Kadayanickadu is a village situated 11 km east of Karukachal, spread on either sides of Changanacherry - Manimala road in Kerala, India. It is a typical Kerala rural settlement with the nature‘s green covering, ringing rivulets, small hills and slopes, agricultural fields, inhabited by rustic population. It is a Kara in Vellavoor revenue village in Changanacherry taluk, Kottayam district.
The nearest railway stations are Kottayam (32 km) and Changanacherry (28 km), and the nearest Airport is Cochin Airport ( Nedumbassery ) about 81 km away.
The name "Kadayanickadu"
The name Kadayanickadu is composed of three syllables, namely 'Kada,' 'Ani' and 'Kadu.' 'Kada' means the end or the last portion. 'Ani' means Mother Goddess Devi. 'Kadu' is jungle as also abode of Devi. Thus 'Anikadu' means a 'Kadu (or Kavu)' where Devi is installed. There is an ancient Devi temple here. The place Kadayanickadu lies in the middle-end of two Anikadus in the neighborhood - Anikadu north and Anikadu south with very famous Devi temples. 'Kada,' the middle-end of both the Anikadus became ‘Kadayanikadu,’ the abode of Mother Goddess. The whole Anikadu area would have been once a single unit.
It is also possible that the name is derived from ‘Ayini’ tree (also known as 'Anjili' - Artocarpus Hirsutus Lam), which was abundantly found and widely used in the construction of ancient houses in this area.
Another possibility is that the name coined from the word 'Katyayani,' (also Kathyayini), another name for goddess Durga in Sanskrit. Two ancient Devi temples of Kadayanickadu reinforce this conjecture.
History and Culture
There is no legendary evidence even to know when human habitation commenced here. It has got a hoary past. There are certain house/locality names like Vizhapadikal, Karimpanil, Kallikal, Murudenpalakal, the correct import of the words is not deducible in current Malayalam. These words would have been used in very old days. This throws light on the fact inhabitation started here hundreds of years back.
According to known history it was once part of Thekkumkoor kingdom, and was under the control of two Madampaies (Local lords as representatives of the king for the maintenance of low and order as also tax collection) Ranni Kartha and Agasthanathu Nair. There exists still a house by name Vakathanathu Thazhe. Ranni Kartha lived at Areekal, now near Sastha temple.
Thekkumkoor was conquered and annexed to Venad by Marthanda Varma towards the end of 18th century. The Madampaies were removed from the posts. The king of Venad brought his own loyal people from Ayroor. The family name was Chelampanethu.
A woman from the said family was brought in marriage to Madhavakottu family at Kangazha. The progeny of that women were made the landlords. The entire land from the precincts of Nedumkunnam to Chirakkadavu extending for about 20km was under their control.
This family was later divided in to three branches or Tharavadus. Kangazha area came under the control of Eranattu or Erattu and Kadayanickadu under Thayyil. A prominent Karnavar of Thayyil Tharavadu is remembered even today as Samprathipillai. Samprathi means a palace head clerk or Kottaram Kariyakar. This post ceased to exist with Monroe reforms, and this Karanavar would have lived at least 200 years back.
It was Samprathipillai who rebuilt the present Thayyil Tharavadu buildings. Architecturally the present Thayyil Tharavadu building is a Nelpura-Paddy house. The whole structure measuring 40 X 25 feet is made of wood with fireproof brick and lime mortar covering on the top. There is a vast underground Nilavara. The cells and inner cells are constructed in such away as to store paddy produced in the vast stretch of lands owned by the family. The capacity of the inside cells is said to be 36000 paras of paddy.
Even today, a major chunk of the land of Kadayanickadu is owned and inhabited by the members of Thayyil family and their relatives. The north eastern a part of Kadayanikadu is owned and inhabited by other Nair families from very old times. They are Kulathinkal, Mukkanolil, Vellachira and Pulinthara. Their ancestors were agriculturists who did the cultivation themselves. They had their own temple, and Sarpakavu which exists even today.
Another prominent sect is Ezhavas. They live in the north western corner areas. The legendary belief is that they are the progeny of a Namboothiri woman from elsewhere who married an Ezhava and settled here. The previously mentioned famous Devi temple is owned by them. It is believed that the idol installed there was the one used by the Namboothiri women for her personal worship. The Ezhavas of Kadayanickadu are of higher standards, rather Orthodox and are landowners. The main families are Vakanani, Konattu, Koyippuram and Puthanpurackal.
The other backward classes and castes like Ulaya, Pulayars, Paravans etc. are also living here as son’s of the soil for centuries. Their ancestors would have been agricultural labors
A few Christian families also live here from very old times. The earliest appears to be Ambalattumkal. In those days there was a belief that once a certain Hindu community (oil mongers) makes coconut oil, one Christian person has to touch that oil for purification. It is believed that Ambalattumkal family was brought and settled here for the purpose of “oil purification by touch.” The other Christian families are Sarpathummuri, Mathilakam, Poothiot & Thottiyil. Malayil family came from Vazhoor and settled here. Most of the Christians are engaged in commercial activities.
In Kadayanikadu complete interaction mutual respects, co operation exists between all the castes, creed & faiths. There are major temples, two for Devi and for Sastha.The Sasta temple is owned by NSS - Nair Service Society Karayogam, one Devi temple by SNDP - Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana and the other by Ayyappa Seva Sangham. St Marys church Kadayanickadu is a Syro Malabar Christian community church under Changanacherry Arch Diocese.
Snake worship prevailed here from very long times. The Sarpakavu at Vellachira, Kannankavu, Pulinthara and Palathu are owned by the respective families.
Nearby Places
Kadayanickadu is situated near Manimala town. It is about 15 km from the famous Kanjirappally town and Ponkunnam. Also, Kadayanickadu is just about 20 km from Erumely, which is an important destination for Lord Ayyappa devotees during 'Mandala' season, enroute to Sabarimala.
The nearest railway stations are Kottayam (32 km) and Changanacherry (28 km), and the nearest Airport is Cochin Airport ( Nedumbassery ) about 81 km away.
The name "Kadayanickadu"
The name Kadayanickadu is composed of three syllables, namely 'Kada,' 'Ani' and 'Kadu.' 'Kada' means the end or the last portion. 'Ani' means Mother Goddess Devi. 'Kadu' is jungle as also abode of Devi. Thus 'Anikadu' means a 'Kadu (or Kavu)' where Devi is installed. There is an ancient Devi temple here. The place Kadayanickadu lies in the middle-end of two Anikadus in the neighborhood - Anikadu north and Anikadu south with very famous Devi temples. 'Kada,' the middle-end of both the Anikadus became ‘Kadayanikadu,’ the abode of Mother Goddess. The whole Anikadu area would have been once a single unit.
It is also possible that the name is derived from ‘Ayini’ tree (also known as 'Anjili' - Artocarpus Hirsutus Lam), which was abundantly found and widely used in the construction of ancient houses in this area.
Another possibility is that the name coined from the word 'Katyayani,' (also Kathyayini), another name for goddess Durga in Sanskrit. Two ancient Devi temples of Kadayanickadu reinforce this conjecture.
History and Culture
There is no legendary evidence even to know when human habitation commenced here. It has got a hoary past. There are certain house/locality names like Vizhapadikal, Karimpanil, Kallikal, Murudenpalakal, the correct import of the words is not deducible in current Malayalam. These words would have been used in very old days. This throws light on the fact inhabitation started here hundreds of years back.
According to known history it was once part of Thekkumkoor kingdom, and was under the control of two Madampaies (Local lords as representatives of the king for the maintenance of low and order as also tax collection) Ranni Kartha and Agasthanathu Nair. There exists still a house by name Vakathanathu Thazhe. Ranni Kartha lived at Areekal, now near Sastha temple.
Thekkumkoor was conquered and annexed to Venad by Marthanda Varma towards the end of 18th century. The Madampaies were removed from the posts. The king of Venad brought his own loyal people from Ayroor. The family name was Chelampanethu.
A woman from the said family was brought in marriage to Madhavakottu family at Kangazha. The progeny of that women were made the landlords. The entire land from the precincts of Nedumkunnam to Chirakkadavu extending for about 20km was under their control.
This family was later divided in to three branches or Tharavadus. Kangazha area came under the control of Eranattu or Erattu and Kadayanickadu under Thayyil. A prominent Karnavar of Thayyil Tharavadu is remembered even today as Samprathipillai. Samprathi means a palace head clerk or Kottaram Kariyakar. This post ceased to exist with Monroe reforms, and this Karanavar would have lived at least 200 years back.
It was Samprathipillai who rebuilt the present Thayyil Tharavadu buildings. Architecturally the present Thayyil Tharavadu building is a Nelpura-Paddy house. The whole structure measuring 40 X 25 feet is made of wood with fireproof brick and lime mortar covering on the top. There is a vast underground Nilavara. The cells and inner cells are constructed in such away as to store paddy produced in the vast stretch of lands owned by the family. The capacity of the inside cells is said to be 36000 paras of paddy.
Even today, a major chunk of the land of Kadayanickadu is owned and inhabited by the members of Thayyil family and their relatives. The north eastern a part of Kadayanikadu is owned and inhabited by other Nair families from very old times. They are Kulathinkal, Mukkanolil, Vellachira and Pulinthara. Their ancestors were agriculturists who did the cultivation themselves. They had their own temple, and Sarpakavu which exists even today.
Another prominent sect is Ezhavas. They live in the north western corner areas. The legendary belief is that they are the progeny of a Namboothiri woman from elsewhere who married an Ezhava and settled here. The previously mentioned famous Devi temple is owned by them. It is believed that the idol installed there was the one used by the Namboothiri women for her personal worship. The Ezhavas of Kadayanickadu are of higher standards, rather Orthodox and are landowners. The main families are Vakanani, Konattu, Koyippuram and Puthanpurackal.
The other backward classes and castes like Ulaya, Pulayars, Paravans etc. are also living here as son’s of the soil for centuries. Their ancestors would have been agricultural labors
A few Christian families also live here from very old times. The earliest appears to be Ambalattumkal. In those days there was a belief that once a certain Hindu community (oil mongers) makes coconut oil, one Christian person has to touch that oil for purification. It is believed that Ambalattumkal family was brought and settled here for the purpose of “oil purification by touch.” The other Christian families are Sarpathummuri, Mathilakam, Poothiot & Thottiyil. Malayil family came from Vazhoor and settled here. Most of the Christians are engaged in commercial activities.
In Kadayanikadu complete interaction mutual respects, co operation exists between all the castes, creed & faiths. There are major temples, two for Devi and for Sastha.The Sasta temple is owned by NSS - Nair Service Society Karayogam, one Devi temple by SNDP - Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana and the other by Ayyappa Seva Sangham. St Marys church Kadayanickadu is a Syro Malabar Christian community church under Changanacherry Arch Diocese.
Snake worship prevailed here from very long times. The Sarpakavu at Vellachira, Kannankavu, Pulinthara and Palathu are owned by the respective families.
Nearby Places
Kadayanickadu is situated near Manimala town. It is about 15 km from the famous Kanjirappally town and Ponkunnam. Also, Kadayanickadu is just about 20 km from Erumely, which is an important destination for Lord Ayyappa devotees during 'Mandala' season, enroute to Sabarimala.
Sree Dharma Sastha Temple, Kadayanickadu
Photo Courtesy: Jinu Raj
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