# Pulluvan

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**Pulluvan** is a scheduled caste group in [Kerala](/source/Kerala). They belong to the [Hindu](/source/Hindu) religion. The term *pullu* means a bird of omen. There are many sub-divisions within the Pulluva community, the majority known as *Nagampatikal* (people who sing snake-songs). There are also pulluvars who are not Naagampatikal, known as *Pretampatikal* (people who sing ghost songs).[1]

Most of the art forms of the Pulluvar are ritualistic. Most of their songs are related to worship, ritual, custom and exorcism. The Pulluva art is expressed in the background of snake-worship, ghost worship and magic.[2]

The Pulluvar of Kerala are closely connected to serpent worship. One group among these people considers the snake gods as their presiding deities and perform certain sacrifices and sing songs. Known as '[Pulluvan Paattu](/source/Pulluvan_Paattu)', this is performed in the houses of the lower castes as well as those of the higher castes, in addition to serpent temples.

## References

1. Castes and tribes of southern India. Assisted by K. Rangachari (1909)

1. L.S. Rajagopalan, "The Pulluvans and their music". The Journal of the Madras Music Academy 51 : 72-80, 1980

- Chummar Choondal, *Pulluuvar (janatapathanam).* Trivandrum: Charithram Publications. 1981.
- (in French) Christine Guillebaud, *Le chant des serpents. Musiciens itinérants du Kerala* (+ 1 DVD-rom), CNRS Editions, 2008. [https://web.archive.org/web/20081125061031/http://www.cnrseditions.fr/ouvrage/6022.html](https://web.archive.org/web/20081125061031/http://www.cnrseditions.fr/ouvrage/6022.html)

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