Nyayam (justice) caste is surname of many people in southern India. Nyayam (justice) caste meaning is An exogamous sept of Padma Sale.
OcchanThe Occhans are a class of temple priests, usually officiate as pujaris at Pidari and other Amman (Grama Devata) temples. They are for the most part Saivites, but some belong to the Vadagalai or Tengalai Vaishnava sects. Some of the pujaris wear the sacred thread when within the temple. Their insignia are the udukkai, or hour-glass shaped drum, and the silambu, or hollow brass ring filled with bits of brass, which rattle when it is shaken. In the Chingleput district, some Occhans act as dancing-masters to Devadasis, and are sometimes called Nattuvan.
The name Occhan is derived from the Tamil ochai, meaning sound, in reference to the usual mode of invoking the Grama Devatas (village deities) by beating on a drum and singing their praises. It has been suggested that Occhan is a contracted form of Uvacchan, which occurs in certain old inscriptions.1 Of these, the oldest is dated Sakha 1180 (A.D. 1258), and refers to the tax on Uvacchas. Another inscription, in which the same tax is referred to, is dated Sakha 1328 (A.D. 1406). In both these inscriptions, Uvacchan has been interpreted as referring to Jonakas, who are a class of Muhammadans. This is one of the meanings given by Winslow,2 who also gives a caste of drummers at temples, Occhan.
In the northern districts, the Occhans are divided into five sections, called Marayan, Pandi, Kandappan, Periya or Pallavarayan, and Pulavan. Marayan is also the name of temple priests in Travancore, on whom the title Occhan is bestowed as a mark of royal favour by the Travancore sovereigns.3 The Occhans have [420]many titles, e.g, Archaka or Umai Archaka, Devar, Parasaivan, Mudaliar, Vallabarayan, Pusali, Pulavar, and Kamban. Of these, the last two are said to be derived from the Tamil epic poet Kamban, who is traditionally believed to have belonged to the Occhan caste. There is a legend that Kamban was on his way to the residence of a king, when he heard an oil-monger, who was driving his bulls, remonstrate with them, saying Should you kick against each other because the poet Kamban, like the Occhan he is, hums his verse? On hearing this, Kamban approached the oil-monger, and went with him to the king, to whom he reported that he had been insulted. By order of the king, the oil-monger burst forth into verse, and explained how his bulls had taken fright on hearing Kambans impromptu singing. Kamban was greatly pleased with the poet oil-monger, and begged the king to let him go with honours heaped on him.
In the southern districts, more especially in Madura and Tinnevelly, it is usual for an Occhan to claim his paternal aunts daughter in marriage. In the northern districts, a man may also marry his maternal uncles or sisters daughter. Brahman Gurukkals officiate at marriages. In their puberty, marriage, and death ceremonies, the Occhans closely follow the Pallis or Vanniyans. The dead are burnt, and Brahmans officiate at the funeral ceremonies.
The caste is an organised one, and there is usually a headman, called Periyathanakaran, at places where Occhans occur.
Nyayam (justice) caste is one of the many castes subcastes of India.
India has thousands of castes and subcastes, they are in existence and practice since the Vedic times. They were created to solve the problem of division of labor. Nyayam (justice) caste name could indicate the type of work people belonging to the Nyayam (justice) caste do or did in earlier times. Many last names in India indicate the place the person originally belongs to. All castes sub castes are primarily divided into 4 categories:
1.Brahmins – The learned or priestly class
2.Khastriyas – The warrior class or those with governing functions
3.Vaishyas – The trader, agriculturalists or cattle rearers class
4.Shudra – The class that serves other three categories
Nyayam (justice) caste belongs to one of the above 4 categories. Indian caste system is the best system to solve the problem of division of labor. In earlier times there was no rigidity in caste system. Indian caste system is still the best solution for the problem of division of labor, the only change that is needed as per changed times is that rather than having a vertical hierarchical system with Brahmins on top and Shudras at bottom, it would be good to have a horizontal socialist system with Brahmins, Khastriyas, Vaishyas and Shudras all at same level.
The caste system of India is in ruins at present. It is also cause of bloody quarrels in certain parts of the rural India. People of backward castes have reservations in government jobs, this facility is widely misused in India. Many of the backward caste people have become rich and still use the facility for their benefit. Many in India believe reservation in jobs should be given on the basis of poverty rather than caste because there are many poors in upper castes as well.
Many criticize the Indian caste system because of bad material condition of lower castes but if they observe in an unbiased way they would find that there are many in upper castes with bad material conditions. The problem lies in power not in castes, power can corrupt anyone be it from upper caste or lower caste.
All cultures, all countries, all religions have caste system in one form or the other. Christians have different churches depending on the region or language or skin color of people. Muslims have a priestly class that tries to control everything. Arab Muslims before the oil boom were so much divided among tribes that if you drank water from a well of a different tribe you could be shot dead. Tribal divisions still exists among Muslims. You can also see the caste system in a different form in your corporate companies. I had seen different food and drinking facilities for people at different levels.
Nyayam (justice) caste is also known as Nyayam (justice) Gotra.
Caste situation is quiet different in urban India, people in urban areas especially youngsters don?t bother about castes. Inter caste, inter religious, inter lingual marriages are quiet common in urban India. Inter caste, inter religious and inter lingual marriages in rural areas attract severe criticism and many times people are expelled from community for not marrying as per religious and caste rules.