Kozhikote

Present Kozhikote family is believed to have its origin in Kozhikode, present day Calicut. It is also believed that Kozhikote Nair (Nayanmmar) was one of the important leaders in Zamorin’s troups at that time and occupied important position in the Palace, having unhindered access to Zamorin.

Though it cannot be substantiated or stated with any accuracy that our descendents, the Kozhikote Nair, referred hereunder is one and the same, only some inferences can be drawn from stories told by our ancestors and passed on over 4 generations.

In the Family web site of Dharmoth Panickers, who were the Kalari Gurukkal of Zamorin of Calicut, there is mention about Kozhikote Nairs , who were the leaders of Zamorin troupe, as below: “ In Jhonston's "Relations of the most famous kingdoms in the world" (1611) there occurs the following passage :- " It is strange to see how ready the soldier of this country is at his weapons; they are all gentlemen and termed Nairs; at seven years of age they are put to school to learn the use of their weapons were to make them nimble and active, their sinews and joints were stretched by skilful fellows and anointed with ogle sesames."

1760 AD – Hyder Ali’s invasion of Malabar

It may be noted that when Hyder Ali Khan reached Kozhikode (Calicut) with his huge army, destroying everything on the way and forcibly converting to Islam every Hindu warrior defeated or captured, the ruling Zamorin, after sending away all his family members to Travancore State, committed self-immolation by setting fire to his palace and ammunition depot nearby, to escape personal humiliation and forcible conversion to Islam.

During the period of invasion of Hyder Ali, many Nair families left Kozhikode and settled at different parts of Kerala where they thought that they will be safe. One such family member probably of the above mentioned Kozhikote Nair Thavazhi, with her three sisters and one male member travelled south. It is believed that one of them settled near the present Kadaampuzha Bhagavthy temple and the others reached Chendamangalam and settled near the present Paradevada temple and close to the Chennas Mana. That time the Paradevada was worshipped by Chennas Mana Namboodiries as their Paradevatha Bhagavathy.

Eventually one female member who thus settled near the Temple, got married to the then Paliath Achan, the traditional Prime minister of Kochi kings. The lady was known as Kozhikote lady and the family came to be known as Kozhikote family thereafter because the Lady belonged to the Kozhikote Nair family or they came from Kozhikode.

During this time, the Chennas Mana members were to leave Chendamangalam to relocate themselves to Guruvayoor, where they adorned the post of Sreekrishna Temple Thantri. When they left the Original Mana in Chendamangalam, they tried to take the Bhagavathy also with them but the Bhagavathy refused to move from the present position. The Chennas Mana elder Namboodiri then presented the Diety to the Kozhikote family and requested them to do the Pooja as per the wishes of the Diety. Bhagavathy is a powerful deity and looks after all those who are sincerely devoted to her.

It is also believed that the present Kadampuzha Bhagavathy was also worshiped by the other sister and their family members who settled at Kadampuzha (Malappuram District) and many members still live there near to the Temple.

These background stories are told by older generation members of Kozhikote family and passes on to the present generation by word of mouth, and hence the facts have not been verified and they stand corrected.