Azhvanchery Thamprakkal

The Azhvanchery Thamprakkal or Azhvanchery Samrat is the title of the senior most male member of the Azhvanchery Namboodiri family, located at Azhvanchery in Malabar, Kerala. The Azhvanchery Thamprakkal is considered the supreme religious head of the Namboodiri Brahmins of Kerala and for every Malayali King to be formally coronated, his blessings were required. The ancestral home of the Thamprakkal, who is even today held in high esteem and religious sanctity, is in Athavanadu, north of Thirunavaya in Malappuram district of Kerala.

Legend has it that the title of "Thamprakkal" which means, literally Emperor (having originated from the Sanskrit "Samrat" and later corrupted into "Thampran") came to be used to refer to the Brahmins of Azhvanchery Mana Family after one day, while returning from a coronation ceremony with a Golden cow, the Thamprakkal was stopped on the road by a low caste member who stated that the right to take dead cows rested with his caste and not with high Brahmins. On this affront being offered, the Thamprakkal sprinkled some water on the golden cow and brought it to life. The low caste man exclaimed "you are indeed a Thamprakkal" and since then the title has stayed with the family. The Thamprakkal also has four privileges within the Namboodiri caste and otherwise which are:

* "Bhadrasthanam": The chief seat in any assembly
* "Sarvamanyam": Universal respectability
* "Brahma Samrajyam": Sovereignty over all Brahmins
* "Brahmavarchas": Highest authority in Vedic learning

The opinion of the Azhvanchery Thamprakkal was considered supreme in deciding matters relating to religion, caste, society etc. The family otherwise are "Adhyan" Namboodiris and use the surname of "Namboodiripad".

References

* Travancore State Manual, Volume II by V.Nagam Aiya, page number 249.
* Census Report of Travancore, 1901 which mentions the Azhvanchery family and their special status with details.

ee also

* Parasurama
* Namboodiri
* Kerala
* Malappuram