HISTORY OF KURUMKATTIL FAMILY, VENMONEY

Historical facts of Christians in Kerala

Since King Solomon’s rule, merchants in Persia had established trade relations with Kerala. They were interested in the spices cultivated in Kerala such as pepper, ginger, cardamom etc. The Apostle St. Thomas arrived in India in A.D 52 along with the Persian merchants.

The Apostle St.Thomas reached Kodungallur in the company of Habal, who was a Minister of the Chola King. The Chola kingdom was ruled by Chola Perumal and this Kingdom was situated in the eastern part of the South Indian coastline. St.Thomas’s aim was to proclaim the Gospel to the local community. Miracles took place in his meetings and many of the high caste Hindus, i.e the Brahmins, accepted Christianity.

At this time he travelled all over the Malabar Cochin Travancore area (then separate states, Kerala State was formed on Nov.1, 1956) and established seven and a half (7½) churches in Kodungalloor, Quilon, Kokkamangalam, Niranam, Chayal, Paravoor, Paaliyoor and Nilackkal.

Since the conversion to Christianity was from among the Brahmins, many old Christian families can trace their ancestral roots to Brahmins. In the course of time, many familities from the Malabar area migrated to Tiruvalla, Chengannur, Omalloor, Edathua, Athirampuzha, Puthencavu, Kudassanad, Pathanamthitta and other places.

The beginning of our family is from Nilakkal. In his travels to spread the Gospel, Apostle reached Nilackkal and as stated above, one of the 7½ Churches was established at Nilackkal. At that time, it was not a forest area like today. History shows many Brahmin families lived in the area and they had many famous Temples. A Brahmin’s house was called an Illam and Othalil Illam was one of the famous Illams there.

One of the Bhattathiris of the Othalil Illam was sick and paralyzed while Apostle St. Thomas visited the area (Bhattathiri a Brahmin who was a scholar in religion). He was treated by many kaniyans (astrologers), sorcerers and witch doctors but failed to get any relief from the long term treatments. The Apostle St.Thomas said to him, “If you believe in my God, He will cure your sickness”. They agreed. So the Apostle St. Thomas said with faith in Jesus Christ, “Rise up and walk in the name of Jesus Christ”, and he held his hand and lifted him. At once the sick Bhattathiri was healed and started walking and leaping. Thus the Brahmins in the area believed in Jesus Christ and accepted Christianity. Historically many more miracles that took place during the ministry of the Apostle.

He established a Cross in the place of a Kali Temple, and in the course of time, a church was built there.

(The above portion is extracted from Fr. Inchakalodi’s book ‘Christians in Kerala’)

In A.D 324 Nilakkal region was infested by a poisonous spider called Parappatta (Urumapuli). The poison provided fatal for many please living in the area. Hence the rest of the population fled from the locality to Kadampanad via Omalloor. They retained the name Nilakkal for the place where they settled. There they established a church called ‘Kadampanad Chruch’ which is about 1600 years old as per history.

Agriculture was their main livelihood and Kayamkulam was the market place where they could sell their products. Kayamkulam is still a marketplace in Central Travancore. Over the years, it was shown, in the history of Kadampanad Chruch, descendants of the migrated families from Nilakkal spread to the nearest areas of Poruvazhi, Pallickal, Kudassanad Kunnathur, Thumpamon, Mavelikara, Kattanam, Nooranad, Thazhava, Purthur etc.

We see in the Old Testament our forefathers lived in many countries, shifting their tents as they went along. (For example our forefather Abraham and his brohter’s son Lot). The places that the Christian migrants from Milakkal settled were good for agriculture and trade; thus they all became agriculturist and business traders. They established churches in each place for worshipping the Lord, and attracted Brahmins and other Gentiles to Christianity. Thus the Christian polulation continued to increase, as we see today.

As per history 12 families left Kadampand Nilakkal village. This was in the Malayalam era 450 (Kolla Varsham 450 and in AD 1275). There was a family named Othalil in Kadampanad; they left to Kudassanad and retained their family name Othalil. There was a Shiva Temple in Kudassanad. To remove the untouchability, they needed a Christian family. In those days Christians mostly lived in Kadampanad, and hence the pujari of the Shiva Temple requested Othalil family to go to Kudassanad to remove their impurity. This is written in the history of Kadampanad Chruch. Othalil family was given free land and they stayed near the Shiva Temple. This family retained their name unchanged as Othalil.

This family Othalil increased in number and their men folk were warriors. Kudassanad is not far from Pandalam. The King of Pandalam knew this fact and hence these men were recruited as soldiers, body guards, home guards etc., till the end of Raj rules. According to information, there are still about 50 families of Othalil staying in Kudassanad.

One of the two brothers of Othalil family was our forefather Chacko. Their only sister was married to Veppumtharayil Koshy Venmoney. Frequent visits to Venmoney to meet his sister, encouraged our forefather Chacko’s interest in staying in Venmoney. He was soon loved and respected by prominent Hindu families like Madampil, Koipurath etc. and prominent Christian families of Vadake Keerikantayyathu, Keerikattu, Thengil, Kurumkattil, Attupurath, Maruthummoottil etc. He was very strong built, able, trustworthy, courageous and hence Kurumkattil Tharakan was interested in him and his only daughter Saramma was married to him. In short our forefather Chacko was a resident of Venmoney. In the course of time, he built a house in Vadeke Kurumkattil and resided there. This Chacko- Saramma couple had 5 sons and one daughter.

The eldest Idiccula settled in Kutticakal, the second Itti in Puthenpurackal, the third Koshy in Kaleekal, the fourth Idichandy in Kaleekal Edayanmalil and the fifth Varkey in Elenjical. The only daughter Annamma was married to Thazhava – Kappil Vaidyar house. All these five family details are given elsewhere in this family history.

Venmoney old Church and Kurumkattil family

The Appostle St. Thomas established the Christian Church in Kerala. One of the 7½ churches was at Niranam. This church’s branches were built in Chengannur, Mavelikara and Kadampanad. Christians in Venmoney were worshipping at Mavelikara Puthiyacavu Church and used their cemetery fot burials. They decided to build a church in Venmoney. Accordingly on the south side of the Mathekattil fort, now known as Pallikulam plot, a church was built with bamboo and coconut leaves as was the practice in those days. Later during a war between the Kings of Pandalam and Mavelikara, it was destroyed by fire. The plot of the land is still owned by P.C Oommen of Puthenpurackal, a branch of the old Kurumkattil family. Knowing the Church was destroyed by fire, the King of Pandalam built a new church for Christian as a replacement. This was the Venmoney Orthodox Church which was demolished in 1958. It was 850 years old at the time, as per records.

As Venmoney was a Christian centre, in 1599 (Paranki Methran) The European Bishop visited Venmoney Church and the area. He was very impressed by the beauty of the place, and the people and also the river Achan Kovil (with its detour) which flows through the southern region. He took trips on the river on old boats called vanchi and notes of all these trips are found in his diary. The Methran wrote the name of the place as “Vettimoney” instead of Venmoney.

In those days there were 64 villages in the existing kingdom 32 were Thulu Brahmin villages and 32 were Malayali Brahmin villages. Venmoney was a Malayali Brahmin village. There were all type of professionals such as carpenters, barbers, goldsmiths, blacksmiths, braziers, washers, kaniyans (astrologers), hunters, masons, velans etc. Christians were the business community who lived in the area. It is assumed that since the area had plain fertile land for agriculture and owing to its proximity to the Achan kovil river, many people migrated to this area for better living conditions. Among them, Kurumkattil Tharakan was famous and prominent. The name and title of Tharakan was given by the King to the business community. He was the Treasurer or Trustee of the Venmoney Chruch for many years. Our forefather came to this place at this juncture.

Facts about the ancientness of our Kurumkattil family

Christians in many ways followed or reporoduced the old Hindu customs in existence. For example Minnu kettu, Rassa, festivals etc. Hindu Temples had many decorations and stone lamps in front of their Temples and this was copied by Christians in their Chruches. The lamp on the cross in front of the Venmoney Orthodox Church was built and donated by Kurumkattil Tharakan. A metropolitan, from the Head Quarters, Mathews Mar Athanasius, toured various Parishes and introduced his reformations. He also visited the Venmoney Church and Parish. Cheekanpara Varkey was the Trustee then. The Meda (Residence or Bungalow) was built during his period. The Metropolitan did not like the lamp on the cross in front of the Church and hence it was shifted to the place where we see now. An old casurina tree (choola maram) fell on the cross lamp during heavy rain and wind and it broke into three pieces.

Mr. Thomas sir, who was settled in Niranam from the Purthenpurackal branch of Kurumkattil family, had a vision. It was that his old family was lying in anarchy and destroyed at Venmoney and it should be rebuilt and reinstated. So he came to Venmoney and found that the lamp on the cross was broken. So he rebuilt the cross lamp and replaced it in position using a steel structure. After the replacement of his cross lamp, people from Niranam came every year on 7^th September, to light this lamp as a tradition. The local family members also join them to light more candles. In the recent past Molly George of Paikada Thundil rebuilt this cross lamp.

With the arrival of Mr. Thomas a meeting of all the family members spread in the area, was held as the first Kudumba Yogam (Family meet) was conducted in 1922 (Malayalam era 1097) at Kuttickal Peedikayil, Venmoney. The first President was the late Sree K.G Idiculla of Kuttickal Peedikayil and the Secretary was the late K.G. John of Kuttozhuthil. Thereafter the Kudumba Yogam met annually 13 times. Thereafter then till 1972 there was no meet for unknown reasons.

The Psalmist says in PS:133:1 “How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity”. Accordingly we had organizations for the Youths, Ladies, Choir etc. There was an impressive Choir at that time and we celebrated Christmas for many years singing with the Choir.

In addition, it was the vision of our forefather’s to have a common building for our meetings and other use, and hence they bought a plot in the name of Kudumba Yogam, and tried to build a hall, our youngsters themselves made the bricks for it. Unfortunately the effort was not successful at that time for unknown reasons.

For this purpose we had our own funeral of every family member was conducted in an honorable manner. Muthukuda (colourful umbrella decorated with pearls at the rim) Mezhuvettakuda (another decorated umbrella) black flags etc.

We had very talented, able, trustworthy, loyal leaders in our noble family meet and we should not forget these facts.

It wasthe aim of our predecessors to have a base for our Kudumba Yogam stated earlier. Accordingly Kudumba Yogam President Kutticakal Vadakedath late Mr. K.G.Chacko bought a plot of 13½ cents near Marthoma Sehion Church, availing funds from Kudumba Yogam account. By the grace of God a hall was built with kitchen, washrooms, well & pump set, tables & chairs, and other necessary furniture were made available with the united effort of all members of Kudumba Yogam. The following names are to be remembered for the completion of the above project M/s. Mouttathu Pallathu Varghese Iype, Payikada P.O.George & P.O.Samuel, Cheriyathu M.C. Kochukunju, Kandakara Pappy, Thengumtharayil Alex Mathew, Thengumtharayil Y Daniel, Kandankara Thekkethil K.T. Baby, Mattathethu P.V Varghese, Kaleekal K.C.Chacko, Kandalloor K.Chacko, Nadavallil N.M. Mathew, Karayankandathil Prof. D Samuel, Kochukoickal George, Thekkedathu Koickal T.I. Daniel and T.I Jacob, Kuttickal Kunjukunju, Muttathethu M.K.Samuel and others.

In Conclusion, we thank everyone closely associated and those who supported us financially and otherwise, and we hope our efforts as Kurumkattil Kudumba Yogam will remains as a guide for posterity.

KURUMKATTIL KUDUMBAM - VENMONY

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