MUNDACKAL ILLAM FAMILY - NARIYAPURAM INTRODUCTION “How wonderful it is, how pleasant, for God’s people to live together in harmony!......... That is where the Lord has promised his blessings—Life that never ends.” (Psalms 133) Mundackal Illam, Nariyapuram family is one of the Oldest Syrian Christian family in Central Travancore which has thousands of Member families now. The history of Mundackal Illam family is in fact the history of Christian families at Nariyapuram, a village in Pathanamthitta District, Kerala, India. The History of Mundackal Illam has been traced back to almost 9 centuries , based on a Manuscript written by Mundackal Illam ancestors in the year 1932 (Malayalam Calendar Year 1107). This family consists of Eight Root families and Twenty Two Branch Families. The Origin of Mundackal Illam Family at Nariyapuram has not been clearly traced as there are no written scripts or records of past. The only known detail about the Origin of Mundackal Illam Family is the vocally exchanged information from ancestors. If we try to find more details related to the name Mundackal in Kerala, as per the famous historian Mr. R.M Manakkalathu, the name Mundackal is associated with two places in Kerala. One is at Kollam District and the other at Kaduthuruthy in Kottayam District. At Kollam, Mundackal is a name of a place whereas in Kottayam it’s a family name. The name Mundackal has been referred in ‘Unni Neeli Sandesham”, a poetry written before 14th Century. The writer of this poem is unknown. Here the name Mundackal is referred to an ancient Upper cast Hindu Family. Also Mr. Joseph Mundasseri the Ex. Education Minister (During E.M.S Govt.) of Kerala Government, India, has referred “UnniNeela Sandesham (“Sandesha Kavyam”) as “Mundackal Sandesham”. It is assumed that Mundackal Illam Family, Nariaypuram has its origin from the place Mundackal in Kollam district. There are historical records which say that Christians were forced to move from the Place called Mundackal in Kollam. There are ample proofs to establish the existence of Christianity in Kollam District as Christianity flourished in Kerala after the visit of St. Thomas. St Thomas constructed 7 ½ churches in Kerala. One church among 7 ½ Churches is in Kollam District. So definitely there were Christians in Kollam District. So we can come into conclusion that Mundackal Illam, Nariyapuram family has its root from Kollam Mundackal and not from Kottayam Kaduthuruthy where no church was constructed by St Thomas and any proof of existence of Christian family. About seven centuries back, a young man from Mundackal Illam Brahmin Family married a Christian Girl from Pakalomattam Family and fled from there along with his younger brother. They came to Pandalam and approached the then King of Pandalam for support and protection and they provided him. As they fled from their house in kollam they informed the king about their desire to settle down anywhere in his empire. Later these couples could impress the king and attained special love and consideration from him. The king gave a special “Theetturam” (ruling) and a lamp for them to keep it as commemorative plaque and gave special instruction to provide all facilities and make them settle down at a place further towards eastward of Palace. This place lays Adjacent to “Karakkadu” (a business center of his empire), north of it, is the river “Achankovil” and toward its southeast is the dense vine forest known as “Vallikkadu”. This is the First Mundackal Family. At this holy place in memory of Mundackal root family, “Mundackal Illam Kudumba Mandiram” (a memorial) is built. While they were dwelling there, the place towards southeastern direction was “Vallikkadu (“Valli means vine and kkadu” means forest) was a dense forest with Leopards and Tigers. As these animals were fierce and dangerous, people started calling this place as “Nari” “Aapuram” (Place where leopard and Tigers dwell). Later this name developed into Nariyapuram. They started cultivation (including Paddy) in and around their dwelling places. Later this “Vallikkadu” developed as “Vallikkadu Vayal” ( Vayal means Paddy field). Further when cultivation expanded as family members increased these animals fled towards “Kurunthotti Aiyam” (Kurunthotti Kadu) en-route “Kadachakkadu”. “Kadachakkadu later known as Kadakkadu and Kurunthotti Aiyam as “Pandalam”. Later as the family members increased they moved towards West this place is now called as Thumpamon. There were temples which belonged to Pandalam Palace and the caretakers of these temples started cause detriment to the Christian families who where there at “Nari Aappurathu”. These Christian families were hardworking God fearing who use to do their daily prayer, observe fasting and Lents. It was quiet natural that these caretakers who were lazy and leading their living from the Temples properties started jealous with the hardworking and prospering Christians. When the ancestors of Mundackal Illam family had tough time with those caretakers, they brought it into the Notice of Pandalam Ruler. The King on considering their complaint started “Pada Orukkam” (Preparation of Soldiers). He then sent combatant for their safety and protection and started “Padayannaickal” on the road side of the main road to Karakkad Market near to Vallikkatu Vayal and west of “Indilayappan Temple”. Padayannaickal later on became padenickal. At present the places in and around Nariyapuram Market and Nariyapuram Govt. L.P School are still known and "Pada Aniyickal". Among the combatant in Pada Aniyickal, there were Muslims also who were residing at Thumpamon. The Muslim families at present in Kadackkad may be their descendents. Still there are Muslim family names in and around Thumpamon Places. The first Mundackal Illam Family of Nariyapuram who came from Kollam had two Sons. One son stayed east of “Aazhi” and another West of “Aazhi”. The elder son of the family at East of Aazhi was know at Mundackal and the Younger son of the family at west of Aazhi was know as Mundackal Illam. In the next generation both Mundackal and at Mundackal Illam had 4 sons in each family. Among four sons of Mundackal Family one son’s family was know as mundackal and other 3 sons family name was “Kushavakkdu”, “Charruvil” and “Parambathethu”. Among four sons of Mundackal Illam 2 elder sons retained their family name as Mundackal Illam and other two younger sons family name was “Panayil” and “Kizhakke Thayil” . From the available information was “Mundackal Illam Kudumba Yogam” (Mundackal Illam family Meeting or gathering) was started in Year 1908. On those days the meeting was conducted either at Nariyapuram or at other family member’s residence that moved to different places. As per our Elder members, the above meeting continued till the year 1969. In year 1970 “Mundackal Illam Kudumba Mandiram” (a memorial) was constructed at the same place where our ancestors first came to stay in Nariyapuram. From this time every year February 2nd Saturday "Mundackal Ellam Kudumba Yogam" is conducted. At that time the yearly expense and annual reports are present in the general meeting. Members who are at far off places conduct local meetings at least twice in a year. It has now more than 1000 member families and is one of the oldest families in Central Travancore. At present it has members in Nariyapuram, Thumpamon, Thumpamon Vadakkekara, Mathoor, Elanthoor, Pathanamthitta, Kumbazha, Mannarakulanji, konni, Thekuthodu, Koodal, Pathanapuram, Punalur, Anchal , Thiruvanthapuram, Kollam, Mavelikkara, Kodukulanji, Noornadu, Alapuzha, Thiruvalla, Changanaserry , Kottayam, Ernakualam, Thrissur, Perumbavoor, Nilamboor, Karulaii, Kattikulam, Kelakam, Uppada etc in Kerala and Outside Kerala in Mangalore, Bangalore, Madras, Mumbai , Delhi and in some foreign countries members have their permanent residence. The first manuscript about Mundackal Illam was written by our ancestors in year 1932 (Malayalam Calendar Year 1107). The persons who were behind this were Malayilthazhethil Mr. M.C Varghese, Nediyavilayil Eapen Cherian, Koottanikal Idicheria Yohanan, Othikalil Mathan Cherian. The above details about the family has been extracted from NARIYAPURAM MUNDACKAL ILLAM KUDUMBA CHARITHRAM published in year 2003. The compilation of this book could not finish within the specified period due to unavailability of information about the members settled in Kodukulanji ( a place in Alapuzha District near Chengannur). One of the forefather from 4th generation of Mundackal illam family settled in Kodukulanji near Chengannur in Perumpettipallathu purayidam. (The Perumpettipallathu branch has four sub branches . 1.Perumpettipallathu (Kodukulanji) 2.Thuralayil (Kodukulanji) 3.Thettikuzhiyil (Kodukulanji) 4.Melemadhathil(Kodukulanji) The members of Kodukulanji were also in search of their roots. In 2002 Mr. M.V Pothan Melemadhathil , Mr.Eric Thomas Pallathukizhakethil & Mr. K.C Chacko Kuzhiyampurathu from Kodukulanji approached Nariyapuram church for details. From there they were directed to the Mundackal Illam family members and the information were exchangedand could trace the family information in detail. Narrated By Eric Thomas Pallathukizhakethil (Ravi) (ericthomaspt@yahoo.com) & Jiju Thomas , (MERRYLAND VAKKELETHU (jiju.mail@gmail.com) All Members of Mundackal Illam Family – Nariyapuram are invited to register and add more informations to make this site complete. http://www.mundackalillamfamily-nariyapuram.com/ http://mundackalillamfamily-nariyapuram.myheritage.com/ http://www.facebook.com/mundackalillamfamily http://www.orkut.com/Main#Community?rl=cpn&cmm=36951373 Contact: Eric Thomas Pallathukizhakethil (Ravi) Tel +965-66084206 mundackalillamfamily@yahoo.com ericthomaspt@yahoo.com ericthomaspt@gmail.com 
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