Anizham Tirunal Marthanda Varma, who ruled erstwhile Travancore from 1729-1758, expanded the boundaries of a tiny realm from Kanyakumari in the south to Parur, laying the foundation of a powerful kingdom.
Marthanda Varma’s strained association with the Ettuvettil Pillais, the traditional feudal chiefs, has been the subject of discussion and many works based on it. However, there is still confusion about the identity of the feudal chiefs.
An auxiliary shrine near the thekkath of the Kadakamppay Asans
The Kadakampally family at Anayara claims a unique association with the King. According to family tradition, the ancestors of the house, along with six other related families from Kottarakkara, had settled in Thiruvananthapuram long before Marthanda Varma’s reign. The ancestors of these families were skilled warriors and they maintained kalaris , where many youths from the region were trained in martial arts. In due time, the patriarchs of the clan were bestowed with the title Asan denoting their
The family rose to prominence in the eighteenth century, following an important episode in the history of Travancore. Marthanda Varma was at constant war with the feudal chiefs who schemed against him. According to popular legend, the powerful Kazhakoottathu Pillai was a master of disguise who managed to evade all attempts to capture him. It was in this situation that the Kadakampally Asan extended their help to the King. The Asan, who knew of the clandestine hideout of Pillai, had followed him and with the help of his disciples, captured him alive and handed him over to the soldiers.
The last prominent patriarch, Kadakampally Sankara Pillai Asan.
Marthanda Varma was grateful to the Asan for his valuable help and granted vast landholdings as well as many other privileges to his family. The family members still recall that until the 1970s they used to carry mukkal-kodi , a flag suspended on three legs that was carried to the Sangumugham beach during the Arattu ceremony. The records relating to the Thirumadampu ceremony of the Travancore princes also mention the participation of the Kadakampally Asans, who accompanied the Prince, with drawn swords in their hands.
The ancient house in Kadakampally village, Anayara, still retains some of its old world charm. Even though the kalari tradition was discontinued in the early 19th century, the patriarchs of the family attached great pride with the title of Kadakampally Asan. The last prominent patriarch of the family, Kadakampally Sankara Pillai Asan (1882-1979) had rebuilt the old house, but the ancient thekkath , the samadhi, and the sacred grove, the abode of family deities, remain as a fine specimen for studying the traditional architecture of Southern Kerala.
(The writer is a conservation architect and history buff)
