Generally the Asan Kalaris of ancient Kerala were the sole institution for elementary education for past generations of Keralites . It was from where the pupil did acquire the basic abilities for literacy and numeracy .They helped to develop and sharpen the skills of 3 R (read, write and recite).
Though English system of education has been widely replaced the ezhuthu Kalari, since the 19th century, the ancestors of present generation of Keralites undoubtedly owed to the Ezhuthu kalari system for their intellectual advance ment.
History of education system of Kerala dates back to samgam age with all its vicissitudes. Budhist and Jain teachers were the earlier Gurus.
Later pada salai kala salai culture established and Matoms(exclusively for Brahmans ) for education purpose .
But, since the medieval period, ezhuthu palli or kalari were the only sources for elementary education to eligible- non brahmans.
Kaniyar or Ganaka people were the teachers of such Ezhuthu palli or Asan Kalary.They were always esteemed as teachers in every parlance by virtue of their scholarship in sanskrit and Astrology. So they were honoured with a title "Asan'' ( Acharyan) , particularly in southern region of Kerala
In northern region of Kerala (Malabar) they were known as Kanisan (truncated form of kaniyar-Asan) and in Kochin area as Kaniyar Panicker(Kalari panicker or Kurup) in view of their role as martial art preceptors. some places they were known as Ezhuthu asan.
It was through them the sanskritisation of non- Brahmin people was made possible, especially while a period sudras were stringently prohibited from learning sanskrit.
It is notable that the development of Malayalam as a distinct language was begun through the tremondous literary contributions from some Kaniyar scholars such as Ayyipilli Asan(Ramacharitham pattu) Kannassa Panickers (kannassa ramayanam) Ezhthachan(Adyatma ramayanam)
Since 18th century , the learned members from others castes(Nair,Ezhava etc) had also taken up the role as Asan and had set up Ezhuthu pallikkoodam.
Highest number of contribution in Malayalam literature began since late 18th century and that was the renaissance period of Kerala. it is unfair to omit the fact that in addition to multiple factors, the Literacy has also enabled the Keralites for social revolution.
Kaniyar (Ganaka) Asans were teachers of the past generations ,who had served as the sole media for sanskritastion of Kerala people.
The author of the Ramakatha paattu was a member of the traditional astrology community of ancient Kerala. His name was Ayippally Asan. The traditional astrology community of Kerala was known as Kaniyar or Ganaka. Kaniyar people had two titles, Asan and Panicker, in southern and northern Kerala respectively. These titles were believed to be socially assigned to them by virtue of their preceptor status to the traditional martial art of Kerala (Kalaripayattu) and literacy and numeracy. The Author of Ramakatha paattu belonged to the Asan sect of Kaniyar, which lived in the southern region of Kerala, at Kovalam near Thiruvanthapuram.
The scholars and teachers were referred as Acharya.In the past,a particular community in Kerala ( descendants of traditional astrologers ) had the reputation for scholarship in ancient sciences like Astrology, Astronomy ,Ayurveda and Sanskrit language.They were learned class of people.Apart from the traditional practice of astrology and ayurveda, they had a social role as preceptors of Kalari (for intiating children to the learning world of literacy, numeracy and martial arts)Olden days of Kerala, they were the sole agents as a media for sanskritization of non brahmins.So they were the Acharyas of ancient Kerala. they were practically known as the guiding spirits of the society by virtue of their profession.Different corrupted forms of the sanskrit term Acharya ,had been prevalent in Tamil and Malayalam , with the honorofic suffix "n" ,such as Asan or Aasaan (Acharyan).The traditional astrologers community of kerala had different regional titles such Asan and Panicker, in Travancore and south malabar-Kochi regions respectively. some of them had the title eluthassaan . Similarly the same people in malabar had the name Kani-asan or Kanisan (Ganaka Acharyan) with the title of Gurukkal
The Kaniyar or Ganaka Asans ( Acharya ) were the basic teachers of malayali of ancient and medieval kerala. The Kaniyar or Ganaka people were generally scholars in sanskrit and astrology. They were the only agents for sanskritisation of eligible non- brahmin people of Kerala till 17th century. For the acquisition of intellectual abilities in literacy and numeracy ,all non -Brahmin pupils of ancient and medieval kerala were indebted to Kaniyar or Ganaka Asans . Even though the sudra people were prohibetd from learning sanskrit in that era ,the Kaniyar or Ganaka Asans had taught them to read, write ,recite and calculate , along with the sanskrit literature ( kavyas ) and superficial knowledge of astronomy and astrology. They had set up ezhuthu salai and ezhuthu palli (kalari or pallikoodam) in pre- medieval and medieval era respectively . When most of the people lost their interest in intellectual pursuite and turned for martial training during the medieval period ,again the Kalari Panicker or Kalari Kurup of ( a sect of Kaniyar panicker) Kochin region become their preceptors (Asan ) in Kalari. Every academic year were begun on Vijaya dasami pooja day. Elementary education was initiated with oral learning and then allowed to practice with writing in sand , eventually taught them to scriblbe on palm leaf . Since 18th century ,the learned members from other castes had also begun take up the role of Asan and helped their pupil to acquire literacy and numeracy. During the later half of British imperialistic era ,the ezhuthupalli (pials) had lost its significance as the English education had gained a higher momentum.
The Kaniyar or Ganaka Asans ( Acharya ) were the basic teachers of malayali of ancient and medieval kerala. The Kaniyar or Ganaka people were generally scholars in sanskrit and astrology. They were the only agents for sanskritisation of eligible non- brahmin people of Kerala till 17th century. For the acquisition of intellectual abilities in literacy and numeracy ,all non -Brahmin pupils of ancient and medieval kerala were indebted to Kaniyar or Ganaka Asans . Even though the sudra people were prohibetd from learning sanskrit in that era ,the Kaniyar or Ganaka Asans had taught them to read, write ,recite and calculate , along with the sanskrit literature ( kavyas ) and superficial knowledge of astronomy and astrology. They had set up ezhuthu salai and ezhuthu palli (kalari or pallikoodam) in pre- medieval and medieval era respectively . When most of the people lost their interest in intellectual pursuite and turned for martial training during the medieval period ,again the Kalari Panicker or Kalari Kurup of ( a sect of Kaniyar panicker) Kochin region become their preceptors (Asan ) in Kalari. Every academic year were begun on Vijaya dasami pooja day. Elementary education was initiated with oral learning and then allowed to practice with writing in sand , eventually taught them to scriblbe on palm leaf . Since 18th centuary ,the learned members from other castes had also taken up the role of Asan to conduct ezhuthu pallikkodam. During later half of the British imperialistic era ,the ezhuthupalli (pials) had lost its significance as the English education had gained tremendous momentum.
The Ganaka or Kaniyar of south Kerala region in India were honored with the title Asan (malayalam corrupt word of sanskrit "Acharya') because of their functional role as teachers. The Kaniyar or Ganaka people were generally scholars in sanskrit and astrology. The Kaniyar or Ganaka Asans ( Acharya ) were the basic teachers of malayali of ancient and medieval kerala. Eventually all of their descendants were known as Asan.
The author of "Naveena Ramayanam" in Malayalam is Kumaran Asan, a prominent poet from Kerala, India. Known for his progressive outlook and lyrical style, Kumaran Asan's version of the Ramayana is considered a classic in Malayalam literature.
The population of Asan is 242,575.
ASAN stands for as soon as NOW.
Asan Tahtahunov was born in 1986.
The area of Asan is 542.25 square kilometers.
Victorian of Asan died in 560.