Arattupuzha Velayudha Panicker was an Ezhava warrior who lived in the 19th century in Kerala, south India and fought against caste oppression by the upper castes. His original name was Kalisseril Velayutha chekavar''.[1]
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Velayutha chekavar (1825 - Jan 1874) was born in an affluent Kaalisseril Tharavadu in Arattupuzha, Karthikappally Taluk. The Chekavars of the family were fierce warriors. The family was famous for their proficiency in Kalaripayattu, Ayurveda, Astrology etc. The Tharavadu was a big matrilinear family following Keralas famous Marumakkathayam. His mother's family deity was kaalisseril Kali and followed serpent worship. There were four big Sarpa kavu's surrounding the Tharavadu. His grandfather Vallikadavil Perumal Chekavan(Perumalchekon or Perumalchan) was even proficient in Tulunadan kalari techniques which was not common in southern style of Kalaripayattu [1]. His parents died in his childhood itelf. Little Velayudhan studied Ayurveda and Astrology from family Asans(trainers) in addition to Sanskrit and Kalripayattu(including Tulunadan techniques) from his grandfather. He married Velumpy of Varanapally in 1845. He moved to the house in Mangalam after the Marriage. His wife's matrilinear Tharavadu in Mangalam was a traditional teakwood Naalukettu, indistinguishable from rich Savarna houses.[2]. He had been 7 feet tall, muscular, very fair skinned [3][4]. He caught hold of the thief who robbed Salagramam(Hindu sacred stone) from Tharananaloor Namboothiri, during his travel to Padmanabhaswamy temple through Kayamkulam lake, as per the request of the Travancore King. As a compliment the Travancore King gave him the title of Panickan. Later it was modified as Panicker.[2]
He learned Kathakali, considered to be a Namboothiri Brahmin art, from one of his uncles who was a Kathakali lover. He started a Kathakali troupe with the help of Tharananaloor Namboothiri who became his close friend after the incident at kayamkulam lake. He started a kathakali yogam (Kallasseril Kaliyogam)to study kathakali belong to ezhave community people in the year 1036. Mritwe patter, a kongana brahamin belong to Ambalapuzha purakkat,was appointed in his kathakali yogam. Mritwe Patter was a famous teacher for teaching Kottayam kathakal. Another kathakali teacher Ambalapuzha Madhava Kurup, an officer of Chemakasseri Raja was also supervise this kathakali yogam. Out of his seven children six of them studied kathakali and one of them studied songs. Many persons got training from this kathakali yogam. Kunhacha Panicker(famous for Kirathathil Kaattalan), Veloor vattam Kesava Marar(Chenda), Manakkadan Kunhambu(Gurikkal), and several others... This kaliyogam existed till his death in the year 1049( Danu 24th).
He had personally flouted caste prohibitions and restrictions from childhood onwards, requiring ezhavas who lived in his area under his protection to do likewise, for example by using public roads. At the time of the 1850s breast cloth controversies, he had commanded all Channar women in his area to defy royal prohibition upon covering upper body and had bought and distributed upper cloths to all Avarna women in Kayamkulam market. When some high status Namboothiri men later intimidated covered Ezhava woman, tearing breast-cloth away, Panicker killed them with Sword.[3][4]. On another occasion, dressed like a Brahman he had gone to Guruvayur temple (even today's context it's the most Orthodox Hindu temple), and Panicker had spent ten days of learning puja and installion of temple deities. During that period, non-Namboothiris(Brahmin) were never allowed to learn puja and installion of temple deities. When his identity was uncovered by a horrified and furious Brahmin, he threw a bag of Gold onto the table saying, Yes, i am a Panicker; take this Gold for your services. He ran off after attacking some Savarna temple officials. The irate temple officials chased him as far as Cherthala(not caught).[3][4]. In 1852 he travelled to Goa where he learned Brahminical rites used for temple worship. In 1854, he founded a temple in Mangalathu village. Viswanathan Gurukal of Kandiyur, Mavelikkara installed Sivlinga. And panicker himself did the pooja. All castes and tribes were allowed to worship there. Panicker built another temple in Cheruvaranam in 1855.(Aruvippuram installation by Sree Narayana Guru was only in 1888)[3][4][5][6] Panicker organised strike for Achipudava (Achipudava is a cloth or Mundu that covers the portion below the knee) and succeeded. Another contribution was the permission granted to lower class women to wear gold ornaments following Mookkuthy Chantha incidence in Pandalam. Panicker also founded a school and a library in Arattupuzha.[7] He was killed in January 1874 during a boat journey by a group of upper class people who attacked him from behind during the darkness of night.[7]
"Smaranika - 2005" issued by Arattupuzha Velayudha Panicker Research Foundation and Cultural Center in their Alappuzha district meeting held on 10 April 2005.