Poomulli
Encyclopedia
Poomulli is a Namboothiri family whose origins go back over 900 years. Poomulli Mana
's name has been closely associated with the culture and heritage of Kerala
.
of the Peruvanam village about 900 years ago. They built the original Ammathiruvadi Temple
, left all that they owned to the temple, and gave the temple administration to the Kingdom of Kochi. Then they left the village and resettled themselves in Peringode of the present-day Palakkad
.
to visit the Kamakshi Amman Temple
. Happy with the devotion of the Namboothiri, Kanchi Kamakshi decided to come to Kerala on his palm leaf umbrella. He reached home, and placed the umbrella on the floor of his house. When he came back later he was unable to take back the umbrella. It was heavily grounded to the floor. Later upon further investigation it was revealed that Kanchi Kamakshi was residing on that umbrella. The goddess came in Namboothiri’s dreams that night and let him know that he was supposed to build a temple for the goddess, and leave Ūrakam. She also let him know that he was to find an idol in a well far away and he was to transfer the goddess from the umbrella onto that idol. Namboothiri did as the goddess wished, and he built the temple and left all that he owned to the temple.
and one of the biggest landlords of Malabar. The head of the family used to be invited to all the important functions in the court of the Samoothirippad of Kozhikode
, and the Maharajas of Thiruvithaamkoor. The family was well known for their hospitality and considered Anna-Danam as their dharma
. The Poomulli family was famous for their encouragement of the arts and sciences.
, Kalari
, music
, and other performing arts. Some of them were Sri. Poomulli Raman Namboothiripad, the exceptionally talented student of the famous Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar
; and Sri. Poomulli Neelakantan Namboothiripad(1921-1997), the famous Ayurveda
practitioner. The Poomulli Mana also used to conduct great art and music festivals in the Mana. Some of the famous artists in the last century to attend and perform in these festivals were Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar
, Sri. Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer
, M. S. Subbulakshmi
, G. Aravindan
, Artist Namboodiri, T. R. Mahalingam
and Tirur Nambissan
. The Poomulli family also encouraged research into the sciences, especially Ayurveda
. Poomulli still has a huge collection of anicient manuscripts and books.
at Thrissur
Vadakkunnathan Temple
.
Mana
Mana is an indigenous Pacific islander concept of an impersonal force or quality that resides in people, animals, and inanimate objects. The word is a cognate in many Oceanic languages, including Melanesian, Polynesian, and Micronesian....
's name has been closely associated with the culture and heritage of 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....
.
Early history
The Poomulli was a Namboothiri family residing in ŪrakamUrakam
Urakam is a village in Malappuram district in the state of Kerala, India.Urkam...
of the Peruvanam village about 900 years ago. They built the original Ammathiruvadi Temple
Ammathiruvadi Temple
Ammathiruvadi Temple is located about 12 km away from Thrissur town in Kerala state, south India, in the village of Ūrakam. It is regarded as one of the great 108 Durga temples.-Folklore:...
, left all that they owned to the temple, and gave the temple administration to the Kingdom of Kochi. Then they left the village and resettled themselves in Peringode of the present-day Palakkad
Palakkad
Palakkad , formerly known as Palghat, is a municipality and a town in the state of Kerala in southern India, spread over an area of 26.60 km2.The city is situated about north of state capital Thiruvananthapuram. It is the administrative headquarters of Palakkad District...
.
In folklore
Legend has it that Namboothiri (while in the Peruvanam village) went to KanchipuramKanchipuram
Kanchipuram, or Kanchi, is a temple city and a municipality in Kanchipuram district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is a temple town and the headquarters of Kanchipuram district...
to visit the Kamakshi Amman Temple
Kamakshi Amman Temple
The Kamakshi Temple is a famous Hindu temple dedicated to Kamakshi, one of the forms of the goddess Parvati. It is located in the historic city of Kanchipuram, near Chennai, India and is popularly associated with Sankaracharya, one of the greatest Hindu gurus...
. Happy with the devotion of the Namboothiri, Kanchi Kamakshi decided to come to Kerala on his palm leaf umbrella. He reached home, and placed the umbrella on the floor of his house. When he came back later he was unable to take back the umbrella. It was heavily grounded to the floor. Later upon further investigation it was revealed that Kanchi Kamakshi was residing on that umbrella. The goddess came in Namboothiri’s dreams that night and let him know that he was supposed to build a temple for the goddess, and leave Ūrakam. She also let him know that he was to find an idol in a well far away and he was to transfer the goddess from the umbrella onto that idol. Namboothiri did as the goddess wished, and he built the temple and left all that he owned to the temple.
Later history
Poomulli Mana later grew to be one of the richest and most powerful Namboothiri families of KeralaKerala
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....
and one of the biggest landlords of Malabar. The head of the family used to be invited to all the important functions in the court of the Samoothirippad of Kozhikode
Kozhikode
Kozhikode During Classical antiquity and the Middle Ages, Kozhikkode was dubbed the "City of Spices" for its role as the major trading point of eastern spices. Kozhikode was once the capital of an independent kingdom of the same name and later of the erstwhile Malabar District...
, and the Maharajas of Thiruvithaamkoor. The family was well known for their hospitality and considered Anna-Danam as their dharma
Dharma
Dharma means Law or Natural Law and is a concept of central importance in Indian philosophy and religion. In the context of Hinduism, it refers to one's personal obligations, calling and duties, and a Hindu's dharma is affected by the person's age, caste, class, occupation, and gender...
. The Poomulli family was famous for their encouragement of the arts and sciences.
Poomulli heritage
The members of the Poomulli family were famous as practitioners of the arts, AyurvedaAyurveda
Ayurveda or ayurvedic medicine is a system of traditional medicine native to India and a form of alternative medicine. In Sanskrit, words , meaning "longevity", and , meaning "knowledge" or "science". The earliest literature on Indian medical practice appeared during the Vedic period in India,...
, Kalari
Kalari
The word Kalari means battle ground in Tamil and translates as "threshing floor" or "battlefield" in Malayalam. Training for Kalarippayattu, a martial art of Kerala and Tamil Nadu, is traditionally done inside the Kalari....
, music
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
, and other performing arts. Some of them were Sri. Poomulli Raman Namboothiripad, the exceptionally talented student of the famous Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar
Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar
Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar was a Carnatic music singer from Palakkad . Known by his village name Chembai, or simply as Bhagavatar, he was born to Anantha Bhagavatar and Parvati Ammal in 1896, at Kottayi near Palakkad on Janmashtami day, with Bharani star in the month of Chingam...
; and Sri. Poomulli Neelakantan Namboothiripad(1921-1997), the famous Ayurveda
Ayurveda
Ayurveda or ayurvedic medicine is a system of traditional medicine native to India and a form of alternative medicine. In Sanskrit, words , meaning "longevity", and , meaning "knowledge" or "science". The earliest literature on Indian medical practice appeared during the Vedic period in India,...
practitioner. The Poomulli Mana also used to conduct great art and music festivals in the Mana. Some of the famous artists in the last century to attend and perform in these festivals were Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar
Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar
Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar was a Carnatic music singer from Palakkad . Known by his village name Chembai, or simply as Bhagavatar, he was born to Anantha Bhagavatar and Parvati Ammal in 1896, at Kottayi near Palakkad on Janmashtami day, with Bharani star in the month of Chingam...
, Sri. Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer
Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer
Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer is considered to be one of the greatest Carnatic vocalists of the twentieth century...
, M. S. Subbulakshmi
M. S. Subbulakshmi
Madurai Shanmukhavadivu Subbulakshmi , also known as M.S., was a renowned Carnatic vocalist. She was the first musician ever to be awarded the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honor. She is the first Indian musician to receive...
, G. Aravindan
G. Aravindan
Govindan Aravindan who was popularly known as G. Aravindan was a national award winning film director, screenwriter, musician and cartoonist from Kerala, India. He was known for his unorthodox way of film-making; he changed his cinematic forms consistently and experimented in story telling without...
, Artist Namboodiri, T. R. Mahalingam
T. R. Mahalingam (flautist)
-External links:* * * *...
and Tirur Nambissan
Tirur Nambissan
Tirur Nambissan was a Kathakali singer. Tirur Nambissan, whose name was Narayanan, was born at Tirur in the Malappuram district of Kerala in southern India. He started learning music at the age of seven, while attending the local boys' high school...
. The Poomulli family also encouraged research into the sciences, especially Ayurveda
Ayurveda
Ayurveda or ayurvedic medicine is a system of traditional medicine native to India and a form of alternative medicine. In Sanskrit, words , meaning "longevity", and , meaning "knowledge" or "science". The earliest literature on Indian medical practice appeared during the Vedic period in India,...
. Poomulli still has a huge collection of anicient manuscripts and books.
The manor and the architecture
The Poomulli manor was once famous for its brilliant architecture. The manor was constructed by the brilliant designer architect Vellanezhi Namboothiripad, who also reconstructed the KoothambalamKoothambalam
Koothambalam' or Kuttampalam is a theater hall for staging Koothu , Nangiar koothu and Koodiyattam, the ancient dramatic art forms of Kerala, India. Koothambalams are constructed according to the guide lines given in the chapter 2 of Nātyasāstra of Bharata Muni. The hall is considered to be as...
at Thrissur
Thrissur
This article is about the city in India. For the district, see Thrissur district. For the urban agglomeration area of Thrissur see Thrissur Metropolitan Area...
Vadakkunnathan Temple
Vadakkunnathan Temple
Vadakkunnathan Temple , also known as Thenkailasam and Vrishabhachalam, is an ancient Shiva temple located at the heart of Thrissur city. This temple is a classic example of the Kerala style of architecture and has formidable gopurams on all four sides and also a Koothambalam. Mural paintings that...
.