Mannar
Grama Panchayat

History of Grama Panchayat

The popular legend about Mannar goes like this. Emperor Mandhata of the Raghu dynasty, who lived in the Krita Yuga, performed 100 yagas (sacrificial rituals) for the welfare of his subjects. One of these rituals was conducted near the premises of the Thrikkuratti Temple. Since the place became famous due to this yaga, he named it Mandhatapuram. The local legend holds that over time, this name was corrupted into Mannar, which became widely accepted. It is even said that at the beginning of the Christian era, the Arabian Sea used to touch the sub-village of Mannar. Place names such as Kuratti (Kadalurutti), Thripperumthara (Thripperunthurai), and Chala (Chalai) serve as evidence for this. The soil structure and underground indicators of the region also support this view. Numerous millennium-old Shiva temples and Dravidian centers of worship can be found in this area.

In a deed scroll found in the Eerath Meecheri archives, it is noted that this region also had another name: Mannar Mangalam. It is said that the name Kuttamboor was derived from the corruption of Kroshthapuram (where the deity of Kuttamboor Kathyayani Devi is consecrated). The idol here, which is about two and a half feet tall, is reportedly not made of stone. It is believed to be crafted from a special mixture made by grinding darbha grass and sand together. The Sun God (Aditya Deva) was consecrated in the form of Vishnu at the Suryanarayana Temple, located just east of the Pattambalam. This is one of the rare sun temples in Kerala. The idol is sculpted from coral stone (Pavizhashila). The Thaliyil Vishnu Temple, the Vrishabhasserykkara (Vishavarsherikkara) Sree Subramanya Temple, and the Vishavarsherikkara Oorumadham Bhadrakali Temple are all said to hold significant historical elements in a similar manner.

Many of these temples are places of worship for people of various castes and religions. To the northeast of the Thrikkuratti Temple, members of the Muslim community offer worship. The legend behind this centers on an event where a Muslim merchant, returning from the Omalloor Vayalvanibham (agricultural fair), was miraculously saved from bandits. Among the Christian communities, St. Peter’s Church at Kuriyathukadavu in Pavukkara is the oldest. It is said to be the first Latin Catholic church established in Central Travancore by Vasco da Gama in 1498. Parumala Church is another Christian place of worship with a rich heritage. Among the Muslim places of worship, the Iramathoor Muhyuddin Mosque is the oldest. It is believed that this mosque was established by Malik Deenar and his entourage, who arrived in Kerala to propagate Islam. The family of Saifuddin Bahadur Vavar, belonging to the 13th generation of Vavar Swami, resides in this panchayat. Tamil Brahmin communities used to reside in large numbers in these temple villages.

Later on, this village came under the rule of the King of Kayamkulam. The king used to regularly visit the Thrikkuratti Temple on his birthday and other auspicious occasions. The Koikkal Palace, which is currently in ruins, was built by the king as a residence during those visits. The present-day Mannathara canal was once the waterway through which the king traveled to the palace from Mullasserikadavu in a rowboat (Thanduvacha Vallam).

Mannar Padanilam is the historic site where the famous battle between the King of Kayamkulam and Maharaja Marthanda Varma took place. Although both kings signed the cleverly negotiated Mannar Treaty in the Kollam Era 917 (1742 AD), Marthanda Varma subsequently defeated the King of Kayamkulam.

In 1923, a school was started with 21 students on the northern veranda of the Vechuryethu Madham. On Sunday, Makaram 14, 1088 (January 26, 1914), Sree Narayana Guru delivered a speech at the Vilayil family temple. Following this, Swamiji stayed there for a week and engaged in social reform activities. The Village Union, the earliest form of the Grama Panchayat, was formed in 1940. Mannar was one of the four or five unions permitted in Travancore at that time. The Tahsildar served as the President of the Village Union. A cattle pound, which stood at the location where the current cultural center is situated, was the first public institution in the panchayat.