| THAYILLUM FAMILY |
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| This site is managed by Georgi Thengumthottathil Abraham |
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| Brief History |
| In 52 AD Apostle of Jesus Christ, St. Thomas first landed in the port of Musiris in Mali Island on Alwaye coast. This port was also called Muchiri because the periyar branches out into three before it joins Arabian sea. (In Malayalam language three branches are called Muchiri or three broken lips)
This was one of the oldest and busiest port on the West coast of India known to the world by more than twenty different names. (Other names Cranganur, Kodungaloor etc.) In the biggest ever flood known in the history of Kerala, this port was washed off in 1341 AD and a new Island Puthu-Vipeen was formed near Cochin in the Vembanad Lake. |
| It is traditionally believed that St. Thomas founded seven and a half Churches in Kerala:
They are 1) Cranganore (other names are Kodungalore or Maliyankara) 2) Quilon (other names are Kavulam, Kollam, Kurakkeni Kollam) 3) Niranam or Nelkynda. 4) Nilackal or Chayal. 5) Kokkamangalam or Gokkamangalam or Pallipuram. 6) Parur or Paravoor or Kottakavu. 7) Palur or Palayur. Except Nilackal all the Churches are on the coastal line between Palayur and Kollam at a distance of about 230 miles. Nilackal Church was known as Arapally. The meaning of Ara in Tamil like Aramana in old Tamil means Head. So Nilackal Church was Known in other words as the Head Church. There is a place called Plapally also known as Thlapally (meaning Head Church) very close to Nilackal which signifies the existence of a Head Church there. |
| The first converted Christians were called Malankara Christians or Nazarani Christians or Syrian Christians. They have a unique unbroken tradition in Kerala.
The Traditional belief among Syrian Christian families in Kerala is that they were originally converted to Christianity from Namboodiri families, but the large number old Syrian Christians present in Kerala as compared to the Namboodiri population gives rise to strong doubts about the claim. It is possible that some of the Namboodiri families might have accepted Christianity in Kerala. It is also true that because of the rigid religious practices followed by Namboodiris their population has come down though their offspring in other castes increased. |
| Many Customs and family traditions existing in the Syrian Christian community are common with those of Namboodiris. |
| Syrian Christians were referred as Surya Vamsojar i.e, sun worshippers. The Namboodiris like the Persian Magis were Sun (Surya) Worshippers. They were descendents of the Naphtali family tree, one of twelve sons of Jacob. When the property of Jacob was divided among the twelve sons the land where the sun rises (Persia) and East went to Naphtali's, i.e, Magis. The Indo-Iranians or Aryans who had migrated to India were Magi origin.
Parasuram, who reclaimed Kerala from the sea, by throw of his axe, as the legend goes, gifted the homeland to Namboodiris. There are evidences that Arya Brahmins from central India migrated to Kerala around 500 BC. There are historical evidence that a Kashmir King, by name Lalidadityan conquered various places and finally landed in Kerala around 7th Centaury AD. He converted Kerala into a prosperous place and built many temples. It is believed that the Namboodiris along with Nairs were brought from Kashmir to look after the temples. The customs of Nairs and Nagas, presence of Sarpakav in Kerala suggest their common origin of warrior class. The system of writing Horoscope, marriage ceremonies, common names like Itty, Thanka, Kunjanda, Thirumeni, names with Mana, Illam, dowery systems etc are common to Syrian Christians and Namboodiris. A typical example is the the minnu for Christian marriage and Thali for Namboodiris. The shape of minnu or Thali is almost the same. For Christians there is a cross on one side. The above facts along with many other common practices would support the claim of the Namboodiri origin of some Syrian Christians and hence it cannot altogether be set aside. |
| One such Syrian Christian Family is 'Thareyleth' or 'Thayillum' family in Ayroor, Central Kerala.
The word "Illum" itself indicates that it has some connection to a Namboodiri Illam. Illam in Malayalam language means the house of a Brahmin Family. It is recorded in the family history book that St. Thomas while travelling through Pamba river stopped at Ayroor showed miracles and convinced the brahmin forefather and converted the family to Christianity |
