Pazhassi Raja - Kingdom of Pazhassi Raja

Kingdom of Pazhassi Raja

Kerala Varma Pazhassi Raja was born into the Padinjare Kovilakam of Purannattu Swarupam- the royal clan of the kingdom of Kottayam. This Padinjare Kovilakam (Western Branch) of the royal dynasty was located at Pazhassi. Thus, the origin of the name Pazhassi Rajawas pronounced as Pychy Rajah by the early British. The name Cotiote Raja comes from the British anglicizing the name Kottayam to Cotiote. The kingdom of Kottayam covers what is today the Thalassery taluk (1000 km2) of the Kannur District and Wayanad district along with Gudalur and Panthalur taluks of the Nilgiris District and some parts of Kudagu.

As a royal clan, Purannattu Swarupam had three branches, a western branch or Padinjare Kovilakam at Pazhassi near Mattannur, an eastern branch or Kizhakke Kovilakam at Manatana near Peravoor and a southern branch or Tekke Kovilakam at Kottayampoil near Koothuparamba.

Originally the headquarters of this kingdom was based at Muzhakunnu near Peravoor, as they followed a system where the eldest male of the clan became the Raja of the kingdom and chief of whole royal clan. The headquarters was later moved to Kottayampoil or Kottayam, a small town, located 7 k.m. east of Thalassery and Koothuparamba. Thus the name Kottayam came to be identified with this kingdom and her royal clan.

The Last Rajas of Parappanad and Kurumbranad were members of Purannattu Swarupam who were adopted to the thrones of those kingdoms due to a lack of their own heirs.