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Regions with significant populations | |
---|---|
Kerala | |
Languages | |
Malayalam, Sanskrit | |
Religion | |
Hinduism (Brahmin and Kshatriya) | |
Related ethnic groups | |
Madampi, Jenmi, Rajputs, Malayali Brahmins |
Pillai, (Malayalam: [piɭːai̯]) meaning Prince,[1] is a title of nobility which can either refer to a ruling chief, members of the nobility, or junior princes of the royal family and was mostly used by the upper-caste Nair feudal lords who were historically ranked as or immediately below the king.[2] The oldest lineages of Pillais include not only Kshatriyas[3] but also brahmins[4] who took up the sword. From the early modern period, the title also came to be bestowed upon Savarna subjects by the Kings for services military or political, most of whom were of Nair origin.[5][6]