SANKARAMANGALAM FAMILY HISTORY
(Abridged free translation by C. John Mathew ,Sankaramangalam).
Introduction
It is a generally approved fact that St. Thomas, the Apostle came to India and was martyred near Chennai (Madras) at a place known as St. Thomas Mount. Apostle Thomas was also called the Apostle to India. St. Thomas landed at the ancient port city of Kerala known as Musseris (Present Kodungallur or Crangannur) and preached the gospel, as a result of which four prominent Brahmin families – Sankarapuri, Pakalomattom, Kally and Kaliankave, of Palayoor, Kodungallur adopted Christianity and were baptized by St. Thomas. As years passed by, the descendants of these four families migrated to different parts of Kerala. Sankaramangalam family migrated to the Central Travancore is one of the several branches of Sankarapuri Family. (The different branches of Sankarapuri and their places of residence are shown in the appendix of our ‘Kudumba Charithram’)
Conversion of Four Brahmin Families of Palayoor,
Kodungalloor A.D 52 – A.D. 156
The ancient seven Churches at Palayoor, Kodungalloor, Paravoor, Niranam, Kollam, Chayal and Kokkamangalam still stand as permanent monuments to the ardent missionary work of St. Thomas in Kerala of which palayoor was the first one.
St.Thomas who landed at Kodungalloor in A.D 52 went to Palayoor, a village 50 miles (about 80 k.m.) North of Kodungalloor. There he found a group of Brahmin priests standing in the Temple Pond and performing a drink offering (libation) to propitiate their God. This offering was by chanting prayers (mantras) and taking water from the pond with their hands and throwing it up. Considering it an appropriate moment to introduce the gospel, St. Thomas stopped there and told the Brahmin priests that if their Gods accepted the offering, the thrown up water would not fall down. If not, they were not real gods. But the omnipotent God whom he worshipped would accept his offering. The pariests accepted this as a challenge and said they would accept his god if he would do what the apostle said. So St. Thomas got down to the pond, prayed and dipped his hand in the water, tool handful of water and threw it up. To the great astonishment of the Brahmin Priests, the thrown up water did not fall down, but disappeared in the air. Some of the priests immediately got enlightened and adopted Christianity. They were the Brahmin priests of Sankarapuri, Pakalomattom, Kally and Kaliankave families. Of them the first was Mahadevan Nampoothiri of Sankarapuri.
These Brahmins invited ST. Thomas, to their houses, honored him and studied the gospel. They believed in the salvation through Jesus Christ and St. Thomas baptized them. They built the Palayoor Church. Mahadevan Nampoothiri was named ‘Thoma’ after the name of the Apostle. Thereafter the Brahmin families of Kadappoor and Arackal and the Royal family of Villiaravottom also become Christians and were baptized by St.Thomas. Subsequently the large number of Jews residing at and around Kodungalloor and Arackal and the Royal family of Volliaravattom also become Christians. The Kodungalloor Raja, his daughter and her husband, the crown prince, also were baptized by St. Thomas. The King was named Andrews and the crown prince was named Cephas. This Cephas was the first Malaya lee Priest and successor of ST. Thomas in Malankara. This Cephas was the son of Sankarapuri Mhadevan’s brother
Journey of our forefathers from Palayoor and
Establishment of Marthamariam Church at
Kuravilangad (A.D.157 to A.D. 1665)
Samurin of Kkozhikode was engaged in constant war with neighboring kingdoms. Maravders from Pandia area were a threat to the people. So the youngsters practiced martial arts to protect theselves from these marauders. The peace – loving Christians of Sankarapuri Palalomattom, Kalli and Kaliankave families left Palayoor around A.D. 157 and traveled south in search of safer places to live in. They came to Angamaly. Mangattu Kaimal, the rule of Angamaly and Raja of Edappally were in friendly terms and so our forefathers settled there for about one and a half centuries. They greatly helped the Angamali Ruler and the Edappally Raja in their wars against Kozhikode Samurin ( Samuthiri) and in consideration of their faithful services, the Raja bestowed great honors on them and granted special privileges to them.
However, this golden period did not last long. Due to the religious persecutions from the Hindus, out forefathers left Angamaly and Edappally and reached
Ettumanoor via Kadumthuruthy around A.D. 305. Ettumanoor Devaswam Authorities permitted them to live at the northern side of Kalikave Temple which was situateds about 5 miles (about 8 k.m.) north of Ettumanoor. They used their own homes for worship.
By God’s Grace by A.D 337 they purchased land and constructed a Church at Kuravilangad. Over the years, timely renovations were carried out to its present from. This is the Marthhamariam Church at Kuravilangad.
As the Church was founded at Kuravilangad, the four families Sankarapuri, Pakalomattom, and Kalli. Kaliankavu and also Kadappur families shifted their residence to houses built near the Church. Palalomattom and Kalli lived at the northern side and Sankarapuri, Kalinkavu and Kadappur lived at the southern side of the Church. So Pakalomattom was known as Vadakkedam (of the north side) and Sankarapuri as Thekkedom (of the south side).
The history of our family is very closely connected with the history of the Christian Church in India. After St. Thomas founded the Church in A.D 52, the infant church that took root in Kerala had registered a tremendous growth in various parts of South India. But following the martyrdom of postal St. Thomas, the growth, development and Mission of the Church were slowed down until a missionary from Alexandria, Pantaneos by name, visited Kerala in A.D. 189. The Church in Indian was known as Syrian Church.
A new age dawned in the history of the Syrian Church with the arrival of Vasco da Gama in A.D 1498. From that time onwards many Portuguese people came to India for trade. Slowly they began to wield economic and political power in the country. As the Portugese community grew in numbers, they had also some progenitors of Roman Catholicism. Their sole idea was to bring the Syrian Church under the ecclesiastical supremacy of the Roman Catholicism. With this in view Alexis de Menezes, the then Archbishop of Goa, and convened asynod at Diamper in 1599 and coerced the Syrian Church to accept the Roman doctrines and practices. The church had to continue in the newly introduced faith for over five decades. Our forefathers opposed this Roman intrusion and decided to free the Syrian Church from the Roman supremacy. In 1653 the Church shook off the ecclesiastical slavery and asserted Mattanchery called the “Koonan Kurisu Oath”. This split resulted in the division of the Church, viz. The Syrian Church and the Roman Church.
Twelve priests of the Syrian Church consecrated Mar Thoma I as the Metropolitan of the Malankara Syrian Church; and in Ad 1665 this consecration was duly confirmed by H.G Mar Gregorios, the representative of the Patriarch of Jerusalem.
N. B. Before the spilt in the Church the administration was carried out by the Arch Deacons of Palalomattom family. Rev. Chandy of the Pakalomattom family who adopted the Roman Rites was consecrated as Bishop Alexander de Campo and posted as Metropolitan of Malankara by Archbishop Meneziz against Mar Thoma I and tried to take over the Syrian Churches in Malankara which caused enmity between the two factions.
The Journey of our Forefathers from Kuravilangad to
Kallooppara A.D. 1666 to 1672
Our forefather Kunjummen Kuruvilla of Sakarakpuri was an affluent person living happily at Kuravilangad with his wife and two sons. He was a member of the administrative Council of the Mathamariam Church, Kuravilangad. He was a warrior proficient in several martial arts and was a teacher. He had served in the armies of the king of Edappally and the King of Vadakkumkoor. His sons also were proficient in the material arts.
In order to forcefully takeover the church and conduct a marriage ceremony according to the Roman Rites, a foreign priest under Archbisop Menzis came to Kuravilangad in A.D. 1666, with the backing of Kochi Raja and the assistance of Portuguese Army. Our ancestors opposed this and in the skirmish that followed a lot of people from both sides were killed. Our forefather Kunjummen Kuruvilla of Sankarapuri was one among those who laid down their lives for the upholding of their faith. Fearing retribution from the Kochi Raja and the Portuguese army, may members of Sankarapuri Palalomattom, Kalli and Kaliankavu families fled from Kuravilangad to other safer areas of Kerala.
Sankarapuri Kunjummen Kruvilla’s wife and her two sons – Kunjummen aged 20 and Kurvilla aged 18 – approached Edappally Raja and sought refuge. He sent them with a letter to Tharayil Kurup, collector of Kallooppara, which was the farthermost bordser of Edapplly Kingdom. After a hazardous journey, they arrived at Kvungumprayar and presented the Raja’s letter to Tharayil Kurup. Obeying Raja’s instructions, Kurup gave them proper houses and other facilities to live there. As the two brothers were proficient in material arts, Edappally Raja appointed them masters to start “Kalari” (fencing school), in and around Kallooppara to train youngsters in warfare. Also they were appointed special bodyguards of the Raja on his visits to kallooppara and trained more than 300 youngsters. The Raja was very pleased with them and gave several presents etc. The people also respected them. By and by they became rich and popular to the extent that Tharayil Kurup become jealous of them and decided to kill them. In A.D. 1870 just 4 days before the visit of the Raja to attend the “KUMBAHA BHARANI “ festival of Kallooppara Temple, Tharayil Kurup and his servants attacked the two brothers with a view to kill them and take over possession of their house and land. In the skirmish Kunjummen killed Tharayil Kurup and Kurup’s servents fled from the site. Fearing punishment from the Raja, the two brothers and their mother left Kavungumprayar that night itself with a view to reach the neighboring “ Thekkumkur Kingdom” . Due to server rain, lighting and thunder, they could reach only up to Eraviperoor. They went to the houses of the sister of Velloru Kurup and sought shelter for the night. Velloru Kurup was informed of their plight. He knew the wickedness of Tharayil Kurup and so made arrangements for the safety of the fleeing family. On the festival day, when the King visited Kallooppara he heard all details and decreed that Sankarapuri brothers were not guilty. During the festival, the Raja asked Velloru Kurup to bring the two brothers with the band of students to exhibit the martial arts. To test their proficiency in Swords – play, as per Raja’s instruction, two stems of banana plants were placed there. Secretly in each one of them an iron rod and a copper rod were inserted. The brothers were asked to cut the stem with one blow of sword, without the stem falling down. They did it, and the Raja and all the onlookers were greatly amazed at their proficiency, and the Raja presented them his own sword, shield and umbrella, in appreciation of their Proficiency.( This sword and shield were till recently in the possession of Mr. Mammen Abraham, Sankaramangalam Theravada). More over the Raja presented them the fertile land of “Ganachukadu “(now known as Kanachukadu), free of tax. As the brothers were not happy to accept the land as a gift, they entreated the King to give the land on payment of its value. Accordingly the Raja permitted them to buy the land.
The two brothers, Kunjummen and Kuruvilla, constructed a house in the Ganachukad property they purchased, and lived there with their mother. They engaged themselves in extensive farming and trading in Agricultural products, and by and by achieved great prosperity. They were members of the governing body (Executive Committee) of Marthamariam Syrian Church of Kallooppara along with representatives of Aaruveedans Adangapurath Tharayil, Kallor, Cheruvloor, Peralummood and Mudiyil families and diligently and honesty worked for the Church in its various activities. The parishioners loved and respected them and extended full co- operation in all their Endeavour’s, which in later years have proved very useful when there arose some conflicts with some members of other communities around them.
From Kallooppara to Eraviperoor A.D. 1672.
As atonement for the death of Tharayil Kurup by his hands, Kunjummen, the elder of the two brothers accepted celibacy and remained a bachelor for life. Kuruvilla,
the younger brother married a girl from Cheruvellur (Cheruthara) family in 1672. Two sons Kuruvilla Kunju and Kunjummen and a daughter were born to this couple. The daughter was married to a person belonging to Mruthottathil family of Vennikulam. In A. D. 1696, Kuruvillakunju married a girl from Kalloor Mudiyil family. Their descendents are present – day Kanachkattu family members.
Sankaramangalam
In A.D. 1700 Kunjummen married a girl from Adangappurathu Tharayil family. Their descendents are the Sankaramangalam family members. Kujummen was a prominent member of the Edappally Raja’s council. Considering his meritorious service, the Raja bestowed upon him the title ‘Tharakan’ In our family history he is mentioned as Kunjummen Tharakan I
Kujummen Tharakan was so good a person that the Brahmins and other upper class Hindus of Eraviperoor wanted them to stay with them. So, an area called ‘Kulam’ belonging to the Elaydathy Potty was given as gift to Kunjmmen Tharakan. But he, like his father, was reluctant to accept that land as a free gift. Instead he paid local dialect known as ‘Chankaramkulam’ A four winged house (Nalukettu) and gate way (Padippura) were constructed at Sankaramangalam and from A.D. 1704 onwards Kunjummen and family lived there. Later on in compliance with the specific instructions of the Raja, The name was changed from Sankarakulam to Sankaramangalam. Part of that hose still remains at the Sankaramangalam Tharavadu and now belongs to Mr. Mammen Abraham, Sankaramangalam (Ref. 787 IX – I-now residing in U.S.A) The central portion of the Nalukettu is shown on the cover page of our family History Book (Kudumba Charitham – Malayalam and also of this abridged English Book.
Detailed geneology of the descendents of Kunjummen Tharakan I is given in the Family History Book published by Sankaramangalam Family Association. The Lord who went before His people in the wilderness by day in a pillar of cloud and by night in a pillar of fire and fed them with quail and manna from heaven and water out the rock and thus led them to the promised land has also led our forefathers., during their journey from Palayoor to Kuravilangad and from there to Eraviperoor, which we now gratefully remember.
God blessed Kunjummen Tharakan I with great prosperity and also with progeny. By God’s grace the descendents have now reached 12 th generations. At present our members belong to 6 generations, that is from 7 th to 12 th generations. At Eraviperoor itself, there are 192 residential houses and more than 675 family units are scattered in different parts of India, Far East, Middle East, Europe, Africa and America. Our present generations are second to none in the field of education, science, medicine, engineering, information technology, religion etc.
Our forefathers of the first five generations acquired immense land property at Eraviperoor and in the neighboring place at Vallamkulam, Kviyoor, Kallooppra and Nellimala and engaged in extensive cultivation.
In AD 1789 on the death of Rev. Varkey Tharakan (Varkey Tharakan Kathanar – 1735 -1789) the third son of Kunjummen Kuruvilla, the properties were duly divided among the descendents.
Our ancestors played major role in the growth and development of the social, economical and spiritual spheres of Eraviperoor. They were instrumental in starting Churches, Schools, Hospitals, and Co-Operative Societies etc. These various activities are very briefly mentioned in the genealogy of each generation
While we are proud of our glowing heritage we have to work harder for the general prosperity, welfare of all our family members and also of all other people living around us. Let us praise the Lord for His mercy, guidance and blessing s received from generation to generation and commit ourselves to His care and in His service so that we will be the lighted candles to our community.
(Abridged free translation by C. John Mathew, Sankaramangalam). |
