Monday, December 27, 2010

CATHOLIC HISTORY OF KANJIRAPALLY

The regions, Nilackal town which was an international trade centre, known in ancient as the ‘Queen of Highrange’ and Kanjirapally were under the Chera Empire. In twelfth century as the Chera Empire ends, the smaller empires like Vadakumkoor, Thekumcore, Kayamkulam, Kizhmalanad originated in Kerala. Kanjirapally came under Thekumcore Empire. Thekumcore Empire was included of Kanjirapally, Meenachil, Changanachery, Aranmula regions and Devikulam-Peermedu taluks.

PALACE AT KANJIRAPALLY Thekumcore Kings had Palace at Vennimala near Pampadi, Changanachery, Kottayam and Kanjirapally. The palace at Kanjirapally was located at today’s CMC convent compound and its nearest areas of both sides of Thampalakad road. As Marthandavarma, the Emperor of Travancore defeated Thekumcore Empire and later on, the palace and related buildings were expired. The ancient trade centre at Kanjirapally was Nellamalapeta on Kanjirapally-Eratupetta road. Kanjirapally had great trade relations with PandiNadu.

ST. THOMAS AND NILACKAL

Ancient Nilackal town was an international trade centre. Foreigners like Romans, Jews, and Finishers lived there for trade requirements. In first century, St. Thomas landed on Nilackal and announced the Good news of his teacher and savior, Jesus Christ to people of all religions lived there and he baptized many of them.

RAVAGE OF NILACKAL By the fourteenth century, the people of Nilackal who lived a glorious and wealthy life left everything and moved to places like Chengannoor, Mallappally, Vaypoor, Kanjirapally, Puthupally and Aruvithara, because of the robberies and attacks of bandits like ’Fakrudheen Poligar’ from Mughal empire and ‘Perumbattam’ gang of robbers, and internecine diseases.

ARRIVAL OF VALIYAVEETIL THOMMIE AT KANJIRAPALLY As Nilackal town, church and all were attacked by the bandits, Valiyaveetil Thommie the church trustee and his relatives saved the statue of Holy Mary with high risk from the church. They crossed Pambayar reaching Pazhurthadam near Kanjirapally through Erumely and Pazhayakoratti and lived there. They kept the statue of Holy Mary at home with great respect. Thommie and his precedents were going to the church at Aruvithara for the sacraments.

INITIATE OF BUILDING CHURCH Thommie’s son Tommie moved from Pazhurthadam to Anakayam Chaerikal near 26th mile. His son Thommie brought Mangassery house at more populated Kanjirapally, Petta and lived there. His son Thommie had no children, so he alleged God to build a church and that became efficacious. But the King of Thekumcore had allowed the Hindus to build a temple near the Mangassery house where Thommie lived. Thommie who was sad by this went to the king and said he is leaving the place. But the King asked him not to go and announced to give land for building a church and a market.

FULLFILMENT OF THE DREAM Thus for the Valiyaveetil family who where aggrieved by the ravage of Nilackal Church built by St.Thomas where they worshiped God by the generations, the building of new Church in the name of Holy Mary by the fifth generation Thommie became fulfillment of their ancestors dreams. The Church was blessed by the order of Syrian Bishop Mar. Joseph on 8th September 1449, on the birthday of Holy Mary.

BUILDING THE MARKET By the order from the King of Thekumcore, after the building the Church, Thommie build a house named Valiyaveedu and a market in front of the Church to the East of Chittar River. The market had trade with the Pandi Nadu.

VALIYAVEETIL FAMILY Later on, as the number of members in the Valiyaveetil house increased, many branches and sub-branches were formed. Kunchacko who was an eighth generation of Thommie who came from Nilackal married from Pattamuku house at Niranam. He had two sons Thommie and Kunchacko. Where, Kunchacko moved to Niranam near to his mother’s house and formed a family named Kanjirapally and lived there. And Thommie’s son Eapen formed the branch of family named Pazhayaveedu which then sub-branched into families like Karippaparambu, Kizhakkethala, Puthenpura(Kadamapuzha-Padannamakkal), Kochukarippaparambu, Sanjayam, Kodimarathummootil, Thundiyil, Munjanattu, Karukappally, Vaattukattil, Mannarakayam, Chembakathungal and Peedikayil. Thommie’s another son Kunchacko formed the family Kurishummootil which then sub-branched into Manniparambil and Theemballil families. Kunchacko’s brother Itty Ipe formed the branch of Pallivathukkal which then sub-branched into families like Karimbanal, Kanathiparambu, Kallur and Baravannal. Thommie’s youngest son Mathen who lived in the Valiyaveedu house itself had only two daughters. One daughter was married to Thadickal Kallarackal Mathayi from Aruvithara. His descendants are the families Kallarackal, Kollamkulam, Anathanam, Karikattuparambil, Parambil and Maliyekkal in Kanjirapally.

OTHER FAMILIES AT KANJIRAPALLY Many families came to Kanjirapally from ancient Christian centers like Kuruvalangadu other than from Nilackal. And the main families thus came were Kalathur, Plakkattu, Erthayil, Madukkakuzhy, Elavunkal, Njallathuvayalil, Neeruvelil, Illikkamuri, Poovathunkal, Mannamplakkal, Ottaplakkal, Panthiruvelil, Thambalakkadu, Kunnumpuram, Cheruvalli Kochilathu, Punnammadam, Kunnappally, Vettikkattu, Vettiyankal, Vettathu, Anjanattu, Thondipura, Kunnathu, Kochupoovathummoottil, Kizhakkemuri and Kochuparambil.

Posted by  CICILY GEORGE     at  5:37 AM