Poomulli (Malayalam: പൂമുള്ളി) is a Namboothiri family whose origins go back over 900 years. Poomulli Mana's name has been closely associated with the culture and heritage of Kerala.
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The Poomulli was a Namboothiri family residing in Ūrakam of the Peruvanam village about 900 years ago. They built the original Ammathiruvadi Temple, left all that they owned to the temple, and gave the temple administration to the Kingdom of Kochi. Then they left the village and resettled themselves in Peringode of the present-day Palakkad.
Legend has it that Namboothiri (while in the Peruvanam village) went to Kanchipuram to visit the Kamakshi Amman Temple. Happy with the devotion of the Namboothiri, Kanchi Kamakshi decided to come to Kerala on his palm leaf umbrella. He reached home, and placed the umbrella on the floor of his house. When he came back later he was unable to take back the umbrella. It was heavily grounded to the floor. Later upon further investigation it was revealed that Kanchi Kamakshi was residing on that umbrella. The goddess came in Namboothiri’s dreams that night and let him know that he was supposed to build a temple for the goddess, and leave Ūrakam. She also let him know that he was to find an idol in a well far away and he was to transfer the goddess from the umbrella onto that idol. Namboothiri did as the goddess wished, and he built the temple and left all that he owned to the temple.
Poomulli Mana later grew to be one of the richest and most powerful Namboothiri families of Kerala and one of the biggest landlords of Malabar. The head of the family used to be invited to all the important functions in the court of the Samoothirippad of Kozhikode, and the Maharajas of Thiruvithaamkoor. The family was well known for their hospitality and considered Anna-Danam as their dharma. The Poomulli family was famous for their encouragement of the arts and sciences.
The members of the Poomulli family were famous as practitioners of the arts, Ayurveda, Kalari, music, and other performing arts. Some of them were Sri. Poomulli Raman Namboothiripad, the exceptionally talented student of the famous Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar; and Sri. Poomulli Neelakantan Namboothiripad(1921-1997), the famous Ayurveda practitioner. The Poomulli Mana also used to conduct great art and music festivals in the Mana. Some of the famous artists in the last century to attend and perform in these festivals were Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar, Sri. Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer, M. S. Subbulakshmi, G. Aravindan, Artist Namboodiri, T. R. Mahalingam and Tirur Nambissan. The Poomulli family also encouraged research into the sciences, especially Ayurveda. Poomulli still has a huge collection of anicient manuscripts and books.
The Poomulli manor was once famous for its brilliant architecture. The manor was constructed by the brilliant designer architect Vellanezhi Namboothiripad, who also reconstructed the Koothambalam at Thrissur Vadakkunnathan Temple.