Chekavar
Encyclopedia
The Chekavar are a caste with origins in southern India, including Sri Lanka, Kerala
and some parts of Tamil Nadu
. They are believed to be the founding fathers who as practitioners systemically developed the martial art of Kalarippayattu
with the use of weapons thousands of years before the arrival of Aryans and Chathurvarnya to South India.
They had strict rules of honour and combat, living by the sword, as a matter of "Karma
"; performing as required by tradition "Dharma
", the holy labour of sacrificing themselves in "Ankam
" (a duel) that was to indicate the divine will on justice.
The people belong to the Ezhava
(Thiyya) caste.
The "Vadakkan Pattukal" (Malayalam ballads of medieval South India) describe the saga of "Chekava heroes" who made up the militia of local chieftains and kings. The songs glorify the "expert Chekavars" of Kalaripayattu.
The saying goes, An Ezhavan(Thiyyan) is called a "Chekavan" after an "ankam" and from then on the Chekavar's food is believed to be earned by the tip of the sword. ‘
Ankam
is a duel to the death, fought between two "Ankachekavar" to resolve the quarrels between local rulers. The ruler whose Ankachekavar survived was considered the winner. For centuries Kerala had quarrels between local rulers resolved by "Ankam". The legendary martial artists in the history of South India - such as Puthooram Veettil Kannappa Chekavar, Puthooram Veettil Unnikkannan, Unniyarcha
, Aromal Chekavar
, Chandu, Aromalunni, and Kannappanunni
- were Chekavar. The king Cheraman Perumal was a Chekavar who helped build the first Muslim Mosque in India.
They mostly worshipped Shiva
, pithrukkal (ancestors) and deities such as Muthappan
, Ayyan, and Ayyappan
. They believe that they were trained by Shiva in martial arts and weaponry methods, and they regard him as their Kula Guru (guru of the race/family). Their worship of "pithrukkal" is based on a respect for their sacrifice to the general people and to show their bereavement. These men were skilled assassins.
The first reference of the word Chekava was found from inscriptions found in Karapauram, near Cherthala, which talks about an ayurveda medicinal plant collector who later became Ayurvedi physician Itty Achudan
.
rs (according to "Maha Bharatha, the "Ekalavya" was from this caste) who were warriors and bravos. They were trained under Maravar
s, a Dravidian martial tribe, accepted Buddhism in later stage. Villu (in Tamil and Malayalam) or Billu (in Tulu), means bow was the Symbol of Chera
kingdom. Chera kings were Villavars who were degraded after the arrival of Brahmin
s and after establishing Chatur Varna system. Thereafter, they were accredited as Chekavars or Chevakars. Vadakkan Pattukal, a collection of Malayalam ballads of medieval origin, presents a saga of Chekava heroes.
Sangam literature
and hero stone
s found in Tamil Nadu show that Chekavars were engaged in combat often on behalf of a lord and in this hero stone, Chekavars generally bear an image of an armed man along with a Shiva Linga. The hero stone built for these men who had fallen in battle on behalf of lord and villagers or cattle raids was tradition during sangam days.
Other historians beieve that Chekavars (Ezhavas) came to India in ancient times, on account of their long inhabitations and similarities in religion that with natives. The tradition is that they came originally from Ceylon where they belonged to the military caste. Some folk song says they were natives of Ezhavathu Nadu(Local name for Ceylon) and another folk song about puthooram veedu says their ancestors were one of the eight fighter families sent by the king of Ezhavathu Nadu (Land of Ezhavas) to help the local rulers of Malayalam (Here the Malayalam refers to present day Kerala). Famous chekavars of south Kerala, Komalezhathu Chekavars's (which was originally komala ezhavathu) family name also stressing this notion.
, was an Ezhava warrior lived in the 19th century in Kerala who has also fought against the caste oppression by the upper castes. His original name was Kalisseril Velayutha Chekavar. His grandfather, Vallikadavil Perumal Chekavan (Perumalchekon or Perumalchan), was proficient in Tulunadan kalari techniques which were not common in the southern style of Kalaripayattu.
Legendary warrior figures of northern ballads Kannappa chekavar, Aromal Chekavar
, Unniarcha, Unikkannan, and Aromalunny were Chekavars from Puthooram Veedu in Malabar. Kottakkal Kanaran, the founder of the renowned CVN Kalari
, was a Chekavar.
In Central Travancore, there are families such as Punnasseril in Veloor whose roots are closely associated with these clans. Komalezhathu Chekavars of the Alappuzha
districts were fierce warriors of most of the central Kerala kingdoms before the emergence of Travancore as a powerful kingdom. Komalezhathu Kunju Pillai Chevakar, a member of the Sree Moolam Popular Assembly
, and also the Ezhava leader T. K. Madhavan
are from this family.
Thadathil Raman Chekavar Velayudhan, a former CEO of the Coir Worker's Welfare Fund Board and an astrologist, belongs to this family. Other Chekavar families in Travancore include the Valiya Mundakkal Chekavars of eastern Kollam
and the Melathil Chekavars of Kanyakumari district
. The majority of these families in South Kerala lost their might after the emergence Travancore as powerful kingdom, except for the Melathil tharavadu
which continued to serve the Travancore kingdom.
In South Kerala members of Ezhavas are still being called chovan was createds (a maltreated derived version of chekavan) by other communities mainly upper caste.
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
and some parts of Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
. They are believed to be the founding fathers who as practitioners systemically developed the martial art of Kalarippayattu
Kalarippayattu
Kalaripayattu is a southern Indian martial art originating in Tamil Nadu but also practiced in contiguous parts of Kerala and Karnataka.Kalari payat includes strikes, kicks, grappling, preset forms, weaponry and healing methods...
with the use of weapons thousands of years before the arrival of Aryans and Chathurvarnya to South India.
They had strict rules of honour and combat, living by the sword, as a matter of "Karma
Karma
Karma in Indian religions is the concept of "action" or "deed", understood as that which causes the entire cycle of cause and effect originating in ancient India and treated in Hindu, Jain, Buddhist and Sikh philosophies....
"; performing as required by tradition "Dharma
Dharma
Dharma means Law or Natural Law and is a concept of central importance in Indian philosophy and religion. In the context of Hinduism, it refers to one's personal obligations, calling and duties, and a Hindu's dharma is affected by the person's age, caste, class, occupation, and gender...
", the holy labour of sacrificing themselves in "Ankam
Ankam
Ankam means "combat" in the Malayalam language.* Organised single combat between two Ankachekavars. Centuries ago in Kerala, south India, quarrels between local rulers were resolved by fixing an Ankam, or duel, between two Ankachekavars, each ruler being represented by one Ankachekavar...
" (a duel) that was to indicate the divine will on justice.
The people belong to the Ezhava
Ezhava
The Ezhavas are a community with origins in the region presently known as Kerala. They are also known as Ilhava, Irava, Izhava and Erava in the south of the region; as Chovas, Chokons and Chogons in Central Travancore; and as Tiyyas, Thiyas and Theeyas in Malabar...
(Thiyya) caste.
The "Vadakkan Pattukal" (Malayalam ballads of medieval South India) describe the saga of "Chekava heroes" who made up the militia of local chieftains and kings. The songs glorify the "expert Chekavars" of Kalaripayattu.
The saying goes, An Ezhavan(Thiyyan) is called a "Chekavan" after an "ankam" and from then on the Chekavar's food is believed to be earned by the tip of the sword. ‘
Ankam
Ankam
Ankam means "combat" in the Malayalam language.* Organised single combat between two Ankachekavars. Centuries ago in Kerala, south India, quarrels between local rulers were resolved by fixing an Ankam, or duel, between two Ankachekavars, each ruler being represented by one Ankachekavar...
is a duel to the death, fought between two "Ankachekavar" to resolve the quarrels between local rulers. The ruler whose Ankachekavar survived was considered the winner. For centuries Kerala had quarrels between local rulers resolved by "Ankam". The legendary martial artists in the history of South India - such as Puthooram Veettil Kannappa Chekavar, Puthooram Veettil Unnikkannan, Unniyarcha
Unniyarcha
Unniyarcha is a popular legendary woman warrior mentioned in the Vadakkan Pattukal, the old ballads of North Malabar. She is a popular character in Keralan folklore...
, Aromal Chekavar
Aromal Chekavar
Aromal Chekavar was a legendary hero who is believed to have lived during 16th century in northern Kerala, India. He was a warrior figure of Vadakkan Pattukal . He is the brother of Unniarcha, another legendary warrior figure of the same ballads. The songs and chronicles have to this day kept the...
, Chandu, Aromalunni, and Kannappanunni
Kannappanunni
Kannappanunni is a 1977 Malayalam film based on Kalaripayattu, the traditional martial art of India. It was the 100th film featuring Prem Nazir and Sheela as the leading pair. It was Udaya Studio's 75th film.-Credit:*Director: Kunchako...
- were Chekavar. The king Cheraman Perumal was a Chekavar who helped build the first Muslim Mosque in India.
They mostly worshipped Shiva
Shiva
Shiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a...
, pithrukkal (ancestors) and deities such as Muthappan
Muthappan
Sree Muthappan is a folk Hindu deity commonly worshiped in North Malabar region of Kerala State, South India. Muthappan and Thiruvappan,as a process of sanskrisation,he is being considered to be a manifestation of Shiva and Vishnu...
, Ayyan, and Ayyappan
Ayyappan
Ayyappan is a Hindu deity worshiped in a number of shrines across India. Ayyappan is believed to be an incarnation of Dharma Sastha, who is the son of Shiva and Vishnu . The name "Ayyappan" is used as a respectful form of address in the Malayalam language, spoken in the Indian state of Kerala...
. They believe that they were trained by Shiva in martial arts and weaponry methods, and they regard him as their Kula Guru (guru of the race/family). Their worship of "pithrukkal" is based on a respect for their sacrifice to the general people and to show their bereavement. These men were skilled assassins.
Etymology
There are various etymologies for Chekavar.- It is derived from the Sanskrit words Sevakar, Sevakan or Sevaka, which means soldiers in service or soldiers in royal service.
- According to Hermann Gundert'sHermann GundertRev. Dr. Hermann Gundert was a German missionary and scholar, who compiled a Malayalam grammar book, Malayalabhaasha Vyakaranam , the first Malayalam-English dictionary , and translated the Bible into Malayalam. He worked primarily at Tellicherry on the Malabar coast, in Kerala, India...
English-Malayalam Dictionary, it is defined as being militiaman and warrior. - The Peyarakaraathi, a Tamil dictionary. the word meaning of Chekavan are aiyan (respected person or teacher or ayyappan or sanstha), peyullipanividaikaran (war hero) and veeran.
- Another theory proposes that it may be derived from a local Malayalam language word, Chavuka, which means "die".
The first reference of the word Chekava was found from inscriptions found in Karapauram, near Cherthala, which talks about an ayurveda medicinal plant collector who later became Ayurvedi physician Itty Achudan
Itty Achudan
Itty Achudan Vaidyan, , who is known to have lived during the second half of the 17th century, was a distinguished Ayurvedic physician, from the ancient Kollatt family of traditional Ezhava Ayurvedic Vaidyans of Kerala...
.
Origin
Elamkulam P. N. Kunjan Pillai believes the Chekavar to be decendents of Villors or Villavar or BillavaBillava
The Billava, or Ilava people make up one of the largest Hindu communities of the Tulu ethnic group in India. They are also found in the Kannada-speaking Kundapura region of Karnataka and some parts of Kerala, including Kasaragod district...
rs (according to "Maha Bharatha, the "Ekalavya" was from this caste) who were warriors and bravos. They were trained under Maravar
Maravar
Maravar are a Tamil community of the state of Tamil Nadu, southern India, and are one of the three branches of the Mukkulathor confederacy.Maravars are found predominantly in the Southern districts of Tamilnadu viz., Madurai, Theni, Sivagangai, Ramanathapuram, Dindigul, Virudhunagar, Thirunelveli,...
s, a Dravidian martial tribe, accepted Buddhism in later stage. Villu (in Tamil and Malayalam) or Billu (in Tulu), means bow was the Symbol of Chera
Chera dynasty
Chera Dynasty in South India is one of the most ancient ruling dynasties in India. Together with the Cholas and the Pandyas, they formed the three principle warring Iron Age Tamil kingdoms in southern India...
kingdom. Chera kings were Villavars who were degraded after the arrival of Brahmin
Brahmin
Brahmin Brahman, Brahma and Brahmin.Brahman, Brahmin and Brahma have different meanings. Brahman refers to the Supreme Self...
s and after establishing Chatur Varna system. Thereafter, they were accredited as Chekavars or Chevakars. Vadakkan Pattukal, a collection of Malayalam ballads of medieval origin, presents a saga of Chekava heroes.
Sangam literature
Sangam literature
Sangam literature refers to a body of classical Tamil literature created between the years c. 600 BCE to 300 CE. This collection contains 2381 poems composed by 473 poets, some 102 of whom remain anonymous The period during which these poems were composed is commonly referred to as the Sangam...
and hero stone
Hero stone
Hero stone is a memorial commemorating the honorable death of a hero in battle of Tamil People. A hero stone can display a variety of adornments, including bas relief panels, statues, and figures of carved stone...
s found in Tamil Nadu show that Chekavars were engaged in combat often on behalf of a lord and in this hero stone, Chekavars generally bear an image of an armed man along with a Shiva Linga. The hero stone built for these men who had fallen in battle on behalf of lord and villagers or cattle raids was tradition during sangam days.
Other historians beieve that Chekavars (Ezhavas) came to India in ancient times, on account of their long inhabitations and similarities in religion that with natives. The tradition is that they came originally from Ceylon where they belonged to the military caste. Some folk song says they were natives of Ezhavathu Nadu(Local name for Ceylon) and another folk song about puthooram veedu says their ancestors were one of the eight fighter families sent by the king of Ezhavathu Nadu (Land of Ezhavas) to help the local rulers of Malayalam (Here the Malayalam refers to present day Kerala). Famous chekavars of south Kerala, Komalezhathu Chekavars's (which was originally komala ezhavathu) family name also stressing this notion.
Legends
Arattupuzha Velayudha PanickerArattupuzha Velayudha Panicker
Arattupuzha Velayudha Panicker was an Ezhava warrior who lived in the 19th century in Kerala, south India and fought against caste oppression by the upper castes. His original name was Kalisseril Velayutha chekavar.-Early life:...
, was an Ezhava warrior lived in the 19th century in Kerala who has also fought against the caste oppression by the upper castes. His original name was Kalisseril Velayutha Chekavar. His grandfather, Vallikadavil Perumal Chekavan (Perumalchekon or Perumalchan), was proficient in Tulunadan kalari techniques which were not common in the southern style of Kalaripayattu.
Legendary warrior figures of northern ballads Kannappa chekavar, Aromal Chekavar
Aromal Chekavar
Aromal Chekavar was a legendary hero who is believed to have lived during 16th century in northern Kerala, India. He was a warrior figure of Vadakkan Pattukal . He is the brother of Unniarcha, another legendary warrior figure of the same ballads. The songs and chronicles have to this day kept the...
, Unniarcha, Unikkannan, and Aromalunny were Chekavars from Puthooram Veedu in Malabar. Kottakkal Kanaran, the founder of the renowned CVN Kalari
Kalari
The word Kalari means battle ground in Tamil and translates as "threshing floor" or "battlefield" in Malayalam. Training for Kalarippayattu, a martial art of Kerala and Tamil Nadu, is traditionally done inside the Kalari....
, was a Chekavar.
In Central Travancore, there are families such as Punnasseril in Veloor whose roots are closely associated with these clans. Komalezhathu Chekavars of the Alappuzha
Alappuzha
Alappuzha , also known as Alleppey, is a town in Alappuzha District of Kerala state of southern India. As per 2001 census Alleppey is the sixth largest city in Kerala with an urban population of 177,029. Alleppey is situated to the south of Kochi and north of Trivandrum...
districts were fierce warriors of most of the central Kerala kingdoms before the emergence of Travancore as a powerful kingdom. Komalezhathu Kunju Pillai Chevakar, a member of the Sree Moolam Popular Assembly
Sree Moolam Popular Assembly
Sree Moolam Popular Assembly of Travancore was the first popularly elected legislature in the history of India.Its predecessor legislative council was formed in Travancore in 1888 with 8 appointed members. Sree Moolam Thirunal Ramavarma who became king of Travancore in 1886 set up this unique...
, and also the Ezhava leader T. K. Madhavan
T. K. Madhavan
T. K. Madhavan was an Indian social reformer from Kerala. He led the struggle against untouchability which was known as Vaikom Satyagraha.-Early life:...
are from this family.
Thadathil Raman Chekavar Velayudhan, a former CEO of the Coir Worker's Welfare Fund Board and an astrologist, belongs to this family. Other Chekavar families in Travancore include the Valiya Mundakkal Chekavars of eastern Kollam
Kollam
Kollam , often anglicized as ', is a city in the Indian state of Kerala. The city lies on the banks of Ashtamudi Lake on the Arabian sea coast and is situated about north of the state capital, Thiruvananthapuram...
and the Melathil Chekavars of Kanyakumari district
Kanyakumari District
Kanyakumari District ) is a district of Tamil Nadu state, India and is the southernmost land area of mainland India.The district is the second most urbanised district in Tamilnadu, next only to Chennai and ahead of Coimbatore. It also has the highest literacy and education levels in the...
. The majority of these families in South Kerala lost their might after the emergence Travancore as powerful kingdom, except for the Melathil tharavadu
Tharavadu
Tharavad is a system of joint family practised by people in Kerala, especially Nairs. Tharavadu was a legal entity like a Hindu Undivided Family as per Indian Income Tax laws, and was entitled to own properties. The others, like Namboothriris, Ezhavas, Christians and Muslims also now refer to...
which continued to serve the Travancore kingdom.
In South Kerala members of Ezhavas are still being called chovan was createds (a maltreated derived version of chekavan) by other communities mainly upper caste.
See also
- KadathanaduKadathanaduKadathanadu was a former Nair Hindu feudatory city-state in present day Kerala state, South India, on the Malabar Coast famed for its anthology of heroic songs, folklores and ballads and for Kalarippayattu.-Geographical location:Geographically, Kadathanadu is part of North Malabar...
- Vadakara
- ThalasseryThalasseryThalassery , also known as Tellicherry, is a city on the Malabar Coast of Kerala, India. This is the second largest city of North Malabar in terms of population. The name Tellicherry is the anglicized form of Thalassery. Thalassery municipality has a population just less than 100,000. Established...
- ChannarChannarChannar or Channan was a surname used in Kerala till early 20th century. It was used by members of the Ezhava community and concentrated around Kollam and Allappuzha Districts.Tharisapalli plates issued by the king Ayyanadikal Thiruvadikal of Ay kingdom at 849 AD promised Mar Sapir Iso the Persian...
was created - ThandanThandanThandan was the surname used by the Ezhava caste in north Kerala mainly in Calicut, Malappuram, Trichur and Palghat districts. In Kannur, Thandiyar or Thandar was being used by the same community...
- Izhathu MannanarsIzhathu MannanarsIzhathu Mannanars was one of the Thiyya royal dynasties that ruled some parts of Malabar in present day Kannur and Kasaragod districts between the 6th and the 12th centuries. Mannanars were title bestowed to this royal family, muthedathu Aramanakkal family. Eldest member of the family was called...
- Oru Vadakkan VeeragathaOru Vadakkan VeeragathaOru Vadakkan Veeragatha is a 1989 Malayalam film directed by Hariharan, written by M. T. Vasudevan Nair, and starring Mammootty, Balan K. Nair, Suresh Gopi, Madhavi, Geetha, and Captain Raju.The film is based on a legend about the famous Chekavar warriors of present day northern Kerala...