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<div>{{Short description|Hindu caste from Palakkad, Kerala, India}}<br />
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}}<br />
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2019}}<br />
{{more footnotes|date=March 2016}}<br />
{{more citations needed|date=March 2016}}<br />
'''Tharakan''' is a Hindu community from the [[Palakkad district]] of [[Kerala]], South [[India]]. The majority of the Tharakans are located in [[Kingdom of Valluvanad|Valluvanad]], with major agglomerations around [[Vellinezhi]], [[Vayilyamkunnu Bhagavathi Temple|Vayillyamkunnu]], Adoor,Kadambazhippuram, Kuttanassery, [[Sreekrishnapuram]], Mangode, [[Thiruvazhiyode]], [[Chethallur]], and [[Mannarkkad]]. reasons and settled.<br />
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==Etymology==<br />
The word Tharakan literally means the holder of document of Raja (Tharakan: Common letter or document of Raja, Gundert's dictionary). They are so called because they were the recipients of 'Tharaku' or writ of social privilege issued to them by the ruling head of the Zamorins of Calicut.<ref name=autogenerated1>[https://books.google.com/books?id=0JCaAAAAIAAJ "Census of India, 1961, Volume 7"] P. 21</ref><br />
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Tharakans are a Hindu group.<ref>'Desayanam by EP Bhaskara Guptan', P53</ref><br />
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==Origin==<br />
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===Legend===<br />
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They built four 'nagarams' called Puthanangadi, Thiruvazhiyode, Vayillyamkunnu and Mangode (current names Chethallur, Thiruvazhiyode / sreekrishnapuram, Katampazhippuram and Mangode respectively) for cultivation and trade. After construction of temples, they met samoothiri along with their acharya. Impressed by the acharya's sivapooja and devotion, Samoothiri gave more land and arranged adiyantharakkar for them (the temple constructed for those adiyanthirakkar - "kammalasserykkaavu" is still there near Thiruvazhiyode) <ref>'Desayanam' published by Samabhavini books p. 54</ref><br />
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===Historical background===<br />
It is believed that the groups consisting of Tharakan along with members of Guptans community reached valluvanad were of Eralpuram, Adithyapuram, Paschimapuram & Ramapuram nagarams under the leadership of the minister SANKARA NAYANAR ( belonging to Eralpuram nagaram) and they took their kuladevatha (Goddess) Bhagavathy and acharya Gyanasivacharya along with them.. Thiruvazhiyode nagaram was considered the "Melnagaram" among the four nagarams and the tradition of giving "Nagarappanam" to Thiruvazhiyode group during marriage (if any one of bride-groom is from Thiruvazhiyode) was followed in earlier days. This ritual was to mark respect for the "Aadi Nayanar".<ref>Mounathinte Devankanam by 'Dr Rajan Chungath' published in Mathrubhumi</ref><br />
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==See also==<br />
*[[Guptan]]<br />
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==References==<br />
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<references /><br />
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==Resources==<br />
* Aaryavaisyanmaar (1987)<br />
* EP Bhaskara Guptan, Desayanam, Samabhavini Books (2004)<br />
* Prof. KP Narayana Pisharody, Punnassery Neelakanta Sharma<br />
* [http://bharathapanchangam.com Puliyath Krishnan. Kutty Guptan]<br />
* Kesari Magazine&nbsp;– Nila edition (1971)<br />
* Adiyath Ramaguptan, Vayillyamkunnu Devaswom Sthalapuranam.<br />
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[[Category:Social groups of Kerala]]<br />
[[Category:Ethnic groups in Kerala]]<br />
[[Category:Indian castes]]<br />
[[Category:South Indian communities]]</div>2403:9E00:2100:1200:DCD1:1B19:FB9E:91B3