Mamankam festival

The river Nila(Bharatappuzha) in Thirunavaya, where the festival takes place

Mamankam festival or Mamangam festival was an ancient festival celebrated in Thirunavaya, Malabar coast, south India, in the present day state of Kerala from the time of Kulasekharas (Cheras) in every 12 years until 18th century, mostly remembered for the bloody battles occurred during the festivals. Mamankam festival was a great trade fair from the Sangam period where traders from around the world came through Ponnani Port by ships and barges.

At the end of the rule of Kulasekharas, the right of Mamankam passed to the kings of Perumpadappu and then to the Hindu Nair rulers of Valluvanad. Later the Samoothiri of Kozhikode defeated the Valluvanad rulers in Thirunavaya Wars (14th century AD) and resulting in a dispute and bloodshed between these two rulers. Sammothiri, though was another Hindu Nair, had a large support of the Muslim Arab merchants which, the ruler of Valluvanad didn't had. The Samoothiri declared himself as Maharakshapurusha of the temple in Thiruavaya. From this day, Valluvanad king began to send Chaver Nairs to fight until death, and to recapture the right from the Samoothiri, who would stand poised at Nilapadu thara in Thriunavaya, surrounded by a large contingent of warriors.

The last of such Mamankam festival, was believed to be held in 1755, when Zamorin had a hair-breadth escape from a chaver aged 16 named Putumanna Kandaru Menon.

Etymology

Originally derived from the word, 'Maha-Magha' , literally, Great Magha, with Magha being a month in the Hindu calendar ^[1], which was later apapted into Malayalam, as Mamankam and in Tamil as Mamangam.

Background

After the disintegration of the Kulasekharas, most of their provinces became independent, giving rise to numerous Nair city states along the coast of Malabar. The Perumpadappu kingdom and then Valluvanad owned the right conduct the Mamankam festival as Maharakshapurusha. After acquiring the Polanad state, the Saamoothiri turned his attention to other states around him. Between 1353–1361 AD, the Saamoothiri Raja fought a series of small battles with smaller states called the Thirunavaya Wars. As Thirunavaya was captured, Saamoothiri proclaimed himself as the Rakshāpurusha (protector) and took over sole right of conducting the Mamankam festival.^[2] The next Mamankam at Thirunavaya was conducted under the auspices of Saamoothiri with great pomp and splendor.

During the Mamankam festival, all other kings used to send flags as a symbol of regard to the Saamoothiri at Thirunavaya. But Valluvakkonathiri who did not recognize the Saamoothiri as the legitimate Rakshapurusha but considered him only a usurper used to send Chavers instead. If these men could kill the Saamoothiri, who was protected by thousands of soldiers, the right of Rakshapurusha would have devolved on the Walluvanad Raja. These Chaavers were sworn soldiers who preferred death to defeat, and who sacrificed their lives to avenge the death of Valluvanad princes in the Thirunavaya war. The death of the Vellaattiri princes also started a period of intense hatred and war between the two kingdoms which paved the way for the diminishing the power of Valluvanad. Kudippaka or blood feud was prevalent in the society. If a Nair was killed (In his attempt to assassinate the Samoothiri), it was the duty of the relatives or even the subsequent generations of the deceased to avenge the death. So, Most of these Chaver soldiers had lost their relatives or elders in previous wars with the Saamoothiri, and were fuelled by 'kudippaka' (blood feud). They came from various parts of Valluvanad, assembled at Thirumanthamkunnu under Vellaattiri, and were led by commanders from one of the four houses.

Further details were provided by Willian Logan and Hamilton about the Mamankam of 1683 and 1695 respectively.

Vellaattiri, after losing Thirunavaya and the right of the Rakshapurusha, began to conduct the Pooram festival in the place of Mamankam, at Angadipuram (Walluvappally), his capital. Here in the temple of his tutelary deity Thirumanthamkunnu Bhagavathi, he stood on a raised granite platform from where in the olden days his predecessors started the procession to Thirunavaya for the Mamankam festival in peace. It was from here that the Chavers were sent to the Mamankam festival afterwards when Saamoothiri occupied it.

The war of Thirunavaya was not the end of Saamoothiri's aggression on Walluvanad. He continued his attacks on Vellaattiri. But he encountered stiff resistance and the fights went on in a protracted and sporadic fashion for a long time. (Kunnathattil Madambil Nair (Nair of Mannarghat) was the desavazhi who looked after the affairs of the eastern boundary and hilly areas of Vellattiri. Chondathil Mannadiar (Puthumanna Panicker) and Nair of Kavada were other chiefs under him. This council of great men was a huge challenge to Saamoothiri even during times when mutual rivalries weakened the Vellaattiri Swaroopam.)

Saamoothiri followed a policy of appeasing the feudatories of Vellaattiri and conferring upon them the areas they originally held under Vellaattiri. He was able to win over Dharmoth Panicker, Nair of Pulappatta and Nair of Kavalappara to his side one by one. Thus Saamoothiri gradually became the master of Malappuram, Nilambur, Vallappanattukara and Manjeri, which were under these feudal lords. Eralpad (Saamoothiri prince) now began to rule these areas as supreme commander over them, with Karimpuzha as his base. But Saamoothiri faced defeat in the next attack on Perumpadappu. The Perumpadappu Rajas appealed to their ally Vellaattiri for assistance. Their combined army resisted Saamoothiri's forces and a bloody war ensued for three days, at the end of which Saamoothiri's army was on the retreat.

Participating Families

After the capture of Thirunavaya by Samoothiri, the festival often turned into battlefields. The Chavers (Suicide squad) to assassninate the Samoothiri participating from the kingdom of Valluvanad hailed from the four of the most important Nair families of Valluvanad. These families were:

• Putumana Panikkars
• Chandrath Panikkars
• Kokat Panikkars
• Verkot Panikkars

A total of 18 deshavazhis (Governors) of Valluvanadu went to the Mamankam festival, led by the lead Nair from each of the four main families. Apart from the four lead warriors, the other 14 hailed from the following families (Swaroopams):

Two Nairs from unknown Valluvanad families, Two Nambuthiris from Valluvanad, Two Moopil Nairs from the Valluvanad Royal House, Achan of Elampulakkad, Variar of Kulathur, Pisharody of Uppamkalathil, Vellodi of Pathiramana, Nair of Parakkatt, Nair of Kakkoott, Nair of Mannarmala & Pisharody of Cherukara.^[3] Out of the 18 deshavazhis, 13 were Nairs (Mostly Menon Panicker section of Kiryathil Nair subcaste), 2 were Namboothiri Brahmins and 3 were Ambalavasi Brahmins.

The ruler of Valluvanadu hailed from the Vellattiri subdivision of Samanthan Nair subcaste, and held the title of "Moopil Nair". Zamorin belonged to the Eradi subdivision of Samanthan Nair subcaste.

1683 - Mamankam festival

Account of Chaver attack at Mamankam of this year given by Logan - "Amid much din and firing of guns the Morituri, the Chaver Nairs, the elect of four Nair houses in Waluvanad, step forth from the crowd and receive the last blessings and farewells of their friends and relatives. They have just partaken of the last meal they are to eat on earth at the house of the temple representative of their chieftain; they are decked with garlands and smeared with ashes. On this particular occasion it is one of the houses of Putumana Panikkar who heads the fray. He is joined by seventeen of his friends - for all who so wish may fall in with sword and target in support of the men who have elected to die. Armed with swords and targets alone they rush at the spearmen thronging the palisades; they wind and turn their bodies, as if they had no bones, casting them forward and backward, high and low, even to the astonishment of the beholders, as worthy Master Johnson describes them in a passage already quoted. But notwithstanding the suppleness of their limbs, notwithstanding their delight and skill and dexterity in weapons, the result is inevitable, and is prosaically recorded in the chronicle thus: The number of Chavers who came and died in the early morning the next day after the elephant began to be adorned with gold trappings - being Putumana Kantaru Menon and followers - was 18. At various times during the ten last days of the festival the same thing is repeated. Whenever the Zamorin takes his stand on the terrace, assumes the sword and shakes it, men rush forth from the crowd on the west temple gate only to be impaled on the spears of the guardsmen who relieve each other from day to day."

1695 - Mamankam festival

About the next Mamankam from 'New Accounts of the East Indies' by Captain Alexander Hamilton, Chapter XV :- "In Anno 1695, one of these jubilees happened when the tent was pitched near Ponnany, a seaport of his (Samoothiri's) about 15 leagues to the southward of Calicut. There were but three men that would venture on that desperate action, who fell on with sword and target, among the guards, and after they had killed and wounded many, were themselves killed. One of the desperadoes had a nephew of fifteen or sixteen years of age, that kept close by his uncle in the attack on the guard, and when he saw him fall, the youth got through the guard into the tent and made a stroke at His Majesty's head and had certainly despatched him, if a large brass lamp which was burning over his head, had not marred the blow; but before he could make another he was killed by the Mangatchhan's guards, and I believe the same Samoothiri reigns yet. I chanced to come that time along the coast and heard the guns for two or three days and nights successively." The 15 year old boy mentioned was Chandrath Panicker (Chandrathil Chanthunni Menon)^[4].

Mamankam in 1999

Mamankam was again organised in 1999 under the guidance of NM Namboodiri managed by his friend Mr. Gireesan K.

Further reading

• Mamangam Festival Appreciation of India Art: Ideals and Images, by C.P. Sinha, U.C. Dwivedi. Published by Sura Books, 2006. ISBN 8174781757, 9788174781758. Page 16.

See also

• Zamorin
• Vettattnad

References

1. ^ Maha-Magha Encyclopaedia of Indian Culture, by Rajaram Narayan Saletore. Published by Sterling, 1981. ISBN 0391023322. 9780391023321. Page 869.
2. ^ "Medieval Kerala". education.kerala.gov.in. http://www.education.kerala.gov.in/englishmedium/historyeng/chapter8.pdf. Retrieved 2011-05-18. 
3. ^ http://kerals.com/keralatourism/kerala.php?t=83
4. ^ വേലായുധൻ, പണിക്കശ്ശേരി (ഭാഷ: മലയാളം). സഞ്ചാരികൾ കണ്ട കേരളം (2001 ed.). കോട്ടയം: കറൻറ് ബുക്സ്. pp. 434. ISBN 81-240-1053-6.

• William Logan - Malabar Manual

External links

• Mamankam Festival
• Mamankam