Kattanam


Kattanam is one of the fastest-growing villages located in Central Travancore, in Alappuzha district in the Indian state of Kerala.
Some of the famous Churches& Temples of Kerala is located in Kattanam. One of the famous Nagaraja temple in kerala "Adimoolam Vetticode Sree Nagaraja Temple", created by Lord Parashurama is located in this village.Famous churches like St. Stephen's Orthodox Church, St. Stephen's Malankara Syrian Catholic Church, Sacred Heart Catholic Church, St. Thomas Marthoma Church and the St. James C.S.I. Church are located at Kattanam.Kayamkulam-Punalur state highway runs through the heart of Kattanam. St. Thomas Mission Hospital, Meppallykutty is a famous landmark nearby Kattanam. Kattanam St. Stephen’s Orthodox Church, which is known as “Kattanam Valiyapally” having a history of more than 180 years, 7 km to east from Kayamkulam was established in the name of Saint Stephen and was the first church and mother of many churches in Kattanam. In the outskirts of Kattanam, there remain the marks of Buddhist culture and influence. PWD Tourist Bungalow situated at the prime area of Kattanam also has had a long and detailed history of politics, culture and literature to tell.

History

Kattanam was merged with Mankavu and there was only a very few Hindu families were living in this place including Mankavil Gurunathanmaar those who were conducting mantravadham and believed to had supernatural powers. The story of Kattanam is related to a Yakshi lived in Mankavu was a folkloric vampire. She was a Brahmin lady who was living in the same place centuries before the mankavu was formed. She had found murdered in her tharavattu kulam together with her unborn child. And it is also believed that the entire Brahmin family who were living there destroyed and centuries after Mankavu formed in the same place. The Brahmin lady was reborn into a Yakshi, waylaying men with her beauty and drinking their blood. It is also believed that after stopping the yakshi of Panayannarkavu, kadamattathu Kathanar has visited Kattanam to stop the yakshi but he couldn’t succeed and returned. Even the karmas of Mankavil Gurunadhanmar’s were turned against them, their powers couldn’t withstand against yakshi and the unnatural death of their family members increased day by day. It has been found in devaprashnam that the land has to be sold to someone to get rid of the yakshi as well as the curse on them. Kattanam was very fertile land but were not in use due to the fear of the yakshi in Mankavu. Finally a Scholar Velangattu Achen aka Mankavil Valiachen has come forward and purchased the entire Mankavu for one Rasi. This Mankavil achen arrested the yakshi with his Divine power and the yakshi requested him to install her to a paala tree which he refused and her soul sent permanently to rest in peace. From then the Velangattu achan known famous as Mankavilachan, destroyed the entire Mankavu and removed the fear from the public, made the place suitable for Katta production by Anam from God. Because of the good fertility of the paddy land, the production of KATTA’s has increased, accumulated and traded from here, “KATTA-ANAM” means “Blessed with Paddy Grains” and since the place is known and called as KATTANAM.
Kattanam Valiyapally is an epitome of Secularism. Valiyapally was established on 25 May 1835 by its founder Anniyil Karyadil Mathunni Tharakan in the land delivered by a Hindu family Known as Piralasseri Puthan Vilayil family owned by Thuruthiyil Shri Sankaran. The church was blessed by Cheppad Philipose Mar Dionysius, in the name of the first Martyr St. Stephen. In the initial days of this church onwards St. Stephen’s Day is celebrated on January 20,21, 22 & 23. Compared to the other churches in Malankara, different customs are practised here. One among them is the three-day-long possession, which covers kilometers and kilometers to deliver the blessings. In this occasion all people, irrespective of caste or creed take part in the possession with prayers. This possession has become a must -see, colorful and elegant, filled with blessings. "Chempedappu" is also a custom related to Kattanam Valiyapally Perunnal.
Later many of the Christian families migrated to Kattanam and together with the existing and migrated Hindu families they started cultivation in Kattanam and became best farmers. Anniyil, kannankara, Karyadil, Kaleeckal, Mankavil and Thachireth are few early Christian families settled in Kattanam.
Before Kayamkulam Swaroopam was annexed by Anizham Thirunal Marthanda Varma of Travancore, Kattanam was the part of Kayamkulam Swaroopam. Old folklore's tell that Kalakattu Kuravar's,One of the oldest ethnic families of Kattanam where the largest suppliers of Pepper to Kayamkulam Swaroopam.
The famous and well-known "Pallipuram Devi Temple" which is more that 400 years old is located 3 km East of Kattanam,it is believed to be the Kalariof the Kings of Kayamkulam Swaroopam. The temple myths are related to famous and well-known Kottarathil Family, which history of more than 300+ years.It is believed that one of Kottharathil Achan,the then Karanavar who was a devotee of Pallipuram Devi was infected by smallpox,which was incurable at those times and those who got infected will be buried alive to avoid spreading of the disease,The Karanavar told his Sons and Nephews he don't want to be buried alive,rather leave him at Pallipuram Devi Temple,so that he can breath his last breath at the Devi's place.As instructed by him was left at the temple,waiting for his imminent death surviving on the Balance Nivedya offered by the temple priest.
One night he saw Devi in his dream in the form of a very proud old woman with a cane walking stick in her hand, she beat him with her walking stick and scolded him for sleeping there, the Karanavar woke up from his sleep found him immensely sweating,after some days his smallpox got cured and he returned home.
There are many others leaving near by the temple have similar divine experiences.

Educational Institutions

There are several schools,Engineering,Medical and Nursing Colleges, in the locality which provides primary, secondary and higher levels of education.
Kattanam is well connected to neighboring cities and states via several highways.