Niranam
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Niranam today is a small village in central Travancore region in Kerala, India.
It occupied a central place in ancient Kerala, as an important port, being on the confluence of the Manimala and Achenkoil Rivers. It is almost 5 km distant from Tiruvalla in Pathanamthitta District of Kerala.
This beautiful village has a rich tradition of literature, cultural exchange and religious harmony. According to historians and geologists, Niranam was a sea port hundreds of years ago, having trade relations with the Roman Empire and the Middle East. This fact was confirmed by the discovery of ancient Roman coins from Niranam and nearby areas by archeologists. Niranam is also mentioned in the writings of Pliny and Cosmos Indico Pleustes as a trade centre. The references to 'Nelcyndis' is construed as a reference to a port near Kollam and the probability is either Kollam or present day Niranam. Geologists suggest that sea retracted from this area due to some major geographical changes. The great flood of 1341 AD also had helped to shift the sea westwards as a result of the silt filling in the direct sea route from Niranam. Even today the soil of nearby areas of Niranam is sandy and resembles beaches, though presently these places are not in proximity of sea. The village next to Niranam is Kadapra, and this name is a derivative of the Malayalam word ‘Kadappuram' which means ‘beach'. Centuries later, Purakkad, west of Niranam, gained in importance as a port and this port was controlled by the Rajah of Purakkad/Ambalappuzha.
Probably the importance of Niranam as a port paved for the arrival of St Thomas here in the first century AD and then led to the establishment of a church and community here, most probably a Jewish trading community, who became Christians and later were controlled by the Syrian Church of Antioch and Edessa. (Read about Niranam St Mary's Orthodox Church). The Christian community in Niranam is thus one of the oldest, anywhere in the world. After the split of the Syrian Christian Church into Catholics and Orthodox factions, in the 17th century, Niranam church came under the control of the orthodox faction. Niranam Cathedral has been the seat of the Orthodox church since then.
Now almost all Christian Churches and denominations as well as other religions have a presence in Niranam. All are living in harmony and take part in festivals of other religions.
It is worth mentioning that the Vaipur and Kallooppara churches as also the Tiruvalla churches were offshoots of the Niranam church and community.
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[edit] Niranam poets (AD 1350-1450)
In the 14th century Niranam gave birth to a group of three poets who became well-known as Niranam Poets. They were Madhava Panikkar, Sankara Panikkar and Rama Panikkar of the Kannassa family. The first two were the uncles of Rama Panikkar. The lived between AD 1350 and 1450. Before their period the poetry of Kerala was a mix of Malayalam and Sanskrit, known as ‘manipravala'. Niranam poets were instrumental in successfully freeing the literature from the influence of this mix. The appearance of modern Malayalam language starts with the works of Niranam poets. Their success led to the gradual replacement of the manipravala cult of worldliness and sensual revelry by an indigenous poetics of high seriousness. Their works are collectively known as Niranam Works.
Madhava Panikkar wrote a condensed Malayalam translation of Bhagavad Gita, perhaps the first ever translation of that classic into any modern Indian language. Sankara Panikkar's main work is Bharatamala, a masterly condensation of Mahabharatam, is also the first major work of its kind in Malayalam. The greatest of the three is of course Rama Panikkar, the author of Ramayanam, Bhartam, Bhagavatam and Sivarathri Mahatmyam. Kannassa Ramayanam and Kannassa Bharatam are the most important of Niranam works. Ulloor, the great literary historian of Kerala has opined that Rama Panikkar holds the same position in Malayalam literature that Spenser does in English literature.
[edit] Important personalities
- Late. H. G. Alexios Mar Thevodhosios Metropolitan :
(Mattackal Family) Ordained as Bishop on April 7, 1938 (Diocese of Quilon and the Outside Kerala). Formed the Indian Orthodox Mission at Madras (1957). Member of Central Committee of WCC, till 1953. Passed away on 6 August 1965. Buried at Bethany Ashram, Perunad
- Late. Shri. K. C. Mammen Mappilai: Former Chief Editor of Malayala Manorama daily.
- Late. Rev.Fr. K.B.Mathews: priest in Malankara Othodox community
Rev.Fr.K.B.Mathews usually known as "Karikotte Achen" departed on the morning of Friday 27th Feb.04. He was 90 years and one of the senior most priest inthe Orthodox Church. Funeral was held on Monday (29th Feb.04) at Niranam Church.He was the Manager of Parumala Seminary for nearly 40 years. He was one ofthe priest from the Niranam Church and vicar for the Niranam church also.Achen was instrumental in many changes in Parumala, Niranam and during his tenure the Parumala Hospital was started.
- Late. Shri. E. John Philipose : Minister-Public Works, Communications and Agriculture (1949-51).
- Late. Shri. E. John Jacob: Founder member of Kerala Congress. Minister- Food & Civil Supplies (1977-78).
- Late. Shri. N. S. Krishnapillai : Former MLA.
- Thomas VengazhiyilL Paruthickal Zacharia: Founder Member Niranam Pravassi Association (Social Reformer)
- H. G. Zacharias Mar Theophilos : Saphragan Metropolitan and Metropolitan of Madras Diocese of Mar Thoma Church
