Andreasujg at 20:29, 19 April 2026

2026-04-19T20:29:21Z

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{{Short description|Former dynasty in present-day Kerala, India}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2023}}
{{Infobox country
|conventional_long_name = Mannanar Dynasty
|common_name = Muthedath Aramanakkal Mannanar dynasty
|today = Kannur, kerala, India,
|era =
|status = Feudatory
|status_text =
|government_type = [[Feudalism|Feudal]]
|year_start = ?
|event_end = [[East India Company]], [[Madras Presidency]]- Malabar
|year_end = 1902 AD
|p1 = Mushika dynasty
|flag_p1 =
|image_p1 =
|p2 =
|flag_p2 =
|p3 =
|flag_p3 =
|p4 =
|flag_p4 =
|p5 =
|flag_p5 =
|s1 = Company rule in India
|flag_s1 = Flag of the British East India Company (1801).svg
|image_s1 =
|s2 =
|flag_s2 =
|s3 =
|flag_s3 =
|s4 =
|flag_s4 =
|s5 =
|flag_s5 =
|image_flag =
|flag_alt =
|flag =
|flag_type =
|image_coat =
|coat_alt =
|symbol =
|symbol_type =
|image_map = File:Location of Kannur Kerala.png
|image_map_alt =
|image_map_caption = Mannanar - The [[Tiyyar|Thiyyar]] King
|image_map2 =
|image_map2_alt =
|image_map2_caption =
|capital = Muthedath Aramanakkal-Anjukoor vazhcha
|capital_exile = Kannur, Kasargod, Eruvessi- Malabar, Kerala,-- {{flag|India}}
|national_motto =
|national_anthem =
|common_languages = [[Malayalam]]
|religion = [[Hinduism]]
|footnotes =
}}

The '''Mannanar dynasty''' ({{IPA|ml|mɐn:ɐnɐr|lang}}) was a [[Tiyyar|Thiyya]] dynasty in [[Malabar (Northern Kerala)|Malabar]],<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RR7nEAAAQBAJ&dq=mannanar+dynasty&pg=PA148 | title=The Certification of Insanity: Local Origins and Imperial Consequences | isbn=978-3-031-42742-8 | last1=Sposini | first1=Filippo Maria | date=30 November 2023 | publisher=Springer }}</ref><ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lcj8EAAAQBAJ&dq=mannanar&pg=PA151 | title=Promoting Sustainable Gastronomy Tourism and Community Development | isbn=979-8-3693-1815-7 | last1=Jimenez Ruiz | first1=Andrea Edurne | last2=Bhartiya | first2=Shivam | last3=Bhatt | first3=Vaibhav | date=22 March 2024 | publisher=IGI Global }}</ref><ref name="gggg">{{cite book|last=A.Ayyappan|year=1944|title=Iravas and Culture Change Vol.5 issue 1 of Bulletin of the madras government museum|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8hZPAQAAMAAJ&q=mannanar|publisher=Government press|page=18}}</ref> near present-day [[Kannur]] and [[Kasaragod district|Kasaragod]] districts of [[Kerala]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Dr.shyamalan presents Research Findings|year=2020|publisher=Newindianexpres|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2012/jan/10/nelliatt-shyamalan-to-present-research-findings-328612.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Bardwell L. Smith|year=1976|title=Religion and Social Conflict in South Asia|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xNAI9F8IBOgC|isbn=9789004045101|page=32|publisher=BRILL }}</ref><ref name="ghh"/><ref name="m1">{{cite book|last=Manakkadan Manicoth Anand Ram|year=1999|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mj4wAQAAIAAJ&q=mannanar|title=Influx:Create to Kerala|publisher=Keerthi publishing House|page=7-6}}</ref> The ruins of Mannanar palace can still be seen at the foothills of the Ghats borders of Coorg.<ref name="gggg"/> The ancient palace in Eruvesi to the northwest of [[Taliparamba]] was called as Anju Aramana. [[Kunnathoor Padi]], Muthappan Madapura and Padikutti were their royal family temples.<ref>cochin Government Press. "''Monograph''", (1905). Vol 7, vol 10. Google Books</ref>

The head of the Mannanar royal family travelled in a palanquin and was guarded by retainers wearing swords and shield. He had more than 200 armed [[Nair]] soldiers.<ref name="main">University of Kerala.1982 .Vol. 9 [https://books.google.com/books?id=Gk1DAAAAYAAJ&q=mannanar+raja of kerala studies (1982) university]</ref><ref>[[Edgar Thurston]]. Page.43</ref> He also held special ranks and privileges, like the titles of "Mannanar" or "Amachchiyar".<ref name="Thiyar">{{cite book|last=Edgar Thurston-K.Rangachari|year=1909|title=Castes and Tribes of Southern India|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FnB3k8fx5oEC&pg=PA225|page=44|publisher=Asian Educational Services |isbn=9788120602885}}</ref><ref name="manual">{{cite book|last=William logan|year=1851|title=The Malabar Manual. Archive Org Vil.1|url=https://archive.org/details/malabarmanual0000loga/page/124/mode/2up|isbn=9788120604469}}</ref><ref name="h1">E.M.S.
Namboothiripad. National books Agency, 1967 kerala page 251 [https://books.google.com/books?id=JUYDAAAAMAAJ&q=mannanar+.''Kerala:Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow'']</ref> The ruler who held the third position was known as [[Vazhunnavar]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Ajay Skaria, M. S. S. Pandian, Shail Mayaram|year=2005|title=Muslims, Dalits, and the Fabrications of History|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7CNgU3OcyL4C|publisher=Permanent Black and Ravi Dayal Publisher|page=192|isbn=9788178241159 }}</ref>

A Mannanar leader with title "Muthedath Aramanakkal" had the authority to decide disputes within the [[caste]] and [[jurisdiction]] was invoked on appeal. Leaders like ''Kunhi Kelappaan Mannanar'' and ''Krishnan Vazhunnavar'' held lands in the eastern hilly tracts of [[Chirakkal, Kannur|Chirakkal]] [[Thaluk]] and is noted for giving refuge to other castes.<ref>{{cite book| last=Shali |first= Mayaram|date= 2015|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fxluAAAAMAAJ|title= Muslim, Dalid and fabrication of History|page=198|publisher= Seagull| isbn=9781905422111}}</ref><ref>P.J Rajedran, "''Kshethravinjyanakosham''" (Malayalam) 2000. Google Books, page. 103</ref>

==Etymology==
He is referred to as Mannanar (Mannan Means = King ar = honorific plural suffix), also (mannan) meaning ''king'' and ''ar'', which pluralises it. That word derivered from [[King]]<ref>{{cite book |chapter=The Sovereignty of the Divine |first=R. |last=Champakalakshmi |title=Essays on Indian History and Culture: Felicitation Volume in Honour of Professor B. Sheik Ali |editor-first=H. V. Sreenivasa |editor-last=Murthy |publisher=Mittal Publications |year=1990 |isbn=978-8-17099-211-0 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2jMg8K5dPZUC&pg=PA61 |page=61}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=F.Fawcett|title=Nambutiris: Notes on Some of the People of Malabar|year=2001|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZPpUY4V-XN4C&pg=PA76|isbn=9788120615755|page=76|publisher=Asian Educational Services }}</ref>

==Kingdom==
===History===
In the Malayalam mannan means king and 'ar' pluralises the name for adding respectability to it. Mannanar dynasty had thrived for several centuries in [[Eruvessi]], north east of [[Taliparamba]] in [[North Malabar]].<ref name="123ff">{{cite book|last=S.N.Sadasivan|year=2000|title=A Social History of India|publisher=APH Publishing, Google books|pages=352–353|isbn=9788176481700|quote=In the Malayalam mannan means king and 'ar' pluralises the name for adding respectability to it. Mannanar dynasty had thrived for several centuries in Eruvasi, north east of Thaliparampa in North Kerala. He was called ruler of the five places and he had five palaces Moothedath Aramana, Elayidath Aramana, Puthan Araman, Puthiyidath Aramana and Mundaya Aramana. He also had royal establishments, such as fortress, palace, assembly hall, performance theatre and living mansion. Armed with swords and shields, 200 Nairs Soldiers had to escort him. His assumption to the throne was by the performance of the ritual Aryittuvazhcha (offer of rice to gods as an auspicious item indicating prosperity) as in the case of the Zamorin. His personal residence (living mansion) had adorned the name mannanar kotta or the king's fort.The last of the Mannanars, Kunjikelappan passed away in 1901-1902 AD. His wife respectably called Ammachiyàr (revered mother) and two of his children were alive in the thirties. The Mannanar who followed matriarchal system as a means of his survival, used to dine at the palace of the Chirakkal raja on important occasions when for him food had to be served on tender plantain leaf named pattila (silken leaf) and for other princes on plantain leaf softened over the fire. When the palaces of other rajas in Kerala are called Kovilakams or Kottarams, only Mannanar's is called Aramana, the mansion of the king (aracha (king) + mana (king's court). For these reasons and for many other, Kampil Ananthan believes that he was the oldest ruler of Kerala.After the overlordship of the Nampootiri was established, it was the social responsibility of the Mannanar to give protection to either as his wife or as his sister to the Nampootiri woman ex-communicated from her family for offences like infidelity, loss of chastity and violation of the rules of pollution. His palaces and mansions have broken down due to neglect in the absence of successors. The entire land and other properties of the Mannanar are managed by the Chirakkal raja in the capacity of their trustee. Mannanar was allowed to survive through the darkness and ferocity of caste in the 18th and 19th centuries because his survival was a necessity of the Nampootiri. The socially ostracised Nampootiri women obtained all royal facilities for a cozy living and did not lose their convivial status below that of their protector which in fact was the original status of all, not excluding the Nampootiri, the Kshatriya, the Samanta and the Nair before their conversive.The Mannanar as required by the Brahmins, changed over from patriarchal to matriarchal system and he thus, had fallen in line with other non-Brahmin communities.}}</ref> He was called ruler of the five places and he had five palaces '''Moothedath Aramana''', Elayidath Aramana, Puthan Araman, Puthiyidath Aramana and Mundaya Aramana. He also had royal establishments, such as fortress, palace, assembly hall, performance theatre and living mansion.<ref name="123ff"/> His assumption to the throne was by the performance of the ritual Aryittuvazhcha (offer of rice to gods as an auspicious item indicating prosperity) as in the case of the [[Zamorin]].<ref name="123ff"/> His personal residence (living mansion) had adorned the name mannanar kotta or the king's fort.<ref name="123ff"/>

C.A. innes was the Special Settlement Officer in Malabar. According to the Survey Settlement Register of Eruveshi Land No. 81, Chirakal Taluk, Malabar District, published from Kozhikode on 30-03-1905, ''Moothedath Aramanaikkal Kunjikelappan Mannanar'' has several acres of land in Eruveshi Land. Of these, 23 mountains are listed separately – Areekal mala, Karinkanyamala, Cherambathan mala, Mottumala, Mundan Vilangamala, Vanchiaramala, Adapatamala, Vellatam, Paramala, Karumpath Paramala, Kallangacheri mala, Elampanam mala, Palliyambamala, Ariidum kalamala, Kiliyatuparamala, Kunayanpuzumamala, Ottapunam mala, Vaali Elambamalamala, Kodakan Korandimala Kallu Mala, Vilangamala, Tarannenmavumala, two Kshetrakad Paithalmala in Pullalam, Kotan Pilavumala in the East and the [[Western Ghats]] to the eastern border of Karnataka. Apart from this, there are Aramanaparam, Kottamullaparambu, Munya Aramanaparam, Munya Tundi, Munya Paramba, Kitchenkunn Mala, Punakandiparambu, Valliyambamala Parambu, Puzhayaruvath Parambu, Padikkutazhekari, Ara Manakandi Parambu, Kitchinkunnu Parambu, Phuyadath Parambu, Malayan's Parambu, Karuvellari Eastekarambu, Velayampamala.The extent of the hilly areas alone, extending from the Western Ghats to the eastern Karnataka border, is 2230 acres.<ref name="ghh"/> Apart from this, a large amount of agricultural land in several survey numbers is also recorded in the name of Aramanakkal Kelappan Mannanar at Muthetadath.<ref name="ghh">{{cite web|last=MA Rajeev Kumar|title=Neglected and forgotten: Remains of Mannanar dynasty crumbling|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2022/apr/06/neglected-and-forgotten-remains-of-mannanar-dynasty-crumbling-2438459.html|work=The New Indian Express|date=6 April 2022}}</ref>

In 1905, after the introduction of Janmi-tenant system, the British Government published the Settlement Register including these places.

In 1822, the Mannanar dynasty declined when the British imposed a large land tax. It was '''Karakkattidam Nayanars''' who were vassals of Mannanars who were allowed to collect taxes in [[Chuzhali]] Swarupam which included [[Eruvessi|Eruveshi]].<ref name="ghh" /> The rule at that time was that the person in whose name the land was taxed would automatically become entitled. To make matters worse, [[Chirakkal Kovilakom]] was against Mannanar and in favor of Karakkattidam.<ref name="ghh" /> With the support of [[Kovilakam]], the Nayanamars literally started crushing the Mannanars to death. In connection with that, litigation was held in Thalassery Sub Court and Payyannur Tukhipidi (Thukitti) Magistrate Court. No. 307 registered in Payyannur Court in 1859 is a living one. The case occurred when the last Mannanar in the history of the Mannanar clan, Muthetattarmanakal Kunhikelapan Mannanar, was killed. Kunjikelappan Mannanar, who was returning after checking the accounts at Nuchiat Temple, was accompanied by five escorts. The assailants brought from Malappuram surrounded and stabbed Mannanare to death with a dagger. Police records show that Mannanar was killed by unknown persons on 27 March 1902.<ref name="ghh" />

The last of the Mannanars, Kunjikelappan died in 1901-1902 AD. His wife respectably called Ammachiyàr (revered mother) and two of his children were alive in the thirties.<ref name="123ff"/> The Mannanar who followed matriarchal system as a means of his survival, used to dine at the palace of the [[Chirakkal Raja|Chirakkal raja]] on important occasions when for him food had to be served on tender plantain leaf named pattila (silken leaf) and for other princes on plantain leaf softened over the fire.<ref name="123ff"/> When the palaces of other rajas in Kerala are called Kovilakams or Kottarams, only Mannanar's is called Aramana, the mansion of the king (aracha (king) + mana (king's court). For these reasons and for many other, Kampil Ananthan believes that he was the oldest ruler of Kerala.<ref name="123ff"/>

After the overlordship of the Nampootiri was established, it was the social responsibility of the Mannanar to give protection to either as his wife or as his sister to the [[Nampootiri]] woman ex-communicated from her family for offences like infidelity, loss of chastity and violation of the rules of pollution.<ref name="123ff"/> His palaces and mansions have broken down due to neglect in the absence of successors.

==Customs==
[[File:Vitihotra Mannanar Raja of Kannur.webp|thumb|An illustration depicting or related to the Vitihotra Mannanar dynasty.]]

The well-known Mannanar belonged to the Varakat illam (Varaka [[Tiyyar|Thiyyar]]).<ref name="Thiyar" /> The Varaka [[Tiyyar|Thiyyar]] or Varakat illam Mannanar were further allowed to wear gold jewels on the neck, to don silken cloth, to fasten a sword round the waist, and to carry a shield. Th sword was made of thin pliable steel, and worn round the like belt, the point being fastened to the hilt through a small hole near the point.<ref name="DE">Edgar Thurston .1902 Google Archive [https://archive.org/details/castestribesofso07thuriala/page/42/mode/2up. ''caste and tribes of southern india'']</ref>

==See also==
* [[Kolathiri]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Dynasties of India]]

Mannanar dynasty - Revision history

Andreasujg at 20:29, 19 April 2026