the assistance of 8 nambudiri families ("griham") was recognised by mezhathol agnihotri and he classed these 8 families as the "ashtagrihathil aadhyanmaar" (eight elite families). members of these families are known as "aadhyan" nambudiris ("aadhyan" literally means "the first one" in malayalam). adhyans adopted the title of "nambudiripad" to show their superior status. however in the subsequent centuries, several non-aadyan families (known as aasyan nambudiris) have also adopted the title of "nambudiripad" in imitation of adhyan nambudiris.