Nedumpally

Nedumpally is one of the earliest and largest families in Kerala. It has now Hindu, Christian and Muslim branches and the Christian branch is again sub-divided into Catholics and Jacobites. Each branch has hundreds of members. Their ancestors might have reached Kerala from North India after 1000 BC among many other AryanBrahmins and settled in Palayoor. The Time that changes everything also split Nedumpally into many branches. Now there are Nedumpally Families in Kottayam, Irinjalakkuda (Thrissur District), Malappuram and in Sreekrishnapuram (Palakkad district).

The complete history of Nedumpally is yet unknown and has many gaps. Only a few written documents gives hint about this family. “Acts of Thomas” can be referred on this account. The strongest source of reference is the traditional songs of Syrian Christians called “Ramban songs“[1] . To sense the soul of Nedumpally one must go through the early Indian History.

Aryans and the Dravidians

[edit] Dravidians

Most of the Ethnologists believe that Dravidians in India is a branch of Elamite race who founded the civilization at Sumeria and Indus Valley. They reached India in prehistory and evolved in India at about 15000 BC. Dravidians became the elite inhabitants of India. The Dravidian civilization was found in the prehistory. They are also called Indus Valley people as it is one of the greatest and earliest civilizations world has ever seen. They had well planned City States built with baked bricks, swimming pools and plumbing. They had their own language and script, agriculture but no strong military. They had trade with the Mesopotamia.The period of this great civilization is estimated between BC 2500 to BC 1500[citation needed][original research?].

[edit] Aryans

Aryans (Arya means "NOBLE") were Indo-Europeans lived earlier in Euro-Asia. They were War-like people and had a strong military with horses. According to Aryan Invasion theory of Max Muller they attacked Indus valley in around 1500 BC. Dravidians were pushed to South. They settled in North India and it gave rise to a new culture that may be called as Vedic culture. Their life was not city based but it was a village based one. Slowly the intellectual and priestly (Vaidik) people who were called Brahmins founded the four varnas while the Kshatriyas founded many kingdoms in the Gangetic plains.

[edit] Dravidians in Kerala

The Dravidians evolved in India by addition of many races. Kerala was first inhabited by Ayar or Konar who were Yadavas. Some started living there doing Agriculture. Since South-West corner of India was the best option for them to do agriculture in terms of natural resources and environment upper class Dravidians settled in the land, which was later, named Kerala. The South Dravidian culture of Ayvels, Pandia and chera kingdom are depicted in Sangha Literatures such as Ahananooru, Purananooru and Silappathiharam written by a Chera Prince. It may give a graphic detail of the Sangha era and ancient kerala including foreigners.

[edit] Aryans in Kerala

By 1000 BC the south India was ruled by the Powerful Pandiyan dynasty which included most of the Kerala. The Chera dynasty which which was founded in the 300 BC with capital at Vanjimanagaram was perhaps founded by Panans as the Chera kings were called Banapperumals. Cheran Chenkuttuvan was a famous king. Later it extended to sea at Kodungaloor(Trichur). A number of Brahmin (Vediars in Sangha literatures)families from the North migrated to the south and settled down, maintaining friendly relations with the Dravidians around 200 AD. Brahmins pleased Dravidian kings with their intellectual skills and they were adorned in RajaSabha(court). Brahmins told Puranic stories and Mahabharata to the Chera and Pandiya kings of kerala. Kodungalloor(Mussiris) Musirippatinam was the major harbor city of cheran domain at that time and it was nearby the Cheran-capital Thiruvanchikulam. Thondi(Tyndis)and Bharkare(Purakkadu) were the other ports. Nelkinda was the southern capital of Pandiyas and Ayvels.

[edit] Trade with the Middle East

The earliest people to visit India from the Middle East were Arabs as early as 3000 BC. The ancient Tamil Literatures mention about Yavanas (fair people), the Greeks and Romans who had been given permission to build fortified towns called yavanappatinams or Yavanacherrys. The Jain Pandiyan Kings used to rule most of the kerala prior to 300 BC when the Chera kingdom was founded by the immigrants (chera, Vellian and Puraiyans). Pandiyans were well known to Greek historian Tolemy while Pliny Elder visited the Chera capital of Kodungalloor in 24 AD.

Even before 1000 BC there was a large number of Jews in the region now called Kerala who used to trade with Syria, Palestine and other Middle Eastern countries. They bought commodities like pepper, ginger, cinnamon, cardamom and sandalwood in return for gold, silver, copper, bronze and perfumes. Many Jews settled in Kerala during the period of Nebuchadnezzar in 6th century BC in the Yavanacherys. The Pandiyan navy was sailing from founded sea roots from Syria, Persia to china. The Jews might have settled in the Chera city of Kodungalloor and the Pandiyan city of Nelcynda.

Hippaulus a Greek sailor found a Sea route to India in 600BC through Red Sea.

There is a mention about Essenes in Manimekhalai who could have been converted Jewish Christians. Brahmins were virtually non extinct in Sangha literatrue during the Christian period.

[edit] The Malayalam language

The language of the Dravidians was Tamil. Although Aryans migrated south, their language was limited to religious functions and ceremonies. By AD 1300 this language Malayalam became an independent language. During the early days this language had a round script. Later it adopted an elongated script. Actually Malayalam script originated from Brahmi script, which is India's National script, which in turn is an Aryan script. The Malayalam of today has a mixture of the both.

[edit] St. Thomas's ministry in India

One among the Twelve Apostles was St. Thomas. Palestine, Mesopotamia, Persia and Media were some of the places where he converted people to Christianity. During that time the area from Syria to Patria was under Roman rule and because of this traveling through this region was relatively easy. Saint Thomas came to know about Indian culture through Haban one of the prominent Jewish merchant in India and reached Kodungalloor(Krankanoor)at AD 52. Over here he stayed with the Jewish community, preached the Gospel and evangelized the People. St. Thomas Christian Communities Evolved in places like Kodungaloor, Kollam, Niranam, Nillakal, Kokkamangalam, Kottakavu and Palayoor. Oral tradition says that St. Thomas established 7 Churches in Kerala Ancient history is mainly in Sangha Literatures.

[edit] History of Nedumpally

[edit] Conversion of Nedumpally Brahmins

During AD 59 in Palayoor[2], which was a Sea Port, there were lots of Jews who were traders. St. Thomas stayed with these traders and converted a lot of people to Christianity. In one of the Temple Ponds he performed a miracle. Some Vaidik Brahmins were throwing water upward to adore Sun and St. Thomas asked why the drops returned down if Sun was a live God. St. Thomas threw water in the name of Jesus and it stood still in the air and glitterd like diomond. By this "Experience" many Brahmins accepted Christianity while the other Brahmin Families cursed the place and left saying that they will bathe their next bath at Vembanattu. Even today the place is known as Sapa-kadu or Chavakadu which means The forest of curse. The unhappy Brahmins ran away to Vembanattu and settled down there. This place is still called Pudumanassery or the “Place of the new Mana( Illam ).Pudumanassery namboothiri was ruling from a small principality north of Walluvanad in the 1300 AD. This incident can be proved on the basis of names of the corresponding villages and the paintings in Palayoor Church([3]). Nedumpally, Madeipur, Koykkam, Muttodal, പകലൊമററം (Malayalam script)(Pakalomattam in American English), Panakkamattam, Sankarapuri, Kalli, Kallikavu, etc. were among the families who were Baptised in Palayoor. St. Thomas could have converted some Jewish families. Later some Syrian Christians who emigrate from Persia during the Sassanian empire might have mixed with them. There is some mention of Essenes a group of Christians among foreigners (Jews and Yavana) though no Sanga literature mention about Christianity among natives or brahmins.

[edit] Spreading of Palayoor families

Some families left Palayoor in 2nd or 3rd century. Pakalomattom, Sankarapury etc include in this list. Nedumpally stayed there until Tippu Sultan(1749-99) attacked Kerala and reached Thrissur. A lot of people were converted to Muslims by his army. One branch of Nedumpally reached ThekkumKoor and got shelter there. Thekkumkoor is now a part of Kottayam District. Kasaragode, Alappuzha, Kozhikode etc districts also have Nedumpally Christian families.

[edit] Nedumpally Muslims

Tippu's army converted many upper class Hindus as well as Christians to Muslims. Some Nedumpally Christians were also converted to Muslims. This branch is now mainly settled in Malappuram.

[edit] Nedumpally now

* Main branch of Christian Nedumpally can be found in Kottayam and majority of its members are Syrian Catholics. Mukkudi, Mukkudimali, Thekkenedumpalli, Mali, Panthookiniyil,Kalichira etc are well known families in Parampuzha village. More than 100 families belong to Nedumpally. They convene annual meetings and share their experience.
* Hindu Brahmins of Nedumpally who left Palayoor in 1st century settled in different parts of Kerala and their caste was later named Namboothiri. They are Rigvedis and are in the Gothram of Angirasan who was one of the Saptharshis. This branch is mainly settled in Palakkadu district.
* Muslim Nedumpally is fully settled in Malappuram district. A large number of their men are Hajis and have a prominent role in society.

[edit] References

1. Kerala Charithram: A.Sridhara Menon
2. The Syrian Church in Malabar: J. C. Panjikkaran,1914, alias SARAS Edition, ICHC I, The Nazranies, pp.277, 278
3. The St. Thomas Christian Encyclopaedia of India All about India’s Christianity ISBN 81-87132-01-9 (Vol. I-In..Edn.) 8187132078 (Intn’l) (Vol. II- 8187132132l) Lib. Cong..Card..:73-905568 BX 166.2b. S24
4. BERNARD: A Brief Sketch of the History of the St. Thomas Christians.