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{{short description|Ancient Indian carpenter}}
{{for|the Indian film of the same name, directed by Ajayan|Perumthachan (film)}}
{{refimprove|date=June 2012}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2019}}
'''Perumthachan''' (പെരുന്തച്ചന്‍), also spelled as ''"Perunthchan"'' (പെരു - Peru/big, തച്ചന്‍ - thachan/craftsman), meaning ''the master carpenter'' or ''the master craftsman
', is an honorific title that is used to refer to an ancient legendary carpenter (ആശാരി Aashari), architect, woodcarver and sculptor (stone/wood) from [[Kerala]], India. However Perumthachan is an important figure in the [[folklore]] of Kerala and many a wondrous structure and [[architecture]] that still stand are attributed to him.

==History and legend ==
[[File:Perumthachan Pillarവാഴപ്പള്ളി.jpg|thumb|A stone pillar at [[Vazhappally Maha Siva Temple]] ([[:ml:വാഴപ്പള്ളി ശ്രീ മഹാദേവർക്ഷേത്രം|വാഴപ്പള്ളി ക്ഷേത്രം]]) which is attributed to Perumthachan with its four identical sides made using a dovetail joint trick which was only later understood.]]

=== Birth and related legends ===
Many legends of Perumthachan are seen in [[Aithihyamala]], the compilation of legends and folklore of Kerala written by [[Kottarathil Sankunni]]. Given that Perumthachan was a Vishwakarma his parents must also have been Vishwakarma Brahmins (Carpenters called as Vishwa Brahmins).{{cn|date=March 2020}} After their marriage, they set out on a long journey. Each of them grew famous in their lives and many tales and lores were attributed, with them as the main cast. The eldest was Agnihothri, a Brahmin, whose place is [[Mezhathur]] in [[Thrithala]]. The others are Perumthachan (Master carpenter), [[Naranath Bhranthan]] (an eccentric philosopher who was perceived as a madman), Vayillakunnilappan (a child with no mouth, whom the mother wanted to keep with her) and so on.

Since Raman (രാമന്‍) was raised by parents who belonged to the Vishwakarma ( Achary) caste, he mastered the art and science of carpentry, architecture, and sculpture to become a Perumthachan. He read the sacred texts and imbibed the ancient intellectual tradition. He was commissioned for many a great architectural project to build [[temple]]s and [[palace]]s.

===Legend of Temple Pond===
Perumthachan was once assigned to construct a temple pond. But it so happened that a dispute arose among three Karakkars (local residents) of the place as to the shape of the pond to be constructed. One group wanted a rectangular pond, another a square pond and the third, a circular shape. Perumthachan agreed to construct a pond which would satisfy all the three conflicting demands. When the pond was constructed, the Karakkars from each of the sides were immensely pleased to see their desired shape for the pond. It was so because the original shape of the pond was none of these three but a highly irregular shape, which could create an [[illusion]] and fool the onlooker from each side.

The [[Shiva]] temple at [[Uliyannoor]] and the [[Valluvanad (southern Malabar)|Valluvanad]] temples that still exist in Kerala are attributed to Perumthachan.<ref>{{Cite news|last=C|first=Sharika|date=2019-10-16|title=Perumthachan’s land an isle of quietude|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Kochi/perumthachans-land-an-isle-of-quietude/article29694678.ece|access-date=2021-02-23|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

[[Panniyur Sri Varahamurthy Temple]], situated in [[Palakkad]] district, [[Kerala]] preserve the chisel and measuring rod (muzhakkol) used by perumthachan.

==Influence on art and culture ==

The story of Perumthachan has been a source of artistic expression for various people. It has been the basis for a great Malayalam dramatic [[monologue]] poem of the same name by [[G. Sankara Kurup]]. The legend of Perumthachan was also depicted in a [[Malayalam cinema]] [[Perumthachan(Film)]] masterfully performed by the famous actor [[Thilakan]]. The movie script was written by [[M. T. Vasudevan Nair]] and directed by [[Ajayan (director)|Ajayan]] (1990) and has won many prestigious accolades for its brilliant cinematography and direction.

Sri Uliyanoor Perumthachan Kuladevatha Kshethram
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Sri+Uliyanoor+Perumthachan+Kuladevatha+Kshethram/@10.0974581,76.3405978,15z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0xac226d3bd08ea38f?sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjhnNiskJDyAhWJzTgGHWXED3AQ_BIwFXoECEUQBQ

==See also==
*[[Parayi petta panthirukulam]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.thachan.in/ Details of Thachan caste]
* [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0100354/ Perumthachan] on [[IMDb]]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20140102015021/http://www.cinemaofmalayalam.net/ajayan.html Article on the film 'Perumthachan']
* [http://www.womenswriting.com/writerdetails.asp?writerid=114 Aithihyamala-Perumthachan]{{dead link|date=March 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070918231808/http://www.keralafolklore.com/ Pakkanar]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110211210635/http://chengannurmahadevar.org/ Chengannur Mahadeva Temple]

[[Category:Culture of Kerala]]
[[Category:History of Kerala]]
[[Category:Malayali people]]

Perumthachan - Revision history

imported>Alisjohn: Undid revision 1036599335 by 2409:4073:417:B228:3528:24CF:AAC0:BEAD (talk)