During the reign of Great Marthanda Varma of Travancore (A.D.1729-1758) many brave Ezhava warriors had sacrificed themselves for Travancore; but historians of Travancore have conveniently cast blind eyes to their contribution. During this period, there were eight powerful landlords (Ettuveetil-pillamar) in Thiruvananthapuram. They had their own armies. Among these landlords there were two groups. One, the Venganoore group, led by Venganoore pillai and the other group called the Kazhakuttam group led by Kazhakuttathu pillai. Of the two groups, Venganoore group was hostile to the royal family.
The administration of Padmanabhaswamy temple was at this time under the control of Ettara-yogum the group of eight landlords and King of Travancore, the King having only half the power. Marthanda Varma put an end to this system and assumed for the royal family all the administrative powers of the Padmanabhaswamy temple. The Venganoore group resented this, but they did not oppose the new arrangement because Marthanda Varma was a very assertive and powerful ruler.
The Travancore royal dynasty is Kshatriya by caste. Succession to the throne in Travancore was by the Marumakkathayam system under which the King’s sister’s son would ascend the throne on the demise of the reigning King and the Kings lineal descendants had no claim to the throne and it was under this system that Marthanda Varma became King on the death of Rama Varma.
Marthanda Varma’s uncle Rama Varma had two sons, Raman Thampi and Padmanabhan Thampi, by Abhirami, a non-Kshatriya lady. There was enmity between Marthanda Varma and the two Thampis from early in life and this developed into a bitter feud later. The two brothers wanted the throne and they unsuccessfully tried to assassinate Marthanda Varma on several occasions.
The Thampis were close to the Ettuveetil-pillamar. The Venganoore group was sympathetic and helpful to them all along. The Thampis sought the help of Kazhakuttathu pillai also in their fight with Marthanda Varma. Kazhakuttathu pillai was the most powerful among the land lords and his decisions were approved by others. Kazhakuttathu pillai however told them that they could not claim the Kingdom because they were not genuine Kshatriyas. The Thampi brothers changed their tack and told him that they did not want the throne but only wanted to abolish the Marumakkathayam system under which the nephews succeeded their maternal uncle in his death. Kazhakuttathu pillai too was against Marumakkathayam and he promised the Thampis to help them in abolishing this system. But he did not agree to help them in their fight with Marthanda Varma and instead, advised them to end the quarrel. But Venganoore pillai whom the Thampis approached for help agreed to support them.
Marthanda Varma came to know of the brewing conspiracy and assumed that all in the Ettuveetil-pillamar were helping his cousins and he ordered that all the eight land lords be captured.
Venganoore pillai and Ramanamadhom pillai of the Venganoore group were killed and the remaining three were captured. However Marthanda Varma could not capture any one of the Kazhakuttam group (Kazhakuttathu pillai, Kulathoore pillai and Chempazhanthy pillai). This has been attributed to their superior armies, who were Ezhavas and were very strong and courageous. It is believed that Marthanda Varma’s army could not even cross the border with Ulloor in the fight against the armies of Kazhakuttam group.
Kesava Panicker was an Ezhava Kalarippayyatu (native martial art) expert and was the commander and trainer of Kazhakuttathu pillai’s army. He was the founder of the famous Thozhuvancode Chamundi Devi temple and close friend of Kazhakuttathu pillai.
Chempazhanthy pillai was a very good man and he was worried about the war between Marthanda Varma and the Ettuveetil-pillamar. His army chief was an Ezhava Kalarippayyattu expert and ‘marma’ vaidyan by the name Pappan Chekavar, a native of Thalassery and he married from Chempazhanthy. Pappan Chekavar was also vaidyan of the royal family and hence he was close to Marthanda Varma. Chempazhanthy pillai, through Pappan Chekavar convinced Marthanda Varma that the Kazhakuttam group had no animosity towards Marthanda Varma or the royal family and the problem was settled peacefully.
Marthanda Varma’s great ambition was to enlarge his Kingdom to Kochi and even beyond. But the Kingdom of Kayamkulam stood in the way in his march to the north. His army was defeated three times by Patheenatha Panicker, Ezhava chief commander of Kayamkulam. Marthanda Varma realized that his army was not strong enough to defeat Kayamkulam. What he wanted was a strong army and an efficient army chief. Marthanda Varma discussed the problem with Pappan Chekavar who told him that he had a Thiyya(Ezhava) friend in Thalassery who was an expert in Kalarippayattu and horse riding. His name was Raghava Chekavar (Renakeerthy Chekavar). He was serving in the army of the Samoothiri in Malabar at that time. It is believed that Pappan Chekavar went to Malabar and brought Raghava Chekavar secretly with him by sea route to Travancore.
Raghava Chekavar took charge of the Travancore army as its chief commander. All the soldiers, majority being Ezhavas, of Kazhakuttathu pillai, Chempazhanthy pllai and Kulathoore pillai joined Marthanda Varma’s army under the leadership of Raghava Chekavar. At this time Kazhakuttathu pillai went on a pilgrimage and nobody has seen him since then. His chief army commander Kesava Panicker (Ezhava kalarippayyattu expert) did not join Marthanda Varma’s army. He was a staunch devotee of his Kalari Deity of Chamundi Devi and he left Kazhakuttam for Thozhuvancode with this Deity and founded the Chamundi Devi temple there. He spent the rest of his life at Thozhuvancode.
Marthanda Varma finally conquered Kayamkulam with the help of Ezhava soldiers under Raghava Chekavar. Later on Marthanda Varma won many victories including the victory in the battle at Kulachal with the help of the Ezhava soldiers led by Raghava Chekavar. Marthanda Varma honoured Raghava Chekavar by conferring on him the name Renakeerthy Chekavar. Marthanda Varma did not trust Nair soldiers. He removed all Nair soldiers from Padmanabhapuram palace and Padmanabhaswamy temple and replaced them with Ezhava soldiers. The Great Marthanda Varma died in AD.1758 at the age of 52. It is believed that Renakeerthy Chekavar was called back by the Samoothiri of Malabar after the death of Marthanda Varma.
After Marthanda Varma, his nephew Dharmaraja became the King. Ezhava soldiers continued to be the security guards of palace and Padmanabhaswamy temple for some time even after the death of Dharmaraja.
Balarama Varma (AD.1798-1810) ascended the throne after the death of Dharmaraja. He was very young and was a weak King. During his reign Veluthampi was the Prime Minister (Dalawa) of Travancore. Veluthampi did not like Ezhava soldiers guarding the palace and the temple. He told the King that Ezhavas did not come within the four tier caste system of the Hindus(Chathurvarnyam), that they had migrated from Srilanka, that they had a Buddhist origin and that they were untouchables. The King ordered the removal of all Ezhava soldiers from the palace and Padmanabhaswamy temple. He also dismissed all Ezhava soldiers from the Travancore army. Veluthampi Dalawa recruited Nairs in the place of Ezhava soldiers and he renamed the Travancore army as Travancore Nairpada. This led to a mutiny in the army. Veluthampi Dalawa suppressed the mutiny with the help of the Carnatic brigade of the British army. Many soldiers, mostly Ezhavas were killed.
The dismissed Ezhava soldiers later joined the British army. This angered the King further. From that time onwards Ezhavas were treated as untouchables and denied educational facilities, employment in public service and entry into the temples. Ezhavas became an oppressed community. This oppression eased gradually during the reign of Sree Moolam Thirunal (AD.1885-1924). It was at this time Sree Narayana Guru, the great social reformer came on the scene and people gradually became enlightened and caste prejudices became less acute. During the reign of Sree Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma(AD.1931-1949) all Hindus were allowed to enter Hindu Temples. Now, Ezhavas are in the forefront of Kerala society and they are the major Hindu community of Kerala.
The dismissed Ezhava soldiers from the Travancore army joined the British army in AD.1808. The British assigned Ezhava soldiers to capture Veluthampi Dalawa. Veluthampi Dalawa was attacked and surrounded by Ezhava soldiers of the British army in AD.1809. Veluthampi Dalawa committed suicide when the army surrounded him. In fact, it was a revenge of Ezhava soldiers.
Ettuveettilpillamar were genuine and noble Nairs. Their descendants live in the villages of Thiruvananthapuram. Genuine Nairs and Ezhavas respect each other.
The story behind the Sree Krishna temple in Neyyattinkara is also interesting in this context. Marthandavarma was surrounded by Ettuveettil pillaimar and was about to be captured. His life was saved by a Chego warrior.
ReplyDeleteHowever the historians and the mythology makers presented the story to show the chego warrior in a shabby manner when described in the historic or mythical context. Lord Krishna took the form of a shabby looking Chego to save the life of the king in the mythical version. In both ways the chego warrior was denigrated.
This is the worst historical article I have ever read in my life.
ReplyDeleteTake note of the foll. things:
1.Marthanda varma never had any mistrust in nairs.
2.Nair battalion was set up in 1704 as the local bodygaurd of the king. Rest of the travancore's army was maintained by the 'ettuveettil pillamar'.
After destroying pillai rule in Travancore the whole army men were united under nair battalion.
3.It was kumaraswami pillai who commanded the army during Battle of kulachal,later followed by Ayyappan marathanda pillai(Both were Nair and took charge during the reign HH.Marthanda Varma).
4.The only non-nair army commander was Captain De'llonoy took charge @ start of the reign of HH.Rama raja bahadur.He was a dutch captain under him Travancore defeated the Zamorins army in 1764.
5.Historic descriptions of TRAVANCORE is kept @ padbhanabhaswamy temble called MATHILAKAM REKHAKAL,so it cannot be manipulated.
6.It was nair brigade which revolted against Veluthampi dalawa and reason for revolt was deduction army allowances( not the reason mentioned in the article)
Krishnapillai was the leader of this mutiny who was brutually killed later.
7.Vaikom padbhanabha pillai was the army commander during the end of the reign of HH.Rama raja bahadur(not any ezhava as in the Article).He lead the travancore army at the Battle of Nedumkotta where armry of tipu sultan was ambushed and defeated.
8.Nair battalion was reorganised in 1830 by Rani gowri lakshmi bai(and not by velu thmapi who died in 1809)and named it Nair brigade.
9.Travancore Nair Infantry 1,Travancore Nair Infantry 2,Cochin Nair Infantry 1 then is still serving Indian army Respectively as 9th Battalion Madrass regiment,16th Battalion Madrass regiment,17th Battalion Madrass regiment. Non–nairs were not admitted into it till 1935.
I respect your love for Ezhava community. Manipulation of history may adversely affect ur efforts to glorify the community.
Also I support your view, Genuine nairs and ezhavas respect each other ,it is/was the duplicates who cause problems.
Before AD.1804, there was no Nair pada (‘pada’ literally means Army) in Travancore or anywhere in Kochi or Malabar because the majority of the population was Ezhavas or Thiyyas and all Kalarippayattu (native martial art) experts and trainers were Ezhavas(Thiyyas). It was impossible to form an army without Ezhavas during that period.
ReplyDeleteThere was a fight from AD.1805-AD.1809 in Travancore and Kochi between the dismissed soldiers (mostly Ezhavas) on the one side and Veluthampi’s and Paliyathu Achan’s Nair pada (Nair Army) on the other. This episode was not against the British and so the rulers of Travancore and Kochi never supported Veluthampi and Paliyathu Achan in this struggle. This has been wrongly depicted in Tranvancore history as mutiny among the Nair troops against the reduction of army allowances.
During the reign of Marthanda Varma and Dharmaraja, most of the soldiers and army chiefs were Ezhavas/Thiyyas. Nair historians re-wrote history for their people with the help of Brahmins. The names of many legendary Ezhava(Thiyya) warriors were erased from the history and fictious names were inserted in their place by adding Nair/Pillai surnames.
Jealousy made Nairs intolerant of giving Ezhavas their historical importance and they could not think of giving them the glory that was their due.
[Nairs that I mentioned in above details are Veluthampi’s men of nineteenth century (AD.1800-1900) and not about the Nair community of this century or prior nineteenth century. Nairs are a very great community of Kerala; I have numerous close friends and relatives in that community. I respect them but I firmly believe that Ezhavas were the only glorious community in Kerala having martial status; they had migrated from Srilanka, the land where Kalarippayattu originated. More details will be given in my next article.]
Iam really sorry to say that ur knowledge about the military history of kerala is scanty,also ur statement that Nair pada never existed before 1804 in malabar/kochi/travancore is rubbish.I can only advice you to read books written by various european/arab travellers who visted malabar in 15th -18th centuries.I think you are pretty sure that their records were not manipulated by any communal agendas.One of the quotes about nairs written by Portugese traveler Duarte Barbosa who visited Malabar in 1505 says:
ReplyDeleteIn general when these nairs are seven years of age they are immediately sent to school to learn all manner of feats of agility and gymnastics for the use of their weapons. First they learn to dance, and then to tumble, and for that purpose they render supple all their limbs from their child- hood, so that they can bend them in any direction. And after they have exercised in this, they teach them to manage the weapons which suit each one most. That is to say bows, clubs, or lances; and most of them are taught to use the sword and buckler, .which is of more common use among
them. In this fencing there is much agility and science. And there are very skilful men who teach this art, and they are called Panicars ;
The above quote from Barbosa clearly indicates that Nairs practiesd Kalaripayattu during the medival period.
I also have a suggestion that you better give Evidences for what you write here.Also just don't say that Ezhavas/thiyyas were the only people who learned Kalarippayattu ,there were many kalari maestros among other communities including Nadars,mappilas and syrian christians.And for your kind knowledge ,let me remind you the Kalarippayattu experts like Thacholi othenan ,thacoli ambu ,Kadathanadan ambadi, payyanadan Nambiar,Kathiroor gurukkal,Mathiloor gurukkal ,ponnapuram kelu nayar,parunthunkal panicker etc.. were nairs.then how can you say there weren't any Nairs paractising Kalaripayattu.
Also what makes think that Kalaripayattu was originated in srilanka ,when there are no real evidences(not assumptions).
Chekavars learn their history from their great ancestors and not from the books written by travallers . We do not say that other communities do not have Kalarippayyattu experts but we recognize them. We recognize real heroes in other communities also. You give a large list of Nair Kalarippayattu experts like Thacholy Othenan and so many others. Why don’t you include a single name of Kalarippayattu expert from Nadar community or Muslim community in your list? Ezhavas migrated here before Aryans and so Ezhavas were the only martial class at that time. Another martial class Nadar community migrated in Tamilnadu. Srilanka is the place where Kalrippayattu is originated that is my firm belief. If you know another place I don’t have any problem because we are tolerant. Please wait until my next post.
ReplyDeleteCome on .....you are supposed to give evidences for the srilankan origin of Kalaripayattu.My firm belief is that karali has its origin here in malabar ,most probably in north malabar close to the region called tulunadu.The ballards of north says that the region has the most talented fighters.According to Mr. ഇളംകുളം കുഞ്ഞന് പിള്ള Kalaripayattu has its origin during the 100 years war b/w the cholas and cheras(11th cent. AD) .Afterwards it became a custom in cheranadu(kerala) that every house must have a kalari attached to the sarppakavu , men belonging to the Warrior caste must be trained from the age 7 to 16 and they should be ready to fight for cheraman perumal soon after completing their training.
ReplyDeleteAnd i find this explanation more truthful than your ceylon story.
And …….some of the kalari experts from muslim community were Mayinkutty,Atthan Gurukkal and Unni Moosa.
Mayinkutty was the student of kathiroor gurukkal,he is the one who shot thacholi othenan for taking revenge for his Master's death)
Atthan Gurukkal and Unni Moosa were the leaders of Moplahs who supported Pazhassi Raja in his Struggle Against British.We can many see many Moplah names in the Pazhassi Strugles,also many Nair names(like Edachena Kunkan Nair , Edachena Othenan Nair,Edachena Komappan Nair,Kaitheri Ambu Nambiar,Kannuvath Nambiar,Palloor Eman Nair,Palloor Rayarappan Nair,Chuzhali nambiar,Peruvayal Nambiar etc.) or even Kurichyar names like Thalackal Chandu who fought for their motherland with pride.But I wonder why no thiyya names were included in the list of Pazhassi freedom fighters??? .If they were the real warriors ,they would have lead the Pazhassi army insted of any Nair,muslim or a kurichya.
Also i advice you to be more careful when you take lessons from your ancestors,they may be communally biased.
Mr.Vinu,
ReplyDeleteThe first pargraph of your comments may be true as it is same as Thiyya history of Malabar. If you study more about that you will reach in Srilanka.
After few lines, you have mentioned that ‘Mayinkutty was the student of Kathiroorgurukkal’!!!! Delicious, your knowledge is amazing.
Have you ever heard about great Kunjalimaraikkar (naval commander of Samoothiry)?
You have not included him in your list of heroes.
I think that you haven’t heard about him because your hero is Mayinkutty the mercenary who shot the legendary Kalrippayattu expert Thacholy Othena Kurup.
How many times you have seen that movie Pazhassiraja?
I am fully confident in my ancestors. Please leave out my ancestors from your comments.
Sorry no time to type more please wait until my next article.
Mayinkutty was the student of kathiroor Gurukkal,what is the Problem with that??(see the movie Thacholi Ambu in which Balan K Nair does the role Mayinkutty Kuttiyil,Prem Nazir as Ambu and Sivaji Ganesan as Othenan.)
ReplyDeleteAs far as Kunjali marikkar is concerned ,He is not a single person. Kunjali was the title given to Naval commander of Zamorin and Marikkar is the caste to which he belongs.
Kunjalis were famous for their Naval skills and not for their Martial abilities,and that's the reason why I didn't include him in my list.
Let me remind you that a lot of Muslim warriors were included in zamorin's army.Mainly from the sect. called Koyas(it is belived that koyas where Nairs converted to muslims in Calicut and they Practice marumakkathayam till date as a sign of it.)
Mr.satheesh
I have nothing to do with your Ancestors.My point is that you should be more rational while writting this type of Articles
And I am waiting for your new Article.
I understand that you are learnnig history from movies.
ReplyDeleteYesterday I had a chat with a friend who is a movie fan. I told him about your comments and asked him wether he knew anything more about Mayinkutty who shot Thacholy Othenan.
He replayed jokingly:-
Yes, yes I know that Mayinkutty, he was not the student of Kathiroorgurukkals College but was the student of Law College. Mukesh was his close friend; Innocent told him that studying in college is no use. Mayinkutty stopped studying and Angjooran muthalali gave him some money. I think, now Mayinkutty is selling fish in the market. Poor boy, he did not shoot Thacholy Othena annan.
I am anxious that our discussion may be continued like this if your comments are based on movies.
Great Kunjalimarakkar was the most famous among the navy commanders of Malabar. He had both martial and naval skills. He fought his enemies with his sword. I ask you two questions, without martial skill, how one could fight against the enemies during the sixteenth century? Had the war ships of that time been equipped with Torpedoes or Missiles?
Mr. Vinu, Be rational and don’t be like a nineteenth century historian of Kerala.
Come on satheesh I thought we were having a serious discussion about martial history of Kerala...please don't give me such stupid replies if you are willing to continue this discussion seriously.Also I have to tell you that knowledge comes through so many ways,movies are one of the main source of information. Keralites in 21st cent. came to know about their medieval martial heroes through various historical movies based on vadakkan paattukal.
ReplyDeleteAnd another blunder you just told now is that " Zamorins Navy was not equipped with cannons and guns at the time of kunjalis"
I have to say you that Zamorins ship was largely equipped with those kinds of ammunition during 16th cent.
This is what an Italian traveller 'De Varthema' who visited malabar in 1503 said :
പോര്ട്ടുഗീസുകാരെ നേരിടുവാന് സമൂതിരിക്കുണ്ടായിരുന്ന ഒരേയൊരു കുറവ് പീരങ്കികളുടെതായിരുന്നു. വലിയ പീരങ്കികളും വെടിമരുന്നും സമ്പാദിക്കുവാന് തീവ്രശ്രമം നടത്തി കൊണ്ടിരിക്കുന്ന അവസരമായിരുന്നു അത് .അതിനായി കെയ്റോ കച്ചവടക്കാരെ സമീപിച്ചു .അതിനും പുറമേ തോക്ക് നിര്മാതാക്കളെ വെനീസ് വരെ ദൂതന്മാരെ അയച്ചു ,അപ്പോഴാണ് ഈ കരുവാന്മാരെ (ഇറ്റലിക്കാര് ) ലഭിച്ചത് .ഉടനെ അവരെ പട്ടാളത്തില് ചേര്ക്കുകയും വിവിധ തരത്തിലുള്ള പീരങ്കി കള് നിര്മിക്കുവാനുള്ള നിര്ദേശം കൊടുക്കുകയും ചെയ്തു . പീരങ്കികള് ഉണ്ടാക്കുന്നതില് പരിശീലനം നേടുവാന് ഏതാനം നാട്ടുകാരെയും നിയോഗിച്ചു.ഏറെ താമസിയാതെ സാമൂതിരിക്ക് പീരങ്കിയും വെടിമരുന്നും സുലഭമായി .----സഞ്ചാരികള് കണ്ട കേരളം dcb; പേജ് 259
And it is clear that kunjali marikkar(1520-1600) used Cannons and guns largely.
Another blunder you wrote in your 2nd Article is that " when Thacholy Othena Kurup was alive, Thacholy Unnitharcha was kidnapped by Tippu Sultan, this being the cause of the rivalry between Tippu Sultan and Thacholy Othena Kurup"
I think you messed up all the facts in that sentance First of all thacholi othenan's sister was Unnichara and not unnichira or unnitharcha
secondly unnichara was not kidnapped by anyone, it was kunjikanni(daughter kadathanad raja) who was kidnapped by ponnaapuram kelu nayar and not by tippu sulthan.
I was wondering how tippu who lived in late 18th century came into thacholi othenan's story.
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I advice you to see more malyalam films based on Vadakkan pattukal....I think the movies like Thacholi Othanen and Thacholi ambu are available on Torentz,dowload and watch they may be more informative than your Ancestors.
Bale Bhesh!!Kya baath hain!
DeleteVinu,It seems like your knowledge history is based on films and fiction . Dear, grow up and learn history from facts and reason and not from films.
You must also understand that a work of history written under a particular royal yule or lineage will have increased bias ( Even a 100% one) towards the glorify the existing ruling class and will be completely silent of the other social strata.
even the history written by those foreigners who come for trades and business will have increased bias towards the royal class perspectives as the traders will naturally get to interact and observe the ruling class society only . (You cant expect a foreign trader to directly interact with a local. instead he will be interacting with the naduvaazhi and his orderlies)
In that perspective even the 1% mention found anywhere in any documents should call for much higher visibility and attention and it should be seen as the tip of the iceberg while the iceberg remains submerged.
Most of the principalities in the south did not ever had the manpower they wanted to defend their small land. In fact it is a well known fact that ezhavas formed a major rank and file of such armies. There is no wonder as kalaris were owned in large numbers by them in south and north of kerala.
Commercial movies are mainly made for entertainment and most of those give no information. One should see documentary films, classic films of good directors or read good books of reliable authors for getting information and knowledge.
ReplyDeleteKnowledge comes through so many ways, that is true but choosing substandard movies for getting knowledge is stupidity. There are so many informative and commercial Malayalam movies of famous directors also running in theaters. I used to see that movies in theater.
Before you type blunders, you have to study about when gun powder was invented, who made guns first in the world and when guns were first used in India.
Chinese made gunpowder and guns during twelfth century but during that time those were not available any where in the world.
In India, Cannons were used by Mughal army during eighteenth century. Famous Agra Gun was installed in the beginning of nineteenth century (AD.1800-1900)
It is believed that great MarthandaVarma of Travancore used fire arms first time in India in Kulachal war against Dutch in AD.1741, those fire arms were captured by Marthandavarma’s army from the Dutch army during war and used those against them. Guns were used by the British army in India during the end of eighteenth century (AD.1700-1800). British used guns against Tippu and Pazhassiraja for defeating their armies. At that time, Tippu Sulatan had a gun for his personal use only. Cannons those we see now in old forts and museums were brought by the British from Britain by ship for their use. They sold cannons to Mughals and local rulers also who were under the British East India Company. Those cannons were cast in British foundries in Britain during the period of AD.1720-1800. During that time, there were no cannon casting foundries in India. It is believed as Travancore was a princely state Travancore army was not allowed to use guns by the British till AD 1840. Between the periods of AD.1500-1740, there were no guns or cannons used in Kerala. I am sure that there were no cannons or guns used in any wars or attacks during 16th or 17th centuries in Travancore, Kochi, and Malabar. Historians of nineteenth century recorded false details in the history of Kerala.
Tippu and Thacholy Othena Kurup were contemporaries and Tippu was twelve years older than Thacholy Othenan. Both of them lived in 18th century. We have clear history of both Puthooram and Thacholy families and so we will never recognize the history that was written by others.
Mr.Vinu
Once again I request you, kindly leave out my ancestors from your comments and inform you that my ancestors were Chekavars of great Ezhava/Thiyya community.
I have to get comments from my people also. I am waiting for their comments.
the fact is that the chathur varna system ever existed in india,anywhere in the world.where do u actually find its reference,does any great hindu spiritual scripts advocate it.no.do u belive no?smrities are not spiritual works.
ReplyDeletethen how do we grow up by the idea ,that idea of 4 varna system so mcuh obsessed in our mind.and that even we try so hard to relate it to the prsent caste syste.its the school books ,first it was made taught in school sylabus by the british and then later by the jawaharlal nehru gang.look before europeans coming to africa there were not much communal riots.but now there is only communal riots.just after independance and last decades of british rule the communal riots were intense in india.now its reduced.reason europeans are now not feeding that to grow thick.
caste difference was exploited by british for establishing their rule in india.in kerala too they have done this.
how come a government exists without the su...
pport of the majority of the people there.when majority are oppressed then that reign will fall very quickly.upper caste were always were a minority.ofcourse it can thus be so only.
one thing which many does not know is that in kerala nambooris were only savarna.all others were sudhras .including kshatrias ,they have to do a bathing in gold tank which shall be broken and given to bhrahmins.
one more thing to be kept in mind too.modern reserach have shown that nairs were not the majority of soilders in kerala.bulk majority were from other castes,mainly ezhava,thiyya,channar,other castes.even the army commanders and kalari trainers of majority of kings were not nairs.even now all ancient kalaries are owned by ezhava.in trivandrum it is nadars.not only that majority of the new kalaries too are run by other communities.history does not attach nairs to ruling families of kerala but the kolathiri,tranvancore etc considered to be descended from villavar .there were some nair dynasties too.but they were so recent and very small.that type of rulers were there from all castes even from pulayas.unbelivable. so much is shrouded and lay covered in histroy.and we have to open it up.even though that does not satisfy our hardened ego.
The ancient Kalari at Cheerappanchira of old Karappuram or current Cherthala in Alapuzha district lying on the western banks of lake Vembanad to the west of Kumarakom and Pathiramanal island is renowned for its legendary warriors and inclusive martial arts masters who even got the prestigious privilege of teaching their life saving arts to the mythical Ayyappan of Pandalam dynasty now enshrined in Sabarimala according to folklore and popular belief. It is interesting to note that Ayyappan also known as Dharma Sastha (a synonym of the Buddha) is also associated with the Buddhist past of south India.It is evident that the family heads called the Panickers of Cheerappanchira household traditionally practiced Kalari and were chiefs in the army of Karappuram kings from the early middle ages onwards. It could be well assumed that their inheritance of letters, health care and martial arts is a lasting legacy of the shared Buddhist and Sramana heritage.....
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of Avarnas in Kerala who were treated as untouchables and out castes under the hegemony of Brahmanic Hinduism later as rebellious and resisting marginal people who never submitted to Brahmanism and refused to offer martial and sexual slavery to the ”twice born lords of the land” who could easily lure and convert kings and queens and some of the power hungry opportunistic sections who instantly served them to establish the regime of caste and untouchability.
Changampally Kalari in Thirunavaya in Malapuram district is associated with Mamankam, the martial carnival that settled the succession disputes in ancient Kerala once in every 12 years.the Changampally household was appointed in charge of the Kalari here by the Zamorin of Calicut in the middle ages according to local legends. The family has converted to Islam in the 18thcentury during the Mysore occupation. When I visited the Kalari in early February 2012, Mr Jaffar Gurukal who is running an Ayurvedic centre near the ancient Kalari told me that before conversion they were Tulu Brahmans. This could be an elitist assimilation or fabrication done later under the hegemony of Brahmanical values; as Tulu Brahmans are never identified as traditionally having martial Kalari practice or institutions in Tulunadu or down south. Almost all Kalari households in Tulunadu and Malabar belonged to Sudra and Avarna communities.The Changam and Pally words in their house name are marked key words associated with Buddhism. Changam or Chingam represent Chamana or Amana or Sramana culture as in Chinga Vanam or Changanassery (place names in Kottayam district). As Sramana culture is inseparable from the month of Chingam and the great secular egalitarian festival of Onam in Kerala, the words Changam/Chingam and Pally/Pilly are also inextricably linked to the Buddhist past of Kerala
Hi,
ReplyDeleteEttuveetil madampimaar were not all Nairs as per history. Ettuveetil madampimaar was changed to ettuveetil pillamar by novelist CV Raman Pillai in his novel Marthanda Varma and people foolishly take this novel as history. Many historical characters were also named pillai in the novel. The famous mankoyikkal channar family is made nair by adding surname kurup. Another historical figure Anantha Padmanabhan Channar or Bhranthan Channar who was a skilled warrior and who saved Marthanda Varma many times was also made a Nair in the novel.
Hai my friend Sathish
ReplyDeleteThis is very interesting that you have a eager to learn history in deep.But you should be more diligent before adding the baseless articles like above. I think these type of articles will never help you but only avail to make some misunderstandings in the people.You should not learn the history with the identical views. Then only you have to assort real history from the Then make stories. I am surprised why you wish to deviate the history for some selfish wishes.
Lord Marthanda Varma never had such dispute with Nairs. Nairs were his most trusted Personnel guards till to his last breath. Another wrong thing is come about the of Velu Chembaka Raman Thambi Dalava’s Respectfull Sacrifise for his Mother land and people. Yes……. Velu Thabi Dalava made some reforms in the Travancore army(It is called Thiruvithaamkoor Nair Pada), and reduced some of the luxuries to Army man.this was made angry them and Thambi is Surrounded by the some of the Nair men, with the support of Britishers who have a large revenge to Velu Thambi because, he introdused some new rules and regulations in the trade of Travencore with British that greatly reduced the large plunder of British from Travancore and Thambi went refuge to the Mannadi Devi temple and his Proud not allow him to get captured by the British and that great Lover of Mother land and Men went suicide.
Mr Satheesh you said that you are heard the stories from your ancestors. I am respecting your ancestors. But while we think their speech they may be try to diminish the past glory of Naris and may try to make believe their successors some things wrongly with revenge. Yes Chekavars are from the Thiyya Community they were great martial experts also and served some Kings in those times and among them there was many experts in Kalarippayattu also.
I am heard the histories from my ancestors about the Nair Pattalm and their great sacrifices in many ways ... to others.They said many histories that happened past..thousands of Nair Soldiers died while in the battle by fighting and with starvation during the battle, with Tippu Sultan and during the fight to British with Pazhassi Raja and the histories in the Travancore region. you should have learn also the writings of the travelers also about the Nairs in Kerala. We can not only look in a single writer but also take a more number of ones And the British writers also said about the Nairs,their tradition, culture,life styles, dressing,practices,occupation etc
Dear Mr.Jayan Nair,
ReplyDeleteI respect Nair community of Kerala and also hope that you will be tolerant.
My article about Renakeerthy Chekavar is a heard story from my ancestors. I don’t claim that it is completely true but I don’t think that it is completely false and it was clearly stated at the end of that article.
Mr. Jayan Nair, do you think that only Nairs had glory and greatness; only Nair historians patented the history of Travancore; only their history was true? We have also historians like Dr. SN. Sadasivan and so many others. Every historian has little leniency towards their own community. I do not say that our historians are exceptional from that but in the case of your historians, it is intolerable. They added the title Pillai to the names of all warriors and eminent persons in the Travancore history and made the impression that they were Nairs even though the title Pillai was not an exclusive title of Nairs.
From the known history of Kerala, Ezhavas were the majority of the citizens there. During the nineteenth century, a large number of Ezhavas converted to other religions because of severe discrimination against them.
But even now Nairs are more or less half the population of Ezhavas in Kerala and hence, it is certain that about two hundred or more years back, Nairs constituted only a minority in Kerala compared with Ezhavas.
Logically states that for this reason, it was impossible to form a Nair pada (Nair army) in Kerala (Travancore, Kochi and Malabar) before the nineteenth century.
Nairs use their caste name as their surname whereas Ezhavas do not use and so Europeans travellers and other historians wrongly conceived that majority of the citizens in Kerala were Nairs.
It is believed that from the reign of Marthanda Varma, more than one lakh soldiers in the Travancore army were Ezhavas and they formed the major part of the Travancore army. These Ezhava soldiers were mostly from north Travancore. The other soldiers of the Travancore army were mostly Nadars and other communities of south Travancore (present-day Kanyakumary district in Tamilnadu). The Nairs constituted only a minority in the Travancore army and the Ezhava soldiers continued to serve in this army till AD.1804.
Raja Kesavadas was the most efficient Diwan (Prime minister) and true patriot that Travancore had ever seen. But he was placed under house arrest and murdered in the year AD.1799. Later, his two relatives were also murdered. The circumstances leading to these murders are shrouded in mystery.
Kayamkulam King had a very loyal and powerful Ezhava army headed by the legendary Ezhava warrior, Patheenatha Chekavar of Varanappally family.
ReplyDeleteHe was honoured with the title “Pada vettum” Patheenatha Panicker by Kayamkulam king, due to the courage and skills shown by him as a Commander in the battlefield.
Patheenatha Chekavar was the son of the great warrior, Lokanatha Chekavar .
During Marthanda Varma’s reign, he decided to extend his kingdom.
At that time Venad was a small kingdom with Padmanabhapuram and later, Thiruvananthapuram as its capital.
Marthanda Varma tried to conquer Kayamkulam kingdom two times, but failed both times.
Patheenatha Chekavar was the Chief Commander of Kayamkulam king, during the battles between Venad and Kayamkulam.
Only after the appointment of Renakeerthy Chekaver (another Ezhava warrior), Marthanda Varma was able to defeat Kayamkulam.
Thus in the third and final battle between Venad and Kayamkulam in 1746, Kayamkulam was defeated and the king fled Kayamkulam.
Patheenatha Chekavar of Varanappally was not killed in the battle, but chose to kill himself with a sword; in such a way that his body was cut into 3 pieces and the head was lying on the south side of Thurayil Tharavad.
A small temple was constructed in the honour of Patheenatha Chekavar’s memory at that spot on the south side of Thurayil Tharavad where his head had fallen. (courtesy for this valuable information to maliny Madhavan,She Is belongs to varanappalli family)