Kingdom of Cochin

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File:Cochinel.gif
Logo of Perumpadappu Swaroopam
Flag of Cochin

The Kingdom of Cochin or Kochi (also known as Perumpadapu Swaroopam, Madarajyam, Gosree Rajyam, or Kuru Swaroopam; Malayalam: കൊച്ചി [Kocci] or പെരുമ്പടപ്പ [Perumpaṭapp]) was a former state in the area of present Kochi (Cochin), Thrissur, Palakkad and Malappuram in what is now the Indian state of Kerala. Later, it was merged with Travancore to create Travancore-Cochin, which was in turn merged with the Malabar district of Madras State on November 1, 1956 to form the new state of Kerala.

History

There is no historically written evidence about the emergence of Kingdom of Cochin or of the Cochin Royal Family (Perumpadapu Swaroopam). All that is recorded are through folk tales and stories. So what we have today is only a blurred picture.
Even though there are many manuscripts like Keralolpathi, Keralamahatmyam, Perumpadapu Grandavari, etc. we cannot fully rely on them as they are folk tales and stories but they have got their own prominence.
According to Keralamahatmyam (44th adhyaya) King Vishravanas daughter Bala told Parusurama that she needs a land with her name for her to settle. Parashurama for fulfilling her wish created a land from sea and called it Kochi (which later became Cochin). Lord Parashurama promoted this land and invited people of all religion caste and creed to settle here. This story can only be considered as a continuation of the old folk tale in which Parashurama created Kerala out of the sea and also that building of temples.
There is a well known story that the last Perumal who ruled Kerala divided his kingdom between his nephews and his sons and got himself converted to Islam and went to Mecca for pilgrimage. Keralolpathi states the above story as " The last and the famous Perumal king Cheraman Perumal ruled Kerala for 36 years. He left for Mecca by ship with some Muslims who arrived at Kodungallur (Crangannore) port and converted to Islam. Before leaving to Mecca he divided his kingdom between his nephews and sons." Perumpadapu Grandavari states " The last Thavazhi of Perumpadapu Swaroopam came into existence on the Kaliyuga day -shodashangamsurajyam. Cheraman Perumal divided the land into half, 17 amsha north of Neelaeswaram and 17 amsha south totaling to 34 amsha, and gave his powers to nephews and sons. Thirty four rajyas in between Kanyakumari (now in Tamil Nadu) and Gokarna (now in Karnataka) were give to the Thampuran who was the daughter of the last niece of Cheraman Perumal." There is no evidence that Cheraman Perumal converted himself to Islam. There is also a controversy that Perumal got himself converted to Buddhism, Christianity or Jainism. Keralolpathi recorded the division of his kingdom in 345 AD, Perumpadapu Grandavari in 385 AD, Loghan (a historian) in 825 AD. There is no historical clue on the split of Kerala, but according to Elamkulam Kunjan Pilla (a historian) a split might have occurred during the second Cheran Dynasty (Beginning of 12th century). There is also a view which can also be considered that the last Perumal, Ramavarma Kulashekara Perumal, of the second Cheran Dynasty (Kulashekara Samrajyam 800 AD - 1102 AD) with its capital at Mahodayapuram divided his Kingdom. There is also a baseless statement in Mangalamala (written by Appan Thampuran) that Bhaskara Ravi Varma had done the division. But there is evidence on the statement that the division was done by Ramavarma Kulashekara Perumal. Ramavarma Kulashekara Perumal" s sister who was married to a Namboothiri of Perumpadapu Illom near Ponnani had five daughters out of which only the last daughter had a son. During the last days of his reign Ramavarma Kulashekara Perumal divided his kingdom between his sons, relatives, and nobles. The kingdom which was later ruled by his sons were called VENAD Swaroopam and that of his nephew was called PERUMPADAPU Swaroopam. Even though matriarchal system was prevalent, the majority of his kingdom was given in between his sons and rest only to his nephew with all the religious rights. VENAD Swaroopam was bestowed the honor Kulashekaraperumal and PERUMPADAPU Swaroopam as Koviladhikari which is a proof of their political and religious practice. Thus, in the beginning of 12th century the Kingdom Of Cochin and the Cochin Royal Family (PERUMPADAPU Swaroopam) came into existence. Until 16th century PERUMPADAPU Swaroopam didn't have any political supremacy, all the political supremacy started only in the 16th century.

Capital(s)

From the beginning of 12th century AD and to the end of 13th century AD Chitrakooda in Perumpadapu village, of Vanneri was the capital of PERUMPADAPU Swaroopam. Even though the capital of PERUMPADAPU Swaroopam was in Vanneri Perumpadapu king had a palace in Mahodayapuram. When the Zamorins attacked Vanneri in the later part of the 13th century, PERUMPADAPU Swaroopam shifted their capital from Vanneri to Mahodayapuram. This continued till the beginning of 15th century. In 1405 PERUMPADAPU Swaroopam changed their capital from Mahodayapuram to Cochin. From there on PERUMPADAPU Swaroopam got the name Cochin Royal Family. By the end of the 14th Zamorin conquered Thrikkanamathilakam and it became a threat for Mahodayapuram (Thiruvanchikulam) and this may be the reason that PERUMPADAPU Swaroopam changed their capital to Cochin. Not only this in the year 1341 a flood created an island Puthuvippu (Vypin) and Cochin became a world famous natural harbor. The old Kodungallore(Cranganore) port lost its importance. The above may also be a cause for the shift of the capital. The palace at Kalvathhi was the residence of the kings in the beginning. Then in 1555 the palace was shifted to Mattancheri. Then after that the capital was shifted to Trichur (Thrissur) for a long time. At that time Penvazithampuran (Female Thampuran) and the other Kochuthampurans (other Thampurans except the Valliathampuran (King)) stayed at a palace in Vellarapalli. In the beginning of 18th century Thripunithura started gaining prominence. The kingdom was ruled from Trichur, Cochin and Thripunithura. Around 1755 Penvazithampuran (Female Thampuran) and the other Kochuthampurans (other Thampurans) left Vellarapalli and started to live in Thripunithura. Thus Thripunithura became the capital of Cochin Royal Family.

Different Names

Perumpadapu Swaroopam, Madarajyam, Goshree Rajyam, Kuru Swaroopam are the different names of Cochin Kingdom. Perumpadapu Velliya Thampuran, Madamaheeshan, Goshree Bhoopan, Kuru Bhoomi Bhrith are the different ways to call the Kings.

Since according to Vishravanan's daughter wish Lord Parashurama created a small land for her that land was called Balapuri and which intern means a small Land (Kochu Desham) in malayalam. That was later called Kochi (Cochin). According to Nichola County (15th century) and Fr. Poulino (17th Century) Kochi was named after a stream flowing through the place. This may be right since the capital of the kingdom was Kochi the entire Kingdom was popular by name Kochi. Its is an accepted fact that the kings of Kochi genealogy started from the sister of the last Prumal (Ramavarma Kulashekara) and also she was married by Perumpadapu Namboothiri. After the death of the Namboothiri there was no predecessor to the wealth and his Illom was merged with the Dynasty and hence the name Perumpadapu Swaroopam came into existence. But this reason for the name cannot be accepted fully. It can also be that the first rulers ruled from Perumpadapu in Ponnani hence the name. This reason is more logical. Thruvanjikulam Temple structure is according to the Chidambaram architecture form. So the founder can be a Chola Perumal from Chidambaram(T.N.) and also a tiger is inscribed on the flag which is called Puliyan and his place was called Pulyannur. This are from Putheyadath Raman Menons historical notes. Since Puliyannur Namboothiri (Tantri Poornathrayeesa Temple and Cochin Royal Family) originated from this place that Illom got this name. The name Perumpadapu came from Perumbathura Periyavar (The elder man of Perumbathura, a place near Chidambaram) which can also be a reason but is baseless. There was adoption to Madathinkizu (Madathum Koor) Swoorupam from Perumpadapu Swaroopam and finally there was no predecessor in Madathinkizu their properties were attached to Perumpadapu Swaroopam. Thus the name Madarajyam came into existence. The Sanskrit version of Madavamsham is Goshree Vamsham (Madu (Malayalam)= Pashu (Malayalam)= Go (Sanskrit)). The Kochi is the Synonym of Goshree. 

   There was also an adoption from Cochin Royal Family to Kuru Swaroopam and finally Kuru Swaroopam was merged with Kochi. Hence the name Kuru Swaroopam .



Kings

Maharaja Kerala Varma

Veerakerala Varma nephew of Cheraman Perumal is supposed to be the first king of Cochin (This was around 7th Century AD). But the only record we have is from 1503 AD.

  1. Unniraman Koyikal I (---- to 1503)
  2. Unniraman Koyikal II (1503 to 1537)
  3. Veera Kerala Varma (1537-1565)
  4. Keshava Rama Varma (1565-1601)
  5. Veera Kerala Varma (1601-1615)
  6. Ravi Varma (1615-1624)
  7. Veera Kerala Varma (1624-1637)
  8. Godavarma (1637-1645)
  9. Veerarayira Varma (1645-1646)
  10. Veera Kerala Varma (1646-1650)
  11. Rama Varma (1650-1656).
  12. Rani Gangadharalakshmi (1656-1658).
  13. Rama Varma (1658-1662).
  14. Goda Varma (1662-1663)
  15. Veera Kerala Varma(1663-1687)
  16. Rama Varma (1687-1693)
  17. Ravi Varma (1693-1697)
  18. Rama Varma (1697-1701)
  19. Rama Varma (1701-1721)
  20. Ravi Varma (1721-1731)
  21. Rama Varma (1731-1746)
  22. Veera Kerala Varma (1746-1749)
  23. Rama Varma (1749-1760)
  24. Veera Kerala Varma (1760-1775)
  25. Rama Varma (1775-1790)
  26. Rama Varma (1790-1805)- SHAKTHAN THAMPURAN
  27. Rama Varma (1805-1809)- Vellarapalli-yil Theepetta Thampuran (King who died in "Vellarapali")
  28. Veera Kerala Varma (1809-1828) - Karkidaka Maasathil Theepetta Thampuran (King who died in "karkidaka" month(ME))
  29. Rama Varma (1828-1837) - Thulam-Maasathil Theepett1a Thampuran (King who died in "Thulam" month (ME))
  30. Rama Varma (1837-1844) - Edava-Maasathil Theepett1a Thampuran (King who died in "Edavam" month (ME))
  31. Rama Varma (1844-1851) - Thrishur-il Theepetta Thampuran (King who died in "Thrishivaperoor" or Thrishur)
  32. Veera Kerala Varma (1851-1853) - Kashi-yil Theepetta Thampuran (King who died in "Kashi" or Varanasi)
  33. Ravi Varma(1853-1864) - Makara Maasathil Theepetta Thampuran (King who died in "Makaram" month (ME))
  34. Rama Varma(1864-1888) - Mithuna Maasathil Theepetta Thampuran (King who died in "Mithunam" month (ME))
  35. Kerala Varma(1888-1895) - Chingam Maasathil Theepetta Thampuran (King who died in "Chingam" month (ME))
  36. Rama Varma(1895-1914) - aka Rajarshi, Abdicated Highness (Left for heavenly abode in 1932)
  37. Rama Varma(1914-1932) - Madrasil Theepetta Thampuran (King who died in Madras or Chennai)
  38. Rama Varma(1932-1941) - Dhaarmika Chakravarthi (King of Dharma), Chowara-yil Theepetta Thampuran (King who died in "Chowara")
  39. Kerala Varma (1941-1943) - Midukkan (syn: Smart, expert, great.) Thampuran
  40. Ravi Varma(1943-1946) - Kunjappan Thampuran (Brother of Midukkan Thampuran)
  41. Kerala Varma(1946-1948) - Ikya-Keralam (Unified Kerala) Thampuran
  42. Rama Varma (1948-1964) - Pareekshit Thampuran

ME - Malayalam Era

See also

External links

References

  • Genalogy of Cochin Royal Family - By Rameshan Thampuran
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