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A Telescope into Thrikkakara’s Past

Thrikkakkara, the ancient city has left its indelible impression in the history of ancient kerala. If the literary and epigraphical records are to be believed, the city bustled with activities and was no less in grandeur than the city of Mahodayapuram, the capital of the Cheras. During the reign of the Perumals, the city teemed not only with people but also with wealth and prosperity.

In those days, Thrikkakkara was governed by a vassal chief of the Chera Empire. The land was known as ‘Kalkarainadu’. Some of the ancient kings were called Yakan, Kuntapoozhan, Kannan, Puraiyan, Poozhan, Iravi and their names are mentioned in many of the royal declarations inscribed inside the temple.

The name of the place is closely associated with the legend of Vamana and Mahabali- Thrikkakkara being a corrupted version of Thrikkakarai – the place where the holy foot was placed by the lord.

Another explanation of the origin of the name is that the erstwhile kalkarinadu comprised of the region extending from Kakkanad to Edapally and geographically, the map of the area resembled that of a foot. As foot is called Kal and Kava means place in Malayalam, the land came to be called kalkarainadu – the land which looked like a foot.

From the historical evidence collected by historians, emerges a picture of the Kulasekhara Empire which existed in 1102 A.D as well as the socio-political and religious milieu of the times. It is believed that the ‘nadu’ consisted of the present Thrikkakkara, Edapally and surrounding areas. The existence of Arunoottuvar and other local assembles who helped and controlled the naduvazhis is also evident from the records

The celebration of Onam at the place, mainly as a harvest festival and an occasion for bringing tribute to the king too has been recorded both in stone word and tradition at Thrikkakkara.