Poovathoor Family History in a Glance
The history of Christian Church of Malankara is an inseparable part of the history of four celebrated Brahmin families namely “Kally, Kaliankal, Sankarapuri and Pakalomattom.”
St. Thomas, the apostle arrived in Crangenore or Muziris in 52AD. As he travelled from there via Palayur (Trichur Dist), Kerala was at the zenith of ‘untouchability’. The native Brahmins restricted his movements.
However, with the power of the Holy Spirit he convinced them of the aim of his arrival and he introduced his intentions to them. He advised them to embrace the belief in the True God. The staunch Brahmins refused. Instead they insisted that he can move on from there only after paying homage to the idol they were worshipping. St. Thomas warned them that if he were to do it, the idol would burst within no time. The Brahmin authorities contested that if that was to happen they would be ready to believe the God whom St. Thomas believed. Accordingly, when St. Thomas bowed before the idol of Bhadrakali, whom the Brahmins worshipped, exploded into pieces. Many of the Brahmins who witnessed this incident embraced Christianity. Other miracles too have happened. Usually very early in the morning when the Brahmins take bath in the pond near the temple after chanting the mantras they used to throw water up into the air. St. Thomas is believed to have said to them that when they throw water up it returns immediately; if I am to do the same thing after praying to the God whom I believe, the water will not come back. Accordingly, when St. Thomas prayed and threw water it remained in the atmosphere. Moreover, the part from which the water is taken remained as a grave. By seeing such acts of power many of the Brahmins joined Christianity. Whoever showed readiness to join the new creed were baptised in the name of God and made members of the Church. Important among them were the members of the above mentioned four Brahmin Families. They established Churches there and they conducted prayers in accordance with Christian belief. The Brahmins who embraced Christianity could not stay in their native place and due to opposition they fled to the south from Palayur. In the last part of the third century they reached a place called Ettumanoor in Kottayam district and began to stay there after getting permission from the ruler there. Those people lived in the four corners of Mahadevar Temple. Mahadevar began to prosper day by day and they became rich landlords and leaders of that place. In a place called Kuravilangadu, where a spring had been discovered, a Church was constructed. That is the Church which we can see even now, the Church is dedicated to St. Mary. According to tradition prevalent in Kuravilangadu the church was founded in 337AD.
By the 13 century a superstition spread in Kerala that if a thing became impure by “theendal and thodeel” (pollution by touch) it can be purified by a touch of ‘Nazrani’ Christians. Hence all royal families and Brahmin families took a Christian family from Pakalomattom roots and accommodated them near their houses. All important towns had Christian presence in this way. During this time the Ruler of Aranmula requested the Ruler of Ettumanoor to grant permission to Pakalomattom Family, to offer their services to Aranmula Parthasarthi Temple. They were asked to live in a village by the name, Poovathoor. Even now the successors of those families are there. The members of the families namely Kayyalachakathu, Kavalayil, Mannakunnil, Kulanjikkombil and Pazhampally are the successors of those above mentioned families. Due to the mission activities of some CMS missionaries’ majority of the members of these families became believers of various Protestant Churches and are still living there.
However, the successors of the father who lived in the Mannakunnil family stood firmly in the old Syrian belief. The successors of this family became either priests or physicians or heroic leaders. They eventually became the advisors of the Kings of Aranmula.
After a while as per the request made by the King of Mampully, Chengannur, the king of Aranmula gave the services of one Varkey, the eldest son of one Chacko. He was asked to live in the eastern part of Chengannur Mahadevar Temple and was allowed to attach the name Poovathoor to his house. He was given 4 acres of land and 40 paras of paddy field by the Nampoothiri family there. In the fullness of time some of the members of this family received priesthood and this became a practice for this renowned family. Some of the members of this family gradually migrated to various place like Chengannur and Mavelikara and they received different professions of their like. The eldest male members of this family became a priest and he is known by two names: ‘Muniyachen’ and the Great Father. When he died his body was buried in the family compound itself in a cellar since the nearest church was far away in Niranam. In fact that cellar still exists. His memorial Eucharist is celebrated on August 31st of every year.
In Chengannur itself there are more than 35 families. Those members who migrated to Mavelikara became the members of Kallumpurathu branch of Poovathoor family. The members of branches like Thoppil, Poothiyoth and Poovathoor are staying in Chengannur itself. This ancient family again divided into ever so many branches and its members migrated to various place like Chengannur, Mavelikara, Kurethieadu, Bharanikkavu, Niranam, Pulikeezhu, Pathanapuram, Elamannoor, Ernakulam and Thiruvananthapuram for better prospects.
The establishment of Poovathoor Kudumbayogam has completed 100 long years. “All for Poovathoor a family and Poovathoor family is for all” is our motto and ideal. Members are actively participating in the activities of this Kudumbayogam in unity.
Currently there are more than 400 families and 900 members. This Kudumbayogam was registered in 1982 in the name of “Poovathoor Family Association” and a Kudumbayogam constitution also came into existence.
In 1966 a family history was released. Great men and women of this family have since passed away. We remember with respect and gratitude the memory of the Late H.G Thoma Mar Dionysius Metropolitan of Poovathoor Kallumpurathu family in Mavelikara.
For each and every ancient family there are certain special characteristics and talents and these should be developed by the members of the family itself for the betterment of our ancient family and our society.
The financial stability is an important part in our daily life. Each and every member of our family stills leads their life and keeps their family status and prestige by working hard.
In the case of education also the members are at the top level. Highly educated officials in public and private sectors are living in different parts of the world.
We revere the sacred legacy of our great men and women who sacrificed their precious lives for the enrichment of the Poovathoor family, regarded as a historic one in Central Travancore.
Written By Calvin Poovathur
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