Izhathu Mannanars
Encyclopedia
Izhathu Mannanars was one of the Thiyya royal dynasties that ruled some parts of Malabar in present day Kannur
and Kasaragod
districts between the 6th and the 12th centuries. Mannanars (means kings or rulers) were title bestowed to this royal family, muthedathu Aramanakkal family. Eldest member of the family was called Vazhunnor. Chirakkal was headquarters of this dynasty. Female members were called Ammachiyaars. They were believed to follow Buddhism as their religion. This Family maintained their royal status (not Buddhist heritage) even after brahmanisation of Kerala
.
As per malabar manual these institutions were set up to give protection for a nampoothiri lady(driven out of the community for illicit relations with lower caste men).The baronial powers for mannanars was provided by Edavakkutty kulam(a nayar clan).As per F.Fawcett(in his book nambutiries),the chirackal raja gave lot of land to a theeyan near taliparamba,on condition that he will protect the excommunicated Brahmin woman if they choose to go with him.
It was a custom in olden days that the the mannanar’s agent took the excommunicated woman to a two way road which leads to two different ways to enter the mannanar’s house. If the lady chooses the eastern gate, she becomes mannanar’s wife and if she chooses the northern gate she is adopted as mannanar’s sister.
Kannur
Kannur , also known as Cannanore, is a city in Kannur district in the Indian state of Kerala. It is the administrative headquarters of the District of Kannur and 518km north of state capital Trivandrum. During British rule in India, Kannur was known by its old name Cannanore, which is still in...
and Kasaragod
Kasaragod district
Kasaragod District is one of the districts of the Indian state of Kerala. Kasaragod District was organised as a separate district on 24 May 1984...
districts between the 6th and the 12th centuries. Mannanars (means kings or rulers) were title bestowed to this royal family, muthedathu Aramanakkal family. Eldest member of the family was called Vazhunnor. Chirakkal was headquarters of this dynasty. Female members were called Ammachiyaars. They were believed to follow Buddhism as their religion. This Family maintained their royal status (not Buddhist heritage) even after brahmanisation of Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
.
As per malabar manual these institutions were set up to give protection for a nampoothiri lady(driven out of the community for illicit relations with lower caste men).The baronial powers for mannanars was provided by Edavakkutty kulam(a nayar clan).As per F.Fawcett(in his book nambutiries),the chirackal raja gave lot of land to a theeyan near taliparamba,on condition that he will protect the excommunicated Brahmin woman if they choose to go with him.
It was a custom in olden days that the the mannanar’s agent took the excommunicated woman to a two way road which leads to two different ways to enter the mannanar’s house. If the lady chooses the eastern gate, she becomes mannanar’s wife and if she chooses the northern gate she is adopted as mannanar’s sister.