Kadayanickadu
Encyclopedia
Kadayanickadu is a village situated 11 km east of Karukachal
, spread out on either sides of Changanacherry - Manimala
road in Kerala
, India
. It is a typical Kerala rural settlement with the nature‘s green covering, ringing rivulets, small hills and slopes, agricultural fields, inhabited by rustic population. It is a Kara in Vellavoor revenue village in Changanacherry taluk, Kottayam
district.
The nearest railway stations are Kottayam (32 km) and Changanacherry (28 km), and the nearest Airport is Cochin Airport ( Nedumbassery
) about 81 km away.
Devi
. 'Kadu' is jungle as also abode of Devi
. Thus 'Anikadu' means a 'Kadu (or Kavu)' where Devi
is installed. There is an ancient Devi
temple here. The place Kadayanickadu lies in the middle-end of two Anikadus in the neighborhood - Anikadu north and Anikadu south with very famous Devi
temples. 'Kada,' the middle-end of both the Anikadus became ‘Kadayanikadu,’ the abode of Mother Goddess. The whole Anikadu area would have been once a single unit.
It is also possible that the name is derived from ‘Ayini’ tree (also known as 'Anjili' - Artocarpus Hirsutus Lam), which was abundantly found and widely used in the construction of ancient houses in this area.
Another possibility is that the name coined from the word 'Katyayani,' (also Kathyayini
), another name for goddess Durga in Sanskrit. Two ancient Devi temples of Kadayanickadu reinforce this conjecture.
According to known history it was once part of Thekkumkoor
kingdom, and was under the control of two Local Lords (Madampies), namely Ranni Kartha
and Agasthanathu Nair
, responsible for the maintenance of law and order as also tax collection. In AD 1749 King Marthanda Varma
captured Thekkumkoor and annexed it to Venad
. All the previous Local Lords were removed from the posts and the king brought his own loyal people for the administration. The entire land from the precincts of Nedumkunnam
to Chirakkadavu
, extending for about 20km was put under the progeny of a woman who was brought in marriage from Chelampaneth family of Ayroor
to Madhavakottu family in Kangazha. This family was later divided in to three branches or Tharavadu
s. Kangazha
area came under the control of Eranattu or Erattu and Kadayanickadu under Thayyil.
A prominent Karnavar
of that time, Thayyil Samprathipillai, who was also the palace head clerk, rebuilt the Thayyil Tharavadu
buildings about 250 years ago. It is a wooden building structure measuring 40 X 25 feet covered with fireproof brick and lime mortar
on the top. There is a vast underground cell (Nilavara) and inner cells constructed in such away as to store paddy produced in the vast stretch of land owned by the family at that time.
The north eastern a part of Kadayanikadu is owned and inhabited by other Nair families from very old times. They are Kulathinkal, Mukkanolil, Vellachira and Pulinthara. Their ancestors were agriculturists who did the cultivation themselves. They had their own temple, and Sarpakavu which exists even today.
Another prominent sect is Ezhava
s. They live in the north western corner areas. The legendary belief is that they are the progeny of a Namboothiri woman from elsewhere who married an Ezhava
and settled here. The previously mentioned famous Devi temple is owned by them. It is believed that the idol installed there was the one used by the Namboothiri women for her personal worship. The Ezhavas of Kadayanickadu are of higher standards, rather Orthodox and are landowners. The main families are Vakanani, Konattu, Koyippuram and Puthanpurackal.
The other backward classes and castes like Ulaya, Pulayar
s, Paravans etc. are also living here as son’s of the soil for centuries. Their ancestors would have been agricultural labors
A few Christian
families also live here from very old times. The earliest appears to be Ambalattumkal. In those days there was a belief that once a certain Hindu community (oil mongers) makes coconut oil, one Christian
person has to touch that oil for purification. It is believed that Ambalattumkal family was brought and settled here for the purpose of “oil purification by touch.” The other Christian
families are Sarpathummuri, Mathilakam, Poothiot & Thottiyil. Malayil family came from Vazhoor
and settled here. Most of the Christians are engaged in commercial activities.
In Kadayanikadu complete interaction mutual respects, co operation exists between all the castes, creed & faiths. There are major temples, two for Devi and for Sastha.The Sasta temple is owned by NSS - Nair Service Society
Karayogam, one Devi temple by SNDP - Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana and the other by Ayyappa Seva Sangham. St Marys church Kadayanickadu is a Syro Malabar Christian
community church under Changanacherry Arch Diocese
.
Snake worship
prevailed here from very long times. The Sarpakavu at Vellachira, Kannankavu, Pulinthara and Palathu are owned by the respective families.
Late Sri Mohan D. Kangazha – Writer
Late Sri A.N.R. Pillai – Kathaprasangam exponent
Adv. Kadayanickadu Purushothaman Pillai – Member of Legislative Assembly – 1967
V.S.Bhaskara Panicker (Rtd. Supdt.of Post Offices)- Writer and former Gen. Secretary, Akhila Bharatha Ayyappa Seva Sangham
Gopinatha Pillai Kallikkal - Retd. Dy. Labor Commissioner
Kalamandalam Sukumaran Nair – Ottamthullal exponent
Purushothaman Kartha –Ottamthullal and Bharatanatyam exponent
town. It is about 15 km from the famous Kanjirappally
town and Ponkunnam
. Also, Kadayanickadu is just about 20 km from Erumely, which is an important destination for Lord Ayyappa devotees during 'Mandala' season, enroute to Sabarimala
.
Karukachal
Karukachal is a small village in Kottayam district of Kerala state in India. Karukachal is 20 km from Kottayam town. The nearest railway station is Changanassery which is 15 km away....
, spread out on either sides of Changanacherry - Manimala
Manimala
Manimala is an area in the Kottayam district of Kerala in India. The population is about 10,000, of whom the majority are farmers whose main income comes from rubber plantations. The people are from several religions and castes. Manimala and nearby areas are thickly populated by Syrian Catholics...
road in Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. It is a typical Kerala rural settlement with the nature‘s green covering, ringing rivulets, small hills and slopes, agricultural fields, inhabited by rustic population. It is a Kara in Vellavoor revenue village in Changanacherry taluk, Kottayam
Kottayam
Kottayam is a city in the Indian state of Kerala, spread over an area of 55.40 km2. It is the administrative capital of the Kottayam district. Kottayam Kottayam (Malayalam: കോട്ടയം) is a city in the Indian state of Kerala, spread over an area of 55.40 km2. It is the administrative...
district.
The nearest railway stations are Kottayam (32 km) and Changanacherry (28 km), and the nearest Airport is Cochin Airport ( Nedumbassery
Nedumbassery
Nedumbassery is a suburb of the city of Kochi situated north of the city and from Thrissur in Kerala, India. The town lies between the two municipalities of Aluva and Angamaly in the Greater Cochin region. It has a population of 28,607 as on 2001, with a sex-ratio of 1012 females to 1000 males...
) about 81 km away.
The name "Kadayanickadu"
The name Kadayanickadu is composed of three syllables, namely 'Kada,' 'Ani' and 'Kadu.' 'Kada' means the end or the last portion. 'Ani' means Mother GoddessMother goddess
Mother goddess is a term used to refer to a goddess who represents motherhood, fertility, creation or embodies the bounty of the Earth. When equated with the Earth or the natural world such goddesses are sometimes referred to as Mother Earth or as the Earth Mother.Many different goddesses have...
Devi
Devi
Devī is the Sanskrit word for Goddess, used mostly in Hinduism, its related masculine term is deva. Devi is synonymous with Shakti, the female aspect of the divine, as conceptualized by the Shakta tradition of Hinduism. She is the female counterpart without whom the male aspect, which represents...
. 'Kadu' is jungle as also abode of Devi
Devi
Devī is the Sanskrit word for Goddess, used mostly in Hinduism, its related masculine term is deva. Devi is synonymous with Shakti, the female aspect of the divine, as conceptualized by the Shakta tradition of Hinduism. She is the female counterpart without whom the male aspect, which represents...
. Thus 'Anikadu' means a 'Kadu (or Kavu)' where Devi
Devi
Devī is the Sanskrit word for Goddess, used mostly in Hinduism, its related masculine term is deva. Devi is synonymous with Shakti, the female aspect of the divine, as conceptualized by the Shakta tradition of Hinduism. She is the female counterpart without whom the male aspect, which represents...
is installed. There is an ancient Devi
Devi
Devī is the Sanskrit word for Goddess, used mostly in Hinduism, its related masculine term is deva. Devi is synonymous with Shakti, the female aspect of the divine, as conceptualized by the Shakta tradition of Hinduism. She is the female counterpart without whom the male aspect, which represents...
temple here. The place Kadayanickadu lies in the middle-end of two Anikadus in the neighborhood - Anikadu north and Anikadu south with very famous Devi
Devi
Devī is the Sanskrit word for Goddess, used mostly in Hinduism, its related masculine term is deva. Devi is synonymous with Shakti, the female aspect of the divine, as conceptualized by the Shakta tradition of Hinduism. She is the female counterpart without whom the male aspect, which represents...
temples. 'Kada,' the middle-end of both the Anikadus became ‘Kadayanikadu,’ the abode of Mother Goddess. The whole Anikadu area would have been once a single unit.
It is also possible that the name is derived from ‘Ayini’ tree (also known as 'Anjili' - Artocarpus Hirsutus Lam), which was abundantly found and widely used in the construction of ancient houses in this area.
Another possibility is that the name coined from the word 'Katyayani,' (also Kathyayini
Kathyayini
Kathyayini is the sixth form of the Durga, part of the Navadurga or the nine forms of Hindu goddess Durga or Shakti, worshipped during the Navratri celebrations....
), another name for goddess Durga in Sanskrit. Two ancient Devi temples of Kadayanickadu reinforce this conjecture.
History and Culture
There is no legendary evidence even to know when human habitation commenced here. It has got a hoary past. There are certain house/locality names like Vizhapadikal, Paruvackadu, Karimpanil, Kallikal, Murudenpalakal, the correct import of the words is not deducible in current Malayalam. These words would have been used in very old days. This throws light on the fact inhabitation started here hundreds of years back.According to known history it was once part of Thekkumkoor
ThekkumKoor
Thekkumkoor , also transliterated Thekkumkur or Thekkumcore, was a small independent kingdom that existed before 1749 in the southern part of Kerala in India and was ruled by a royal household known as Thekkumkoor Kovilakam, from a place called Thaliyilkotta near Thazhathangadi in the present day...
kingdom, and was under the control of two Local Lords (Madampies), namely Ranni Kartha
Kartha
Kartha is a Nair title name derived from Karthavu which means Lord and it was conferred by the king to some powerful Nair families who enjoyed Raja or Naduvazhi status...
and Agasthanathu Nair
Nair
Nair , also known as Nayar , refers to "not a unitary group but a named category of castes", which historically embody several castes and many subdivisions, not all of whom bore the Nair title. These people historically live in the present-day Indian state of Kerala...
, responsible for the maintenance of law and order as also tax collection. In AD 1749 King Marthanda Varma
Marthanda Varma
Marthanda Varma , was the founder of the Indian Hindu feudal kingdom of Travancore from Venad SwaroopamHe ruled from 1729 till his death in 1758, having succeeded his maternal uncle Dharma Raja.King Marthanda Varma is usually credited as the "founder of Kingdom of Travancore" from...
captured Thekkumkoor and annexed it to Venad
Venad
Venad Swarupam was one of the three prominent late medieval Hindu feudal kingdoms on Malabar Coast, south India, along with Kingdom of Calicut and Kingdom of Cannanore. In the early 14th century, Venad ruler Ravi Varma Kulasekhara had established a short-lived supremacy over southern India...
. All the previous Local Lords were removed from the posts and the king brought his own loyal people for the administration. The entire land from the precincts of Nedumkunnam
Nedumkunnam
Nedumkunnam is a picturesque Kerala village, located about 16 km East of Changanacherry on Changanacherry-Manimala Road, in Kottayam district of Kerala, India. It is 3 km East of Karukachal towards Manimala/Cheruvally. Literally, it is the 'land of hills', being on the hilly terrain...
to Chirakkadavu
Chirakkadavu
Chirakkadavu is a village in Kottayam district in the state of Kerala, India.-Demographics: India census, Chirakkadavu had a population of 28263 with 13928 males and 14335 females....
, extending for about 20km was put under the progeny of a woman who was brought in marriage from Chelampaneth family of Ayroor
Ayroor
Ayroor is a village situated on the western part of Ranni Taluk of Pathanamthitta District in Kerala state, India. Formerly, Ayroor was part of Tiruvalla Taluk in Alleppey District and is considered as part of Edanadu in Kerala. The Pamba River flows by the southern side of this scenic village and...
to Madhavakottu family in Kangazha. This family was later divided in to three branches or Tharavadu
Tharavadu
Tharavad is a system of joint family practised by people in Kerala, especially Nairs. Tharavadu was a legal entity like a Hindu Undivided Family as per Indian Income Tax laws, and was entitled to own properties. The others, like Namboothriris, Ezhavas, Christians and Muslims also now refer to...
s. Kangazha
Kangazha
Kangazha is a panchayath and village in the Changanacherry Taluk of the Kottayam District of Kerala State in India. It is a beautiful place with a serene atmosphere and is situated 26 kilometers east of Kottayam. It lies midway between the backwaters of Western Kerala and the misty mountains...
area came under the control of Eranattu or Erattu and Kadayanickadu under Thayyil.
A prominent Karnavar
Karnavar
Karanavar or Karanavan or Karanava, parsimoniously speaking, was the title of male head in Malayalee and Kodava society.-Kodava:The founder of Kodava Okka was known as "karona"...
of that time, Thayyil Samprathipillai, who was also the palace head clerk, rebuilt the Thayyil Tharavadu
Tharavadu
Tharavad is a system of joint family practised by people in Kerala, especially Nairs. Tharavadu was a legal entity like a Hindu Undivided Family as per Indian Income Tax laws, and was entitled to own properties. The others, like Namboothriris, Ezhavas, Christians and Muslims also now refer to...
buildings about 250 years ago. It is a wooden building structure measuring 40 X 25 feet covered with fireproof brick and lime mortar
Lime mortar
Lime mortar is a type of mortar composed of lime and an aggregate such as sand, mixed with water. It is one of the oldest known types of mortar, dating back to the 4th century BC and widely used in Ancient Rome and Greece, when it largely replaced the clay and gypsum mortars common to Ancient...
on the top. There is a vast underground cell (Nilavara) and inner cells constructed in such away as to store paddy produced in the vast stretch of land owned by the family at that time.
The north eastern a part of Kadayanikadu is owned and inhabited by other Nair families from very old times. They are Kulathinkal, Mukkanolil, Vellachira and Pulinthara. Their ancestors were agriculturists who did the cultivation themselves. They had their own temple, and Sarpakavu which exists even today.
Another prominent sect is Ezhava
Ezhava
The Ezhavas are a community with origins in the region presently known as Kerala. They are also known as Ilhava, Irava, Izhava and Erava in the south of the region; as Chovas, Chokons and Chogons in Central Travancore; and as Tiyyas, Thiyas and Theeyas in Malabar...
s. They live in the north western corner areas. The legendary belief is that they are the progeny of a Namboothiri woman from elsewhere who married an Ezhava
Ezhava
The Ezhavas are a community with origins in the region presently known as Kerala. They are also known as Ilhava, Irava, Izhava and Erava in the south of the region; as Chovas, Chokons and Chogons in Central Travancore; and as Tiyyas, Thiyas and Theeyas in Malabar...
and settled here. The previously mentioned famous Devi temple is owned by them. It is believed that the idol installed there was the one used by the Namboothiri women for her personal worship. The Ezhavas of Kadayanickadu are of higher standards, rather Orthodox and are landowners. The main families are Vakanani, Konattu, Koyippuram and Puthanpurackal.
The other backward classes and castes like Ulaya, Pulayar
Pulayar
The Pulayar , also Pulayar, Pulaya, or Pulayas or Holeya or Cheramar, are one of the main social groups found in Kerala, Karnataka and in historical Tamil Nadu or Tamilakam.- Traditions :...
s, Paravans etc. are also living here as son’s of the soil for centuries. Their ancestors would have been agricultural labors
A few Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
families also live here from very old times. The earliest appears to be Ambalattumkal. In those days there was a belief that once a certain Hindu community (oil mongers) makes coconut oil, one Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
person has to touch that oil for purification. It is believed that Ambalattumkal family was brought and settled here for the purpose of “oil purification by touch.” The other Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
families are Sarpathummuri, Mathilakam, Poothiot & Thottiyil. Malayil family came from Vazhoor
Vazhoor
Vazhoor is a village in Kottayam district in the state of Kerala, India.It is a village, panchayat and block with headquarters at Kodungoor on NH220...
and settled here. Most of the Christians are engaged in commercial activities.
In Kadayanikadu complete interaction mutual respects, co operation exists between all the castes, creed & faiths. There are major temples, two for Devi and for Sastha.The Sasta temple is owned by NSS - Nair Service Society
Nair Service Society
The Nair Service Society is an organization created for the uplift and welfare of the Nair community. It was established under the leadership of Mannathu Padmanabhan...
Karayogam, one Devi temple by SNDP - Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana and the other by Ayyappa Seva Sangham. St Marys church Kadayanickadu is a Syro Malabar Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
community church under Changanacherry Arch Diocese
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
.
Snake worship
Snake worship
The worship of serpent deities is present in several old cultures, particularly in religion and mythology, where snakes were seen as entities of strength and renewal.-Hindu mythology:...
prevailed here from very long times. The Sarpakavu at Vellachira, Kannankavu, Pulinthara and Palathu are owned by the respective families.
Prominent Personalities
Late Sri Palath Parameshwara Kurup – Founder of Sreevilasam Library and SKV NSS SchoolLate Sri Mohan D. Kangazha – Writer
Late Sri A.N.R. Pillai – Kathaprasangam exponent
Adv. Kadayanickadu Purushothaman Pillai – Member of Legislative Assembly – 1967
V.S.Bhaskara Panicker (Rtd. Supdt.of Post Offices)- Writer and former Gen. Secretary, Akhila Bharatha Ayyappa Seva Sangham
Gopinatha Pillai Kallikkal - Retd. Dy. Labor Commissioner
Kalamandalam Sukumaran Nair – Ottamthullal exponent
Purushothaman Kartha –Ottamthullal and Bharatanatyam exponent
Nearby Places
Kadayanickadu is situated near ManimalaManimala
Manimala is an area in the Kottayam district of Kerala in India. The population is about 10,000, of whom the majority are farmers whose main income comes from rubber plantations. The people are from several religions and castes. Manimala and nearby areas are thickly populated by Syrian Catholics...
town. It is about 15 km from the famous Kanjirappally
Kanjirappally
Kanjirappally is a taluk and a town in Kottayam district, in the state of Kerala, India. Rubber plantations are a major source of income for the local population. The place has a large population of Syrian Catholic Christians....
town and Ponkunnam
Ponkunnam
Ponkunnam is a town in the eastern high-ranges of Kerala, India, part of Kottayam district. Nearby towns are Kanjirappally, Manimala and Pala. This part of Kerala is famous for its fertile lands and rubber plantations. It is at an altitude of 495 Metres above MSL sea level.- Overview :Ponkunnam is...
. Also, Kadayanickadu is just about 20 km from Erumely, which is an important destination for Lord Ayyappa devotees during 'Mandala' season, enroute to Sabarimala
Sabarimala
Sabarimala is a Hindu pilgrimage center located in the Western Ghat mountain ranges of Pathanamthitta District in Kerala. It is the largest annual pilgrimage in India with an estimated 45–50 million devotees visiting every year. Sabarimala is believed to be the place where the Hindu God Ayyappan...
.