Kodungallur_Kovilakam

Kodungallur Kovilakam

Kodungallur Kovilakam

Palace in Kerala, India

Kodungallur Kovilakam (Malayalam: കൊടുങ്ങല്ലൂര്‍ കോവിലകം), is a palace of the royal family of the late [medieval] Kingdom of Kodungallur (Cranganore), in the modern-day Indian state of Kerala. Kodungallur was a feudal principality subordinate to the rulers of the Kingdom of Cochin from the later half of the eighteenth century until Indian independence. The Kingdom of Kodungallur was under the protection of the Dutch government after 1707 for a few years before returning to its allegiance to the Zamorin. The Kodungallur Royal Family had two branches, at Chirakkal Kovilakam and at Puthen Kovilakam.[1][2] [3][4][5]

Design

The Chirakkal Kovilakam[6] has two nalukettu structures, one larger than the other. The main residential building and two more old buildings, a water tank (known as padakulam), the family temple (dedicated to Hindu goddess Talattil Bhagavati) and Sarpakkavu are all within the Kovilakam Complex. The Kodungallur Kovilakam was renowned as a gurukulam (centre of learning).[7] Scholars from across present day Kerala used to live in the palaces and study Sanskrit and Vedic science. Eminent scholars[8] from this Kovilakam contributed to Malayalam and Sanskrit literature.[9] According to Venmani Achan Namboodiribad, Kerala's gurukulams were for many decades centred on the Kodungallur Kovilakam.[10]

Literature

Writers born there contributed immensely to Malayalam literature. The leading light among them was Venmani Achan Namboodiripad, born in 1816 at Venmani Illam in Vellarappilly, Alwaye. Achan married Sreedevi Antharjanam in 1838 and they had one son, Venmani Mahan Namboodiripad. Later, he married Kunhippilla Thampuratti of the Kodungallur Kovilakam. He had two children from this marriage – Kunjikuttan Thamburan and Kunjunni Thamburan. Achan died at the age of 74. Namboodiripad lived for several years in Ernakulam, Thripunithura, Kodungallur and Kottayam. At the Kodungallur Palace, Mahan found his calling as a poet. After Kathollil Achuta Menon completed primary education at home, he was sent to Kodungallur Palace to study Sanskrit under Vidwan Kunjiramavarma Thamburan. At age 16, he started writing poetry and composed approximately 20 slokas in an hour during competitions.[citation needed]

Key members[11] of this gurukula were:

  • Veena specialist Valia Thampuran (Kunjiramavarma Thampuran). First guru of Kodungallur Gurukulam
  • Vidwan Elaya Thampuran (Godavarma Thampuran), Contemporary of Swathi Thirunal Rama Varma
  • Sakran Godavarma Thampuran
  • Vidwan Kunjiramavarma Thampuran
  • Valia Kunjunni Thampuran
  • Valia Kochunni Thampuran
  • Kunjan Thampuran
  • Cheria Kochunni Thampuran (Kavi Sarvabhouman)
  • Bhattan Godavarma Thampuran
  • Mani Madhava Chakyar[12]
  • Bhagavathar Kunjunni Thampuran
  • Kochikavu Thampuratti
  • Kodungallur Kunjikuttan Thampuran

Most popular among these scholars is Kodungallur Kunjikuttan Thampuran.[13]

References

  1. [1]
    "Kodungallur Kovilakam surname". geni_family_tree.
  2. [2]
    "Demo – Connemara Public Library Catalog › Results of Search for 'au:KOCHUNNI THAMPURAN'".
  3. [3]
    "A Primer of Malayalam Literature".
  4. [4]
    "Amazon.com: Kotunnallur Ceriya Koccunnittampuran: Books, Biography, Blog, Audiobooks, Kindle". Amazon.
  5. [5]
    Kerala School of Astronomy Page 78
  6. [6]
    "Circuit Tours, Experience the history, Muziris Heritage Site, Project, Kerala, India".
  7. [7]
    "Knowledge Before Printing" (PDF).
  8. [8]
    "www.keralahistory.ac.in". Archived from the original on 1 August 2010. Retrieved 7 January 2010.
  9. [9]
    "Kodungallur Kunhikkuttan Thampuran".
  10. [10]
    "Yesterday's Poets 2". Archived from the original on 15 July 2009. Retrieved 12 January 2010.
  11. [11]
    "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 August 2010. Retrieved 11 January 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  12. [12]
    "Mani Madhava Chakyar getting first major recognition came from His Highness Bhattan Thampuran of Kodungallur Kovilakam".
  13. [13]
    "Translation of Mahabharata".
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