Traditionally a martial people, the Nayars have made history in Kerela. Today they are more distinguished as bureaucrats, writers, artists, administrators and diplomats. They are the community in the country that has a matriarchal form of society. Under the `marumakkathayam` system, the property rights of the joint family are vested in the female members and are passed on from mother to daughter. However, the property is managed by the oldest male relative of the family, who is called the `karanavan.`

The Brahmins arrived in Kerela in about the first millennium. At that time the first known rulers of Kerela were the Cheras. This ruling class was Nayars who already had an established kingdom there.

They have their own marital arrangements, laws of succession, discipline and involvement in the arts and culture, such as, Kathakali. They were a class of professional warriors with a high skill in swordsmanship who formed themselves into suicide squads called chavers, in wartimes. The Nayar community despised manual work and left the ploughing and tilling to tenants or hired hands.

The Nayar community has many sub castes, the majority being land owners. As warriors the Nayars were unequalled and their sense of loyalty was legendary. Attached to the house of each village headman was a `kalari` in which young men trained in the art of combat and defence. Till date it is a famous martial art form in Kerela.

Nayars are essentially Dravidians. Many have a lighter complexion than the Tamil Dravidians and resemble North Indians in their facial structure which may be the result of interbreeding with the Namboodiri Brahmins.

Personal hygiene is not merely a way of keeping clean but a way of life for the Nayars. The daily oil bath is a compulsory and complex ritual that can take up to two hours.

Religion Of The Nayar Community: The religion of the Nayars reflects an amalgamation of many religions. While they celebrate spring festivals similar to those of the Hindus there are certain religious rites that establish their proximity with the Scythians or Nagas.

Society Of The Nayar Community: It is one of those societies that provide financial security to the women. According to them women provide are the foundation stone of a particular community. Hence a girl child is preferred to a male child. These people are mostly concentrated in Kerela and are known for their contribution to art and culture.

Nayars are essentially non-Aryan in their customs, manners, social structure and family set up. Their ways of living, mores and values are also quite distinct from those of other Malayalis.