Mūttatu
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Mūttatu (also written as Moothatu, Muttatu, Moosad, Musad) is a sub-caste of Pushpaka Brahmin (Ambalavasi) caste of Brahmins in Kerala. The house of a Muttatu is known as illam. A Muttatu woman is known as Manayamma.
[edit] Origin
It is believed that Parasurama brought a group of brahmins(1008 families) from the eastern coasts of India to the Vaikom Perum Trikkovil of Kerala. They were given Ownership,Priestship and Management of the various temples resideing nearby these temples. Muttatus are the successors of those Brahmins. This caste is mentioned in the Travancore State Manual under Ambalavasi category. They are also mentioned in the Travancore Census Reports as Malayala Brahmins and as Shiva Dvijar.
Pushapaka Brahmins,In is believed ,who were also brought from Eastern cost ( along with other 3 classess) to assist shivadwijas by arranging Flowers for Pooja came to know as Pushpakas a name after Pushpa ( Flower)
In 'Kerala Sahitya Charitram', Ullur Parameswara Ayyar says that, in the ancient period, Moosads were the priests of Siva Temples in Kerala. In the book 'Sucheendram Sthala Mahatmyam', it is mentioned that, in the Period of Aayilyam Thirunal, Vaikom Pachu Muttatu was appointed as the Vattappallisthanikar of Sucheendram Temple. The book 'Thiruvithamkoor Charitram', written by Pachu Muthatu, is one of the ancient Historical Books on Kerala. In the book "KeralaCharithram Parasuramaniloote" (published by SPCS) Mr. Thiruvangodu Krishnakurupu talks about people of the Moothathu caste as being normally educated and calm in manners. After Nampoothiri invasion to the temples, they supposedly got ousted from the priest job and had to take up other temple duties like cleaning sopanam and Sreebali etc.
The name ShivaDwija means Shiva's brahmin and most of the families are settled near Shiva temples in various parts of kerala. This gives a hint that most of these brahmins used to be worshipping and were the priests of Shiva temples from ancient time. More study needs to be done in this direction. .
A reference book TITLED 'SREESTHAL AADI KERALAM; BY BRAHMASREE MANANTHALA NEELAKANDHA STARTHRI; PRINTED AT NORMAN PRINTING PRESS KOZHIKODE IN 1926/1932 WHICH GIVES FULL ACCOUNT OF ORIGIN AND DEVELOPEMENT OF VARIOUS CASTE SYSTEMS IN KERALA TILL THAT PERIOD
[edit] Occupation
As mentioned in book referred above The Shivadwijas who were brought were given Onwership( Oorayma)/management(karaima) & priestship of the temples. However it was reduced to Management or Karaima (inside temple) Their duties include taking the Ottu thidambu during Seeveli(Sree Bhutha bali), Attend inside Sreekovil during Deeparadhana,cleaning of Sopanam which is considered as "padam;of diety,arranging ingredients for temple requirements &festivals , and for Yagnas & yagas too( though symbolically in the present times).
Arranging Malar for Malar Nivedyam were the duties of Manayammas.
[edit] Moosad
In writings, sometimes, peoples of this caste uses surname as Moosad. But they have no relation with the Moosad families like Vayaskara, Olassa, Pullamanthol, Vaidyamadam, Thaykkad etc.
