{{pp-semi-indef|small=yes}} {{short description|Tamil caste}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}} {{Use Indian English|date=August 2020}} {{Infobox caste|caste_name=Ambattar|classification=|languages=Tamil|religions=Hinduism|related=Tamils|subdivisions=}}'''Ambattar''' (also known by many other names) is a Tamil caste found in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and northeastern part of Sri Lanka. Their traditional occupations are physicians, surgeons,{{Clarify|reason=Is this traditional medicine and medically unqualified individuals? Like the so-called barber-surgeons of Indian villages. In this case, they cannot be called either surgeons or physicians and adding a link to those professions is misleading. Only certified medical practitioners from recognized academic institutions of medical learning can be called surgeons or physicians?|date=September 2025}} midwives and musicians.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_yhFAAAAYAAJ|title=Rural change in southeast India: 1950s to 1980s|last=Gough|first=Kathleen|date=1989|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-562276-8|location=|pages=|language=en}}</ref><ref name="Béteille 1965">{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/casteclasspowerc0000bete|url-access=registration|title=Caste, Class, and Power: Changing Patterns of Stratification in a Tanjore Village|last1=Béteille|first1=André|last2=Beteille|first2=Professor Emeritus of Socio Logy Andre|date=1965|publisher=University of California Press|isbn=9780520020535|location=|pages=[https://archive.org/details/casteclasspowerc0000bete/page/89 89]|language=en}}</ref> Leslie in his comparative study of Asian medical systems explains that Vaidiyar title is adopted by members of '''Ambattars''' in Tamil Nadu, since they are practicing medicine.<ref name="Leslie2">{{cite book|last=Leslie|first=Charles M.|title=Asian Medical Systems: A Comparative Study|year=1998|publisher=Motilal Banarasidass Publishers|isbn=81-208-1537-8|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pcgQSKFL-DsC&dq=Ambastha&pg=PA38}}</ref>
== Etymology and synonyms == The name ''Ambattar'' is a Tamilised word likely originating from Sanskrit word ''Ambashtha''. The word is derived from the two Sanskrit words ''amba'' meaning "near" and ''stha'' meaning "to stand" thus meaning "one who stands nearby" in reference to their occupation as surgeons.
In Bengal, the community was also referred as Ambastha which falls under the broader category of Kayasthas and their migration from Kashmir to Bengal and South India was explained in 'Ambastha Kayastha', a book by K. N. Sahay. <ref>{{Cite book|last1=Menon|first1=T. Madhava|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TjVuAAAAMAAJ|title=A handbook of Kerala|last2=Linguistics|first2=International School of Dravidian|date=2002|publisher=International School of Dravidian Linguistics|isbn=9788185692319|location=|pages=764|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Sircar|first=Dineschandra|title=Studies in the Society and Administration of Ancient and Medieval India|date=1967|publisher=Firma K. L. Mukhopadhyay|isbn=|location=|pages=109|language=en}}</ref>
They have also been referred to as ''Maruttuvar, Pariyari'' and ''Vaidiyar'', ''Mahamathirar'' which are all synonyms for physicians.<ref name="Béteille 1965" /><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OugcAQAAMAAJ|title=Census of India, 1961: Madras|last=General|first=India Office of the Registrar|date=1966|publisher=Manager of Publications|isbn=|location=|pages=7|language=en}}</ref> According to one member of the caste, the name used varies from one village to another.
== History == === Social status and customs === The Ambattars often carried out the profession of physician-surgeons{{Clarify|reason=Is this traditional medicine and medically unqualified individuals? they cannot be called either surgeons or physicians. Only certified medical practitioners from recognaized academic institutions of medical learning can be called surgeons or physicians?|date=September 2025}} but later took up other professions such as that of musicians. The social life of Tamil Ambattars is regulated by Brahmanical code, who act as priest in their marriage ceremonies. Like the orthodox North-Indian upper castes, traditionally widow remarriage was not there and the dead are cremated. They perform as priests in marriage ceremonies of the Vellas of Salem district. They may be Shaiva or Vaishnava. The Vaishnava abstain from meat, fish and liquor. Their population is quite large in Salem district. Similar group is also found in South Travencore who work as physician-surgeons,{{Clarify|reason=Is this traditional medicine and medically unqualified individuals? Like the so-called barber-surgeons of Indian villages. In this case, they cannot be called either surgeons or physicians and adding a link to those professions is misleading. Only certified medical practitioners from recognized academic institutions of medical learning can be called surgeons or physicians?|date=September 2025}} midwives, barbers and priests. They have respectable social status. Ambattars held high positions during Chalukya and Pandya kingdoms.<ref name="Sinha BP">{{Cite book|title=Kayastha in making of modern Bihar|last=Sinha|first=BP|publisher=Impression Publisher|year=2003|location=Patna|pages=14–15|language=en}}</ref>
=== Early Tamil history === The Siddhars, the ancient Tamil physicians who claimed to have attained ''siddhi'', hailed mostly from the Ambattar community.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wygbAAAAIAAJ|title=Madras District Gazetteers: Tiruchirappalli (pt. 1-2)|last1=State)|first1=Madras (India |last2=Baliga|first2=B. S.|last3=Bahadur.)|first3=B. S. Baliga (Rao|date=1999|publisher=Superintendent, Government Press|isbn=|location=|pages=1447|language=en}}</ref>
=== Sri Lanka === According to the folklore of the Ambattar of Sri Lanka, they arrived in the Jaffna Kingdom as attendants of warriors. Since they came without their wives, they married Sri Lankan Vellalar women.<ref>{{Cite book|title=The New Wind: Changing Identities in South Asia|last=David|first=Kenneth|date=2011-06-03|publisher=Walter de Gruyter|isbn=9783110807752|location=|pages=189|language=en}}</ref>
== See also ==
* Velakkathala Nair * Isai Vellalar
== References == <references />
Category:Social groups of Tamil Nadu Category:Sri Lankan Tamil castes Category:Indian castes Category:Ethnic groups in India Category:South Indian communities