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Mezhathol Agnihothri is a figure in the folklore of Kerala who is credited for supposedly reviving the ancient Shrauta traditions in Kerala, India, in around the mid-first millennium CE. At that time, Buddhism and Jainism had eroded Hinduism in India. Mezhathol rejuvenated the ancient customs by performing 99 yagas. The Shrauta traditions still remain intact in Kerala today, maintained by the rigidly orthodox Nambudiri Brahmins.

Yagas

Mezhathol Agnihothri began gathering interest in the yaga culture and proceeded to perform 99 yagas, one after the other. However only seven of the original 32 Nambudiri Graamams (Villages) agreed to assist Mezhathol, and today only these Graamams (Taliparamba, Alathur, Karikkad, Panniyur, Sukapuram, Peruvanam and Irinjalakkuda) have the right to perform Yaagam. 17 Nambudiri experts are required to perform yagas, and they come from Kalakandathur Griham, Maathur Griham, Kulukkamillaavur Griham, Chemmangad Griham, Pazhoor Griham, Muringoth Griham and Vella Griham.

It is believed that if a person performs 100 yagas, that person has the same status of Indran. After Mezhathol performed 99 yagas, Indran, worried that he may lose his power, requested Mezhathol not to perform the 100th yaga. Mezhathol declined, explaining that he was not performing the yagas for personal gain, but to retain the culture of yagas amongst Brahmins. At this, Indran gave Mezhathol and his seven associates the same status as himself.

Aadhyan Nambudiri

The assistance of 8 Nambudiri families (Griham) was recognised by Mezhathol Agnihotri and he classed these 8 families as the Ashtagrihathil Aadhyanmaar (Eight Elite Families). Members of these families are known as ''Aadhyan'' Nambudiris ("Aadhyan" literally means "the first one" in Malayalam). Aadhyans adopted the title of "Nambudiripad" to show their superior status. However in the subsequent centuries, several non-Aadhyan families (known as Aasyan Nambudiris) have also adopted the title of "Nambudiripad" in imitation of Aadhyan Nambudiris.

References

External links

Science set to give a date for famed folklore

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+{{No footnotes|date=February 2024}}
-'''Mezhathol Agnihothri''' (b. 342 AD) revived the traditions of the ancient [[Shrauta]] traditions in [[Kerala]], [[India]] the 4th century AD. At that time, [[Buddhism]] and [[Jainism]] had eroded the ancient [[Vedic Religion]] culture of India. Mezhathol rejuvenated the ancient customs by performing 99 [[Yaagam]]s. The Shrauta traditions still remain intact in Kerala today, maintained by the rigidly orthodox [[Nambudiri]] Brahmins.
-==Early life=
-Mezhathol was the first child of the famous [[Parayi petta panthirukulam]] (12 children born from the [[Paraiyar|Pariah]] woman), as the son of [[Vararuchi]]. He is said to have been born in 342 AD, and was found on the banks of the [[Nila River]] by an [[Antharjanam]] belonging to the [[Vemancheri Mana]]
+'''Mezhathol Agnihothri''' is a figure in the [[folklore of Kerala]] who is credited for supposedly reviving the ancient [[Shrauta]] traditions in Kerala, [[India]], in around the mid-first millennium CE. At that time, [[Buddhism]] and [[Jainism]] had eroded Hinduism in India. Mezhathol rejuvenated the ancient customs by performing 99 [[Yajna|''yagas'']]. The Shrauta traditions still remain intact in Kerala today, maintained by the rigidly orthodox [[Nambudiri]] Brahmins.
-==Yaagam==
-Mezhathol Agnihothri began gathering interest in the [[Yaagam]] culture and proceeded to perform 99 Yaagams, one after the other. However only seven of the original 32 [[Nambudiri]] Graamams (Villages) agreed to assist Mezhathol, and today only these Graamams ([[Taliparamba]], [[Alathur]], [[Karikkad]], [[Panniyur]], [[Sukapuram]], [[Perumanam]] and [[Irinjalakkuda]]) have the right to perform Yaagam. 17 Nambudiri experts are required to perform Yaagam, and they come from [[Kalakandathur]] Griham, [[Maathur Griham]], [[Kulukkamillaavur Griham]], [[Chemmangad]] Griham, [[Pazhoor]] Griham, [[Muringoth]] Griham and [[Vella Griham]].
+==Yagas==
-It is believed that if a person performs 100 Yaagams, that person has the same status of [[Indran]]. After Mezhathol performed 99 Yaagams, [[Indran]], worried that he may lose his power, requested Mezhathol not to perform the 100th Yaagam. Mezhathol declined, explaining that he was not performing the Yaagams for personal gain, but to retain the culture of Yaagam amongst [[Brahmins]]. At this, [[Indran]] gave Mezhathol and his seven associates the same status as himself.
+Mezhathol Agnihothri began gathering interest in the yaga culture and proceeded to perform 99 yagas, one after the other. However only seven of the original 32 [[Nambudiri]] Graamams (Villages) agreed to assist Mezhathol, and today only these Graamams ([[Taliparamba]], [[Alathur]], [[Karikkad]], [[Panniyur]], [[Sukapuram]], [[Peruvanam]] and [[Irinjalakkuda]]) have the right to perform Yaagam. 17 Nambudiri experts are required to perform yagas, and they come from [[Kalakandathur]] Griham, [[Maathur Griham]], [[Kulukkamillaavur Griham]], [[Chemmangad]] Griham, [[Pazhoor]] Griham, [[Muringoth]] Griham and [[Vella Griham]].
+It is believed that if a person performs 100 yagas, that person has the same status of [[Indran]]. After Mezhathol performed 99 yagas, [[Indran]], worried that he may lose his power, requested Mezhathol not to perform the 100th yaga. Mezhathol declined, explaining that he was not performing the yagas for personal gain, but to retain the culture of yagas amongst [[Brahmins]]. At this, [[Indran]] gave Mezhathol and his seven associates the same status as himself.
 ===''Aadhyan'' Nambudiri===
-The assistance of 8 Nambudiri families (''Griham'') was recognised by Mezhathol Agnihotri and he classed these 8 families as the ''[[Ashtagrihathil Aadhyanmaar]]'' ([[Eight Elite Families]]). Members of these families are known as [[''Aadhyan'' Nambudiris]] ("[[Aadhyan]]" literally means "the first one" in Malayalam). [[Adhyans]] adopted the title of "[[Nambudiripad]]" to show their superior status. However in the subsequent centuries, several non-Aadyan families (known as [[Aasyan Nambudiris]]) have also adopted the title of "Nambudiripad" in imitation of [[Adhyan Nambudiris]].
+The assistance of 8 Nambudiri families (''Griham'') was recognised by Mezhathol Agnihotri and he classed these 8 families as the ''[[Ashtagrihathil Aadhyanmaar]]'' ([[Eight Elite Families]]). Members of these families are known as [[''Aadhyan'' Nambudiris]] ("[[Aadhyan]]" literally means "the first one" in Malayalam). [[Adhyans|Aadhyans]] adopted the title of "[[Nambudiripad]]" to show their superior status. However in the subsequent centuries, several non-Aadhyan families (known as [[Aasyan Nambudiris]]) have also adopted the title of "Nambudiripad" in imitation of [[Adhyan Nambudiris|Aadhyan Nambudiris]].
-==Scholarship==
+==See also==
+*[[Parayi petta panthirukulam]]
-It is believed that Agnihothri wrote the books "Bhaavanaavivekam", "Sphotasidhi", "Brahmasidhi", etc. using the pen name "Mandanamisra" and three poems in Chenthamizhu included in "Purananoor" in the pen name of "Vanparanar". The famous scholars [[Payyur Bhattathiris]] claim their ancestry to Agnihothri.
+*[[Erkkara Raman Nambudiri]]
 ==References==
+{{reflist}}
-[http://namboothiri.com/articles/agnihothri.htm http://namboothiri.com/articles/agnihothri.htm]
+==External links==
-[http://ibnlive.in.com/news/science-set-to-give-a-date-for-famed-folklore/250507-60-116.html Science set to give a date for famed folklore]
+[https://web.archive.org/web/20120427140133/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/science-set-to-give-a-date-for-famed-folklore/250507-60-116.html Science set to give a date for famed folklore]
-==See also==
-*[[Yaagam]]
-*[[Parayi petta panthirukulam]]
-*[[Nambudiri]]
 [[Category:Hindu revivalists]]