Izhathu Mannanars

Izhathu Mannanars was one of the Thiyya royal dynasties that ruled some parts of Malabar in present day Kannur and Kasaragod districts between the 6th and the 12th centuries. Mannanars (means kings or rulers) were title bestowed to this royal family, muthedathu Aramanakkal family. Eldest member of the family was called Vazhunnor. Chirakkal was headquarters of this dynasty. Female members were called Ammachiyaars. They were believed to follow Buddhism as their religion. This Family maintained their royal status (not Buddhist heritage) even after brahmanisation of Kerala.

As per malabar manual these institutions were set up to give protection for a nampoothiri lady(driven out of the community for illicit relations with lower caste men).The baronial powers for mannanars was provided by Edavakkutty kulam(a nayar clan).As per F.Fawcett(in his book nambutiries),the chirackal raja gave lot of land to a theeyan near taliparamba,on condition that he will protect the excommunicated Brahmin woman if they choose to go with him. It was a custom in olden days that the the mannanar’s agent took the excommunicated woman to a two way road which leads to two different ways to enter the mannanar’s house. If the lady chooses the eastern gate, she becomes mannanar’s wife and if she chooses the northern gate she is adopted as mannanar’s sister.[1] [2][3][4][5]

See also

References

  1. ^ http://books.google.co.in/books?id=ZPpUY4V-XN4C&pg=PA76&lpg=PA76&dq=Mannanar++Malabar&source=web&ots=-TObtKwgG4&sig=GUIYMyJWVGD5CksBay2nuNxujLk&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=6&ct=result#v=onepage&q=Mannanar%20%20Malabar&f=false
  2. ^ name="ezhRoyal01"> Religion and Social Conflict in South Asia, Page 31,32. BRILL Publishers. 1976. ISBN 9004045104. http://books.google.co.in/books?id=07Y3AAAAIAAJ&pg=PA32&lpg=PA32&dq=Mannanar&source=web&ots=zGe8WSINDh&sig=01khfnK2KBO4Qp8uZemmeX0u6do&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=9&ct=result#PPA32,M1. Retrieved July 29, 2008-04. 
  3. ^ "Customs, law, family system in 19th Century Malaba". Praveena Kodoth. CDS Publishers. 1997. http://www.cds.edu/download_files/338.pdf. Retrieved July 29, 2008-04. 
  4. ^ Nambutiris: Notes on Some of the People of Malabar. Asian Educational Services. 2001. ISBN 8120615751. http://books.google.co.in/books?id=ZPpUY4V-XN4C&pg=PA76&lpg=PA76&dq=Mannanar++Malabar&source=web&ots=-TObtKwgG4&sig=GUIYMyJWVGD5CksBay2nuNxujLk&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=6&ct=result. Retrieved July 29, 2008-04. 
  5. ^ Malabar Manual. Asian Educational Services. 1996. ISBN 8120604466. http://books.google.co.in/books?id=9mR2QXrVEJIC&pg=PA125&lpg=PA125&dq=Mannanar++Malabar&source=web&ots=KFlNwab3k8&sig=Ncw53eiw1goWTefsvF19hdbMRrQ&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=4&ct=result#PPA125,M1. Retrieved July 29, 2008-04.