Kurumbranad

Kurumbranad (Kurumbuzhai Nadu or Kurumbiathiri Swaroopam) was a former Nair Hindu feudal kingdom in present day Kerala state, South India, on the Malabar Coast. Once a powerful kingdom capitalized at Mapayil, Puthuppanam, Vadakara. The area borded from sea at West side and Karnataka at the East. At North Kolathu Nadu and Polanad (former name of Calicut) at South.

History

The extended family of the Kurumbranad Rajas was officially known as “Kurumbiathiri Swaroopam” . The family includes 30 sub families like Thachooli Koottam (Chellattan Kurup- Chelkettan Swaroopam), Moodadi Koottam, Vennappaloor Kootam etc.

According to archaeological evidence, the Wayanad forests have been inhabited for more than three thousand years. Wayanad was originally ruled by Vedar kings. However, after a Kshatriya Prince (Raja of Kumbala), was captured and held hostage in Tirunelli by the Vedars, it was invaded and annexed by a combined force led by the Raja of Kottayam and the Raja of Kurumbranad. The Vedar king (Arippan) was killed and most of his subjects were massacred. However, the Raja of Kumbala asked a Nair aristocrat, Nanthillath Nambiar to marry the daughter of the Vedar king, who had survived the massacre. Nambiar was appointed as the Moopil Nair of Veliyambam, where the surviving Vedars were resettled. It was decided that Wynad should be partitioned between Kottayam-Malabar and Kurumbranad. The Kottayam Raja was awarded North West Waynad and the Raja of Kurumbranad was awarded South East Wynad. As a result of disputes between them, the Kurumbranad Raja gave up his country to the Kottayam Raja, except for the palace and some landed properties. The Raja of Kottayam divided Wynad in to 10 Swaroopams (Naads) and appointed governors (Usually Nairs with the tile of Vazhunnor) to rule each one of them. These swaroopms were again divided into Chiefdoms, which were ruled by Moopil Nairs. The administrative subdivisions of Waynad under the Kottayam rule were as follows[3]:

1. (1) Muthornad (Muthakurnad) - This division was placed under the direct control of the senior Raja of Kottayam. Divided in to the following Nair Chiefdoms (The rulers of which were jointly known as Aruvarambath Jenmakkars):
   1. (1) Vazhathattil Nair
   2. (2) Tavinjal Nair
   3. (3)Mulliyankizhil Nair
   4. (4) Alattil Nair
   5. (5) Ayiravittil Nair
   6. (6) Varayal Nair
2. (2) Ellornad (Elankurnad) - This was placed under the direct control of the second Raja of Kottayam. Divided in to the following Nair Chiefdoms:
   1. (1) Edachana Nair
   2. (2) Vemom Nambiar
3. (3) Wynad Swaroopam - Placed under the third Raja of Kottayam. Divided in to the following Nair Chiefdoms:
   1. (1) Kuppathode Nayar
   2. (2) Tonder Nambiar
   3. (3) Pulpadi Nayar
   4. (4) Chikkalur Nayar
4. (4) Porunnanur - Placed under the third Raja of Kottayam. Comprises Porunnanur and Vellamunda Amsams. Divided in to the following Nair Chiefdoms:
   1. (1) Manchan Nambiar
   2. (2) Karingari Nair
   3. (3) Mangalasseri Nair
   4. (4) Vattathode Nambiar
   5. (5) Cherukara Nair
5. (5) Nallurnad - Placed under the third Raja of Kottayam. Divided in to the following Nair Chiefdoms:
   1. (1) Manchan Nambiar
   2. (2) Karingari Nair
   3. (3) Idachena Nair
6. (6) Kurumbalanad - Comprises Kurumbala and Kottathara Amsams. This division was placed under Avinjat Nair of Payyormala. He was the son of the Kottayam Raja, who gave him the title of Vazhunnavar (Ruler). Divided in to the following Nair Chiefdoms:
   1. (1) Thenamangalath Nair
   2. (2) Poyil Nair
7. (7) Edanataskur - Comprising Amsams of Kottapadi, Kalpatta and Vythri. Divided in to the following Nair Chiefdoms:
   1. (1) Kalpetta Nayar
   2. (2) Kanthamangalath Nayar
8. (8) Tondernad - Placed under the Tonder Nambiar.
9. (9) Muttil-Pakkam - Placed under Bhagiam (Pakam) Swaroopam.
10. (10) Veliyambam - Placed under Veliyambam Vazhunnavar (Nanthillath Nambiar, who married the Vedar princess).

Senior Raja of Kurumbranadu helped the British in their fight against Tipu Sultan. Following Mysore's withdrawal, Kerala Varma Pazhassi Raja (the head of western branch of the family) and the British parted their ways. And in 1799, after the fall of Tipu, the British took over Wayanad. Pazhassi Raja engaged in a prolonged guerrilla war with the British until he was killed in 1805. When the state of Kerala came into being in 1956, Wayanad was a part of Kannur district; later in 1957 south Wayanad was added to Kozhikode district and north Wayanad remained with Kannur district. By amalgamating north Wayanad and south Wayanad, the present Wayanad district came into being on the 1st November 1980 comprising three taluks; Vythiri, Mananthavady, and Sulthan Bathery.

Government of Kurumbranad

• Absolute Monarchy
• Parts of Kurumbranad surrendered to Nediyirippu Swaroopam of Eradi (Zammorin of Calicut)
• Indian District of Madras Presidency

Jurisdiction

Vadakara was the capital of the Royal State. The area under the control of the Rajas included Vadakara, Moodadi, Koilandy, Balussery, Perambra, North Wayanad, South Wayanad, and parts of the present Karnataka State and Tamil Nadu State.Naduvannur was the centre of the territory of kurumbranad.

Kaula as a Tandrik Sect

Tacholi Koottam are the strong believers of Kaula System of Tantrik Sect. They perform 'Saktheya Pooja' or 'Thamasa Pooja' at their Thekkini of Nalukettu. This system is based on 'Kulaarnnava Tantra' of Tandrik Version of 'Kerala School of Sakthism',and are the followers of 'Kali Kula School'.

Shree Valayanad Temple of Calicut and Shree Mookambika Devi Temple of Kollur are famous centers of Kaula System of Sakthism, being the others 'Samaya' (Practicing Shree) and 'Mishra' (Adi Shankaracharya).

Temples and Forts of Kurumbranadu

• Balussery Vettackorumakan Kavu

The temple at Balussery is very small without even a flagstaff or altar. The important offering here is the distribution of meals to those who come here from other places. It is a small temple, situated east of Quilandy 25 km from Kozhikode, via Karappampu - Kakkodi. Navarathri, Thiruvonam and Vishu are observed with fervour. Main offering is breaking of 12,000 coconuts. (Formerly this temple was owned by the Kurumbranad Rajas).

• Lokanarkavu Devi Temple

Lokanarkavu Devi Temple is a combination of three temples. Sree Mahavishnu temple and Sree siva Temples are the others. Mandala pooja observed in grand scale. The ancestral home of the legendary warrior Thacholi Othenan is associated with the temple.

• Balussery Fort

It is about 25 km from Kozhikode. This was once the fort of the Rajas of Kurumbranad.

Famous persons of Kurumbiathiri Swaroopam

Thacholi Meppayil Kunjhu Othenan (Udayana Kurup of Thacholi Manikoth House) or more popularly Thacholi Othenan (Malayalam: തച്ചോളി ഒതേനന്‍) was a legendary hero from North Kerala, a small state in south India, who lived in the 16th century, was born in the Kurumbiathiri Family. Highly stylised songs and stories of his valour and chivalry abound. His real name was Udayana Kurup. He is praised about in Vadakkanpattu (ballads of North Kerala).

Othenan was born into the feudal Nair family of Manikoth in Thacholi near Vatakara (His father was a cheftian of a small fiefdom) a small town in Kerala, called as Thacholi Koottam (derieved from Chellanttan Kurup - Chellanttan Swaroopam). He practised Kalarippayattu (ancient martial art form of kerala) from a very young age and grew up to be an extraordinarily brave and skilled warrior. Legends portray him as being a merciless opponent to enemies and a friend to the helpless. Even the powerful Zamorin of Calicut respected him. He defeated Kadhirur Gurukkal in ankam (dual/war) and killed him. But one of the Gurukkal’s disciples killed Othenan through treachery at the young age of 32.

Vadakkan Pattu (Ballad)

The heroes of Vadakkan Pattukal had their ancestral goddesses as Kali form and not Durga form. The same applies to the local rulers who later claimed Lokanarkavu as their family goddess. All the rulers of Kerala had Goddesses with Thamasa pooja or shakteya pooja; i.e. poojas in which either man or animal was sacrificed. It was a more local tradition and most family temples of Kerala kings and locals had followed such tradition until it was modified.

References

Malabar Manual by William Logan

External links