Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c4.464
Purāṇic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Purāṇic Literature c4.464
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c4.464
AMPIṬṬA. A name for barbers. ‘Ampiṭṭa’ is derived from the Sanskrit word “Ambiṣṭhaḥ”. The word Ambiṣṭhaḥ means Physician. In olden days barbers were physicians also. Going about from house to house, they could easily practise both these professions. Since barbers practised physic also they were called Ambiṣṭhas. Ampiṭṭa is a corrupted form of Ambiṣṭha. (Dravidian Philology). Barbers sometimes style themselves as “Pandits”. It is on the basis of this that we have today, “All Kerala Pandit Sabha” and other similar names. There is a legend on the basis of which this community has assumed the title of “Pandit”.