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01 - Origin and Early History.mp3👈 മലയാളത്തിലുള്ള ശബ്ദരേഖ
👈 മലയാളത്തിലുള്ള ശബ്ദരേഖ
👈 Commentary in Malayalam
👈 Commentary in Malayalam
The exact origin of Ullanat family is obscure. It goes to the 11th century AD or earlier when the second Chera kingdom (Later Chera-s) flourished in Kerala. One important source where the mention of Ullanat Panicker appears for the first time in the history of Kerala is a work by name “Keralam” by the poet-historian Kodungallur Kunhikuttan Thampuran. This incident has also been narrated by Prof. K.V.Krishna Iyer in his book “The Zamorins of Calicut”.
The exact origin of Ullanat family is obscure. It goes to the 11th century AD or earlier when the second Chera kingdom (Later Chera-s) flourished in Kerala. One important source where the mention of Ullanat Panicker appears for the first time in the history of Kerala is a work by name “Keralam” by the poet-historian Kodungallur Kunhikuttan Thampuran. This incident has also been narrated by Prof. K.V.Krishna Iyer in his book “The Zamorins of Calicut”.
According to the ancient history of Kerala narrated in this poetic work by Kunhikuttan Thampuran, Cheraman Perumal - the last Chera king of Kerala - relinquished his kingdom and divided the land amongst the various smaller chieftains and gave them independence. This event is said to have given rise to various new kingdoms being formed within Kerala. There were two Samanta heroes from Nediyirippu in the interior of Eranad, who were brothers - Manavikraman and Manavedan, who were absent during this event of partition and they later met Cheraman Perumal. Cheraman Perumal gave his last four possessions to the brothers namely 1) his sword, which was bent inward, 2) a broken conch, 3) the last remaining portion of land (which was to evolve later as the city called Kozhikode) and 4) his faithful servant - the Ullanat Panicker (who was known as the Chamber Guard (Palliyara Vicharippukar) of Cheraman Perumal). Perumal gave the brothers permission to conquer and keep all the land they could, by their might. Manavikraman, the elder brother later crowned in the presence of Perumal, became the Zamorin King and his younger brother Manavedan was invested as Elankur or heir-apparent.
According to the ancient history of Kerala narrated in this poetic work by Kunhikuttan Thampuran, Cheraman Perumal - the last Chera king of Kerala - relinquished his kingdom and divided the land amongst the various smaller chieftains and gave them independence. This event is said to have given rise to various new kingdoms being formed within Kerala. There were two Samanta heroes from Nediyirippu in the interior of Eranad, who were brothers - Manavikraman and Manavedan, who were absent during this event of partition and they later met Cheraman Perumal. Cheraman Perumal gave his last four possessions to the brothers namely 1) his sword, which was bent inward, 2) a broken conch, 3) the last remaining portion of land (which was to evolve later as the city called Kozhikode) and 4) his faithful servant - the Ullanat Panicker (who was known as the Chamber Guard (Palliyara Vicharippukar) of Cheraman Perumal). Perumal gave the brothers permission to conquer and keep all the land they could, by their might. Manavikraman, the elder brother later crowned in the presence of Perumal, became the Zamorin King and his younger brother Manavedan was invested as Elankur or heir-apparent.
English Translation:-
English Translation:-
A sword that is broken inward, a conch that too broken, the land that was still left and Ullanat Panicker, his faithful attendant
The Perumal gave and said ‘conquer and annex all those lands that you deem fit, but protect Brahmins and cows
‘Worship every dawn this sword of mine though broken; if anything happens to this, that day will be an end to your victory
‘Take care of this broken conch that blows on its own at the fourth quarter; when it is destroyed, your fortune too gets destroyed that day
‘The gift of this thorny jungle should cause you no disappointment it would grow soon into the flourishing port and city of Calicut
‘take with you this Ullanat Panicker, who was a close attendant acceptable to me, for whatever done in consultation with him would never end in failure!’
Cheraman Rama Varma Kulasekhara Perumal is believed to be the last of the Perumal dynasty. He was succeeded by a series of independent rulers. This is said to have happened in the 7th or between 9th and 12th century A.D., by different traditions. After the death of the last Cheraman Perumal, numerous Nadu-s had developed in Kerala, controlled by the Chief Utayavar. Kerala was divided among the rulers of these smaller kingdoms, but some of them disintegrated and others continued, becoming Swarupams. When they became Swarupams they were known by the name of the place where the authoritarian joint family was originally located. Thus the title Venattutaiya for Venad continued until 12th century which was replaced by the Swarupam title - Kizhperur Trippappur later. Similarly, the ruler of Eranad became Nediyirippu Swarupam, Valluvanadalavan became Arangottur Swarupam, Purakilanad and Elimala Kingdom became Kottayam and Kolattu Swarupam.
Cheraman Rama Varma Kulasekhara Perumal is believed to be the last of the Perumal dynasty. He was succeeded by a series of independent rulers. This is said to have happened in the 7th or between 9th and 12th century A.D., by different traditions. After the death of the last Cheraman Perumal, numerous Nadu-s had developed in Kerala, controlled by the Chief Utayavar. Kerala was divided among the rulers of these smaller kingdoms, but some of them disintegrated and others continued, becoming Swarupams. When they became Swarupams they were known by the name of the place where the authoritarian joint family was originally located. Thus the title Venattutaiya for Venad continued until 12th century which was replaced by the Swarupam title - Kizhperur Trippappur later. Similarly, the ruler of Eranad became Nediyirippu Swarupam, Valluvanadalavan became Arangottur Swarupam, Purakilanad and Elimala Kingdom became Kottayam and Kolattu Swarupam.
Frequent wars between these Swarupam-s to retain or expand their respective territorial authority became a routine affair and the rulers of these Swarupam-s regularly concentrated on improving the martial skills of their soldiers, which paved way for the development of a powerful martial art culture in Kerala. Tulu region was known for its dexterous, strong and powerful martial art (Kalari Payattu) exponents and their indigenously developed combative techniques and systems. Kalari-s as the training ground for martial art came up all over these Swarupam-s.
Frequent wars between these Swarupam-s to retain or expand their respective territorial authority became a routine affair and the rulers of these Swarupam-s regularly concentrated on improving the martial skills of their soldiers, which paved way for the development of a powerful martial art culture in Kerala. Tulu region was known for its dexterous, strong and powerful martial art (Kalari Payattu) exponents and their indigenously developed combative techniques and systems. Kalari-s as the training ground for martial art came up all over these Swarupam-s.
There is a family tradition which says that two such masters who were brothers along with their sister were brought from the Tulu region to Nediyirippu Swarupam for training the soldiers and the youth of the royal family. The progenies of this sister, who had her origin in Tulu Nadu, were the early members of Ullanat family (Ulanadu, derived from Tulunadu?). They were absorbed into the Nair community and were given the title of ‘Panicker’ (Panicker and Kurup were the titles of those who maintained Kalari-s as their hereditary profession). Following the system prevalent in the then Swarupam-s, the early Ullanat Panickers, like the other Nair families, started following matrilineal system (Marumakkatthayam). It is possible that matrilineal system was sustained as a mode of preserving the rights, privileges and the control of the territory within the family itself.
There is a family tradition which says that two such masters who were brothers along with their sister were brought from the Tulu region to Nediyirippu Swarupam for training the soldiers and the youth of the royal family. The progenies of this sister, who had her origin in Tulu Nadu, were the early members of Ullanat family (Ulanadu, derived from Tulunadu?). They were absorbed into the Nair community and were given the title of ‘Panicker’ (Panicker and Kurup were the titles of those who maintained Kalari-s as their hereditary profession). Following the system prevalent in the then Swarupam-s, the early Ullanat Panickers, like the other Nair families, started following matrilineal system (Marumakkatthayam). It is possible that matrilineal system was sustained as a mode of preserving the rights, privileges and the control of the territory within the family itself.
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