Mallappally

Mallappally, a village of 20 km², situates in the Pathanamthitta district, in Kerala State, India. It is also a Taluk/Revenue Block headquarters. Mallappally holds the distinction of being the Taluk with the lowest population among all the Taluks in the State. Though a village, it has all the features and facilities of an urban centre. Landlocked, Mallappally's nearest major commercial centre is Tiruvalla which has a railway station that just manages to meet the requirements of the entire district. Hotel Arcadia Fort (3*) is just a few kilometres away from the town for stay and dining.

Etymology & History

The general notion is that the land derived its name 'from Mallan meaning Strong People and Pally meaning living land, and Mallappally is believed to have had 'a community of brave aggressive inhabitants'. This, of course, is based on the simple meaning of the word, but is obviously far-fetched. With neither any archive nor any folklore or legends to back up, the origin of name can only be assumed from the general pattern that scholars apply to many place names in Kerala - in this case, a Buddhist connection.

Jainism and Buddhism

Kerala had Jainism and Buddhism, one after the other, till about 7th century CE.

Buddhists had a very good network of monasteries and settlements. The word 'pally' is a Buddhist word for 'school'/vihara or settlement. The word became a suffix for many places in Kerala suggesting the presence of Buddhism. There were Buddhist centres near Mallappally - like Kaviyoor, Changanacherry etc. The Jain and Buddhist worship centres got converted in to Hindu temples as Janinism and Budhhism gave way to Brahminical Hinduism in the eighth century CE and vanished completely by 11th century CE. It would be wise to say it was assimilated by Hinduism in Kerala.(ref. http://www.thrikodithanam.org/intro.htm)

Buddhist Monks & Malla

Buddhist monks were fond of peaceful and serene ambience for their stay and prayers. Mallappally, with its green hills and valleys, beautiful farm fields, sparse population and above all, a benevolent river that bisects the place provided an ample shelter to the monks. Study of Hindu temples in and around would have revealed more data on this transition. ‘Malla’ was a kingdom (rather one of the 16 mahajanapadas, മഹാജനപദം or republic confederate) of two provinces with two capitals not distant from each other, Kusinagara and Pava, during Buddha’s time. Buddha (560-480 BCE) himself was fond of this country. He had his last meals at Pava. Later he died at Kusinagara (close to present day Gorakhpur) and was also cremated there. Malla was later taken over by King Ajathasathru’s (c. 297–272 BCE) Magadha empire. The Mallas appear in a number of Buddhist works. Buddhists attached a lot of importance to Malla republic because of its Buddha connection. ‘Malla’ thus became a favourite word of Buddhists monks. This Malla kingdom is not connected to the Malla kings of Nepal who ruled from 12th to 18th century CE, though some historians believe there is a link between the two.

The sylvan village that we know as Mallappally might have attracted the Buddhist monks who used to travel a lot and had the habit of settling in isolated areas. The ideal surroundings might have influenced them to give the place a name linked with the favorite Mahajanapada of Buddhists.

Thekkumkoor & Edappally Kings

Unfortunately, in the absence of any serious study one cannot raise the level of acceptability of theories. Mallappally, as other nearby areas, was obviously within the Chera empire and after the fall of the Cheras, it belonged to Vempolinadu from which the kingdom of Thekkumkoor was carved out in c. 1100 CE. The Nambyathiris ( a section of Brahmins with right to take part in wars) of Edappally occupied parts of Kallooppara, a village nearby, but the surrounding area remained with Thekkumkoor. After the fall of Thekkumkoor the area fell under the king of Travancore c. 1750 CE.

Mallappally & Kaviyoor

Thekkumkoor Rajas allowed Brahmins to rule some villages as per the system of ‘Pathillathu Nampoothiris’ (see Changanacherry). Parts of Mallappally west were under the rule of Kaviyoor Brahmins. Murani (Mallappaly West)was the border of Kaviyoor Village till Travancore was formed by King Marthanda Varma of Venad dynasty. Even today there is a symbolical procession (parayezhunnellippu, പറയെഴുന്നെള്ളിപ്പ്) called ‘Murani Yathra’ during the ulsavam (annual fest) at Kaviyoor Mahadeva Temple. The long journey involving priests and a caparisoned elephant was dropped long ago as the late return from Murani had affected the rituals at the temple, especially the early morning poojas. Some Hindu families from Murani still come to the Kaviyoor temple to pay their annual obeisance during ‘Ulsavam’. The Kaviyoor temple owned five deshams – Murani, Anjilithanam, Kunnamthanam, Padinjattumcherry and Iraviperoor; The Pathillathu Nampoothiris’, who controlled the temple, were the de facto rulers of these areas. Only a few of these Nampoothiri illams survive today.

A few centuries ago, there was an issue which created tension between Hindu Ezhavas of Njalbhagom area near Thottabhagom and Christians of Kaviyoor, Kallooppara and probably parts of Mallappally. A young Hindu Ezhava woman by name 'Chirutheyi' (lower-caste name for Sreedevi)fell in love with a Christian youth from Kallloopara/Mallappaly and married him, of course, against her parents' wishes. With the issue causing communal tension and certain aristocratic Christian families who were assigned the task of purification of oil used in Hindu temples taking the side of the groom's family, Brahmins interfered to sort out the matter. The woman was allowed to stay with the man of her choice. She got converted to Christianity, but is wrongly depicted as princess of Edappallly royalty in stories fabricated later.

Misleading Family Historians

The history of most of Kerala's provinces is murky and so is the history of Mallappally. But what makes the study of history of Kerala more complex is the threat from family historians. The trend of writing one’s family history (genealogy) was started in the central Travancore about 150–200 years ago. Each family, in order to enhance their status in the society, started claims like “Our family originated from a Brahmin”…or “ Our family originated from a King…”. In olden times, in Kerala, when a Brahmin (or for that matters others too) sold his property to somebody, the property name – often based on topography, trees, plants etc. - remained unchanged; the buyers’ descendants would then claim “ we were brahmins; this was an illam”. True, revenue records still retained the land's(property's)name unchanged, but the original owners were different. And false claims of lineage take shape. One family in Mallappally Taluk even claims that they were rulers of Kallooppara, Mallappally, Kaviyoor, Iraviperoor etc. Of course, this is rubbish. No such rulers ever existed. Another family in Kaviyoor claims that they were given special status when Edappally king ruled Kaviyoor. Edappally Nambyathiris owned only a few hectares of land in Kallooppara and Mavelikkara. They had nothing to do with Kaviyoor. It is true that a few members of upper castes were converted in to Christianity in different areas. Conversion of the rest was mainly to escape mistreatment by upper castes. Since historians now confirm that Brahmins arrived from the north only in the eighth century CE, many claims fall apart. Even an old KERALOLPATHI (കേരളോല്പ്പത്തി ) a book written by an unknown author a few centuries ago is considered to be only 1% true and 99% concoction. Inside a family, over generations, the yen for recognition and status gives rise to a lie. The lie begets a legend and the legend is accepted as truth. Once a wrong belief entrenches in the minds of people, it is difficult to elicit any logical facts from them. Historians often confront this hurdle.

Geography

For a satellite view of Mallappally, go to http://maps.nationalgeographic.com/map-machine#s=h&c;=9.445770415228324,%2076.65876209735869&z;=17

The river Manimala flows through Mallappally.

The topography is generally hilly with lush green environment. It has low level area too, which enables paddy cultivation. The river ensures fertility of the land.

Nearby Places

Education

The Kallooppara Assembly, of which Mallappally is a part, was credited as the first segment in the state to achieve 100 percent computer literacy at the school level.

Colleges

# College of Engineering Kallooppara, Kadamankulam P.O, Mallappally,Tiruvalla(Via),Pathanamthitta District,Kerala State,India-689603, Telephone: 0469-2678983(Office) (Website: http://www.cek.ac.in/) # Keltron animation campus - Mallappally, Pathanamthitta -689585, Kerala, Telephone: 0469-2785525 (Website: http://keltronanimation.com/reachus.html) # Institute of Human Resource Development (IHRD),College of Applied Science , Peakuzhiyil Buildings, Mallappally West P O, Pathanamthitta - 689585, Telephone/Fax:0469-2681426 (Website: http://www.ihrdkerala.org/casmallapally.html) # St. Joseph ITC, St. Joseph ITC Building, Mallappally West P O, Mallappally, Telephone: 0469-2681892.(Website: http://www.deepika.com/bestschools/stjoseph.htm) # Bishop Abraham Memorial College, Thuruthicad, Mallappally, Kerala # Central ITC, Mallappally West P O, Mallappally, Kerala phone 0469-2782323 mobile 9447100864 # Mallappally Institute for Academic Excellence, Mallappally East PO. Mob 9446818770, Ph 0479 2454900.

High Schools

# CMS High School, Mallappally, Pathanamthitta, Kerala (CMS High School the seventh school to be established by Britishers in Kerala.) # Mar Dionysius School & Junior College,Rishi Valley, Chengaroor P O,Mallappally, Pathanamthitta - 689594, Telephone: 95-469-2688547,2688080,2680333 (Website: http://www.mdrishivalleyschool.com) # St. Theresa's Bethany Convent HSS, Chengaroor, Mallappally # MGD High School,Puthuserry, Mallappally # Govt Vocational Higher Secondary School, Keezhvaipur, Mallappally # Technichal Higher secondary school Mallappally(IHRD) # NSS HS Chalappally

Religion

The majority of the population are either Hindu or Christian. Mallappally Taluk is probably the single birth place of the largest number of Christian Bishops in Kerala or even in India. Wattassril Thirumani(Saint)of Malankara Orthodox Church born here.

The Mallappally Union Christian Convention began in 1912, and is conducted by the members of Church of South India and Marthoma. The keynote speaker of the 88th convention, in 2009 will be delivered by Tiruvalla Archbishop of Malankara Catholic Church, Thomas Mar Coorlios.

Shiva Rathri, a legendary Hindu festival, is celebrated, and has the greatest gathering in Kerala, after the Alwaye Shiva Rathri. The land has now become popularly known as Shiva Rathri Nagar.(Thirumalida Mahadeva Temple)

Churches and Temples

#Sri Thirumalida Siva Temple, Mallappally #Sri Krishna Swami Temple, Pariyaram #Sri Mahadeva Mahavishnu Temple Perumpetty #Sechion Marthoma Church, Zehion Hills, North Mallappally #St.Johns Bethany Orthodox Church, Mallappally #St,Francis Xavier Malankara Catholic church mallappally #CSI ST.STEPHEN'S CHURCH MALLAPPAY-689597. #CSI Holy Immanuel Church, Mallappally East http://www.csiimmanuelchurch.com #Mallappally Marthoma Church #St. Andrews Mar Thoma Church, Pariyaram, Mallappally #Sharon Fellowship Church, Mallappally #St. Thomas CSI Church Devankara ( Mallappally West ) #St. Athanasious Catholic Church Mallappally West #Sharon Fellow ship Church Punnavely (Mulayamvely) #St. Thomas Marthoma Church Punnavely #St. Paul's and St. Peter's Orthodox Church, Pathiucadu http://www.pathicaduoschurch.org #St Thomas C S I Church,Nedungadappally. #St.Marys Orthodox Church, Nellimoodu

One of the oldest Stone temples in India is located in Kaviyoor. The ancient abode of Lord Muruga, Keezhvaipur, Subramania Swamy Temple is 3 km away from Mallappally.

Anikkattlamma Sivaparvathy temple,Anikkadu http://www.anikkattilamma.com

*Thomas Chittazham

Hospitals

The Rev. George Mathen Mission Hospital serves as a medical hub, as there are no other standard medical institutions within a 16 km radius. The church is named after the first native priest of the Anglican Church in Kerala.

Banks

State Bank of Travancore,

Indian Overseas Bank,

Catholic Syrian Bank Ltd.

Pathanamthitta District Co-operative Bank.

Thiruvalla East Co operative Bank. Ltd,

South Indian Bank Ltd.

Adhyapaka Co-Operative Bank.Ltd,

Federal Bank Ltd.,

Canara Bank.

Service Co-operative Bank

Union Bank Of India

Corporation Bank

'''State Bank of India

ATM Availability

South Indian Bank Ltd.- (Central Junction). Catholic Syrian Bank- (Market Junction), Axis Bank - (Kottayam Road), Federal Bank Ltd. - (Kottayam Road), State Bank of Travancore,(Bus Stand Road) Union Bank of India(Kottayam Road)

Reaching Mallappally

Mallappally has a Bus Stand, with bus access from major towns in Pathanamthitta District and Kottayam District. The nearest Railway stations are at Thiruvalla -14 km / Changanassery-14 km /Chenganoor- 16 km and the nearest airports are Cochin International Airport-100 km & Trivandrum International Airport-125 km.

Notable People from Mallappally

Birth place of St. Geevarghese Mar Dionysius of Vattasseril (Dionysius VI)and Bishop Joseph Mar Severios of Malankara Catholic Church.

Mallappally is the hometown of Great Volley Ball Player Prayattukunnel Oommen Varkey'Olympian Varkey/Mallapally Varkey)

Thelliyoorkavu village of maallappally taluk is the birth place of famous vedic sholar Gopalakrishna Vaidik (Also the first Director of newly introduced Sreepadmanabha N S S Tantra vidyapeedom)

References

Category:Cities and towns in Pathanamthitta district

This text is licensed under the Creative Commons CC-BY-SA License. This text was originally published on Wikipedia and was developed by the Wikipedia community.