{{references}} The Marars belong to the Ambalavasi sect of Malayalis, who are engaged to assist the Namboodiri priests in the temples. They have been described in old texts and scripts, like all other Ambalavasis as '''Ardha-Brahmana''' (Semi- Brahmins). The Marars were the custodians of the Sopanaganam or the holy music of the Gods and played the drums in the temples. ==Occupation== Marans are temple musicians who are main custodians of the Sopana system of music or the music of the sanctum sanctorum of the temple. Poduval is another caste of temple musicians. Marars are experts in percussion instruments like Edakka, Maddalam, Chenda. Initially they were called Marayars. ==Gotra== Marars belong to the Kaushika gotra which adheres to the Panchakshara Mantra. In Travancore Marayaras or Marars were Purohitas. They were responsible for conducting the birth, wedding and death ceremonies of the Nair caste. Thus in Travancore, they were ritually polluting as a caste due to their part vocation as funeral priests. ==Trivia== A Marar alias Marayar house is known as a Marath. Marar ladies are known as Marasiyars or Marasyarammas. While their husbands were the Temple musicians, they worked alongside the Warasyars in making garlands. The Marar ladies also sang the Bhajans at Temples and the 'Subhadra Veli' at high caste weddings. ==Famous Marars== * K.Karunakaran * Kuttikrishna_Marar ==See also== * Pushpaka_Brahmins * List_of_Ambalavasi_Families Category:Indian_castes