Kingdom of Valluvanad

Valluvanad, also known by various transliterations such as Valluvanadu, Valluvanatu, Valluvanat, Walluvanad, and Walluvanatu, was alternatively referred to as the Arangottu Swaroopam (or Aarangottu Svarupam). The rulers of Valluvanad held the titles of Valluvakonathiri or Vellattiri, with variations such as Vellatiri, Velatra, and Velnatera. In official treatises with the Company, the state was recognized as the kingdom of Vellattiri, and the official title of the ruler was "Vallabha Raja". The Sanskrit name for the state was "Vallabhakshoni". The hereditary title of the ruler was Rajasekhara, sometimes written as Rayaran, Irayira Chekaran, or Irayiravar in medieval Malayalam. For instance, Rajasekhara, the ruler of Valluvanad, and his son, Vellan Kumaran, are mentioned in an inscription from Tiruvottiyur, while Rayaran Chathan, the udaiyavar (overlord) of Valluvanad, is noted in the Jewish Copper Plates from around 1000 CE. == Territorial extent ==

Headquarters The headquarters of Valluvanad was Angadipuram, a suburb of present day Perinthalmanna, which is renowned for the Thirumandhamkunnu Temple. The traditional guardian deity of the Valluvanad royal family was Thirumandhamkunnu Bhagavati, the presiding goddess of the temple. Geographical boundaries The geographical boundaries of medieval Valluvanad are difficult to determine from available sources, and they varied significantly over time. Traditionally, it has been described as the region between the knolls of the Pandalur Hills (which separate the old taluks of Eranad and Valluvanad, located east of the Malappuram and Manjeri area) and Ponnani on the Arabian Sea. It probably extended from the Bharathapuzha basin in the south to the Pandalur Hills in the north. To the west, it was bounded by the Arabian Sea at the port of Ponnani, and to the east, perhaps by the Attappadi Hills. In the 12th century, Valluvanad likely included parts of present-day Nilambur (the Nilambur-Wandoor-Kalikavu-Tuvvur area), Eranad (the Pandikkad-Manjeri-Malappuram areas), Tirur (the Tirunavaya-Athavanad-Kottakkal-Valanchery areas), and Ponnani Taluks, with the port of Ponnani serving as the primary access to the sea. During this period, a significant portion of the Chaliyar and Kadalundi River basins may have been under the rule of the Valluvakonathiri. At its maximum extent, the northern boundary likely reached Thrikkulam at Tirurangadi in Tirurangadi Taluk, while the southern border extended to Edathara near Palakkad. A large portion of the present-day Eranad region (Eranad and Kondotty Taluks) was originally part of the kingdom of Valluvanad before its conquest by the Zamorin of Calicut. It is believed that the Valluvakonathiri had also annexed a significant part of Nedunganad (the Pattambi-Ottapalam-Shoranur-Cherpulassery area), which had been under the rule of the Nedungathirippad. However, Nedunganad was likely incorporated into the Calicut kingdom during the 15th century CE. ==Political history==

Within the medieval Chera state Valluvanad was one of the constituent chiefdoms of the Chera kingdom in Kerala (until the 12th century CE). He commanded an entire contingent of Kerala military personnel under the Chola prince Rajaditya. An inscription at the Shiva temple in Thiruvotriyur (mid-10th century CE), describing the life of Vellan Kumaran, states that he, the son of Rajasekhara, chieftain of "Vallabha Rashtra" in Kerala, went to the Chola country after completing his education in his boyhood and became a loyal subordinate of prince Rajaditya. Another record from Gramam, South Arcot, mentions that he was born at "Nandikkarai Puttur" in Malai Nadu. He was probably one of the few Chola commanders to have survived the battle of Takkolam in 948/49 AD. The "Hundred" organization (the local militia) of Valluvanad was known as the "aru-nurruvar" (the Six Hundred). In another instance, Irayiravar, a Valluvanad chief, appears in three temple transaction-related inscriptions from Avattiputhur (present-day Avittathur near Kodungallur), highlighting his involvement in regulatory functions beyond the borders of his chiefdom. Valluvanad continued to assert its presence, and a ruler of Valluvanad is next mentioned as a witness in the Viraraghava Copper Plates dated to 1225 CE. In the subsequent period, the Brahmins of Sukapuram are known to have been supporters of the Valluvanad rulers. According to tradition, in his desperation to succeed at Tirunavaya, the Zamorin even sought divine intervention by propitiating the Tirumandhamkunnu Bhagavati (the goddess). Blood feud with the Zamorins In retaliation for major losses to the Zamorin of Calicut—most notably the seizure of the port of Ponnani and the sacred Tirunavaya—the Vellattiri began dispatching bands of suicide warriors, known as "Chavers", to ritually challenge and attempt to kill the Zamorin during the Mamankam festival. This commitment was a symbolic effort to reclaim their rightful authority over the ceremony. According to historians, "... the caver[s] of Valluvanatu died fighting to avenge the death or defeat of their master and died fighting regularly at Tirunavaya for a long period. It means that the caver[s] died fighting at Tirunavaya even after many generations. Thus it takes the form of blood feud ..." The Raja undertook to pay a sum of Rs. 38,410.20 to the Company within the year (the sum was later increased to Rs. 41,594.20). ==The royal family==

The guardian deity of the Valluvanad royal family was the Bhagavati or the presiding goddess of the Thirumandhamkunnu Temple. Another possible location for the ancestral home of the family is in the present-day Kuruva-Makkaraparamba area, as evidenced by the Arangottu Shiva Temple located there. Kuruva is situated near Mankada, where a Kovilakam of the Valluvanad royal family, known as Mankada Kovilakam, still exists. Family structure The ruling family of Valluvanad, which followed the traditional Nair matrilineal system, was divided into a senior and a junior lineage. The senior lineage was further divided into four branches or thavazhis: Aripra, Mankada, Kadannamanna, and Ayiranazhi. The junior lineage was known as the Vellodis. The five eldest sthanis (male designates) of the royal family, in order of seniority, were titled as follows: Valluvakkonathiri or Vellattiri (the eldest sthani and the ruler), Vellalpadu, Thacharalpadu, Edathralpadu, Kolathur Thampuran, and Padinjarekkara Thampuran. The Padinjarekkara Thampuran was nominated by the Vellattiri and held certain privileges and rights over landed property. The two senior-most female members (thampurattis) held the titles of Kulathur Thampuratti and Kadanna Mootha Thampuratti. In addition, the eldest female member of each kovilakam (palace) held her own rights and privileges. == Administration ==

The administrative officials of Valluvanad comprised various members of the local nobility. Karuvayoor Moosad served as the Brahmin chief minister, while Kunnathattil Madambil Nair, also known as the Mannarghat Nair, was the chieftain (desavazhi) responsible for overseeing the eastern boundary and the hilly regions of Valluvanad. Chondathil Mannadiar, also referred to as Puthumana Panicker, and Nair of Kavada were also part of the administrative system. In addition to these key figures, there were 14 notable dignitaries collectively known as swaroopis. This group comprised two Namboothiris, two members of the Valluvanad royal family, four Panickers, and several other individuals, including Elampulakkad Achan, Kulathur Warrier, Uppamkalathil Pisharody, Pathiramanna Vellodi, Parakkatt Nair, Kakkoott Nair, Mannarmala Nair, Kongad Nair, Naduvakkat Nair, and Cherukara Pisharody. ==Legacy==

in the erstwhile Malabar District Walluvanad Taluk After the annexation of northern Kerala, the Company administered the region as the "Malabar District". It was divided into several taluks, most of which closely followed the boundaries and names of the pre-modern states. As a result, the former Valluvanad became the Walluvanad Taluk. The taluk, which comprised 64 amsoms, was established in 1860–61. Its headquarters was located at Perinthalmanna, situated approximately three kilometers (1.9 miles) from the historic Angadipuram. This division consisted of 26 amsoms: • Kodur • Kuruva • Mangada • Pallipuram • Valambur • Karyavattam • Nenmini • Melattur • Vettattur • Kottapadam • Arakurissi • Tachambara • Arakkuparamba • Chettallur • Angadipuram • Perintalmanna • Pulakkattiri • Panga • Kolattur • Kuruvambalam • Pulamantol • Elankulam • Anamangad • Paral • Chembrasseri • Pandikkad 2. Walluvanad Walluvanad was a later acquisition by the Zamorin of Calicut from the Valluvanad Raja. This region included 7 amsoms: • Tuvvur • Tiruvalamkunnu • Tenkara • Kumaramputtur • Karimpula • Tachanattukara • Aliparamba 3. Nedunganad Nedunganad, the ancestral land of the Nedungadis, had been under the control of the Zamorin of Calicut for a considerable period of time. This division was made up of 27 amsoms: • Elambulasseri • Vellinali • Srikrishnapuram • Kadampalipuram • Kalladikod • Vadakkumpuram • Muttedattamadamba • Trikatiri • Chalavara • Cherppulllasseri • Naduvattam-Karalmanna • Kulukkalaur • Chundampetta • Vilayur • Pulasseri • Naduvattam • Mututala • Perumudiyur • Netirimangalam • Pallippuram • Kalladipatta • Vallapula • Kotakurissi • Eledattamadamba • Chunangad • Mulanyur • Perur 4. Kavalappara Kavalappara was a region ruled by local Nair chieftains, who maintained a nominal allegiance to both the Zamorin of Calicut and the Kingdom of Cochin. It included 6 amsoms: • Mundakodkurissi • Panamanna • Koonattara • Karakkad • Kulappalli • Mundamuka Walluvanad Taluk was one of the two taluks, along with Eranad Taluk, that were later added to form the Malappuram Revenue Division in the Malabar District. ==See also==