Status of the early history of Kerala and Kallarackal Kadavil Family or it root family Kallarackal
Before knowing the history of Kallarackal Kadavil Family, one must have an idea about the early history of Kerala and her history until Independence. Only on this historical background one has to approach to the history of this ancient, traditional and reputed Syrian Christian family in Kerala. Kallarackal, in the Pallippuram Desom is the root family of Kallarackal Kadavil. There is a limited information available, about the ancient period of Kerala history. This is because, there is hardly any written record left from the time, nor is there enough evidence to prove them. If it is, the case of a country or a state, then what will be the case of a family's history. Just like the origin and early periods of Kallarackal Family, there are many myths and speculations about the creation of Kerala and its early periods, during 4000 BC. According to Hindu mythology, Kerala was created by Parasuram , one of the avatars (incarnation) of Maha Vishnu. Geologists believe that Kerala was formed by some seismic activity, gradually or suddenly. Based on the available details, the history of Kerala can be conveniently divided into various periods.
Ancient Period
(1) (4000 BC - 200 BC)
Ancient Period refers to the time before the Christian era. As mentioned earlier history of Kerala can be traced back to 4000 BC, when Proto Australoid and Negrito race inhabited the land. Microlithic artifacts dating back to 4000 BC have been recovered from near Calicut. Megalithic monuments like various kinds of burial stones and urns and some man-made underground chambers have also been found. By around 3000 BC Kerala had trade relation with Sindhu Valley Civilization and its spices and commodities like sandalwood, ivory, teakwood etc. were exported to many countries of the west. Kerala held a considerable position in the commercial map of the ancient world. It is believed that the peacocks, monkeys, ivory and spices, which King Solomon (967 BC) received (mentioned in the Old Testament, Book of Malachim 1 - Kings 1), were imported from Kerala. It was by 700 BC that the Dravidians migrated to south India from the Mediterranean region. The Aryans (Indo-Iranians), who brought Buddhism, Jainism and Hinduism along with them, entered Kerala from north India by 300 BC From 270 BC to 240 BC saw the spread of Buddhism in Kerala. The oldest record about Kerala is found in one of the rock edict by Mauryan Emperor Asoka (269 BC -232 BC), who cited four independent territories in south of his empire and Kerala was one of them. He recorded Kerala as Keralaputra. The other three were Satiyaputras, the Kingdom of Cholas and the Kingdom of Pandyas.
(2) 300 BC to the middle of the 700 AD
This period is called the Sangham Period which is spanning from 300 BC to the middle of the 700 AD. Sanghams were assemblies or groups of poets and scholars centered in the city of Madurai, which were in existence in various parts in the territories of the present-day Indian states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, parts of Andhra Pradesh, parts of Karnataka and northern Sri Lanka. During the period between 350 BC to 200 AD Tamilakam was ruled by the three Tamil dynasties of Pandya,Chola and Chera. The aim of these Sanghams was to encourage poetic arts. Three Sanghams are known to have existed during the period. Heppalus, a Roman-Greek sailor reached Musiris (Kodungalloore) in AD 45 and this enabled direct trade with Roman empire. The distance of sea voyages were reduced by the discovery of new routes. Many mariners like Heppalus, Panthenus, Huan Tsang, Cosmos Indicopleustes etc., landed at the coasts of Kerala during this period.
By around 50 AD - 125 AD, the Chera kings captured parts of northern Kerala. During this Chera period also, Kerala had strong trade with the West. During the Chera period in AD 52 St. Thomas reached Kerala and Christianity began to flourish. St. Thomas landed at Kodungalloor (Muziris). Tradition holds that St. Thomas founded seven churches in Kerala; at Kodungalloor, Niranam, Kollam, Chayal, Kottakkavu, Kokkamangalam and Palayoor. While the apostolic services in Kokkamangalam area, it is traditionally believed that our forefather and his family were converted to Christianity from the ancient, traditional and reputed Nambuthiri family named Kallarackal in the Pallippuram Desom; by St. Thomas the Apostle of Jesus Christ during the period AD 52. Even before the Christian era, there were Jewish colonies in South India especially in many parts of Kerala. There were Jewish settlements in Alappuzha and Cherthala at that time and it is a coincidence that the above said seven churches are situated in or near these colonies. After preaching and establishing Christian communities in different parts of India, St. Thomas suffered martyrdom at Mylapur in 72 AD With the demolition of Jerusalem church in 70 AD (40 years after the death of Jesus Christ) by the Romans, the Jews fled from Israel and some of them reached Kerala.
As per the book Keralolpathy, the period up to 216 AD is known as Parasurama period and the period 216 AD to 428 AD is known as age of Perumals. The Brahmin families which migrated to Kerala, from 2nd century, were settled to 64 villages. During the apostolic mission of St. Thomas there were a number of Nambuthiri or Brahmin families settled in Kokkamanglam desom including Pallippuram. In Pallippuram majority of the family were settled in and around the 'Airanikkulam' (now known as 'Kalathil') temple. It was a Hindus', especially Brahmins', strong hold at that time as it is now. Knanaya Catholics of Syro-Malabar Church claim their origin to Thomas of Cana and the 72 families that migrated to Kerala in 345 AD from the land of Syria. The Christian community in Kerala were well established and integrated in the fabric of the society at large. In the early centuries their main occupations are believed to have been military services to the local kings, trade or agriculture. As a Church that existed outside the Roman Empire, the Church of the St. Thomas Christians had little contact with the Roman or the other Churches within the Empire. At the same time it maintained communion with the Church of Rome through the Church in the Persian Empire, which later came to be known as the East Syrian or Chaldean or Babylonian Church. It is believed that Christianity in Persian Empire was introduced by the disciples of St. Thomas. It seems that the Christians in India had contact with these Christians of the Persian Empire from very early times. Given the commercial relations of India of those days such a contact was easily made possible.
In 644 AD, Malikben Dinar reached Kerala and he constructed Mosques and propagated Islam here. Cheran Chenguttuvan (125 AD to 180 AD) was one of the famous rulers of this era.
(3) Middle of 700 AD to the early part of the 900 AD
This period is called Post-Sangham Period, ranging from the middle of 700 AD to the early part of the 900 AD. This was the period when Buddhism began to decline. The main rulers of this period were Cheraman Perumal and Kulasekara Alwar. Both these kings later abdicated their thrones. Kulasekara Alwar later became a Vaishnavite poet and Cheraman Perumal accepted Islam and went to Mecca. While he was returning back from Mecca through the coast of Salalaha in Oman, he died and his body is buried there. His wife's body is also buried near to him. These two tombs are still preserved in Salalaha and many people are visiting and paying homage.
[My wife, daughters and I, have got a chance to visit this tomb when we visited Salalaha. I still feel the pride that I have experienced when I was standing by these tombs. With its memory wings my mind flown back to the past, to that glorified era, dating back to 2000 and odd years. The history I have studied in the middle school and that read in the books, regarding Kerala all came running rush to my mind. Those thoughts aroused me to a hallucinated mood and I felt that I was one among the subjects of that era and that I was standing near with a great historical personality.]
Adi Shankara (Sankaracharya, 788 AD - 820 AD) lived and propagated the Advaida philosophy during this period. Each king during the period was enthroned for a period of 12 years. After his term, a new king was selected following a festival or cultural event known as Mamankam. These types of events are unique to Kerala.
From early centuries (AD 345-50) the Church of St. Thomas Christians came into life-relation with the Christian communities that came to be known as East Syrian Church. This relationship made the St. Thomas Christians share the liturgical, spiritual and other ecclesiastical traditions with the East Syrian Church (therefore they are grouped under Chaldean Rite). For some unknown reasons at least from AD 800 until the end of the AD 1600 the Bishops of the Syro-Malabar Church were sent from the East Syrian Church, appointed by the Patriarch of the East Syrian Church.
(4) 800 AD to 2100 AD
The next period Kulasekara Periods, is the period of rule of the Kulasekara Kings. Kulasekara Empire lasted for about 3 centuries beginning from 800 AD. This period is also known as the Period of Second Chera empire. These kings were known after their family name as Kulasekaras. Kolla Varsha or the Quilon Calendar (Malayalam Calendar system) was introduced during this period. It came into existence on the 25th of July, 825 AD Quilon city was reconstructed by Maruvan Sabareso. The Pandyas retreated from Kerala occupation. Sthanu Ravi Varma, Bhaskara Ravi I, Bhaskara Ravi II were main rulers of this period. Between AD 1000 and 1019, Raja Raja Chola and Rajendra Chola attacked Kerala. Rajendra Chola seized Vizhinjam. In 1070 AD Kerala was liberated from Chola control.
(5) Period of the Provincial rulers
Frequent wars with the Chola and Pandya kingdoms weakened the Chera Empire and finally lead to their breakdown on 1070 AD. With the breakdown of Chera Empire the next phase of Kerala history began. This was the period of the provincial rulers or nattu- rajakkanmar. Provincial rulers were those who took control of a small province rather than a large empire. These provinces were once part of the Chera Empire. The provincial rulers were confined to small areas but they frequently fought each other for domination. The kings of Venad and Kochi and Zamorins of Kozhikode were the prominent rulers.
European Arrival in Kerala
(6) 1498 AD - 1604 AD)
During this period the St. Thomas Christians in Kerala lost their identity as an independent church. It came under the control of Portuguese. The Portuguese period. Arrival of the Europeans marked the beginning of another era in the history of Kerala. In 1498 AD, Vasco da Gama a Portuguese reached Kappad, near Kozhikode. This was followed by the arrival of a number of Europeans. Though the main aim of their visit was trade and discovery of a shorter sea route to the Malabar Coast, the prevailing political instability paved way for their entry into the administration. Making use of the rivalry between the provincial rulers, they started by providing military assistance to one ruler against the other. By and by, their influence increased to such an extent that they began running the administration with the rulers acting as puppets in their hands. Wars and skirmishes still continued between various native rulers and this provided the Europeans more and more opportunities to interfere into the administration. The Portuguese were the first Europeans to establish a stronghold in Kerala. This was later followed by the Dutch and the British. A number of battles were fought between the provincial rulers against each other and against the Portuguese.
With regard to St. Thomas Christians the arrival of the Portuguese explorer, Vasco De Gama to Calicut on the Kerala Coast in 1498 AD, a Latin connection began to take shape. In 1524 AD Vasco da Gama was appointed the Portuguese Viceroy of Kerala. Kochi and Kozhikode were the main provinces of the time. Zamorins, the rulers of Kozhikode, fought a number of battles against the Portuguese. The Portuguese were happy to discover the St.Thomas Christians on the West coast of India in the midst of Hindus and Muslims. But they very soon noticed the differences in liturgy and the connection to East-Syrian Church; they alleged that St.Thomas Christians believed in the Nestorian Heresy as they accepted Bishops from the East Syrian Church which officially had adopted Nestorianism. As they were living at a time soon after the council of Trent in which decision was taken to deal toughly with heretics, they were all out to "reduce the Syro-Malabarians to the Roman obedience." There were also the commercial interests of the Portuguese behind the appointment of Latin Bishops to rule the Syro-Malabarians. As the last Bishop appointed by the East Syrian Patriarch died in AD 1597 the Portuguese tightened their hold on the Syro-Malabarians and never permitted any more East Syrian Bishops to enter Malabar.
The Synod of Diamper (Udayamperur) in AD 1599 convened by the Latin Archbishop Menezes of Goa thus brought an end to the connection between St.Thomas Christians and East-Syrian Church; it converted ST. Thomas Christians into a branch of the Latin Church and under Padroado, the colonial power of the Portuguese, making its people accept many customs with which they were not familiar.
(7) 1592 AD - 1747 AD
Period of The Dutch and The French. Following the Portuguese, the Dutch reached Kerala. They began by the establishment of the Dutch East India Company in the year 1592 AD. In 1604 AD, the Dutch army arrived at the Malabar Coast. They entered the arena of Kerala politics by making use of the rivalry between Kochi and Kozhikode. Their arrival marked the beginning of another phase of European domination. The Portuguese slowly began to lose control over to the Dutch. Dutch established their base at various parts of Kerala and made a number of treaties with local rulers. These treaties bestowed them with more powers.
The Syro-Malabarians had never accepted Nestorianism even though they had contact with the East Syrians and they were not at all involved in any of the Christological controversies. On the contrary, whenever they got a chance they reiterated their allegiance to the Pope and their communion with the Church of Rome. In any case, the rule of the Latin Bishops was never accepted by the Syro-Malabarians and the climax of their protest was what is known in the history as Coonan Cross Oath in AD 1653. After the Coonan Cross Oath, Rome began to take an active interest in the Kerala Christians Pope Alexander VII sent some Italian Carmelite Vicar Apostolic to Malabar in AD 1656, and the Portuguese jurisdiction to the Propaganda Congregation was introduced in Malabar by AD 1661. Thus St. Thomas Christians were placed under dual jurisdiction, under Padroado and Propaganda Congregation which was of concern to Rome. This continued until the 18th century.
During AD 1640-1690 one Chacko in the Kallarackal Family, lived in Pallippuram desom near the 'Airanikkulam' ('Kalathil') temple. He was a big landlord and he owned large extent of properties in and around Pallippuram desom and he had 6 sons. One of his son Vareeth (AD 1674-749) moved and settled at a purayidom in the vallakadavu of the Kallarackal Family during AD 1700. Since Vareeth has settled down at a purayidom in the kayal (vembanad lake) kadavil he and his family were late came to be known as Kallarackal Kadavil. Hence Vareeth established the Kallarackal Kadavil Family he is the 1st generation of this family. During the same period his another brother moved to Mulamthuruthy and established his family there. It is later came to be known as Pallipram Kallarackal which the mother house of Parumala Thirumeni. The 2nd generation Chacko, Kallarackal Kadavil Family lived in A.D. 1717-795.
The Dutch supremacy lasted only for a short period before the British entry into Kerala. In 1725 AD, the French established their base at Mahe. But unlike in the African continent, they were unable to make a move in on. Even while the Europeans emerged as great powers, war continued between the provinces. Marthanda Varma (1706 AD- 1761 AD), the ruler of Travancore, was one of the strongest rulers of the time. The 3rd Generation, Varkey who married Cicily from Vayalattu-Vellayil, Kallarackal Kadavil Family lived in A.D. 1770-695.
(8) 1747 AD 1947 AD The British.
With the arrival of the British begins another chapter of Kerala history. Like any other Europeans, British also had great interest in Kerala. They too were attracted by the spices and other natural treasures of the land. British supremacy in Kerala started by the mid 17th century and lasted for the next 200 years until independence. Though a number of wars and revolts were made against them, the British were able to suppress them quickly. This was mainly because of the lack of unity among the provinces. Kochi and Travancore were the prominent kingdoms. The rule of the British saw many changes in the social and cultural life of Kerala. Slavery was slowly abolished. English missionaries played an important role in improving the living standard of the people. During this period a number of Educational institutions and hospitals were opened. Many railway lines, roads and bridges were constructed by the British. In a way, Kerala is indebted to the British for its modernization. This period also saw the emergence of a number of social reformation movements. Many reformers like Chattambi Swamikal, Sree Narayana Guru and Ayyankali played a vital role in the upliftment of the downtrodden and the emancipation of the women folks.
Fr. Joseph Kariattil and Fr. Thomas Paremmakkal, two priests from the Church of St.Thomas Christians, went to Rome for mending the situation. Fr. Kariattil was ordained Archbishop of all the St.Thomas Christians, who owed allegiance to Rome after the Coonan Cross Oath; but he is killed in Goa by the Portuguese, on his way to Kerala in AD 1786. In AD 1787, representatives from 84 churches assembled in Angamaly and drew up a document called Angamaly Padiyola which made a strong demand to Rome for native bishops, citing the sins of omission and commission of the foreign missionaries. The Holy See withdrawn the Padroado Sees of Cranganore and Cochin in AD 1838 and all the faithful of these suppressed sees were entrusted to the Vicar Apostolic of Malabar (under the Propaganda) who used to reside at Verapoly. The 4th generation Varkey (Varkey Varkey 1st ), Kallarackal Kadavil Family who married Anna, D/o. Kuruvila Uppupuram, Pallippuram (her brother Kuruvila Chandy Uppupuram settled at Painunkal Koottiparambil, Vaikom by way of adoption) lived in A.D. 1810-885. The 5th generation Varkey (Varkey Varkey 2nd - Pappy - Pappachan) Kallarackal Kadavil who married Thandamma, D/o. Tharian Pazhayakadavil, Vaikom lived during A.D. 1835-1905. He had 10 Children. Now their decendants the 11th gern
Freedom Struggle and Independence (1900 AD - 1947 AD)
Though there were a number of uprisings against the foreign rule right from the beginning, its intensity and frequency increased by the early 1900's. The early revolts and battles against the rule like the Pazhassi and Mappilai revolts were suppressed with iron fist by the British. The World Wars weakened the colonial powers and this gave a boost to the nationalist movements in the colonies. In India, nationalist movements gained momentum under the strong leadership of Mahatma Gandhi. These movements had their effect on Kerala as well. Kerala division of Indian National Congress was launched. The Khilafat Movement, organized under the leadership of Indian National Congress had a huge influence over the Muslim community of the Malabar region. Following the Khilafat Movement was the Malabar mutiny (in 1921).
The movement lasted for quite some time before it was suppressed. The lower castes were denied permission to use the temple roads. Against this started, the Vaikom Satyagraha in 1924. This was totally a social movement.
This movement was successfully ended by the intervention of Mahatma Gandhi in 1925. In 1930, British levied tax on salt and they imposed restrictions on production of salt. This aroused nationwide agitation. In Kerala, under the leadership of K. Kelappan, this law was defied and salt was produced. A number of big and small movements arouse until 1947, when finally the land was free from the clutches of colonialism.
On July 1, 1949, the princely states of Travancore and Cochin were integrated to form Travancore - Cochin (Thiru-Cochi) state. But it was on November 1, 1956, that Kerala as a state came into existence. This was by the consolidation of Malabar province, which was a part of the Madras Presidency and the Travancore - Cochin State.
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Kallarackal Kadavil Family, Pallippuram, Cherthala
| History of Syro-Malabar Christians (part 1) |