Edapally Rajas

Edappalli Rajas ("Kings of Edappalli", known to the Portuguese as Repolim and to the Dutch as Repleim) were the rulers of the late medieval feudal kingdom of Edappally (Elangallur Swarupam), which also included parts of Kallooppara, Karthikapally, Haripad, Cherthala, Vazhakulam,(muvattupuzha) in the present day state of Kerala, India. Edapalli Rajas had no civil or criminal authority within the principality. He is entitled to all the revenue from his lands, and holds them free of tax or tribute to Travancore.

Elangallur Swarupam is one of only two Brahmin royalties in Kerala. Edappally Rajas were great patrons of temples and also known as Edappally Thampurans (Lords of Edappally). They built temples like the famous Ganapathy temple at Edappally, Sastha Temple at Thrikkunnapuzha (near Cherthala in Alleppey district) and Perandoor Bhagavathy Temple.

According to local legends and myths, the last king of the Later Chera dynasty divided his kingdom among his various chieftains and governors. At the last minute he realized that he had not given any land to his royal priests- the Elangallur Namboothiris. He then took back some land from the other lords and gave it to the royal priest family. A new dynasty was created - the Elangalllur swaroopam or the Kingdom of the Elangallur family in Edappally.

Kallooppaara or Perumbranad district

The old Vempolinad was separated into 'Vadakumkoor' and 'Thekkumkoor' in AD 1100. Kottayam, Chenganacherry, Thiruvalla, Kanjirapally and some places of high range where included in Thekkumkoor kingdom.Kallooppara was under the control of the Thekkumkoor dynasty. It had Kalari (training center for material arts) at Kallooppara. The famous Kalari was known as Thekkumkoor fort which existed till recently. The Thekkumkoor army camped here and it was risky for the enemy to attack them. It is said that the King had many close friends in Kallooppara and its surroundings. The Old Nair lord Family at Koipuram in Eraviperoor was in close touch with the Kings. It was this Nair Lord family who had great influence on the king and inspired him to donate Kallooppara sub-division to Edappally dynasty. As the withdrawal of Thekkumkoor kings, Kallooppara came under the Edappally dynasty, which is also known as Elangalloor Swaroopam. The Edappally dynasty has the history of elevation of a temple priest to the royal position of a King. The founder of the Edappally dynasty was a priest of Thrikkakara temple according to the historical evidence and proverbs.

The famous St. Marys Valiyapally known kalloopparapally was formed with a tent "for prayer purpose", with permission of Edappally Raja in AD 1339 (karkkidam 3 kollavarsham 515. The Edapally King one evening sadly noted the sacrifice of Nasrani Christians of taking dead body being transported via Manimala River to Niranam Church, (Niranam church was formed by Saint Thomas, one of the disciples of Jesus Christ in around AD 52-54). The King gave permission to have a body buried on the land which is west of the Temple. A small group of Christians "Aaru Veedan families" were present in the area decided to build a tent to have a prayer group at that burial location. Over the years this location became a center for Christians to gather and pray, and the name of the church became Saint Mary's Orthodox Syrian Church in around AD 1666, at the arrival of a prominent Bishop from Syria "Abdul Jaleel Mor Greegorius". It is interesting that even today Christians at Kallooppara (nine km from Thiruvalla), Karthikappally, etc. still remember the Edappally Swaroopam for the many privileges received from him and to-date portions of the Edappally Madhom palace on the Manimala riverbank at Kallooppara attracts visitors. This "Madham" or "local court" was there with 2 stories for the purpose of undertaking judicial matters. The "Muthalpady" who was appointed by the Edappally King ruled Perumbranad district, for the tax collections and various local judicial matters. In AD 1669 a family from Sankara Puri "Avirah Tharakan" who was married to the niece of Edappally King "Sridevi" (after accepting Christianity, she was named "Maria") was settled down in Puramattom "Perumpra Nadu district". Sridevi's parents (Kishan Bhattathiri and Devaky Antharjanam)were also resided at the selected location that was vacated by "Tharamel Illam" and rebuilt by the King for the purpose of these royal couple to reside. After the arrival of Avirah Tharakan of Sankara Puri there were many Christian families started migrating to Kallooppara region under the direction of Avirah Tharakan and his son Itty Avirah Tharakan, from Kuravilangad, Vyakkam areas. Edappally King had given Avirah Tharakan and Sridevi/Maria the full authority of Perumbranadu district, which was consist of over 9 villages. The second generation of Avirah Tharakan was named as "Adangapurathu" by their son Itty Avirah Tharakan, who had built a house at Kallooppara Madattumbagam south, in around AD 1720. The Adangapurathu family retained the control of Perumbranadu district as "Muthalpady" for many years until AD 1815. The last person held that position was Adangapurathu Avira Avira Panicker "Olesseril Kochoojnachan", who was the elder son of Avira Avira Valiya Panicker. (see the website of adangapurathu.com). It is interesting that the Bhagavathy temple and the Old church at Kallooppara are practically in the same piece of land and the church's architecture is one of the best examples for Kerala Vasthu Shilpa style (For photographs cf. The St. Thomas Christian Encyclopaedia of India, Vol. II, 1973, ed. George Menachery). These two establishments (Bhagavathy temple and Saint Mary's Orthodox church) members are well respected each other and many traditional practices are still in existence when major religious functions take place. Historical exchanges of prayer and other means of offerings are still in practice by both members of these 2 religious establishments for many years.

We may presume that sometime in the 12th century with end of Kulasekhara Perumals, Elangalloor Swaroopam usurped power in the region of Edapally and by the mid-14th century they held sway over erstwhile Thekkumkoor. thus they became a state with smallest authority but vast landed property outside. This made Edapally the seat of the Brahmin kings a bone of contention between Zamorin and others. As Zamorin could not wage battles against a Brahmin, in 1536 the first sacking of Edapally took place under Martin D'Souza. The lingering presence of Edapally continues to be mentioned in Portuguese records and VOC or Dutch East India Company Records. Edapally Raja continued customary rights over the church and land was given rent free to church. This is a proof that land was still owned by him. One of the earliest local history initiatives centred on the study of the relationship between Edapally church and Elangalloor Swaroopam. In a small book published I 1990s by Poulose Madekkal in Malayalam, he has given evidence by consulting the church archives to which he had access and tried to establish the miracles of the church influencing the Edapally kings to support the church. visit: www.adangapurathu.com, for much more details about Perumpranad district.