In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,-
(a) "anandaravan" means any member of the illom other than the karanavan;
(b) "illom" means all the members of a Nambudiri joint family with community of property and includes a 'mana'.
Explanation.—A female shall on her marriage cease to be a member of the illom in which she was born if she marries in her community and becomes a member of the illom of her husband;
(c) "karanavan" means the oldest major male member of an illom in whom the right to management of its properties vests or in the absence of such male member, the senior major female member.
Explanation.—The seniority as between two or more females, who become members of the illom by marriage, shall be determined according to the priority in time of their marriages;
(d) "major" means a person who has attained eighteen years of age;
(e) "minor" means a person who has not attained eighteen years of age;
(f) "Nambudiri" means a member of the Nambudiri Brahmin community and includes— * Received the assent of the President on 8th May, 1958 and published in the Gazette Extraordinary dated 13 th May, 1958.
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(i) the members of the following communities, namely, Pottis, Adigals, Elayads, Moosads, Pitarans, Nambiars, Nambissans, Unnis and Embrandiris (including Sivolli, Haviek and other similar Brahmins known and recognised as Nambudiris) who follow customs, manners and usages similar to those of the Nambudiris and who are not marumakkattayees; and
(ii) members of such other communities who follow customs, manners and usages similar to those of the Nambudiris and who are not marumakkattayees, as may be notified by the Government from time to time in the Gazette.