Potti, also written as Potty, is a sect of BrahminsinKerala state of India.
Potti is a Tamil word meaning "deep respect for someone" and is used for Tulu-Malayali Brahmins.[1]
At present, Pottis are often identified as EmbrandirisorTulu Brahmin immigrants. However, there were three classes of Pottis based on three periods of settlement in Kerala.[2]
There are Pottis of Kerala origin and Tulu origin. Pottis of Tulu origin came to Malabar region as temple priests in the 16th century. Those who migrated from South KanaratoMalabar are known as Embrandiri or Embranthiri, while those who settled in Shivalli were known as "Shivalli Brahmins", they continue to be based in Udupi or Sivalli in South Kanara.[3][4]
