Nedumpally

Nedumpally or Nedumpalli is a family from Kerala. It has now Hindu, Christian and Muslim branches and the Christian branch is again sub-divided into Catholics and Jacobites. Each branch has hundreds of member-families.^{[citation needed]}

The Nedumpally Christians claim to be among the original Christians who received baptism from Thomas the Apostle^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Baptism of Nedumpally Brahmins

Palayur St.Thomas Monument

St. Thomas, one among the Twelve Apostles, came to know about Indian culture through Haban one of the prominent Jewish merchant in India and reached Kodungalloor(Krankanoor)at AD 52. Over here he evangelized the local people.

Palayoor was one of the places near the port of Muziris, where St. Thomas established church. The place is referred as Palur in some old documents. At that time, according to tradition, Palayoor had a Brahmin village of 64 families. It is believed that in one of the Temple Ponds in Palayoor St. Thomas performed a miracle. Some Vaidik Brahmins were performing Vedic ritual called Tharpanam in which they devote Lord Sun by the symbolic submission of water in their palms along with vedic recitation. St. Thomas was attracted to the ritual and queried the logic of their submission since the water thrown above was not accepted and returned to earth. Thus St. Thomas got an opening to present his subject before that Brahmin community. St. Thomas threw water in the name of Jesus and it stood still in the air and glittered like diamond. By this "Experience" many Brahmins accepted Christianity while the other Brahmins cursed the place and left the place with their families saying that they would bathe their next bath at Vembanattu.^[6] Nedumpally, Madeipur, Koykkam, Muttodal, Pakalomattam, Panakkamattam, Sankarapuri, Kalli, Kallikavu, etc. were among the families who were Baptised in Palayoor.^{[7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17]}

Even today the place is known as Sapa-kadu or Chavakadu which means Cursed Forest. The unhappy Brahmins ran away to Vembanattu and settled down there. This place is still called Pudumanassery or the “Place of the new Mana( Illam ).It is stated that a Hindu temple that was abandoned by the Brahmins was converted into the present church. Temple remnants in the form of broken idols, sculptures and relics of the old temple can also be seen near the precincts of the church, in addition to two large tanks near the west and east gates of the church.^[18][19]

It is also stated that the conversion of Brahmins has resulted in such an aversion among the Nambudri Brahmins that they do not even accept cold water or tender coconut water anywhere in the vicinity of the Church. In Vembanattu there is a brahmin illam of Kalatt, which according to tradition is one of the families that ran away from Palayoor.^[20] Furthermore, a document called ‘Grandavariola’ kept by a local Brahmin family (who had moved out from Palayur during the preaching ) testifies to the date of the gospel work of St. Thomas. The document states:

"Kali year 3153 (52 AD) the foreigner Thomas Sanyasi came to our village (gramam) preached there and therby causing…"

^[21][22][23]

In Margam Kali song - one of the ancient round group dance of Kerala practiced by Saint Thomas Christians, a brief description of this tradition is portrayed. A relevant part of the song is translated below :

"He then heard about Kerala and went there, arriving at Malankara, preaching to the Brahmans of Cranganore and ordaining two of them priests. Then he went south, erecting crosses at Quilon, Niranam, Kokkamangalam, Kottukkayal, Cayal and Palayoor. The King sent for Thomas and inquired him of the completion of Castle's work. The King put him in prison when told he must wait till after his death to see the new palace, and was so mortified by the deception that he wanted to abdicate.However, his brother died at that time and saw the palace in heaven. He was resuscitated and told the King of its glory. The king, his brother, Habban and others were baptized, and the faith spread apace arousing the Brahmans’ jealousy......"

^[24]

Medieval History of Palayoor families

Thus Christianity gained a foothold in Kerala well over 300 years before it succeeded in obtaining official recognition in Europe, or in becoming the established religion of Rome. This community, though a minor one, was aligned in the social crystalline structure with a respectable orientation. The respect and toleration shown to this faith, found expression in the fraternal treatment extended to its adherents, who were accorded and retained for themselves an honoured place, in the social and economic life of kerala. They succeeded in doing this because they were Christian in faith only, but in all else, they were Indian. They were no doubt staunch in their adherence to their faith, and proud of the apostolic origin of their church. But their primary concern was to live in harmony and requite the hospitality and toleration shown to them by the Hindu kings and princes.^[25]

Some of the Palayoor Christian families relocated as early as 2nd century AD. Pakalomattom and Sankarapury include in this list. Nedumpally stayed in Palayoor until Tippu Sultan(1749–99) attacked Kerala. One branch of Nedumpally reached ThekkumKoor and got shelter there. Thekkumkoor is now a part of Kottayam District.

Nedumpally now

• The Main branch of Christian Nedumpally can be found in Kottayam and majority of its members are Syrian Catholics. Mukkudi, Mukkudimali, Thekkenedumpalli, Mali, Panthookiniyil,Kalichira etc. are well known families in Parampuzha village. More than 100 families belong to Nedumpally. They convene annual meetings and share their experience.
• Hindu Brahmins of Nedumpally who left Palayoor in 1st century settled in different parts of Kerala and their caste was later named Namboothiri. They are Rigvedis and are in the Gothram of Angirasan who was one of the Saptharshis. This branch is mainly settled in Palakkadu district.^[26]
• Muslim Nedumpally is fully settled in Malappuram district. A large number of their men are Hajjis and have a prominent role in society.

References

1. ^ James Arampulickal (1994). The pastoral care of the Syro-Malabar Catholic migrants. Oriental Institute of Religious Studies, India Publications. p. 40. 
2. ^ Orientalia christiana periodica: Commentaril de re orientali ...: Volumes 17-18. Pontificium Institutum Orientalium Studiorum. 1951. p. 233. 
3. ^ Adrian Hastings (2000-08-15). A World History of Christianity. Wm. B. Eerdmans. p. 149. ISBN 978-0-8028-4875-8. 
4. ^ Benedict Vadakkekara (2007). Origin of Christianity in India: a historiographical critique. Media House Delhi. p. 61. ISBN 978-81-7495-258-5. http://books.google.com/?id=pAncGlpGW8wC. 
5. ^ Benedict Vadakkekara (2007). Origin of Christianity in India: a historiographical critique. Media House Delhi. ISBN 978-81-7495-258-5. http://books.google.com/?id=pAncGlpGW8wC. 
6. ^ George Menachery and Edward René Hambye - The St. Thomas Christian encyclopaedia of India, Volume 2
7. ^ Anthony Korah Thomas (1993). The Christians of Kerala: a brief profile of all major churches. A.K. Thomas. http://books.google.com/?id=39LYAAAAMAAJ. 
8. ^ Orientalia christiana periodica: Commentaril de re orientali aetatis christianae sacra et profana, Volumes 17-18
9. ^ Pontificium Institutum Orientalium Studiorum (1951). Orientalia christiana periodica: Commentaril de re orientali aetatis christianae sacra et profana. Pont. institutum orientalium studiorum.. http://books.google.com/?id=w9bjAAAAMAAJ. 
10. ^ Palayoor | Plathottam Family
11. ^ PALAYOOR CHURCH of ST. THOMAS Thrissur Kerala India
12. ^ Kerala History - Christians of Kerala
13. ^ Castes and tribes of Southern India, Volume 1 By Edgar Thurston, K. Rangachari
14. ^ Balakrishna N. Nair: The dynamic Brahmin: a study of the Brahmin's personality in Indian culture with special reference to South India ; Popular Book Depot, 1959 - Page 228
15. ^ Joseph Thekkedath: History of Christianity in India, Volume 1; Theological Publications in India, 1982 - Page 33
16. ^ Indian antiquary, Volume 60 - Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland
17. ^ Kerala State gazetteer, Volume 2, 1986
18. ^ Bezbaruah-Gopal-Girota 2003, pp. 60-62.
19. ^ Church 1969, p. 93
20. ^ http://books.google.co.in/books?id=pAncGlpGW8wC&pg=PA48&dq=hindu+traditions+of+St.Thomas+Christians+nasrani&hl=en&ei=-th9TqCyOoLTrQe96dTIAw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CDcQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=Kalatt&f=false
21. ^ Kurikilamkatt 2005, pp. 173, 183
22. ^ MY Album
23. ^ Palayur Church, Chavakkad
24. ^ NSC NETWORK – Margam Kali – History, Theme, Early References and Modern Developments
25. ^ NSC NETWORK – The Heathen and the Syrian – Syrian Christian Ritual and Tradition pre 1599 A.D
26. ^ Pathinaalu Desam (14 Desam)

Bibliography

• 1. Menachery G (1973) The St. Thomas Christian Encyclopedia of India, Ed. George Menachery, B.N.K. Press, vol. 2, ISBN 978-81-87132-06-6, Lib. Cong. Cat. Card. No. 73-905568; B.N.K. Press
• 2. Mundalan, A. Mathias. (1984) History of Christianity in India, vol.1, Bangalore, India: Church History Association of India.
• 3. Leslie Brown, (1956) The Indian Christians of St. Thomas. An Account of the Ancient Syrian Church of Malabar, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press 1956, 1982 (repr.)
• 4. Podipara, Placid J. (1970) "The Thomas Christians". London: Darton, Longman and Tidd, 1970.
• South Asia Research Assistance Services (Ollur, India) (1998). The Nazranies. ISBN 978-81-87133-05-6. http://books.google.com/?id=GC38NwAACAAJ. 
• 6. Menachery G (ed) (1982) The St. Thomas Christian Encyclopedia of India, B.N.K. Press, vol. 1;
• James Henry Lord (1976). The Jews in India and the Far East: being a reprint of articles contributed to "Church and synagogue" with appendices. Greenwood Pub Group. ISBN 978-0-8371-2615-9. http://books.google.com/?id=rLNtAAAAMAAJ. 
• 8. Poomangalam C. A. (1998) The Antiquities of the Knanaya Syrian Christians; Kottayam, Kerala.
• 9. James Hough (1893) "The History of Christianity in India".
• 10. K.V. Krishna Iyer (1971) Kerala’s Relations with the Outside World, pp. 70, 71 in "The Cochin Synagogue Quatercentenary Celebrations Commemoration Volume", Kerala History Association, Cochin.
• 11 Kerala Charithram: A.Sridhara Menon
• 12 The Syrian Church in Malabar: J. C. Panjikkaran,1914, alias SARAS Edition, ICHC I, The Nazranies, pp. 277, 278
• 13 The St. Thomas Christian Encyclopaedia of India All about India’s Christianity ISBN 978-81-87132-01-1 (Vol. I-In..Edn.) 8187132078 (Intn’l) (Vol. II- 8187132132l) Lib. Cong..Card..:73-905568 BX 166.2b. S24
• 14 K.L. BERNARD: A Brief Sketch of the History of the St. Thomas Christians.
• 15 K.L. Bernard, Kerala History, pp. 78–79