Warriersamajam Guruvayur

History Personalities

ORIGIN



Though there have been many isolated attempts in the past to organize the Global Warriers, an organized effort started in the year 1977 to unite the Warriers all over Kerala. Warrier Samajam was formally registered and launched in the year1977. The official headquarters initially was at Kottayam, which was subsequently moved to Guruvayur following the completion of the Akshaya building at Guruvayur. Currentky, the Registered Office is at Kottayam and the Administrative Office is in Guruvayur.



Among the personalities who worked hard for the formation of the Samajam may be mentioned Sri Mazhuvannor Sankara Warrier, the first President, Sri. E. Sankara Warrier, Sri. C.K. Achutha Warrier etc.



MEMBERSHIP, ORGANIZATION

Samajam membership is open to all those who belong to the Warrier Community. It offers an ordinary membership as well as a Life Membership.

The Samajam has three Zones, the North (UTHARA MEKHALA), the Central (MADHYA MEKHALA) and the South (DAKSHINE MEKHALA). Under each zone, there are District units and under them the local units. The Samajam is administered by a Central Executive Committee (also called as Director Board) consisting of the President, Vice President, Secretary, the Treasurer and one representative from each of the three zones.

The local units hold monthly meetings to discuss about general affairs of particular interest to the members. There will be also annual general body meetings at the unit level. The office bearers of the local unit committees are elected in the annual general body meetings. The units conduct programmes to celebrate local events or festivals and provide opportunities for the unit members to interact. Today, the Samajam has about 63 registered units spread across Kerala, major cities in India and also countries such as Dubai, and Bahrain.

The Office bearers of the Central Committee are also elected in the annual General body meeting of the Samajam. Their term of office is one year.



ACTIVITIES OF THE SAMAJAM



The primary aim of the Samajam is to organize all the Warriers under one organization. It also works for the all round upliftment of the community members. It caters to the cultural, social and economic needs of the community. The Samajam also extends help to Warrier families during any functions (weddings, sradhams etc). The Samajam has instituted the following endowments & awards for members of the community:

1. Peroor Saraswathy Warasyar Memorial Award (SSLC)


2. Vettikkattoor Prof. Krishna Warrier Memorial Award (SSLC)


3. Attoor Kochu Madhava Warasyar Memorial Award (SSLC - Sanskrit)


4. Thirumooppathu RamanKutty Warrier Memorial Endowment (PDC - MG University)


5. Dubai Sharja Warrier Group Endowment (PDC / Plus 2 - Commerce)


6. Kannampuzha Krishna Warrier memorial Award (M.A.Sanskrit/Malayalam/ Hindi)

The Samajam publishes a monthly magazine called Theertham to convey its various activities to members. It also showcases the talents of community members. Samajam also publishes Theertham Calender every year.

Samajam has started Warrier Mandiram at Chovvara, near Aluva in order to facilitate performing ceremonial rites & rituals for the departed souls from Warrier community. The Perumbavoor unit has started this project in 1999 and the Mandiram is now situated on the banks of River Periyar, at Chovvara, very close to the National Highway 47. The project is now supervised by the the District Committee of Ernakulam and the Perumbavoor, Aluva, Paravoor, Angamali, Chottanikkara and Cochin units of the Warrier Samajam.


The people who attend the works in Hindu Temples are generally being called as “Ambalavasikal”. WARRIER community with certain designated functions, from the time of establishing more and more temples by Aadi Shankara or Vilwamangalam Swamigal, is one among them. Though the nature of duties may vary according to the ritual practices and size of temples, Warriers do mainly certain jobs such as “Malakettu" (making garlands), “Adichuthali” (Cleaning of temple kitchen), and “Vilakkeduppu” (holding lamp when the deity is led in procession out of “Srikovil” or sanctum sanctorum, carrying “thidampu” or deity’s idol by the priest). Warrier community belongs to the Kailasa Gothram giving reverence to the Namasivaya Manthram. Warriers give importance to the tradition of “Kudumbam” or “Tharavadu”, ancestors and family gods.



All the members in warrier families (Warriam) together involved in temple duties. Some families got free hold right (Karazhma) to do the work of certain temples and such rights continue, generation after generation. Warriers were generally honoured as “ashanmar” (Guru or Teacher) even by kings of Travancore and Kochi . So their social status as men of wisdom was second to none.



For the unification function of scattered local units under a central organization, Warrier Samajam was registered in 1978. There are over 63 local units under the centralized administrative control of Warrier samajam at present. The Samajam started a news magazine named “Theertham” in 1981.



The thinking minds of warrier community have begun to aspire a bright future evaluating the existing setup of the Samajam. The Samajam can do many things for the welfare of the community and society as a whole. We must pay keen attention to the study of Sanskrit, Ayurvedam and literature. We must not disregard the sanctity of temples. We must not forget the traditions of our ancestors and family gods, while we leap into a newer world.