Kaniyan is a caste name prevalent in the Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu states of South India.
Generally the caste name is referred to Kaniyar or Ganaka people , who were traditional astrologers, teachers and Ayurvedic physicians of this region.
Panicker is another local name referred to in Kaniyar and in the north and middle parts of Kerala.
It is believed that they were descendants of ancient Brahmins of sakadwipi origins. their presence in this region has been recorded ever since the sangham age of Thamizhagam.
Ganaka or Kaniyar is the caste name of traditional astrologers with origins in the states of Kerala and Karnataka. They are known by various other names such as Kanisan, Kanisu, Kani, Kaniyar Panicker, Kalari Panicker, Kalari Kurup, kaniyan, Balyaya, etc. in different local regions. Their ancestors were the first group of ancient Brahmins who reached into the south India region, far ahead of the arrival of the alien Brahmins of pre-medieval era.
There is a caste called 'Samban' in Kerala which comes under Scheduled Caste in Kerala state.
yes,half of kerala christians that is syrian christian sect is forward caste
Sardar K.M.Panicker
YES
Yes, Syrian Christians of Kerala are forward caste.
Reddy caste
ezhava of kerala
yes , kaniyan is a backward cast in kerala (obc) known by different names like kaniyan, panikar,ganaka,kalarikurup etc,they are traditional astrologer,they also practice ayurveda ,Their ancestors were the first group of ancient Brahmins who reached in south Indian region,far ahead of the arrival of the alien Brahmins of pre medieval era.They (predecessors of Ganaka/kaniyar) were earlier known by the name Arivor .They had a supreme status in social hierarchy by virtue of their excellent sense of past ,future and present (Trikaala ngani)and profound skills in guiding the society.They are actually descendants of sakadwipi Brahmins. Origin dates back to vedic period ,Before 2000BC . Their ancestors were " Maga"people came from indo- Iranian region, eventually migrated and settled at various parts of ancient India .Some of them had taken up the practice and belief of heterodox groups (Ajivka , Jainism, Budhism) .Later their predecessors become separated and segregated in to different groups by taking up different calling or names at different places. Ganak Brahmins in Assam , Acharya in Tripura , Graha Bipra in Bihar, Nakshtra Darsa, Jothishi in Orrisa, Joshi in western and central India, Kaniyar, Ganaka , Kaniyan kanikal, kaniyar panicker, kalari panicker in south India.They were scholarly people and were traditionally engaged in intellectual vocations such as Astronomy Astrology,Literature, Ayurveda, Teaching , physicking etc. Kannassa Panickers, Ayyappilli asan, and Ezhuthachan are some of the noted personalities among them who set out the process of development of a regional language ''Malayalam'' .Generally they had taken up the role of astute physical and psychic healers ,as astrology is said to have a major role in social regulation by means of social and individual psychological intervention.Read more: Who_are_Ganaka_or_Kaniyar
In the Kerala caste system, Ezhavas are considered to be a forward caste group distinct from Nairs and Shudras. Ezhavas traditionally were engaged in various occupations such as agriculture, trade, and business. They have made significant contributions to the socio-economic and cultural fabric of Kerala.
Koshy Panicker has written: 'An evaluation of job design, its current status and future prospects'
The caste system in Kerala differed from that found in the rest of India. While the Indian caste system generally modelled the four-fold division of society into Brahmins, Kshatriyas,Vaisyas and Shudras, in Kerala the Nambudiri Brahmins formed the priestly class and only rarely recognized anyone else as being other than Shudra or untouchables outside the caste system entirely. Thus, the Kerala caste system was ritualised but it was not the varnamodel found elsewhere.