Mappilassery family and the Moolam boat race

The Legend:
It is said that the Raja of Chempakasseri, Pooradam Thirunal Devanarayanan, built a temple at Ambalappuzha as suggested by the royal astrologers, but just before the installation of the deity (Lord Krishna) he was informed that the idol was not auspicious.
It was important to install a suitable idol immediately. Accordingly, the priests identified another idol of Lord Krishna, kept at the Karikulam temple in Kurichi. This idol was believed to have been given to Arjuna by Lord Krishna himself, and was therefore considered very sacred. After getting the idol from Karikulam temple, the Raja's men set forth by boat for the return journey. While returning to Ambalappuzha, night set in, and, as instructed by the Raja, they took shelter at a Christian household, the home of Mappilassery Itty Thommen, in the village of Champakulam. Itty Thommen was a loyal subject and a confidant of the king.
Itty Thommen and his family received the men and the idol with great honour. The next day, the Raja and his entourage turned up at Mappilassery, accompanied by a huge mass of people. 'Pujas' were offered to the deity and Itty Thommen and his men also travelled with the flotilla to Ambalapuzha where the idol was duly consecrated and installed with great fanfare. On the way,the people of Champakulam and adjoining areas, as well as the priests and laity of the Champakulam Kalloorkadu Church,honoured the Raja and the idol.
These events took place in 1545 A.D. The Raja, pleased with the love and affection shown to him by his Christian subjects, declared that henceforth, to commemorate these events, a great water carnival would be held at Champakulam every year, on 'Moolam' day in the Malayalam month of 'Mithunam'. Thus began the 'Champakulam snake-boat race' and related functions, which continue to this very day.
In 1613 A.D., sixty-three years after the idol was given shelter at Mappilassery, the old house was being demolished and a new one being built. Raja Devanarayanan's successor heard the news and immediately sent word to Itty Thommen's son, Kunhi Thommen that the area where the idol was kept, which was considered a 'devasthanam ' or sacred place, was to be specially demarcated and used only as a place of worship. Also, in keeping with Hindu practices, no menstruating women were to enter the room. A special lamp, made of rare metals, was given to the family, to be kept in this holy place, and perpetually burning, as an eternal flame. Special privileges were also conferred on the family, including the grant of lands and coconut groves to supply the oil for the lamp.
Even today, these practices continue. The lamp is kept perpetually burning. Every year priests and other delegates from the temple call at the house on Moolam day, with gifts and prasadam for the karanavar or head of the house. This ceremony is known as the Moolakazcha.It is believed that on Moolam Day, Lord Krishna resides not at the Temple, but at Mappilassery House! Reverentially, on unshod feet,the Temple delegates enter the prayer room, where along with Christian icons like the cross, and statues of Jesus and Mother Mary, the lamp, known as the 'Vazhakoombu Vilakku' is given a place of prominence. The temple representatives then venerate the lamp, and are treated by the family to a sumptuous feast. It is only after all these ceremonies, that the famous 'Champakulam snake-boat race' commences.



Thus, for almost 500 years, this wonderful tradition, imbibing the best of Kerala's fabled religious amity, has continued uninterrupted.

Courtesy: Mr.Tomy Vallikaappan

A research on the history of Kerala!

History of Kerala:

Mythological Background - Parasurama, the short-tempered warrior-sage is regarded as the incarnation of Vishnu. After defeating the Kshathriya Kings, the sage approached the wise men for penance. As a Self-mortification he was advised to create a land for Brahmins. He readily agreed and meditated at Gokarnam, (considered to be the end of land). After getting the booms from Varuna, the God of the Oceans and Bhumidevi, the Goddess of earth, he proceeded to Kanya Kumari (Cape Comorin) and threw his battle-axe northwards across the waters. The waters subsided and what was left over was called the land of Parasurama, that is today's Kerala.

Scientific Theology - Geologists have pointed out that the elevation of Kerala from the sea was the result of some seismic activity, either suddenly or gradually.Another Thoughts prevailing in scientific society is the rivers of Kerala emptying into the Arabian seas bring down enormous quantities of silt from the hills. The ocean currents transport quantities of sand towards the shore. The coastal portions could well be due to the accumulation of this silt over thousands of years.

Aryans and the Dravidians:

Dravidians: Most of the Ethnologists believe that Dravidians in India is a branch of Elamite race who founded the civilization at Sumeria and Indus Valley. They reached India in prehistory and evolved in India at about 15000 BC. Dravidians became the elite inhabitants of India. The Dravidian civilization was found in the prehistory. They are also called Indus Valley people as it is one of the greatest and earliest civilizations world has ever seen. They had well planned City States built with baked bricks, swimming pools and plumbing. They had their own language and script, agriculture but no strong military. They had trade with the Mesopotamia. The period of this great civilization is estimated between BC 2500 to BC 1500.

Aryans: Aryans (Arya means "NOBLE") were Indo-Europeans lived earlier in Euro-Asia. They were War-like people and had a strong military with horses. According to Aryan Invasion theory of Max Muller they attacked Indus valley in around 1500 BC. Dravidians were pushed to South. They settled in North India and it gave rise to a new culture that may be called as Vedic culture. Their life was not city based but it was a village based one. Slowly the intellectual and priestly (Vaidik) people who were called Brahmins founded the four varnas while the Kshatriyas founded many kingdoms in the Gangetic plains.

Dravidians came to south crossing the Vindya Mountains and started agriculture since South-West corner of India was the best option for them to do agriculture in terms of natural resources and environment. Upper class Dravidians settled in the land which was later named as Kerala.

The Chera Dynasty:

By 1000 BC the south India was ruled by the Powerful Pandiyan dynasty which included most of the Kerala. Kerala was first inhabited by Ayar or Konar who were Yadavas. The Chera dynasty which was founded in the 300 BC with capital at Vanjimanagaram was perhaps founded by Panans as the Chera kings were called Banapperumals. Cheran Chenkuttuvan was a famous king. Later it extended to sea at Kodungalloor (Trichur). The Chera dynasty came to Kodungalloor and made Thiruvanchikulam their capital and ruled the Dravidians. A number of Brahmin (Vediars in sangha literature) families from the North migrated to the south and settled down, maintaining friendly relations with the Dravidians around 200 BC. Brahmins pleased Dravidian kings with their intellectual skills and they were adorned in Raja Sabha (court). Brahmins told Puranic stories and Mahabharata to the Chera and Pandiya kings of kerala. Kodungalloor Musirippatinam (Mussiris) was the major harbor city of Cheran domain at that time and it was nearby the Cheran-capital Thiruvanchikulam. Thondi (Tyndis) and Bharkare (Purakkadu) were the other ports.
Nelkinda was the southern capital of Pandiyas and Ayvels.The South Dravidian culture of Ayvels, Pandia and Chera kingdom are depicted in Sangha Literature such as Ahananooru, Purananooru and Silappathiharam written by a Chera Prince. It may give a graphic detail of the Sangha era and ancient kerala including foreigners.

Courtesy: wikipedia and other internet sources.

Origin of Malayalam Language

The Malayalam Language:

The language of the Dravidians was Tamil. Although Aryans who spoke Sanskrit migrated to south, their language was limited to religious functions and ceremonies. After some time a new language came into being which was a mixture of Tamil and Sanskrit. By 1300 AD this language became an independent language and was called Malayalam. During the early days this language had a round script and later it adopted an elongated script. The Malayalam of today has a mixture of both.
It is also heard that the actual Malayalam script originated from Brahmi script, which is India's national script, which in turn is an Aryan script.

Courtesy: Ramapuram family website.

The traders, the immigrants and the inhabitants.

From very early times, India carried on a flourishing trade with the Middle East and the Western countries, particularly with Antioch, Alexandria and Rome by both land and sea.
The earliest people to visit India from the Middle East were Arabs as early as 3000 BC. The ancient Tamil Literatures mention about Yavanas (fair people), the Greeks and Romans who had been given permission to build fortified towns called Yavanappatinam or Yavanacherry.
Even before 1000 BC there was a large number of Jews in the region now called Kerala who used to trade with Syria, Palestine and other Middle Eastern countries. When the Roman empire came to power they found sea routes to India from Syria and Palestine. They bought commodities like pepper, ginger, cinnamon, cardamom and sandalwood in return for gold, silver, copper, bronze and perfumes.
Hippaulus, a Greek sailor found a sea route to India in 600BC through Red Sea.
Many Jews settled in Kerala during the period of Nebuchadnezzar in 6th century BC in Yavanacherry. The Jews might have settled in the Chera city of Kodungalloor and the Pandiyan city of Nelcynda.
The Jain Pandiyan Kings used to rule most of the Kerala prior to 300 BC when the Chera kingdom was founded by the immigrants (Chera, Vellian and Puraiyans). Pandiyans were well known to Greek historian Tolemy while Pliny Elder visited the Chera capital of Kodungalloor in 24 AD.
The Pandiyan navy found sea roots from Syria and Persia to China.

There is a mention about Essenes (a religious group) in "Manimekhalai" (tamil verse epic of 2nd century) who could have been converted Jewish Christians. Brahmins were virtually non extinct in Sangha Literature during the Christian period.
The Christians who had arrived from the Middle East in the 3rd century AD and the Muslims who arrived in the 8th century AD were generally traders and were not involved in this social segregation and generally kept aloof from the ambit of caste politics. The Jews who arrived Kerala in the early years of the Christian era were given privileges to trade and thus became an influential part of the melting pot of Kerala's population.

Hi

Hi to all, this is an attempt to spread a word about our family 'Mappilassery' which has its roots in a small beautiful village called 'Champakulam' in 'Alappuzha' district, Kerala, India. Here i would like to invite other family members to join this blogspot to help me out in my research on our family and its history. Looking forward for your response. -- Maria Mappilassery.