History of Grama Panchayat
The legend of Thalayolaparambu is associated with the Karthyayani Temple at Thalayolaparambu, one of the ancient temples in Kerala. It is believed that until about 5 decades ago, there were many palm trees bearing palm leaves around the Karthyayani Temple, and therefore this land was called Thaliyolaparambu, which later evolved into Thalayolaparambu. In the early days, only the areas surrounding the temple were called Thalayolaparambu. The name Thalayolaparambu is also associated with the history of Venad. The ruler of Venad granted tax-free lands to the minister of Chazhi Illam as a reward for killing the King of Vadakkumkoor. It is said that the places written on the first palm leaf (Thalayola) were given the name Thalayolaparambu, while another belief is that it was called Thalayolaparambu because it was the land donated by Parasurama by writing it on the first palm leaf (Thalayola). Some others believe that the region was called Thalapparambu because it is situated at the northern end of Kuttanad, and that it later became Thalayolaparambu.
Turning the Pages of History
Kerala, which was ruled by the Perumals, was divided among his dependents by the last Perumal, and the Kingdom of Vadakkumkoor, which came under Vaikom Taluk, was one such territory. This royal dynasty had a unique feature not found in other royal dynasties. Whenever a king died, the succeeding king followed a practice of shifting the capital of the kingdom to another village. The capital of the Kingdom of Vadakkumkoor was located in different villages during the reign of each king. This may be why the remains of palaces can still be seen in the villages here. It is rare in Kerala to find a land that preserves so many legends in its own cultural memory. Among these, the most important is associated with the magnificent water festival called Attuvela at the Elamkavu Temple. A Vadakkumkoor king who was a devotee of Kodungalloor Bhagavathy prepared a chariot (Attuvela) as an offering to please Kodungallooramma and sent it to Kodungalloor through Vembanad Lake. Although the king and his community reached Kodungalloor, the Attuvela did not arrive. The Portuguese ships that were patrolling the Kochi backwaters mistook the Attuvela for a warship and took it away. To end the king's sorrow, the great magician Parekkattu Panicker of Chemmanathukara defeated them with his magical powers and brought the Attuvela to Kodungalloor. Later, Attuvela became a water festival celebrating and symbolizing the arrival of the goddess. Local place names also have many other interesting folk legends. It is believed that the river in the north became Vadayar, Chummakunnu became Ummakunnu, the place with the broken pond became Pottanchira, the land that became dark during the time of Karisayi became Karinila, the place where the Pandavas are believed to have kept their gold during their exile became Ponnirikkumpara, the place that was a sand dune became Manalkunnu, the place of Sastha who said “Vitaa Ee Kunnu” when he came to the hill after being thrown by Goddess Karthyayani became Midayikkunnu, Thalappathullappara became Thalappara, and the place where travellers used to eat packed meals became Pothiya. The famous Thalayolaparambu market was established in 1807 by Velu Thampi Dalawa. The Kuruntharappuzha is the river that flows through the heart of Thalayolaparambu, dividing it. There was a time when various types of boats used to travel along this river associated with the Thalayolaparambu market. Boats carrying market goods from the landing place south of the present Outpost and travelling to Alappuzha and Kochi were a common sight. The canal visible to the east, which continues to be the lifeline of the market, was dug during the period of K. R. Elankam, a minister in the cabinet of Pattom Thanu Pillai. In the last century, a slave market existed at Vadayar in Thalayolaparambu. The descendants of those who lived as slaves are still present in Thalayolaparambu. History bears witness to the fact that, along with the exchange of all agricultural goods, human beings were also treated as slaves and traded as commercial products. There are records that this continued here until Sethu Parvathi Bai Thampuratti abolished the slave trade. A system of exchanging goods for goods existed here. Even now, this form of trade is conducted every year on the first day of Karkidakam (Sankranti day) in the southern part of Vadayar Temple. After Vadakkumkoor became part of Travancore, there are many temples here, including Elamkavu Temple, Thirupuram Sreekrishna Swamy Temple, Mathanam Temple, Bhoothankeri Dharmasastha Temple, Ayyappan Kovil Temple, and Pundareekapuram Temple. The temple situated in a vast open ground was named Mathanam (Maidanam) Temple, and since the deity is conceived as Brahma, it was also named Mathanam Brahmapuram Temple. Experts say that the murals painted on the walls of Pundareekapuram Temple situated at Mithayikkunnu were created in the 16th century and the architectural structures date back to the 14th century. The Attuvela held every year on the day of Aswathi in the month of Meenam in the Muvattupuzha River near Vadayar Elamkavu Temple attracts thousands of people. The Thalayolaparambu Muhyiddin Mosque, the spiritual centre of the Muslim community, has a history spanning centuries. The inner mosque is extremely beautiful, with painted pillars proclaiming the grandeur of Kerala's architectural art and a ceiling decorated with artistic designs. The pond (Howl) for collecting water for ablution, attached to the outer mosque, which resembles the traditional Kerala Nalukettu, arouses great curiosity among visitors. A mosque has also been established at Mithayikkunnu, where Muslims live in large numbers. Madrasas for religious education of Muslims function at Thalayolaparambu, Palamkadavu, and Vettikkattumukku. The famous writer Vaikom Muhammad Basheer received his religious education at the Othupalli established years ago at Palamkadavu. More than thirty Catholic families lived near the market established at the direction of Velu Thampi Dalawa. The wayside cross erected for Catholics to conduct evening prayers every day later became a chapel and then, in 1895, it became a parish church. Since it is a church located near the market, it is also called Chantepally. The chapel of the Immaculate Mother is situated in the middle of the market. The Thalayolaparambu church, built based on Eastern and Western architectural styles, attracts pilgrims from various places.
Local Self Government
Thalayolaparambu Grama Panchayat
Thalayolaparambu Grama Panchayat is a Grama Panchayat in Vaikom Taluk of Kottayam District, under Kaduthuruthy Block, comprising Vadayar Village. 20.63 square kilometres in area, the boundaries of the Panchayat are Thalayazham, Kallara, and Kaduthuruthy Panchayats in the south, Mulakulam and Velloor Panchayats in the north, Mulakulam and Kaduthuruthy Panchayats in the east, and Maravanthuruthu, Velloor, and Udayanapuram Panchayats in the west. The prosperity of this village is attributed to the Muvattupuzha River. The hallmark of this village is its eventful history, which can be claimed by only a few villages in Kerala. The village has given the world distinguished literary, cultural, and political leaders. The world-renowned writer Vaikom Muhammad Basheer, A. J. John, who served as Speaker of the Travancore Legislative Assembly, Chief Minister of Thiru-Kochi, and Governor of Madras, and K. R. Narayanan, who made his mark as a Member of the Legislative Assembly, President of Thalayolaparambu Panchayat, and community leader, are the pride of this region. The market in Thalayolaparambu was established by Velu Thampi, who was the Dalawa of Travancore. Products from regions including the High Ranges, which were part of the old Kottayam Division, were transported to the commercial centres of Alappuzha and Kochi through the Thalayolaparambu market. The Pundareekapuram Temple, where history lies hidden like treasure, is part of the mural painting tradition that continues from the Ajanta murals. These epic paintings created using plant extracts have attracted even foreign tourists. This Panchayat has ten Hindu temples, three Christian parish churches, and two Muslim mosques. Ancient and modern architectural styles can be seen here. Thalayolaparambu has a unique water festival that is found nowhere else in Kerala. This is the Attuvela conducted every year on the day of Aswathi in the month of Meenam at Vadayar Elamkavu Temple. Attuvela is constructed in three tiers on large boats in the Muvattupuzha River. Accompanying the Attuvela are Garudan Thookkam performances arranged on platforms and electric light decorations arranged on boats. Many foreign tourists also come to witness the Attuvela.