Vaipur

Vaipur, on the banks of River Manimala, in Pathanamthitta District, Kerala, India, has an ancient history. It has ancient traditions linking it to Manimala,Niranam, Kallooppara, Mallappally, Kaviyoor, Tiruvalla, Nedumkunnam and nearby places. Niranam, on the confluence of the Manimala and Pampa Rivers, was, an ancient port, in the first centuries of the Christian era. The sea, reportedly, receded, reclaiming the land that is now part of Kuttanad.

Vaipur (Keezhvaipur) is today part of Mallappally Taluk, in Pathanamthitta District of Kerala, India.

Religious Centres

Temples

Vaipur is famous for the seven temples: Vaipur Mahadeva Temple, Kulangarakkavu Sree Bhuvaneswari Temple, Kottangal Sree Devi Temple,Kulathoor Major Devi Temple,Thricherpuram Sree Shankara Narayana Swami Temple, Sasthamkavu Ayyappa Temple, Keethrikka Sree Krishna Swami Temple. The four well-known Nair families are Kaimodathu, Mangalathu Tharavadu, Alancherril and Kolathu.
The "kaimodathu tharavadu" members are named with surname "Kaimal". All over in Kerala the Kaimal family members are less. The main branches of Kaimodathu tharavadu are Edavassary, Kulathunkal and Thumpooru. The Alancherril Nairs(the main branches are Edoor Pillais and Karumalil) migrated from Madapally near Changanacherry and their family deity is in Cheruvally Temple.
The Kolathu Nairs migrated from the ancient Kolathu Nadu(Malabar).
Vaipur is famous for the Temple Festivals: Vaipur Mahadeva Temple Utsavam(the most famous is the "7th Festival" that is celebrated on the 7th day of the festival by devotees of "Cheruthottuvazhi"), Kulangarakkavu Kumbha Pooram, Kottangal Padayani, Kulathur Meena Pooram, Thricherpurathu Karkidaka Vavu Pooja, and the Mandala Poojas during the Sabarimala season. The Vaipur road has been declared as Sabarimala patha.

Vaipur had ancient "brahmin" (Nampoothiri/Embranthiri families) that attended to local temple.They were the Embranthiris belonging to Thiruvalla.
Eminent personalities from vaipur serving in different parts of the country:-
Dr.Chithrathara (Pet Name: Rema) d/o.late Mr.Kesavapillai & Mrs.Thankamma, of Kottuppally House, Near Kulangara Kavu Temple, Vaipur. "Dr.Chithrathara"is serving as "Oncology Surgeon" in Amirita Institute of Medical Sciences, Ernakulam. Her husband is the famous renowned oncology physician Dr.V.P.Gangadharan, who is serving at Lakeshore Hospital Ernakulam.
Dr.Ashok is the s/o.Smt.Santhamma who is a member of Kulathunkal branch of Kaimodathu family is serving as Neuro Surgeon in Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Ernakulam and is a strong devotee of Matha Amritanandamayi.

Masjids

Vaipur has two famous Masjids: Vaipur Pazhayapalli Jama-Ath (Estd: 1185AD) and Puthanpally Jama-Ath (Estd: AD 1895). Vaipur Muslim Pazhayapalli was the first Masjid for 18 places includes Erumely, Kanjrappally and Vaipur etc. Vaipur Jamia Rahumathul Anam Arabic College and Orphanage was started in the year 1992, now this is recognized as one of the best Arabic Colleges in Kerala and getting grants from Govt. of India. Vaipur people can’t forget the name “Vaipur Chandanakkudam” Makaram 15th celebrating this festival; we can see Hindu Muslim brotherhood in this festival. Vaipur having a relation with Sabarimala, Vavaru Swami’s families are settled in Vaipur.

Churches & Christian settlements

Vaipur, had Christian/Nazrani settlements dating back to the 13th century. St. Mary's Church, Vaipur was established in AD 1212, according to the records of Changanacherry Archdiocese. The only Syrian Catholic churches that were contemporaneous with Vaipur St.Mary's Church, were Champakulam (Kalloorkad) St.Mary’s (Estd:427 AD), Athirampuzha, St.Mary’s (Estd AD 835),Changanaseri St. Mary’s (Estd AD 1017), Kudamaloor St. Mary’s (Estd: AD 1125). The Nazranis of Vaipur belonged to Niranam Church (which according to tradition, was one of the 7 churches established by St Thomas in the first century AD). The Nazranis of Manimala, Vaipur and Kallooppara, had to travel to Niranam using the waterways of River Manimala. Later, the Kallooppara Church was established and Vaipur Christians used to be members of that Church until Vaipur pazhaya palli was established.

Vaipur (Pazhaya Palli) is listed (along with Niranam, Kallupara, Changanassery and Kanjirappally in the nearby places) among the 180 parishes that had representatives at the Synod of Diamper (Udayamperoor) in 1599, that was held by the Portuguese Archbishop Menezes of Goa to unite the Indian Syrian Christians/Nazranis/ Saint Thomas Christians to the Latin Catholic Church of Rome and its practices. This later led to division of the Indian Christian church into mainly the Jacobite Orthodox Church and the Syrian Catholic Churches after the Koonan Kurisu Sathyam(Coonan Cross Oath) of 1653. After this period of dissension and division within the Christian community, the Christian communities of various denominations, appear to have migrated from Vaipur, to other places. The Catholics, mostly migrated to Nedumkunnam and nearby places.

The Edoor Tharakans belonging to the Syrian Christian/Nazrani Community, were powerful traders and landowners in the area. They are reported to have originated from Kalikavu Illam, whose members migrated to Vaipur from either Kuravilangad or Nilackal. [http://www.vachaparambil.net The Pulincunnu Vachaparampil family website] tracing their ancestry to AD 1760, mentions about Eliamma from their family being married to Thommy Tharakan of Edoor, Vaipur and the couple being childless. The Edoor tharavad, had 9 branches: 1) Edoor (Vaipur), 2) Karuthaparackal (Vaipur), 3) Kallooprayat (South Anicad), 4) Mecherimannil (Vaipur), 5) Cheranayil (Kottangal), 6)Edoor Marungottil (Vakathanam), 7) Plakizh (Eraviperoor) 8)Kozhimannil (Morani South Anicad), 9) Puthuparampil Peedika (Vaipur). Edoor Karuthaparackal family migrated to Nedumkunnam and formed the Thathakatt and Nechikatt families in Nedumkunnam. The Karathaparackal Nechikatt family history, records the family roots 250 years back to Thathakatt-Nechikatt families, settled in Nedumkunnam.

Nedumkunnam temple and church had connections to the Vaipur Christian and Hindu communities.

References

* [http://www.vachaparambil.net The Pulincunnu Vachaparampil family website]
* Nedumkunnam Puthiaparampil family history
* PJTomy, 'Portuguese Contribution to Kerala' lists Vaipur parish as one of the 180 parishes that were represented at the Synod of Diamper, 1599.
* [http://kalloopparachurch.com/history_articles.php Kallooppara Church History]
* [http://www.niranamchurch.com/ Niranam Church]
* [e-mail] (Vinaya Kumar & Vinod Kumar Gopinathan Nair, Vinod Bhavan, Vaipur)

External links

* [http://www.pathanamthittapolice.com/maptopleft.htm Pathanamthitta Police map of Mallappally Taluk]