Science, Technology and Development ISSN : 0950-0707

KULATHOOR; A TRADITIONAL UR IN

Dr .SURESH J Asst Prof DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY UNIVERSITY COLLEGE, UNIVERSITY

ABSTRACT Kulathoor belongs to midland village. It lies on the South-Eastern side of Taluk. The place is blessed with people as well as natural beauty considering social systems Jenmy; caste and so on badly affected the people. But the temples, churches and Mosques add much heritage to this panchayat. The medical wing of Ayurveda and martial Arts such as Kalari flourished with great vigor and valor. The tradional Ur is great significant in Travancore history by its culture and life. The history of Ur is traced back in the earliest Sangam Age of South . KEY WORD: S Ur, sabha , nadu ,kavu ,

INTRODUCTION Of the three areas of classification of the state of Kerala into Highland, mid land and low land, this panchayat belongs to the midland area1. The word “Kulathoor” is formed by two words named ‘Kulath’, and ‘Ur’. The word ‘Ur’ is not of a recent origin. About 4000 years ago, ‘Ur’ is used for a city or town in a wider sense especially in the Mesopotamian civilization. But, about 1500 years ago it was used to refer village communities. The village communities of South India belong to a general pattern having a few common characteristics and serving for the same common purposes and ends. Prominent among them were ‘Ur’, sabha and nadu. Remarkable features of these are that they are not only used all agrarian units but also discharged function of a similar nature, such as ownership of common lands and administration of income from them2. In the local administration of the sangam age the word ‘Ur’ was used. The same to the case of Kulam which denotes pond with surrounding land areas. By considering the distinct features of this panchayat the existence of martial arts such as kalaripayattu is a perennial one3. In the past, each Desam or locality had its own Kalari or gymnasium headed by or dedicated to the important deity called Kalari Paradavatha or Bhagavathi. Each Kalari was bought under a Guru who possessed even greater hold over his pupils than their parents themselves. Irrespective of sex both girls and boys received training from the Kalaries. As a result, they could learn the use of weapons such as Kuruvadi, Sariravadi, mace, spear, dagger and sword and shield4. This could be used on a means of from others. The Kalaries or centers of martial art existed at Chalakkara and Pazhaya Uchakkada are formidable as for on this Panchayat in concerned5. The modern health training system neglected the significance of Kalaripayattu and that paved the way for the decline and fall of this martial art. Another unique feature of this panchayat is Nalukettu, a typical structure of a dwelling house, constructed on the basis of a style prevailed in Kerala. In other words, it was specially designed to cater to the needs of a large number of inmates, comprised of the old Tarawards under the marumakkathayam or matrilineal system6. This type of building could be seen even today in this panchayat. The cultural heritage of the Panchayat is also influenced by the temples, churches and mosque of the panchayat. Pertaining to temples, these are not of a recent origin. It has its own antiquity. The ancient temple situating at near to Arabian Sea is believed to the Parasurama temple which is constructed by God parasurama7. The people had deep faith in this

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ancient temple which is now in the Karode Panchayat due to the division of this Panchayat and named Kulathoor and Karode. The other prominent temples of the Panchayat are Bhanamukhathu Bhadrakali Devi temple at Kulathoor, Aruvalloor Maha Deva temple and Nellayani Sasta temple at Poozhikunnu. BHADRAKALI TEMPLE AT KULATHOOR The Bhadrakali temple situating in this panchayat is famous for the Thookam festival, a kind of indigenous one. The Kumbha Bharani Thookkam is one of the largest festivals, connected to this where in thousands of peoples used to assemble. It is dedicated to the Goddess of Bhadrakali. The festivals will be covered with seven days8. The origin of the temple is concerned with so many legendary fables. Out of these, two are prominent. The one is that when a Goddess was standing near to the river a Magician had caught her and toast home by purring her into a bottle. After reaching home, he released her by tiring a ring in one of her fingers. Then he insisted the members of his family not to remove that ring. One day, by heeding the words that woman, his wife released that tie when her husband was out of home. Abruptly that woman whose ring won clamed disappeared. This incident was communicated by the wife to the husband as soon as he came. In the next day while going for bath that particular house wife found an areca nut, playing in the water of a pond. She informed the same with her husband. Owing to this, they conducted a religious function where by understood the fact that the woman who had disappeared from the home of the magician is a goddess and she is in playing on the areca nut. This prompted them to construct a temple for her and finally this was accomplished and there by placed the goddess there at Kulathoor9. Another fable relating to this is that, this temple is come into being for the worship of blacksmiths. One of the reasons adduced for this is that this place was once known as Kollenvilakam10. The important aspects connected this are: one of the blacksmith saw a beautiful woman at a place where the present temple is situating. In that area, the majority was blacksmiths. In the very next day the residents of that region introducing the person who had seen the woman saw a small top land with made out of mud similar to that of a one with the help of aunts. This prompted the people of the respective place to consider that woman on a goddess and this distinct feature was made out of her activities. This induced the blacksmiths to construct a temple for her and thus the present temple was constructed11. SHIVA TEMPLE AT ARUVALLUR Aruvallur is associated with a famous Siva temple, located at the Aruvallur. Traditionally speaking this is related to a story of Aruvi which is like this. One day on Aruvi and her sister had come to this place to worship the goddess Bhagavathi. A Bhagavathi temple is there which is near to the Siva temple, situated at Aruvallur even today. The sister of Aruvi had entered into the Bhagavthi temple first and returned with prayer, when Aruvi had reached there the temple door was closed and that should not perform the prayer. This provoked her to get angry and to compensate for this; she consecrated a Siva temple, near to Devi temple12. Apart form these; the people of the respective panchayat also worship nature and related things. An outstanding example to this naga worship is the worship of snakes. The centre of these, i.e., serpent groves is indigenously known as Sarpa kavu13. The important centre of naga worship are Tonikadavu kavu, Pulimuttathukavu, Ulloorkonam kavu, Nellikonam kavu, Kannammal konam kavu, Pullyittikavu, Kuzhipallam

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kavu, Kanjikuzhi kavu, Paddipura kavu, Muppuram kavu, Padavila sasta kavu, Padottukanathu kavu and Koikal Bhagavathi kavu. The temple festivals such as Siva rathri Thookkam, Dipavali, Thrikarthika are important as far as the people are concerned. CHURCHES The Christian are also there in the panchayat considerably. The catholic and protestant Christian is early people who came and settled. The first church founded in this respect is the protestant church of Koduthookky14. The people of this panchayat especially Nadar and other communities embraced Christianity after performing baptism and there onwards having as ardent adherents of that denomination. The Christian missionaries also under took valuable service for religious conversion of the indigenous people to Christianity. In addition to these, various denominations of Christianity such as London Mission Society Salvation Army and Penthakost are also engaging in religious activities. The important protestant Christian churches are: Sooriyode church, Ooramvila church, Kottakonam, Venkadampu, Chalakara, Manchavila, Avanakinvila and Plamuttukada. The important churches belongs to the Roman Catholic faith were located in the places of Kunnuvila, Attupuram, Manchavila, Pozhiyoor, Valiyavila, Vettukadu. Among this the first Roman Catholic Church were constructed in the name of St. Mary’s at place called Uchakkada15. This Roman Catholic churched was under the control of Neyyattinkara Dioceses16. MOSQUE In this panchayat only a lesser number of people believe in the religion of Islam. The total number of the people who worshipped this religion was amount to 549 males and 454 females as in the case of the year 194117. By the course of the time, this religion considerably influenced the mind of the people. There were two mosques in the panchayat which are located at Pozhiyoor and Charottukonam18. The religious festivals such as Ramzan and Bakrid attract the impression of others and prompt those to participate mingle with the religious gatherings of the Muslims. In nutshell, the various centre of worship irrespective of religious variation contribute the people of the respective region to lead a harmonious life, aiming at the betterment of the people as a whole ultimately. CONCLUSION Prior to the formation of the panchayat the socio, religious and cultural condition of the people is not that much good and progressive one. In the domain of afore said arena religious faiths recorded valuable contributions as well as moral value to the people at large19. The Hindu festivals such as Sivarathri, Thookam, Deepavali, and the Christian festivals such as Christmas and Easter and the Muslim festivals such as Bakrid and Ramzan are celebrating with vigor and velour by keeping away the narrow outlook in abeyance. In other words, all are paying attention to the well-being of the society.

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REFERNCES 1. Census of India, 1921, p. 65 2. Interview with Sadasivan, 5th May 2001 3. T. Mahalingam ‘South Indian History’, p.5 4. Vikasana Rekha, Kulathoor Panchayat, 1996, p.6 5. A. Sreedhara Menon, ‘Cultural Heritage of Kerala’ p.129 6. Interview with P. Jose on 5th May 2001 7. A. Sreedhara Menon, ‘opcit, p.142y7 8. Interview with the temple priest of Parasurama temple at Pozhiyoor on 8th May, 2001 9. Festival notice, Mudipura Bhadrakali temple, 1997, p.2 10. Interview with the temple priest of Bhadrakali temple at Kulathoor on 9th may, 2001 11. Interview with S. G. Lazar on 6th May, 2001 12. Interview with the Sub-Priest Bhadrakali temple at Kulathoor on 8th May, 2001 13. Interview with the temple priest Siva temple at Aruvallur on 9th May, 2001 14. Cochin Administration Report 1927 government of Cochin, Eranakulam 1928, P. 15. Rajatha Jubilee Smaranika, St. Joseph Convent, 1997, p.13 16. Bulletin Neyyattinkara Dioceses, 1997, p.16 17. Census of Travancore Cochin, 1941, p.161 18. The Travancore drectory,1938,Almanac part 1,P.4

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