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{{Short description|17th-century warrior-god of Kodagu}}
{{family name hatnote|Kalyatanda|lang=Kodava}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2022}}
{{Use Indian English|date=November 2022}}

'''Kalyatanda Ponnappa''' was a 17th-century warrior of [[Kodagu]] (Coorg).<ref name="Muthanna">{{cite book |last1=Muthanna |first1=Dr. I. M. |title=The Coorg Memoirs (the story of the Kodavas) |date=1971 |publisher=Dr I M Muthanna |location=Mysore |page=233}}</ref> Since he was deified after his death, the people of Kodagu consider him to be a god. He is also known as Kaliat-Achchappa or Kaliat Ajjappa.<ref name="Richter">{{cite book |last1=Richter |first1=Rev G |title=Manual of Coorg |date=1870 |publisher=C. Stolz, Basel Mission |location=Mangalore |page=165}}</ref><ref name="Muthanna-87">{{cite book |last1=Muthanna |first1=I M |title=Kodavas and their gala 'lela': Kodava folklores and songs |date=1987 |page=74}}</ref>

== Early life ==

Ponnappa was born in the Kalyatanda (aka Kaliatanda) family as the son of Kuttayya of Naalnaad (Nalknad). Ponnappa's parents were ardent devotees of [[Igguthappa]]. <ref name="Muthanna"/>

G Richter calls him ‘a Malayalam man who came to Coorg many generations ago, (and) got naturalized.’<ref name="Richter"/> A Kodava by birth, Ponnappa was also associated with the Malayalam land (Kerala). His forefathers had lived in Kerala and Ponnappa himself had studied tantric magic in Kerala.

His agrarian father was upset that Ponnappa didn't look after the fields. So Kuttayya told his wife not to feed Ponnappa and broke Ponnappa's bow. Upset with this, Ponnappa left home. Ponnappa was betrothed to his aunt's daughter. He also had a friend and assistant called Katala Boltu.<ref name="Palame">{{cite book |last1=Chinnappa |first1=Nadikerianda |title=Pattole Palame |date=1924}}</ref><ref name="Muthanna-87"/>

== Career ==

=== Skirmishes ===

He fought with many powerful men and killed several of them.<ref name="Muthanna"/> Ponnappa was a contemporary of Vira Raja, the first king of Kodagu. Ponnappa acknowledged Vira Raja's overlordship. But Ponnappa's enemy Karnayya Bavu of Bhagamandala did not acknowledge Vira Raja as the king. Karnayya raised a stealth army against the Raja.<ref name="Kushalappa">{{cite news |last1=Kushalappa |first1=Mookonda |title=The set-up of Kodagu's royal cemetery |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/spectrum/the-set-up-of-kodagus-royal-cemetery-568706.html |access-date=30 May 2022 |work=Deccan Herald |date=9 January 2017 |language=en}}</ref>

Karnayya wanted to befriend Ponnappa and make him an ally. But Ponnappa refused his friendship (not wishing to betray the Raja) thus insulting Karnayya and making him an enemy.<ref name="Palame"/>

=== Practise ===

He was a magician as well who was feared by many in Kodagu.<ref name="Richter"/> He was believed to be an expert at [[witch-craft]] and to be able to perform many miracles. People held him in great awe as he claimed to be able to manipulate supernatural beings. Being a practitioner of [[ritual magic]], [[divination]] and [[occult]], he was considered to be a sort of [[warlock]] or [[Magic (supernatural)|magician]].<ref name="Muthanna"/><ref name="Muthanna-87"/>

== Death ==

He was poisoned by an old woman.<ref name="Muthanna"/> But Ponnappa survived the poisoning.<ref name="Palame"/> Afterwards, he visited his fiancée at her home, the Kuttanjetira house in Beth village.<ref name="Palame"/> However, his enemies fatally shot him near what would later become the Kacheri (office) of Nalknad taluk.<ref name="Richter"/> Badly wounded, Ponnappa dragged himself to the Makki temple where he died.<ref name="Palame"/> It was Karnayya's men who had surrounded Ponnappa and killed him. Later, Vira Raja captured Karnayya Bavu and executed him. <ref name="Kushalappa"/><ref name="Muthanna-87"/>

== Legacy ==

After his death, his spirit was believed to possess many men who displayed the magic arts that he practised.<ref name="Richter"/> Ponnappa is a legendary figure in Kodagu where folk ballads are sung about him. Festival performances are held in his honour in the Makki temple near Napoka (Napoklu) and in other temples.<ref name="Muthanna"/><ref name="Muthanna-87"/><ref>{{cite web |title=Kalyatanḍa okka |url=https://kodavaclan.com/kodaguheritage/kalyatanḍa-okka/ |website=Kodagu Heritage |publisher=KodavaClan |access-date=30 May 2022 |date=17 October 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=ainmanes.com |url=http://www.ainmanes.com/kodavas/Kalyātanḍa.html |website=www.ainmanes.com |access-date=30 May 2022}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Kodagu district]]
[[Category:Indian warriors]]
[[Category:Kodava people]]

Kalyatanda Ponnappa - Revision history

Bot at 03:18, 23 December 2022