ETAYANKARA KATANGOT THARAVAD
Etayankara Katangot is a famous ‘Nambiar ‘ tharavad in Cherukunnu village of old Chirakal thaluk.Cherukunnu village is now in Kannur thaluk of Kannur district.Kottayam Katangot and Ponnan Katangot are other Katangot tharavads in Cherukunnu village.Origin of Etayankara Katangot was from Katangot tharavad and ‘Katangot Makkam’ is an important ‘Theyyam’ worshipped by Kadangot families. Kunhimangalam Katangot tharavad is celebrating ‘Makkam’ theyyam yearly..Till the enforcement of land reforms act ,Etayankara Katangot tharavad had plenty of landed property in Cherukunnu village and adjoining villages. The tharavad house was near to Cherukunnu Annapoorneswari temple in the Temple- Kovvapuram road.This tharavad house (Valiya veedu) was built in 19th century and demolished for partition in the year 1957-58.
In the pre independant India,before the freedom struggle,there were struggles/revolts between princely states and foreign invaders like East India Company and Hyder Ali and later his son Tipu Sultan.Many families had loss of life during this period.In the absence of a male or female member in a family ,adoption of a male or female from other family was common at that time. Nambiar families followed’Marumakkathayam ‘(Matrilineal) system of property rights at that time After the end of Tipu’s invasion of Malabar (1766-1790),adopting a female child was necessary for Etayankara Katangot tharavad for its existence in ‘Marumakkathaya’ system of inheritance and hence adopted a female child named Chiruthai from Nileswaram Katangot family..So after the adoption of Chiruthai Amma to Etayankara Katangot ,ownership rights of all movable and immovable property vested in the then male members,Chiruthai Amma and her successors.
Family members have a Ganapathy ‘MADOM’ and ‘Naga’ of the tharavad for worshipping.Ganapathy ‘homa’(pooja) is done in the ‘MADOM’daily..Every yera ‘Chathurthi pooja’ and Maha Ganapathy ‘homa’are conducted in the month of ‘CHINGA’ as annual festival.In the ‘Naga’ ,’Naga’ pooja on ‘Aayillyam’ day is also conducting yearly.The senior most male member of the tharavad, the ‘KARANAVAR’ was incharge of day to day functions in the ‘MADOM’ and maintenance of the ‘MADOM’.The source of income was from the tharavad property of each ‘thavazhi’ and the’KARANAVAR’ had done all these activities by collecting a pre fixed share from each thavazhi.
Afterthe implementation of land reforms act in kerala,there was no Ganapathy ‘homa’ in the ‘MADOM’ regularly for few years.In Seventies on a ‘Vishu’ day,while conducting ‘Vishu’ celebrations with fir works by the youngesters in the tharavad, the thatched roof of the ‘MADOM’ was completely burnt off due to fire.
In the end of Seventies Sri.E.K.Narayanan Nambiar (#413) of 4th thavazhi, a Metallurgical Engineering graduate from Hindu Banaras University, came back to Cherukunnu after his retirement from Central Govt. Service.He took initiative for the rennovation of ‘MADOM’ and constructed the top of the‘MADOM’building with wooden structure and tiles roofing.
After 1990, male members of the tharavad available at Cherukunnu took interest for further rennovation of ‘MADOM’ and ‘MADOM’ tank by collecting contributions from family members.With the blessings and contributions of late Sri.E.K.Narayanan Nambiar(#413) a committee was formed in 1992-93 for rennovation of the ‘MADOM’ and conducting day to day functions in the ‘MADOM’.In 1996 a registered trust was formed with Maj.E.K.K.Nambiar as President and Smt.E.K.Jayasree as Secretary.All members of the tharavad and children of male members are members in the trust.The trust is conducting all day to day functions and development activities by collecting membership fee, donations etc. from members.Now ‘CHATHURTHI’ pooja in the month of ‘CHINGA’ is celebrated as a grand festival withthe following additional programmes of get together of all family members,honouring of seniormost members and distributing peize awards to top scoring children of members in SSLC AND Plus TWO.
Etayankara Katangot is a famous ‘Nambiar ‘ tharavad in Cherukunnu village of old Chirakal thaluk.Cherukunnu village is now in Kannur thaluk of Kannur district.Kottayam Katangot and Ponnan Katangot are other Katangot tharavads in Cherukunnu village.Origin of Etayankara Katangot was from Katangot tharavad and ‘Katangot Makkam’ is an important ‘Theyyam’ worshipped by Kadangot families. Kunhimangalam Katangot tharavad is celebrating ‘Makkam’ theyyam yearly..Till the enforcement of land reforms act ,Etayankara Katangot tharavad had plenty of landed property in Cherukunnu village and adjoining villages. The tharavad house was near to Cherukunnu Annapoorneswari temple in the Temple- Kovvapuram road.This tharavad house (Valiya veedu) was built in 19th century and demolished for partition in the year 1957-58.
In the pre independant India,before the freedom struggle,there were struggles/revolts between princely states and foreign invaders like East India Company and Hyder Ali and later his son Tipu Sultan.Many families had loss of life during this period.In the absence of a male or female member in a family ,adoption of a male or female from other family was common at that time. Nambiar families followed’Marumakkathayam ‘(Matrilineal) system of property rights at that time After the end of Tipu’s invasion of Malabar (1766-1790),adopting a female child was necessary for Etayankara Katangot tharavad for its existence in ‘Marumakkathaya’ system of inheritance and hence adopted a female child named Chiruthai from Nileswaram Katangot family..So after the adoption of Chiruthai Amma to Etayankara Katangot ,ownership rights of all movable and immovable property vested in the then male members,Chiruthai Amma and her successors.
Family members have a Ganapathy ‘MADOM’ and ‘Naga’ of the tharavad for worshipping.Ganapathy ‘homa’(pooja) is done in the ‘MADOM’daily..Every yera ‘Chathurthi pooja’ and Maha Ganapathy ‘homa’are conducted in the month of ‘CHINGA’ as annual festival.In the ‘Naga’ ,’Naga’ pooja on ‘Aayillyam’ day is also conducting yearly.The senior most male member of the tharavad, the ‘KARANAVAR’ was incharge of day to day functions in the ‘MADOM’ and maintenance of the ‘MADOM’.The source of income was from the tharavad property of each ‘thavazhi’ and the’KARANAVAR’ had done all these activities by collecting a pre fixed share from each thavazhi.
Afterthe implementation of land reforms act in kerala,there was no Ganapathy ‘homa’ in the ‘MADOM’ regularly for few years.In Seventies on a ‘Vishu’ day,while conducting ‘Vishu’ celebrations with fir works by the youngesters in the tharavad, the thatched roof of the ‘MADOM’ was completely burnt off due to fire.
In the end of Seventies Sri.E.K.Narayanan Nambiar (#413) of 4th thavazhi, a Metallurgical Engineering graduate from Hindu Banaras University, came back to Cherukunnu after his retirement from Central Govt. Service.He took initiative for the rennovation of ‘MADOM’ and constructed the top of the‘MADOM’building with wooden structure and tiles roofing.
After 1990, male members of the tharavad available at Cherukunnu took interest for further rennovation of ‘MADOM’ and ‘MADOM’ tank by collecting contributions from family members.With the blessings and contributions of late Sri.E.K.Narayanan Nambiar(#413) a committee was formed in 1992-93 for rennovation of the ‘MADOM’ and conducting day to day functions in the ‘MADOM’.In 1996 a registered trust was formed with Maj.E.K.K.Nambiar as President and Smt.E.K.Jayasree as Secretary.All members of the tharavad and children of male members are members in the trust.The trust is conducting all day to day functions and development activities by collecting membership fee, donations etc. from members.Now ‘CHATHURTHI’ pooja in the month of ‘CHINGA’ is celebrated as a grand festival withthe following additional programmes of get together of all family members,honouring of seniormost members and distributing peize awards to top scoring children of members in SSLC AND Plus TWO.
This is an excellent post. I wish Nambiars belonging to other Tharavads also commit to similar a passion and vigour in all matters related to their lineage.
ReplyDeleteMeleth
Thank you sir for your efforts. i am from this family and would never have know the history if not for what you have so painstakingly captured.
ReplyDeleteThank you sir for your efforts. i am from this family and would never have know the history if not for what you have so painstakingly captured.
ReplyDeleteThnku sir for enlightening us vth knowledge abt our lineage
ReplyDeleteThank you , very helpful. It would be great to know more about Kadankot lineage and family traditions. Is it possible to see a family tree of the Kadankot family. Thank you!
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