Poonjar dynasty

The kingdom of Poonjar
പൂഞ്ഞാർ രാജവംശം
Kingdom of ancient Kerala
c. 1152 CE–1950
Capital		Poonjar
Languages		Tamil, Malayalam
Religion		Hinduism
Political structure		Monarchy
President		Manavikrama Kulasekara Perumal (first king)
Historical era		Kollam Era
•	Established	c. 1152 CE
•	Disestablished	1950
Today part of		India Kottayam district

The Poonjar dynasty (Malayalam:പൂഞ്ഞാർ രാജവംശം) (Tamil:பூஞ்சார் பேரரசு) is one of the ancient royal dynasties in Kerala emerged from the Pandya kings of Sangam age during the Kollam era. Pursuant to the legends and historians, 'Manavikrama Kulasekara Perumal', a Pandya king is considered to be the sole founder of this dynasty. It was one of the prominent kingdoms in the central Travancore region which included the parts of present day Dindigul, Cumbum, Kudallor, Bodinayakkanur and Vandiperiyar. During the campaigns of Marthanda varma in Thekkumkur, the kingdom of Poonjar came under his possession. The palace here (Poonjar palace) exists still by upholding the fame and glory of the Poonjar kings and the dynasty.

History of dynasty

Back in A.D 1152, Manavikrama, a Pandya king along with some trusted servants shifted from Madurai and reached Koodallur region, due to the civil wars in Tamilakam and controversies with Kulothunga Chola, a famed Chola king. He carried out the idols of Madhura Meenakshi, their kuladevatha (tutelary deity) and Sundareswarar (shiva) which was used in the chariot festival in Madurai Meenakshi temple and later installed in Poonjar Meenakshi temple on the banks of Meenachil river.^[1] Due to the civil wars in Tamilakam, Manavikrama wasn't willing to go back to Madurai and then planned to establish a kingdom of his own. Later, he came to know about the availability of land at cheap rates in Kerala and thus started his journey to Thekkumkoor via Kumily. He procured the lands from Thekkumkoor rajas which at present are the parts of Kottayam, Idukki and Pathanamthitta districts. By annexing these lands to his domain, Manavikrama strengthened the political relations with the local rajas. His daughter was married by the Edappally raja. Poonjar kingdom slowly began to expand its extend which reached up to the Palani hills in present Tamil nadu. Thus the kingdom attained great fame and progress during the reign of Manavikrama.^[2]

The idols of Minakshi and Sundareswarar in Madurai temple which is exactly the same as in the Poonjar temple

Upon the journey to Thekkumkur, Manavikrama and his troops were unexpectedly attacked by some robbers near Vandiperiyar. But a person with an elephant suddenly appeared and defeated those thiefs within no time.^[3] He gave a stick and the elephant to the king and warned him to leave the place. After the strange incidents at Vandiperiyar, Manavikrama reached Ettumanoor temple and stayed there. At night, some robbers tried to plunder the temple assets which was bravely resisted by the raja and his servants. The Thekkumkoor raja impressed by the actions of Manavikrama rewarded him with precious stones and gold coins which he used to acquire the Poonjar region. After setting up the palace in poonjar, the idols of Meenakshi and Sundareswarar which he brought from Madurai was installed in the Poonjar Madhura Meenakshi temple. Manavikrama was well aware about the incidents at Vandiperiyar and believed that Lord Ayyappa himself came to his rescue in the form of a mahout. In returns, a sperate idol of Ayyappa was installed in the Poonjar Dharma Sastha temple.^[4] Another temple for Ayyappa was constructed at Vandiperiyar, where the raja was rescued by a mahout (believed to be Lord Ayyappa) from an unexpected attack of thiefs. In kollavarsham 594, he procured areas including Vandiperiyar and annexed to his kingdom. "Elamala" region of Chengamanadu Devaswom was also annexed in C.E 364. He also bought the Kannanthevannoor region from 'Keezhmalainadu Kothavarmman Kovilathikarikal' in C.E 427 and Manjamala, Periyar regions of Vadakkumkoor in C.E 594. The Cumbum, Koodallur, Uthamapalayam, Dindigul and Bodhinaykkannur regions in Tamilakam were also included in Poonjar kingdom. As Edappally raja married the daughter of Manavikrama, regions including Kochi also came under the possession of Poonjar. After C.E 600, there were no inheritors in Ponnjar royal family. Hence the members of Sarkara kovilakom in Ponnani taluk were adopted. Later a raja of this dynasty married a princess of Vadakkukkoor palace. During the Digvijaya of Marthandavarma, Poonjar sided with Venad against Vadakkumkoor. The battle resulted in the merging of Vadakkumkoor in Venad. The kingdom of Poonjar couldn't resist the attacks of Hyderali in C.E 932 and in order to sustain their kingdom, Poonjar had to pay 75,000 gold coins and 7 elephants to the Mysore sultan. Cumbum, Koodallur regions were conquered under Hyderali's attacks in C.E 934. Dharmaraja, with a sympathy towards Poonjar provided 500 soldiers to recapture the areas obtained by Hyderali but it wasn't a fruitful task. As per the instructions of Dhiwan Keshavapilla, force of Poonjar attacked Cumbum and Koodallur regions in which they attained victory and helped them to recapture these regions. After the demise of Tippu Sultan, English East India Company raised their voice for the ownership of Kannandevan hills and many Pandiya nadus. Upon acquiring the ownership rights of these regions, Anjanadu and Kannandevan hills were given to Poonjar kingdom. When the time passed, many regions under Poonjar was given in lease to Travancore including Anjunadu, Elamala periyar regions. The kingdom once a vast one finally shrunk to just 80 km².

Poonjar palace

The Poonjar palace (about 600 years old) built in the traditional architectural styles of ancient Chera and Pandya Kingdoms is a privileged historic destination. Wood being the most used construction component due to the availability of forest woods in the eastern side of Kottayam and Idukki districts.^[5] Other components used were granite stone blocks, laterite tiles and clay tiles of larger and medium sizes. The ancient architectural styles of Kerala can be seen anywhere here. The temple like structure gives the palace itself a holy look. The floors and interior parts are quite unique in their design and outlook. There is also a temple inside the palace built according to the Vastu shastra laws. Marvelous statutes of various Hindu deities are placed in various parts of palace. Furnitures are made of teak, sandal wood and rose wood. These uniqueness of Poonjar palace attracts lots of visitors to here. A museum is also housed inside the palace which preserves many rock cut lamps, sculptures and antiques. The Kerala state department of archaeology keeps this palace as a heritage site as well as a historic monument.^[6]

Attractions at Poonjar palace

Poonjar palace preserves a unique exquisite collection of various materials which are still in good condition.

• Droni, a bed used in the traditional Ayurvedic treatment
• Precious jewel boxes and lamps
• Sculptures of Nataraja (the dancing Shiva)
• Palm leaf engravings
• Rock-cut lamps and Chuttuvilakku carved out of the stone walls
• A unique conch shell brought out once in a year for ritual practices
• Weapons used by rajas
• Palanquins and chandeliers^[7]

See also

• Chera dynasty
• Pandya dynasty
• Chola dynasty
• G. V. Raja
• Pandalam dynasty
• Kulothunga I

References