Kodungallur Kovilakam is a palace of the royal family of the late [medieval] Kingdom of Kodungallur (Cranganore), in the modern-day Indian state ofKerala. Kodungallur was a feudal principality subordinate to the rulers of theKingdom of Cochin from the later half of the eighteenth century untilIndian independence. The Kingdom of Kodungallur was under the protection of the Dutch government after 1707 for a few years before returning to its allegiance to theZamorin. The Kodungallur Royal Family had two branches, at Chirakkal Kovilakam andPuthen Kovilakam.[1][2][3]
The Chirakkal Kovilakam[4] has twonalukettu structures, one larger than the other. The main residential building and two more old buildings, a water tank (known aspadakulam), the family temple (dedicated toHindu goddess Talattil Bhagavati) and Sarpakkavu are all within the Kovilakam Complex. The Kodungallur Kovilakam was renowned as agurukulam (centre of learning).[5] Scholars from across present day Kerala used to live in the palaces and studySanskrit andVedic science. Eminent scholars[6] from this Kovilakam contributed toMalayalam and Sanskrit literature.[7] According to Venmani Achan Namboodiribad, Kerala'sgurukulams were for many decades centred on the Kodungallur Kovilakam.[8]
Writers born there contributed immensely to Malayalam literature. The leading light among them was Venmani Achan Namboodiripad, born in 1816 at Venmani Illam in Vellarappilly, Alwaye. Achan married Sreedevi Antharjanam in 1838 and they had one son, Venmani Mahan Namboodiripad. Later, he married Kunhippilla Thampuratti of the Kodungallur Kovilakam. He had two children from this marriage – Kunjikuttan Thamburan and Kunjunni Thamburan. Achan died at the age of 74. Namboodiripad lived for several years inErnakulam,Thripunithura,Kodungallur andKottayam. At the Kodungallur Palace, Mahan found his calling as a poet. AfterKathollil Achuta Menon completed primary education at home, he was sent to Kodungallur Palace to studySanskrit under Vidwan Kunjiramavarma Thamburan. At age 16, he started writing poetry and composed approximately 20slokas in an hour during competitions.[citation needed]
Key members[9] of thisgurukula were:
Most popular among these scholars isKodungallur Kunjikuttan Thampuran.[11]
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