The name Naranammalpuram
According to the late Shri Sankara Sastrigal who lived in the village in the late ‘40s, the name of the village was so given as it was gifted to Vedic Brahmins by a Queen of the Nayak Dynasty, Narayani Ammal 400 years ago. (However this does not find a place in the Govt.archives – there was no such queen!)
Originally known as Dhoorva Thadagam (AruganKulam in Tamil) the village was situated a little away on the Western side of its present location. But as the river changed its course to the North, the agraharam was shifted to the east.
The new name, Naranammalpuram was given in accordance with the age-old practice of naming a new place after Lord Narayana (According to Shri T V Anantharamanseshan, a scholar from Taruvai – later Asst.Editor, The Hindu)
The village has had the pride of accommodating learned pandits. Swamy Dikshithar (Appayya Dikshithar’s grandson) lived here in 1620 A.D. he was the author of Karthikeya Vijaya.
Veeraraghava Kavi, descendent 7th generation of Achan Maruindra family lives here. He was the author of Achan Dikshitendra Vamsavali; late published in 1923 by P.P.S.Sastri, Supdt of Oriental/Sanskrit Schools, Madras. A copy is available in the Reference Section of Madras University.
Legend has it that Neelakanta Dikshithar who settled in Palamadai was an ardent upasaka and needed Dhoorva grass for his poojas. His disciples used to walk up to Dhoorva Thadagam (AruganKulam) to collect such grass. After his time, his son Swami Dikshithar settled in this village.
From the above it may be seen that Mangammal ruled in 1689 whereas the village had existed as early as 1620.
With the decline of the Vijayanagar dynasty in the late 16th century several communities, Maravas, Nayaks, Yadhavas and Brahmins migrated to South India in search of occupations. (History of Tirunelveli – Pope Coldwell).
Among the Brahmins, some having found the river banks of palar and Cauvery overrun by the earlier settlers, settled in eight villages of Tirunelveli District. They were Ambasamudram, Gopalasamudram, Kodaganallur, Naranammalpuram, Pattamadai, Palamadai Taruvai and Viravanallur.
Since they came from the northern parts, they were called vadamas and spoke Telugu. This migration is believed to have happened around the late 1500’s.’ as Neelakanta Dikshithar settled in Palamadai just about 1610 AD in the later years of life.
Cherishing their memories of their Telugu origin, they worshipped Venkateswara as their Kula Deivam. The Nayak kings who ruled Pandya Desam also built several temples for Lord Venkateswara in the district. The descendants of Neelakanta Dikshithar continued to live in AruganKulam till as late as 1950s. notable among them was M.S. Viswanatha Aiyer who was practicing as a lawyer in Madurai. (Sri Appayya Dikshithar by N.Ramesan IAS – 1972).
The other communities who migrated also formed their settlements around the
Agraharam. Most of them resorted to agriculture, although every caste was represented by their craft. There were carpenters, blacksmiths, potters and oil mongers. There were a few Muslim families too who worked as masons.
Some of these classes were violent natured. Instead of engaging themselves in productive pursuits, they resorted to rioting and dacoity and were even branded criminals tribes. The British Government had enacted the CT Act by which they were prevented from unlawful activities through several punishments and incarceration.
Even in the 21st century, they prefer to be middlemen in agricultural tracts. They prefer to supererise tilling by scheduled castes rather than tilling. By contract leasing, they raised crops on land belonging to someone else. By not paying the landlords their dues, they enriched themselves. Such ill-gotten wealth is used for lending money at usurious rates of interest to poor farmers and small traders. This gave them unlimited power of men and money.
The other communities lived more or less in harmony with each other what politics has done in the last three decades is open for everyone see. (Tamilnadu Gazetteer – Tirunelveli District – 2002: History of Tirunelveli – Bishop Caldwell)
Aadhi Narayanaath Jathaha
Kethaha Grama Eva Cha
Saampradhayika Vidhinaa
Narana Jithi abhidheeyathae
(Viswa karma Vaasthu Shastra)
A tamil scholar expressed the view that the Tamil version naranan maal puram cannot be ruled out.
According to the late Shri Sankara Sastrigal who lived in the village in the late ‘40s, the name of the village was so given as it was gifted to Vedic Brahmins by a Queen of the Nayak Dynasty, Narayani Ammal 400 years ago. (However this does not find a place in the Govt.archives – there was no such queen!)
Originally known as Dhoorva Thadagam (AruganKulam in Tamil) the village was situated a little away on the Western side of its present location. But as the river changed its course to the North, the agraharam was shifted to the east.
The new name, Naranammalpuram was given in accordance with the age-old practice of naming a new place after Lord Narayana (According to Shri T V Anantharamanseshan, a scholar from Taruvai – later Asst.Editor, The Hindu)
The village has had the pride of accommodating learned pandits. Swamy Dikshithar (Appayya Dikshithar’s grandson) lived here in 1620 A.D. he was the author of Karthikeya Vijaya.
Veeraraghava Kavi, descendent 7th generation of Achan Maruindra family lives here. He was the author of Achan Dikshitendra Vamsavali; late published in 1923 by P.P.S.Sastri, Supdt of Oriental/Sanskrit Schools, Madras. A copy is available in the Reference Section of Madras University.
Legend has it that Neelakanta Dikshithar who settled in Palamadai was an ardent upasaka and needed Dhoorva grass for his poojas. His disciples used to walk up to Dhoorva Thadagam (AruganKulam) to collect such grass. After his time, his son Swami Dikshithar settled in this village.
From the above it may be seen that Mangammal ruled in 1689 whereas the village had existed as early as 1620.
With the decline of the Vijayanagar dynasty in the late 16th century several communities, Maravas, Nayaks, Yadhavas and Brahmins migrated to South India in search of occupations. (History of Tirunelveli – Pope Coldwell).
Among the Brahmins, some having found the river banks of palar and Cauvery overrun by the earlier settlers, settled in eight villages of Tirunelveli District. They were Ambasamudram, Gopalasamudram, Kodaganallur, Naranammalpuram, Pattamadai, Palamadai Taruvai and Viravanallur.
Since they came from the northern parts, they were called vadamas and spoke Telugu. This migration is believed to have happened around the late 1500’s.’ as Neelakanta Dikshithar settled in Palamadai just about 1610 AD in the later years of life.
Cherishing their memories of their Telugu origin, they worshipped Venkateswara as their Kula Deivam. The Nayak kings who ruled Pandya Desam also built several temples for Lord Venkateswara in the district. The descendants of Neelakanta Dikshithar continued to live in AruganKulam till as late as 1950s. notable among them was M.S. Viswanatha Aiyer who was practicing as a lawyer in Madurai. (Sri Appayya Dikshithar by N.Ramesan IAS – 1972).
The other communities who migrated also formed their settlements around the
Agraharam. Most of them resorted to agriculture, although every caste was represented by their craft. There were carpenters, blacksmiths, potters and oil mongers. There were a few Muslim families too who worked as masons.
Some of these classes were violent natured. Instead of engaging themselves in productive pursuits, they resorted to rioting and dacoity and were even branded criminals tribes. The British Government had enacted the CT Act by which they were prevented from unlawful activities through several punishments and incarceration.
Even in the 21st century, they prefer to be middlemen in agricultural tracts. They prefer to supererise tilling by scheduled castes rather than tilling. By contract leasing, they raised crops on land belonging to someone else. By not paying the landlords their dues, they enriched themselves. Such ill-gotten wealth is used for lending money at usurious rates of interest to poor farmers and small traders. This gave them unlimited power of men and money.
The other communities lived more or less in harmony with each other what politics has done in the last three decades is open for everyone see. (Tamilnadu Gazetteer – Tirunelveli District – 2002: History of Tirunelveli – Bishop Caldwell)
Aadhi Narayanaath Jathaha
Kethaha Grama Eva Cha
Saampradhayika Vidhinaa
Narana Jithi abhidheeyathae
(Viswa karma Vaasthu Shastra)
A tamil scholar expressed the view that the Tamil version naranan maal puram cannot be ruled out.
7 comments:
Hello Mr. Krishna
It is interesing and good to know about your blog. I was surprized as well, as to know a person visited my blog! Anyhow, let me know your details may be i will get in touch with you. I have my grand father's brother still living in naranamaalpuram.
Thanks
Venkatrama Sharma
My name is Veeraraghavan Iyer. My grandmother, Gomathi Ammal used to live in a house very close to the river Tamaraiparani and we used to cross the river to reach the village/house. Am in Mumbai at present and would love to visit the place. Can you mail me more about the route to the village from Tirunelveli Jn. My email id is: Veer.Raghavann@gmail.com
Hello Sir,
Namaskaram !! I am Prasanna Subramanian and my grandfather N.S Ramakrishna Iyer lived here. Recently i came to know that the Kula deivam for few of the Smarthas ( Vadama) in this village is Urupattur ( Cuddalore - Pondy route) Does someone have any further information on where the Kuladeivam Temple is located. I searched in Google maps but couldnt suceed. Any help would be much appreaciated.
Subramanian.prasanna@gmail.com
Amazed to stumble upon this post. I also hail from Aravankulam though I have not gone there even once. My great grand father Ramiah Ganapatigal was (they say) fairly well known in the village. No idea if any one can throw some light on him. The Perumal Kuladeivam theory of Vadamas is probably true, since our Kuladeivam is Venkatachalapathi Perumal in nearby Udayaneri (Palamadai)
I just happened to stumble upon this post as I was searching for various references to Aruvangulam and Naranammalpuram. My maternal grandfather happens to be from there and I have heard from him many childhood stories. His name was N.S. Krishnan, Naranammalpuram Sundara Krishnan. He subsequently migrated to Bombay and lived all his life there. I he is no more unfortunately, I wish he was around. Would have loved to share this article with him. thank you@
I am Brig K Ramani . My father Sri G Kuppuswamy was aregular visistor to Karupu VinAYAKAR TEMPLE in this village. This is as far back as Ican remember. I never aske my father why does he go to tjis temple??? My grand mother ie father's mother is from Adachani. I came to know she moved to her paernts home as my grand father dies ear;ly and she had to bring up four sons and oone daughter. My father was sent to Nagarkoil where he satyed with realtives and studied there. I continued visisting this temple considering it as famili diety
Please do throw some light if you can on our origins
Some of the information especially about Descendants of Appaya Dikshitar is wrong .. Palamadai Nilakanta Dikshitar was Appaya Dikshitar's Elder brothe'sb(Achan Dikshitar) Grandson . Alongwith Nilakanta Dikshitar his brothers also moved to Palamadai & from there descendants moved to Arukankulam, Marthandam , Kodaganallur, Trivandrum etc places. The Arukankulam descendants veere of Nilakanta Dikshitar's elder Brother's grandson & one of other brother's Gradson. Most of the Descendants of Arukankulam moved out after a Deluge of Thamiraparani River varound Mid 19 th Century to Gopalasamudram Tharuvai Pattamamadai Kodaganallur Veeravanallur Adaichani , Gangaikondan incl Madurai. Madurai Lawyer N.S. Viswanatha Iyer is one of the Descendants of 5 sons of Sankara Avadhaniyar (Ashtavadhani).
The Descendants of Achan Dikshitar incl Palamadai Nilakanta Dikshitar clans who moved to Arukankulam had established Karpaga Vinayagar Temple Complex and it was their Kuladeivam since Achan Mahi Dikshitar as reaserched by many families and in my family had awritten Document since year 1840s...about the Kuladeivam.
Most of Achan , Appaya Dikshitars Descendants (Appaya Dikshitar handed over his personal Pooja Vigrahas to Brothers Grandson Nilakanta Dikshitar , passed tohus descendants to Kodaganallur & since 1990 they are at Sringeri Mutt. The Vigharasvl are Spatika Periya Sivan Pillayar, Siva lingam & Ambal..) Achan , Appaya DikshitarsvGrand father was Achan Dikshitensra alias Vakshasthala Dikshitar was patronised by King Krishna Deva Raya and Appaya Dikshitar Sarman Name is Vinayaka Subramaniyan..and many familes of descendants will have Ganapathy as Sarman Name ...is clear indication that this families Kuladeivam is Vinayagar bot Venkatachalapathi or Perumal.
Most of the other Smartha people of Palamadai Arukankulam Gopalasamudram Tharuvai have Sastha of Chittur (near Valliyur) or Other places some with Tiruchendur Murgan not Venkatachalapathi as Kuladeivam..
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