Valluvanad refers to a region in present-day central Kerala and was, at various periods, an independent kingdom, a district within the kingdom of the Chera Perumals of Mahodayapuram, and a taluk of the Malabar district within the Madras presidency. It was a subdistrict in the South Malabar region. The earlier Valluvanad had parts of Tirur and Ponnani Taluks within it. Valluvanad Taluk has been described as the historical region between the knolls of Pandalur Hills and the seashore of Ponnani. The country covered the Bharathapuzha river basin in the south to the Pandalur Hills in the north. On the west, it was bounded by the Arabian Sea at the port Ponnani and on the east by Attappadi Hills. Presently, Valluvanad loosely refers to a region bound by the current Perinthalmanna Taluk Mannarkkad Taluk, Pattambi Taluk and Ottappalam Taluk Chieftains and members of the "Vallabha" family appear in inscriptions as early as 10th century AD. The Vellattiri Raja initially exercised suzerain rights over a large portion of central Kerala. The raja even held the presidency of the Mamankam, an ancient festival held once in twelve years at Tirunavaya. Their territorial control gradually eroded with the rise in stature of the kings of Calicut. When the Mysore Sultans invaded Kerala in late 18th century, the raja found asylum in Travancore. Tipu Sultan ceded Malabar to the English Company in 1792. The Company took over the management of the country in May 1793.
The headquarters of Valluvanad was the present day town of Angadipuram, which is now famous for its Thirumandhamkunnu Temple. The guardian deity of the Valluvanad royal family was Thirumandhamkunnu Bhagavati at Thirumandhamkunnu Temple. The Brahmins of Sukapuram were supporters of Valluvanad.
History
Nadu in the Chera Kingdom
The earliest epigraphic record mentioning Valluvanad is from inscriptions at Tiruvotriyur describing the life of Vellan Kumaran, son of the Valluvanad Chieftain Rajasekhara. Vellan Kumaran is described as a commander in the Chola army in the famous battle of Takkolam and considered a close confidante of Chola prince Rajaditya. Rayiran Chathan, the chieftain of Valluvanad, is mentioned as a witness in the Jewish copper plates of Cochin issued by the Chera king ofKodungallur. Valluvanad rulers also find mention in the Parthivapuram Sasanam and Viraraghava Pattayam. Valluvanad, or the land of the Valluva people, was one of the nadus within the kingdom of the Chera Perumals of Mahodayapuram. The chieftain of Valluvanad, the nadu-udayavar, claimed authority through kinship and descent. The Hundred, the military organisation of the chiefdom, was the "aru-nurruvar". The Vellattiri chieftain initially exercised suzerain rights over a large portion of central Kerala.
Irayira Chekaran of Valluvanad was involved in a temple resolution to take over the village of Taviranur and bring it under the village of Sukapuram.
Irayiravar, the Valluvanad chief, is seen in three temple transaction-related inscriptions from Avattiputhur/Avittathur - an example of the chief performing regulatory functions outside his chiefdom.
When a market centre was established at Irinjalakkuda, the protection of the area was given to the "aru-nurruvar" of Valluvanad. - an example of the Hundred Organisation performing regulatory functions outside the chiefdom.
Zamorin's encroachments
After the fall of Chera Kingdom in the 12th century, the right to preside over the Tirunavaya Mamankam festival passed to the Vellattiri. When the zamorin of Calicut became a major force in Kerala, they made inroads into the Vellattiri kingdom and even usurped the right to preside over the Mamankam. The zamorin eventually extended his kingdom as east as Nilambur and as deep as Venkattakota. Ever since, the Vellattiri used to send groups of suicide warriors to kill the king of Calicut during the Mamankam and the Taippuyam festivals and recover the long-lost right. According to historians, "...the caver of Valluvanatu died fighting to avenge the death or defeat of their master and died fighting regularly at Tirunavaya for a long period. It means that the caver died fighting at Tirunavaya even after many generations. Thus it takes the form of blood feud..." Notes from K. V. Krishna Ayyar
Brahmin Raja of Tirumanasseri ceded Ponnani to the zamorin as the price for his protection from Valluvanatu and Perumpatappu
Tradition says that the zamorin, despair for success at Tirunavaya, sought divine help by propitiating the Tirumandhamkunnu Bhagavati.
Malappuram, on the road between Calicut and Vellattiri's headquarters, was entrusted by the zamorin a member of Varakkal Paranampi's family . Nilambur was placed under Taccharakkavu Eralan, and Vallappanattukara under Tarakkal Eroma Menon and Manjeri under the Karanappad.
Kariyur Mussad was captured and put to death at Pataparamba and his lands were occupied
Mysore's invasion
The country marked as "Valluvanad Proper" in the Company records was sole the remaining territory under the control of the Valluvanad Raja at the time of the Mysorean invasion of Malabar.The Raja and his family fled to Travancore.
According to the ancient laws of Kerala, many Nair chiefs and Nairs were liable to follow the Valluvanad Raja in battles. These chiefs were allowed hold their land without paying revenue or tribute to the Raja. Mysore rulers destroyed this custom
Grants were made of the lands to the temples, and to the Brahmins, all which lands were by the sultans brought to account in the revenue
At the time of the Mysore conquest the following amsams remained to Vellattiri
Angadipuram
Perinthalmanna
Melattur
Keezhattur
Pallippuram
Mankada
Arakkuparamba
Chettanallur
Puzhakkattiri
Valambur
Karyavattam
Nenmini
Kodur
Pang
Kolathur
Kuruvambalam
Pulamanthole
Elamkulam
Vettattur
Kottopadam
Arakurissi
Tachampara
Anamangad
Paral
Chembrasseri
Pandikkad
The following regions were controlled the zamorin of Calicut
Tuvvur
Thiruvizhamkunnu
Thenkara
Kumaramputhur
Karimpuzha
Thachanattukara
Aliparamba
English takeover of Kerala
Reference: William Logan
Valluvanad Proper
Valluvanad Proper was the remaining territory under the control of the Valluvanad Raja at the time of the Mysore conquest. Tipu Sultan ceded Malabar to the English Company in 1792. The Company reinstated the Vellatiri Raja's country to the Raja on 30 July, 1792. The Raja was obliged to collect the sum within one year.. In May 1793 the Joint Commissioners dismissed the Raja, fixed his pension and started managing the country directly. Divisions of the country as stated by the Raja .
