SeattleChange
OUR MISSION
A number of Nair families have immigrated to various parts of the world including here in the USA. We have more than two thousand families in the USA and there has little effort in the country to bring the Nair families together. Greater Houston Nair Service Society (GHNSS) was founded with a mission in mind to bring all the Nair families here in Greater Houston to join together.
It is our responsibility to safeguard the rich heritage of our community and share those with our generation and pass it on to the next generations through our kids.
Greater Houston Nair Service Society (GHNSS) would like to compliment various religious and cultural organizations in Houston and other cities in their efforts to strengthen and vitalize Hindu religious and cultural activities. We also want to help the less fortunate members of the Nair community in the USA and in Kerala, India through Nair Service Network.
HISTORY
Nair or Nayar is the name of an upper Hindu caste in the Southern Indian state of Kerala. Nairs are an integral part of Kerala's culture and have a long and illustrious history. Nairs are a warrior class (martial nobility). In this regard, they are similar to the samurai of Japan. The word Nair is either derived from the Sanskrit word Nayaka (Leader) or Naga (Snakes, which the Nairs worshipped). The Nair class name also encompasses Menon, Panicker, Kurup, Pillai, Unni, Unnithan, Kartha, Thampan, Kaimal, Nayanar, Thampi, Nambiar, Mannadiar. They are all same and is not classified in between because all enjoy the same social status. For example, a person with the name Kurup will not say that he belongs to Kurup Caste. Instead he will say he is a Nair.