This article deals with the Nasrani People as an ethnic community, for a detailed article on the religious tradition of the Nasrani people; see: Saint Thomas Christians.

The Syrian Malabar Nasrani people are an ethnic community in Kerala, South India. It is a term which refers those who became Christians in the Malabar coast in the earliest days of Christianity, including the natives and the Jewish diaspora in Kerala. Menachery G; 1973, 1982, 1998; Mundalan, A. M; 1984; Podipara, Placid J. 1970; Leslie Brown, 1956 Thomas Puthiakunnel 1973; & Koder S. 1973; T.K Velu Pillai, 1940. They follow a unique Hebrew-Syriac Christian tradition which includes several Jewish elements along with some Hindu customs. Their heritage is Syriac-Keralite, their culture South Indian, their faith St. Thomas Christian, and their language Malayalam. Menachery G; 1973, 1982, 1998; Mundalan, A. M; 1984; Podipara, Placid J. 1970; Leslie Brown, 1956. Much of their Jewish tradition has been forgotten, especially after the Portuguese invasion of Kerala in the early 1500s. Menachery G; 1973, 1982, 1998; Mundalan, A. M; 1984; Podipara, Placid J. 1970; Leslie Brown, 1956

The Nasrani people are also called as Syrian-Malabar Christians, Saint Thomas Christians or even as Syrian Christians. They are also called as Nasrani Mapillas. According to Hermann Gundert (who wrote the first malayalam dictionary) The term 'mapilla' was a title used to denote semitic immigrants from West Asia. Thus the term Mapilla was used to denote both, the Arab descendants and Christian-Jewish descendants in Kerala. The descendants of Arabs were / and still are called as Jonakan Muslim Mappila, while the descendants of Syrian-Jewish Christians are called as Nasrani Mapillas. Gantz Brothers, Land of the Perumals 1863.

Origins

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The Syrian Malabar Nasranis are comprised of the earliest people who joined Christianity, including local people of Kerala and many Malabar Jews from the Jewish diaspora of the pre-Christian era who were settled in Kerala. Thomas Puthiakunnel 1973; & Koder S. 1973; T.K Velu Pillai, 1940. The community is also comprised of the 3rd and 7th century Syriac Christian-Jewish settlement in Kerala today known as Knanaya Nasranis. Podipara, Placid J. 1970; Vellian Jacob 2001; Menachery G, 1973, 1998; Poomangalam C.A 1998; Leslie Brown, 1956

Since Hinduism was the predomininant local religion, many writers claim that the first converts were mainly the brahmins of Kerala called the namboothiris, but others argue that the claims were made by the later Christians to obtain special caste status in the prevailing caste system of India. A notable point is that the Namboothiri history claims their origin in Kerala in the 7th century CE Veluthat, K. 1978, while Christianity in India originated in the 1st century CE. Also most of the Malabari locals who joined early Christianity returned to their earlier faith during a shaivite revival by the shaivite scholar Manikka Vachkar. Philip, E.M. 1908. Thus the community consists of people from ethnic groups of Kerala including some Brahmins in the later part, the pre-Christian era Jewish diaspora and the Christian-Jewish Knanaya colonies of 3rd and 7th centuries. Podipara, Placid J. 1970; Vellian Jacob 2001; Tisserant, E. (1957) Trans. and ed. by E. R. Hambye; Menachery G 1973, 1998; Leslie Brown, 1956; Poomangalam C.A 1998

The southern coast of the Indian subcontinent (hypothesized by the Jewish historian Flavius Josephus to be the place mentioned as Ophir in the Old Testament) inevitably became a gateway from the Mediterranean world to the Far East. The people there traded in teak, ivory, spices and peacocks, and the area was endowed with a magnificent coastline with numerous ports from Mangalapuram to Kodungallur, also known as Cranganore. James Hough 1893; T.K Velu Pillai, 1940. In the ancient times it was called as Muziris in Latin and Muchiri in malayalam. Menachery, George 2000, Menachery & Chakkalakal W 1987

The trade routes brought with them not just riches but also stateless nations and nascent worldviews. Bjorn Landstrom, 1964; Miller, J. Innes. 1969 Cranganore became one of the earliest settlements of the Jewish diaspora from the later Old Testament period. They continued trade with the Mediterranean world, thus establishing a strong link between the southern coast of the Indian peninsula and the Judeo-Roman world. K.V. Krishna Iyer, 1971, (Periplus Maris Erythraei transl. Wilfred Schoff 1912; Rawlinson, H; 1926. Laying the links or foundations for what would later be the early 'Judeo-Nazaraean' diaspora. The early Aramaic-speaking Syriac Christians who came to Kerala from Syria (which already had a Jewish settlement in Kodungulloor) were of largely ethnically Jewish origin. Thomas Puthiakunnel 1973; & Koder S. 1973; Menachery G 1973, 1982, 1998;

British researcher William Dalrymple travelled across the Arabian Sea to Kerala in a boat similar to those mentioned in ancient Jewish and Roman texts and showed how the Nasrani-Jewish people had travelled from Syria to Kodungalloor. He followed the same course as mentioned in the Acts of Thomas, a copy of which survives in a monastery on Mount Sinai. Dalrymple, William 2000; Bevan, 1897; Bornkamm, G. 1965

The term Syrian-Malabar Nasranis is a composite form of the elemental aspects of the ancient tradition. In it the term Syrian actually refers to the Aramaic speaking Jewish people rather than Syria, while the term Malabar is the name of an ancient region of the present day state of Kerala in India. The term Syrian-Malabar Nasrani therefore means people of Christian-Jewish tradition who follow Jesus of Nazareth and are from the Malabar coast of South India. Podipara, Placid J. 1970; Menachery G, 1973; 1982; 2000; Tisserant, E. 1957; Leslie Brown, 1956

There are Christians in todays Syria, called Nasranis. So it makes sense to believe that Syrians Christians in Kerala have some link to Syria. The South Indian epic of Manimekalai written between 2nd and 3rd century CE mentions the Nasrani people by the name Issanis referring to one of the early Christian-Jewish sect within the Nasranis called essenes. The embassy of Alfred in 833 CE described the nestorian syrian Christians as being prosperous and enjoying high status in the malabar coast. Marco Polo also mentioned about the Nasranis and their ancient church in the malabar coast in his writings Il Milione Marco Polo (1298) LATHAM, R. (TRANSL.) 1958

Christian Jewish tradition

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These early Christian Jews believed in Jesus as the Christ, but followed Jewish traditions and called themselves Nazaraeans or Nazrani, meaning Jews who followed the Nazarene Messiah (Jesus). The term Nazaraean was first mentioned in the New Testament in Acts 24:5. The term nasrani was used essentially to denote Jewish followers of Jesus from Nazareth, while the term Khristianos "Christian" was initially used largely to refer to non-Jewish peoples ("gentiles") who followed the Christ (Acts 11:26). Until the advent of the Portuguese in the 1500s, the proto-Jewish-Nasrani ethos in Kerala thrived with Jewish customs and the Syrian-Antiochian tradition. Vellian Jacob, 2001; Poomangalam C.A, 1998; Puthur, B. (ed.) 2002; Menachery, G; eds vol I 1982; vol II 1973; Menachery, G. 1998

They preserved the original rituals of the early Jewish Christians, such as covering their heads while in worship. Their ritual services (liturgy) was and still is called the Qurbana (also spelled Kurbana), which is derived from the Hebrew Korban (קרבן), meaning "Sacrifice". Their ritual service used to be held on Saturdays in the tradition of the Jewish Sabbath. The Nasrani Qurbana used to be sung in the Suryani (Syriac) and Aramaic languages. They also believed that it was the Romans who killed Jesus because, historically, Jesus was crucified; the official form of execution of the Jews was typically stoning to death, while the official form of execution of the Romans was crucifixion.The architecture of the early church reflected a blend of Jewish and Kerala styles. Weil, S. 1982; Vellian Jacob 2001; Poomangalam C.A 1998, Menachery G, 1973; 1982; 2000;

Nasrani symbol

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The symbol of the Nasranis is the Syrian cross, also called as Nasrani Menorah or Mar Thoma kurish in Malayalam. It is based on the Jewish menorah, the ancient symbol of the Hebrews, which consists of a branched candle stand for seven candlesticks. (Exodus 25) The Holy Bible (King James Version): 1611 Edition (Thos. Nelson, 1993) ISBN 0840700288). In the Nasrani Menorah the six branches, (three on either side of the cross) represents God as the burning bush, while the central branch holds the cross, the dove at the tip of the cross represents the Holy Spirit. (Exodus 25:31) The Holy Bible (King James Version): 1611 Edition (Thos. Nelson, 1993) ISBN 0840700288). In Jewish tradition the central branch is the main branch, from which the other branches or other six candles are lit. Netzer is the Hebrew word for "branch" and is the root word of Nazareth and Nazarene. (Isaiah 11:1) The Holy Bible (King James Version): 1611 Edition (Thos. Nelson, 1993) ISBN 0840700288).

Note that the Christian cross was not adopted as a symbol by Mediterranean and European Christianity until several centuries have passed.

Persecution by Portuguese

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The Judeo-Nasrani tradition of the Syro-Malabar Nasranis was wiped out when the Portuguese invaded Kerala, and denounced the Nasrani account of Christian faith as false. They imposed their European rituals and liturgy and obliterated the Jewish legacy from the Nasrani tradition. The Portuguese described the Nasranis as Sabbath-keeping Judaizers. Claudius Buchanan, 1811.

Archbishop Menezes of Goa, convened the Synod of Diamper in Kerala in 1599. Michael Geddes, 1694, (Ed). Prof. Menachery, G, 1998; 2000;. There he ordered all the texts of the Syrian Nasranis to be burnt Van der Ploeg, J. P. M. 1983; Menachery, G 1973, 1998, 2000. The Portuguese burned the Gospel of Thomas and the Acts of Thomas. The purpose stated by Menezes was to erase all legacies of antiquity and Jewishness. Claudius Buchanan, 1811. Amongst several accusations, the Nasranis were accused of not worshipping images of saints and biblical figures. Claudius Buchanan 1811. They completely obliterated the records of early Nasrani life and Hebrew-Syriac tradition and imposed on the Nasranis that they were local people who were converted and not descendants of early Jewish settlers converted to Christianity by the Apostle Thomas. This despite the fact that the Acts of Thomas (a copy of which still survives in a monastry on Mount Sinai), states that the early Christian converts by the apostle Thomas in Kerala were early Jewish people settled in the Malabar coast. Bevan, 1897; Bornkamm, G. 1965

Most of all, the Portuguese burned the Nasrani Aramaic Peshitta Bible known today as the Lost Aramaic Bible that was based on the Jewish Targum and included the Gospel of the Nazoraeans. The Portuguese imposed the teaching that the Jews killed Jesus. The Nasranis, who were, until then, the "living fossils" of the Christian-Jewish tradition, lost their very defining ethos. Knanayas, because of their tradition of being endogamous within their own community and therefore preserving their Jewish tradition. Weil, S. 1982; Jessay, P.M. 1986 Vellian Jacob 2001; Poomangalam C.A 1998.

Nasrani tradition today

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Though much of the Jewish tradition was lost, some of the important traditions lived on. The symbol of the Nasrani people is still the Nasrani menorah. Other surviving Jewish tradition still followed by the Nasranis is the tradition of Pesaha-appam or unleavened Passover bread"). On passover night, the Nasrani people have Pesaha-appam along with Pesaha-pal or "Passover coconut milk". This tradition of Pesaha-appam is observed by the entire Nasrani people until this day. The Knanayas (a distinct group within the Nasrani people) have maintained more of the Jewish traditions. Vellian Jacob, 2001; Poomangalam C.A, 1998; Menachery, G (ed) 1973; 1982; 1998;.

The Nasrani Church has separate seating arrangement for men and women. Until the 1970s the Nasrani Kurbana was sung in Aramaic-Syriac language. Many of the tunes of the syrian Christian worship in Kerala are remnants of ancient syriac tunes of the antiquity. Palackal, Joseph J. 2005. The "Holy of Holies" is divided by a red curtain for most of the time and is opened during the central part of the Nasrani Mass or Qurbana. The Nasrani Baptism is still called by the Hebrew-syriac term Mamodisa and follows many of the ancient rituals of the ceremony. It is referred in malayalam as Gnyana Snanam (Bath of Wisdom).

Nasrani people today belong to various Christian denominations of the Saint Thomas Christian tradition. See Saint Thomas Christians for a detailed description of the various denominations.

Nasrani people today

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Nasrani people largely live in the districts of Kottayam in Kerala and neighbouring districts. They have also migrated to other cities in India like Mumbai and Bangalore. Others have migrated to the United States and work in the Middle East. Based on the Indian census report of 2004, there are presently approximately 5,000,000 Syrian-Malabar Nasranis from across the various denominations within the Nasrani community. (Syrian christian census 2004)

Nasrani people own large estates and engage in trade of rubber, spices and cash crops. They also take prominent role in the educational institutions of Kerala and throughout India. ('The Hindu' Syrian christians are in a class of their own South Indian newspaper article 31 August 2001)

List of prominent Nasranis

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• Abu Abraham - Cartoonist who had worked for The Guardian and The Observer.
• A.K. Antony - Congress leader, former Chief Minister of Kerala.
• Anju Bobby George - Athlete.
• Arundhati Roy - (Her mother is a Syrian Christian) - Booker Prize winning author.
• Asin Thottumkal - Actress
• Nayantara - Actress
• Beena Mol - Athlete.
• Ennakkal Chandy George Sudarshan - Theoretical Physicist.
• George Menachery - Historian and Editor of St. Thomas Christian Encyclopaedia
• Joseph Mundassery - First Education Minister of Kerala and a prominent Malayalam critic.
• Johnson (composer) - Malayalam cinema composer
• John Abraham - Actor and Model - (His father is a Syrian Christian).
• John Mathai - Politician.
• K.M.Chandy - Politician
• K.K. Mathew - Former Indian Supreme Court Justice and later Law Commission Chairman and Press Commission Chairman of India.
• K.M. Mathew - Chief Editor, Malayala Manorama.
• Mathai Manjooran - Indian freedom fighter and Socialist revolutionary.
• Oommen Chandy - Congress leader, former Chief Minister of Kerala.
• Paul, M.P.- Prominent Malayalam critic.
• Paul Zacharia - Malayalam writer.
• P.C. Alexander - Former Governor and senior bureaucrat, Member of Parliament.
• Toms - The creator of the cartoon characters Boban and Molly.
• V.C.Samuel - Renowned christologist, world authority on church history.
• Verghese Kurien - Entrepreneur & Vice-Chancellor of the Allahabad University, also father of the Indian White Revolution (Operation Flood) based in Anand, Gujarat.

See also

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• Cochin Jews
• Goa Inquisition
• Knanaya
• Saint Thomas Christians
• Thalassery Diocese

Notes

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References and Bibliography

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External links

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• www.SyroMalabar.com -- Syro-Malabar Church, Dioceses, Matrimonial: Brides & Grooms
• Unofficial site of SOC
• History of the Christian Jews in Asia
• Knanaya Christians
• The cradle of Christianity in India
• History of the Kerala Christians by Dr. Zacharias Thundy, Northern Michigan University
• Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church (Indian Orthodox Church)
• The tradition of the Essenes
• Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church
• Christians of Kerala
• population of christians in India and kerala based on 2004 report of Indian census
• Syrian christians are in a class of their own South Indian newspaper 31 August 2001

Ethnic groups in Asia | Caste | Kerala society