imported>Krishnavilasom Bhageerathan Pilla at 14:27, 16 July 2021

2021-07-16T14:27:22Z

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{{about|an ancient royal dynasty in Kerala|the place|Poonjar}}
{{DISPLAYTITLE:Poonjar dynasty}}
{{Infobox former country
|native_name = പൂഞ്ഞാർ രാജവംശം
|conventional_long_name = The kingdom of Poonjar
|common_name = Poonjar kingdom
|era = [[Kollam Era]]
|status = Monarchy
|status_text = Kingdom of medieval Kerala
|year_start = 1160
|year_end = 1947
|stat_year1 = 1800s
|stat_year2 = 1900s
|stat_area2 = 87
|stat_area1 = 4000
|image_map =
|image_map_caption = A map showing the distribution of princely states in Kerala
|common_languages = [[Tamil language|Tamil]], [[Malayalam]]
|religion = [[Hinduism]]
|title_leader = [[Raja]]
|leader1 = Manavikrama Kulasekara Perumal
|year_leader1 = 12th century
|leader2 =
|year_leader2 =
|leader3 =
|year_leader3 =
|capital = [[Poonjar]]
|today = [[Kottayam district]] <br /> [[Idukki district]] <br /> [[Theni district]]
}}

'''Poonjar dynasty ('''[[Malayalam]]:പൂഞ്ഞാർ രാജവംശം) ([[Tamil language|Tamil]]:பூஞ்சார் பேரரசு) was one of the royal dynasties in medieval [[Kerala]] descended from the [[Pandyan dynasty|Pandya]] kings of [[Madurai]]. History has it that Manavikrama Kulasekara Perumal, a Pandya king as the sole founder of the dynasty. It was a minor principality in the central [[Travancore]] region which covered the parts of present-day [[Dindigul]], [[Cumbum, Tamil Nadu|Cumbum]], Kudallor, [[Bodinayakkanur]], [[Vandiperiyar]], [[Peerumedu]]
and [[Kannan Devan Hills|Kannan Devan hills]].<ref>{{cite book |last=A.|first=Sreedhara Menon |date=1967 |chapter=Minor principalities |title=A survey of Kerala history |url=http://www.dcbooks.com |location=[[Kottayam]] |publisher=DC books, Kottayam, Kerala|pages=166 |isbn=81-264-1578-9}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Prof. A.|first=Sreedhara Menon |date=1967 |title=Kerala Charithram |url=http://www.dcbooks.com |location=[[Kottayam]] |publisher=DC books, Kottayam, Kerala|isbn=81-264-1588-6}}</ref>

==Manavikrama Kulasekara Perumal==
In {{CE|1157}}, [[Kulothunga I|Kulothunga Chola]], a famed [[Chola]] king entered in a battle with Manavikrama Kulasekara Perumal, who was a Pandya king. Kulothunga's first attempt to defeat him went unsuccessful but, his next attempt became successful which resulted in the failure of Manavikrama. Upon the failure, Manavikrama appointed his brother Maravarman Sreebhallava as the raja of Pandya kingdom and left Madurai with his family and some trusted servants. Later, he settled in Gudalloor region with his family and administered from there. When he came to know about the availability of land at cheap rates in Kerala, he shifted to [[Thekkumkoor]] via [[Kumily]], Periyar, Kolahalamedu and [[Vagamon]]. He also carried out the idols of [[Minakashi|Madhura Meenakshi]], their ''kuladevatha'' (tutelary deity) and Sundareswarar ([[Shiva]]) which was used in the chariot festival in [[Meenakshi Amman Temple|Madurai Meenakshi temple]]. These idols were later installed in the Poonjar Meenakshi temple on the banks of [[Meenachil River|Meenachil river]].

== Owning Poonjar ==
Upon the journey to Thekkumkur, Manavikrama and his troops were unexpectedly attacked by some robbers near [[Vandiperiyar]]. But a mahout with an elephant suddenly appeared and defeated those thieves within no time.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kerala-tourism.org/kerala-monuments/poonjar-palace.html|website=Kerala-tourism.org|title=Poonjar palace-Kottayam|access-date=6 August 2019}}</ref> He gave a stick and the elephant to the king and warned him to leave the place. After the strange incidents at [[Vandiperiyar]], Manavikrama reached [[Ettumanoor Mahadevar Temple|Ettumanoor temple]] and stayed there. At night, some robbers tried to plunder the temple assets which was bravely resisted by the raja and his servants. Before shifting to Poonjar, Manavikrama and his family initially settled in [[Kanjirappally]] and built a shrine for goddess Meenakshi there. After procuring lands from the Thekkumkoor rajas, Manavikrama and his family moved to the palace in Poonjar where the Koyikkal rulers ruled.<ref name=":2">{{cite book |last=V|first=Ramakumar |date=September 2002 |chapter=പൂഞ്ഞാർ രാജവംശം |edition=1st |editor=Paramasivan Nair |title=Sree Ayyappan |url=http://www.sisobooks.net |location=[[Thiruvananthapuram]] |publisher=Siso books |pages=55–56 |isbn=81-7797-033-X}}</ref> He was well aware about the incidents at Vandiperiyar and believed that [[Ayyappa|Lord Ayyappa]] himself came to his rescue in the form of a mahout. In returns, a separate idol of Ayyappa was installed in the Poonjar Dharma [[Shasta (deity)|Sastha]] temple.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.astrolika.com/monuments/poonjar-palace.html|website=Astrolika.com|title=Poonjar palace and its history|access-date=6 August 2019}}</ref> Another temple for Ayyappa was constructed at Vandiperiyar where the raja was rescued by a mahout (believed to be [[Ayyappa|Lord Ayyappa]]) from an unexpected attack of thieves.<ref name=":2" />

== Expansion of Poonjar kingdom ==

After acquiring Poonjar from Thekkumkoor rajas, Manavikrama procured Manjamala and Periyar regions in 594, Elamala region of Chengamanadu Devaswom in C.E 364 and the Kannanthevannoor region from Keezhmalainadu Kothavarmman Kovilathikarikal in C.E 427. The Cumbum, Koodallur, [[Uthamapalayam]], Dindigul and [[Bodinayakkanur]] regions in Tamilakam were also the parts of Poonjar kingdom. As [[Edappally]] raja married the daughter of Manavikrama, regions including [[Kochi]] also came under the possession of Poonjar.<ref name=":1">{{cite book |last=Mathew|first=Mannarakam |date=2013|chapter=പൂഞ്ഞാർ മണ്ഡലം |edition=4 |title=Poonjar: Charithramurangunna Punyabhoomi |publisher=Mannarathu Publications, Erattupetta|pages=135–138 }}</ref> Poonjar kingdom expanded its extend which reached up to the [[Palani]] hills in present [[Tamil nadu]]. By {{CE|1425}}, the area of Poonjar kingdom was about {{cvt|4000|km2}}.

== Decline ==
After {{CE|1625}}, there were no inheritors in Ponnjar royal family. Hence the members of ''Sarkara kovilakom'' in [[Ponnani]] taluk were adopted. Later, a raja of this dynasty married a princess of Vadakkukkoor palace. During the [[Digvijaya]] of [[Marthandavarma]], Poonjar sided with [[Venad]] against Vadakkumkoor. The battle resulted in the merging of Vadakkumkoor in Venad. The kingdom of Poonjar couldn't resist the attacks of [[Hyderali]] in C.E 932 and in order to sustain their kingdom, Poonjar had to pay 75,000 gold coins and 7 elephants to the [[Mysore]] sultan.<ref>{{cite book |last=N.M|first=Namboothiri |date=April 2009 |last2=P.K |first2=Shivadas|chapter=സ്വരൂപവഴി |editor=N.M Namboothiri|editor2=P.K Shivadas|title=Keralacharithrathinte Nāttuvazhikal |url=http://www.dcbooks.com |location=[[Kottayam]] |publisher=DC Books, Kottayam, Kerala|pages=413–418 |isbn=81-264-1866-4}}</ref> Cumbum, Koodallur regions were conquered under Hyderali's attacks in C.E 934. Dharmaraja with a sympathy towards Poonjar provided 5,000 [[Nair]] soldiers to recapture the areas obtained by Hyderali but it wasn't a fruitful task. As per the instructions of [[Raja Kesavadas|Dhiwan Keshavapilla]], force of Poonjar attacked Cumbum and Koodallur regions in which they attained victory and helped them to recapture these regions. After the demise of [[Tippu Sultan]], [[English East India Company]] raised their voice for the ownership of Kannandevan hills and many Pandya nadus. Upon acquiring the ownership rights of these regions, Anjanadu and Kannandevan hills were given to Poonjar kingdom. When time passed, many regions under Poonjar were given in lease to [[Travancore]] including Anjunadu, Elamala and Periyar regions. The vast Poonjar kingdom finally shrunk to just 87 km<sup>2</sup>.<ref name=":1" />

==Prominent Members==
The royal family has many prominent members. Most notable among them is Col. [[G.V. Raja]] who is considered as the most eminent promoter of sports in Kerala and the first person to identify the potential of developing the state into a hub of tourism.

Recently a statue was unveiled of his older brother PR Rama Varma Raja a prolific personality who during his lifetime was based from Alakode, Kerala.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/chandy-to-unveil-statue/article3495514.ece|title=Chandy to unveil statue|date=June 6, 2012|website=Thehindu.com}}</ref>

Another important person was the late P Kerala Varma, a change-maker, social activist, and tantrik scholar.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.palai.com/personalities/history.htm |title=Archived copy |access-date=2017-10-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171028140746/http://www.palai.com/personalities/history.htm |archive-date=2017-10-28 |url-status=dead }}</ref> He stood for elections multiple times the notable one being against the late chief minister K. Karunakaran in 1998.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/Kerala-Varma-Raja-dead/article16186580.ece|title=Kerala Varma Raja dead|date=July 6, 2010|website=Thehindu.com|access-date=6 August 2019}}</ref>

Gopa Varma, another member of the royal family has been a pioneer in promoting adventure sports and [[sustainable tourism]] in Kerala. He has been pivotal in the promotion of paragliding as a popular sport in Kerala.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/Soar-above-the-Wagamon-landscape/article14729604.ece|title=Soar above the Wagamon landscape|date=March 6, 2007|website=Thehindu.com|access-date=6 August 2019}}</ref>

== Poonjar palace ==
The Poonjar palace, about 600 years old (built around AD 1400) is built in the traditional architectural styles of ancient [[Chera]] and [[Pandya]] Kingdoms is a privileged historic destination. Wood being the most used construction component due to the availability of forest woods in the eastern side of [[Kottayam]] and [[Idukki]] districts.<ref>{{Cite web|title=600 വർഷത്തെ പഴക്കം; കേരള തനിമയുടെ അപൂര്‍വ കാഴ്ചയുമായി കോട്ടയം ജില്ലയിലെ കൊട്ടാരം|url=https://www.manoramaonline.com/travel/travel-kerala/2021/07/10/visit-poonjar-palace-in-kottayam.html|access-date=2021-07-16|website=ManoramaOnline|language=ml}}</ref> Other components used were granite stone blocks, laterite tiles and clay tiles of larger and medium sizes. The ancient architectural styles of Kerala can be seen anywhere here. The temple like structure gives the palace itself a holy look. The floors and interior parts are quite unique in their design and outlook. There is also a temple inside the palace built according to the ''[[Vastu shastra]]'' laws. Marvelous statutes of various Hindu deities are placed in various parts of palace. The furniture made of teak, sandal wood and rose wood. These uniqueness of Poonjar palace attracts many visitors. A museum is also housed inside the palace which preserves many rock cut lamps, sculptures and antiques. The Kerala state department of archaeology keeps the palace as a heritage site and a historic monument.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.godsowncountry.info/keralatourism/poonjar-palace-kottayam|title=History of Poonjar palace in Kottayam|website=Godsowncountry.info|access-date=6 August 2019}}</ref>

==Temples under Poonjar dynasty==
* Sree Dharma Sastha Temple Poonjar
* Madhurameenakshi Temple Poonjar
* Nayattupara Ganapathi Temple Poonjar
* Kottaram Sree Krishna Swami Temple Poonjar
* Nadackal Bhagavathi Temple
* Sree Saraswathi Devi Temple, Mankompu
* Sree Dharma Sastha Temple Vandiperiyar

===Attractions at the palace===
Poonjar palace preserves a unique exquisite collection of various materials which remain in good condition.

* Droni, a bed used in the traditional [[Ayurveda|Ayurvedic]] treatment
* Precious jewel boxes and lamps
* Sculptures of [[Nataraja]] (the dancing Shiva)
* Palm-leaf engravings
* Rock-cut lamps and Chuttuvilakku carved out of the stone walls
* A unique conch shell brought out once in a year for ritual practices
* Weapons used by rajas
* Palanquins and chandeliers<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://keralatourismtips.blogspot.com/2012/01/kerala-must-see-poonjar-palace.html|title=My Eyes on Kerala: Poonjar Palace|website=Keraltourismtips.blogspot.com|access-date=6 August 2019}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Chera dynasty]]
*[[Pandya dynasty]]
*[[Chola dynasty]]
*[[G. V. Raja]]
*[[Pandalam dynasty]]
*[[Kulothunga I]]

==References==
{{reflist}}{{Feudal states of Kerala}}
[[Category:Dynasties of India]]

[[ml:പൂഞ്ഞാർ ദേശം]]

Poonjar dynasty - Revision history

imported>Krishnavilasom Bhageerathan Pilla at 14:27, 16 July 2021