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Mr. P.E. Easo,
Alackal, and Ranny whose ancestral house in Ranny itself is more than
200 years old write this article on Nilackal and Chayal Church. Prior to
that, the great grand parents had migrated from Niranam. Ooram velil, Polackal,
Polachirackal, Thalakod, Karimparampil, Kanikunnam, etc are some of the known
branches of the families who could trace out their family history more than
1000years. They form a major chunk of the Syrian [C]hristian Population in
Central Kerala in Niranam, Chenganoor, and Ranny etc. Hence the tradition
in the family particularly from parents is more authentic. Some families
might have written records on Palm Leaves in Tamil/ Malayalam. I must confess
that I do not have anything except the memories of what is told to me. I
would welcome any body collecting/sending copies of any document more than
200 -500 years old. I still remember my grand father (more than 100 years
as on 2002AD) talking about Nilackal and the search he and his grand parents
had made from the period they had settled down in Ranny from 1780 AD had
made to locate Nilackal Church. I was lucky to see it in my lifetime.
One Mr. George who was in charge of the investigation Division of Sabarigiri
Project of the KSEB was responsible to locate the Nilakal -Church - site early
in 1950 AD. I had also visited this site along with Rev Fr Thomas OIC from
Bethany Ashram, Perunad. Though he stayed for sometime at this site on an
ERU-MADAM due to objections from forest authorities he had to shift from
the forest to the nearest populated area.
My father, late Mr. P.E.Easow had given half an acre of land for a church
in Angimuzhi around this period. But no church was constructed since the whole
chunk of his property was sold to some family belonging to Marthomma Church
who did not part with the possession of the land to others. Any way I am
mentioning it as a record for the future generations.
Nilackal Church founded by St Thomas is situated on the side of the pond
opposite to the present Nilackal Ambalam as per the tradition of St Thomas
Christians. This Church is also referred to as ARA- PALLY. The present day
Christians believe that ARA PALLY is half-completed church. This however does
not satisfy any body searching for logical meaning. After a long search the
meaning for ARA in Tamil language before Malayalam came to existence is traced
out to mean important or head quarter. Suffixes like ARA- MENA still exist
in [C]hristian usage. This means Head Quarter or important House. One can therefore
believe that ARA PALLY in fact was the head Quarters of Syrian Christians.
To support this conclusion there is a place close to Nilackal known as Thalapally,
which means the head Church. This place is also called Plapally, which does
not convey any meaning in Malayalam or Tamil.
The readers may note that the Kerala Government allowed to construct the
St. Thomas Church at the present site near Nilackal is far away from the traditional
site believed to be across the Nilackal Pond. As Christians, one has been
contented with what we have today than to have nothing. The present Church
is on the side of Thever- mala. Thever and Devar were used in old Tamil to
refer to respected people. These names fortunately have not changed from
olden times.
We see on the top of these hills remnants of old houses, wells, pounding
stones, tombs etc definitely to say that those were sites where people used
to stay. Excavation in this and surrounding areas would definitely reveal
the history of the lost tradition of the population particularly the Nilackal
Christians who had migrated from this area to Kanjirapally, Thumpamon, Ayroor,
Niranam and surrounding areas. To maintain the traditional unity of the Church
and the Temples close to each other, as in the past, let us hope that the
future generations would establish a Church on the very same site where it
existed from St Thomas time.
Christians in Kerala know that two Bishops by name Sabor Easow and Porth
along with many families migrated to Kollam in AD 822. They ruled over Syrian
Christians by keeping their Head Quarters at Kollam (Mar Sabor Easow) and
Kodungalloor (Mar Porth). In the year 880AD Mar Sabor Easow and the Christians
in Kollam were given two separate Copper Plate Cheppeds known as Tharisapally
Chepeds.These are one of the oldest records of the Syrian Christians in Kerala
now available on record.
Sabor Easow had an Ahram in Nilackal known as CHAYAL-AHRAM. This word in
Hebrew means people who stay alone. The Jews even today use it to refer to
soldiers who stay apart from families. Towards the end of his life Mar Sabor
spent most of his time in meditation in this Ashram. He was buried in this
Ahram. Being a saintly person he was respected and loved by all Christians.
After his death people particularly Christians used to go on pilgrimage to
his tomb to pay homage. The Nilackal Christians who had migrated from this
area cannot forget the founder of this Ahram and its location, Chayal.
The past history of this place is obscured for want of records. Fortunately,
we have many families who had migrated to various places in central Kerala
who have lot of traditions recorded in their family histories. Some of the
facts known to me through these records are reproduced below. Three powerful
Kingdoms in South India known as CHERA, CHOLA, and PADIYA ruled the present
Kerala and Tamil Nadu. There were also some traditional important Kingdoms
like VERL, CHITTARACHAR, within the Chera Kingdoms. The area comprising Bay
of Bengal on the East, Gokarnam on the North (now in Karnataka), Sri Lanka
on the South was known as Thamizhakam.
A kingdom was known as Konkanam ruled by North of Chera Nadu. Their Head
Quarter was Ezhamalai (7 hills). Nandan, Konkanam was a famous King described
in Tamil writings. From Nagarkovil in South to Sahiyadri in East and Thiruvella
in North was ruled by a Kingdom known as AYI (Recorded by Tolomy as Aioi in
his writings). Tolomy as BARIS, flowing in the East West direction with Thiruvalla
on the North side, records river Pampa. The Nilackal hills, Sabarimala and
planes of Pampa were connected to Pandi by well-established trade routes.
These places were connected to Muzris port via Sea and Kayal. Nilackal was
a centre for spices and timber. The Vel kings ruled the Ayi Kingdom with their
Head Quarter at Kollam (Quilon). This Kingdom in later years was called VELNADU
or VENADU. When St Thomas visited Nilackal, this Kingdom ruled this
area. The Copper- Plate- Chepped given to Sabor Easow was witnessed by One
VEL prabhu. The places from Thiruvalla to Gokarnam were directly under the
Chera King. These places were known as Kottanad, Kudanad and Puzhinad. (Up
to Trichur only).
The teachings of St Thomas Christians are mentioned in one of the oldest
Tamil Book, Thirukural. The CHERA- CHOLA war of 100 years starting from AD
985 up to1085 was the end of Chera Rule. Mostly all the male population in
the country was killed in this war. The last Chera king, Cheraman Perumal
escaped to the Persian country by sea. He died there and was buried at a place
near Muscat. His tomb still exists near this place.
The Temple Authorities and Poojaries declaring them, as owners of the land
and properties became Rulers after the Chera rule ended. The Chera Kingdom
was without any body to protect from external aggression. It was during this
period that the Pandian Kings from Madurai attacked plundering of Temples,
Churches, and Houses in the High Ranges of Kerala. Popular among those groups
were Para-pattam and Vikram-puli-thevar.They were nicknamed, Perumpatta and
Vakrapuli by our elders.
After the Pandy kings conquered the high ranges, two of their representatives
from Pandy were sent to Rule this area. They are today known as Pandalathu
Thampuran and Poonjattil Thampuran respectively. They came to Kerala when
Udayamarthandavarma from AD1175 to AD 1195 were ruled in Kerala. (Vellayani
Sassanam and alsoSarvaVinjyani -kosam are evidences). The Kovilanmar, who
were till that time representatives of Chera kings, did not accept the authority
of these representatives. They were mainly Malamkovil in Karimalakotta in
Sabarimala, Thalaparakotta, and Ingiparakotta, all these areas are now forest
.To suppress the Malakovilakam people, the Pandalam Thampuran sent two soldiers
brought from Pandy. They were two brothers by name CHAKKI and Vikkiran. They
were offered half the kingdom if they could suppress the Kovilakam people.
This they achieved. Ranny was given to them as promised. The Pandalathuthampuran
also gave the title Sakthivikramar. This family ruled this area till India
became independent. The history of Iy-appa is linked to the Pandalathu-thampuran
i.e. in the 12th century where as that of St Thomas Christians in Nilackal
from St Thomas time from 53 AD.
(Syrian [C]hristian Tradition published by Mr. P.E. Easo)
Demolition of Nilackel [C]hurches
The Chera- Chola war of 100 years towards the end of 12th century, followed
by plundering of houses, Temples and Churches by Para -Pattam and Vikram-
Puli- Thevar culminating in the greatest ever flood known in the history of
Kerala in 1341 AD were the reasons for the migration of people from Nilackal.
This source is from the book on Syrian [C]hristian Tradition published by
Mr. P.E. Easo in March 2000. . Destruction of Nilackal is referred to on
pages 21,22,23,25.
After the end of Chera Chola war of 100 years in 1100AD the Pandalathu
Thampuran and Punjattil Thampuran were sent to this place to rule over the
High Ranges of Kerala by the Pandian kings to look after their booty in Vel-nad
i.e. Kerala. Sri Iyappa is connected to the legendary story of Pandalam Raja.
Sabor Easow, the Bishop who got the copper plate chepped from the Chera
king in 840 AD had estalished his Ashram in Nilackal.This Ashram is known,
as Chayal.This is a Hebrew word meaning people who stay alone. Sabor Easo
was buried near this Ashram. The hill where he was buried is known as Sabor
Mala that is the present Sabarimala.
People from all over Kerala used to go on pilgrimage to his tomb till Nilackal
and the war and subsequent looting by the Madurai kings known as Pandiyans
destroyed other high range area. Majority of the male population of Nairs
and Christians were killed in fighting the war of 100 years.
Who will build up this unique tradition of Nazrani Christians? Don’t we
have a history before Malayalam came in to existence prior to the Kollam
Era or Malayalam era? If so what are the evidences. There are so many such
questions. The traditions of Nilackal Christians are lost in the foothills
of Nilackal. Can we not even today collect some evidences? But how
can we bring it out. Is Nilackal the only church in that area which had existed
there till 1341 AD? . The copper plate Cheppeds of Sabor Easo in 840 AD is
still available even today for verification. These happened centuries before
the Pandalam Raja was installed here. The Nilackal Christians cannot forget
MarSabor Easo .Let us make a record of what we have today.
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