Socio-cultural Processes and Livelihood Patterns at Tirurangadi - CDS

However, the first indication a political formation in the region was the emergence of
Parappanad. Keralolppatti legend on the origin of Samuthiri refers to a Parappukoyil,
which may be the same as the later Parappanad kovilakam. However, the region around
Beypore was called Northern Parappanad in British records, and it is possible that the
original Parappanad family was settled in Beypore. Later the family or a branch of the
family shifted to the present location at Neduva in Parappanangadi.
When did this settlement occur? We have no clear indication of this from any written
sources apart from a few legends, which links the family with Nirakaithakotta. It is also
stated in a legend that the Bhagavati of Mukambika Temple was also’ brought’ from
pisharikkavu in near kadalundi bridge. The legends linking the family to Nirakaithakotta
and Pisharikavu probably hint at a migration from the mouth of Kadalundi River, or
rather from the location of Thondi. The region from Nirakaithakotta to Purappuzha is
traditionally the old Parappanad. Beypore is Northern Parappanad and Chaliyam in
between the two regions belonged to the Vettath Raja. The more interesting feature of the
entire Tirurangadi region is the presence, from the British records, of several subordinates
and military leaders under the Samuthiri as landlords in the area, including Thinayancheri
Ilayath, Dharmoth Panikkar, ‘Ayyayiraprabhu karthav’, and members of the Samuthiri
family, such as the thampuratti(princess) of Ambadi Kovilakam, Thampuratti of
Kizhakke Kovilakam and Samuthiri Raja himself. Lands were also held by Vettath kovil
Eradi and his family. Thacharakkavil Eradi (Nilambur Raja) held lands in Ariyallur;
Kadathanad Raja also held lands in Parappanagadi. This is apart from the lands held by
Nambutiri Illams and Devaswams.
Among these families only Ayyayiraprabhu karthav seems to have belonged to the area,
and was a military leader in charge of providing ‘five thousand forces to the Samuthiri.
Others did not belong to the area. Then how did they come to acquire the lands in the
area? The area was apparently occupied by Samuthiri and distributed among the