add site
services
publishers
database
health videos
toolbar
stats
live show
health store
more stuff
JOIN/LOGIN
| advertise add site services publishers database health videos
| | about toolbar stats live show health store more stuff JOIN/LOGIN |
Guptan (MalayalamAlso known as Balgavidapomidlioshida:ഗുപ്തന് )is a Hindu caste - peculiar to Palakkad district of Kerala, South India. Their major population is spread across the erstwhile Walluvanad region, especially VAYILLYAMKUNNU,a place known after the name of VAYILLAKUNNILAPPAN, the 12th son of VARARUCHI of Parayi Petta Panthirukulam which is currently known as KATAMPAZHIPPURAM - SREEKRISHNAPURAM and MANNARKKAD areas besides the present PALAKKAD taluk. Their major strengths were sanskrit and astrology and many Sanskrit scholars and popular astrologers came up from this community in the past.
[edit] EtymologyThe name Guptan is derived from the Sanskrit word Gupt/Guptam which means protected and secret. It also denotes the position. It is the name of Hindu God VISHNU. In Arabic language, the word ALBATHIN has the similar meaning. It is the common name used by vaishyas of North India, though it has no relation with the people of North India. [edit] GothramBasically, Guptans are Vaisyas as per the ancient chathurvarnnia system, and they belong to Kailasa Gothram. Agriculture and business were their traditional ways of earning livelihood in olden days. They followed Makkathaayam with 10 days pula (duration for doing sanchayanam and other rituals after demise of family member). [edit] Origin - Legend & HistoryThere are some details available about the origin of this community - earlier known as Moothans also - in KOTTICHEZHUNNALLATH (The first programme used to be conducted by Samoothiri kings after swearing on ceremony of each Eralppad- second in command - to establish their control over the region.The last KOTTICHEZHUNNALLATH was believed to be held in 1909 ). It points to the era way back to 13th- 14th century which says about the asylum of a Vaisya minister, SANKARA NAYANAR and his men from a local kingdom in the bank of river Kaveri of then Cholamandalam - to the king of calicut (Kozhikkode) - The dispute arose from the decision of local king to marry the clever daughter of the minister who had found out a solution for a burning issue which was haunting the minister for days together. The legend - The issue was to make a necklace within 41 days, by a bowl of special pearls which was gifted by some traders to the king. Being curved holes inside, many had tried and failed. The intelligent daughter of the minister in her teenage could succeed in it with the help of some ants by using a ghee applied thread. Impressed up on the intelligence of the girl, the king wanted to marry her, but the local king being inferior in caste, the minister and his fellows were not happy. The angry king gave ultimatimum for accepting the marriage or all vaisyas to leave the kingdom. Around 7,200 vaisya families left choladesam and were segregated in nine groups and travelled to different parts of cheranaadu. The first four groups left the place were of Eralpuram , Adithyapuram, Paschimapuram & Ramapuram nagarams and the minister was belonging to Eralpuram nagaram. They took their kuladevatha (Goddess) Bhagavathy and acharya Gyanasivacharya along with them and reached to Walluvanad area and approached Samoothiri (Zamorin) for land. After going through some tests, impressed up on their intelligence,Samoothiri gave permission to build 'nagarams' (at places they liked) and sent pathinaayirathil nair - The chieftain who can arrange that much warriors on demand by zamorin - along with them and asked them to meet the king after construction of their Kuladevatha temples. They built four 'nagarams' called Puthanangadi, Thiruvazhiyode, Mangod and Vayillyamkunnu (current names Chethallur, Thiruvazhiyode / sreekrishnapuram, Mangod and Katampazhippuram respectively)for cultivation and trade. After the construction of temples, they met samoothiri along with their acharya. Impressed by the acharya's sivapooja and devotion, Samoothiri gave more land and arranged adiyantharakkar for them (the temple constructed for those adiyanthirakkar - "kammalasserykkaavu" is still there near Thiruvazhiyode)but as per the local tradition, samoothiri restricted the wearing of poonool (the sacred thread) to upanayanam & marriage time only. Later Samoothiri gave them the title GUPTAN on the advice of Sree Punnassey Neelakanda Namby and they became part of the history of valluvanadan area. DESAYANAM published by samabhavini books - which says the history of Vayillyamkunnu desam of pre-idependence era - gives more details about Guptans and their history and lifestyles. [edit] Kuladevatha - Family GoddessAs they worshipped Bhagavathi as their kuladevatha, they built Bhagavathy temples also in those nagarams. Popular and famous temples of their Kuladevatha in this region are VAYILLYAMKUNNU BHAGAVATHY Temple of katampazhippuram, THIRUVARAYKKAL BHAGAVATHY Temple of Thiruvazhiyode, PANAMKURUSSI BHAGAVATHY Temple of Chethallur and MANGOTTU KAVU BHAGAVATHY temple near Cherpulassery. A story related to Samoothiri about the power of Panamkurussy bhagavathy at Chethallur is still popular in those area. [edit] PopulationGuptan population today are scattered through out Palakkad district especially valluvanad area and the major pockets being Katampazhippuram, Mannampetta, Punchapadam,Sreekrishnapuram, Thiruvazhiyode, Mangod, Chethallur,Mannarkkad, Karakurussi, Kongad, Attasseri, Edathanattukara & Karimba. Apart from their traditional living style of agriculture & business, many have excelled in Education, Medical, Technology & Service sectors. Moothan, Tharakan & Mannadiyar are other aryavaisya groups related to them. [edit] Prominent Guptans
[edit] References
|
| ↑ top of page ↑ | about thumbshots |
