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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] The Nair Pillai caste is unrelated to other Pillais. It is important not to confuse them with the Vellala Pillai, Chetti Pillai, illathu Pillai (Eelathu Pillai), etc. Some of them also use 'Pillai' surname in some parts of Kerala, they have distinct identities and no relation with Kerala title "Pillai".
- ^ Sircar, Dineschandra (1966). Indian Epigraphical Dictionary. p. 166. ISBN 9788120805620.
- ^ Mark de Lannoy,Kulasekhara Perumals of Travancore, Page 6,7, 8
- ^ a Kshatriya (Pillai Ilampel Pandarathil mentioned in Mark de Lannoy Kulasekhara Perumals of Travancore, Page 6 at para2
- ^ a Brahmin (Pillai Idathara Potti) mentioned in Mark de Lannoy, Kulasekhara Perumals of Travancore, Page 6 at para2
- ^ Nagam Aiya V., Dewan Bahadur., and Travancore (Princely State). Census Commissioner. Report on the Census of Travancore, Taken by Command of His Highness the Maharajah on 26 February 18791-16th Masy 1066 M.E., along with the Imperial Census of India. 1891. JSTOR, jstor.org/stable/10.2307/saoa.crl.25318674. Accessed 13 Aug. 2020.
- ^ Jeffrey, Robin (1994). The Decline of Nair Dominance: Society and Politics in Travancore, 1847-1908. Manohar. ISBN 978-81-7304-065-8.