Avanur
Grama Panchayat

HISTORY AND HERITAGE OF AVANUR GRAMA PANCHAYAT

There are numerous places of worship in this Panchayat. The historic Velappaya Shiva Temple, Velappaya Church, Choolisseri Vishnu Temple, Kolangattukara Church, Varadiyam Church, Varadiyam Ayyappankavu Temple, Varadiyam Subrahmanya Swami Temple, Avanur Sreekanteswaram Temple, Avanur Sree Mahavishnu Temple, and Edakkulam Sree Subrahmanya Swami Temple are among the renowned places of worship in the region. Festivals and celebrations associated with these places of worship, reflecting the rich cultural heritage of the region, continue to be observed even today.

Komattil Achutha Menon, in his book Place Names of Kerala, has mentioned that Varadiyam was a place where the Virata kings lived and ruled their kingdom. According to local tradition, the place was once known as Viratapuram, which gradually evolved into the name Varadiyam. This tradition has also been documented by the renowned writer P. G. Pattambi in several of his works.

The Cochin State Prajamandalam was formed in 1941. Its first conference was held in the compound of the house of Pandiath Karappan at Varadiyam. With Nijalingappa as its president, the Prajamandalam joined the national freedom movement. This gave Avanur Panchayat, and particularly Varadiyam, an important political and social position in the region.

The Varadiyam School, which was established as an Lower Primary School in 1910 and is now functioning as a Government Upper Primary School, was the first educational institution in Avanur Panchayat.

Varadiyam attained a distinguished position in the history of the Cochin Kingdom through the marriage of Maharaja Rama Varma Thampuran of Cochin with Parukutty Amma of Ittyanath House at Varadiyam. This relationship also connected Varadiyam with the Punnathur royal family, who were prominent local rulers of the time, enabling them to participate in administrative affairs. The building known as Punnathur Madupad, which served as the residence of the Punnathur royal family, once existed here. The area is still known as Madappattuparambu.

For their worship, the Punnathur royal family used the Varadiyam Ayyappankavu, traditionally known as Varadiyam Poorna Pushkala Sametha Sastha.

The respected Manazhi Narayana Menon established the Varadiyam Service Cooperative Bank even before independence. The institution functioned under the name Azad Service Cooperative Society.

When the villages were first established, there was a village office known as the Kachcheripuram near the Kacheri Mango Tree, below the Varadiyam School compound. The village offices functioned from this building. The site is now attached to the Varadiyam School.

Apart from Ayyappankavu and the Subrahmanya Swami Temple, the Panchayat is home to St. Antony's Church, numerous family temples, and sacred groves dedicated to serpent worship.

According to local elders, the name Thangaloor is believed to have originated from the term 'Thengana Nelloor', referring to a place where coconut and paddy, symbols of prosperity and abundance, grew in plenty.

Clear historical evidence of Tipu's military expedition can be found within the Panchayat. There are remnants indicating that the traditional houses of the Nambis, who were scholars and learned families, were destroyed during the military campaign. Evidence of the destruction of temples associated with these traditional households and small forts can also be found in the area.

Among the prominent leaders who made significant contributions to the mainstream national movement, the name of Sri. C. Achutha Menon, former Chief Minister of Kerala, holds a special place in the history of Avanur Grama Panchayat. Born in the renowned Chelattu ancestral family of Avanur, Sri. Achutha Menon earned a lasting place in the hearts of the people of India through his exceptional character, distinguished personality, and an unblemished political legacy. In his well-known autobiography, he also describes his personal associations with Sri. Chelattu Gopala Menon and others from Avanur.

Activities for the eradication of untouchability and the upliftment of the socially disadvantaged sections of society had begun in Avanur even before the freedom struggle. The respected Porukudinjathu Manakkal Narayanan Bhattathiripad, V. K. Raman Master, late Vavu, A. Kuttan Nair, and V. K. Prabhakaran were among the former Presidents of Avanur Grama Panchayat.

Avanur Grama Panchayat comprises four villages—Avanur, Choolisseri, Velappaya, and Thangaloor—and covers an area of 18.25 square kilometres. Geographically, the Panchayat is an elongated region. It is approximately 10 kilometres from Kolangattukara in the southern part of the Panchayat to Thangaloor at its northernmost end.

A large majority of the people depend on agriculture for their livelihood. Paddy, coconut, arecanut, banana, tapioca, pepper, pineapple, and other crops are cultivated extensively.

Based on a survey of the Panchayat, the geographical features of the area can broadly be classified into six regions. The highest areas in the Panchayat include Mayiladumkunnu in Ward 2 and the hilly areas of Thangaloor.

Based on the terrain, laterite, red soil, and gravel are commonly found in the upper layers of the land. Red soil is predominant in many areas. Fertile alluvial soil and clay soil can also be found, particularly in the paddy fields.

Paddy cultivation was traditionally the principal occupation, and in earlier times three crops of paddy were successfully cultivated each year. For many generations, the majority of families in Avanur Grama Panchayat depended primarily on agriculture for their livelihood. The region continues to reflect the traditional agricultural heritage of Kerala that has evolved over centuries.

Paddy, arecanut, cashew, banana, tapioca, pepper, pulses, pineapple, and other crops are among the major agricultural products of the Panchayat. Traditional cultivation practices such as Virippu, Mundakan, and Puncha were followed in the paddy fields. Traditional ploughing methods using bullocks and buffaloes were also widely practiced.

Traditional methods of irrigation included Chakram Chavittal, Kayarukotta, Thula, and Kalathekk methods. These practices reflect the rich agricultural traditions and indigenous knowledge that were once an integral part of rural life in Avanur.