Aksdw at 03:28, 1 January 2026

2026-01-01T03:28:26Z

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{{Short description|Ancient noble Ezhava family}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2019}}

'''Cheerappanchira''' is an ancient noble [[Ezhava]] family renowned for its [[Kalaripayattu|Kalari]] in [[Muhamma]], [[Alappuzha District]].
According to legend, [[Lord Ayyappan]] came here to learn Kalaripayattu. [[A. K. Gopalan]] married [[Susheela Gopalan]] from the cheerappanchira tharawad. [[C. K. Chandrappan]] also hails from this tharawad.
<ref>{{cite web | url=https://archive.org/stream/dli.bengal.10689.12786/10689.12786_djvu.txt | title=In the Cause of the People Reminiscences | date=1956 | publisher=Oriental Longman,C Alcutta }}</ref>

==Cheerappanchira family==
The Cheerappanchira family, according to their family history, originates from [[Kadathanadu]] and were known for their proficiency in [[Kalaripayattu]].{{source?|date=December 2023}} The headman of the family holds the title 'Panicker' and known as in the name of 'Cheerappanchira Panicker'.{{source?|date=December 2023}}

==Lord Ayyappan==
According to legend, Lord Ayyappan came to [[Muhamma]], [[Alappuzha District]] to learn Kalaripayattu. He was introduced by a person named 'Vellutha' as his close relative because the Cheerappanchira Panickers were less willing to train someone from outside their country. They were focused on training soldiers from their own kingdom. Ayyappan started his martial arts training in Cheerappanchira Kalari hiding his true identity as the Prince of Pandalam.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/magazine/2015/jan/24/in-memory-of-a-warrior-deity-709189.html|title = In Memory of a Warrior Deity| date=24 January 2015 }}</ref>

[[Maalikapurathamma]] was the daughter of Cheerappanchira Panikkar, who taught [[Kalaripayattu]] to Lord Ayyappa. Her real name was Lalithambika, also known as Poongodi. She used to train Ayyappan in Kalari when her father was not available. Eventually, Ayyappan and Pongodi both fell in love with each other, but they could not unite due to reasons that remain historically unclear, apart from legend and belief stories<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzLfTaqMCK8 | title=Maligapurathamma at Cheerappanchira | Ayyappa Charitham - Part 5 | website=[[YouTube]] | date=13 December 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mathrubhumi.com/spirituality/specials/sabarimala-2019/features/cheerappanchira-moolasthanam-malikappuram-1.4337851|title=ചീരപ്പന്‍ ചിറ മൂലസ്ഥാനം: മാളികപ്പുറത്തമ്മ പിറന്ന നാട്, സ്വാമി അയ്യപ്പന്റെ കളരി ഗൃഹം|access-date=1 May 2021|archive-date=1 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210501081226/https://www.mathrubhumi.com/spirituality/specials/sabarimala-2019/features/cheerappanchira-moolasthanam-malikappuram-1.4337851|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/magazine/2015/jan/24/in-memory-of-a-warrior-deity-709189.html|title = In Memory of a Warrior Deity| date=24 January 2015 }}</ref>

Ayyappan, before going to an imminent war with a bandit visited Cheerappanchira Kalari in order to gather enough soldiers from the Cheerappanchira Kalari, and to seek blessings from his Guru, Cheerappanchira Pancicker. At that time, Cheerappanchira Pancicker had gone to his 'moola-tharwad' (family origin) at [[Kadathanadu]] in [[Vadakara]]. Upon hearing this, Ayyappan left his body armor at Cheerappanchira as a message for him upon his return. This body armor of Lord Ayyappa is still preserved in Cheerappanchira.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mathrubhumi.com/spirituality/specials/sabarimala-2019/features/cheerappanchira-moolasthanam-malikappuram-1.4337851|title=ചീരപ്പന്‍ ചിറ മൂലസ്ഥാനം: മാളികപ്പുറത്തമ്മ പിറന്ന നാട്, സ്വാമി അയ്യപ്പന്റെ കളരി ഗൃഹം|access-date=1 May 2021|archive-date=1 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210501081226/https://www.mathrubhumi.com/spirituality/specials/sabarimala-2019/features/cheerappanchira-moolasthanam-malikappuram-1.4337851|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/magazine/2015/jan/24/in-memory-of-a-warrior-deity-709189.html|title = In Memory of a Warrior Deity| date=24 January 2015 }}</ref>

==Sabarimala and Mukkal Vettom temples==
[[File:After winning the case and gaining hereditary rights to conduct fireworks at Sabarimala, Ratnamma Panickathy from Cheerappanchira and her sons carried out their duties at Sabarimala.jpg|thumb|After winning the case and gaining hereditary rights to conduct fireworks at [[Sabarimala]], Ratnamma Panickathy from [[Cheerappanchira]] and her sons at [[Sabarimala]]. ]]
There is also a Mukkalvetti Ayyappa temple at Muhamma, devoted to Lord Ayyappa and rest in Sabarimala.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/magazine/2015/jan/24/in-memory-of-a-warrior-deity-709189.html|title = In Memory of a Warrior Deity| date=24 January 2015 }}</ref>

Mukkal Vettom Ayyappa Temple was built by the Cheerappanchira in the tharavadu because the elders of the family were not able to go for pilgrimage to Sabarimala.

The importance of the relation of these two ancient temples is evidenced by the ''Thirupattaya Charthu'' (the royal decree) of the [[Pandalam]] King, by which the right to conduct the fireworks offerings at Sabarimala was given to Cheerappanchira family. Till this date, people of old age and women who can't undertake a pilgrimage to Sabarimala come to this temple to offer their prayers on the belief that, by the darshan at Mukkal vettom, Ayyappan will shower the same blessings as the darsan at Sabarimala. In 2001, as instructed by the ''Ashtamangala Deva Prasnam'', (the astrological findings) held at Sabarimala, Sabarimala temple authorities conducted special poojas and offerings as penance at this temple.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.deccanherald.com/features/one-more-attraction-for-pilgrims-to-kerala-412978.html | title=One more attraction for pilgrims to Kerala }}</ref>

==Swamy Muttom or Mutt==
The Kudil (Hermitage) where Ayyappan lived during the period of his martial art training has been preserved in its original form by successive generations of the Cheerappanchira family. [[Sree Narayana Guru]], during his visit to this family, used this Kudil. Hence it has got the name Swamy Muttom.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.deccanherald.com/features/one-more-attraction-for-pilgrims-to-kerala-412978.html | title=One more attraction for pilgrims to Kerala }}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Makara Jyothi]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://saranamayyappa0.tripod.com Mukkal Vettam Sri Ayyappa Temple and Cheerappanchira Kalari, Muhamma]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070930064119/http://www.charteredservice.net/madom/ Sri Ayyappa Temple, Cheerappanchira]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070818034807/http://muhamma.com/mukkalvettom.htm Mukkal Vettam Sri Ayyappa Temple]
* [https://www.raaga.com/channels/tamil/album/TD02105.html Song by Unnikrishnan on Mukkal Vattam]

[[Category:Narayana Guru]]
[[Category:Society of Kerala]]
[[Category:Social groups of Kerala]]

Cheerappanchira - Revision history

Aksdw at 03:28, 1 January 2026