Nedumpuram Palace
Encyclopedia
Nedumpuram Palace is situated in Tiruvalla
(9°23′06″N 76°34′30″E / 9.385, 76.575), Pathanamthitta
District, Kerala
, India
. The palace belongs to a branch of the Kulasekhara
dynasty that ruled the principality of Udayamangalam in Northern Kerala
. The family belongs originally to the Valluvanad royal line of ascension who presided over the Mamamkamfestival. During the southern campaign of Tippu Sultan, the family relocated to the south of Kerala
and took shelter under the patronage of the King of Travancore
. The family divided into two branches establishing principalities within Travencore in Mariapalli and Tiruvalla. The current palace stands at the earlier location of a palace that belonged to the Raja of Tiruvalla.
style. A single block of this architecture is called Nālukettu and is generally constructed as a single dwelling of many joint families.
Foe each block of 'Nalukettu', barring the foundation and floor is made of carved and slotted wood and has a close resemblance to East Asian gabled and thatched structures. In later years, tiles replaced the coconut fronds. The enclosed courtyard is sunk and is used for ritual ablusions and to grow plants for ritual use. The courtyard is open and gives direct access to the rooms. The building is divided into two blocks by an inner temple where the family deity is kept and worshipped. The large teak doors on the outer verandahs are reserved for various ritual uses and are seldom opened. The outer verandahs on both the western and eastern verandahs are left open, the northern and southern verandahs are enclosed or semi-enclosed.
The main palace is surrounded by out buildings of later vintage. Of these, Puttan Kottaram (New Palace) houses a temple, Tekke Kottaram (Northern Palace, now demolished) housed one branch of the family while Vadakke Kottaram (Southern Palace) is a structure separated from the main compound by a river that housed non-members connected by marriage.
, the last Perumal, Ramavarma Kulasekhara Perumal, of the Second Chera Kingdom (Kulasekhara Samrajyam, 800–1102), with its capital at Mahodayapuram, divided his kingdom to his relatives and Nair chiefs. There is some evidence to support this claim. The family came into being as one of branches of this division. The earliest recorded existence of the original Valluavanadu lineage extends to the 12th century even through earliest known member of the palace to locate to Tiruvalla lived in the 17th century. They descend from the Kolathiri
rajas and ruled parts of today's northern Kerala. The members from southern branch of the Kolathiri Rajas were adpoted to the Venadu Swarupam and thus became the royal family of Travancore
. As a branch of the principality of Mavelikkara
who came and setteld there during Tipu's "pattayottam" time, the family is also directly related to Raja Ravi Varma
. When the royal family of Travencore did not have an heir in the 19th century, the dynasty was restarted by adoption from Mavelikkara. Thus the family is related both by blood and marriage to the royal families of Travancore
and by marriage to the royal family of Cochin. The family is matrilineal with the oldest male relative through the mother heads the household as the "Valia Raja" and the oldest female gaining the title of "Amma Raja".
The fortunes of the family went into decline in the 19th century as result of the end of feudalism and through the slow decline of marumakkathayam
. In the last 19th century, the Valia Raja simphoned off the funds of the palace to fund the lifestyle of his birth family.
All names are prefixed with their day of birth and suffixed with Varma Raja.
For female Thampurattis, a rigid nomenclature was not in place.
Tiruvalla
Tiruvalla , is a city and a Taluk headquarters located in Pathanamthitta district in the State of Kerala in South India, spread over an area of 27.94 km2...
(9°23′06″N 76°34′30″E / 9.385, 76.575), Pathanamthitta
Pathanamthitta
Pathanamthitta is a large town and a municipality situated in the central Travancore region in the state of Kerala, south India, spread over an area of 23.50 km2. It is the administrative capital of Pathanamthitta district. The city has a population of 38,000...
District, Kerala
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....
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. The palace belongs to a branch of the Kulasekhara
Kulasekhara
Kulasekhara or Later Chera dynasty was a classical Hindu dynasty founded by the saint King Kulashekhara Varman. The dynasty ruled the whole of modern Kerala state , Guddalore and some parts of Nilgiri district and Salem - Coimbatore region in southern India between 9th and 12th centuries AD...
dynasty that ruled the principality of Udayamangalam in Northern Kerala
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....
. The family belongs originally to the Valluvanad royal line of ascension who presided over the Mamamkamfestival. During the southern campaign of Tippu Sultan, the family relocated to the south of Kerala
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 took shelter under the patronage of the King of Travancore
Travancore
Kingdom of Travancore was a former Hindu feudal kingdom and Indian Princely State with its capital at Padmanabhapuram or Trivandrum ruled by the Travancore Royal Family. The Kingdom of Travancore comprised most of modern day southern Kerala, Kanyakumari district, and the southernmost parts of...
. The family divided into two branches establishing principalities within Travencore in Mariapalli and Tiruvalla. The current palace stands at the earlier location of a palace that belonged to the Raja of Tiruvalla.
Architecture
The palace is constructed in the traditional complex 'pathinaru kettu' structure (lit. 16 blocks) which divided the structure into four blocks of rooms with indoor open courtyards connected to each other. The structure is supported by teak beams and false ceilings. At present the building is in disrepair. It is built in the kovilakamKovilakam
Kovilakam is a term that denotes to the principal manor/estate/palace of a princely lineages of Kerala, India. This is the residence, where all who have not succeeded to get Rajaship remain under the management of the eldest resident male or female member of that particular branch of the family...
style. A single block of this architecture is called Nālukettu and is generally constructed as a single dwelling of many joint families.
Foe each block of 'Nalukettu', barring the foundation and floor is made of carved and slotted wood and has a close resemblance to East Asian gabled and thatched structures. In later years, tiles replaced the coconut fronds. The enclosed courtyard is sunk and is used for ritual ablusions and to grow plants for ritual use. The courtyard is open and gives direct access to the rooms. The building is divided into two blocks by an inner temple where the family deity is kept and worshipped. The large teak doors on the outer verandahs are reserved for various ritual uses and are seldom opened. The outer verandahs on both the western and eastern verandahs are left open, the northern and southern verandahs are enclosed or semi-enclosed.
The main palace is surrounded by out buildings of later vintage. Of these, Puttan Kottaram (New Palace) houses a temple, Tekke Kottaram (Northern Palace, now demolished) housed one branch of the family while Vadakke Kottaram (Southern Palace) is a structure separated from the main compound by a river that housed non-members connected by marriage.
Genesis and Mythology
Based on KeralolpathiKeralolpathi
The Keralolpathi is a Malayalam work that deals with the origin of the land of Kerala. Shungunny Menon ascribes the authorship of this work to Thunchaththu Ramanujan Ezhuthachan, a 17th century scholar of the Malabar region of India. The Keralolpathi is mostly an expansion from an earlier Sanskrit...
, the last Perumal, Ramavarma Kulasekhara Perumal, of the Second Chera Kingdom (Kulasekhara Samrajyam, 800–1102), with its capital at Mahodayapuram, divided his kingdom to his relatives and Nair chiefs. There is some evidence to support this claim. The family came into being as one of branches of this division. The earliest recorded existence of the original Valluavanadu lineage extends to the 12th century even through earliest known member of the palace to locate to Tiruvalla lived in the 17th century. They descend from the Kolathiri
Kolathiri
Kolathiri or Kolathiri Rājā was the title by which the senior most male along the matilinial line of the Mushika or Kolathunādu Royal Family was styled...
rajas and ruled parts of today's northern Kerala. The members from southern branch of the Kolathiri Rajas were adpoted to the Venadu Swarupam and thus became the royal family of Travancore
Travancore
Kingdom of Travancore was a former Hindu feudal kingdom and Indian Princely State with its capital at Padmanabhapuram or Trivandrum ruled by the Travancore Royal Family. The Kingdom of Travancore comprised most of modern day southern Kerala, Kanyakumari district, and the southernmost parts of...
. As a branch of the principality of Mavelikkara
Mavelikkara
Mavelikara is a town in Alappuzha district of Kerala, India, spread over an area of 12.65 km2. It is in the southern part of Alappuzha district on the banks of the Achankovil River. Mavelikara is located 8km east of National Highway. Mavelikara is known as the capital of...
who came and setteld there during Tipu's "pattayottam" time, the family is also directly related to Raja Ravi Varma
Raja Ravi Varma
Raja Ravi Varma was an Indian painter from the princely state of Travancore who achieved recognition for his depiction of scenes from the epics of the Mahabharata and Ramayana...
. When the royal family of Travencore did not have an heir in the 19th century, the dynasty was restarted by adoption from Mavelikkara. Thus the family is related both by blood and marriage to the royal families of Travancore
Travancore
Kingdom of Travancore was a former Hindu feudal kingdom and Indian Princely State with its capital at Padmanabhapuram or Trivandrum ruled by the Travancore Royal Family. The Kingdom of Travancore comprised most of modern day southern Kerala, Kanyakumari district, and the southernmost parts of...
and by marriage to the royal family of Cochin. The family is matrilineal with the oldest male relative through the mother heads the household as the "Valia Raja" and the oldest female gaining the title of "Amma Raja".
The fortunes of the family went into decline in the 19th century as result of the end of feudalism and through the slow decline of marumakkathayam
Marumakkathayam
Marumakkathayam is a matrilinear system of inheritance which was followed by all Nair castes including of Royal Families, some of the Ambalavasis, Arayars, Ezhava, some tribal groups and Mappilas in North Malabar of Kerala state, South India. Unlike other Brahmin families, Payanoor Nambootiris...
. In the last 19th century, the Valia Raja simphoned off the funds of the palace to fund the lifestyle of his birth family.
Nomenclature
All the male Thampurans were named according to the following methodology.- Eldest Son To A Mother Rama Varma
- Second Son Kerala Varma
- Third Son Ravi Varma
- Fourth Son Goda Varma
All names are prefixed with their day of birth and suffixed with Varma Raja.
For female Thampurattis, a rigid nomenclature was not in place.
Famous Members
- Samyuktha Varma - Acress
- Urmila Unni - Painter and Actress
- B. G. Varma - Artist
External links
- Tiruvalla History, Tiruvalla Website
- Genealogy of Travencore Royal Family
- Valluvanad vamsam