|Access-date = 12 January 2006<br />
}}.<br />
* {{harvard reference<br />
|Author = Office of the Registrar General (Government of India)<br />
|Last1 = Office of the Registrar General<br />
|Year = 2004<br />
|Title = Data on Religion<br />
|Journal = Census of India 2001<br />
| URL = http://www.censusindia.gov.in/ <br />
|Access-date = 18 January 2006<br />
}}.<br />
* {{harvard reference<br />
|Last1 = Omcherry<br />
|Given1 = L<br />
|Year = 1999<br />
|Title = Music of Kerala<br />
|Journal = Essays on the Cultural Formation of Kerala<br />
|URL = http://www.keralahistory.ac.in/publication_n.htm<br />
|Access-date = 12 January 2006<br />
}}.<br />
* {{harvard reference<br />
|Last1 = Plunkett<br />
|First1 = R<br />
|Surname2 = Cannon<br />
|First2 = T, Davis, P, Greenway, P <br />
|Surname3 = Harding <br />
|First3 = P<br />
|Year = 2001<br />
|Title = Lonely Planet South India<br />
|Publisher = Lonely Planet<br />
|ID = ISBN<br />
}}.<br />
* {{harvard reference<br />
|Last1 = Rajeevan<br />
|Given1 = B<br />
|Year = 1999<br />
|Title = Cultural Formation of Kerala<br />
|Journal = Essays on the Cultural Formation of Kerala<br />
|URL = http://www.keralahistory.ac.in/publication_n.htm<br />
|Access-date = 12 January 2006<br />
}}.<br />
* {{harvard reference<br />
|Last1 = Ramakrishnan <br />
|Given1 = V<br />
|Year = 2001<br />
|Title = Communal tension high in Kerala <br />
|Journal = BBC News<br />
|URL = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/1702270.stm<br />
|Access-date = 28 January 2006<br />
}}.<br />
* {{harvard reference<br />
|Last1 = Sunny<br />
|Given1 = C<br />
|Year = 2004<br />
|Title = Domestic Violence Against Women in Ernakulam District<br />
|Journal = Centre for Development Studies<br />
|URL = http://krpcds.org/publication/downloads/55.pdf<br />
|Access-date = 3 March 2006<br />
}}.<br />
</div><br />
<br />
== External links ==<br />
{{sisterlinks|Kerala}}<br />
<div class="references-small"><br />
; Government<br />
* [http://www.kerala.gov.in/main1.htm Official entry portal] of the Government of Kerala<br />
* [http://www.keralacm.gov.in/ Chief Minister of Kerala]<br />
* [http://www.keralatourism.org/ Department of Tourism, Government of Kerala]<br />
* [http://www.censuskerala.org/ Directorate of Census Operations] of Kerala<br />
* [http://www.kilaonline.org Kerala Institute of Local Administration]<br />
; Other<br />
* {{wikitravel|Kerala}}<br />
* {{dmoz|Regional/Asia/India/Kerala|Kerala}}* <br />
* [http://www.indiavideo.org/ Online video encyclopedia on Kerala sponsored by UNESCO]<br />
<br />
</div><br />
<br />
<!--Templates--><br />
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[[ar:كيرلا]]<br />
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[[zh:喀拉拉邦]]</div>Zubinrajhttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Talk:Knanaya&diff=261842030Talk:Knanaya2009-01-04T06:15:52Z<p>Zubinraj: /* Inconsistent usage of AD or CE */</p>
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<div>{{talkheader}}<br />
{{WP India<br />
|class=<br />
|importance=<br />
|kerala=yes<br />
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{{WikiProject Christianity|class=Start|importance=Low|eastern-orthodoxy=yes|eastern-orthodoxy-importance=|syriac-work-group=yes|indian-work-group=yes|indian-importance=High}}<br />
<br />
==CopyVio==<br />
<br />
I've listed this article as copyvio because recently a lot of CV content may have been added in complex edits. I cannot distinguish what is and what isn't myself, and I don't want to revert all of the user's edits because not all of them are CV's, so I'm asking this to be reviewed. <span style="background-color:#000000"><font color="white">(|--</font></span> <span style="background-color:#CCCCCC"><font color="red">'''UlT</font><font color="green">i</font><font color="blue">MuS'''</font> <font color="black"><sup>( [[User:Ultimus|U]] • [[User_talk:Ultimus|T]] • [[Special:Contributions/Ultimus|C]] | [[User:Ultimus/Templates/Message|M]] • [[Special:Emailuser/Ultimus|E]] ) </sup></font></span> 07:06, 20 July 2006 (UTC)<br />
<br />
<b>The copyvio edits have been reverted </b>. Instead of putting the entire works of several editors over the years under copyvio. It is better and fair to remove copyvio when vandals add them. otherwise many sincere wikipedia editors will be driven away from wikipedia due to hurt, despite sincere efforts over the years [[User:Robin klein|Robin klein]] 16:39, 20 July 2006 (UTC)<br />
<br />
==Articles are not to be merged==<br />
<br />
The article [[Syrian Malabar Nasrani]] deals with the Nasrani people of [[Kerala]] as an ethnic people. The article [[Knanaya]] deals with a subgroup within that community. It is therefore essential to have separate pages for the topics of Syrian malabar nasrani and Knanaya, which are highly related. Besides it is [[wikipedia]] policy to create sub articles when there is lots of details within a subtopic. This has already been indicated with the main heading link given to the subpages. [[User:Robin klein|Robin klein]] 21:55, 5 November 2006 (UTC)<br />
<br />
<br />
== Syrian Christians and Knananya are not jews ==<br />
This article claims Knanya are Jewish. They are only a sub group among the Syrian Christians of Kerala who themselves are migrants from Syria (Assyrian kingdom, Sassanian kingdom ) between 300 to 1200 AD. Ethnically the Assyrian people are different from Jews but are semitic and talk an Aramic tongue. The Assyrians are more closely related to Hittites and Mesopotomians. The Eastern Orthodox Church of Syrians, the Nestorian church is extinct after the Portuguese arrival.<br />
<br />
== Knanya are of mixed Syrian and Portuguese mixed people ==<br />
After the Portuguese arrival the Syrian Christans of India adopted the faith of the Portuguese the Roman [[Catholicism]] and the [[Jacobite]] (Western)around 1550.In the earlier period they were under the Suzernity of the Patriarch of Babylon. Without intermixture with the Portuguese this could have never happenned (as rumoured in Kerala). The food habits of Knanya closely resemble Portuguese than any Jew (Beef and Pork which are shunned by Hindus as well as Muslims of India). Their churches are built in the Portuguese style (Kottayam to Pala road).Elite among them do look like Europeans and not Jewish. They may even have blood of Manichaen Persians who were not even Christians or Jewish.<br />
<br />
<br />
== Mahadevar Pattinam was the Chera Capital not Syrians==<br />
<br />
Kodungaloor became capital only in the 8th century ad and was the capital of the Later Chera Kingdom. In the Earlier [[Chera]] kingdoms Musirippatinam ([[musiris]])was a port City while the Capital was[[ Karur]] in Tamil Nadu. The old Tamil Sangha literature of Kerala never mentions the presence of Christians while there was numerous mentions of Greeks and Romans.Even if Christians were present in ancient Kerala they were living in the foreigners quarters talking alien tongues.<br />
<br />
<br />
[[User:Kerindigen|Kerindigen]] ([[User talk:Kerindigen|talk]]) 14:50, 23 June 2008 (UTC)<br />
==Origins==<br />
The rticle says Knanaya people came from Eddessa (Which I believe to be correct) and now it says Kinai...Kinai? [[User:Rukyi|Rukyi]] 9:47, 1 January 2007 (UTC)<br />
<br />
Originally Kinai (i.e. [[Cana]]) in the land of Israel.[[User:82.6.114.172|82.6.114.172]] 11:07, 28 June 2007 (UTC)<br />
<br />
speaking of origins, did u know that hindu records show that these christians were actually converted after they were polluted by eating beef. certain Namboodirs and nairs went to some place, some 40 families or summat, and they ate meat there and hence were outcast. They accepted christianity but the other christians didnt marry em. sSO they became an endogamous group...tht is these christians...[[User:manu_rocks|Manu]]<br />
<br />
What you mean by "these christians"?. [[Rukyi 00:43, 4 January 2007 (UTC)]]<br />
<br />
He means the Nasrani. [[User:Manu_rocks]] is citing a derogatory Hindu tale about why the Knanaya keep to themselves. There are many such Hindu traditions against Jeish communities in India, though generally Hindus are polite enough not to re-iterate them and keep them alive. Eating beef might make Indian Jews seem polluted to Hidu's but not to anyone else Manu, so the sneer has no value for anyone outside of Indian culture.[[User:82.6.114.172|82.6.114.172]] 11:12, 28 June 2007 (UTC)<br />
<br />
The most common and historical name for this community is *Thekkumbagar*, which is Malayalam for 'Southists'. The name 'knanaya' is a 20th century invention by the Southist Jacobites. It later gained popularity among the Southist Catholics too. Therefore, this name doesn't have any historical significance as mentioned in this article. [[User:Malabari|Malabari]] 09:37, 8 June 2007 (UTC)Malabari<br />
<br />
==What are the Jewish traditions followed only by the Knanayas?==<br />
It's often repeated in several articles that the Knanayas have preserved more Jewish traditions than the rest of the Nasranis. I can't remember any. In fact, Knanaya Jacobites don't even have the tradition of Pesaha Appam that is followed by most Nasranis including Knanaya Catholics. <br />
Therefore, the tradition of the Pesaha cannot be counted as a surviving Knanaya tradition as almost half the Knanayas don't follow it. It however, is a general Nasrani tradition. <br />
I posted this question at the Nasrani page but got no answer. Hence, I am repeating it here. Any replies? [[User:Malabari|Malabari]] 07:48, 24 May 2007 (UTC)Malabari<br />
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Candle lighting on Friday nights is one. Please do not be beligerent against those Knanaya who are proud of their Jewish origins. Of course the majority went along with the changes imposed after the portuguese arrived, but the vast majority are simply concerned with preserving the ethnicity rather than keep up religious practices be they persecuted Jewish traditions or dying Nasrani Christian ones.[[User:82.6.114.172|82.6.114.172]] 11:03, 28 June 2007 (UTC)<br />
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Where do we accommodate these facts. Unless more authentic information is fed to this site, any average individual with normal intelligence would seek some other sites to get real info. <br />
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'''Beef eating Brahmin? A paradox.'''<br />
The ancient beef eating community, prior to the arrival of Christianity, was Parayas (Candalas) of Keralam. Tradition says that the Parayas were a noble class of ancient Keralam. Legend says that they were sons of Saint Vasista. Their craze for beef led to the ostracism by the rest jatis in the deluge of time. Above all, because of their beef eating habit, the later arrived Nambootiries (Brahmins) did a lot to seclude them from the Hindu main stream. Even though these stories bear no historicity, it can give some hints on the process of societal polarization.<br />
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'''Priests'''<br />
The high priests of the traditional Parayas are called Kaikaran. It is interesting to see that the trustee/prasuventi of Syrian church is still known/identified in the land as Kaikaran. Why did a savarna origin Syrian Christian not go for a savarna term like Kalakakaran or Adhikari instead of a subaltern terminology? No doubt, this trustee of the Syrian church (kaikaran) is always hailing from aristocratic Syrian Christian family circle/taravadu of the respective parish.<br />
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'''Are the people of Canaan white complexioned or not?'''<br />
It is the general belief of the Kananaya Syrian Christians that their ancestors had migrated to Keralam in the fourth century CE. They did not freely mix with the Saint Thomas Syrian Christians. An exclusive community and by custom avoided intermarriage with the local Christians. They are still maintaining a social seclusion by practicing endogamy. Those who go against the practice of endogamy may be subjected to the wrath of the society in the form of ostracism or more. The practice of endogamy, no doubt, aimed at maintaining their racial purity. Unfortunately, the Kananaya Syrian Christian communities have no Canaanite or Syrian look but most of them are either of black or brownish complexion and look like an ordinary Keralite. This anthropological aspect may raise serious doubts regarding their Middle East or Canaan origin. Contrary to this Jew experience, after a long stay of more than 2000 years in Keralam, the Jews returned to their homeland, Israel, both in colour and culture as Jews. <br />
Primitive burial practices.<br />
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'''Death of Spiritual Heads'''<br />
When the head of the Paraya (Candala) community is dead, as per the customary jati law they bury the corpus of the deceased head (moopan) in sitting posture instead of the usual practice of keeping the dead body in lying position. The Kananaya and Saint Thomas Syrian Jacobite/Orthodox factions of Kerala Christians are the only communities other than the Parayas (Candalas) to bury the corpse of their bishops (spiritual head) in the manner of the Paraya moopans of old. No other Christian factions neither upheld nor practiced such a burial system. This burial pattern suggests a very strong socio-cultural or anthropological relation between both communities, which lost their link elsewhere in the deluge of history.<br />
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'''Primitive rituals.'''<br />
Before the arrival of the British missionaries, the Syrian Christians of Keralam maintained the ritual of offering obsequies for the souls of the dead ancestors as that of the practice of Parayas (Candalas). After the Portuguese Catholic interlude the Syrian Catholics transformed this practice into a more refined form that is of Office/Holy-Mass. The obsequies for the dead ancestors contained blood, flesh and intoxicating drinks. The British missionaries through their helping mission programme forcefully removed most of the primitive rituals in their socio-religious space. Before the English missionary interaction, Syrian Christians on the occasion of marriages, as a social custom, ritually used the intoxicants/tobacco. Such rituals associated with marriages are still maintained by a few of the certain jatis (castes) like Parayas, Pulayas, Vetas, Vannan, etc of Keralam.<br />
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'''Syrian Christian a tribal culture in its true sense.'''<br />
It is said so, that the Kananaya Christian migration to Keralam took place in the year 345 CE under the leadership of a Persian merchant named Thomas. At the time of his arrival here at Kodungalloor, a port city and capital of Cera kingdom, he met the ruling monarch (there is no consensus amongst the Kananayas regarding the name and other details of the ruler of Keralam who seated at Kodungalloor in 345 CE) who granted 72 social prerogatives to his community in Keralam through a Copper Plate Grant(Kanai Thomman Cheppedu). However, one thing is very clear. While we scrutinize the content of the said 72 prerogatives we find that the jatis of Keralam like the Pulayas, Parayas, etc had been enjoying most of them for centuries. Therefore there is nothing extraordinary in this said Copper Plate Grant. It is very clear that this seventy-two prerogatives claimed by the Kananaya Christians are the sum total of the privileges enjoyed by various jaties of Keralam. So the Kananaya Syrian Christians, as they claim, are neither a monolithic social formation nor a foreign race exclusive.<br />
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Among the 72 prerogatives, some are later additions. A few of such later additions are the right to the use of Nettoor Box (a box manufactured at a place called Nettoor with coral tree wood Erythrina Indica and beautifully coloured, was usually used in rich and aristocratic family circles/taravads of medieval Keralam31), swinging cot, gate and gatehouse/padippura, granary, palanquin, etc. All these became symbols of aristocracy only after the ninth century CE. It is seen that prior to the ninth century the technology of carpentry (tacusastram) was not familiar to the people of Keralam, is an accepted truth. Above all the Kanai Thomman Cheppedu (Copper Plate Grant to Thomas of Canaan) 345 CE has no historical soundness and the text of the document at present in circulation is a fictitious one intended to justify their savarna origin. Till about 800 AD Kerala was almost a part of Tamilakaom and the language of the region was Tamil with its own peculiar local characterstics. The language of the fourth century CE Copper Plate Grant is the Malayalam of late medieval period. Malayalam became a transactional language only in the nineteenth century. Before that all documents of Keralam were prepared in the language of Tamil with Granthashram or Vettezhuthu script33. Above all the original document is not traceable either. While taking all these aspects into consideration one is led to believe that the stories centering on the Copper Plate Grant is an imaginary one.<br />
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The marriage ceremony of the Kananaya Syrian Christians, a further indication in this way of enquiry, contained numerous formal procedures and rituals that were alien to Christians all over. Some of such ritualistic observances in association with marriages that still exists amongst the Kananaya Syrian Christians of Keralam are the hair cutting custom, henna application ceremony, the ritual of ash tying, the customary practice of nadavili, the customary rite of thalakettu, etc. They are the real facsimile of the customary practices, through centuries, of the subaltern jaties such as Vathies, Velans, Vannanas, Vetas, and Parayas. Furthermore, since the very beginning of Kananaya Syrian Christian history intoxicating drinks has been an unavoidable item of the feast of their marriages. This traditional practice of serving intoxicating drinks by Kananaya Syrian Christians on the auspicious occasions is the replica of the above-mentioned subaltern jaties of Keralam in the bygone days. While considering all the above particulars, along with the omission of Kananaya Syrian Christians from the purview of the Protestant Christian Missionary reformist enterprises altogether kept the uniqueness of these section without any defacement, point to the conclusion that Kananaya Syrian Christians are the hodgepodges of subaltern jatis and a few alien elements as in the case of Anglo-Indians. In short, we can arrive at the point that anthropologically the Kananaya Syrian Christians of Keralam have no racial purity and genetically they are constituted neither by complete foreign essentials nor by savarna jati exclusive of Keralam.<br />
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Except Syrian Catholics and most of the Protestant Christians, almost all Syrian sections of Keralam rings a bell at the climax of their Holy Mass/Communion, the same is not much different from the sound of a Velichappadu's (Temple Oracle's) jingling bells worn around his waist. Most of the vanavasis of Keralam use a similar bell at the climax of their poojas (ceremonial offering to gods). Some jatis of ancient Keralam, who specialised in witchcraft, were also use similar kind of bells in their magical exercises. That they were using these bells to produce sound at the climax of their magical exercises and doing it at the same symphony as Syrian Christians do it in their Holy Mass is a noteworthy similarity. Without any hesitation, on the basis of the aforementioned traits we can arrive at a point of conclusion that the Syrian Christians are a hodgepodge of avarna jatis and not the descendents of Nambootiries converted to Christianity. [[User:BGfromNZ|BGfromNZ]] ([[User talk:BGfromNZ|talk]]) 04:04, 13 February 2008 (UTC)<br />
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==Languages spoken by Knanayas?==<br />
I am surprised to find Hebrew in the list of languages spoken by Knanayas. It is vandalism. <br />
Also, why is 'knanaya' written in Arabic script in the introduction? What role does Arabic script have in Knanaya history? [[User:Malabari|Malabari]] 07:48, 24 May 2007 (UTC)Malabari<br />
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A Majority of the Knanayas today speak Malayalam.<br />
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Arab ethnographers wrote about the Knanaya, so the Arabic spelling is a useful reference to independent sources about the ethnicity. Some Knanaya are learning about their Jewish roots on courses being run in Israel, hence Hebrew is being spoken by such Knanaya, and it is not vandalism. [[User:82.6.114.172|82.6.114.172]] 11:06, 28 June 2007 (UTC)<br />
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Knanayas ROCK!!<br />
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I agree wholeheartedly [[User:70.156.210.219]]. I would just like to point out a few problems with this page. <br />
:1)Although it has been a redirect from the (Arch)Diocese of Kottayam, the article includes mention of both [[Syro-Malankar]] and Nasrani/[[Syro-Malabar]] branches of [[Syriac Christianity]].<br />
:2)The same people are called [[Meyuhassim]] or Malabari Jews, and their relatives who have chosen to revert their faith to pure Halakhic Orthodox Judaism are called Cochin Jews. Altogether they form one branch of the Kerala Jews divided on issues of belief in Jesus and skin-color from other Kerala Jews. At the same time they practice Endogamy and prefer to marry each other regardless of faith and never marry non-Meyuhassim, though they have married [[Meshuhararim]].<br />
:3)Their language is [[Judeo-Malayalam]] regardless of whether their faith is Syriac Christian or more Jewish.<br />
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I think because of the complex nature of this ethnicity it needs a project I would like to propose a Mehuyassim project it will cross over the divisions of this unique Judeo-Christo-Malayalam culture and clear up misunderstandings.<br />
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[[User:Zestauferov|Zestauferov]] 12:20, 16 December 2005 (UTC)<br />
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Hello, I would actually like to learn more about the inquistion of the Cochin Jews.<br />
I'm by no means an expert, but I'd think, that [[Syrian Malabar Nasrani|Nasrani]] should either be merged with [[Saint Thomas Christians]] or with [[Knanaya]]. --[[User:Pjacobi|Pjacobi]] 23:18, 2005 May 11 (UTC)<br />
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<b>Nasrani as an Ethnic community<b><br />
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You stated that the pages [[Syrian Malabar Nasrani|Nasrani]], [[Saint Thomas Christians]] or [[Knanaya]] should be merged.<br />
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'''No''', it would be erroneous to do that. The article [[Saint Thomas Christians]] deals with the [[Syrian Malabar Nasrani|Nasrani people]] of [[Kerala]] as a religious group and seeks to describe its religious denominations and other related aspects. While the article Nasrani deals with the Nasrani people of Kerala as an [[Ethnic|ethnic people]]. (infact see the category in which the article ''Nasrani'' is listed at the end of that article).<br />
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In the same way that there is a significant difference between [[Jew]] and [[Judaism]], there is a difference between [[Syrian Malabar Nasrani|Nasrani]] and [[Saint Thomas Christians]]. Jew deals with the entire ethnic community of the people of Jewish heritage and descent, or those people born of a Jewish mother. But Judaism is the religion followed by the ethnic community of Jewish people. The two concepts do highly overlap and are related but nevertheless they are independent in basic aspects and is treated as different. <br />
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In like manner, the nasranis is an ethnic community and in that sense a single community. However the ethnic community has various denominations as a result of the portuguese [[persecution]]. As an ethnic community they refer to themselves as Nasranis refering to the common cultural heritage and cultural tradition. However as a religious group they refer to themselves as the ''Mar Thoma Khristianis'' or in english as ''Saint Thomas Christians'' refering to the various and diverse [[[denomination]]s between them in terms of their religious tradition, despite a common ancestory of being the descendants of the early ''Mar Thoma church'' or Saint Thomas tradition of [[christianity]]. <br />
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The [[Knanaya]] people on the other hand is another denomination within the ''Mar Thoma church'' also called as (Mar Thoma khristiani) meaning [[Saint Thomas Christians]]. However they are a distinct community within the Nasrani ethnic group. Because of their long [[endogamy|endogamous]] tradition.<br />
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This aspect is already written in the first paragraph of both the articles. Please read them carefully. Else this article would have been merged long back. The article Nasrani deals with the traditions of the nasrani community as an ethnic people and their present life (which has to be expanded). [[User:Robin klein|Robin klein]] 04:31, 12 May 2005 (UTC)<br />
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== Inconsistent usage of AD or CE ==<br />
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Noted that the article uses both forms to express dates. Suggest this hould be rationalised --[[User:Dvavasour|Dunstan]] 13:15, 28 March 2006 (UTC)<br />
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I object to the Bias of this page. We Knanaya are not all Christians, only the Nasrani among us are Christians. Can you please tone down the overtly Christian propaganda on this page and focus more on us as an ethnic group. Thankyou.[[User:81.154.38.43|81.154.38.43]] 14:13, 30 March 2006 (UTC)<br />
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Its really sad that you have'nt took any refrence from the books writen by one of the greatest historian E.M.Philip which sems to be more reliable.<br />
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Update: I agree, anybody who is contributing to this article, should be first reading the books of E.M. Philip. <small><span class="autosigned">—Preceding [[Wikipedia:Signatures|unsigned]] comment added by [[User:Zubinraj|Zubinraj]] ([[User talk:Zubinraj|talk]] • [[Special:Contributions/Zubinraj|contribs]]) 05:27, 4 January 2009 (UTC)</span></small><!-- Template:Unsigned --> <!--Autosigned by SineBot--><br />
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Hi Dunstan, can you please mention what religion you are following and how you are related to the Knanaya community of Kerala, India. Efforts are underway to cleanup the article and any comments are welcome. Thanks. --[[User:Zubinraj|Zubinraj]] ([[User talk:Zubinraj|talk]]) 06:15, 4 January 2009 (UTC)<br />
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=This article needs complete correction? Added POV tag ?=<br />
:A.History is written like story.We need some facts information.None of the information written has any proff.Even hostorians differ on the year.It can be anytime from 300 to 800 AD.<br />
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:B.All wikipedia has lot of repetitions about Knanaya retaining Jewish traditions.I dont know about a single Jewish tradition Knanaya follow more than the Nasrani's.If there is nothing other than included in Syrian Malabar Nasrani traditions please remove the repetitive sections from this article as Knanaya are part of the community.<br />
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:C.Many historians has written about the mixing of Knanaya with Veluthodathi and Chetty's and Manichainas.Those views are not represented in the article.<br />
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:D.Marthoma Sleeba is not Knanaya symbol, its a common heritage of Nasrani's<br />
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:E.Knanaya Copper Plates- No body has seen it and there are many contradicting versions of it circulating claiming Knanaya Copper Plates but actaully the Plates awarded to [[Mar Sapor Iso]].<br />
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:F.First time hearing about Knanaya hindus.What are they ?<br />
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[[User:Kevin|Kevin]] 07:48, 26 May 2007 (UTC)<br />
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I agree, the article makes too much mix up between Knanaya people and the Nasrani christians as a whole. It needs massive pruning if it is going to be a useful encyclopaedic entry on the Knanaya ethnicity. (I don't see how Knanaya could fit into the Hindu cast system either). [[User:82.6.114.172|82.6.114.172]] 11:30, 28 June 2007 (UTC)<br />
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==Please give due respect to facts and re-write this article with a neutral point of view (NPOV) according to Wikipedia’s guidelines. ==<br />
There are too many errors and headless statements in this article. <br />
Please go through the various questions and comments that readers have and try to answer them. <br />
Thanks. [[User:Malabari|Malabari]] 06:28, 30 May 2007 (UTC)Malabari <br />
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== Non-Christian Knanayas? ==<br />
Can anyone prove or give reliable evidence about the existence of any non-Christian Knanayas? Knanayas are usually Catholic or Jacobite. A Knanaya loses his or her identity once he or she converts to a non-Christian religion. Therefore, the question of Hindu or Jewish Knanayas does not even arise. <br />
[[User:Malabari|Malabari]] 07:58, 24 May 2007 (UTC)Malabari<br />
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With all due respect to [[User:Malabari]], I do not want to upset your beliefs, but there are plenty of agnostic and atheistic Knanaya who preserve the endagamous tradition. Please don't mix Nasrani up with the Knanaya ethnicity. [[User:82.6.114.172|82.6.114.172]] 10:58, 28 June 2007 (UTC)<br />
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There are many non-christian Knanaya people. Knanaya is an ethnicity not a religon.<br />
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Update: I agree with the last comment, Knanaya should be considered as an ethnicity rather than a religion. It is based on the blood-line rather than any religious beliefs. Majority of Knanayites are either Jacobites or Catholics. There is a good number of Knanaya protestants too. Being a Jacobite Knananya myself, I believe that if the ethnic blood-line is maintained, irrespective of the faith, Knanayites will be Knanayites. <small><span class="autosigned">—Preceding [[Wikipedia:Signatures|unsigned]] comment added by [[User:Zubinraj|Zubinraj]] ([[User talk:Zubinraj|talk]] • [[Special:Contributions/Zubinraj|contribs]]) 05:33, 4 January 2009 (UTC)</span></small><!-- Template:Unsigned --> <!--Autosigned by SineBot--><br />
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==Massive Christian POV Bias==<br />
I kind of object to the massive Christian bias in this article. Knanaya are an important endagamous ethnic group of Israelite origins, many of whom practise Nasrani christianity, but not all Knanaya are Christian at all! In fact many are interested in their Jewish heritage and there is even a school in Israel where they can learn about this. Can we make this article more about the Ethnicity and less about religion please?[[User:82.6.114.172|82.6.114.172]] 10:34, 28 June 2007 (UTC)<br />
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Totally agree. Not all Knanaya are Christian.<br />
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=This is Fiction=<br />
All artilce is written as a fiction.There is no credible referance for anything.<br />
Can some one re write this article or better delete it.<br />
There is no ethinicity called Knanya. This all picece looks like the work of a fanatic.[[User:65.218.154.227]]<br />
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I agree with much of what you wrote, but what do you mean by there is no ethnicity called Knanaya?[[User:82.6.114.172|82.6.114.172]] 21:22, 16 July 2007 (UTC)<br />
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The article needs a MAJOR re-write, for factuality, language...pretty much everything. The group exists, yes, but this article doesn't give any semblance of a correct view of what they are.[[User:CharlesMartel|CharlesMartel]] ([[User talk:CharlesMartel|talk]]) 17:46, 28 December 2007 (UTC)CharlesMartel<br />
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== Are Knanayas ethnically entirely composed of Jewish settlers due to their endogamity? ==<br />
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This article seems to suggest the title, although based on phenotypes, my experience is that they resemble the communities all around them and other Nasrani. <br />
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Also I wanted to enquire who the people on the infobox image are.[[User:B Nambiar|Nambo]] ([[User talk:B Nambiar|talk]]) 02:20, 4 February 2008 (UTC)<br />
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== Requires Clean Up==<br />
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This article requires clean up as its very much distorted. I invite the community members to provide suggestions.<br />
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[[User:Tarijanel|Tarijanel]] ([[User talk:Tarijanel|talk]]) 08:26, 10 May 2008 (UTC)<br />
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== POV ==<br />
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Debates within topics are clearly described, represented and characterized since July 2007, but not engaged in. [[User:Gocart|Gocart]] ([[User talk:Gocart|talk]]) 21:52, 10 May 2008 (UTC)<br />
== POV Removal with out cleaning==<br />
Below text from an unknown editor has been removed with out any discussion by another editor.<br />
The debate on the talk page about the content of the article is not taken in to consideration by any editors. <br />
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Please dont remove the POV with out cleaning the article.<br />
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[[User:Gocart|Gocart]] ([[User talk:Gocart|talk]]) 04:38, 21 May 2008 (UTC)<br />
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== Discussion==<br />
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Legendary accounts aside, genetic evidence seems to indicate a non-Jewish origin for the Knanaya. Reports from historians (e.g., W. Germann in 1872) report a community of Manichaeans living alongside the Nasrani community as far back as the 15th century. These Manichaeans were kept outside of the community by the Nasranis (the non-Knanaya Christians). Under Nestorians and Portuguese influence, the Manichaean side-community were slowly converted to mainstream Christianity; however, they were still kept outside of the Nasrani community by the caste-conscious conservative Nasranis. This community of outsiders were the ancestors of the Knanaya. With time, the Knanaya slowly developed new mythological accounts to explain their origins (in more positive terms), including descent from Thomas of Kana. Initially, the Nasranis disputed such legendary accounts (since the Nasranis also claim descent from Thomas of Kana); however, in the last century, this resistance has waned as the Syrian Christians focussed on a variety of other internal disputes. <br />
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- It should be noted that the Jewish-origin claims of the Knanaya have very little justification in fact: the Syrian Christian community, in general, follows similar customs that originate from the ancient Jewish communities in Malabar. Often, the adherence to old Jewish customs among the Syrian Christians in Kerala is a function of geographical location and not membership to either the Nasrani or the Knanaya communities; Syrian Christians from more conservative areas (both Knanaya and Nasrani) tend to follow the customs more rigorously than Syrian Christians from more cosmopolitan areas. Hence, the presence of Jewish customs among the Knanaya only points to their religious integration within the larger Nasrani community, and not to a genetic Jewish origin. <br />
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- Moreover the mainstream Nasranis (i.e., the non-Knanaya Syrian Christians) have verifiable genetic claims of Cohen and Jewish/Semitic ancestry. The Knanaya have thus far failed to demonstrate any positive genetic evidence to support their claim as being an "endogamous Jewish community." Finally, the Syrian Christians are also known to be endogamous, often marrying only within the Syrian Christian community and excluding the Knanaya from such unions (with equal rigor)---endogamy in and of itself points to nothing other than the caste-based exclusion which both the Nasranis and the Knanaya have practiced for centuries.<br />
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== Majority Population==<br />
What is the source of Majority Population Israel ?<br />
[[User:Gocart|Gocart]] ([[User talk:Gocart|talk]]) 04:52, 21 May 2008 (UTC)<br />
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Removed the majority population of Israel and other countries. Majority population is in India, US, UK. There could be some population in the gulf region too. Other editors can update this as required. --[[User:Zubinraj|Zubinraj]] ([[User talk:Zubinraj|talk]]) 06:09, 4 January 2009 (UTC)<br />
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== Jewish identity ==<br />
The Knanaya Catholics and their Jewish identity have been acknowledged by the Vatican under Pope Pius X, by instituting in 1911 a diocese only for the Jewish Christians (Syrian-catholic) of Kerala. [7] This diocese is called the Arch Diocese of Kottayam and is in the district of Kottayam in Kerala. [7]<br />
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This is gross misrepresentaion and forgery. There is no mention of anything in the order for diocese creation. The new diocese is created by power politics. Provide sources[[User:Gocart|Gocart]] ([[User talk:Gocart|talk]]) 04:55, 21 May 2008 (UTC)<br />
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===jewish identity is acknowledged by the vatican===<br />
[[User:Gocart|Gocart]], you have moved page even though all the established works on the knanaya refers to the community as Knanaya. the references have been provided. The text by the anonymous writer does not have any references they are just pov statements as are yours. besides your user name was created 2 days before the anonymous post, and you added the pov tag after the anonymous post.<br />
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besides the latin text of [[Pope Pius X]] at the erection of the Knanaya Kottayam diocese is "In Universi Cristiani" (Latin Text of the Papal erection of the Knanaya Diocese of Kottayam) It mentions the Knanaya people as Jewish. Which is why a separate diocese as Jewish tradition within the Nasrani christian jewish tradition of Syro malabar church was allowed in 1911. [[User:Vagab|Vagab]] ([[User talk:Vagab|talk]]) 19:35, 21 May 2008 (UTC)<br />
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==Re -naming and re writing of article==<br />
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Tekkumbhagasamudayam Charitram by Chazikadan names the community as Tekkumbhagar. This article should be renamed to Tekkumbhagar.<br />
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[[User:Gocart|Gocart]] ([[User talk:Gocart|talk]]) 05:03, 21 May 2008 (UTC)<br />
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==reverting pov edit==<br />
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[[User:Gocart|Gocart]], you have moved page even though all the established works on the knanaya refers to the community as Knanaya. the references have been provided. The text by the anonymous writer does not have any references they are just pov statements as are yours. besides your user name was created 2 days before the anonymous post, and you added the pov tag after the anonymous post.<br />
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Besides the latin text of [[Pope Pius X]] at the erection of the Knanaya Kottayam diocese is "In Universi Cristiani" (Latin Text of the Papal erection of the Knanaya Diocese of Kottayam). It mentions the Knanaya people as Jewish. Which is why a separate diocese as Jewish tradition within the Nasrani christian jewish tradition of Syro malabar church was allowed in 1911. [[User:Vagab|Vagab]] ([[User talk:Vagab|talk]]) 19:33, 21 May 2008 (UTC)<br />
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== Very well written ==<br />
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This is a very well written article about knanayas. I find it very fare and unbiased. <small>—Preceding [[Wikipedia:Signatures|unsigned]] comment added by [[Special:Contributions/67.175.2.238|67.175.2.238]] ([[User talk:67.175.2.238|talk]]) 21:26, 30 July 2008 (UTC)</small><!-- Template:UnsignedIP --> <!--Autosigned by SineBot--><br />
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== Misleading Masada quote. ==<br />
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The following misleading and tendentious tie-in with [[Masada]] was removed:<br />
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:In 70 CE, hundreds of Kanahi evaded capture from the Romans and took shelter in the fortress at [[Masada]]. In 72 CE, after a two year siege, 960 Kanahi unwilling to give up to the Romans killed themselves before the Romans could capture them. This act of martyrdom is still commemorated in Israel.<br />
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The Jews of Masada were not known as having any connection to later Christian sects, regardsless of that group's claims. [[User:IZAK|IZAK]] ([[User talk:IZAK|talk]]) 07:26, 16 September 2008 (UTC)</div>Zubinrajhttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Talk:Knanaya&diff=261841206Talk:Knanaya2009-01-04T06:09:15Z<p>Zubinraj: /* Majority Population */</p>
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==CopyVio==<br />
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I've listed this article as copyvio because recently a lot of CV content may have been added in complex edits. I cannot distinguish what is and what isn't myself, and I don't want to revert all of the user's edits because not all of them are CV's, so I'm asking this to be reviewed. <span style="background-color:#000000"><font color="white">(|--</font></span> <span style="background-color:#CCCCCC"><font color="red">'''UlT</font><font color="green">i</font><font color="blue">MuS'''</font> <font color="black"><sup>( [[User:Ultimus|U]] • [[User_talk:Ultimus|T]] • [[Special:Contributions/Ultimus|C]] | [[User:Ultimus/Templates/Message|M]] • [[Special:Emailuser/Ultimus|E]] ) </sup></font></span> 07:06, 20 July 2006 (UTC)<br />
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<b>The copyvio edits have been reverted </b>. Instead of putting the entire works of several editors over the years under copyvio. It is better and fair to remove copyvio when vandals add them. otherwise many sincere wikipedia editors will be driven away from wikipedia due to hurt, despite sincere efforts over the years [[User:Robin klein|Robin klein]] 16:39, 20 July 2006 (UTC)<br />
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==Articles are not to be merged==<br />
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The article [[Syrian Malabar Nasrani]] deals with the Nasrani people of [[Kerala]] as an ethnic people. The article [[Knanaya]] deals with a subgroup within that community. It is therefore essential to have separate pages for the topics of Syrian malabar nasrani and Knanaya, which are highly related. Besides it is [[wikipedia]] policy to create sub articles when there is lots of details within a subtopic. This has already been indicated with the main heading link given to the subpages. [[User:Robin klein|Robin klein]] 21:55, 5 November 2006 (UTC)<br />
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== Syrian Christians and Knananya are not jews ==<br />
This article claims Knanya are Jewish. They are only a sub group among the Syrian Christians of Kerala who themselves are migrants from Syria (Assyrian kingdom, Sassanian kingdom ) between 300 to 1200 AD. Ethnically the Assyrian people are different from Jews but are semitic and talk an Aramic tongue. The Assyrians are more closely related to Hittites and Mesopotomians. The Eastern Orthodox Church of Syrians, the Nestorian church is extinct after the Portuguese arrival.<br />
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== Knanya are of mixed Syrian and Portuguese mixed people ==<br />
After the Portuguese arrival the Syrian Christans of India adopted the faith of the Portuguese the Roman [[Catholicism]] and the [[Jacobite]] (Western)around 1550.In the earlier period they were under the Suzernity of the Patriarch of Babylon. Without intermixture with the Portuguese this could have never happenned (as rumoured in Kerala). The food habits of Knanya closely resemble Portuguese than any Jew (Beef and Pork which are shunned by Hindus as well as Muslims of India). Their churches are built in the Portuguese style (Kottayam to Pala road).Elite among them do look like Europeans and not Jewish. They may even have blood of Manichaen Persians who were not even Christians or Jewish.<br />
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== Mahadevar Pattinam was the Chera Capital not Syrians==<br />
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Kodungaloor became capital only in the 8th century ad and was the capital of the Later Chera Kingdom. In the Earlier [[Chera]] kingdoms Musirippatinam ([[musiris]])was a port City while the Capital was[[ Karur]] in Tamil Nadu. The old Tamil Sangha literature of Kerala never mentions the presence of Christians while there was numerous mentions of Greeks and Romans.Even if Christians were present in ancient Kerala they were living in the foreigners quarters talking alien tongues.<br />
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[[User:Kerindigen|Kerindigen]] ([[User talk:Kerindigen|talk]]) 14:50, 23 June 2008 (UTC)<br />
==Origins==<br />
The rticle says Knanaya people came from Eddessa (Which I believe to be correct) and now it says Kinai...Kinai? [[User:Rukyi|Rukyi]] 9:47, 1 January 2007 (UTC)<br />
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Originally Kinai (i.e. [[Cana]]) in the land of Israel.[[User:82.6.114.172|82.6.114.172]] 11:07, 28 June 2007 (UTC)<br />
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speaking of origins, did u know that hindu records show that these christians were actually converted after they were polluted by eating beef. certain Namboodirs and nairs went to some place, some 40 families or summat, and they ate meat there and hence were outcast. They accepted christianity but the other christians didnt marry em. sSO they became an endogamous group...tht is these christians...[[User:manu_rocks|Manu]]<br />
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What you mean by "these christians"?. [[Rukyi 00:43, 4 January 2007 (UTC)]]<br />
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He means the Nasrani. [[User:Manu_rocks]] is citing a derogatory Hindu tale about why the Knanaya keep to themselves. There are many such Hindu traditions against Jeish communities in India, though generally Hindus are polite enough not to re-iterate them and keep them alive. Eating beef might make Indian Jews seem polluted to Hidu's but not to anyone else Manu, so the sneer has no value for anyone outside of Indian culture.[[User:82.6.114.172|82.6.114.172]] 11:12, 28 June 2007 (UTC)<br />
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The most common and historical name for this community is *Thekkumbagar*, which is Malayalam for 'Southists'. The name 'knanaya' is a 20th century invention by the Southist Jacobites. It later gained popularity among the Southist Catholics too. Therefore, this name doesn't have any historical significance as mentioned in this article. [[User:Malabari|Malabari]] 09:37, 8 June 2007 (UTC)Malabari<br />
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==What are the Jewish traditions followed only by the Knanayas?==<br />
It's often repeated in several articles that the Knanayas have preserved more Jewish traditions than the rest of the Nasranis. I can't remember any. In fact, Knanaya Jacobites don't even have the tradition of Pesaha Appam that is followed by most Nasranis including Knanaya Catholics. <br />
Therefore, the tradition of the Pesaha cannot be counted as a surviving Knanaya tradition as almost half the Knanayas don't follow it. It however, is a general Nasrani tradition. <br />
I posted this question at the Nasrani page but got no answer. Hence, I am repeating it here. Any replies? [[User:Malabari|Malabari]] 07:48, 24 May 2007 (UTC)Malabari<br />
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Candle lighting on Friday nights is one. Please do not be beligerent against those Knanaya who are proud of their Jewish origins. Of course the majority went along with the changes imposed after the portuguese arrived, but the vast majority are simply concerned with preserving the ethnicity rather than keep up religious practices be they persecuted Jewish traditions or dying Nasrani Christian ones.[[User:82.6.114.172|82.6.114.172]] 11:03, 28 June 2007 (UTC)<br />
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Where do we accommodate these facts. Unless more authentic information is fed to this site, any average individual with normal intelligence would seek some other sites to get real info. <br />
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'''Beef eating Brahmin? A paradox.'''<br />
The ancient beef eating community, prior to the arrival of Christianity, was Parayas (Candalas) of Keralam. Tradition says that the Parayas were a noble class of ancient Keralam. Legend says that they were sons of Saint Vasista. Their craze for beef led to the ostracism by the rest jatis in the deluge of time. Above all, because of their beef eating habit, the later arrived Nambootiries (Brahmins) did a lot to seclude them from the Hindu main stream. Even though these stories bear no historicity, it can give some hints on the process of societal polarization.<br />
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'''Priests'''<br />
The high priests of the traditional Parayas are called Kaikaran. It is interesting to see that the trustee/prasuventi of Syrian church is still known/identified in the land as Kaikaran. Why did a savarna origin Syrian Christian not go for a savarna term like Kalakakaran or Adhikari instead of a subaltern terminology? No doubt, this trustee of the Syrian church (kaikaran) is always hailing from aristocratic Syrian Christian family circle/taravadu of the respective parish.<br />
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'''Are the people of Canaan white complexioned or not?'''<br />
It is the general belief of the Kananaya Syrian Christians that their ancestors had migrated to Keralam in the fourth century CE. They did not freely mix with the Saint Thomas Syrian Christians. An exclusive community and by custom avoided intermarriage with the local Christians. They are still maintaining a social seclusion by practicing endogamy. Those who go against the practice of endogamy may be subjected to the wrath of the society in the form of ostracism or more. The practice of endogamy, no doubt, aimed at maintaining their racial purity. Unfortunately, the Kananaya Syrian Christian communities have no Canaanite or Syrian look but most of them are either of black or brownish complexion and look like an ordinary Keralite. This anthropological aspect may raise serious doubts regarding their Middle East or Canaan origin. Contrary to this Jew experience, after a long stay of more than 2000 years in Keralam, the Jews returned to their homeland, Israel, both in colour and culture as Jews. <br />
Primitive burial practices.<br />
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'''Death of Spiritual Heads'''<br />
When the head of the Paraya (Candala) community is dead, as per the customary jati law they bury the corpus of the deceased head (moopan) in sitting posture instead of the usual practice of keeping the dead body in lying position. The Kananaya and Saint Thomas Syrian Jacobite/Orthodox factions of Kerala Christians are the only communities other than the Parayas (Candalas) to bury the corpse of their bishops (spiritual head) in the manner of the Paraya moopans of old. No other Christian factions neither upheld nor practiced such a burial system. This burial pattern suggests a very strong socio-cultural or anthropological relation between both communities, which lost their link elsewhere in the deluge of history.<br />
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'''Primitive rituals.'''<br />
Before the arrival of the British missionaries, the Syrian Christians of Keralam maintained the ritual of offering obsequies for the souls of the dead ancestors as that of the practice of Parayas (Candalas). After the Portuguese Catholic interlude the Syrian Catholics transformed this practice into a more refined form that is of Office/Holy-Mass. The obsequies for the dead ancestors contained blood, flesh and intoxicating drinks. The British missionaries through their helping mission programme forcefully removed most of the primitive rituals in their socio-religious space. Before the English missionary interaction, Syrian Christians on the occasion of marriages, as a social custom, ritually used the intoxicants/tobacco. Such rituals associated with marriages are still maintained by a few of the certain jatis (castes) like Parayas, Pulayas, Vetas, Vannan, etc of Keralam.<br />
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'''Syrian Christian a tribal culture in its true sense.'''<br />
It is said so, that the Kananaya Christian migration to Keralam took place in the year 345 CE under the leadership of a Persian merchant named Thomas. At the time of his arrival here at Kodungalloor, a port city and capital of Cera kingdom, he met the ruling monarch (there is no consensus amongst the Kananayas regarding the name and other details of the ruler of Keralam who seated at Kodungalloor in 345 CE) who granted 72 social prerogatives to his community in Keralam through a Copper Plate Grant(Kanai Thomman Cheppedu). However, one thing is very clear. While we scrutinize the content of the said 72 prerogatives we find that the jatis of Keralam like the Pulayas, Parayas, etc had been enjoying most of them for centuries. Therefore there is nothing extraordinary in this said Copper Plate Grant. It is very clear that this seventy-two prerogatives claimed by the Kananaya Christians are the sum total of the privileges enjoyed by various jaties of Keralam. So the Kananaya Syrian Christians, as they claim, are neither a monolithic social formation nor a foreign race exclusive.<br />
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Among the 72 prerogatives, some are later additions. A few of such later additions are the right to the use of Nettoor Box (a box manufactured at a place called Nettoor with coral tree wood Erythrina Indica and beautifully coloured, was usually used in rich and aristocratic family circles/taravads of medieval Keralam31), swinging cot, gate and gatehouse/padippura, granary, palanquin, etc. All these became symbols of aristocracy only after the ninth century CE. It is seen that prior to the ninth century the technology of carpentry (tacusastram) was not familiar to the people of Keralam, is an accepted truth. Above all the Kanai Thomman Cheppedu (Copper Plate Grant to Thomas of Canaan) 345 CE has no historical soundness and the text of the document at present in circulation is a fictitious one intended to justify their savarna origin. Till about 800 AD Kerala was almost a part of Tamilakaom and the language of the region was Tamil with its own peculiar local characterstics. The language of the fourth century CE Copper Plate Grant is the Malayalam of late medieval period. Malayalam became a transactional language only in the nineteenth century. Before that all documents of Keralam were prepared in the language of Tamil with Granthashram or Vettezhuthu script33. Above all the original document is not traceable either. While taking all these aspects into consideration one is led to believe that the stories centering on the Copper Plate Grant is an imaginary one.<br />
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The marriage ceremony of the Kananaya Syrian Christians, a further indication in this way of enquiry, contained numerous formal procedures and rituals that were alien to Christians all over. Some of such ritualistic observances in association with marriages that still exists amongst the Kananaya Syrian Christians of Keralam are the hair cutting custom, henna application ceremony, the ritual of ash tying, the customary practice of nadavili, the customary rite of thalakettu, etc. They are the real facsimile of the customary practices, through centuries, of the subaltern jaties such as Vathies, Velans, Vannanas, Vetas, and Parayas. Furthermore, since the very beginning of Kananaya Syrian Christian history intoxicating drinks has been an unavoidable item of the feast of their marriages. This traditional practice of serving intoxicating drinks by Kananaya Syrian Christians on the auspicious occasions is the replica of the above-mentioned subaltern jaties of Keralam in the bygone days. While considering all the above particulars, along with the omission of Kananaya Syrian Christians from the purview of the Protestant Christian Missionary reformist enterprises altogether kept the uniqueness of these section without any defacement, point to the conclusion that Kananaya Syrian Christians are the hodgepodges of subaltern jatis and a few alien elements as in the case of Anglo-Indians. In short, we can arrive at the point that anthropologically the Kananaya Syrian Christians of Keralam have no racial purity and genetically they are constituted neither by complete foreign essentials nor by savarna jati exclusive of Keralam.<br />
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Except Syrian Catholics and most of the Protestant Christians, almost all Syrian sections of Keralam rings a bell at the climax of their Holy Mass/Communion, the same is not much different from the sound of a Velichappadu's (Temple Oracle's) jingling bells worn around his waist. Most of the vanavasis of Keralam use a similar bell at the climax of their poojas (ceremonial offering to gods). Some jatis of ancient Keralam, who specialised in witchcraft, were also use similar kind of bells in their magical exercises. That they were using these bells to produce sound at the climax of their magical exercises and doing it at the same symphony as Syrian Christians do it in their Holy Mass is a noteworthy similarity. Without any hesitation, on the basis of the aforementioned traits we can arrive at a point of conclusion that the Syrian Christians are a hodgepodge of avarna jatis and not the descendents of Nambootiries converted to Christianity. [[User:BGfromNZ|BGfromNZ]] ([[User talk:BGfromNZ|talk]]) 04:04, 13 February 2008 (UTC)<br />
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==Languages spoken by Knanayas?==<br />
I am surprised to find Hebrew in the list of languages spoken by Knanayas. It is vandalism. <br />
Also, why is 'knanaya' written in Arabic script in the introduction? What role does Arabic script have in Knanaya history? [[User:Malabari|Malabari]] 07:48, 24 May 2007 (UTC)Malabari<br />
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A Majority of the Knanayas today speak Malayalam.<br />
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Arab ethnographers wrote about the Knanaya, so the Arabic spelling is a useful reference to independent sources about the ethnicity. Some Knanaya are learning about their Jewish roots on courses being run in Israel, hence Hebrew is being spoken by such Knanaya, and it is not vandalism. [[User:82.6.114.172|82.6.114.172]] 11:06, 28 June 2007 (UTC)<br />
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Knanayas ROCK!!<br />
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I agree wholeheartedly [[User:70.156.210.219]]. I would just like to point out a few problems with this page. <br />
:1)Although it has been a redirect from the (Arch)Diocese of Kottayam, the article includes mention of both [[Syro-Malankar]] and Nasrani/[[Syro-Malabar]] branches of [[Syriac Christianity]].<br />
:2)The same people are called [[Meyuhassim]] or Malabari Jews, and their relatives who have chosen to revert their faith to pure Halakhic Orthodox Judaism are called Cochin Jews. Altogether they form one branch of the Kerala Jews divided on issues of belief in Jesus and skin-color from other Kerala Jews. At the same time they practice Endogamy and prefer to marry each other regardless of faith and never marry non-Meyuhassim, though they have married [[Meshuhararim]].<br />
:3)Their language is [[Judeo-Malayalam]] regardless of whether their faith is Syriac Christian or more Jewish.<br />
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I think because of the complex nature of this ethnicity it needs a project I would like to propose a Mehuyassim project it will cross over the divisions of this unique Judeo-Christo-Malayalam culture and clear up misunderstandings.<br />
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[[User:Zestauferov|Zestauferov]] 12:20, 16 December 2005 (UTC)<br />
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Hello, I would actually like to learn more about the inquistion of the Cochin Jews.<br />
I'm by no means an expert, but I'd think, that [[Syrian Malabar Nasrani|Nasrani]] should either be merged with [[Saint Thomas Christians]] or with [[Knanaya]]. --[[User:Pjacobi|Pjacobi]] 23:18, 2005 May 11 (UTC)<br />
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<b>Nasrani as an Ethnic community<b><br />
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You stated that the pages [[Syrian Malabar Nasrani|Nasrani]], [[Saint Thomas Christians]] or [[Knanaya]] should be merged.<br />
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'''No''', it would be erroneous to do that. The article [[Saint Thomas Christians]] deals with the [[Syrian Malabar Nasrani|Nasrani people]] of [[Kerala]] as a religious group and seeks to describe its religious denominations and other related aspects. While the article Nasrani deals with the Nasrani people of Kerala as an [[Ethnic|ethnic people]]. (infact see the category in which the article ''Nasrani'' is listed at the end of that article).<br />
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In the same way that there is a significant difference between [[Jew]] and [[Judaism]], there is a difference between [[Syrian Malabar Nasrani|Nasrani]] and [[Saint Thomas Christians]]. Jew deals with the entire ethnic community of the people of Jewish heritage and descent, or those people born of a Jewish mother. But Judaism is the religion followed by the ethnic community of Jewish people. The two concepts do highly overlap and are related but nevertheless they are independent in basic aspects and is treated as different. <br />
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In like manner, the nasranis is an ethnic community and in that sense a single community. However the ethnic community has various denominations as a result of the portuguese [[persecution]]. As an ethnic community they refer to themselves as Nasranis refering to the common cultural heritage and cultural tradition. However as a religious group they refer to themselves as the ''Mar Thoma Khristianis'' or in english as ''Saint Thomas Christians'' refering to the various and diverse [[[denomination]]s between them in terms of their religious tradition, despite a common ancestory of being the descendants of the early ''Mar Thoma church'' or Saint Thomas tradition of [[christianity]]. <br />
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The [[Knanaya]] people on the other hand is another denomination within the ''Mar Thoma church'' also called as (Mar Thoma khristiani) meaning [[Saint Thomas Christians]]. However they are a distinct community within the Nasrani ethnic group. Because of their long [[endogamy|endogamous]] tradition.<br />
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This aspect is already written in the first paragraph of both the articles. Please read them carefully. Else this article would have been merged long back. The article Nasrani deals with the traditions of the nasrani community as an ethnic people and their present life (which has to be expanded). [[User:Robin klein|Robin klein]] 04:31, 12 May 2005 (UTC)<br />
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== Inconsistent usage of AD or CE ==<br />
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Noted that the article uses both forms to express dates. Suggest this hould be rationalised --[[User:Dvavasour|Dunstan]] 13:15, 28 March 2006 (UTC)<br />
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I object to the Bias of this page. We Knanaya are not all Christians, only the Nasrani among us are Christians. Can you please tone down the overtly Christian propaganda on this page and focus more on us as an ethnic group. Thankyou.[[User:81.154.38.43|81.154.38.43]] 14:13, 30 March 2006 (UTC)<br />
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Its really sad that you have'nt took any refrence from the books writen by one of the greatest historian E.M.Philip which sems to be more reliable.<br />
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Update: I agree, anybody who is contributing to this article, should be first reading the books of E.M. Philip. <small><span class="autosigned">—Preceding [[Wikipedia:Signatures|unsigned]] comment added by [[User:Zubinraj|Zubinraj]] ([[User talk:Zubinraj|talk]] • [[Special:Contributions/Zubinraj|contribs]]) 05:27, 4 January 2009 (UTC)</span></small><!-- Template:Unsigned --> <!--Autosigned by SineBot--><br />
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=This article needs complete correction? Added POV tag ?=<br />
:A.History is written like story.We need some facts information.None of the information written has any proff.Even hostorians differ on the year.It can be anytime from 300 to 800 AD.<br />
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:B.All wikipedia has lot of repetitions about Knanaya retaining Jewish traditions.I dont know about a single Jewish tradition Knanaya follow more than the Nasrani's.If there is nothing other than included in Syrian Malabar Nasrani traditions please remove the repetitive sections from this article as Knanaya are part of the community.<br />
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:C.Many historians has written about the mixing of Knanaya with Veluthodathi and Chetty's and Manichainas.Those views are not represented in the article.<br />
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:D.Marthoma Sleeba is not Knanaya symbol, its a common heritage of Nasrani's<br />
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:E.Knanaya Copper Plates- No body has seen it and there are many contradicting versions of it circulating claiming Knanaya Copper Plates but actaully the Plates awarded to [[Mar Sapor Iso]].<br />
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:F.First time hearing about Knanaya hindus.What are they ?<br />
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[[User:Kevin|Kevin]] 07:48, 26 May 2007 (UTC)<br />
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I agree, the article makes too much mix up between Knanaya people and the Nasrani christians as a whole. It needs massive pruning if it is going to be a useful encyclopaedic entry on the Knanaya ethnicity. (I don't see how Knanaya could fit into the Hindu cast system either). [[User:82.6.114.172|82.6.114.172]] 11:30, 28 June 2007 (UTC)<br />
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==Please give due respect to facts and re-write this article with a neutral point of view (NPOV) according to Wikipedia’s guidelines. ==<br />
There are too many errors and headless statements in this article. <br />
Please go through the various questions and comments that readers have and try to answer them. <br />
Thanks. [[User:Malabari|Malabari]] 06:28, 30 May 2007 (UTC)Malabari <br />
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== Non-Christian Knanayas? ==<br />
Can anyone prove or give reliable evidence about the existence of any non-Christian Knanayas? Knanayas are usually Catholic or Jacobite. A Knanaya loses his or her identity once he or she converts to a non-Christian religion. Therefore, the question of Hindu or Jewish Knanayas does not even arise. <br />
[[User:Malabari|Malabari]] 07:58, 24 May 2007 (UTC)Malabari<br />
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With all due respect to [[User:Malabari]], I do not want to upset your beliefs, but there are plenty of agnostic and atheistic Knanaya who preserve the endagamous tradition. Please don't mix Nasrani up with the Knanaya ethnicity. [[User:82.6.114.172|82.6.114.172]] 10:58, 28 June 2007 (UTC)<br />
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There are many non-christian Knanaya people. Knanaya is an ethnicity not a religon.<br />
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Update: I agree with the last comment, Knanaya should be considered as an ethnicity rather than a religion. It is based on the blood-line rather than any religious beliefs. Majority of Knanayites are either Jacobites or Catholics. There is a good number of Knanaya protestants too. Being a Jacobite Knananya myself, I believe that if the ethnic blood-line is maintained, irrespective of the faith, Knanayites will be Knanayites. <small><span class="autosigned">—Preceding [[Wikipedia:Signatures|unsigned]] comment added by [[User:Zubinraj|Zubinraj]] ([[User talk:Zubinraj|talk]] • [[Special:Contributions/Zubinraj|contribs]]) 05:33, 4 January 2009 (UTC)</span></small><!-- Template:Unsigned --> <!--Autosigned by SineBot--><br />
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==Massive Christian POV Bias==<br />
I kind of object to the massive Christian bias in this article. Knanaya are an important endagamous ethnic group of Israelite origins, many of whom practise Nasrani christianity, but not all Knanaya are Christian at all! In fact many are interested in their Jewish heritage and there is even a school in Israel where they can learn about this. Can we make this article more about the Ethnicity and less about religion please?[[User:82.6.114.172|82.6.114.172]] 10:34, 28 June 2007 (UTC)<br />
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Totally agree. Not all Knanaya are Christian.<br />
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=This is Fiction=<br />
All artilce is written as a fiction.There is no credible referance for anything.<br />
Can some one re write this article or better delete it.<br />
There is no ethinicity called Knanya. This all picece looks like the work of a fanatic.[[User:65.218.154.227]]<br />
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I agree with much of what you wrote, but what do you mean by there is no ethnicity called Knanaya?[[User:82.6.114.172|82.6.114.172]] 21:22, 16 July 2007 (UTC)<br />
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The article needs a MAJOR re-write, for factuality, language...pretty much everything. The group exists, yes, but this article doesn't give any semblance of a correct view of what they are.[[User:CharlesMartel|CharlesMartel]] ([[User talk:CharlesMartel|talk]]) 17:46, 28 December 2007 (UTC)CharlesMartel<br />
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== Are Knanayas ethnically entirely composed of Jewish settlers due to their endogamity? ==<br />
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This article seems to suggest the title, although based on phenotypes, my experience is that they resemble the communities all around them and other Nasrani. <br />
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Also I wanted to enquire who the people on the infobox image are.[[User:B Nambiar|Nambo]] ([[User talk:B Nambiar|talk]]) 02:20, 4 February 2008 (UTC)<br />
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== Requires Clean Up==<br />
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This article requires clean up as its very much distorted. I invite the community members to provide suggestions.<br />
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[[User:Tarijanel|Tarijanel]] ([[User talk:Tarijanel|talk]]) 08:26, 10 May 2008 (UTC)<br />
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== POV ==<br />
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Debates within topics are clearly described, represented and characterized since July 2007, but not engaged in. [[User:Gocart|Gocart]] ([[User talk:Gocart|talk]]) 21:52, 10 May 2008 (UTC)<br />
== POV Removal with out cleaning==<br />
Below text from an unknown editor has been removed with out any discussion by another editor.<br />
The debate on the talk page about the content of the article is not taken in to consideration by any editors. <br />
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Please dont remove the POV with out cleaning the article.<br />
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[[User:Gocart|Gocart]] ([[User talk:Gocart|talk]]) 04:38, 21 May 2008 (UTC)<br />
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== Discussion==<br />
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Legendary accounts aside, genetic evidence seems to indicate a non-Jewish origin for the Knanaya. Reports from historians (e.g., W. Germann in 1872) report a community of Manichaeans living alongside the Nasrani community as far back as the 15th century. These Manichaeans were kept outside of the community by the Nasranis (the non-Knanaya Christians). Under Nestorians and Portuguese influence, the Manichaean side-community were slowly converted to mainstream Christianity; however, they were still kept outside of the Nasrani community by the caste-conscious conservative Nasranis. This community of outsiders were the ancestors of the Knanaya. With time, the Knanaya slowly developed new mythological accounts to explain their origins (in more positive terms), including descent from Thomas of Kana. Initially, the Nasranis disputed such legendary accounts (since the Nasranis also claim descent from Thomas of Kana); however, in the last century, this resistance has waned as the Syrian Christians focussed on a variety of other internal disputes. <br />
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- It should be noted that the Jewish-origin claims of the Knanaya have very little justification in fact: the Syrian Christian community, in general, follows similar customs that originate from the ancient Jewish communities in Malabar. Often, the adherence to old Jewish customs among the Syrian Christians in Kerala is a function of geographical location and not membership to either the Nasrani or the Knanaya communities; Syrian Christians from more conservative areas (both Knanaya and Nasrani) tend to follow the customs more rigorously than Syrian Christians from more cosmopolitan areas. Hence, the presence of Jewish customs among the Knanaya only points to their religious integration within the larger Nasrani community, and not to a genetic Jewish origin. <br />
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- Moreover the mainstream Nasranis (i.e., the non-Knanaya Syrian Christians) have verifiable genetic claims of Cohen and Jewish/Semitic ancestry. The Knanaya have thus far failed to demonstrate any positive genetic evidence to support their claim as being an "endogamous Jewish community." Finally, the Syrian Christians are also known to be endogamous, often marrying only within the Syrian Christian community and excluding the Knanaya from such unions (with equal rigor)---endogamy in and of itself points to nothing other than the caste-based exclusion which both the Nasranis and the Knanaya have practiced for centuries.<br />
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== Majority Population==<br />
What is the source of Majority Population Israel ?<br />
[[User:Gocart|Gocart]] ([[User talk:Gocart|talk]]) 04:52, 21 May 2008 (UTC)<br />
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Removed the majority population of Israel and other countries. Majority population is in India, US, UK. There could be some population in the gulf region too. Other editors can update this as required. --[[User:Zubinraj|Zubinraj]] ([[User talk:Zubinraj|talk]]) 06:09, 4 January 2009 (UTC)<br />
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== Jewish identity ==<br />
The Knanaya Catholics and their Jewish identity have been acknowledged by the Vatican under Pope Pius X, by instituting in 1911 a diocese only for the Jewish Christians (Syrian-catholic) of Kerala. [7] This diocese is called the Arch Diocese of Kottayam and is in the district of Kottayam in Kerala. [7]<br />
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This is gross misrepresentaion and forgery. There is no mention of anything in the order for diocese creation. The new diocese is created by power politics. Provide sources[[User:Gocart|Gocart]] ([[User talk:Gocart|talk]]) 04:55, 21 May 2008 (UTC)<br />
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===jewish identity is acknowledged by the vatican===<br />
[[User:Gocart|Gocart]], you have moved page even though all the established works on the knanaya refers to the community as Knanaya. the references have been provided. The text by the anonymous writer does not have any references they are just pov statements as are yours. besides your user name was created 2 days before the anonymous post, and you added the pov tag after the anonymous post.<br />
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besides the latin text of [[Pope Pius X]] at the erection of the Knanaya Kottayam diocese is "In Universi Cristiani" (Latin Text of the Papal erection of the Knanaya Diocese of Kottayam) It mentions the Knanaya people as Jewish. Which is why a separate diocese as Jewish tradition within the Nasrani christian jewish tradition of Syro malabar church was allowed in 1911. [[User:Vagab|Vagab]] ([[User talk:Vagab|talk]]) 19:35, 21 May 2008 (UTC)<br />
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==Re -naming and re writing of article==<br />
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Tekkumbhagasamudayam Charitram by Chazikadan names the community as Tekkumbhagar. This article should be renamed to Tekkumbhagar.<br />
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[[User:Gocart|Gocart]] ([[User talk:Gocart|talk]]) 05:03, 21 May 2008 (UTC)<br />
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==reverting pov edit==<br />
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[[User:Gocart|Gocart]], you have moved page even though all the established works on the knanaya refers to the community as Knanaya. the references have been provided. The text by the anonymous writer does not have any references they are just pov statements as are yours. besides your user name was created 2 days before the anonymous post, and you added the pov tag after the anonymous post.<br />
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Besides the latin text of [[Pope Pius X]] at the erection of the Knanaya Kottayam diocese is "In Universi Cristiani" (Latin Text of the Papal erection of the Knanaya Diocese of Kottayam). It mentions the Knanaya people as Jewish. Which is why a separate diocese as Jewish tradition within the Nasrani christian jewish tradition of Syro malabar church was allowed in 1911. [[User:Vagab|Vagab]] ([[User talk:Vagab|talk]]) 19:33, 21 May 2008 (UTC)<br />
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== Very well written ==<br />
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This is a very well written article about knanayas. I find it very fare and unbiased. <small>—Preceding [[Wikipedia:Signatures|unsigned]] comment added by [[Special:Contributions/67.175.2.238|67.175.2.238]] ([[User talk:67.175.2.238|talk]]) 21:26, 30 July 2008 (UTC)</small><!-- Template:UnsignedIP --> <!--Autosigned by SineBot--><br />
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== Misleading Masada quote. ==<br />
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The following misleading and tendentious tie-in with [[Masada]] was removed:<br />
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:In 70 CE, hundreds of Kanahi evaded capture from the Romans and took shelter in the fortress at [[Masada]]. In 72 CE, after a two year siege, 960 Kanahi unwilling to give up to the Romans killed themselves before the Romans could capture them. This act of martyrdom is still commemorated in Israel.<br />
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The Jews of Masada were not known as having any connection to later Christian sects, regardsless of that group's claims. [[User:IZAK|IZAK]] ([[User talk:IZAK|talk]]) 07:26, 16 September 2008 (UTC)</div>Zubinrajhttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Knanaya&diff=261840361Knanaya2009-01-04T06:02:05Z<p>Zubinraj: </p>
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<div><gallery><br />
<br />
</gallery>{{Main|Syrian Malabar Nasrani}}<br />
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[[Image:Nasrani menorah.JPG|thumbnail|left|125px|The [[Nasrani Menorah|Nasrani Menorah]] also known as the Mar Thoma sliba]]<br />
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{{Ethnic group<br />
|group=Knanaya<br />
|poptime=2001: (approx) '''252,600'''<br />
|popplace=<span style="font-size:105%;">'''Majority Population:'''<br />
{{IND}} <br><br />
'''Significant Populations:'''<br><br />
{{USA}}<br><br />
{{GBR}}<br><br />
|langs=[[Malayalam]], [[English language|English]].<br />
|rels= Majority: Syrian Jacobites, Syrian Catholics. Some Protestants. <br />
|related=Knanaya peoples:<br />
*[[Saint Thomas Christians]]<br />
*[[Nasrani]]<br />
*[[Syrian Malabar Nasrani]]<br />
*[[Jewish Christians]] <br />
See also: [[Dravidian people]] [[Semitic people]]<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''Knanaya''' (Heb:קנאים, Malayalam: ക്നാനായ), literally meaning "Knai people", are a group of [[endogamous]] Christians from [[Kerala]], [[India]].<ref name = Menachery>Menachery G. 1973, 1998; Vellian Jacob 2001; Weil,S. 1982; Podipara, Placid J. 1970</ref> Their heritage and culture is syriac-[[Keralite]], their language [[Malayalam]]. <ref name = Menachery>Menachery G. 1973, 1998; Vellian Jacob 2001; Weil,S. 1982; Podipara, Placid J. 1970</ref> Their loyalties are with the [[Syrian Malabar Nasrani|Nasrani]] community of [[Syriac Christian]]s from Kerala. <ref name = Menachery>Menachery G. 1973, 1998; Vellian Jacob 2001; Weil,S. 1982; Podipara, Placid J. 1970</ref><br />
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==History==<br />
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The Knanayas (قنانيا)(short form-"kna") are the descendants of 72 Syro-Aramaic families who migrated from [[Edessa, Mesopotamia|Edessa]], [[Turkey]], [[Israel]] and [[Syria]]<ref name = New York Times>http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/24/nyregion/24church.html?em</ref> the first city state that embraced Christianity in the Roman Empire, to [[Malabar coast]] in AD 345, under the leadership of a prominent merchant [[Knai Thomman]] (قناي تامن)(in English, Thomas the Zealot).<ref name = Hough>Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Weil,S. 1982; James Hough 1893; Thomas Puthiakunnel 1973; Vellian Jacob 2001; Koder S. 1973</ref> They built a town in Kodungalloor with a church and 72 houses. The natives called it Mahadevar Pattanam (محاديفر پتنم) meaning "town of superiors". <br />
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After Mar Joseph (مار جوسف) had a startling dream in which he saw the plight of the Christian church in Malabar (ملابار) established by St. Thomas, the Apostle, in the first Century. They consisted of 400 Christians from 72 families of various Syriac-Christian clans. Included in the group was a [[Syrian Orthodox Church|Syriac Orthodox Bishop]] (Mor Joseph of Urfa), Bishops and deacons. With instructions from the Patriarch of Antioch, they sailed in three ships headed by a leading ship with the flag of King [[David]]. The Syriac-Christians were granted permission to engage in trade and settle down in [[Kodungallur]] by the then ruler of [[Malabar Coast|Malabar]], [[Cheraman Perumal]].<ref name = Hough>Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Weil,S. 1982; James Hough 1893; Thomas Puthiakunnel 1973; Vellian Jacob 2001; Koder S. 1973</ref> The event has been recorded on copper plates given to the community.<ref name = Hough>Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Weil,S. 1982; James Hough 1893; Thomas Puthiakunnel 1973; Vellian Jacob 2001; Koder S. 1973</ref><br />
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Before the arrival of the people, the early Nasrani (نزاريون) people in the Malabar coast included native Indian converts and converted Jewish people who had settled in Kerala during the [[Babylonian exile]] and after.<ref name = Puthiakunnel>Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Weil,S. 1982; Thomas Puthiakunnel 1973; & Koder S. 1973</ref> They came mostly from the Northern [[Kingdom of Israel]]. According to tradition, Knanayites are also known as Southists (''Thekkumbhagar'' in Malayalam) as they hailed from the southern province of Israel known in the Old Testament as the [[Kingdom of Judah]]. The distinction between the northern heavily exogamous Samarians and the southern zealously endagamous tribes of Judea led to the difference among the non-Knanaya Nasranis as Northists and the Knanaya as Southists. The Knanaya ([[Kanahi]] people) continue to remain an endogamous group also within the Nasrani community.<ref name = Puthiakunnel>Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Weil,S. 1982; Thomas Puthiakunnel 1973; & Koder S. 1973</ref><br />
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The term known as ''Kanai'' or ''Q'nai'', (קנאי singular form of Kanahim/קנאים) means "Jealous ones for God". It is claimed that the K'nai people are the biblical Aaronites referred to as Kanahi (overly jealous and with zeal), who came to [[Sheba|Saba]] around 135AD from the southern province of Judea (whence the derives the term southists). They were deeply against the [[Roman Empire|Roman]] rule of Israel and fought against the Romans. Many of Jesus' followers had names typical among freedom fighters such as Zealot (Simon Cana), Daggerman (Judas Iscariot), Rock (Simon Peter), Thunderson (James & John) etc.. After the crucifixion of Jesus by the Romans in 33 CE, the Knanaya intensified their struggle against the Roman rule.<br />
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In 345 CE a small group of K'nanaim merchants travelled to the Jewish trade posts at Kodungallur in Kerala and settled there. Their descendants are today known in Kerala as ''Knanaya Nasranis''.<ref name = Poomangalam>Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Weil, S. 1982; Poomangalam C.A 1998; Thomas Puthiakunnel 1973; Vellian Jacob 2001; Koder S. 1973</ref><br />
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==Persecution by Portuguese==<br />
{{main|Portuguese Inquisition}}<br />
The ''Nasranis'', who were, until then, the "living fossils" of the Christian tradition, lost their very defining ethos.<ref name= "CBuchanan>Claudius Buchanan, 1811</ref> The only Nasranis who managed to preserve some elements of their earlier origin were the Knanaya people, because of their tradition of being [[endogamy|endogamous]] within their own community and therefore preserving their tradition.<ref name= "Poomangalam">Weil, S. 1982; Jessay, P.M. 1986 Vellian Jacob 2001; Poomangalam C.A 1998</ref> An Imperial Order was passed to confiscate and sell under public auction the properties of those who celebrated Passover. It was perhaps because of this Order that the Knanaites celebrate Passover in a very private manner without inviting any Christian friend for sharing the Holy Meal.<ref>http://knanaya.weebly.com/who-is-a-knanaite.html</ref><br />
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==Contemporary Knanaya==<br />
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[[Image:Kottayam Valia Palli02.jpg|thumb|300px|left|Inside a Knanaya Church in Thazhathangadi, Kottayam]]<ref name = Koder>Weil,S. 1982; Jessay, P.M. 1986; Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Thomas Puthiakunnel 1973; Vellian Jacob 2001; Koder S. 1973; Vellian, J 1988</ref> Kna people are strictly endagamous and no one may convert to join the Kna people although marrying out is an increasing concern for the community. The Knanaya and other Nasranis as a whole maintained close relationship with the Jews of Kerala, (known today as [[Cochin Jews]]) until the [[Portugal|Portuguese]] inquisition of the Jews and Nasranis in the early 1500s. <ref name = Koder>Weil,S. 1982; Jessay, P.M. 1986; Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Thomas Puthiakunnel 1973; Vellian Jacob 2001; Koder S. 1973; Vellian, J 1988</ref> Kna people are also the victims of increasing missionary efforts not only from Protestant groups ecouraging them to give up on their Syrian-Christian customs and traditions, but also from some Jewish groups. They descend from 72 priestly families descended from the same [[desposyni]] that Thomas Jude belonged to. the number 72 has a significance for the 72 nations of the world and each of the 72 families have their own unique family rule. <br />
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Although grape produce is now consumed as a result of Portuguese influence, this was originally not the case among the Knanaya people. The tradition is preserved in the consumption of ''Pesaha pal'' (passover coconut milk) instead of wine on the night of [[passover]] along with ''Pesaha-appam'' (unleavened passover bread). <ref name = Koder>Weil,S. 1982; Jessay, P.M. 1986; Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Thomas Puthiakunnel 1973; Vellian Jacob 2001; Koder S. 1973; Vellian, J 1988</ref> . This tradition of ''Pesaha appam'' is observed by the entire Nasrani people till this day. <ref name = Koder>Weil,S. 1982; Jessay, P.M. 1986; Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Thomas Puthiakunnel 1973; Vellian Jacob 2001; Koder S. 1973; Vellian, J 1988</ref> The bridal canopy or nuppah is part of the Knanaya wedding ceremony and there is aceremonial bathing on the eve of the wedding that is parallel to the Jewish mikrah. The dead are buried facing the east to Jerusalem. <ref name = Koder>Weil,S. 1982; Jessay, P.M. 1986; Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Thomas Puthiakunnel 1973; Vellian Jacob 2001; Koder S. 1973; Vellian, J 1988</ref> Thanksgiving blessings which the Knanaya people use which follow the Hebrew formula, Birkat HaMazon ברוך אתה ה' א‑לוהינו מלך העולם, המוציא לחם מן הארץ when initiating a Eucharistic Mass.<br />
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==Knanaya community at present==<br />
[[Image:A Syro Malabar Catholic Knanaya Jewish Nasrani Church.JPG|thumbnail|left|An unvelied tabernacle of a Kna Jewish 'palli' or Temple with 12 candlesticks in the background for the 12 tribes of ancient Israel.]]<br />
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The first belonging to the [[Syriac Orthodox Church]] in India and second to the [[Syro-Malabar Catholic Church]]. <ref name = Weil>Weil, S. 1982; Jessay, P.M. 1986; Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Vellian Jacob 2001</ref>. Knanaya are very much conscious about their origin and up until today safeguard their ethnic character by marrying people from within the community regardless of rite. A Knanaya Syriac Orthodox diocese, established in 1910, is administered by an [[archbishop]] who reports directly to the Patriarch of Antioch of the [[Syrian Orthodox Church]]. The Knanaya Catholics have been acknowledged by the [[Holy See|Vatican]] under [[Pope Pius X]], by instituting in 1911 a diocese only for the Syrian-catholic of Kerala. <ref name = Weil>Weil, S. 1982; Jessay, P.M. 1986; Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Vellian Jacob 2001</ref> This diocese is called the ''Arch Diocese of Kottayam'' and is in the district of [[Kottayam]] in Kerala. <ref name = Weil>Weil, S. 1982; Jessay, P.M. 1986; Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Vellian Jacob 2001</ref><br />
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The approximate population of Knanaya people as of 2001: (divided by different denominations)<br />
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*''Knanaya Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Christians'': 100,000<br />
*''Knanaya Syrian Malabar Catholic Christians'': 140,000<br />
In all over 250,000 Knanayas continue in the ancient [[Hebrews|Hebrew]]-Christian tradition.<br />
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==See also==<br />
* [[Cochin Jews]]<br />
* [[Kanahi]]<br />
* [[Kenites]]<br />
* [[Masada]]<br />
* [[Saint Thomas Christians]]<br />
* [[Syrian Malabar Nasrani]]<br />
* [[Zealots]]<br />
* [[Syro-Malabar Catholic Church]]<br />
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==Notes==<br />
{{reflist}}<br />
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==References==<br />
* Menachery, G. (1973) ''The St. Thomas Christian Encyclopedia of India'', Ed. George Menachery, B.N.K. Press, vol. 2, ISBN 81-87132-06-X, Lib. Cong. Cat. Card. No. 73-905568 ; B.N.K. Press<br />
* Vellian, Jacob (2001) ''Knanite community: History and culture''; Syrian church series; vol.XVII; Jyothi Book House, Kottayam<br />
* "In Universi Cristiani" (Latin Text of the Papal erection of the Knanaya Diocese of Kottayam)<br />
* Puthiakunnel, Thomas. (1973) "Jewish colonies of India paved the way for St. Thomas", ''The Saint Thomas Christian Encyclopedia of India'', ed. George Menachery, Vol. II., Trichur.<br />
* Koder, S. (1973) "History of the Jews of Kerala".''The St. Thomas Christian Encyclopaedia of India'',Ed. G. Menachery.<br />
* Vellian, J (1988) Marriage Customs of the Knanites, Christian Orient, 9, Kottayam.<br />
* Weil, S. (1982) "Symmetry between Christians and Jews in India: The Cananite Christians and Cochin Jews in Kerala. in Contributions to Indian Sociology, 16.<br />
* Jessay, P.M. (1986) "The Wedding Songs of the Cochin Jews and of the Knanite Christians of Kerala: A Study in Comparison." Symposium.<br />
* James Hough (1893) "The History of Christianity in India".<br />
* Menachery, G (ed); (1998) "The Indian Church History Classics", Vol.I, ''The Nazranies'', Ollur, 1998. [ISBN 81-87133-05-8].<br />
* Poomangalam, C.A. (1998) ''The Antiquities of the Knanaya Syrian Christians''; Kottayam, Kerala.<br />
* Podipara, Placid J. (1970) "The Thomas Christians". London: Darton, Longman and Tidd.<br />
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==External links==<br />
*[http://www.knanaya.net Knanaya finder]<br />
*[http://www.knaconvention.com Knanaya Jacobite Annual Convention]<br />
*[http://www.ananthapuri.com/kerala-history.asp?page=jew Jews of Kerala]<br />
*[http://www.ananthapuri.com/kerala-history.asp?page=christian Christians of Kerala]<br />
*[http://www.indianchristianity.com Indian Christianity]<br />
*[http://www.kottayamad.org/ Archdiocese of Kottayam]<br />
*[http://www.stjohnsputhenpally.org/ St.Johns Puthenpally Chingavanam]<br />
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[[Category:Archdiocese of Changanassery]]<br />
[[Category:Kerala society]]<br />
[[Category:Knanaya Community| ]]<br />
[[Category:Malayali people]]<br />
[[Category:Saint Thomas Christians]]<br />
[[Category:Syro-Malabar Catholic Church]]<br />
[[Category:Jewish ethnic groups]]<br />
[[Category:Jewish Christians]]<br />
[[Category:Semitic peoples]]<br />
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[[de:Knananiten]]<br />
[[fr:Knanayas]]<br />
[[mk:Кнанаја]]</div>Zubinrajhttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Talk:Knanaya&diff=261836885Talk:Knanaya2009-01-04T05:33:22Z<p>Zubinraj: /* Non-Christian Knanayas? */</p>
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==CopyVio==<br />
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I've listed this article as copyvio because recently a lot of CV content may have been added in complex edits. I cannot distinguish what is and what isn't myself, and I don't want to revert all of the user's edits because not all of them are CV's, so I'm asking this to be reviewed. <span style="background-color:#000000"><font color="white">(|--</font></span> <span style="background-color:#CCCCCC"><font color="red">'''UlT</font><font color="green">i</font><font color="blue">MuS'''</font> <font color="black"><sup>( [[User:Ultimus|U]] • [[User_talk:Ultimus|T]] • [[Special:Contributions/Ultimus|C]] | [[User:Ultimus/Templates/Message|M]] • [[Special:Emailuser/Ultimus|E]] ) </sup></font></span> 07:06, 20 July 2006 (UTC)<br />
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<b>The copyvio edits have been reverted </b>. Instead of putting the entire works of several editors over the years under copyvio. It is better and fair to remove copyvio when vandals add them. otherwise many sincere wikipedia editors will be driven away from wikipedia due to hurt, despite sincere efforts over the years [[User:Robin klein|Robin klein]] 16:39, 20 July 2006 (UTC)<br />
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==Articles are not to be merged==<br />
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The article [[Syrian Malabar Nasrani]] deals with the Nasrani people of [[Kerala]] as an ethnic people. The article [[Knanaya]] deals with a subgroup within that community. It is therefore essential to have separate pages for the topics of Syrian malabar nasrani and Knanaya, which are highly related. Besides it is [[wikipedia]] policy to create sub articles when there is lots of details within a subtopic. This has already been indicated with the main heading link given to the subpages. [[User:Robin klein|Robin klein]] 21:55, 5 November 2006 (UTC)<br />
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== Syrian Christians and Knananya are not jews ==<br />
This article claims Knanya are Jewish. They are only a sub group among the Syrian Christians of Kerala who themselves are migrants from Syria (Assyrian kingdom, Sassanian kingdom ) between 300 to 1200 AD. Ethnically the Assyrian people are different from Jews but are semitic and talk an Aramic tongue. The Assyrians are more closely related to Hittites and Mesopotomians. The Eastern Orthodox Church of Syrians, the Nestorian church is extinct after the Portuguese arrival.<br />
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== Knanya are of mixed Syrian and Portuguese mixed people ==<br />
After the Portuguese arrival the Syrian Christans of India adopted the faith of the Portuguese the Roman [[Catholicism]] and the [[Jacobite]] (Western)around 1550.In the earlier period they were under the Suzernity of the Patriarch of Babylon. Without intermixture with the Portuguese this could have never happenned (as rumoured in Kerala). The food habits of Knanya closely resemble Portuguese than any Jew (Beef and Pork which are shunned by Hindus as well as Muslims of India). Their churches are built in the Portuguese style (Kottayam to Pala road).Elite among them do look like Europeans and not Jewish. They may even have blood of Manichaen Persians who were not even Christians or Jewish.<br />
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== Mahadevar Pattinam was the Chera Capital not Syrians==<br />
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Kodungaloor became capital only in the 8th century ad and was the capital of the Later Chera Kingdom. In the Earlier [[Chera]] kingdoms Musirippatinam ([[musiris]])was a port City while the Capital was[[ Karur]] in Tamil Nadu. The old Tamil Sangha literature of Kerala never mentions the presence of Christians while there was numerous mentions of Greeks and Romans.Even if Christians were present in ancient Kerala they were living in the foreigners quarters talking alien tongues.<br />
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[[User:Kerindigen|Kerindigen]] ([[User talk:Kerindigen|talk]]) 14:50, 23 June 2008 (UTC)<br />
==Origins==<br />
The rticle says Knanaya people came from Eddessa (Which I believe to be correct) and now it says Kinai...Kinai? [[User:Rukyi|Rukyi]] 9:47, 1 January 2007 (UTC)<br />
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Originally Kinai (i.e. [[Cana]]) in the land of Israel.[[User:82.6.114.172|82.6.114.172]] 11:07, 28 June 2007 (UTC)<br />
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speaking of origins, did u know that hindu records show that these christians were actually converted after they were polluted by eating beef. certain Namboodirs and nairs went to some place, some 40 families or summat, and they ate meat there and hence were outcast. They accepted christianity but the other christians didnt marry em. sSO they became an endogamous group...tht is these christians...[[User:manu_rocks|Manu]]<br />
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What you mean by "these christians"?. [[Rukyi 00:43, 4 January 2007 (UTC)]]<br />
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He means the Nasrani. [[User:Manu_rocks]] is citing a derogatory Hindu tale about why the Knanaya keep to themselves. There are many such Hindu traditions against Jeish communities in India, though generally Hindus are polite enough not to re-iterate them and keep them alive. Eating beef might make Indian Jews seem polluted to Hidu's but not to anyone else Manu, so the sneer has no value for anyone outside of Indian culture.[[User:82.6.114.172|82.6.114.172]] 11:12, 28 June 2007 (UTC)<br />
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The most common and historical name for this community is *Thekkumbagar*, which is Malayalam for 'Southists'. The name 'knanaya' is a 20th century invention by the Southist Jacobites. It later gained popularity among the Southist Catholics too. Therefore, this name doesn't have any historical significance as mentioned in this article. [[User:Malabari|Malabari]] 09:37, 8 June 2007 (UTC)Malabari<br />
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==What are the Jewish traditions followed only by the Knanayas?==<br />
It's often repeated in several articles that the Knanayas have preserved more Jewish traditions than the rest of the Nasranis. I can't remember any. In fact, Knanaya Jacobites don't even have the tradition of Pesaha Appam that is followed by most Nasranis including Knanaya Catholics. <br />
Therefore, the tradition of the Pesaha cannot be counted as a surviving Knanaya tradition as almost half the Knanayas don't follow it. It however, is a general Nasrani tradition. <br />
I posted this question at the Nasrani page but got no answer. Hence, I am repeating it here. Any replies? [[User:Malabari|Malabari]] 07:48, 24 May 2007 (UTC)Malabari<br />
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Candle lighting on Friday nights is one. Please do not be beligerent against those Knanaya who are proud of their Jewish origins. Of course the majority went along with the changes imposed after the portuguese arrived, but the vast majority are simply concerned with preserving the ethnicity rather than keep up religious practices be they persecuted Jewish traditions or dying Nasrani Christian ones.[[User:82.6.114.172|82.6.114.172]] 11:03, 28 June 2007 (UTC)<br />
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Where do we accommodate these facts. Unless more authentic information is fed to this site, any average individual with normal intelligence would seek some other sites to get real info. <br />
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'''Beef eating Brahmin? A paradox.'''<br />
The ancient beef eating community, prior to the arrival of Christianity, was Parayas (Candalas) of Keralam. Tradition says that the Parayas were a noble class of ancient Keralam. Legend says that they were sons of Saint Vasista. Their craze for beef led to the ostracism by the rest jatis in the deluge of time. Above all, because of their beef eating habit, the later arrived Nambootiries (Brahmins) did a lot to seclude them from the Hindu main stream. Even though these stories bear no historicity, it can give some hints on the process of societal polarization.<br />
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'''Priests'''<br />
The high priests of the traditional Parayas are called Kaikaran. It is interesting to see that the trustee/prasuventi of Syrian church is still known/identified in the land as Kaikaran. Why did a savarna origin Syrian Christian not go for a savarna term like Kalakakaran or Adhikari instead of a subaltern terminology? No doubt, this trustee of the Syrian church (kaikaran) is always hailing from aristocratic Syrian Christian family circle/taravadu of the respective parish.<br />
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'''Are the people of Canaan white complexioned or not?'''<br />
It is the general belief of the Kananaya Syrian Christians that their ancestors had migrated to Keralam in the fourth century CE. They did not freely mix with the Saint Thomas Syrian Christians. An exclusive community and by custom avoided intermarriage with the local Christians. They are still maintaining a social seclusion by practicing endogamy. Those who go against the practice of endogamy may be subjected to the wrath of the society in the form of ostracism or more. The practice of endogamy, no doubt, aimed at maintaining their racial purity. Unfortunately, the Kananaya Syrian Christian communities have no Canaanite or Syrian look but most of them are either of black or brownish complexion and look like an ordinary Keralite. This anthropological aspect may raise serious doubts regarding their Middle East or Canaan origin. Contrary to this Jew experience, after a long stay of more than 2000 years in Keralam, the Jews returned to their homeland, Israel, both in colour and culture as Jews. <br />
Primitive burial practices.<br />
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'''Death of Spiritual Heads'''<br />
When the head of the Paraya (Candala) community is dead, as per the customary jati law they bury the corpus of the deceased head (moopan) in sitting posture instead of the usual practice of keeping the dead body in lying position. The Kananaya and Saint Thomas Syrian Jacobite/Orthodox factions of Kerala Christians are the only communities other than the Parayas (Candalas) to bury the corpse of their bishops (spiritual head) in the manner of the Paraya moopans of old. No other Christian factions neither upheld nor practiced such a burial system. This burial pattern suggests a very strong socio-cultural or anthropological relation between both communities, which lost their link elsewhere in the deluge of history.<br />
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'''Primitive rituals.'''<br />
Before the arrival of the British missionaries, the Syrian Christians of Keralam maintained the ritual of offering obsequies for the souls of the dead ancestors as that of the practice of Parayas (Candalas). After the Portuguese Catholic interlude the Syrian Catholics transformed this practice into a more refined form that is of Office/Holy-Mass. The obsequies for the dead ancestors contained blood, flesh and intoxicating drinks. The British missionaries through their helping mission programme forcefully removed most of the primitive rituals in their socio-religious space. Before the English missionary interaction, Syrian Christians on the occasion of marriages, as a social custom, ritually used the intoxicants/tobacco. Such rituals associated with marriages are still maintained by a few of the certain jatis (castes) like Parayas, Pulayas, Vetas, Vannan, etc of Keralam.<br />
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'''Syrian Christian a tribal culture in its true sense.'''<br />
It is said so, that the Kananaya Christian migration to Keralam took place in the year 345 CE under the leadership of a Persian merchant named Thomas. At the time of his arrival here at Kodungalloor, a port city and capital of Cera kingdom, he met the ruling monarch (there is no consensus amongst the Kananayas regarding the name and other details of the ruler of Keralam who seated at Kodungalloor in 345 CE) who granted 72 social prerogatives to his community in Keralam through a Copper Plate Grant(Kanai Thomman Cheppedu). However, one thing is very clear. While we scrutinize the content of the said 72 prerogatives we find that the jatis of Keralam like the Pulayas, Parayas, etc had been enjoying most of them for centuries. Therefore there is nothing extraordinary in this said Copper Plate Grant. It is very clear that this seventy-two prerogatives claimed by the Kananaya Christians are the sum total of the privileges enjoyed by various jaties of Keralam. So the Kananaya Syrian Christians, as they claim, are neither a monolithic social formation nor a foreign race exclusive.<br />
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Among the 72 prerogatives, some are later additions. A few of such later additions are the right to the use of Nettoor Box (a box manufactured at a place called Nettoor with coral tree wood Erythrina Indica and beautifully coloured, was usually used in rich and aristocratic family circles/taravads of medieval Keralam31), swinging cot, gate and gatehouse/padippura, granary, palanquin, etc. All these became symbols of aristocracy only after the ninth century CE. It is seen that prior to the ninth century the technology of carpentry (tacusastram) was not familiar to the people of Keralam, is an accepted truth. Above all the Kanai Thomman Cheppedu (Copper Plate Grant to Thomas of Canaan) 345 CE has no historical soundness and the text of the document at present in circulation is a fictitious one intended to justify their savarna origin. Till about 800 AD Kerala was almost a part of Tamilakaom and the language of the region was Tamil with its own peculiar local characterstics. The language of the fourth century CE Copper Plate Grant is the Malayalam of late medieval period. Malayalam became a transactional language only in the nineteenth century. Before that all documents of Keralam were prepared in the language of Tamil with Granthashram or Vettezhuthu script33. Above all the original document is not traceable either. While taking all these aspects into consideration one is led to believe that the stories centering on the Copper Plate Grant is an imaginary one.<br />
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The marriage ceremony of the Kananaya Syrian Christians, a further indication in this way of enquiry, contained numerous formal procedures and rituals that were alien to Christians all over. Some of such ritualistic observances in association with marriages that still exists amongst the Kananaya Syrian Christians of Keralam are the hair cutting custom, henna application ceremony, the ritual of ash tying, the customary practice of nadavili, the customary rite of thalakettu, etc. They are the real facsimile of the customary practices, through centuries, of the subaltern jaties such as Vathies, Velans, Vannanas, Vetas, and Parayas. Furthermore, since the very beginning of Kananaya Syrian Christian history intoxicating drinks has been an unavoidable item of the feast of their marriages. This traditional practice of serving intoxicating drinks by Kananaya Syrian Christians on the auspicious occasions is the replica of the above-mentioned subaltern jaties of Keralam in the bygone days. While considering all the above particulars, along with the omission of Kananaya Syrian Christians from the purview of the Protestant Christian Missionary reformist enterprises altogether kept the uniqueness of these section without any defacement, point to the conclusion that Kananaya Syrian Christians are the hodgepodges of subaltern jatis and a few alien elements as in the case of Anglo-Indians. In short, we can arrive at the point that anthropologically the Kananaya Syrian Christians of Keralam have no racial purity and genetically they are constituted neither by complete foreign essentials nor by savarna jati exclusive of Keralam.<br />
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Except Syrian Catholics and most of the Protestant Christians, almost all Syrian sections of Keralam rings a bell at the climax of their Holy Mass/Communion, the same is not much different from the sound of a Velichappadu's (Temple Oracle's) jingling bells worn around his waist. Most of the vanavasis of Keralam use a similar bell at the climax of their poojas (ceremonial offering to gods). Some jatis of ancient Keralam, who specialised in witchcraft, were also use similar kind of bells in their magical exercises. That they were using these bells to produce sound at the climax of their magical exercises and doing it at the same symphony as Syrian Christians do it in their Holy Mass is a noteworthy similarity. Without any hesitation, on the basis of the aforementioned traits we can arrive at a point of conclusion that the Syrian Christians are a hodgepodge of avarna jatis and not the descendents of Nambootiries converted to Christianity. [[User:BGfromNZ|BGfromNZ]] ([[User talk:BGfromNZ|talk]]) 04:04, 13 February 2008 (UTC)<br />
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==Languages spoken by Knanayas?==<br />
I am surprised to find Hebrew in the list of languages spoken by Knanayas. It is vandalism. <br />
Also, why is 'knanaya' written in Arabic script in the introduction? What role does Arabic script have in Knanaya history? [[User:Malabari|Malabari]] 07:48, 24 May 2007 (UTC)Malabari<br />
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A Majority of the Knanayas today speak Malayalam.<br />
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Arab ethnographers wrote about the Knanaya, so the Arabic spelling is a useful reference to independent sources about the ethnicity. Some Knanaya are learning about their Jewish roots on courses being run in Israel, hence Hebrew is being spoken by such Knanaya, and it is not vandalism. [[User:82.6.114.172|82.6.114.172]] 11:06, 28 June 2007 (UTC)<br />
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Knanayas ROCK!!<br />
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I agree wholeheartedly [[User:70.156.210.219]]. I would just like to point out a few problems with this page. <br />
:1)Although it has been a redirect from the (Arch)Diocese of Kottayam, the article includes mention of both [[Syro-Malankar]] and Nasrani/[[Syro-Malabar]] branches of [[Syriac Christianity]].<br />
:2)The same people are called [[Meyuhassim]] or Malabari Jews, and their relatives who have chosen to revert their faith to pure Halakhic Orthodox Judaism are called Cochin Jews. Altogether they form one branch of the Kerala Jews divided on issues of belief in Jesus and skin-color from other Kerala Jews. At the same time they practice Endogamy and prefer to marry each other regardless of faith and never marry non-Meyuhassim, though they have married [[Meshuhararim]].<br />
:3)Their language is [[Judeo-Malayalam]] regardless of whether their faith is Syriac Christian or more Jewish.<br />
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I think because of the complex nature of this ethnicity it needs a project I would like to propose a Mehuyassim project it will cross over the divisions of this unique Judeo-Christo-Malayalam culture and clear up misunderstandings.<br />
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[[User:Zestauferov|Zestauferov]] 12:20, 16 December 2005 (UTC)<br />
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Hello, I would actually like to learn more about the inquistion of the Cochin Jews.<br />
I'm by no means an expert, but I'd think, that [[Syrian Malabar Nasrani|Nasrani]] should either be merged with [[Saint Thomas Christians]] or with [[Knanaya]]. --[[User:Pjacobi|Pjacobi]] 23:18, 2005 May 11 (UTC)<br />
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<b>Nasrani as an Ethnic community<b><br />
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You stated that the pages [[Syrian Malabar Nasrani|Nasrani]], [[Saint Thomas Christians]] or [[Knanaya]] should be merged.<br />
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'''No''', it would be erroneous to do that. The article [[Saint Thomas Christians]] deals with the [[Syrian Malabar Nasrani|Nasrani people]] of [[Kerala]] as a religious group and seeks to describe its religious denominations and other related aspects. While the article Nasrani deals with the Nasrani people of Kerala as an [[Ethnic|ethnic people]]. (infact see the category in which the article ''Nasrani'' is listed at the end of that article).<br />
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In the same way that there is a significant difference between [[Jew]] and [[Judaism]], there is a difference between [[Syrian Malabar Nasrani|Nasrani]] and [[Saint Thomas Christians]]. Jew deals with the entire ethnic community of the people of Jewish heritage and descent, or those people born of a Jewish mother. But Judaism is the religion followed by the ethnic community of Jewish people. The two concepts do highly overlap and are related but nevertheless they are independent in basic aspects and is treated as different. <br />
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In like manner, the nasranis is an ethnic community and in that sense a single community. However the ethnic community has various denominations as a result of the portuguese [[persecution]]. As an ethnic community they refer to themselves as Nasranis refering to the common cultural heritage and cultural tradition. However as a religious group they refer to themselves as the ''Mar Thoma Khristianis'' or in english as ''Saint Thomas Christians'' refering to the various and diverse [[[denomination]]s between them in terms of their religious tradition, despite a common ancestory of being the descendants of the early ''Mar Thoma church'' or Saint Thomas tradition of [[christianity]]. <br />
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The [[Knanaya]] people on the other hand is another denomination within the ''Mar Thoma church'' also called as (Mar Thoma khristiani) meaning [[Saint Thomas Christians]]. However they are a distinct community within the Nasrani ethnic group. Because of their long [[endogamy|endogamous]] tradition.<br />
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This aspect is already written in the first paragraph of both the articles. Please read them carefully. Else this article would have been merged long back. The article Nasrani deals with the traditions of the nasrani community as an ethnic people and their present life (which has to be expanded). [[User:Robin klein|Robin klein]] 04:31, 12 May 2005 (UTC)<br />
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== Inconsistent usage of AD or CE ==<br />
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Noted that the article uses both forms to express dates. Suggest this hould be rationalised --[[User:Dvavasour|Dunstan]] 13:15, 28 March 2006 (UTC)<br />
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I object to the Bias of this page. We Knanaya are not all Christians, only the Nasrani among us are Christians. Can you please tone down the overtly Christian propaganda on this page and focus more on us as an ethnic group. Thankyou.[[User:81.154.38.43|81.154.38.43]] 14:13, 30 March 2006 (UTC)<br />
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Its really sad that you have'nt took any refrence from the books writen by one of the greatest historian E.M.Philip which sems to be more reliable.<br />
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Update: I agree, anybody who is contributing to this article, should be first reading the books of E.M. Philip. <small><span class="autosigned">—Preceding [[Wikipedia:Signatures|unsigned]] comment added by [[User:Zubinraj|Zubinraj]] ([[User talk:Zubinraj|talk]] • [[Special:Contributions/Zubinraj|contribs]]) 05:27, 4 January 2009 (UTC)</span></small><!-- Template:Unsigned --> <!--Autosigned by SineBot--><br />
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=This article needs complete correction? Added POV tag ?=<br />
:A.History is written like story.We need some facts information.None of the information written has any proff.Even hostorians differ on the year.It can be anytime from 300 to 800 AD.<br />
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:B.All wikipedia has lot of repetitions about Knanaya retaining Jewish traditions.I dont know about a single Jewish tradition Knanaya follow more than the Nasrani's.If there is nothing other than included in Syrian Malabar Nasrani traditions please remove the repetitive sections from this article as Knanaya are part of the community.<br />
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:C.Many historians has written about the mixing of Knanaya with Veluthodathi and Chetty's and Manichainas.Those views are not represented in the article.<br />
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:D.Marthoma Sleeba is not Knanaya symbol, its a common heritage of Nasrani's<br />
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:E.Knanaya Copper Plates- No body has seen it and there are many contradicting versions of it circulating claiming Knanaya Copper Plates but actaully the Plates awarded to [[Mar Sapor Iso]].<br />
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:F.First time hearing about Knanaya hindus.What are they ?<br />
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[[User:Kevin|Kevin]] 07:48, 26 May 2007 (UTC)<br />
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I agree, the article makes too much mix up between Knanaya people and the Nasrani christians as a whole. It needs massive pruning if it is going to be a useful encyclopaedic entry on the Knanaya ethnicity. (I don't see how Knanaya could fit into the Hindu cast system either). [[User:82.6.114.172|82.6.114.172]] 11:30, 28 June 2007 (UTC)<br />
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==Please give due respect to facts and re-write this article with a neutral point of view (NPOV) according to Wikipedia’s guidelines. ==<br />
There are too many errors and headless statements in this article. <br />
Please go through the various questions and comments that readers have and try to answer them. <br />
Thanks. [[User:Malabari|Malabari]] 06:28, 30 May 2007 (UTC)Malabari <br />
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== Non-Christian Knanayas? ==<br />
Can anyone prove or give reliable evidence about the existence of any non-Christian Knanayas? Knanayas are usually Catholic or Jacobite. A Knanaya loses his or her identity once he or she converts to a non-Christian religion. Therefore, the question of Hindu or Jewish Knanayas does not even arise. <br />
[[User:Malabari|Malabari]] 07:58, 24 May 2007 (UTC)Malabari<br />
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With all due respect to [[User:Malabari]], I do not want to upset your beliefs, but there are plenty of agnostic and atheistic Knanaya who preserve the endagamous tradition. Please don't mix Nasrani up with the Knanaya ethnicity. [[User:82.6.114.172|82.6.114.172]] 10:58, 28 June 2007 (UTC)<br />
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There are many non-christian Knanaya people. Knanaya is an ethnicity not a religon.<br />
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Update: I agree with the last comment, Knanaya should be considered as an ethnicity rather than a religion. It is based on the blood-line rather than any religious beliefs. Majority of Knanayites are either Jacobites or Catholics. There is a good number of Knanaya protestants too. Being a Jacobite Knananya myself, I believe that if the ethnic blood-line is maintained, irrespective of the faith, Knanayites will be Knanayites.<br />
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==Massive Christian POV Bias==<br />
I kind of object to the massive Christian bias in this article. Knanaya are an important endagamous ethnic group of Israelite origins, many of whom practise Nasrani christianity, but not all Knanaya are Christian at all! In fact many are interested in their Jewish heritage and there is even a school in Israel where they can learn about this. Can we make this article more about the Ethnicity and less about religion please?[[User:82.6.114.172|82.6.114.172]] 10:34, 28 June 2007 (UTC)<br />
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Totally agree. Not all Knanaya are Christian.<br />
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=This is Fiction=<br />
All artilce is written as a fiction.There is no credible referance for anything.<br />
Can some one re write this article or better delete it.<br />
There is no ethinicity called Knanya. This all picece looks like the work of a fanatic.[[User:65.218.154.227]]<br />
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I agree with much of what you wrote, but what do you mean by there is no ethnicity called Knanaya?[[User:82.6.114.172|82.6.114.172]] 21:22, 16 July 2007 (UTC)<br />
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The article needs a MAJOR re-write, for factuality, language...pretty much everything. The group exists, yes, but this article doesn't give any semblance of a correct view of what they are.[[User:CharlesMartel|CharlesMartel]] ([[User talk:CharlesMartel|talk]]) 17:46, 28 December 2007 (UTC)CharlesMartel<br />
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== Are Knanayas ethnically entirely composed of Jewish settlers due to their endogamity? ==<br />
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This article seems to suggest the title, although based on phenotypes, my experience is that they resemble the communities all around them and other Nasrani. <br />
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Also I wanted to enquire who the people on the infobox image are.[[User:B Nambiar|Nambo]] ([[User talk:B Nambiar|talk]]) 02:20, 4 February 2008 (UTC)<br />
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== Requires Clean Up==<br />
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This article requires clean up as its very much distorted. I invite the community members to provide suggestions.<br />
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[[User:Tarijanel|Tarijanel]] ([[User talk:Tarijanel|talk]]) 08:26, 10 May 2008 (UTC)<br />
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== POV ==<br />
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Debates within topics are clearly described, represented and characterized since July 2007, but not engaged in. [[User:Gocart|Gocart]] ([[User talk:Gocart|talk]]) 21:52, 10 May 2008 (UTC)<br />
== POV Removal with out cleaning==<br />
Below text from an unknown editor has been removed with out any discussion by another editor.<br />
The debate on the talk page about the content of the article is not taken in to consideration by any editors. <br />
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Please dont remove the POV with out cleaning the article.<br />
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[[User:Gocart|Gocart]] ([[User talk:Gocart|talk]]) 04:38, 21 May 2008 (UTC)<br />
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== Discussion==<br />
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Legendary accounts aside, genetic evidence seems to indicate a non-Jewish origin for the Knanaya. Reports from historians (e.g., W. Germann in 1872) report a community of Manichaeans living alongside the Nasrani community as far back as the 15th century. These Manichaeans were kept outside of the community by the Nasranis (the non-Knanaya Christians). Under Nestorians and Portuguese influence, the Manichaean side-community were slowly converted to mainstream Christianity; however, they were still kept outside of the Nasrani community by the caste-conscious conservative Nasranis. This community of outsiders were the ancestors of the Knanaya. With time, the Knanaya slowly developed new mythological accounts to explain their origins (in more positive terms), including descent from Thomas of Kana. Initially, the Nasranis disputed such legendary accounts (since the Nasranis also claim descent from Thomas of Kana); however, in the last century, this resistance has waned as the Syrian Christians focussed on a variety of other internal disputes. <br />
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- It should be noted that the Jewish-origin claims of the Knanaya have very little justification in fact: the Syrian Christian community, in general, follows similar customs that originate from the ancient Jewish communities in Malabar. Often, the adherence to old Jewish customs among the Syrian Christians in Kerala is a function of geographical location and not membership to either the Nasrani or the Knanaya communities; Syrian Christians from more conservative areas (both Knanaya and Nasrani) tend to follow the customs more rigorously than Syrian Christians from more cosmopolitan areas. Hence, the presence of Jewish customs among the Knanaya only points to their religious integration within the larger Nasrani community, and not to a genetic Jewish origin. <br />
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- Moreover the mainstream Nasranis (i.e., the non-Knanaya Syrian Christians) have verifiable genetic claims of Cohen and Jewish/Semitic ancestry. The Knanaya have thus far failed to demonstrate any positive genetic evidence to support their claim as being an "endogamous Jewish community." Finally, the Syrian Christians are also known to be endogamous, often marrying only within the Syrian Christian community and excluding the Knanaya from such unions (with equal rigor)---endogamy in and of itself points to nothing other than the caste-based exclusion which both the Nasranis and the Knanaya have practiced for centuries.<br />
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== Majority Population==<br />
What is the source of Majority Population Israel ?<br />
[[User:Gocart|Gocart]] ([[User talk:Gocart|talk]]) 04:52, 21 May 2008 (UTC)<br />
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== Jewish identity ==<br />
The Knanaya Catholics and their Jewish identity have been acknowledged by the Vatican under Pope Pius X, by instituting in 1911 a diocese only for the Jewish Christians (Syrian-catholic) of Kerala. [7] This diocese is called the Arch Diocese of Kottayam and is in the district of Kottayam in Kerala. [7]<br />
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This is gross misrepresentaion and forgery. There is no mention of anything in the order for diocese creation. The new diocese is created by power politics. Provide sources[[User:Gocart|Gocart]] ([[User talk:Gocart|talk]]) 04:55, 21 May 2008 (UTC)<br />
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===jewish identity is acknowledged by the vatican===<br />
[[User:Gocart|Gocart]], you have moved page even though all the established works on the knanaya refers to the community as Knanaya. the references have been provided. The text by the anonymous writer does not have any references they are just pov statements as are yours. besides your user name was created 2 days before the anonymous post, and you added the pov tag after the anonymous post.<br />
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besides the latin text of [[Pope Pius X]] at the erection of the Knanaya Kottayam diocese is "In Universi Cristiani" (Latin Text of the Papal erection of the Knanaya Diocese of Kottayam) It mentions the Knanaya people as Jewish. Which is why a separate diocese as Jewish tradition within the Nasrani christian jewish tradition of Syro malabar church was allowed in 1911. [[User:Vagab|Vagab]] ([[User talk:Vagab|talk]]) 19:35, 21 May 2008 (UTC)<br />
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==Re -naming and re writing of article==<br />
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Tekkumbhagasamudayam Charitram by Chazikadan names the community as Tekkumbhagar. This article should be renamed to Tekkumbhagar.<br />
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[[User:Gocart|Gocart]] ([[User talk:Gocart|talk]]) 05:03, 21 May 2008 (UTC)<br />
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==reverting pov edit==<br />
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[[User:Gocart|Gocart]], you have moved page even though all the established works on the knanaya refers to the community as Knanaya. the references have been provided. The text by the anonymous writer does not have any references they are just pov statements as are yours. besides your user name was created 2 days before the anonymous post, and you added the pov tag after the anonymous post.<br />
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Besides the latin text of [[Pope Pius X]] at the erection of the Knanaya Kottayam diocese is "In Universi Cristiani" (Latin Text of the Papal erection of the Knanaya Diocese of Kottayam). It mentions the Knanaya people as Jewish. Which is why a separate diocese as Jewish tradition within the Nasrani christian jewish tradition of Syro malabar church was allowed in 1911. [[User:Vagab|Vagab]] ([[User talk:Vagab|talk]]) 19:33, 21 May 2008 (UTC)<br />
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== Very well written ==<br />
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This is a very well written article about knanayas. I find it very fare and unbiased. <small>—Preceding [[Wikipedia:Signatures|unsigned]] comment added by [[Special:Contributions/67.175.2.238|67.175.2.238]] ([[User talk:67.175.2.238|talk]]) 21:26, 30 July 2008 (UTC)</small><!-- Template:UnsignedIP --> <!--Autosigned by SineBot--><br />
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== Misleading Masada quote. ==<br />
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The following misleading and tendentious tie-in with [[Masada]] was removed:<br />
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:In 70 CE, hundreds of Kanahi evaded capture from the Romans and took shelter in the fortress at [[Masada]]. In 72 CE, after a two year siege, 960 Kanahi unwilling to give up to the Romans killed themselves before the Romans could capture them. This act of martyrdom is still commemorated in Israel.<br />
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The Jews of Masada were not known as having any connection to later Christian sects, regardsless of that group's claims. [[User:IZAK|IZAK]] ([[User talk:IZAK|talk]]) 07:26, 16 September 2008 (UTC)</div>Zubinrajhttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Talk:Knanaya&diff=261836162Talk:Knanaya2009-01-04T05:27:55Z<p>Zubinraj: /* Inconsistent usage of AD or CE */</p>
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==CopyVio==<br />
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I've listed this article as copyvio because recently a lot of CV content may have been added in complex edits. I cannot distinguish what is and what isn't myself, and I don't want to revert all of the user's edits because not all of them are CV's, so I'm asking this to be reviewed. <span style="background-color:#000000"><font color="white">(|--</font></span> <span style="background-color:#CCCCCC"><font color="red">'''UlT</font><font color="green">i</font><font color="blue">MuS'''</font> <font color="black"><sup>( [[User:Ultimus|U]] • [[User_talk:Ultimus|T]] • [[Special:Contributions/Ultimus|C]] | [[User:Ultimus/Templates/Message|M]] • [[Special:Emailuser/Ultimus|E]] ) </sup></font></span> 07:06, 20 July 2006 (UTC)<br />
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<b>The copyvio edits have been reverted </b>. Instead of putting the entire works of several editors over the years under copyvio. It is better and fair to remove copyvio when vandals add them. otherwise many sincere wikipedia editors will be driven away from wikipedia due to hurt, despite sincere efforts over the years [[User:Robin klein|Robin klein]] 16:39, 20 July 2006 (UTC)<br />
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==Articles are not to be merged==<br />
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The article [[Syrian Malabar Nasrani]] deals with the Nasrani people of [[Kerala]] as an ethnic people. The article [[Knanaya]] deals with a subgroup within that community. It is therefore essential to have separate pages for the topics of Syrian malabar nasrani and Knanaya, which are highly related. Besides it is [[wikipedia]] policy to create sub articles when there is lots of details within a subtopic. This has already been indicated with the main heading link given to the subpages. [[User:Robin klein|Robin klein]] 21:55, 5 November 2006 (UTC)<br />
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== Syrian Christians and Knananya are not jews ==<br />
This article claims Knanya are Jewish. They are only a sub group among the Syrian Christians of Kerala who themselves are migrants from Syria (Assyrian kingdom, Sassanian kingdom ) between 300 to 1200 AD. Ethnically the Assyrian people are different from Jews but are semitic and talk an Aramic tongue. The Assyrians are more closely related to Hittites and Mesopotomians. The Eastern Orthodox Church of Syrians, the Nestorian church is extinct after the Portuguese arrival.<br />
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== Knanya are of mixed Syrian and Portuguese mixed people ==<br />
After the Portuguese arrival the Syrian Christans of India adopted the faith of the Portuguese the Roman [[Catholicism]] and the [[Jacobite]] (Western)around 1550.In the earlier period they were under the Suzernity of the Patriarch of Babylon. Without intermixture with the Portuguese this could have never happenned (as rumoured in Kerala). The food habits of Knanya closely resemble Portuguese than any Jew (Beef and Pork which are shunned by Hindus as well as Muslims of India). Their churches are built in the Portuguese style (Kottayam to Pala road).Elite among them do look like Europeans and not Jewish. They may even have blood of Manichaen Persians who were not even Christians or Jewish.<br />
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== Mahadevar Pattinam was the Chera Capital not Syrians==<br />
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Kodungaloor became capital only in the 8th century ad and was the capital of the Later Chera Kingdom. In the Earlier [[Chera]] kingdoms Musirippatinam ([[musiris]])was a port City while the Capital was[[ Karur]] in Tamil Nadu. The old Tamil Sangha literature of Kerala never mentions the presence of Christians while there was numerous mentions of Greeks and Romans.Even if Christians were present in ancient Kerala they were living in the foreigners quarters talking alien tongues.<br />
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[[User:Kerindigen|Kerindigen]] ([[User talk:Kerindigen|talk]]) 14:50, 23 June 2008 (UTC)<br />
==Origins==<br />
The rticle says Knanaya people came from Eddessa (Which I believe to be correct) and now it says Kinai...Kinai? [[User:Rukyi|Rukyi]] 9:47, 1 January 2007 (UTC)<br />
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Originally Kinai (i.e. [[Cana]]) in the land of Israel.[[User:82.6.114.172|82.6.114.172]] 11:07, 28 June 2007 (UTC)<br />
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speaking of origins, did u know that hindu records show that these christians were actually converted after they were polluted by eating beef. certain Namboodirs and nairs went to some place, some 40 families or summat, and they ate meat there and hence were outcast. They accepted christianity but the other christians didnt marry em. sSO they became an endogamous group...tht is these christians...[[User:manu_rocks|Manu]]<br />
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What you mean by "these christians"?. [[Rukyi 00:43, 4 January 2007 (UTC)]]<br />
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He means the Nasrani. [[User:Manu_rocks]] is citing a derogatory Hindu tale about why the Knanaya keep to themselves. There are many such Hindu traditions against Jeish communities in India, though generally Hindus are polite enough not to re-iterate them and keep them alive. Eating beef might make Indian Jews seem polluted to Hidu's but not to anyone else Manu, so the sneer has no value for anyone outside of Indian culture.[[User:82.6.114.172|82.6.114.172]] 11:12, 28 June 2007 (UTC)<br />
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The most common and historical name for this community is *Thekkumbagar*, which is Malayalam for 'Southists'. The name 'knanaya' is a 20th century invention by the Southist Jacobites. It later gained popularity among the Southist Catholics too. Therefore, this name doesn't have any historical significance as mentioned in this article. [[User:Malabari|Malabari]] 09:37, 8 June 2007 (UTC)Malabari<br />
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==What are the Jewish traditions followed only by the Knanayas?==<br />
It's often repeated in several articles that the Knanayas have preserved more Jewish traditions than the rest of the Nasranis. I can't remember any. In fact, Knanaya Jacobites don't even have the tradition of Pesaha Appam that is followed by most Nasranis including Knanaya Catholics. <br />
Therefore, the tradition of the Pesaha cannot be counted as a surviving Knanaya tradition as almost half the Knanayas don't follow it. It however, is a general Nasrani tradition. <br />
I posted this question at the Nasrani page but got no answer. Hence, I am repeating it here. Any replies? [[User:Malabari|Malabari]] 07:48, 24 May 2007 (UTC)Malabari<br />
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Candle lighting on Friday nights is one. Please do not be beligerent against those Knanaya who are proud of their Jewish origins. Of course the majority went along with the changes imposed after the portuguese arrived, but the vast majority are simply concerned with preserving the ethnicity rather than keep up religious practices be they persecuted Jewish traditions or dying Nasrani Christian ones.[[User:82.6.114.172|82.6.114.172]] 11:03, 28 June 2007 (UTC)<br />
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Where do we accommodate these facts. Unless more authentic information is fed to this site, any average individual with normal intelligence would seek some other sites to get real info. <br />
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'''Beef eating Brahmin? A paradox.'''<br />
The ancient beef eating community, prior to the arrival of Christianity, was Parayas (Candalas) of Keralam. Tradition says that the Parayas were a noble class of ancient Keralam. Legend says that they were sons of Saint Vasista. Their craze for beef led to the ostracism by the rest jatis in the deluge of time. Above all, because of their beef eating habit, the later arrived Nambootiries (Brahmins) did a lot to seclude them from the Hindu main stream. Even though these stories bear no historicity, it can give some hints on the process of societal polarization.<br />
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'''Priests'''<br />
The high priests of the traditional Parayas are called Kaikaran. It is interesting to see that the trustee/prasuventi of Syrian church is still known/identified in the land as Kaikaran. Why did a savarna origin Syrian Christian not go for a savarna term like Kalakakaran or Adhikari instead of a subaltern terminology? No doubt, this trustee of the Syrian church (kaikaran) is always hailing from aristocratic Syrian Christian family circle/taravadu of the respective parish.<br />
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'''Are the people of Canaan white complexioned or not?'''<br />
It is the general belief of the Kananaya Syrian Christians that their ancestors had migrated to Keralam in the fourth century CE. They did not freely mix with the Saint Thomas Syrian Christians. An exclusive community and by custom avoided intermarriage with the local Christians. They are still maintaining a social seclusion by practicing endogamy. Those who go against the practice of endogamy may be subjected to the wrath of the society in the form of ostracism or more. The practice of endogamy, no doubt, aimed at maintaining their racial purity. Unfortunately, the Kananaya Syrian Christian communities have no Canaanite or Syrian look but most of them are either of black or brownish complexion and look like an ordinary Keralite. This anthropological aspect may raise serious doubts regarding their Middle East or Canaan origin. Contrary to this Jew experience, after a long stay of more than 2000 years in Keralam, the Jews returned to their homeland, Israel, both in colour and culture as Jews. <br />
Primitive burial practices.<br />
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'''Death of Spiritual Heads'''<br />
When the head of the Paraya (Candala) community is dead, as per the customary jati law they bury the corpus of the deceased head (moopan) in sitting posture instead of the usual practice of keeping the dead body in lying position. The Kananaya and Saint Thomas Syrian Jacobite/Orthodox factions of Kerala Christians are the only communities other than the Parayas (Candalas) to bury the corpse of their bishops (spiritual head) in the manner of the Paraya moopans of old. No other Christian factions neither upheld nor practiced such a burial system. This burial pattern suggests a very strong socio-cultural or anthropological relation between both communities, which lost their link elsewhere in the deluge of history.<br />
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'''Primitive rituals.'''<br />
Before the arrival of the British missionaries, the Syrian Christians of Keralam maintained the ritual of offering obsequies for the souls of the dead ancestors as that of the practice of Parayas (Candalas). After the Portuguese Catholic interlude the Syrian Catholics transformed this practice into a more refined form that is of Office/Holy-Mass. The obsequies for the dead ancestors contained blood, flesh and intoxicating drinks. The British missionaries through their helping mission programme forcefully removed most of the primitive rituals in their socio-religious space. Before the English missionary interaction, Syrian Christians on the occasion of marriages, as a social custom, ritually used the intoxicants/tobacco. Such rituals associated with marriages are still maintained by a few of the certain jatis (castes) like Parayas, Pulayas, Vetas, Vannan, etc of Keralam.<br />
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'''Syrian Christian a tribal culture in its true sense.'''<br />
It is said so, that the Kananaya Christian migration to Keralam took place in the year 345 CE under the leadership of a Persian merchant named Thomas. At the time of his arrival here at Kodungalloor, a port city and capital of Cera kingdom, he met the ruling monarch (there is no consensus amongst the Kananayas regarding the name and other details of the ruler of Keralam who seated at Kodungalloor in 345 CE) who granted 72 social prerogatives to his community in Keralam through a Copper Plate Grant(Kanai Thomman Cheppedu). However, one thing is very clear. While we scrutinize the content of the said 72 prerogatives we find that the jatis of Keralam like the Pulayas, Parayas, etc had been enjoying most of them for centuries. Therefore there is nothing extraordinary in this said Copper Plate Grant. It is very clear that this seventy-two prerogatives claimed by the Kananaya Christians are the sum total of the privileges enjoyed by various jaties of Keralam. So the Kananaya Syrian Christians, as they claim, are neither a monolithic social formation nor a foreign race exclusive.<br />
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Among the 72 prerogatives, some are later additions. A few of such later additions are the right to the use of Nettoor Box (a box manufactured at a place called Nettoor with coral tree wood Erythrina Indica and beautifully coloured, was usually used in rich and aristocratic family circles/taravads of medieval Keralam31), swinging cot, gate and gatehouse/padippura, granary, palanquin, etc. All these became symbols of aristocracy only after the ninth century CE. It is seen that prior to the ninth century the technology of carpentry (tacusastram) was not familiar to the people of Keralam, is an accepted truth. Above all the Kanai Thomman Cheppedu (Copper Plate Grant to Thomas of Canaan) 345 CE has no historical soundness and the text of the document at present in circulation is a fictitious one intended to justify their savarna origin. Till about 800 AD Kerala was almost a part of Tamilakaom and the language of the region was Tamil with its own peculiar local characterstics. The language of the fourth century CE Copper Plate Grant is the Malayalam of late medieval period. Malayalam became a transactional language only in the nineteenth century. Before that all documents of Keralam were prepared in the language of Tamil with Granthashram or Vettezhuthu script33. Above all the original document is not traceable either. While taking all these aspects into consideration one is led to believe that the stories centering on the Copper Plate Grant is an imaginary one.<br />
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The marriage ceremony of the Kananaya Syrian Christians, a further indication in this way of enquiry, contained numerous formal procedures and rituals that were alien to Christians all over. Some of such ritualistic observances in association with marriages that still exists amongst the Kananaya Syrian Christians of Keralam are the hair cutting custom, henna application ceremony, the ritual of ash tying, the customary practice of nadavili, the customary rite of thalakettu, etc. They are the real facsimile of the customary practices, through centuries, of the subaltern jaties such as Vathies, Velans, Vannanas, Vetas, and Parayas. Furthermore, since the very beginning of Kananaya Syrian Christian history intoxicating drinks has been an unavoidable item of the feast of their marriages. This traditional practice of serving intoxicating drinks by Kananaya Syrian Christians on the auspicious occasions is the replica of the above-mentioned subaltern jaties of Keralam in the bygone days. While considering all the above particulars, along with the omission of Kananaya Syrian Christians from the purview of the Protestant Christian Missionary reformist enterprises altogether kept the uniqueness of these section without any defacement, point to the conclusion that Kananaya Syrian Christians are the hodgepodges of subaltern jatis and a few alien elements as in the case of Anglo-Indians. In short, we can arrive at the point that anthropologically the Kananaya Syrian Christians of Keralam have no racial purity and genetically they are constituted neither by complete foreign essentials nor by savarna jati exclusive of Keralam.<br />
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Except Syrian Catholics and most of the Protestant Christians, almost all Syrian sections of Keralam rings a bell at the climax of their Holy Mass/Communion, the same is not much different from the sound of a Velichappadu's (Temple Oracle's) jingling bells worn around his waist. Most of the vanavasis of Keralam use a similar bell at the climax of their poojas (ceremonial offering to gods). Some jatis of ancient Keralam, who specialised in witchcraft, were also use similar kind of bells in their magical exercises. That they were using these bells to produce sound at the climax of their magical exercises and doing it at the same symphony as Syrian Christians do it in their Holy Mass is a noteworthy similarity. Without any hesitation, on the basis of the aforementioned traits we can arrive at a point of conclusion that the Syrian Christians are a hodgepodge of avarna jatis and not the descendents of Nambootiries converted to Christianity. [[User:BGfromNZ|BGfromNZ]] ([[User talk:BGfromNZ|talk]]) 04:04, 13 February 2008 (UTC)<br />
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==Languages spoken by Knanayas?==<br />
I am surprised to find Hebrew in the list of languages spoken by Knanayas. It is vandalism. <br />
Also, why is 'knanaya' written in Arabic script in the introduction? What role does Arabic script have in Knanaya history? [[User:Malabari|Malabari]] 07:48, 24 May 2007 (UTC)Malabari<br />
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A Majority of the Knanayas today speak Malayalam.<br />
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Arab ethnographers wrote about the Knanaya, so the Arabic spelling is a useful reference to independent sources about the ethnicity. Some Knanaya are learning about their Jewish roots on courses being run in Israel, hence Hebrew is being spoken by such Knanaya, and it is not vandalism. [[User:82.6.114.172|82.6.114.172]] 11:06, 28 June 2007 (UTC)<br />
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Knanayas ROCK!!<br />
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I agree wholeheartedly [[User:70.156.210.219]]. I would just like to point out a few problems with this page. <br />
:1)Although it has been a redirect from the (Arch)Diocese of Kottayam, the article includes mention of both [[Syro-Malankar]] and Nasrani/[[Syro-Malabar]] branches of [[Syriac Christianity]].<br />
:2)The same people are called [[Meyuhassim]] or Malabari Jews, and their relatives who have chosen to revert their faith to pure Halakhic Orthodox Judaism are called Cochin Jews. Altogether they form one branch of the Kerala Jews divided on issues of belief in Jesus and skin-color from other Kerala Jews. At the same time they practice Endogamy and prefer to marry each other regardless of faith and never marry non-Meyuhassim, though they have married [[Meshuhararim]].<br />
:3)Their language is [[Judeo-Malayalam]] regardless of whether their faith is Syriac Christian or more Jewish.<br />
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I think because of the complex nature of this ethnicity it needs a project I would like to propose a Mehuyassim project it will cross over the divisions of this unique Judeo-Christo-Malayalam culture and clear up misunderstandings.<br />
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[[User:Zestauferov|Zestauferov]] 12:20, 16 December 2005 (UTC)<br />
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Hello, I would actually like to learn more about the inquistion of the Cochin Jews.<br />
I'm by no means an expert, but I'd think, that [[Syrian Malabar Nasrani|Nasrani]] should either be merged with [[Saint Thomas Christians]] or with [[Knanaya]]. --[[User:Pjacobi|Pjacobi]] 23:18, 2005 May 11 (UTC)<br />
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<b>Nasrani as an Ethnic community<b><br />
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You stated that the pages [[Syrian Malabar Nasrani|Nasrani]], [[Saint Thomas Christians]] or [[Knanaya]] should be merged.<br />
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'''No''', it would be erroneous to do that. The article [[Saint Thomas Christians]] deals with the [[Syrian Malabar Nasrani|Nasrani people]] of [[Kerala]] as a religious group and seeks to describe its religious denominations and other related aspects. While the article Nasrani deals with the Nasrani people of Kerala as an [[Ethnic|ethnic people]]. (infact see the category in which the article ''Nasrani'' is listed at the end of that article).<br />
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In the same way that there is a significant difference between [[Jew]] and [[Judaism]], there is a difference between [[Syrian Malabar Nasrani|Nasrani]] and [[Saint Thomas Christians]]. Jew deals with the entire ethnic community of the people of Jewish heritage and descent, or those people born of a Jewish mother. But Judaism is the religion followed by the ethnic community of Jewish people. The two concepts do highly overlap and are related but nevertheless they are independent in basic aspects and is treated as different. <br />
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In like manner, the nasranis is an ethnic community and in that sense a single community. However the ethnic community has various denominations as a result of the portuguese [[persecution]]. As an ethnic community they refer to themselves as Nasranis refering to the common cultural heritage and cultural tradition. However as a religious group they refer to themselves as the ''Mar Thoma Khristianis'' or in english as ''Saint Thomas Christians'' refering to the various and diverse [[[denomination]]s between them in terms of their religious tradition, despite a common ancestory of being the descendants of the early ''Mar Thoma church'' or Saint Thomas tradition of [[christianity]]. <br />
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The [[Knanaya]] people on the other hand is another denomination within the ''Mar Thoma church'' also called as (Mar Thoma khristiani) meaning [[Saint Thomas Christians]]. However they are a distinct community within the Nasrani ethnic group. Because of their long [[endogamy|endogamous]] tradition.<br />
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This aspect is already written in the first paragraph of both the articles. Please read them carefully. Else this article would have been merged long back. The article Nasrani deals with the traditions of the nasrani community as an ethnic people and their present life (which has to be expanded). [[User:Robin klein|Robin klein]] 04:31, 12 May 2005 (UTC)<br />
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== Inconsistent usage of AD or CE ==<br />
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Noted that the article uses both forms to express dates. Suggest this hould be rationalised --[[User:Dvavasour|Dunstan]] 13:15, 28 March 2006 (UTC)<br />
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I object to the Bias of this page. We Knanaya are not all Christians, only the Nasrani among us are Christians. Can you please tone down the overtly Christian propaganda on this page and focus more on us as an ethnic group. Thankyou.[[User:81.154.38.43|81.154.38.43]] 14:13, 30 March 2006 (UTC)<br />
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Its really sad that you have'nt took any refrence from the books writen by one of the greatest historian E.M.Philip which sems to be more reliable.<br />
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Update: I agree, anybody who is contributing to this article, should be first reading the books of E.M. Philip.<br />
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=This article needs complete correction? Added POV tag ?=<br />
:A.History is written like story.We need some facts information.None of the information written has any proff.Even hostorians differ on the year.It can be anytime from 300 to 800 AD.<br />
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:B.All wikipedia has lot of repetitions about Knanaya retaining Jewish traditions.I dont know about a single Jewish tradition Knanaya follow more than the Nasrani's.If there is nothing other than included in Syrian Malabar Nasrani traditions please remove the repetitive sections from this article as Knanaya are part of the community.<br />
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:C.Many historians has written about the mixing of Knanaya with Veluthodathi and Chetty's and Manichainas.Those views are not represented in the article.<br />
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:D.Marthoma Sleeba is not Knanaya symbol, its a common heritage of Nasrani's<br />
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:E.Knanaya Copper Plates- No body has seen it and there are many contradicting versions of it circulating claiming Knanaya Copper Plates but actaully the Plates awarded to [[Mar Sapor Iso]].<br />
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:F.First time hearing about Knanaya hindus.What are they ?<br />
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[[User:Kevin|Kevin]] 07:48, 26 May 2007 (UTC)<br />
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I agree, the article makes too much mix up between Knanaya people and the Nasrani christians as a whole. It needs massive pruning if it is going to be a useful encyclopaedic entry on the Knanaya ethnicity. (I don't see how Knanaya could fit into the Hindu cast system either). [[User:82.6.114.172|82.6.114.172]] 11:30, 28 June 2007 (UTC)<br />
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==Please give due respect to facts and re-write this article with a neutral point of view (NPOV) according to Wikipedia’s guidelines. ==<br />
There are too many errors and headless statements in this article. <br />
Please go through the various questions and comments that readers have and try to answer them. <br />
Thanks. [[User:Malabari|Malabari]] 06:28, 30 May 2007 (UTC)Malabari <br />
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== Non-Christian Knanayas? ==<br />
Can anyone prove or give reliable evidence about the existence of any non-Christian Knanayas? Knanayas are usually Catholic or Jacobite. A Knanaya loses his or her identity once he or she converts to a non-Christian religion. Therefore, the question of Hindu or Jewish Knanayas does not even arise. <br />
[[User:Malabari|Malabari]] 07:58, 24 May 2007 (UTC)Malabari<br />
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With all due respect to [[User:Malabari]], I do not want to upset your beliefs, but there are plenty of agnostic and atheistic Knanaya who preserve the endagamous tradition. Please don't mix Nasrani up with the Knanaya ethnicity. [[User:82.6.114.172|82.6.114.172]] 10:58, 28 June 2007 (UTC)<br />
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There are many non-christian Knanaya people. Knanaya is an ethnicity not a religon.<br />
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==Massive Christian POV Bias==<br />
I kind of object to the massive Christian bias in this article. Knanaya are an important endagamous ethnic group of Israelite origins, many of whom practise Nasrani christianity, but not all Knanaya are Christian at all! In fact many are interested in their Jewish heritage and there is even a school in Israel where they can learn about this. Can we make this article more about the Ethnicity and less about religion please?[[User:82.6.114.172|82.6.114.172]] 10:34, 28 June 2007 (UTC)<br />
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Totally agree. Not all Knanaya are Christian.<br />
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=This is Fiction=<br />
All artilce is written as a fiction.There is no credible referance for anything.<br />
Can some one re write this article or better delete it.<br />
There is no ethinicity called Knanya. This all picece looks like the work of a fanatic.[[User:65.218.154.227]]<br />
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I agree with much of what you wrote, but what do you mean by there is no ethnicity called Knanaya?[[User:82.6.114.172|82.6.114.172]] 21:22, 16 July 2007 (UTC)<br />
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The article needs a MAJOR re-write, for factuality, language...pretty much everything. The group exists, yes, but this article doesn't give any semblance of a correct view of what they are.[[User:CharlesMartel|CharlesMartel]] ([[User talk:CharlesMartel|talk]]) 17:46, 28 December 2007 (UTC)CharlesMartel<br />
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== Are Knanayas ethnically entirely composed of Jewish settlers due to their endogamity? ==<br />
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This article seems to suggest the title, although based on phenotypes, my experience is that they resemble the communities all around them and other Nasrani. <br />
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Also I wanted to enquire who the people on the infobox image are.[[User:B Nambiar|Nambo]] ([[User talk:B Nambiar|talk]]) 02:20, 4 February 2008 (UTC)<br />
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== Requires Clean Up==<br />
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This article requires clean up as its very much distorted. I invite the community members to provide suggestions.<br />
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[[User:Tarijanel|Tarijanel]] ([[User talk:Tarijanel|talk]]) 08:26, 10 May 2008 (UTC)<br />
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== POV ==<br />
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Debates within topics are clearly described, represented and characterized since July 2007, but not engaged in. [[User:Gocart|Gocart]] ([[User talk:Gocart|talk]]) 21:52, 10 May 2008 (UTC)<br />
== POV Removal with out cleaning==<br />
Below text from an unknown editor has been removed with out any discussion by another editor.<br />
The debate on the talk page about the content of the article is not taken in to consideration by any editors. <br />
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Please dont remove the POV with out cleaning the article.<br />
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[[User:Gocart|Gocart]] ([[User talk:Gocart|talk]]) 04:38, 21 May 2008 (UTC)<br />
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== Discussion==<br />
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Legendary accounts aside, genetic evidence seems to indicate a non-Jewish origin for the Knanaya. Reports from historians (e.g., W. Germann in 1872) report a community of Manichaeans living alongside the Nasrani community as far back as the 15th century. These Manichaeans were kept outside of the community by the Nasranis (the non-Knanaya Christians). Under Nestorians and Portuguese influence, the Manichaean side-community were slowly converted to mainstream Christianity; however, they were still kept outside of the Nasrani community by the caste-conscious conservative Nasranis. This community of outsiders were the ancestors of the Knanaya. With time, the Knanaya slowly developed new mythological accounts to explain their origins (in more positive terms), including descent from Thomas of Kana. Initially, the Nasranis disputed such legendary accounts (since the Nasranis also claim descent from Thomas of Kana); however, in the last century, this resistance has waned as the Syrian Christians focussed on a variety of other internal disputes. <br />
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- It should be noted that the Jewish-origin claims of the Knanaya have very little justification in fact: the Syrian Christian community, in general, follows similar customs that originate from the ancient Jewish communities in Malabar. Often, the adherence to old Jewish customs among the Syrian Christians in Kerala is a function of geographical location and not membership to either the Nasrani or the Knanaya communities; Syrian Christians from more conservative areas (both Knanaya and Nasrani) tend to follow the customs more rigorously than Syrian Christians from more cosmopolitan areas. Hence, the presence of Jewish customs among the Knanaya only points to their religious integration within the larger Nasrani community, and not to a genetic Jewish origin. <br />
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- Moreover the mainstream Nasranis (i.e., the non-Knanaya Syrian Christians) have verifiable genetic claims of Cohen and Jewish/Semitic ancestry. The Knanaya have thus far failed to demonstrate any positive genetic evidence to support their claim as being an "endogamous Jewish community." Finally, the Syrian Christians are also known to be endogamous, often marrying only within the Syrian Christian community and excluding the Knanaya from such unions (with equal rigor)---endogamy in and of itself points to nothing other than the caste-based exclusion which both the Nasranis and the Knanaya have practiced for centuries.<br />
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== Majority Population==<br />
What is the source of Majority Population Israel ?<br />
[[User:Gocart|Gocart]] ([[User talk:Gocart|talk]]) 04:52, 21 May 2008 (UTC)<br />
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== Jewish identity ==<br />
The Knanaya Catholics and their Jewish identity have been acknowledged by the Vatican under Pope Pius X, by instituting in 1911 a diocese only for the Jewish Christians (Syrian-catholic) of Kerala. [7] This diocese is called the Arch Diocese of Kottayam and is in the district of Kottayam in Kerala. [7]<br />
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This is gross misrepresentaion and forgery. There is no mention of anything in the order for diocese creation. The new diocese is created by power politics. Provide sources[[User:Gocart|Gocart]] ([[User talk:Gocart|talk]]) 04:55, 21 May 2008 (UTC)<br />
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===jewish identity is acknowledged by the vatican===<br />
[[User:Gocart|Gocart]], you have moved page even though all the established works on the knanaya refers to the community as Knanaya. the references have been provided. The text by the anonymous writer does not have any references they are just pov statements as are yours. besides your user name was created 2 days before the anonymous post, and you added the pov tag after the anonymous post.<br />
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besides the latin text of [[Pope Pius X]] at the erection of the Knanaya Kottayam diocese is "In Universi Cristiani" (Latin Text of the Papal erection of the Knanaya Diocese of Kottayam) It mentions the Knanaya people as Jewish. Which is why a separate diocese as Jewish tradition within the Nasrani christian jewish tradition of Syro malabar church was allowed in 1911. [[User:Vagab|Vagab]] ([[User talk:Vagab|talk]]) 19:35, 21 May 2008 (UTC)<br />
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==Re -naming and re writing of article==<br />
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Tekkumbhagasamudayam Charitram by Chazikadan names the community as Tekkumbhagar. This article should be renamed to Tekkumbhagar.<br />
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[[User:Gocart|Gocart]] ([[User talk:Gocart|talk]]) 05:03, 21 May 2008 (UTC)<br />
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==reverting pov edit==<br />
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[[User:Gocart|Gocart]], you have moved page even though all the established works on the knanaya refers to the community as Knanaya. the references have been provided. The text by the anonymous writer does not have any references they are just pov statements as are yours. besides your user name was created 2 days before the anonymous post, and you added the pov tag after the anonymous post.<br />
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Besides the latin text of [[Pope Pius X]] at the erection of the Knanaya Kottayam diocese is "In Universi Cristiani" (Latin Text of the Papal erection of the Knanaya Diocese of Kottayam). It mentions the Knanaya people as Jewish. Which is why a separate diocese as Jewish tradition within the Nasrani christian jewish tradition of Syro malabar church was allowed in 1911. [[User:Vagab|Vagab]] ([[User talk:Vagab|talk]]) 19:33, 21 May 2008 (UTC)<br />
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== Very well written ==<br />
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This is a very well written article about knanayas. I find it very fare and unbiased. <small>—Preceding [[Wikipedia:Signatures|unsigned]] comment added by [[Special:Contributions/67.175.2.238|67.175.2.238]] ([[User talk:67.175.2.238|talk]]) 21:26, 30 July 2008 (UTC)</small><!-- Template:UnsignedIP --> <!--Autosigned by SineBot--><br />
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== Misleading Masada quote. ==<br />
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The following misleading and tendentious tie-in with [[Masada]] was removed:<br />
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:In 70 CE, hundreds of Kanahi evaded capture from the Romans and took shelter in the fortress at [[Masada]]. In 72 CE, after a two year siege, 960 Kanahi unwilling to give up to the Romans killed themselves before the Romans could capture them. This act of martyrdom is still commemorated in Israel.<br />
<br />
The Jews of Masada were not known as having any connection to later Christian sects, regardsless of that group's claims. [[User:IZAK|IZAK]] ([[User talk:IZAK|talk]]) 07:26, 16 September 2008 (UTC)</div>Zubinrajhttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Knanaya&diff=261834751Knanaya2009-01-04T05:17:31Z<p>Zubinraj: /* History */</p>
<hr />
<div><gallery><br />
<br />
</gallery>{{Main|Syrian Malabar Nasrani}}<br />
[[Image:Nasrani menorah.JPG|thumbnail|left|125px|The [[Nasrani Menorah|Nasrani Menorah]] also known as the Mar Thoma sliba]]<br />
<br />
{{Ethnic group<br />
|image=[[Image:Knanaya_people.PNG|250px]]<br />
|caption=[[Mor Joseph of Urfa]] • Mar Thomas Tharayil • [[Mar Mathew Makil]] • <br />
[[Knai Thomman]] • Most Rev. Dr. Abraham Viruthakulangara • [[Eliza Joseph]]<br />
|group=Knanaya<br />
|poptime=2001: (approx) '''252,600'''<br />
|popplace=<span style="font-size:105%;">'''Majority Population:'''<br />
{{IND}} <br><br />
'''Significant Populations:'''<br><br />
{{USA}}<br><br />
{{ISR}}<ref name="Knanaya's in Israel">{{cite web|title=Knanaya's Around the World|work=Knanaya's of Israel |url=http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1204473063867&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull|accessdaymonth=3 March |accessyear=2008}}</ref><br />
<br><br />
{{AUT}}<ref name="viennakna<br />
">{{cite web|url=http://www.viennaknas.com/|title=ViennaKnas.com|accessdaymonth=1 January |accessyear=2009}}</ref><br><br />
{{SUI}}<ref name="swisskna<br />
">{{cite web|url=http://swisskna.com/|title=Swisskna.com|accessdaymonth=1 January |accessyear=2009}}</ref><br><br />
{{BHR}}<br><br />
{{GBR}}<br><br />
|langs=[[Malayalam]], [[English language|English]], [[Hebrew]].<br />
|rels=Majority [[Jewish Christian]]<br />
|related=Knanaya peoples:<br />
*[[Saint Thomas Christians]]<br />
*[[Nasrani]]<br />
*[[Syrian Malabar Nasrani]]<br />
*[[Jewish Christians]] <br />
See also: [[Dravidian people]] [[Semitic people]]<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''Knanaya''' (Heb:קנאים, Malayalam: ക്നാനായ, Ar:قينان), literally meaning "Knai people", are an Christian people of early [[endogamous]] [[Jewish]] descent from [[Kerala]], [[India]].<ref name = Menachery>Menachery G. 1973, 1998; Vellian Jacob 2001; Weil,S. 1982; Podipara, Placid J. 1970</ref> Their heritage and culture is syriac-[[Keralite]], their language [[Malayalam]]. <ref name = Menachery>Menachery G. 1973, 1998; Vellian Jacob 2001; Weil,S. 1982; Podipara, Placid J. 1970</ref> Their loyalties are with the [[Syrian Malabar Nasrani|Nasrani]] community of [[Syriac Christian]]s from Kerala. <ref name = Menachery>Menachery G. 1973, 1998; Vellian Jacob 2001; Weil,S. 1982; Podipara, Placid J. 1970</ref><br />
<br />
==History==<br />
<br />
The Knanayas (قنانيا)(short form-"kna") are the descendants of 72 Syro-Aramaic families who migrated from [[Edessa, Mesopotamia|Edessa]], [[Turkey]], [[Israel]] and [[Syria]]<ref name = New York Times>http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/24/nyregion/24church.html?em</ref> the first city state that embraced Christianity in the Roman Empire, to [[Malabar coast]] in AD 345, under the leadership of a prominent merchant [[Knai Thomman]] (قناي تامن)(in English, Thomas the Zealot).<ref name = Hough>Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Weil,S. 1982; James Hough 1893; Thomas Puthiakunnel 1973; Vellian Jacob 2001; Koder S. 1973</ref> They built a town in Kodungalloor with a church and 72 houses. The natives called it Mahadevar Pattanam (محاديفر پتنم) meaning "town of superiors". <br />
<br />
After Mar Joseph (مار جوسف) had a startling dream in which he saw the plight of the Christian church in Malabar (ملابار) established by St. Thomas, the Apostle, in the first Century. They consisted of 400 Christians from 72 families of various Syriac-Christian clans. Included in the group was a [[Syrian Orthodox Church|Syriac Orthodox Bishop]] (Mor Joseph of Urfa), Bishops and deacons. With instructions from the Patriarch of Antioch, they sailed in three ships headed by a leading ship with the flag of King [[David]]. The Syriac-Christians were granted permission to engage in trade and settle down in [[Kodungallur]] by the then ruler of [[Malabar Coast|Malabar]], [[Cheraman Perumal]].<ref name = Hough>Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Weil,S. 1982; James Hough 1893; Thomas Puthiakunnel 1973; Vellian Jacob 2001; Koder S. 1973</ref> The event has been recorded on copper plates given to the community.<ref name = Hough>Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Weil,S. 1982; James Hough 1893; Thomas Puthiakunnel 1973; Vellian Jacob 2001; Koder S. 1973</ref><br />
<br />
Before the arrival of the people, the early Nasrani (نزاريون) people in the Malabar coast included native Indian converts and converted Jewish people who had settled in Kerala during the [[Babylonian exile]] and after.<ref name = Puthiakunnel>Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Weil,S. 1982; Thomas Puthiakunnel 1973; & Koder S. 1973</ref> They came mostly from the Northern [[Kingdom of Israel]]. According to tradition, Knanayites are also known as Southists (''Thekkumbhagar'' in Malayalam) as they hailed from the southern province of Israel known in the Old Testament as the [[Kingdom of Judah]]. The distinction between the northern heavily exogamous Samarians and the southern zealously endagamous tribes of Judea led to the difference among the non-Knanaya Nasranis as Northists and the Knanaya as Southists. The Knanaya ([[Kanahi]] people) continue to remain an endogamous group also within the Nasrani community.<ref name = Puthiakunnel>Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Weil,S. 1982; Thomas Puthiakunnel 1973; & Koder S. 1973</ref><br />
<br />
The term known as ''Kanai'' or ''Q'nai'', (קנאי singular form of Kanahim/קנאים) means "Jealous ones for God". It is claimed that the K'nai people are the biblical Aaronites referred to as Kanahi (overly jealous and with zeal), who came to [[Sheba|Saba]] around 135AD from the southern province of Judea (whence the derives the term southists). They were deeply against the [[Roman Empire|Roman]] rule of Israel and fought against the Romans. Many of Jesus' followers had names typical among freedom fighters such as Zealot (Simon Cana), Daggerman (Judas Iscariot), Rock (Simon Peter), Thunderson (James & John) etc.. After the crucifixion of Jesus by the Romans in 33 CE, the Knanaya intensified their struggle against the Roman rule.<br />
<br />
In 345 CE a small group of K'nanaim merchants travelled to the Jewish trade posts at Kodungallur in Kerala and settled there. Their descendants are today known in Kerala as ''Knanaya Nasranis''.<ref name = Poomangalam>Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Weil, S. 1982; Poomangalam C.A 1998; Thomas Puthiakunnel 1973; Vellian Jacob 2001; Koder S. 1973</ref><br />
<br />
==Persecution by Portuguese==<br />
{{main|Portuguese Inquisition}}<br />
The ''Nasranis'', who were, until then, the "living fossils" of the Christian tradition, lost their very defining ethos.<ref name= "CBuchanan>Claudius Buchanan, 1811</ref> The only Nasranis who managed to preserve some elements of their earlier origin were the Knanaya people, because of their tradition of being [[endogamy|endogamous]] within their own community and therefore preserving their tradition.<ref name= "Poomangalam">Weil, S. 1982; Jessay, P.M. 1986 Vellian Jacob 2001; Poomangalam C.A 1998</ref> An Imperial Order was passed to confiscate and sell under public auction the properties of those who celebrated Passover. It was perhaps because of this Order that the Knanaites celebrate Passover in a very private manner without inviting any Christian friend for sharing the Holy Meal.<ref>http://knanaya.weebly.com/who-is-a-knanaite.html</ref><br />
<br />
==Contemporary Knanaya==<br />
<br />
[[Image:Kottayam Valia Palli02.jpg|thumb|300px|left|Inside a Knanaya Church in Thazhathangadi, Kottayam]]<ref name = Koder>Weil,S. 1982; Jessay, P.M. 1986; Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Thomas Puthiakunnel 1973; Vellian Jacob 2001; Koder S. 1973; Vellian, J 1988</ref> Kna people are strictly endagamous and no one may convert to join the Kna people although marrying out is an increasing concern for the community. The Knanaya and other Nasranis as a whole maintained close relationship with the Jews of Kerala, (known today as [[Cochin Jews]]) until the [[Portugal|Portuguese]] inquisition of the Jews and Nasranis in the early 1500s. <ref name = Koder>Weil,S. 1982; Jessay, P.M. 1986; Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Thomas Puthiakunnel 1973; Vellian Jacob 2001; Koder S. 1973; Vellian, J 1988</ref> Kna people are also the victims of increasing missionary efforts not only from Protestant groups ecouraging them to give up on their Syrian-Christian customs and traditions, but also from some Jewish groups. They descend from 72 priestly families descended from the same [[desposyni]] that Thomas Jude belonged to. the number 72 has a significance for the 72 nations of the world and each of the 72 families have their own unique family rule. <br />
<br />
Although grape produce is now consumed as a result of Portuguese influence, this was originally not the case among the Knanaya people. The tradition is preserved in the consumption of ''Pesaha pal'' (passover coconut milk) instead of wine on the night of [[passover]] along with ''Pesaha-appam'' (unleavened passover bread). <ref name = Koder>Weil,S. 1982; Jessay, P.M. 1986; Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Thomas Puthiakunnel 1973; Vellian Jacob 2001; Koder S. 1973; Vellian, J 1988</ref> . This tradition of ''Pesaha appam'' is observed by the entire Nasrani people till this day. <ref name = Koder>Weil,S. 1982; Jessay, P.M. 1986; Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Thomas Puthiakunnel 1973; Vellian Jacob 2001; Koder S. 1973; Vellian, J 1988</ref> The bridal canopy or nuppah is part of the Knanaya wedding ceremony and there is aceremonial bathing on the eve of the wedding that is parallel to the Jewish mikrah. The dead are buried facing the east to Jerusalem. <ref name = Koder>Weil,S. 1982; Jessay, P.M. 1986; Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Thomas Puthiakunnel 1973; Vellian Jacob 2001; Koder S. 1973; Vellian, J 1988</ref> Thanksgiving blessings which the Knanaya people use which follow the Hebrew formula, Birkat HaMazon ברוך אתה ה' א‑לוהינו מלך העולם, המוציא לחם מן הארץ when initiating a Eucharistic Mass.<br />
<br />
==Knanaya community at present==<br />
[[Image:A Syro Malabar Catholic Knanaya Jewish Nasrani Church.JPG|thumbnail|left|An unvelied tabernacle of a Kna Jewish 'palli' or Temple with 12 candlesticks in the background for the 12 tribes of ancient Israel.]]<br />
<br />
The first belonging to the [[Syriac Orthodox Church]] in India and second to the [[Syro-Malabar Catholic Church]]. <ref name = Weil>Weil, S. 1982; Jessay, P.M. 1986; Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Vellian Jacob 2001</ref>. Knanaya are very much conscious about their origin and up until today safeguard their ethnic character by marrying people from within the community regardless of rite. A Knanaya Syriac Orthodox diocese, established in 1910, is administered by an [[archbishop]] who reports directly to the Patriarch of Antioch of the [[Syrian Orthodox Church]]. The Knanaya Catholics have been acknowledged by the [[Holy See|Vatican]] under [[Pope Pius X]], by instituting in 1911 a diocese only for the Syrian-catholic of Kerala. <ref name = Weil>Weil, S. 1982; Jessay, P.M. 1986; Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Vellian Jacob 2001</ref> This diocese is called the ''Arch Diocese of Kottayam'' and is in the district of [[Kottayam]] in Kerala. <ref name = Weil>Weil, S. 1982; Jessay, P.M. 1986; Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Vellian Jacob 2001</ref><br />
<br />
The approximate population of Knanaya people as of 2001: (divided by different denominations)<br />
<br />
*''Knanaya Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Christians'': 100,000<br />
*''Knanaya Syrian Malabar Catholic Christians'': 140,000<br />
In all over 250,000 Knanayas continue in the ancient [[Hebrews|Hebrew]]-Christian tradition.<br />
<br />
==See also==<br />
* [[Cochin Jews]]<br />
* [[Kanahi]]<br />
* [[Kenites]]<br />
* [[Masada]]<br />
* [[Saint Thomas Christians]]<br />
* [[Syrian Malabar Nasrani]]<br />
* [[Zealots]]<br />
* [[Syro-Malabar Catholic Church]]<br />
<br />
==Notes==<br />
{{reflist}}<br />
<br />
==References==<br />
* Menachery, G. (1973) ''The St. Thomas Christian Encyclopedia of India'', Ed. George Menachery, B.N.K. Press, vol. 2, ISBN 81-87132-06-X, Lib. Cong. Cat. Card. No. 73-905568 ; B.N.K. Press<br />
* Vellian, Jacob (2001) ''Knanite community: History and culture''; Syrian church series; vol.XVII; Jyothi Book House, Kottayam<br />
* "In Universi Cristiani" (Latin Text of the Papal erection of the Knanaya Diocese of Kottayam)<br />
* Puthiakunnel, Thomas. (1973) "Jewish colonies of India paved the way for St. Thomas", ''The Saint Thomas Christian Encyclopedia of India'', ed. George Menachery, Vol. II., Trichur.<br />
* Koder, S. (1973) "History of the Jews of Kerala".''The St. Thomas Christian Encyclopaedia of India'',Ed. G. Menachery.<br />
* Vellian, J (1988) Marriage Customs of the Knanites, Christian Orient, 9, Kottayam.<br />
* Weil, S. (1982) "Symmetry between Christians and Jews in India: The Cananite Christians and Cochin Jews in Kerala. in Contributions to Indian Sociology, 16.<br />
* Jessay, P.M. (1986) "The Wedding Songs of the Cochin Jews and of the Knanite Christians of Kerala: A Study in Comparison." Symposium.<br />
* James Hough (1893) "The History of Christianity in India".<br />
* Menachery, G (ed); (1998) "The Indian Church History Classics", Vol.I, ''The Nazranies'', Ollur, 1998. [ISBN 81-87133-05-8].<br />
* Poomangalam, C.A. (1998) ''The Antiquities of the Knanaya Syrian Christians''; Kottayam, Kerala.<br />
* Podipara, Placid J. (1970) "The Thomas Christians". London: Darton, Longman and Tidd.<br />
<br />
==External links==<br />
*[http://www.knanaya.net Knanaya finder]<br />
*[http://www.knaconvention.com Knanaya Jacobite Annual Convention]<br />
*[http://www.ananthapuri.com/kerala-history.asp?page=jew Jews of Kerala]<br />
*[http://www.ananthapuri.com/kerala-history.asp?page=christian Christians of Kerala]<br />
*[http://www.indianchristianity.com Indian Christianity]<br />
*[http://www.kottayamad.org/ Archdiocese of Kottayam]<br />
*[http://www.stjohnsputhenpally.org/ St.Johns Puthenpally Chingavanam]<br />
<br />
[[Category:Archdiocese of Changanassery]]<br />
[[Category:Kerala society]]<br />
[[Category:Knanaya Community| ]]<br />
[[Category:Malayali people]]<br />
[[Category:Saint Thomas Christians]]<br />
[[Category:Syro-Malabar Catholic Church]]<br />
[[Category:Jewish ethnic groups]]<br />
[[Category:Jewish Christians]]<br />
[[Category:Semitic peoples]]<br />
<br />
[[de:Knananiten]]<br />
[[fr:Knanayas]]<br />
[[mk:Кнанаја]]</div>Zubinrajhttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Knanaya&diff=261834087Knanaya2009-01-04T05:12:26Z<p>Zubinraj: /* Knanaya community at present */</p>
<hr />
<div><gallery><br />
<br />
</gallery>{{Main|Syrian Malabar Nasrani}}<br />
[[Image:Nasrani menorah.JPG|thumbnail|left|125px|The [[Nasrani Menorah|Nasrani Menorah]] also known as the Mar Thoma sliba]]<br />
<br />
{{Ethnic group<br />
|image=[[Image:Knanaya_people.PNG|250px]]<br />
|caption=[[Mor Joseph of Urfa]] • Mar Thomas Tharayil • [[Mar Mathew Makil]] • <br />
[[Knai Thomman]] • Most Rev. Dr. Abraham Viruthakulangara • [[Eliza Joseph]]<br />
|group=Knanaya<br />
|poptime=2001: (approx) '''252,600'''<br />
|popplace=<span style="font-size:105%;">'''Majority Population:'''<br />
{{IND}} <br><br />
'''Significant Populations:'''<br><br />
{{USA}}<br><br />
{{ISR}}<ref name="Knanaya's in Israel">{{cite web|title=Knanaya's Around the World|work=Knanaya's of Israel |url=http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1204473063867&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull|accessdaymonth=3 March |accessyear=2008}}</ref><br />
<br><br />
{{AUT}}<ref name="viennakna<br />
">{{cite web|url=http://www.viennaknas.com/|title=ViennaKnas.com|accessdaymonth=1 January |accessyear=2009}}</ref><br><br />
{{SUI}}<ref name="swisskna<br />
">{{cite web|url=http://swisskna.com/|title=Swisskna.com|accessdaymonth=1 January |accessyear=2009}}</ref><br><br />
{{BHR}}<br><br />
{{GBR}}<br><br />
|langs=[[Malayalam]], [[English language|English]], [[Hebrew]].<br />
|rels=Majority [[Jewish Christian]]<br />
|related=Knanaya peoples:<br />
*[[Saint Thomas Christians]]<br />
*[[Nasrani]]<br />
*[[Syrian Malabar Nasrani]]<br />
*[[Jewish Christians]] <br />
See also: [[Dravidian people]] [[Semitic people]]<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''Knanaya''' (Heb:קנאים, Malayalam: ക്നാനായ, Ar:قينان), literally meaning "Knai people", are an Christian people of early [[endogamous]] [[Jewish]] descent from [[Kerala]], [[India]].<ref name = Menachery>Menachery G. 1973, 1998; Vellian Jacob 2001; Weil,S. 1982; Podipara, Placid J. 1970</ref> Their heritage and culture is syriac-[[Keralite]], their language [[Malayalam]]. <ref name = Menachery>Menachery G. 1973, 1998; Vellian Jacob 2001; Weil,S. 1982; Podipara, Placid J. 1970</ref> Their loyalties are with the [[Syrian Malabar Nasrani|Nasrani]] community of [[Syriac Christian]]s from Kerala. <ref name = Menachery>Menachery G. 1973, 1998; Vellian Jacob 2001; Weil,S. 1982; Podipara, Placid J. 1970</ref><br />
<br />
==History==<br />
<br />
The Knanayas (قنانيا)(short form-"kna") are the descendants of 72 Syro-Aramaic families who migrated from [[Edessa, Mesopotamia|Edessa]], [[Turkey]], [[Israel]] and [[Syria]]<ref name = New York Times>http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/24/nyregion/24church.html?em</ref> the first city state that embraced Christianity in the Roman Empire, to [[Malabar coast]] in AD 345, under the leadership of a prominent merchant [[Knai Thomman]] (قناي تامن)(in English, Thomas the Zealot).<ref name = Hough>Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Weil,S. 1982; James Hough 1893; Thomas Puthiakunnel 1973; Vellian Jacob 2001; Koder S. 1973</ref> They built a town in Kodungalloor with a church and 72 houses. The natives called it Mahadevar Pattanam (محاديفر پتنم) meaning "town of superiors". <br />
<br />
After Mar Joseph (مار جوسف) had a startling dream in which he saw the plight of the Christian church in Malabar (ملابار) established by St. Thomas, the Apostle, in the first Century. They consisted of 400 Christians from 72 families of various Syriac-Jewish clans. Included in the group was a [[Syrian Orthodox Church|Syriac Orthodox Bishop]] (Mor Joseph of Urfa), Bishops and deacons. With instructions from the Patriarch of Antioch, they sailed in three ships headed by a leading ship with the flag of King [[David]]. The Syriac-Jews were granted permission to engage in trade and settle down in [[Kodungallur]] by the then ruler of [[Malabar Coast|Malabar]], [[Cheraman Perumal]].<ref name = Hough>Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Weil,S. 1982; James Hough 1893; Thomas Puthiakunnel 1973; Vellian Jacob 2001; Koder S. 1973</ref> The event has been recorded on copper plates given to the community.<ref name = Hough>Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Weil,S. 1982; James Hough 1893; Thomas Puthiakunnel 1973; Vellian Jacob 2001; Koder S. 1973</ref><br />
<br />
Before the arrival of the people, the early Nasrani (نزاريون) people in the Malabar coast included native Indian converts and converted Jewish people who had settled in Kerala during the [[Babylonian exile]] and after.<ref name = Puthiakunnel>Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Weil,S. 1982; Thomas Puthiakunnel 1973; & Koder S. 1973</ref> They came mostly from the Northern [[Kingdom of Israel]]. According to tradition, Kna Jews are also known as Southists (''Thekkumbhagar'' in Malayalam) as they hailed from the southern province of Israel known in the Old Testament as the [[Kingdom of Judah]]. The distinction between the northern heavily exogamous Samarians and the southern zealously endagamous tribes of Judea led to the difference among the non-Knanaya Nasranis as Northists and the Knanaya as Southists. The Knanaya ([[Kanahi]] people) continue to remain an endogamous group also within the Nasrani community.<ref name = Puthiakunnel>Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Weil,S. 1982; Thomas Puthiakunnel 1973; & Koder S. 1973</ref><br />
<br />
The term known as ''Kanai'' or ''Q'nai'', (קנאי singular form of Kanahim/קנאים) means "Jealous ones for God". It is claimed that the K'nai people are the biblical Aaronites referred to as Kanahi (overly jealous and with zeal), who came to [[Sheba|Saba]] around 135AD from the southern province of Judea (whence the derives the term southists). They were deeply against the [[Roman Empire|Roman]] rule of Israel and fought against the Romans for the sovereignty of the Jews. During their struggle the K'nai'im people became followers of the Jewish sect led by [[Jesus]] the [[Nazarene]]. Many of Jesus' followers had names typical among freedom fighters such as Zealot (Simon Cana), Daggerman (Judas Iscariot), Rock (Simon Peter), Thunderson (James & John) etc.. After the crucifixion of Jesus by the Romans in 33 CE, the Knanaya intensified their struggle against the Roman rule.<br />
<br />
In 345 CE a small group of K'nanaim merchants travelled to the Jewish trade posts at Kodungallur in Kerala and settled there. Their descendants are today known in Kerala as ''Knanaya Nasranis''.<ref name = Poomangalam>Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Weil, S. 1982; Poomangalam C.A 1998; Thomas Puthiakunnel 1973; Vellian Jacob 2001; Koder S. 1973</ref><br />
<br />
==Persecution by Portuguese==<br />
{{main|Portuguese Inquisition}}<br />
The ''Nasranis'', who were, until then, the "living fossils" of the Christian tradition, lost their very defining ethos.<ref name= "CBuchanan>Claudius Buchanan, 1811</ref> The only Nasranis who managed to preserve some elements of their earlier origin were the Knanaya people, because of their tradition of being [[endogamy|endogamous]] within their own community and therefore preserving their tradition.<ref name= "Poomangalam">Weil, S. 1982; Jessay, P.M. 1986 Vellian Jacob 2001; Poomangalam C.A 1998</ref> An Imperial Order was passed to confiscate and sell under public auction the properties of those who celebrated Passover. It was perhaps because of this Order that the Knanaites celebrate Passover in a very private manner without inviting any Christian friend for sharing the Holy Meal.<ref>http://knanaya.weebly.com/who-is-a-knanaite.html</ref><br />
<br />
==Contemporary Knanaya==<br />
<br />
[[Image:Kottayam Valia Palli02.jpg|thumb|300px|left|Inside a Knanaya Church in Thazhathangadi, Kottayam]]<ref name = Koder>Weil,S. 1982; Jessay, P.M. 1986; Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Thomas Puthiakunnel 1973; Vellian Jacob 2001; Koder S. 1973; Vellian, J 1988</ref> Kna people are strictly endagamous and no one may convert to join the Kna people although marrying out is an increasing concern for the community. The Knanaya and other Nasranis as a whole maintained close relationship with the Jews of Kerala, (known today as [[Cochin Jews]]) until the [[Portugal|Portuguese]] inquisition of the Jews and Nasranis in the early 1500s. <ref name = Koder>Weil,S. 1982; Jessay, P.M. 1986; Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Thomas Puthiakunnel 1973; Vellian Jacob 2001; Koder S. 1973; Vellian, J 1988</ref> Kna people are also the victims of increasing missionary efforts not only from Protestant groups ecouraging them to give up on their Syrian-Christian customs and traditions, but also from some Jewish groups. They descend from 72 priestly families descended from the same [[desposyni]] that Thomas Jude belonged to. the number 72 has a significance for the 72 nations of the world and each of the 72 families have their own unique family rule. <br />
<br />
Although grape produce is now consumed as a result of Portuguese influence, this was originally not the case among the Knanaya people. The tradition is preserved in the consumption of ''Pesaha pal'' (passover coconut milk) instead of wine on the night of [[passover]] along with ''Pesaha-appam'' (unleavened passover bread). <ref name = Koder>Weil,S. 1982; Jessay, P.M. 1986; Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Thomas Puthiakunnel 1973; Vellian Jacob 2001; Koder S. 1973; Vellian, J 1988</ref> . This tradition of ''Pesaha appam'' is observed by the entire Nasrani people till this day. <ref name = Koder>Weil,S. 1982; Jessay, P.M. 1986; Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Thomas Puthiakunnel 1973; Vellian Jacob 2001; Koder S. 1973; Vellian, J 1988</ref> The bridal canopy or nuppah is part of the Knanaya wedding ceremony and there is aceremonial bathing on the eve of the wedding that is parallel to the Jewish mikrah. The dead are buried facing the east to Jerusalem. <ref name = Koder>Weil,S. 1982; Jessay, P.M. 1986; Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Thomas Puthiakunnel 1973; Vellian Jacob 2001; Koder S. 1973; Vellian, J 1988</ref> Thanksgiving blessings which the Knanaya people use which follow the Hebrew formula, Birkat HaMazon ברוך אתה ה' א‑לוהינו מלך העולם, המוציא לחם מן הארץ when initiating a Eucharistic Mass.<br />
<br />
==Knanaya community at present==<br />
[[Image:A Syro Malabar Catholic Knanaya Jewish Nasrani Church.JPG|thumbnail|left|An unvelied tabernacle of a Kna Jewish 'palli' or Temple with 12 candlesticks in the background for the 12 tribes of ancient Israel.]]<br />
<br />
The first belonging to the [[Syriac Orthodox Church]] in India and second to the [[Syro-Malabar Catholic Church]]. <ref name = Weil>Weil, S. 1982; Jessay, P.M. 1986; Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Vellian Jacob 2001</ref>. Knanaya are very much conscious about their origin and up until today safeguard their ethnic character by marrying people from within the community regardless of rite. A Knanaya Syriac Orthodox diocese, established in 1910, is administered by an [[archbishop]] who reports directly to the Patriarch of Antioch of the [[Syrian Orthodox Church]]. The Knanaya Catholics have been acknowledged by the [[Holy See|Vatican]] under [[Pope Pius X]], by instituting in 1911 a diocese only for the Syrian-catholic of Kerala. <ref name = Weil>Weil, S. 1982; Jessay, P.M. 1986; Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Vellian Jacob 2001</ref> This diocese is called the ''Arch Diocese of Kottayam'' and is in the district of [[Kottayam]] in Kerala. <ref name = Weil>Weil, S. 1982; Jessay, P.M. 1986; Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Vellian Jacob 2001</ref><br />
<br />
The approximate population of Knanaya people as of 2001: (divided by different denominations)<br />
<br />
*''Knanaya Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Christians'': 100,000<br />
*''Knanaya Syrian Malabar Catholic Christians'': 140,000<br />
In all over 250,000 Knanayas continue in the ancient [[Hebrews|Hebrew]]-Christian tradition.<br />
<br />
==See also==<br />
* [[Cochin Jews]]<br />
* [[Kanahi]]<br />
* [[Kenites]]<br />
* [[Masada]]<br />
* [[Saint Thomas Christians]]<br />
* [[Syrian Malabar Nasrani]]<br />
* [[Zealots]]<br />
* [[Syro-Malabar Catholic Church]]<br />
<br />
==Notes==<br />
{{reflist}}<br />
<br />
==References==<br />
* Menachery, G. (1973) ''The St. Thomas Christian Encyclopedia of India'', Ed. George Menachery, B.N.K. Press, vol. 2, ISBN 81-87132-06-X, Lib. Cong. Cat. Card. No. 73-905568 ; B.N.K. Press<br />
* Vellian, Jacob (2001) ''Knanite community: History and culture''; Syrian church series; vol.XVII; Jyothi Book House, Kottayam<br />
* "In Universi Cristiani" (Latin Text of the Papal erection of the Knanaya Diocese of Kottayam)<br />
* Puthiakunnel, Thomas. (1973) "Jewish colonies of India paved the way for St. Thomas", ''The Saint Thomas Christian Encyclopedia of India'', ed. George Menachery, Vol. II., Trichur.<br />
* Koder, S. (1973) "History of the Jews of Kerala".''The St. Thomas Christian Encyclopaedia of India'',Ed. G. Menachery.<br />
* Vellian, J (1988) Marriage Customs of the Knanites, Christian Orient, 9, Kottayam.<br />
* Weil, S. (1982) "Symmetry between Christians and Jews in India: The Cananite Christians and Cochin Jews in Kerala. in Contributions to Indian Sociology, 16.<br />
* Jessay, P.M. (1986) "The Wedding Songs of the Cochin Jews and of the Knanite Christians of Kerala: A Study in Comparison." Symposium.<br />
* James Hough (1893) "The History of Christianity in India".<br />
* Menachery, G (ed); (1998) "The Indian Church History Classics", Vol.I, ''The Nazranies'', Ollur, 1998. [ISBN 81-87133-05-8].<br />
* Poomangalam, C.A. (1998) ''The Antiquities of the Knanaya Syrian Christians''; Kottayam, Kerala.<br />
* Podipara, Placid J. (1970) "The Thomas Christians". London: Darton, Longman and Tidd.<br />
<br />
==External links==<br />
*[http://www.knanaya.net Knanaya finder]<br />
*[http://www.knaconvention.com Knanaya Jacobite Annual Convention]<br />
*[http://www.ananthapuri.com/kerala-history.asp?page=jew Jews of Kerala]<br />
*[http://www.ananthapuri.com/kerala-history.asp?page=christian Christians of Kerala]<br />
*[http://www.indianchristianity.com Indian Christianity]<br />
*[http://www.kottayamad.org/ Archdiocese of Kottayam]<br />
*[http://www.stjohnsputhenpally.org/ St.Johns Puthenpally Chingavanam]<br />
<br />
[[Category:Archdiocese of Changanassery]]<br />
[[Category:Kerala society]]<br />
[[Category:Knanaya Community| ]]<br />
[[Category:Malayali people]]<br />
[[Category:Saint Thomas Christians]]<br />
[[Category:Syro-Malabar Catholic Church]]<br />
[[Category:Jewish ethnic groups]]<br />
[[Category:Jewish Christians]]<br />
[[Category:Semitic peoples]]<br />
<br />
[[de:Knananiten]]<br />
[[fr:Knanayas]]<br />
[[mk:Кнанаја]]</div>Zubinrajhttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Knanaya&diff=261833825Knanaya2009-01-04T05:10:32Z<p>Zubinraj: /* Contemporary Knanaya */</p>
<hr />
<div><gallery><br />
<br />
</gallery>{{Main|Syrian Malabar Nasrani}}<br />
[[Image:Nasrani menorah.JPG|thumbnail|left|125px|The [[Nasrani Menorah|Nasrani Menorah]] also known as the Mar Thoma sliba]]<br />
<br />
{{Ethnic group<br />
|image=[[Image:Knanaya_people.PNG|250px]]<br />
|caption=[[Mor Joseph of Urfa]] • Mar Thomas Tharayil • [[Mar Mathew Makil]] • <br />
[[Knai Thomman]] • Most Rev. Dr. Abraham Viruthakulangara • [[Eliza Joseph]]<br />
|group=Knanaya<br />
|poptime=2001: (approx) '''252,600'''<br />
|popplace=<span style="font-size:105%;">'''Majority Population:'''<br />
{{IND}} <br><br />
'''Significant Populations:'''<br><br />
{{USA}}<br><br />
{{ISR}}<ref name="Knanaya's in Israel">{{cite web|title=Knanaya's Around the World|work=Knanaya's of Israel |url=http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1204473063867&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull|accessdaymonth=3 March |accessyear=2008}}</ref><br />
<br><br />
{{AUT}}<ref name="viennakna<br />
">{{cite web|url=http://www.viennaknas.com/|title=ViennaKnas.com|accessdaymonth=1 January |accessyear=2009}}</ref><br><br />
{{SUI}}<ref name="swisskna<br />
">{{cite web|url=http://swisskna.com/|title=Swisskna.com|accessdaymonth=1 January |accessyear=2009}}</ref><br><br />
{{BHR}}<br><br />
{{GBR}}<br><br />
|langs=[[Malayalam]], [[English language|English]], [[Hebrew]].<br />
|rels=Majority [[Jewish Christian]]<br />
|related=Knanaya peoples:<br />
*[[Saint Thomas Christians]]<br />
*[[Nasrani]]<br />
*[[Syrian Malabar Nasrani]]<br />
*[[Jewish Christians]] <br />
See also: [[Dravidian people]] [[Semitic people]]<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''Knanaya''' (Heb:קנאים, Malayalam: ക്നാനായ, Ar:قينان), literally meaning "Knai people", are an Christian people of early [[endogamous]] [[Jewish]] descent from [[Kerala]], [[India]].<ref name = Menachery>Menachery G. 1973, 1998; Vellian Jacob 2001; Weil,S. 1982; Podipara, Placid J. 1970</ref> Their heritage and culture is syriac-[[Keralite]], their language [[Malayalam]]. <ref name = Menachery>Menachery G. 1973, 1998; Vellian Jacob 2001; Weil,S. 1982; Podipara, Placid J. 1970</ref> Their loyalties are with the [[Syrian Malabar Nasrani|Nasrani]] community of [[Syriac Christian]]s from Kerala. <ref name = Menachery>Menachery G. 1973, 1998; Vellian Jacob 2001; Weil,S. 1982; Podipara, Placid J. 1970</ref><br />
<br />
==History==<br />
<br />
The Knanayas (قنانيا)(short form-"kna") are the descendants of 72 Syro-Aramaic families who migrated from [[Edessa, Mesopotamia|Edessa]], [[Turkey]], [[Israel]] and [[Syria]]<ref name = New York Times>http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/24/nyregion/24church.html?em</ref> the first city state that embraced Christianity in the Roman Empire, to [[Malabar coast]] in AD 345, under the leadership of a prominent merchant [[Knai Thomman]] (قناي تامن)(in English, Thomas the Zealot).<ref name = Hough>Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Weil,S. 1982; James Hough 1893; Thomas Puthiakunnel 1973; Vellian Jacob 2001; Koder S. 1973</ref> They built a town in Kodungalloor with a church and 72 houses. The natives called it Mahadevar Pattanam (محاديفر پتنم) meaning "town of superiors". <br />
<br />
After Mar Joseph (مار جوسف) had a startling dream in which he saw the plight of the Christian church in Malabar (ملابار) established by St. Thomas, the Apostle, in the first Century. They consisted of 400 Christians from 72 families of various Syriac-Jewish clans. Included in the group was a [[Syrian Orthodox Church|Syriac Orthodox Bishop]] (Mor Joseph of Urfa), Bishops and deacons. With instructions from the Patriarch of Antioch, they sailed in three ships headed by a leading ship with the flag of King [[David]]. The Syriac-Jews were granted permission to engage in trade and settle down in [[Kodungallur]] by the then ruler of [[Malabar Coast|Malabar]], [[Cheraman Perumal]].<ref name = Hough>Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Weil,S. 1982; James Hough 1893; Thomas Puthiakunnel 1973; Vellian Jacob 2001; Koder S. 1973</ref> The event has been recorded on copper plates given to the community.<ref name = Hough>Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Weil,S. 1982; James Hough 1893; Thomas Puthiakunnel 1973; Vellian Jacob 2001; Koder S. 1973</ref><br />
<br />
Before the arrival of the people, the early Nasrani (نزاريون) people in the Malabar coast included native Indian converts and converted Jewish people who had settled in Kerala during the [[Babylonian exile]] and after.<ref name = Puthiakunnel>Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Weil,S. 1982; Thomas Puthiakunnel 1973; & Koder S. 1973</ref> They came mostly from the Northern [[Kingdom of Israel]]. According to tradition, Kna Jews are also known as Southists (''Thekkumbhagar'' in Malayalam) as they hailed from the southern province of Israel known in the Old Testament as the [[Kingdom of Judah]]. The distinction between the northern heavily exogamous Samarians and the southern zealously endagamous tribes of Judea led to the difference among the non-Knanaya Nasranis as Northists and the Knanaya as Southists. The Knanaya ([[Kanahi]] people) continue to remain an endogamous group also within the Nasrani community.<ref name = Puthiakunnel>Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Weil,S. 1982; Thomas Puthiakunnel 1973; & Koder S. 1973</ref><br />
<br />
The term known as ''Kanai'' or ''Q'nai'', (קנאי singular form of Kanahim/קנאים) means "Jealous ones for God". It is claimed that the K'nai people are the biblical Aaronites referred to as Kanahi (overly jealous and with zeal), who came to [[Sheba|Saba]] around 135AD from the southern province of Judea (whence the derives the term southists). They were deeply against the [[Roman Empire|Roman]] rule of Israel and fought against the Romans for the sovereignty of the Jews. During their struggle the K'nai'im people became followers of the Jewish sect led by [[Jesus]] the [[Nazarene]]. Many of Jesus' followers had names typical among freedom fighters such as Zealot (Simon Cana), Daggerman (Judas Iscariot), Rock (Simon Peter), Thunderson (James & John) etc.. After the crucifixion of Jesus by the Romans in 33 CE, the Knanaya intensified their struggle against the Roman rule.<br />
<br />
In 345 CE a small group of K'nanaim merchants travelled to the Jewish trade posts at Kodungallur in Kerala and settled there. Their descendants are today known in Kerala as ''Knanaya Nasranis''.<ref name = Poomangalam>Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Weil, S. 1982; Poomangalam C.A 1998; Thomas Puthiakunnel 1973; Vellian Jacob 2001; Koder S. 1973</ref><br />
<br />
==Persecution by Portuguese==<br />
{{main|Portuguese Inquisition}}<br />
The ''Nasranis'', who were, until then, the "living fossils" of the Christian tradition, lost their very defining ethos.<ref name= "CBuchanan>Claudius Buchanan, 1811</ref> The only Nasranis who managed to preserve some elements of their earlier origin were the Knanaya people, because of their tradition of being [[endogamy|endogamous]] within their own community and therefore preserving their tradition.<ref name= "Poomangalam">Weil, S. 1982; Jessay, P.M. 1986 Vellian Jacob 2001; Poomangalam C.A 1998</ref> An Imperial Order was passed to confiscate and sell under public auction the properties of those who celebrated Passover. It was perhaps because of this Order that the Knanaites celebrate Passover in a very private manner without inviting any Christian friend for sharing the Holy Meal.<ref>http://knanaya.weebly.com/who-is-a-knanaite.html</ref><br />
<br />
==Contemporary Knanaya==<br />
<br />
[[Image:Kottayam Valia Palli02.jpg|thumb|300px|left|Inside a Knanaya Church in Thazhathangadi, Kottayam]]<ref name = Koder>Weil,S. 1982; Jessay, P.M. 1986; Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Thomas Puthiakunnel 1973; Vellian Jacob 2001; Koder S. 1973; Vellian, J 1988</ref> Kna people are strictly endagamous and no one may convert to join the Kna people although marrying out is an increasing concern for the community. The Knanaya and other Nasranis as a whole maintained close relationship with the Jews of Kerala, (known today as [[Cochin Jews]]) until the [[Portugal|Portuguese]] inquisition of the Jews and Nasranis in the early 1500s. <ref name = Koder>Weil,S. 1982; Jessay, P.M. 1986; Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Thomas Puthiakunnel 1973; Vellian Jacob 2001; Koder S. 1973; Vellian, J 1988</ref> Kna people are also the victims of increasing missionary efforts not only from Protestant groups ecouraging them to give up on their Syrian-Christian customs and traditions, but also from some Jewish groups. They descend from 72 priestly families descended from the same [[desposyni]] that Thomas Jude belonged to. the number 72 has a significance for the 72 nations of the world and each of the 72 families have their own unique family rule. <br />
<br />
Although grape produce is now consumed as a result of Portuguese influence, this was originally not the case among the Knanaya people. The tradition is preserved in the consumption of ''Pesaha pal'' (passover coconut milk) instead of wine on the night of [[passover]] along with ''Pesaha-appam'' (unleavened passover bread). <ref name = Koder>Weil,S. 1982; Jessay, P.M. 1986; Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Thomas Puthiakunnel 1973; Vellian Jacob 2001; Koder S. 1973; Vellian, J 1988</ref> . This tradition of ''Pesaha appam'' is observed by the entire Nasrani people till this day. <ref name = Koder>Weil,S. 1982; Jessay, P.M. 1986; Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Thomas Puthiakunnel 1973; Vellian Jacob 2001; Koder S. 1973; Vellian, J 1988</ref> The bridal canopy or nuppah is part of the Knanaya wedding ceremony and there is aceremonial bathing on the eve of the wedding that is parallel to the Jewish mikrah. The dead are buried facing the east to Jerusalem. <ref name = Koder>Weil,S. 1982; Jessay, P.M. 1986; Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Thomas Puthiakunnel 1973; Vellian Jacob 2001; Koder S. 1973; Vellian, J 1988</ref> Thanksgiving blessings which the Knanaya people use which follow the Hebrew formula, Birkat HaMazon ברוך אתה ה' א‑לוהינו מלך העולם, המוציא לחם מן הארץ when initiating a Eucharistic Mass.<br />
<br />
==Knanaya community at present==<br />
[[Image:A Syro Malabar Catholic Knanaya Jewish Nasrani Church.JPG|thumbnail|left|An unvelied tabernacle of a Kna Jewish 'palli' or Temple with 12 candlesticks in the background for the 12 tribes of ancient Israel.]]<br />
<br />
The first belonging to the [[Syriac Orthodox Church]] in India and second to the [[Syro-Malabar Catholic Church]]. <ref name = Weil>Weil, S. 1982; Jessay, P.M. 1986; Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Vellian Jacob 2001</ref>. Knanaya are very much conscious about their origin and up until today safeguard their ethnic character by marrying people from within the community regardless of rite. A Knanaya Syriac Orthodox diocese, established in 1910, is administered by an [[archbishop]] who reports directly to the Patriarch of Antioch of the [[Syrian Orthodox Church]]. The Knanaya Catholics and their Jewish identity have been acknowledged by the [[Holy See|Vatican]] under [[Pope Pius X]], by instituting in 1911 a diocese only for the Jewish Christians (Syrian-catholic) of Kerala. <ref name = Weil>Weil, S. 1982; Jessay, P.M. 1986; Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Vellian Jacob 2001</ref> This diocese is called the ''Arch Diocese of Kottayam'' and is in the district of [[Kottayam]] in Kerala. <ref name = Weil>Weil, S. 1982; Jessay, P.M. 1986; Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Vellian Jacob 2001</ref><br />
<br />
The approximate population of Kna Jews as of 2001: (divided by different denominations)<br />
<br />
*''Knanaya Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Christians'': 100,000<br />
*''Knanaya Syrian Malabar Catholic Christians'': 140,000<br />
In all over 250,000 Knanaya [[Christian Jew]]s continue in the ancient [[Hebrews|Hebrew]]-Christian tradition.<br />
<br />
==See also==<br />
* [[Cochin Jews]]<br />
* [[Kanahi]]<br />
* [[Kenites]]<br />
* [[Masada]]<br />
* [[Saint Thomas Christians]]<br />
* [[Syrian Malabar Nasrani]]<br />
* [[Zealots]]<br />
* [[Syro-Malabar Catholic Church]]<br />
<br />
==Notes==<br />
{{reflist}}<br />
<br />
==References==<br />
* Menachery, G. (1973) ''The St. Thomas Christian Encyclopedia of India'', Ed. George Menachery, B.N.K. Press, vol. 2, ISBN 81-87132-06-X, Lib. Cong. Cat. Card. No. 73-905568 ; B.N.K. Press<br />
* Vellian, Jacob (2001) ''Knanite community: History and culture''; Syrian church series; vol.XVII; Jyothi Book House, Kottayam<br />
* "In Universi Cristiani" (Latin Text of the Papal erection of the Knanaya Diocese of Kottayam)<br />
* Puthiakunnel, Thomas. (1973) "Jewish colonies of India paved the way for St. Thomas", ''The Saint Thomas Christian Encyclopedia of India'', ed. George Menachery, Vol. II., Trichur.<br />
* Koder, S. (1973) "History of the Jews of Kerala".''The St. Thomas Christian Encyclopaedia of India'',Ed. G. Menachery.<br />
* Vellian, J (1988) Marriage Customs of the Knanites, Christian Orient, 9, Kottayam.<br />
* Weil, S. (1982) "Symmetry between Christians and Jews in India: The Cananite Christians and Cochin Jews in Kerala. in Contributions to Indian Sociology, 16.<br />
* Jessay, P.M. (1986) "The Wedding Songs of the Cochin Jews and of the Knanite Christians of Kerala: A Study in Comparison." Symposium.<br />
* James Hough (1893) "The History of Christianity in India".<br />
* Menachery, G (ed); (1998) "The Indian Church History Classics", Vol.I, ''The Nazranies'', Ollur, 1998. [ISBN 81-87133-05-8].<br />
* Poomangalam, C.A. (1998) ''The Antiquities of the Knanaya Syrian Christians''; Kottayam, Kerala.<br />
* Podipara, Placid J. (1970) "The Thomas Christians". London: Darton, Longman and Tidd.<br />
<br />
==External links==<br />
*[http://www.knanaya.net Knanaya finder]<br />
*[http://www.knaconvention.com Knanaya Jacobite Annual Convention]<br />
*[http://www.ananthapuri.com/kerala-history.asp?page=jew Jews of Kerala]<br />
*[http://www.ananthapuri.com/kerala-history.asp?page=christian Christians of Kerala]<br />
*[http://www.indianchristianity.com Indian Christianity]<br />
*[http://www.kottayamad.org/ Archdiocese of Kottayam]<br />
*[http://www.stjohnsputhenpally.org/ St.Johns Puthenpally Chingavanam]<br />
<br />
[[Category:Archdiocese of Changanassery]]<br />
[[Category:Kerala society]]<br />
[[Category:Knanaya Community| ]]<br />
[[Category:Malayali people]]<br />
[[Category:Saint Thomas Christians]]<br />
[[Category:Syro-Malabar Catholic Church]]<br />
[[Category:Jewish ethnic groups]]<br />
[[Category:Jewish Christians]]<br />
[[Category:Semitic peoples]]<br />
<br />
[[de:Knananiten]]<br />
[[fr:Knanayas]]<br />
[[mk:Кнанаја]]</div>Zubinrajhttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Knanaya&diff=261833249Knanaya2009-01-04T05:06:27Z<p>Zubinraj: /* Persecution by Portuguese */</p>
<hr />
<div><gallery><br />
<br />
</gallery>{{Main|Syrian Malabar Nasrani}}<br />
[[Image:Nasrani menorah.JPG|thumbnail|left|125px|The [[Nasrani Menorah|Nasrani Menorah]] also known as the Mar Thoma sliba]]<br />
<br />
{{Ethnic group<br />
|image=[[Image:Knanaya_people.PNG|250px]]<br />
|caption=[[Mor Joseph of Urfa]] • Mar Thomas Tharayil • [[Mar Mathew Makil]] • <br />
[[Knai Thomman]] • Most Rev. Dr. Abraham Viruthakulangara • [[Eliza Joseph]]<br />
|group=Knanaya<br />
|poptime=2001: (approx) '''252,600'''<br />
|popplace=<span style="font-size:105%;">'''Majority Population:'''<br />
{{IND}} <br><br />
'''Significant Populations:'''<br><br />
{{USA}}<br><br />
{{ISR}}<ref name="Knanaya's in Israel">{{cite web|title=Knanaya's Around the World|work=Knanaya's of Israel |url=http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1204473063867&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull|accessdaymonth=3 March |accessyear=2008}}</ref><br />
<br><br />
{{AUT}}<ref name="viennakna<br />
">{{cite web|url=http://www.viennaknas.com/|title=ViennaKnas.com|accessdaymonth=1 January |accessyear=2009}}</ref><br><br />
{{SUI}}<ref name="swisskna<br />
">{{cite web|url=http://swisskna.com/|title=Swisskna.com|accessdaymonth=1 January |accessyear=2009}}</ref><br><br />
{{BHR}}<br><br />
{{GBR}}<br><br />
|langs=[[Malayalam]], [[English language|English]], [[Hebrew]].<br />
|rels=Majority [[Jewish Christian]]<br />
|related=Knanaya peoples:<br />
*[[Saint Thomas Christians]]<br />
*[[Nasrani]]<br />
*[[Syrian Malabar Nasrani]]<br />
*[[Jewish Christians]] <br />
See also: [[Dravidian people]] [[Semitic people]]<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''Knanaya''' (Heb:קנאים, Malayalam: ക്നാനായ, Ar:قينان), literally meaning "Knai people", are an Christian people of early [[endogamous]] [[Jewish]] descent from [[Kerala]], [[India]].<ref name = Menachery>Menachery G. 1973, 1998; Vellian Jacob 2001; Weil,S. 1982; Podipara, Placid J. 1970</ref> Their heritage and culture is syriac-[[Keralite]], their language [[Malayalam]]. <ref name = Menachery>Menachery G. 1973, 1998; Vellian Jacob 2001; Weil,S. 1982; Podipara, Placid J. 1970</ref> Their loyalties are with the [[Syrian Malabar Nasrani|Nasrani]] community of [[Syriac Christian]]s from Kerala. <ref name = Menachery>Menachery G. 1973, 1998; Vellian Jacob 2001; Weil,S. 1982; Podipara, Placid J. 1970</ref><br />
<br />
==History==<br />
<br />
The Knanayas (قنانيا)(short form-"kna") are the descendants of 72 Syro-Aramaic families who migrated from [[Edessa, Mesopotamia|Edessa]], [[Turkey]], [[Israel]] and [[Syria]]<ref name = New York Times>http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/24/nyregion/24church.html?em</ref> the first city state that embraced Christianity in the Roman Empire, to [[Malabar coast]] in AD 345, under the leadership of a prominent merchant [[Knai Thomman]] (قناي تامن)(in English, Thomas the Zealot).<ref name = Hough>Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Weil,S. 1982; James Hough 1893; Thomas Puthiakunnel 1973; Vellian Jacob 2001; Koder S. 1973</ref> They built a town in Kodungalloor with a church and 72 houses. The natives called it Mahadevar Pattanam (محاديفر پتنم) meaning "town of superiors". <br />
<br />
After Mar Joseph (مار جوسف) had a startling dream in which he saw the plight of the Christian church in Malabar (ملابار) established by St. Thomas, the Apostle, in the first Century. They consisted of 400 Christians from 72 families of various Syriac-Jewish clans. Included in the group was a [[Syrian Orthodox Church|Syriac Orthodox Bishop]] (Mor Joseph of Urfa), Bishops and deacons. With instructions from the Patriarch of Antioch, they sailed in three ships headed by a leading ship with the flag of King [[David]]. The Syriac-Jews were granted permission to engage in trade and settle down in [[Kodungallur]] by the then ruler of [[Malabar Coast|Malabar]], [[Cheraman Perumal]].<ref name = Hough>Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Weil,S. 1982; James Hough 1893; Thomas Puthiakunnel 1973; Vellian Jacob 2001; Koder S. 1973</ref> The event has been recorded on copper plates given to the community.<ref name = Hough>Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Weil,S. 1982; James Hough 1893; Thomas Puthiakunnel 1973; Vellian Jacob 2001; Koder S. 1973</ref><br />
<br />
Before the arrival of the people, the early Nasrani (نزاريون) people in the Malabar coast included native Indian converts and converted Jewish people who had settled in Kerala during the [[Babylonian exile]] and after.<ref name = Puthiakunnel>Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Weil,S. 1982; Thomas Puthiakunnel 1973; & Koder S. 1973</ref> They came mostly from the Northern [[Kingdom of Israel]]. According to tradition, Kna Jews are also known as Southists (''Thekkumbhagar'' in Malayalam) as they hailed from the southern province of Israel known in the Old Testament as the [[Kingdom of Judah]]. The distinction between the northern heavily exogamous Samarians and the southern zealously endagamous tribes of Judea led to the difference among the non-Knanaya Nasranis as Northists and the Knanaya as Southists. The Knanaya ([[Kanahi]] people) continue to remain an endogamous group also within the Nasrani community.<ref name = Puthiakunnel>Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Weil,S. 1982; Thomas Puthiakunnel 1973; & Koder S. 1973</ref><br />
<br />
The term known as ''Kanai'' or ''Q'nai'', (קנאי singular form of Kanahim/קנאים) means "Jealous ones for God". It is claimed that the K'nai people are the biblical Aaronites referred to as Kanahi (overly jealous and with zeal), who came to [[Sheba|Saba]] around 135AD from the southern province of Judea (whence the derives the term southists). They were deeply against the [[Roman Empire|Roman]] rule of Israel and fought against the Romans for the sovereignty of the Jews. During their struggle the K'nai'im people became followers of the Jewish sect led by [[Jesus]] the [[Nazarene]]. Many of Jesus' followers had names typical among freedom fighters such as Zealot (Simon Cana), Daggerman (Judas Iscariot), Rock (Simon Peter), Thunderson (James & John) etc.. After the crucifixion of Jesus by the Romans in 33 CE, the Knanaya intensified their struggle against the Roman rule.<br />
<br />
In 345 CE a small group of K'nanaim merchants travelled to the Jewish trade posts at Kodungallur in Kerala and settled there. Their descendants are today known in Kerala as ''Knanaya Nasranis''.<ref name = Poomangalam>Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Weil, S. 1982; Poomangalam C.A 1998; Thomas Puthiakunnel 1973; Vellian Jacob 2001; Koder S. 1973</ref><br />
<br />
==Persecution by Portuguese==<br />
{{main|Portuguese Inquisition}}<br />
The ''Nasranis'', who were, until then, the "living fossils" of the Christian tradition, lost their very defining ethos.<ref name= "CBuchanan>Claudius Buchanan, 1811</ref> The only Nasranis who managed to preserve some elements of their earlier origin were the Knanaya people, because of their tradition of being [[endogamy|endogamous]] within their own community and therefore preserving their tradition.<ref name= "Poomangalam">Weil, S. 1982; Jessay, P.M. 1986 Vellian Jacob 2001; Poomangalam C.A 1998</ref> An Imperial Order was passed to confiscate and sell under public auction the properties of those who celebrated Passover. It was perhaps because of this Order that the Knanaites celebrate Passover in a very private manner without inviting any Christian friend for sharing the Holy Meal.<ref>http://knanaya.weebly.com/who-is-a-knanaite.html</ref><br />
<br />
==Contemporary Knanaya==<br />
<br />
[[Image:Kottayam Valia Palli02.jpg|thumb|300px|left|Inside a Knanaya Church in Thazhathangadi, Kottayam]]Many of the Jewish customs are still preserved by the Knanaya. <ref name = Koder>Weil,S. 1982; Jessay, P.M. 1986; Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Thomas Puthiakunnel 1973; Vellian Jacob 2001; Koder S. 1973; Vellian, J 1988</ref> Kna people are strictly endagamous and no one may convert to join the Kna people although marrying out is an increasing concern for the community. That being said there is a big question about whether to allow other Jews into the community as genetic testing indicates was certainly the practice in the past. The Knanaya and other Nasranis as a whole maintained close relationship with the Jews of Kerala, (known today as [[Cochin Jews]]) until the [[Portugal|Portuguese]] inquisition of the Jews and Nasranis in the early 1500s. <ref name = Koder>Weil,S. 1982; Jessay, P.M. 1986; Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Thomas Puthiakunnel 1973; Vellian Jacob 2001; Koder S. 1973; Vellian, J 1988</ref> Kna people are also the victims of increasing missionary efforts not only from Protestant groups ecouraging them to give up on their Jewish customs and traditions, but also from some Jewish groups. Kna people trace their Jewish identity back to Archiereus Thomas Jude the brother of James Alphaeus and because of this they have frequently been called St. Thomas Christians. They descend from 72 priestly families descended from the same [[desposyni]] that Thomas Jude belonged to. the number 72 has a significance for the 72 nations of the world and each of the 72 families have their own unique family rule. One of the primary questions surrounding the acceptance of Jewish people marrying into the Knanaya (Kna people) is which rule they could accept such Jews into. <br />
<br />
Although grape produce is now consumed as a result of Portuguese influence, this was originally not the case among the Knanaya people. The tradition is preserved in the consumption of ''Pesaha pal'' (passover coconut milk) instead of wine on the night of [[passover]] along with ''Pesaha-appam'' (unleavened passover bread). <ref name = Koder>Weil,S. 1982; Jessay, P.M. 1986; Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Thomas Puthiakunnel 1973; Vellian Jacob 2001; Koder S. 1973; Vellian, J 1988</ref> . This tradition of ''Pesaha appam'' is observed by the entire Nasrani people till this day. <ref name = Koder>Weil,S. 1982; Jessay, P.M. 1986; Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Thomas Puthiakunnel 1973; Vellian Jacob 2001; Koder S. 1973; Vellian, J 1988</ref> The bridal canopy or nuppah is part of the Knanaya wedding ceremony and there is aceremonial bathing on the eve of the wedding that is parallel to the Jewish mikrah. The dead are buried facing the east to Jerusalem. <ref name = Koder>Weil,S. 1982; Jessay, P.M. 1986; Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Thomas Puthiakunnel 1973; Vellian Jacob 2001; Koder S. 1973; Vellian, J 1988</ref> Thanksgiving blessings which the Knanaya people use which follow the Hebrew formula, Birkat HaMazon ברוך אתה ה' א‑לוהינו מלך העולם, המוציא לחם מן הארץ when initiating a Eucharistic Mass.<br />
<br />
==Knanaya community at present==<br />
[[Image:A Syro Malabar Catholic Knanaya Jewish Nasrani Church.JPG|thumbnail|left|An unvelied tabernacle of a Kna Jewish 'palli' or Temple with 12 candlesticks in the background for the 12 tribes of ancient Israel.]]<br />
<br />
The first belonging to the [[Syriac Orthodox Church]] in India and second to the [[Syro-Malabar Catholic Church]]. <ref name = Weil>Weil, S. 1982; Jessay, P.M. 1986; Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Vellian Jacob 2001</ref>. Knanaya are very much conscious about their origin and up until today safeguard their ethnic character by marrying people from within the community regardless of rite. A Knanaya Syriac Orthodox diocese, established in 1910, is administered by an [[archbishop]] who reports directly to the Patriarch of Antioch of the [[Syrian Orthodox Church]]. The Knanaya Catholics and their Jewish identity have been acknowledged by the [[Holy See|Vatican]] under [[Pope Pius X]], by instituting in 1911 a diocese only for the Jewish Christians (Syrian-catholic) of Kerala. <ref name = Weil>Weil, S. 1982; Jessay, P.M. 1986; Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Vellian Jacob 2001</ref> This diocese is called the ''Arch Diocese of Kottayam'' and is in the district of [[Kottayam]] in Kerala. <ref name = Weil>Weil, S. 1982; Jessay, P.M. 1986; Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Vellian Jacob 2001</ref><br />
<br />
The approximate population of Kna Jews as of 2001: (divided by different denominations)<br />
<br />
*''Knanaya Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Christians'': 100,000<br />
*''Knanaya Syrian Malabar Catholic Christians'': 140,000<br />
In all over 250,000 Knanaya [[Christian Jew]]s continue in the ancient [[Hebrews|Hebrew]]-Christian tradition.<br />
<br />
==See also==<br />
* [[Cochin Jews]]<br />
* [[Kanahi]]<br />
* [[Kenites]]<br />
* [[Masada]]<br />
* [[Saint Thomas Christians]]<br />
* [[Syrian Malabar Nasrani]]<br />
* [[Zealots]]<br />
* [[Syro-Malabar Catholic Church]]<br />
<br />
==Notes==<br />
{{reflist}}<br />
<br />
==References==<br />
* Menachery, G. (1973) ''The St. Thomas Christian Encyclopedia of India'', Ed. George Menachery, B.N.K. Press, vol. 2, ISBN 81-87132-06-X, Lib. Cong. Cat. Card. No. 73-905568 ; B.N.K. Press<br />
* Vellian, Jacob (2001) ''Knanite community: History and culture''; Syrian church series; vol.XVII; Jyothi Book House, Kottayam<br />
* "In Universi Cristiani" (Latin Text of the Papal erection of the Knanaya Diocese of Kottayam)<br />
* Puthiakunnel, Thomas. (1973) "Jewish colonies of India paved the way for St. Thomas", ''The Saint Thomas Christian Encyclopedia of India'', ed. George Menachery, Vol. II., Trichur.<br />
* Koder, S. (1973) "History of the Jews of Kerala".''The St. Thomas Christian Encyclopaedia of India'',Ed. G. Menachery.<br />
* Vellian, J (1988) Marriage Customs of the Knanites, Christian Orient, 9, Kottayam.<br />
* Weil, S. (1982) "Symmetry between Christians and Jews in India: The Cananite Christians and Cochin Jews in Kerala. in Contributions to Indian Sociology, 16.<br />
* Jessay, P.M. (1986) "The Wedding Songs of the Cochin Jews and of the Knanite Christians of Kerala: A Study in Comparison." Symposium.<br />
* James Hough (1893) "The History of Christianity in India".<br />
* Menachery, G (ed); (1998) "The Indian Church History Classics", Vol.I, ''The Nazranies'', Ollur, 1998. [ISBN 81-87133-05-8].<br />
* Poomangalam, C.A. (1998) ''The Antiquities of the Knanaya Syrian Christians''; Kottayam, Kerala.<br />
* Podipara, Placid J. (1970) "The Thomas Christians". London: Darton, Longman and Tidd.<br />
<br />
==External links==<br />
*[http://www.knanaya.net Knanaya finder]<br />
*[http://www.knaconvention.com Knanaya Jacobite Annual Convention]<br />
*[http://www.ananthapuri.com/kerala-history.asp?page=jew Jews of Kerala]<br />
*[http://www.ananthapuri.com/kerala-history.asp?page=christian Christians of Kerala]<br />
*[http://www.indianchristianity.com Indian Christianity]<br />
*[http://www.kottayamad.org/ Archdiocese of Kottayam]<br />
*[http://www.stjohnsputhenpally.org/ St.Johns Puthenpally Chingavanam]<br />
<br />
[[Category:Archdiocese of Changanassery]]<br />
[[Category:Kerala society]]<br />
[[Category:Knanaya Community| ]]<br />
[[Category:Malayali people]]<br />
[[Category:Saint Thomas Christians]]<br />
[[Category:Syro-Malabar Catholic Church]]<br />
[[Category:Jewish ethnic groups]]<br />
[[Category:Jewish Christians]]<br />
[[Category:Semitic peoples]]<br />
<br />
[[de:Knananiten]]<br />
[[fr:Knanayas]]<br />
[[mk:Кнанаја]]</div>Zubinrajhttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Knanaya&diff=261832910Knanaya2009-01-04T05:04:06Z<p>Zubinraj: /* History */</p>
<hr />
<div><gallery><br />
<br />
</gallery>{{Main|Syrian Malabar Nasrani}}<br />
[[Image:Nasrani menorah.JPG|thumbnail|left|125px|The [[Nasrani Menorah|Nasrani Menorah]] also known as the Mar Thoma sliba]]<br />
<br />
{{Ethnic group<br />
|image=[[Image:Knanaya_people.PNG|250px]]<br />
|caption=[[Mor Joseph of Urfa]] • Mar Thomas Tharayil • [[Mar Mathew Makil]] • <br />
[[Knai Thomman]] • Most Rev. Dr. Abraham Viruthakulangara • [[Eliza Joseph]]<br />
|group=Knanaya<br />
|poptime=2001: (approx) '''252,600'''<br />
|popplace=<span style="font-size:105%;">'''Majority Population:'''<br />
{{IND}} <br><br />
'''Significant Populations:'''<br><br />
{{USA}}<br><br />
{{ISR}}<ref name="Knanaya's in Israel">{{cite web|title=Knanaya's Around the World|work=Knanaya's of Israel |url=http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1204473063867&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull|accessdaymonth=3 March |accessyear=2008}}</ref><br />
<br><br />
{{AUT}}<ref name="viennakna<br />
">{{cite web|url=http://www.viennaknas.com/|title=ViennaKnas.com|accessdaymonth=1 January |accessyear=2009}}</ref><br><br />
{{SUI}}<ref name="swisskna<br />
">{{cite web|url=http://swisskna.com/|title=Swisskna.com|accessdaymonth=1 January |accessyear=2009}}</ref><br><br />
{{BHR}}<br><br />
{{GBR}}<br><br />
|langs=[[Malayalam]], [[English language|English]], [[Hebrew]].<br />
|rels=Majority [[Jewish Christian]]<br />
|related=Knanaya peoples:<br />
*[[Saint Thomas Christians]]<br />
*[[Nasrani]]<br />
*[[Syrian Malabar Nasrani]]<br />
*[[Jewish Christians]] <br />
See also: [[Dravidian people]] [[Semitic people]]<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''Knanaya''' (Heb:קנאים, Malayalam: ക്നാനായ, Ar:قينان), literally meaning "Knai people", are an Christian people of early [[endogamous]] [[Jewish]] descent from [[Kerala]], [[India]].<ref name = Menachery>Menachery G. 1973, 1998; Vellian Jacob 2001; Weil,S. 1982; Podipara, Placid J. 1970</ref> Their heritage and culture is syriac-[[Keralite]], their language [[Malayalam]]. <ref name = Menachery>Menachery G. 1973, 1998; Vellian Jacob 2001; Weil,S. 1982; Podipara, Placid J. 1970</ref> Their loyalties are with the [[Syrian Malabar Nasrani|Nasrani]] community of [[Syriac Christian]]s from Kerala. <ref name = Menachery>Menachery G. 1973, 1998; Vellian Jacob 2001; Weil,S. 1982; Podipara, Placid J. 1970</ref><br />
<br />
==History==<br />
<br />
The Knanayas (قنانيا)(short form-"kna") are the descendants of 72 Syro-Aramaic families who migrated from [[Edessa, Mesopotamia|Edessa]], [[Turkey]], [[Israel]] and [[Syria]]<ref name = New York Times>http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/24/nyregion/24church.html?em</ref> the first city state that embraced Christianity in the Roman Empire, to [[Malabar coast]] in AD 345, under the leadership of a prominent merchant [[Knai Thomman]] (قناي تامن)(in English, Thomas the Zealot).<ref name = Hough>Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Weil,S. 1982; James Hough 1893; Thomas Puthiakunnel 1973; Vellian Jacob 2001; Koder S. 1973</ref> They built a town in Kodungalloor with a church and 72 houses. The natives called it Mahadevar Pattanam (محاديفر پتنم) meaning "town of superiors". <br />
<br />
After Mar Joseph (مار جوسف) had a startling dream in which he saw the plight of the Christian church in Malabar (ملابار) established by St. Thomas, the Apostle, in the first Century. They consisted of 400 Christians from 72 families of various Syriac-Jewish clans. Included in the group was a [[Syrian Orthodox Church|Syriac Orthodox Bishop]] (Mor Joseph of Urfa), Bishops and deacons. With instructions from the Patriarch of Antioch, they sailed in three ships headed by a leading ship with the flag of King [[David]]. The Syriac-Jews were granted permission to engage in trade and settle down in [[Kodungallur]] by the then ruler of [[Malabar Coast|Malabar]], [[Cheraman Perumal]].<ref name = Hough>Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Weil,S. 1982; James Hough 1893; Thomas Puthiakunnel 1973; Vellian Jacob 2001; Koder S. 1973</ref> The event has been recorded on copper plates given to the community.<ref name = Hough>Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Weil,S. 1982; James Hough 1893; Thomas Puthiakunnel 1973; Vellian Jacob 2001; Koder S. 1973</ref><br />
<br />
Before the arrival of the people, the early Nasrani (نزاريون) people in the Malabar coast included native Indian converts and converted Jewish people who had settled in Kerala during the [[Babylonian exile]] and after.<ref name = Puthiakunnel>Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Weil,S. 1982; Thomas Puthiakunnel 1973; & Koder S. 1973</ref> They came mostly from the Northern [[Kingdom of Israel]]. According to tradition, Kna Jews are also known as Southists (''Thekkumbhagar'' in Malayalam) as they hailed from the southern province of Israel known in the Old Testament as the [[Kingdom of Judah]]. The distinction between the northern heavily exogamous Samarians and the southern zealously endagamous tribes of Judea led to the difference among the non-Knanaya Nasranis as Northists and the Knanaya as Southists. The Knanaya ([[Kanahi]] people) continue to remain an endogamous group also within the Nasrani community.<ref name = Puthiakunnel>Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Weil,S. 1982; Thomas Puthiakunnel 1973; & Koder S. 1973</ref><br />
<br />
The term known as ''Kanai'' or ''Q'nai'', (קנאי singular form of Kanahim/קנאים) means "Jealous ones for God". It is claimed that the K'nai people are the biblical Aaronites referred to as Kanahi (overly jealous and with zeal), who came to [[Sheba|Saba]] around 135AD from the southern province of Judea (whence the derives the term southists). They were deeply against the [[Roman Empire|Roman]] rule of Israel and fought against the Romans for the sovereignty of the Jews. During their struggle the K'nai'im people became followers of the Jewish sect led by [[Jesus]] the [[Nazarene]]. Many of Jesus' followers had names typical among freedom fighters such as Zealot (Simon Cana), Daggerman (Judas Iscariot), Rock (Simon Peter), Thunderson (James & John) etc.. After the crucifixion of Jesus by the Romans in 33 CE, the Knanaya intensified their struggle against the Roman rule.<br />
<br />
In 345 CE a small group of K'nanaim merchants travelled to the Jewish trade posts at Kodungallur in Kerala and settled there. Their descendants are today known in Kerala as ''Knanaya Nasranis''.<ref name = Poomangalam>Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Weil, S. 1982; Poomangalam C.A 1998; Thomas Puthiakunnel 1973; Vellian Jacob 2001; Koder S. 1973</ref><br />
<br />
==Persecution by Portuguese==<br />
{{main|Portuguese Inquisition}}<br />
The ''Nasranis'', who were, until then, the "living fossils" of the Christian-Jewish tradition, lost their very defining ethos.<ref name= "CBuchanan>Claudius Buchanan, 1811</ref> The only Nasranis who managed to preserve some elements of their Jewish origin were the Knanaya people, because of their tradition of being [[endogamy|endogamous]] within their own community and therefore preserving their Jewish tradition.<ref name= "Poomangalam">Weil, S. 1982; Jessay, P.M. 1986 Vellian Jacob 2001; Poomangalam C.A 1998</ref> An Imperial Order was passed to confiscate and sell under public auction the properties of those who celebrated Passover. It was perhaps because of this Order that the Knanaites celebrate Passover in a very private manner without inviting any Christian friend for sharing the Holy Meal.<ref>http://knanaya.weebly.com/who-is-a-knanaite.html</ref><br />
<br />
==Contemporary Knanaya==<br />
<br />
[[Image:Kottayam Valia Palli02.jpg|thumb|300px|left|Inside a Knanaya Church in Thazhathangadi, Kottayam]]Many of the Jewish customs are still preserved by the Knanaya. <ref name = Koder>Weil,S. 1982; Jessay, P.M. 1986; Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Thomas Puthiakunnel 1973; Vellian Jacob 2001; Koder S. 1973; Vellian, J 1988</ref> Kna people are strictly endagamous and no one may convert to join the Kna people although marrying out is an increasing concern for the community. That being said there is a big question about whether to allow other Jews into the community as genetic testing indicates was certainly the practice in the past. The Knanaya and other Nasranis as a whole maintained close relationship with the Jews of Kerala, (known today as [[Cochin Jews]]) until the [[Portugal|Portuguese]] inquisition of the Jews and Nasranis in the early 1500s. <ref name = Koder>Weil,S. 1982; Jessay, P.M. 1986; Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Thomas Puthiakunnel 1973; Vellian Jacob 2001; Koder S. 1973; Vellian, J 1988</ref> Kna people are also the victims of increasing missionary efforts not only from Protestant groups ecouraging them to give up on their Jewish customs and traditions, but also from some Jewish groups. Kna people trace their Jewish identity back to Archiereus Thomas Jude the brother of James Alphaeus and because of this they have frequently been called St. Thomas Christians. They descend from 72 priestly families descended from the same [[desposyni]] that Thomas Jude belonged to. the number 72 has a significance for the 72 nations of the world and each of the 72 families have their own unique family rule. One of the primary questions surrounding the acceptance of Jewish people marrying into the Knanaya (Kna people) is which rule they could accept such Jews into. <br />
<br />
Although grape produce is now consumed as a result of Portuguese influence, this was originally not the case among the Knanaya people. The tradition is preserved in the consumption of ''Pesaha pal'' (passover coconut milk) instead of wine on the night of [[passover]] along with ''Pesaha-appam'' (unleavened passover bread). <ref name = Koder>Weil,S. 1982; Jessay, P.M. 1986; Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Thomas Puthiakunnel 1973; Vellian Jacob 2001; Koder S. 1973; Vellian, J 1988</ref> . This tradition of ''Pesaha appam'' is observed by the entire Nasrani people till this day. <ref name = Koder>Weil,S. 1982; Jessay, P.M. 1986; Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Thomas Puthiakunnel 1973; Vellian Jacob 2001; Koder S. 1973; Vellian, J 1988</ref> The bridal canopy or nuppah is part of the Knanaya wedding ceremony and there is aceremonial bathing on the eve of the wedding that is parallel to the Jewish mikrah. The dead are buried facing the east to Jerusalem. <ref name = Koder>Weil,S. 1982; Jessay, P.M. 1986; Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Thomas Puthiakunnel 1973; Vellian Jacob 2001; Koder S. 1973; Vellian, J 1988</ref> Thanksgiving blessings which the Knanaya people use which follow the Hebrew formula, Birkat HaMazon ברוך אתה ה' א‑לוהינו מלך העולם, המוציא לחם מן הארץ when initiating a Eucharistic Mass.<br />
<br />
==Knanaya community at present==<br />
[[Image:A Syro Malabar Catholic Knanaya Jewish Nasrani Church.JPG|thumbnail|left|An unvelied tabernacle of a Kna Jewish 'palli' or Temple with 12 candlesticks in the background for the 12 tribes of ancient Israel.]]<br />
<br />
The first belonging to the [[Syriac Orthodox Church]] in India and second to the [[Syro-Malabar Catholic Church]]. <ref name = Weil>Weil, S. 1982; Jessay, P.M. 1986; Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Vellian Jacob 2001</ref>. Knanaya are very much conscious about their origin and up until today safeguard their ethnic character by marrying people from within the community regardless of rite. A Knanaya Syriac Orthodox diocese, established in 1910, is administered by an [[archbishop]] who reports directly to the Patriarch of Antioch of the [[Syrian Orthodox Church]]. The Knanaya Catholics and their Jewish identity have been acknowledged by the [[Holy See|Vatican]] under [[Pope Pius X]], by instituting in 1911 a diocese only for the Jewish Christians (Syrian-catholic) of Kerala. <ref name = Weil>Weil, S. 1982; Jessay, P.M. 1986; Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Vellian Jacob 2001</ref> This diocese is called the ''Arch Diocese of Kottayam'' and is in the district of [[Kottayam]] in Kerala. <ref name = Weil>Weil, S. 1982; Jessay, P.M. 1986; Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Vellian Jacob 2001</ref><br />
<br />
The approximate population of Kna Jews as of 2001: (divided by different denominations)<br />
<br />
*''Knanaya Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Christians'': 100,000<br />
*''Knanaya Syrian Malabar Catholic Christians'': 140,000<br />
In all over 250,000 Knanaya [[Christian Jew]]s continue in the ancient [[Hebrews|Hebrew]]-Christian tradition.<br />
<br />
==See also==<br />
* [[Cochin Jews]]<br />
* [[Kanahi]]<br />
* [[Kenites]]<br />
* [[Masada]]<br />
* [[Saint Thomas Christians]]<br />
* [[Syrian Malabar Nasrani]]<br />
* [[Zealots]]<br />
* [[Syro-Malabar Catholic Church]]<br />
<br />
==Notes==<br />
{{reflist}}<br />
<br />
==References==<br />
* Menachery, G. (1973) ''The St. Thomas Christian Encyclopedia of India'', Ed. George Menachery, B.N.K. Press, vol. 2, ISBN 81-87132-06-X, Lib. Cong. Cat. Card. No. 73-905568 ; B.N.K. Press<br />
* Vellian, Jacob (2001) ''Knanite community: History and culture''; Syrian church series; vol.XVII; Jyothi Book House, Kottayam<br />
* "In Universi Cristiani" (Latin Text of the Papal erection of the Knanaya Diocese of Kottayam)<br />
* Puthiakunnel, Thomas. (1973) "Jewish colonies of India paved the way for St. Thomas", ''The Saint Thomas Christian Encyclopedia of India'', ed. George Menachery, Vol. II., Trichur.<br />
* Koder, S. (1973) "History of the Jews of Kerala".''The St. Thomas Christian Encyclopaedia of India'',Ed. G. Menachery.<br />
* Vellian, J (1988) Marriage Customs of the Knanites, Christian Orient, 9, Kottayam.<br />
* Weil, S. (1982) "Symmetry between Christians and Jews in India: The Cananite Christians and Cochin Jews in Kerala. in Contributions to Indian Sociology, 16.<br />
* Jessay, P.M. (1986) "The Wedding Songs of the Cochin Jews and of the Knanite Christians of Kerala: A Study in Comparison." Symposium.<br />
* James Hough (1893) "The History of Christianity in India".<br />
* Menachery, G (ed); (1998) "The Indian Church History Classics", Vol.I, ''The Nazranies'', Ollur, 1998. [ISBN 81-87133-05-8].<br />
* Poomangalam, C.A. (1998) ''The Antiquities of the Knanaya Syrian Christians''; Kottayam, Kerala.<br />
* Podipara, Placid J. (1970) "The Thomas Christians". London: Darton, Longman and Tidd.<br />
<br />
==External links==<br />
*[http://www.knanaya.net Knanaya finder]<br />
*[http://www.knaconvention.com Knanaya Jacobite Annual Convention]<br />
*[http://www.ananthapuri.com/kerala-history.asp?page=jew Jews of Kerala]<br />
*[http://www.ananthapuri.com/kerala-history.asp?page=christian Christians of Kerala]<br />
*[http://www.indianchristianity.com Indian Christianity]<br />
*[http://www.kottayamad.org/ Archdiocese of Kottayam]<br />
*[http://www.stjohnsputhenpally.org/ St.Johns Puthenpally Chingavanam]<br />
<br />
[[Category:Archdiocese of Changanassery]]<br />
[[Category:Kerala society]]<br />
[[Category:Knanaya Community| ]]<br />
[[Category:Malayali people]]<br />
[[Category:Saint Thomas Christians]]<br />
[[Category:Syro-Malabar Catholic Church]]<br />
[[Category:Jewish ethnic groups]]<br />
[[Category:Jewish Christians]]<br />
[[Category:Semitic peoples]]<br />
<br />
[[de:Knananiten]]<br />
[[fr:Knanayas]]<br />
[[mk:Кнанаја]]</div>Zubinraj