9
VELLICODE AND
ROYAL CONNECTION
There was a palace at Amode in Kalkulam Taluk in Kanyakumari
District. There existed a nuptial relationship between the Arapparai family
in Vellicode and the people who lived in that palace. C.V. Raman Pillai mentioned this in his Rama Rajya Bhagathoor novel. Mr.
K.P. Varatharasan, of Thachen vilai has mentioned this in his book titled " Thuruvadi Desam
Thiruparpur Paramparai Maveeran Anandapadmanabhan Varalaru".
This indicates the royal connection of the people of Arapparai family in
Vellicode.
However, none in Vellicode talks about this now.
However, none in Vellicode talks about this now.
It may be noted that in the book "Anatomy of a folklore- Ottan Kathai" by Dr. M. Immanuel, there is a mention about King Marthada Varma. Dr. M. Immanuel translated "Ottan Kathai" written in Tamil in the Palm-leaf bundles into English. Eight lines translated by him are given below.
"There is the crown of Venadu- the Thampuran,
The compact man, Viira Martandan,
The seed of Tripapur dynasty, so famous
He is the eldest one.
The mustard seed, though small,
Would its pungency ever vanish?
Should he grow a height of six feet tall
To get his rights for the throne to rule?"
It is clear that the people of Marthanda Varma era considered Marthanda Varma as the seed of Tripapur dynasty.
King Marthanda Varma had given a copper plate (edict) to Anandapadmanabhan of Thachan Vilai, in Kannanoor in Kalkulam Takuk in recognition of his services to protect his life. In that copper plate (edict), King Marthanda Varma described Anandapadmanabhan as his relative (in Malayalam - Bandhu.). Thus, the people of that era considered Marthanda Varma as the seed of Tripapur, and Marthanda Varma, in turn, described Anandapadmanabhan as his relative. The present writer had seen the copper plate. King Marthanda Varma was the son of King Rama Varma's sister who was the Queen of Attingal. How could Marthanda Varma born at Attingal Palace be a relative of Anandapadmanabhan? The evidence shows that there was a Royal connection. In fact, the descendants of Anandapadmanabhan even now openly claim that they belong to the Trippapur Royal clan.
Further, King Marthanda Varma - in the copper plate- called Anandapadmanabhan a Brammakula Shathriyan. This shows that the descendants of Anandapadmanabhan at Thachan vilai must be Brammakula Shathriyans.
There exists a belief that the first house that appeared in Vellicode belonged to a Brammakula Shathriyan.
The land documents until 1949 mentioned Vellicode as Vellicode Pandarakkattu Vilai presumably because Brammakula Shathriyans belonged to the Royal clan. It must be noted that Pandarakkattu Vilai was exempt from land tax until recently.
It must be noted that the bloodline of Travancore Royal family has not much meaning because of continuous adoptions and the Royal House moved to the present day Keralam mainly due to adoptions.
Further, Travancore Royal family (or Venadu Royal family) follows a strange system of succession. Accordingly, a king's son will not ascend to the throne. Instead, his sister's son will ascend to the throne. Such a system of succession is not in vogue in Thachan vilai or Vellicode.
However, if Anandapadmanabhan's family in Thachan vilai belongs to the Royal clan, there must be some truth in the statement of C.V. Raman Pillai.
For further reading visit: www.storyofananthapadmanabhan.blogspot.com and chapters 219 and 220 of www.howeverythinghappenedinindia.blogspot.com
