>Monkbot at 17:35, 8 December 2020

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'''Kodungallur Kovilakam''' ({{lang-ml|കൊടുങ്ങല്ലൂര്‍ കോവിലകം}}), is a palace of the royal family of the late [medieval] Kingdom of Kodungallur ([[Cranganore]]), in the modern-day Indian state of [[Kerala state|Kerala]]. Kodungallur was a feudal principality subordinate to the rulers of the [[Kingdom of Cochin]] from the later half of the eighteenth century until [[Partition of India|Indian independence]]. The Kingdom of Kodungallur was under the protection of the Dutch government after 1707 for a few years before returning to its allegiance to the [[Zamorin of Calicut|Zamorin]]. The Kodungallur Royal Family had two branches, at Chirakkal Kovilakam and at [[Puthen Kovilakam]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.geni.com/surnames/kodungallur-kovilakam|title=Kodungallur Kovilakam surname|website=geni_family_tree}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://connemara.tnopac.gov.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-search.pl?q=au:KOCHUNNI%20THAMPURAN|title=Demo – Connemara Public Library Catalog › Results of Search for 'au:KOCHUNNI THAMPURAN'}}</ref>
<ref>{{cite web|url={{google books |plainurl=y |id=R9GbBVfrm4gC|page=24}}|title=A Primer of Malayalam Literature}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/Kotunnallur-Ceriya-Koccunnittampuran/e/B00J0TDLVM|title=Amazon.com: Kotunnallur Ceriya Koccunnittampuran: Books, Biography, Blog, Audiobooks, Kindle}}</ref><ref>[https://archive.org/download/KeralaSchoolOfAstronomy/Kerala%20School%20of%20Astronomy.pdf Kerala School of Astronomy] Page 78</ref>

== Design ==
The Chirakkal Kovilakam<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.keralatourism.org/muziris/circuit-tours.php|title=Circuit Tours, Experience the history, Muziris Heritage Site, Project, Kerala, India}}</ref> has two ''nalukettu'' structures, one larger than the other. The main residential building and two more old buildings, a water tank (known as ''padakulam''), the family temple (dedicated to [[Hindu goddess]] Talattil Bhagavati) and Sarpakkavu are all within the Kovilakam Complex. The Kodungallur Kovilakam was renowned as a ''[[gurukulam]]'' (centre of learning).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.advaitin.net/Ananda/KnowledgeBeforePrinting&After.pdf|title=Knowledge Before Printing}}</ref> Scholars from across present day Kerala used to live in the palaces and study [[Sanskrit]] and [[Vedanga|Vedic science]]. Eminent scholars<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.keralahistory.ac.in/literaryadition.htm|title=www.keralahistory.ac.in|access-date=7 January 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100801012522/http://www.keralahistory.ac.in/literaryadition.htm|archive-date=1 August 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref> from this Kovilakam contributed to [[Malayalam literature|Malayalam]] and Sanskrit literature.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mahabharata-resources.org/kkkt.html|title=Kodungallur Kunhikkuttan Thampuran}}</ref> According to Venmani Achan Namboodiribad, Kerala's ''gurukulams'' were for many decades centred on the Kodungallur Kovilakam.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://menon.ca/yesterday%27spoets2.htm |title=Archived copy |access-date=12 January 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090715172020/http://www.menon.ca/yesterday'spoets2.htm |archive-date=15 July 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

== Literature ==
Writers born there contributed immensely to Malayalam literature. The leading light among them was Venmani Achan Namboodiripad, born in 1816 at Venmani Illam in Vellarappilly, [Alwaye]. Achan married Sreedevi Antharjanam in 1838 and they had one son, Venmani Mahan Namboodiripad. Later, he married Kunhippilla Thampuratti of the Kodungallur Kovilakam. He had two children from this marriage – Kunjikuttan Thamburan and Kunjunni Thamburan. Achan died at the age of 74. Namboodiripad lived for several years in [[Ernakulam]], [[Thripunithura]], [[Kodungaloor|Kodungallur]] and [[Kottayam]]. At the Kodungallur Palace, Mahan found his calling as a poet. After Kathollil Achuta Menon completed primary education at home, he was sent to Kodungallur Palace to study Sanskrit under Vidwan Kunjiramavarma Thamburan. At age 16, he started writing poetry and composed approximately 20 ''slokas'' in an hour during competitions.

Key members<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://kshathrajalakam.org/Kshathrasandasam-Jan-March09.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=11 January 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100801080424/http://kshathrajalakam.org/Kshathrasandasam-Jan-March09.pdf |archive-date=1 August 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> of this ''gurukula'' were:

* Veena specialist Valia Thampuran (Kunjiramavarma Thampuran). First guru of Kodungallur Gurukulam
* Vidwan Elaya Thampuran (Godavarma Thampuran), Contemporary of [[Swathi Thirunal Rama Varma]]
* Sakran Godavarma Thampuran
* Vidwan Kunjiramavarma Thampuran
* Valia Kunjunni Thampuran
* Valia Kochunni Thampuran
* Kunjan Thampuran
* Cheria Kochunni Thampuran (Kavi Sarvabhouman)
* Bhattan Godavarma Thampuran
* Mani Madhava Chakyar<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.reachinformation.com/define/Mani_Madhava_Chakyar.aspx|title=Mani Madhava Chakyar getting first major recognition came from His Highness Bhattan Thampuran of Kodungallur Kovilakam}}</ref><ref>[[Mani Madhava Chakyar#Awards.2C titles and honours]]</ref>
* Bhagavathar Kunjunni Thampuran
* Kochikavu Thampuratti
* Kodungallur Kunjikuttan Thampuran

Most popular among these scholars is [[Kodungallur Kunjikuttan Thampuran]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mahabharata-resources.org/arrrv1.html|title=Translation of Mahabharata}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{official website|http://kodungallurkovilakam.in}}
{{Tourist attractions in Thrissur}}
{{Tourism in Kerala}}

[[Category:Palaces in Thrissur]]
[[Category:Feudal states of Kerala]]
[[Category:History of Thrissur district]]

Kodungallur Kovilakam - Revision history

>Monkbot at 17:35, 8 December 2020