TheNambiar (also written asNambyar) is aHinduAmbalavasi caste ofKerala, India. Ambalavasi Nambiars wear sacred thread likeBrahmins and is traditionally considered as a different caste toNairs[1] including same name bearingNair-Nambiar caste. Ambalavasi Nambiar ladies known as Nangyar.
A section of Nambiars playMizhavu in temples. Mizhavu is treated as a "Brahmachaarya" and it is considered as sacred. It is used to accompany the holy ritualistic temple performance of Koodiyattam and Koothu. Only Ambalavasi Nambiar community members are allowed to play it inside temples.