Kattanam
| Kattanam | |
|---|---|
| town | |
  Kattanam Location in Kerala, India | |
| Coordinates: 9°11′0″N 76°33′0″E / 9.18333°N 76.55000°ECoordinates: 9°11′0″N 76°33′0″E / 9.18333°N 76.55000°E | |
| Country |
 India |
| State | Kerala |
| District | Alappuzha |
| Population (2001) | |
| • Total | 19,764 |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Malayalam, English |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+5:30) |
| PIN | 690503 |
| Telephone code | 0479 |
| Nearest city | Kayamkulam |
| Literacy | 90%% |
| Lok Sabha constituency | Mavelikara |
| Vidhan Sabha constituency | Kayamkulam |
| Climate | good (Köppen) |
Kattanam is one of the fastest-growing villages located in Central Travancore, in Alappuzha district in the Indian state of Kerala.[1]
Kattanam' hosts Pope Pius High School and some famous churches like St. Stephen's Orthodox Church (Kattanam Valiyapally), St. Stephen's Malankara Syrian Catholic Church, Sacred Heart Catholic Church, St. Thomas Marthoma Church and St. James C.S.I. Church. One of the famous temples "Vetticode Nagaraja Temple", worship of snake and it was invented by Lord. ParaSurama is located on this village. Kayamkulam-Punalur state highway(KP road) runs through the heart of Kattanam. St. Thomas Mission Hospital, Meppallykutty is a famous landmark nearby Kattanam. Kattanam St. Stephen’s Orthodox Church, which is known as “Kattanam Valiyapally” having a history of more than 180 years, 7 km to east from Kayamkulam was established in the name of Saint Stephen and was the first church and mother of many churches in Kattanam. In the outskirts of Kattanam, there remain the marks of Buddhist culture and influence. PWD Tourist Bungalow (Kattanam TB) situated at the prime area of Kattanam also has had a long and detailed history of politics, culture and literature to tell.
Kattanam Valiyapally is an epitome of Secularism. Valiyapally was established on 25 May 1835 by its founder priest Mankavil Geevarghese Kathanar (Velangattachan) in the land delivered by a Hindu family Known as Piralasseri Puthan Vilayil family owned by Thuruthiyil Shri Sankaran. The church was blessed by Cheppad Philipose Mar Dionysius, (Malankara Metropolitan of The Malankara Syrian Orthodox Church during 1825–1855) in the name of the first Martydan St. Stephen. In the initial days of this church onwards St. Stephen’s Day is celebrated on January 20,21, 22 & 23 (Malayalam Month Makaram 6,7,8,9). Compared to the other churches in Malankara, different customs are practiced here. One among them is the three-day-long possession(known as Raasa), which covers kilometers and kilometers to deliver the blessings . In this occasion all people, irrespective of caste or creed take part in the possession with prayers. This possession has become a must -see, colorful and elegant, filled with blessings. "Chempedappu" is also a custom related to Kattanam Valiyapally Perunnal. Kayamkulam and Mavelikkara Railway Stations are approximately 6 km from Kattanam. Trivandrum and Cochin airports are equidistant.
History
Kattanam was merged with Mankavu (Kavu with mango trees) and there was only a very few Hindu families were living in this place including Mankavil Gurunathanmaar those who were conducting mantravadham (Black Magic) and believed to had supernatural powers. The story of Kattanam is related to a Yakshi (Brahma Rakshas) lived in Mankavu was a folkloric vampire . She was a Brahmin lady who was living in the same place centuries before the mankavu was formed. She had found murdered in her tharavattu kulam (family pond) together with her unborn child. And it is also believed that the entire Brahmin family who were living there destroyed and centuries after Mankavu formed in the same place. The Brahmin lady was reborn into a Yakshi, waylaying men with her beauty and drinking their blood. It is also believed that after stopping the yakshi of Panayannarkavu, kadamattathu Kathanar (a priest with supernatural power) has visited Kattanam to stop the yakshi but he couldn’t succeed and returned. Even the karmas (actions) of Mankavil Gurunadhanmar’s were turned against them, their powers couldn’t withstand against yakshi and the unnatural death of their family members increased day by day. It has been found in devaprashnam (ascertaining the lord's will) that the land has to be sold (for prize) to someone to get rid of the yakshi as well as the curse on them. Kattanam was very fertile land but were not in use due to the fear of the yakshi in Mankavu. Finally a priest from Kannankara family (Fr.Geevarghese also known as Velangattachan) has come forward and purchased the entire Mankavu for one Rasi. He arrested the yakshi with his Divine power and the yakshi requested him to install her to a paala tree (Alstonia Scholaris) which the priest refused and her soul sent permanently to rest in peace. From then the Velangattachan known famous as Mankavilachan, he destroyed the entire Mankavu and removed the fear from the public, made the place suitable for Katta (paddy with grains) production by Anam (blessing) from God. Later many of the Christian families migrated to Kattanam and together with the existing and migrated Hindu families they started cultivation in Kattanam and became best farmers. Because of the good fertility of the paddy land, the production of katta’s (paddy with grains) has increased, accumulated and traded from here, “Katta-Anam” means “paddy with grains - Blessed” and since this place is known and called as Kattanam.
References
There are several schools in the locality which provides primary, secondary and higher levels of education.
Kattanam is well connected to neighboring cities and states via several highways. It is a node in the North-South Corridor of the National Highway system.
The famous and well-known Devi temple "Pallipuram Devi Temple" is located 3 km from Kattanam city, and it has a history of more than 400 years. This temple myths are related to famous and well-known Nair family Kottarathil, and it has a history of more than 250 years.