190-557: Religion in Kerala (2011 census) Religion in Kerala is diverse. According to 2011 census of India figures, 54.73% of Kerala's population are Hindus , 26.56% are Muslims , 18.38% are Christians, and the remaining 0.33% follow other religions or have no religion. As of 2020, Hindus, Muslims, Christians and others account for 41.5%, 43.9%, 13.9% and 0.7% of the total child births in the state, respectively. The historical legends regarding
380-415: A Brahmachari and killed the demon Thokalaasuran. The deity of Sreevallabha, worshipped by Lakshmi and Krishna , was installed in the temple in 59 BC. Durvasa and Saptarishi are said to go to the temple every midnight. It is known for its architecture and unique customs, and Kathakali is performed daily. The temple contributed to the cultural and educational development of Kerala. The temple
570-495: A Persian merchant who visited Kerala during the reign of Sthanu Ravi Varma (9th century CE), records that there was extensive trade between Kerala and China at that time, based at the port of Kollam . A number of foreign accounts have mentioned about the presence of considerable Muslim population in the coastal towns. Arab writers such as Al-Masudi of Baghdad (896–956 CE), Muhammad al-Idrisi (1100–1165 CE), Abulfeda (1273–1331 CE), and Al-Dimashqi (1256–1327 CE) mention
760-417: A salabhanjika carved on each. The round, copper-roofed, golden-domed sreekovil is decorated with etched murals of Matsya , Kurma , Dakshinamurthy , Varaha , Ganapathy, Narasimha , Vamana , sudarshana , Parashurama , Rama , Purusha sukta , Balarama , Krishna , Lakshmi , Kalki and Garuda . The sreekovil has an outer circumference of 160 feet and three concentric walls. Sreevallabha has
950-653: A unicameral legislature. The Kerala Legislative Assembly also known as Niyamasabha, consists of 140 members who are elected for five-year terms. The state elects 20 members to the Lok Sabha , the lower house of the Indian Parliament, and 9 members to the Rajya Sabha , the upper house. The Government of Kerala is a democratically elected body in India with the governor as its constitutional head and
1140-445: A building for priests is on the south side. North of the temple is an open-air shrine. The temple stage was destroyed by fire in 1915. The Garuda flagstaff, made of black granite, stands 53.5 feet high and was built in 57 BC; its lower end reaches the water table. The flagstaff, topped by a three-foot statue of Garuda which faces the temple, has begun leaning and is surrounded by a three-tier edifice for support. A golden flagstaff
1330-541: A continuation of the Mysore Plateau , are known for natural Gold fields, along with the adjoining districts of Karnataka . Minerals including Ilmenite , Monazite , Thorium , and Titanium , are found in the coastal belt of Kerala. Kerala's coastal belt of Karunagappally is known for high background radiation from thorium -containing monazite sand. In some coastal panchayats, median outdoor radiation levels are more than 4 mGy/yr and, in certain locations on
1520-510: A developing period of art, literature, trade and the Bhakti movement of Hinduism. A Keralite identity, distinct from the Tamils , became linguistically separate during this period around the seventh century. The origin of Malayalam calendar dates back to year 825 CE. For local administration, the empire was divided into provinces under the rule of Naduvazhis , with each province comprising
1710-447: A donation by the king to the mosque. The Moroccan traveller Ibn Battutah (14th century) has recorded the considerably huge presence of Muslim merchants and settlements of sojourning traders in most of the ports of Kerala. By the early decades of the 14th century, travellers speak of Calicut (Kozhikode) as the major port city in Kerala. Some of the important administrative positions in the kingdom of Zamorin of Calicut , such as that of
1900-454: A garland. At noon, the deity is worshipped as a grihastha (householder). In the fifth (evening) puja , the deity is worshipped as Parabrahma and dressed in a saffron-coloured mundu with a tulasi garland. After the sleeping ceremony, the sanctum sanctorum is closed. Sreevallabha Temple is known for its orthodox customs. Poet and high priest Vishnunarayanan Namboothiri was temporarily removed from his post in 1997 after he crossed
2090-527: A gold pole in his hand asked for food. Antharjanam was glad to see him, and asked him to come after his bath since she needed to complete the Ekadashi rituals. Disregarding her warnings, the young man approached the river where Thukalasuran lived. He and Thukalasuran fought; the golden pole turned into the Sudarshana Chakra , and he killed Thukalasuran and destroyed his army. The young man washed
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#17327930961752280-502: A lotus in his right hand and the Sudarshana Chakra is in his right upper hand; his left hand is on his waist. The seven-foot-tall statue is at a height of 10 feet. Despite being the son of Shiva , Khandakarnan was a demon who sacrificed animals to please his father and never missed a chance to humiliate Vishnu. He had a pair of bells as earrings, so he could only hear the name of Shiva (which he chanted continuously). When Khandakarnan did not obtain salvation, he asked Shiva why. Since
2470-576: A major financial power to be reckoned with in the old kingdoms of Kerala and had great political influence in the Hindu royal courts. Travellers have recorded the considerably huge presence of Muslim merchants and settlements of sojourning traders in most of the ports of Kerala. Immigration, intermarriage and missionary activity/conversion – secured by the common interest in the spice trade – helped in this development. Muslim merchant magnates owning ships, spread their shipping and trading business interests across
2660-796: A migration of Syriac Christians (Jewish-Christians) from Mesopotamia to India in the 4th or 9th century. The Knanaya claim descent from Thomas of Cana and those who came with him. The communities arrival was recorded on the Thomas of Cana copper plates which existed in Kerala until the 17th century after which point they were taken to Portugal by the Franciscan Order. Before the arrival of Europeans in Kerala there were only Marthoma Nasranis also called as Malankara Syrian Christians due to its historical, religious, and liturgical connection to Syriac Christianity . Marthoma Nasranis remained as an independent group, and they got their bishops from Church of
2850-509: A number of Desams under the control of chieftains, called as Desavazhis . Mamankam festival , which was the largest native festival, was held at Tirunavaya near Kuttippuram , on the bank of river Bharathappuzha . Athavanad , the headquarters of Azhvanchery Thamprakkal , who were also considered as the supreme religious chief of the Nambudiri Brahmins of Kerala, is also located near Tirunavaya. Sulaiman al-Tajir ,
3040-506: A number of Parsi families settled in Kerala, particularly around Kozhikode and Thalassery area. They practiced Zoroastrianism and even built the 160-year-old dadgah (fire temple) at S. M. Street , Kozhikode which is still in existence. They were mostly wealthy families who immigrated during the 18th century from Gujarat and Bombay. The community included famous families such as the Hirjis or Marshalls. Some famous Malayali Parsis included
3230-544: A parody religion created by atheist communities in the state, centred around the 'worship' of Dinkan , a mouse superhero from the discontinued children's magazine Balamangalam . Population by religion, per 2011 census Population by religion, per 2001 census Population from 2001 and 2011 census, with percentage by religion for each district Births by Religion in Kerala in 2019 Kerala Kerala ( English: / ˈ k ɛr ə l ə / / KERR -ə-lə ; Malayalam: [keːɾɐɭɐm] ),
3420-838: A part of the Madras State post-independence. After the States Reorganisation Act, 1956 , the modern-day state of Kerala was formed by merging the Malabar district of Madras State (excluding Gudalur taluk of Nilgiris district , Lakshadweep Islands, Topslip , the Attappadi Forest east of Anakatti), the taluk of Kasaragod (now Kasaragod District ) in South Canara , and the erstwhile state of Thiru-Kochi (excluding four southern taluks of Kanyakumari district , and Shenkottai taluks). Kerala has
3610-481: A pebble in a pot each day to know when 15 days had passed. The actual Ekadashi was often a day earlier or later, though, due to the change in the appearance of the moon . This brought on more ridicule, but two astrologers confirmed the day as Ekadashi at the Sankaramangalath House and Dashami (the 10th day) everywhere else. Mallikavanam was attacked by Thukalasuran, a demon called who robbed and
3800-480: A revenue loss of over ₹ 20 billion (US$ 240 million). Kerala's 10% rise in GDP is 3% more than the national GDP. In 2013, capital expenditure rose 30% compared to the national average of 5%, owners of two-wheelers rose by 35% compared to the national rate of 15%, and the teacher-pupil ratio rose 50% from 2:100 to 4:100. The Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board is a government owned financial institution in
3990-684: A strong presence of other Protestant groups in southern Kerala such as the Church of South India and The Salvation Army that are typically based on Anglican beliefs and trace their origins to British rule . They have a significant presence in Neyyattinkara taluk and Pathanamthitta district . In 2023, the BBC reported on the Christian tradition of photographing funerals in Kerala. Judaism arrived in Kerala with spice traders, possibly as early as
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#17327930961754180-586: A strong service sector. In 2019–20, the tertiary sector contributed around 63% of the state's GSVA , compared to 28% by secondary sector , and 8% by primary sector . In the period between 1960 and 2020, Kerala's economy was gradually shifting from an agrarian economy into a service-based one. The state's service sector which accounts for around 63% of its revenue is mainly based upon hospitality industry , tourism , Ayurveda and medical services, pilgrimage, information technology , transportation , financial sector, and education . Major initiatives under
4370-495: A temple there, and asked Pathillathil Pottimar to be the administrator. The boy removed his shawl, exposing his chest with the Srivatsa mark and Lakshmi; Vishnu showed his universal form ( Vishwarupa ) to her family. Antharjanam, her servant and her servant's son obtained salvation by merging with him. This happened in 2998 BC; the five boys who accompanied Vishnu were the sage Durvasa and his disciples. The Sankaramangalath House
4560-457: A total of 6,411,269 Christians in Kerala, with their various denominations as stated: Saint Thomas Christians ( Syro-Malabar Church , Syro-Malankara Catholic Church , Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church , Jacobite Syrian Christian Church , CSI Syrian Christians , Mar Thoma Syrian Church , Pentecostal Syrian Christians , St. Thomas Evangelical Church of India , Chaldean Syrian Church and Malabar Independent Syrian Church ) constituted 70.73% of
4750-571: Is Mahabali , an Asura and a prototypical just king, who ruled the earth from Kerala. He won the war against the Devas , driving them into exile. The Devas pleaded before Lord Vishnu , who took his fifth incarnation as Vamana and pushed Mahabali down to netherworld to placate the Devas. There is a belief that, once a year during the Onam festival, Mahabali returns to Kerala. The Matsya Purana , among
4940-715: Is 750 meters south of the Ramapuram vegetable market and 500 metres south of the Kavumbhagom junction on the Thiruvalla – Ambalappuzha state highway (SH-12). It is 2.5 km from the Thiruvalla railway station and 2 km from the KSRTC bus stand. KSRTC, private bus service, and auto-taxi service is available. The temple, administered by the Travancore Devaswom Board , is a major temple in
5130-465: Is a state on the Malabar Coast of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, following the passage of the States Reorganisation Act , by combining Malayalam -speaking regions of the erstwhile regions of Cochin , Malabar , South Canara , and Travancore . Spread over 38,863 km (15,005 sq mi), Kerala is the 21st largest Indian state by area . It is bordered by Karnataka to
5320-692: Is a coastal exclave surrounded by Kerala on all of its landward approaches. The Kannur District surrounds Mahé on three sides with the Kozhikode District on the fourth. In 1664, the municipality of Fort Kochi was established by Dutch Malabar , making it the first municipality in the Indian subcontinent , which got dissolved when the Dutch authority got weaker in the 18th century. The municipalities of Kozhikode , Palakkad , Fort Kochi , Kannur , and Thalassery , were founded on 1 November 1866 of
5510-481: Is a matter of dispute. The suggested locations are Ponnani , Tanur , Beypore - Chaliyam - Kadalundi - Vallikkunnu , and Koyilandy . Merchants from West Asia and Southern Europe established coastal posts and settlements in Kerala. The Israeli (Jewish) connection with Kerala started in 573 BCE. Arabs also had trade links with Kerala, starting before the 4th century BCE, as Herodotus (484–413 BCE) noted that goods brought by Arabs from Kerala were sold to
5700-626: Is appointed by the president of India for a five-year term. The leader of the party or coalition with a majority in the Legislative Assembly is appointed as the chief minister by the governor, and the council of ministers are appointed by the governor on the advice of the chief minister. The governor remains a ceremonial head of the state, while the chief minister and his council are responsible for day-to-day government functions. The council of ministers consists of Cabinet Ministers and Ministers of State (MoS). The Secretariat headed by
5890-534: Is at 8:00, before the temple closes. The four main daily offerings are Paala Namaskaaram, Kathakali , Pantheerayiram and the Kesadipaadam garland. The popular Paala Namaskaaram, part of the third puja , is the serving of food to the deity and the Brahmins in areca nut palm leaves. Kathakali is performed each evening. Pantheerayiram is the offering of 12,001 bananas in a special ritual, usually made at
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6080-723: Is derived from the Old Tamil word for 'lake'. Keralam may stem from the Classical Tamil cherive-alam 'declivity of a hill or a mountain slope' or chera alam 'land of the Cheras'. One folk etymology derives Kerala from the Malayalam word kera 'coconut tree' and alam 'land'; thus, 'land of coconuts', which is a nickname for the state used by locals due to the abundance of coconut trees. The earliest Sanskrit text to mention Kerala as Cherapadha
6270-551: Is first recorded as Keralaputo ('son of Chera [s]') in a 3rd-century-BCE rock inscription left by the Maurya emperor Ashoka (274–237 BCE), one of his edicts pertaining to welfare. At that time, one of three states in the region was called Cheralam in Classical Tamil: Chera and Kera are variants of the same word. The word Cheral refers to the oldest known dynasty of Kerala kings and
6460-684: Is followed by 18.38% of the population of Kerala. The Christianity in Kerala has long traditions from first century AD many of which is similar to the Malabari Jews , the latter has settled in Kerala since the King Solomon . According to traditional accounts, Saint Thomas the Apostle visited Muziris in Kerala in the first century around 52 AD and proselytized some of the then settled Cochin Jewish families and some Upper castes, they became
6650-569: Is forested. Four of the world's Ramsar Convention listed wetlands — Lake Sasthamkotta , Ashtamudi Lake , Thrissur-Ponnani Kole Wetlands , and the Vembanad-Kol wetlands—are in Kerala, as well as 1455.4 km of the vast Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve and 1828 km of the Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve . Subjected to extensive clearing for cultivation in the 20th century, much of the remaining forest cover
6840-400: Is in front of the east entrance. Inside the wall is a walking path. A dining hall is on the south-east; this is unique among other temples, whose dining halls are on the north side. The temple auditorium and administrative offices are next to it. Smaller shrines for Ganapathy and Ayyappan and another auditorium are on the south-west side. The temple guard, on the north side of other temples,
7030-521: Is located in the city of Thiruvalla , India . One of the oldest and largest temples in Kerala and one of the 108 Divya Desams , it has been valued by the Alvars and reportedly mentioned in the Garuda and Matsya Puranas . According to legend, Vishnu appeared here as Sreevallabha for the sage Durvasa and Khandakarnan. Pleased by the prayers of an old Brahmin woman, Sreevallabha incarnated as
7220-776: Is now protected from clearfelling . Eastern Kerala's windward mountains shelter tropical moist forests and tropical dry forests , which are common in the Western Ghats. The world's oldest teak plantation 'Conolly's Plot' is in Nilambur . Kerala's fauna are notable for their diversity and high rates of endemism: it includes 118 species of mammals (1 endemic), 500 species of birds , 189 species of freshwater fish, 173 species of reptiles (10 of them endemic), and 151 species of amphibians (36 endemic). These are threatened by extensive habitat destruction, including soil erosion, landslides, salinisation , and resource extraction. In
7410-455: Is on the south side. The sacred fig and mango trees beneath which Durvasa meditated are near the Ayyappan shrine. The Sankaramangalth Illam , where Lalithambika Antharjanam lived, is outside the west tower. The north gopuram is only opened for Uthra Sreebali festival. A spring-fed pond, used by priests, is on the north-east. Vedavyasa and Durvasa disappeared from its east bank, and
7600-420: Is popular in Kerala. Lord Krishna is worshipped widely in all parts of Kerala, Guruvayur being one of the most famous temples in the state. Malayali Hindus also worship Bhagavathi as a form of Shakti . Almost every village in Kerala has a Bhagavati Goddess. Hindus in Kerala also strongly believe in power of snake gods and usually have sacred snake groves known as Sarpa Kavu near to their houses. Some of
7790-502: Is practised by more than half of the population, followed by Islam and Christianity . In 2019–20, the economy of Kerala was the 8th-largest in India with ₹ 8.55 trillion (US$ 100 billion) in gross state domestic product (GSDP) and a per capita net state domestic product of ₹ 222,000 (US$ 2,700). In 2019–20, the tertiary sector contributed around 65% to state's GSVA , while the primary sector contributed only 8%. The state has witnessed significant emigration, especially to
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7980-531: Is preserved outside the temple, near its western gate, and is considered the original temple. About 3,000 years after this, King Cheraman Perumal visited the temple. His wife, Queen Cherumdevi, wanted to build a shrine for Vishnu attached to the Sudarshana shrine. They ordered a Vishnu idol from Tamil Nadu after the temple was rebuilt. The queen dreamed that Garuda, disguised as a Brahmin, told her about Sreevallabhan's idol and asked to install it there. With
8170-706: Is reminiscent of the word Malanad which means the land of hills . According to William Logan , the word Malabar comes from a combination of the Dravidian word Mala (hill) and the Persian / Arabic word Barr (country/continent). The Kodungallur Mosque , has a granite foundation exhibiting 11th–12th century architectural style. The Arabic inscription on a copper slab within the Madayi Mosque in Kannur records its foundation year as 1124 CE. The Muslims were
8360-424: Is still referred to as the "Garden of Spices" or as the "Spice Garden of India". Kerala's spices attracted ancient Arabs , Babylonians , Assyrians and Egyptians to the Malabar Coast in the 3rd and 2nd millennia BCE. Phoenicians established trade with Kerala during this period. Arabs and Phoenicians were the first to enter Malabar Coast to trade Spices . The Arabs on the coasts of Yemen , Oman , and
8550-480: Is still referred to as the "Garden of Spices" or as the "Spice Garden of India". Kerala's spices attracted ancient Arabs , Babylonians , Assyrians and Egyptians to the Malabar Coast in the 3rd and 2nd millennia BCE. Phoenicians established trade with Kerala during this period. Arabs and Phoenicians were the first to enter Malabar Coast to trade Spices. The Arabs on the coasts of Yemen , Oman , and
8740-510: Is the second-most urbanised major state in the country with 47.7% urban population according to the 2011 Census of India . The state topped in the country to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals according to the annual report of NITI Aayog published in 2019. The state has the highest media exposure in India with newspapers publishing in nine languages, mainly Malayalam and sometimes English . Hinduism
8930-527: Is the festival of three goddesses. Before their holy bath on the eighth day, the goddesses proceed to Sreevallabha Temple. Ashtapadi hymns are played, followed by dancing among lamps. Other festivals are Vishu (mid-April) and during the months of kaṟkkaṭakam (July–August), cinnam (August–September), tulam (October–November), vr̥ścikam (November–December) and Dhanu (December–January). The temple operates from 4 a.m. to noon and 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. Timings of major events are as follows. At 4 a.m.
9120-573: Is the first-ever known book fully based on the history of Kerala, written by a Keralite. It is written in Arabic and contains pieces of information about the resistance put up by the navy of Kunjali Marakkar alongside the Zamorin of Calicut from 1498 to 1583 against Portuguese attempts to colonize Malabar coast . It was first printed and published in Lisbon . A copy of this edition has been preserved in
9310-400: Is the largest shopping mall in India. Despite many achievements, Kerala faces many challenges like high levels of unemployment that disproportionately impact educated women, a high degree of global exposure and a very fragile environment. Sreevallabha Temple Traditional The Sreevallabha Temple is an orthodox Hindu temple dedicated to Sreevallabha, a form of Vishnu . It
9500-449: Is the largest urban agglomeration. According to a survey by economics research firm Indicus Analytics in 2007, Thiruvananthapuram , Kozhikode , Kochi , Kollam , Thrissur are among the "best cities in India to live"; the survey used parameters such as health, education, environment, safety, public facilities and entertainment to rank the cities. The state is governed by a parliamentary system of representative democracy . Kerala has
9690-664: Is the late Vedic text Aitareya Aranyaka . Kerala is also mentioned in the Ramayana and the Mahabharata , the two Hindu epics. The Skanda Purana mentions the ecclesiastical office of the Thachudaya Kaimal who is referred to as Manikkam Keralar , synonymous with the deity of the Koodalmanikyam temple. The Greco-Roman trade map Periplus Maris Erythraei refers to Kerala as Celobotra . Kerala
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#17327930961759880-575: Is wedged between the Lakshadweep Sea and the Western Ghats . Lying between northern latitudes 8°18' and 12°48' and eastern longitudes 74°52' and 77°22', Kerala experiences humid tropical rainforest climate with some cyclones. The state has a coast of 590 km (370 mi) and the width of the state varies between 11 and 121 kilometres (7 and 75 mi). Geographically, Kerala can be divided into three climatically distinct regions:
10070-423: Is west of it. West of the third flagstaff is a two-story, copper-roofed building supported by 16 stone pillars which contains a ten-foot-high altar (main sacrificial stone). The pillars and roof are known for their carvings, and the building's western part has murals and a small shrine. Its central corridor leads to a 150-foot-long, 11-foot-wide building made of black stones and supported by 54 stone pillars with
10260-528: The 73rd and 74th amendments to the Constitution of India , the local government institutions function as the third tier of government, which constitutes 14 District Panchayats , 152 Block panchayats , 941 Grama Panchayats , 87 Municipalities , six Municipal Corporations and one Township . Mahé , a part of the Indian union territory of Puducherry , though 647 kilometres (402 mi) away from it,
10450-500: The Achankovil River ; 128 kilometres (80 mi). The average length of the rivers is 64 kilometres (40 mi). Many of the rivers are small and entirely fed by monsoon rain. As Kerala's rivers are small and lacking in delta , they are more prone to environmental effects. The rivers face problems such as sand mining and pollution. The state experiences several natural hazards like landslides, floods and droughts. The state
10640-767: The Acts of Thomas , one of the first accounts of the life of Thomas, say he died in Northwest India in the Indo-Parthian Kingdom , at the hands of the monarch Misdaeus, thought to be Abdagases I , a viceroy of the Gondopharnes in Sistan , modern day southern Afghanistan. This conclusion is supported by Ephrem the Syrian and his contemporaries, Eusebius and Origen , who testify that Thomas evangelized
10830-600: The Arab states of the Persian Gulf during the Gulf Boom of the 1970s and early 1980s, and its economy depends significantly on remittances from a large Malayali expatriate community. The production of pepper and natural rubber contributes significantly to the total national output. In the agricultural sector, coconut , tea , coffee , cashew and spices are important. The state is situated between Arabian Sea to
11020-686: The Bombay Presidency (which had also included other regions in the western coast of India) of British India in the years 1792 and 1799, respectively. By the end of the 18th century, the whole of Kerala fell under the control of the British, either administered directly or under suzerainty . Initially the British had to suffer local resistance against their rule under the leadership of Kerala Varma Pazhassi Raja , who had popular support in Thalassery - Wayanad region. After India
11210-487: The British Indian Empire , making them the first modern municipalities in the state of Kerala. The Municipality of Thiruvananthapuram came into existence in 1920. After two decades, during the reign of Sree Chithira Thirunal , Thiruvananthapuram Municipality was converted into Corporation on 30 October 1940, making it the oldest Municipal Corporation of Kerala. The first Municipal Corporation founded after
11400-583: The Chief Secretary assists the council of ministers. The Chief Secretary is also the administrative head of the government. Each government department is headed by a minister, who is assisted by an Additional Chief Secretary or a Principal Secretary , who is usually an officer of Indian Administrative Service (IAS), the Additional Chief Secretary/Principal Secretary serve as the administrative head of
11590-420: The Dravidian word Mala ('hill'). Al-Biruni (973–1048 CE ) is the first known writer to call this country Malabar . Authors such as Ibn Khordadbeh and Al-Baladhuri mention Malabar ports in their works. The Arab writers had called this place Malibar , Manibar , Mulibar , and Munibar . Malabar is reminiscent of the word Malanad which means the land of hills . According to William Logan ,
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#173279309617511780-701: The High and Late Middle Ages . However, the dominance of Middle East traders was challenged in the European Age of Discovery . After Vasco Da Gama 's arrival in Kappad , Kozhikode in 1498, the Portuguese began to dominate eastern shipping, and the spice-trade in particular. Following the discovery of sea route from Europe to Malabar in 1498, the Portuguese began to expand their territories and ruled
11970-514: The Idukki district is the highest peak in south India, is at an elevation of 2,695 m (8,842 ft). The Western Ghats mountain chain is recognised as one of the world's eight "hottest hotspots" of biological diversity and is listed among UNESCO World Heritage Sites . The chain's forests are considered to be older than the Himalaya mountains. The Athirappilly Falls , which is situated on
12160-408: The Idukki district , which lie on the eastern highland made by Western Ghats . They are locally known as "muniyara", derived from muni ( hermit or sage ) and ara (dolmen). Rock engravings in the Edakkal Caves , in Wayanad date back to the Neolithic era around 6000 BCE. Archaeological studies have identified Mesolithic , Neolithic and Megalithic sites in Kerala. The studies point to
12350-495: The Kerala High Court and a system of lower courts. The High Court, located in Kochi, has a Chief Justice along with 35 permanent and twelve additional pro tempore justices as of 2021 . The high court also hears cases from the Union Territory of Lakshadweep . In Kerala, local government bodies such as Panchayats, Municipalities, and Corporations have existed since 1959. However, a significant decentralization initiative began in 1993, aligning with constitutional amendments by
12540-495: The Latin Catholics of Kerala . The Oriental Orthodox Churches are Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church and Malankara Jacobite Syriac Orthodox Church . The Malankara Marthoma Syrian Church is an Oriental Protestant church. The Church of South India belong to the Anglican Communion . Major Pentecostal denominations in Kerala include the India Pentecostal Church of God , Assemblies of God in India , Church of God (Full Gospel) in India , and The Pentecostal Mission . There has been
12730-427: The Leader of the Opposition . According to the Constitution of India , Kerala has a parliamentary system of representative democracy ; universal suffrage is granted to residents. After independence, the state was managed as a social democratic welfare economy . The "Kerala phenomenon" or " Kerala model of development" of very high human development and in comparison low economic development has resulted from
12920-467: The Malabar Independent Syrian Church ). CSI Syrian Christians follow the Anglican rite. Pentecostal Saint Thomas Christians , like other Pentecostals, are riteless (nonliturgical). The Saint Thomas Christians form 70.73% of the Christians of Kerala and 12.5% of the total population of Kerala. Around 61% of Christians in the state are Catholics which includes the Eastern Syrian Catholics ( Syro-Malabar Church and Syro-Malankara Catholic Church ) and
13110-434: The Nambudiri caste could be appointed as priests in major temples. But in 2017 as per the state government's decision, the priests from the historically backward caste communities are now being appointed as priests. Malayali Hindus practice ceremonies such as Chorunu (first feeding of rice to a child) and Vidyāraṃbhaṃ . Kerala has been a major spice exporter since 3000 BCE, according to Sumerian records and it
13300-481: The Persian Gulf , must have made the first long voyage to Kerala and other eastern countries . They must have brought the Cinnamon of Kerala to the Middle East . The Greek historian Herodotus (5th century BCE) records that in his time the cinnamon spice industry was monopolized by the Egyptians and the Phoenicians. It is noted in Sangam literature that the Chera king Uthiyan Cheralathan ruled most of modern Kerala from his capital in Kuttanad , and controlled
13490-422: The Persian Gulf , must have made the first long voyage to Kerala and other eastern countries . They must have brought the Cinnamon of Kerala to the Middle East. The Greek historian Herodotus (5th century BCE) records that in his time the cinnamon spice industry was monopolized by the Egyptians and the Phoenicians. Islam arrived in Kerala , a part of the larger Indian Ocean rim, via spice and silk traders from
13680-531: The Persian Gulf countries in the following years (c. 1970s). This widespread participation in the "Gulf Rush" produced huge economic and social benefits for the community. Great influx funds from the earnings of the employed followed. Issues such as widespread poverty, unemployment and educational backwardness began to change. Politically speaking, Muslims in Kerala have exhibited more unanimity than any other major community in modern-day Kerala. Christianity
13870-641: The Portuguese Age of Discovery . The arrival of the Portuguese traders in Malabar Coast in the late 15th century checked the then well-established and wealthy Muslim community's progress. Following the discovery of sea route from Europe to Malabar in 1498, the Portuguese began to expand their territories and ruled the seas between Ormus and the Malabar Coast and south to Ceylon . The Tuhfat Ul Mujahideen written by Zainuddin Makhdoom II (born around 1532) of Ponnani during 16th-century CE
14060-570: The Travancore Royal Family , and were defeated at the Battle of Colachel in 1741. An agreement, known as "Treaty of Mavelikkara", was signed by the Dutch and Travancore in 1753, according to which the Dutch were compelled to detach from all political involvement in the region. In the 18th Century, Travancore King Sree Anizham Thirunal Marthanda Varma annexed all the kingdoms up to Cochin through military conquests, resulting in
14250-942: The United Democratic Front (UDF), led by the Indian National Congress ; and the Left Democratic Front (LDF), led by the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)). As of 2021 Kerala Legislative Assembly election , the LDF is the ruling coalition; Pinarayi Vijayan of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) is the Chief Minister, while V. D. Satheesan of the Indian National Congress is
14440-419: The banana plantations. She did not have pickles, and pickles were a customary food for Brahmins; Lakshmi , disguised as a housewife, served thrippuli (a kind of pickle ) to the boy. Knowing that Thukalasuran had been killed by the boy, people came to visit and asked him to show them his golden pole to venerate. The boy installed the pole, facing west, on raised land east of them. Antharjanam decided to build
14630-576: The spice trade attracted Portuguese traders to Kerala, and paved the way for European colonisation of India. At the time of Indian independence movement in the early 20th century, there were two major princely states in Kerala: Travancore and Cochin . They united to form the state of Thiru-Kochi in 1949. The Malabar region , in the northern part of Kerala, had been a part of the Madras province of British India , which later became
14820-421: The 14th century, Ravi Varma Kulashekhara (1299–1314) of the southern Venad kingdom was able to establish a short-lived supremacy over southern India. After his death, in the absence of a strong central power, the state was divided into 30 small warring principalities; the most powerful of them were the kingdom of Zamorin of Kozhikode in the north, Kollam in the far-south, Kochi in the south, and Kannur in
15010-574: The 15th century caused two major religions, Buddhism and Jainism , to disappear from the land. It is known that the Menons in the Malabar region of Kerala were originally strong believers of Jainism . The social system became fractured with divisions on caste lines. Finally, the Kulasekhara dynasty was subjugated in 1102 by the combined attack of Later Pandyas and Later Cholas . However, in
15200-410: The 1950s. Kerala's economy depends significantly on emigrants working in foreign countries , mainly in the Arab states of the Persian Gulf , and the remittances annually contribute more than a fifth of GSDP. The state witnessed significant emigration during the Gulf Boom of the 1970s and early 1980s. In 2012, Kerala still received the highest remittances of all states: US$ 11.3 billion, which
15390-574: The 2011 India Census , Kerala only has around 4500 Jains, most of them in the city of Cochin and in Wayanad district . Medieval Jain inscriptions are mostly found on the borders of Kerala proper, such Wynad in north-east, Alathur in the Palghat Gap and Chitharal in Kanyakumari district . Epigraphical evidence suggests that the shrine at "Tirukkunavay", perhaps located near Cochin , was
15580-694: The 7th century BC. There is no consensus of opinion on the date of the arrival of the first Jews in India. The tradition of the Cochin Jews maintains that after 72 AD, after the destruction of the Second Temple of Jerusalem , 10,000 Jews migrated to Kerala. The only verifiable historical evidence about the Kerala Jews goes back only to the Jewish Copper Plate Grant of Bhaskara Ravi Varman in 1000 AD. This document records
15770-793: The Christians of Kerala, followed by Latin Catholics at 13.3%, Pentecostals at 4.3%, CSI at 4.5%, Dalit Christians at 2.6% and other Protestant groups (such as Lutheran , Calvinist and other charismatic churches) at 5.9%. The Saint Thomas Christians (Nasrani) of Kerala primarily belongs to the churches which use the East Syriac Rite ( Syro Malabar Church and Chaldean Syrian Church ) and West Syriac Rite ( Jacobite Syrian Christian Church , Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church , Mar Thoma Syrian Church , St. Thomas Evangelical Church of India , Syro-Malankara Catholic Church and
15960-716: The East until the advent of Portuguese and British colonialists. The first Roman Catholic Diocese in India was founded at Quilon in the year 1329 with the Catalan Dominican friar Jordanus Catalani as first Bishop. The caste system became prevalent in Kerala later than any other parts of India after fourth and fifth century AD. The Nasranis were given special status outside the Varna system . Like Brahmins they were allowed to sit in front of Kings, ride on horse or elephants, to collect taxes. The Marthoma Nasranis back then also has
16150-529: The Elder (1st century CE) states that the port of Tyndis was located at the northwestern border of Keprobotos . The North Malabar region, which lies north of the port at Tyndis , was ruled by the kingdom of Ezhimala during Sangam period . The port at Tyndis which was on the northern side of Muziris , as mentioned in Greco-Roman writings, was somewhere around Kozhikode . Its exact location
16340-731: The French in 1785. In 1757, to resist the invasion of the Zamorin of Kozhikode , the Palakkad Raja sought the help of the Hyder Ali of Mysore . In 1766, Hyder Ali defeated the Zamorin of Kozhikode – an East India Company ally at the time – and absorbed Kozhikode into his state. The smaller princely states in northern and north-central parts of Kerala ( Malabar region ) including Kolathunadu , Kottayam , Kadathanadu , Kozhikode , Tanur , Valluvanad , and Palakkad were unified under
16530-727: The Hindu pantheon. It is not uncommon for Hindus and Jains to worship their deities in the same temple. Buddhism probably flourished for 200 years (650–850) in Kerala. The Paliyam Copper Plate of the Ay King, Varaguna (885–925 AD) shows that the Buddhists benefited from royal patronage in the 10th century. The religion's popularity declined following the onset of Advaita Vedanta propagated by sage Shankaracharya . However there remain Buddhist sites and traditions across Kerala. There were
16720-606: The Indian Ocean. The Koyilandy Jumu'ah Mosque contains an Old Malayalam inscription written in a mixture of Vatteluttu and Grantha scripts which dates back to the 10th century CE. It is a rare surviving document recording patronage by a Hindu king (Bhaskara Ravi) to the Muslims of Kerala. A 13th century granite inscription, written in a mixture of Old Malayalam and Arabic , at Muchundi Mosque in Kozhikode mentions
16910-627: The Israelis [Hebrew Jews] at Eden. In the 4th century, the Knanaya or Southist Christians also migrated from Persia and lived alongside the early Syriac Christian community known as the Saint Thomas Christians who trace their origins to the evangelistic activity of Thomas the Apostle in the 1st century. A second Chera Kingdom (c. 800–1102), also known as Kulasekhara dynasty of Mahodayapuram (present-day Kodungallur ),
17100-774: The Middle East. Historians do not rule out the possibility of Islam being introduced to Kerala as early as the seventh century CE. Kerala Muslims are generally referred to as the Mappilas . Mappilas are but one among the many communities that forms the Muslim population of Kerala. The first Indian mosque was built in 624 AD at Kodungallur . According to Qissat Shakarwati Farmad , the Masjids at Kodungallur , Kollam , Madayi , Barkur , Mangalore , Kasaragod , Kannur , Dharmadam , Panthalayini , and Chaliyam , were built during
17290-549: The Muslim communities in Kerala. Some historians assume that the Mappilas can be considered as the first native, settled Muslim community in South Asia . The known earliest mention about Muslims of Kerala is in the Quilon Syrian copper plates . The inhibitions, caused by a series of Chera-Chola wars in the 11th century, resulted in the decline of foreign trade in Kerala ports. In addition, Portuguese invasions in
17480-495: The Muslim communities in Kerala. Some historians assume that the Mappilas can be considered as the first native, settled Muslim community in South Asia. Al-Biruni (973–1048 CE) appears to be the first writer to call Malabar Coast as Malabar . Authors such as Ibn Khordadbeh and Al-Baladhuri mention Malabar ports in their works. The Arab writers had called this place Malibar , Manibar , Mulibar , and Munibar . Malabar
17670-585: The Parthians. Modern scholars also support this point of view, and there is no evidence suggesting Thomas was ever in Kerala, or South India in general. According to Knanaya Christians, an endogamous ethnic group found among the Saint Thomas Christian community of Kerala, their existence in Kerala is traced back to the arrival of the Syrian merchant Thomas of Cana (Knāi Thoma) who led
17860-542: The Southwest monsoon, and the rest from September to December corresponding to Northeast monsoon. The moisture-laden winds of the Southwest monsoon, on reaching the southernmost point of the Indian Peninsula , because of its topography, divides into two branches; the "Arabian Sea Branch" and the "Bay of Bengal Branch". The "Arabian Sea Branch" of the Southwest monsoon first hits the Western Ghats, making Kerala
18050-605: The Thiruvalla group. Present-day Thiruvalla was one of 64 Namboothiri villages in Kerala, and is one of India's oldest settlements. Located at the mouth of the Manimala River , it was known as Vallavai. According to another theory, it was named after the Sreevallabha Temple in colloquial Malayalam . The temple for Sudarshana Chakra was built by Sreedevi Antherjanam of Sankramangalathu Illam, and
18240-493: The Western Ghats' rain shadow . 41 of Kerala's west-flowing rivers, and 3 of its east-flowing ones originate in this region. The Western Ghats form a wall of mountains interrupted only near Palakkad ; hence also known Pal ghat , where the Palakkad Gap breaks. The Western Ghats rise on average to 1,500 metres (4,900 feet ) above sea level , while the highest peaks reach around 2,500 metres (8,200 feet). Anamudi in
18430-674: The Zamorin forces in the battle at Chaliyam Fort . An insurrection at the Port of Quilon between the Arabs and the Portuguese led to the end of the Portuguese era in Quilon . The Muslim line of Ali Rajas of Arakkal kingdom , near Kannur , who were the vassals of the Kolathiri , ruled over the Lakshadweep islands. The Bekal Fort near Kasaragod , which is also largest fort in the state,
18620-537: The administrators decided to ban women from entering the temple after astrological counseling. On request, they agreed to allow women twice a year on the Arudra Darshanam day of the month of Dhanu and the Vishu-festival day in the month of Medam . The ban was lifted in 1968. One early morning, Vilwamangalam Swamiyar visited the temple while a dance troupe was performing kathakali . Swamiyar
18810-561: The background of Western Ghat mountain ranges, is also known as The Niagara of India . It is located in the Chalakudy River and is the largest waterfall in the state. Wayanad is the sole Plateau in Kerala. The eastern regions in the districts of Wayanad , Malappuram ( Chaliyar valley at Nilambur ), and Palakkad ( Attappadi Valley), which together form parts of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve and
19000-574: The backwaters; it lies between Alappuzha and Kochi and is about 200 km (77 sq mi) in area. Around eight percent of India's waterways are found in Kerala. Kerala's 44 rivers include the Periyar ; 244 kilometres (152 mi), Bharathapuzha ; 209 kilometres (130 mi), Pamba ; 176 kilometres (109 mi), Chaliyar ; 169 kilometres (105 mi), Kadalundipuzha ; 130 kilometres (81 mi), Chalakudipuzha ; 130 kilometres (81 mi), Valapattanam ; 129 kilometres (80 mi) and
19190-477: The battle of Purakkad in 1755. In 1761, the British captured Mahé , and the settlement was handed over to the ruler of Kadathanadu . The British restored Mahé to the French as a part of the 1763 Treaty of Paris. In 1779, the Anglo-French war broke out, resulting in the French loss of Mahé . In 1783, the British agreed to restore to the French their settlements in India, and Mahé was handed over to
19380-402: The blood off in the river, tied the hands of the yakshini, and threw her into a well where she died. The boy installed a Durga idol and asked the goddess to protect the town; she appeared in three area temples. The boy and five others later reached the Sankaramangalath House. Antharjanam completed the rituals and served food to them in areca nut leaves, since the rakshasa had destroyed all
19570-596: The central government. The Kerala Panchayati Raj Act and Kerala Municipality Act were enacted in 1994, establishing a 3-tier system for local governance. This system includes Gram Panchayat, Block Panchayat, and District Panchayat. The Acts define clear powers for these institutions. For urban areas, the Kerala Municipality Act follows a single-tier system, equivalent to Gram Panchayat.These bodies receive substantial administrative, legal, and financial powers to ensure effective decentralization. Currently,
19760-564: The coast, it is as high as 70 mGy/yr. Kerala's western coastal belt is relatively flat compared to the eastern region, and is criss-crossed by a network of interconnected brackish canals, lakes, estuaries , and rivers known as the Kerala Backwaters . Kuttanad , also known as The Rice Bowl of Kerala , has the lowest altitude in India , and is also one of the few places in world where cultivation takes place below sea level. The country's longest lake Vembanad , dominates
19950-802: The coastal lowlands to 20.0–22.5 °C in the eastern highlands. Most of the biodiversity is concentrated and protected in the Western Ghats . Three-quarters of the land area of Kerala was under thick forest up to the 18th century. As of 2004 , over 25% of India's 15,000 plant species are in Kerala. Out of the 4,000 flowering plant species; 1,272 of which are endemic to Kerala, 900 are medicinal , and 159 are threatened . Its 9,400 km of forests include tropical wet evergreen and semi-evergreen forests (lower and middle elevations—3,470 km ), tropical moist and dry deciduous forests (mid-elevations—4,100 km and 100 km , respectively), and montane subtropical and temperate ( shola ) forests (highest elevations—100 km ). Altogether, 24% of Kerala
20140-464: The community was in "a psychological retreat". The subsequent partisan rule of English East India Company authorities brought the land-less Muslim peasants of Malabar District into a condition of destitution, and this led to a series of uprisings (against the Hindu landlords and British administration). The series of violence eventually exploded as the infamous Mappila Uprising (1921–22). A large number of Muslims of Kerala found extensive employment in
20330-443: The deity in white or saffron suggests the eternity of purusha . Sreevallabha Temple follows the unique Pancharaathra Vidhaanam school of worship, which has been unchanged since 59 BC. Pancharaathra Vidhaanam originated in 4 BC. Durvasa Samhitha (based on Pancharaathra Vidhaanam) by the sage Durvasa explains the rituals performed. The book Yajanavali is followed for worshipping Vishnu Five unique pujas are performed, when
20520-406: The deity is adorned like Brahmachari , Grihastha and Sanyasi in several forms. Five pujas are performed daily. The deity is awakened and bathed with holy water . This is followed by a naivedyam (offering). The idol is then dressed like a brahmachari in an 18-foot-long white mundu with two flower garlands. After the main offering, the deity is dressed in a saffron-yellow mundu with
20710-408: The deity is awakened. The deity is viewed at 4:30, and bathed at 5:00 a.m. The first puja is at 6:30, and the first outside procession ( sreebali ) is at 8:00. The second puja is at 9:00, followed by a third at 10:45 a.m. Another procession is at 11:30, before the temple closes at noon. It reopens at 5:00 p.m. There is a fourth puja at 7:00, and a fifth at 7:30. The third and final procession
20900-631: The department they are assigned to. Each department also has officers of the rank of Secretary, Special Secretary, Joint Secretary etc. assisting the Minister and the Additional Chief Secretary / Principal Secretary Each district has a district administrator appointed by government called District collector for executive administration. Auxiliary authorities known as panchayats , for which local body elections are regularly held, govern local affairs. The judiciary consists of
21090-564: The development of ancient Kerala society and its culture beginning from the Paleolithic Age, through the Mesolithic, Neolithic and Megalithic Ages. Foreign cultural contacts have assisted this cultural formation; historians suggest a possible relationship with Indus Valley civilisation during the late Bronze Age and early Iron Age . Kerala has been a major spice exporter since 3000 BCE, according to Sumerian records and it
21280-558: The earliest Portuguese Colonies in India. However, the Tanur forces under the king fought for the Zamorin of Calicut in the Battle of Cochin (1504) . However, the allegiance of the Mappila merchants in Tanur region still stayed under the Zamorin of Calicut . The Portuguese took advantage of the rivalry between the Zamorin and the King of Kochi allied with Kochi. When Francisco de Almeida
21470-530: The earliest glimpses of life in the city. Ma Huan (1403 AD), the Chinese sailor part of the Imperial Chinese fleet under Cheng Ho ( Zheng He ) states the city as a great emporium of trade frequented by merchants from around the world. Abdur Razzak (1442–43), Niccolò de' Conti (1445), Afanasy Nikitin (1468–74), Ludovico di Varthema (1503–1508), and Duarte Barbosa witnessed the city as one of
21660-424: The east gate, turn left and worship Ganapathy, Shiva and Ayyappan on the southern side. After circumambulating the sacred-fig and mango trees, proceed to Sankaramangalath Illam outside the western gate. Return to the temple and take the northern circumambulation path. Salute Kali at the northern gate. Visit Jalavanthy and salute Vedavyasa and Durvasa on its east bank. Turn right and worship Garuda before entering
21850-511: The eastern highlands; rugged and cool mountainous terrain, the central mid-lands; rolling hills, and the western lowlands; coastal plains. Pre-Cambrian and Pleistocene geological formations compose the bulk of Kerala's terrain. A catastrophic flood in Kerala in 1341 CE drastically modified its terrain and consequently affected its history; it also created a natural harbour for spice transport. The eastern region of Kerala consists of high mountains, gorges and deep-cut valleys immediately west of
22040-481: The eastern part of Ernakulam district . The known earliest mention about Muslims of Kerala is in the Quilon Syrian copper plates of the 9th century CE, granted by the ruler of Kollam . A number of foreign accounts have mentioned about the presence of considerable Muslim population in the Malabar Coast . Arab writers such as Al-Masudi of Baghdad (896–956 AD), Muhammad al-Idrisi (1100–1165 AD), Abulfeda (1273–1331 AD), and Al-Dimashqi (1256–1327 AD) mention
22230-748: The emigrants to Israel between 1948 and 1955 were from the community of black Jews and brown Jews ; they are known as Cochini in Israel. Since the 1960s, only a few hundred Jews (mostly white Jews ) remained in Kerala with only two synagogues open for service: the Pardesi Synagogue in Matancherry built in 1567 and the synagogue in Parur . Jainism , one of the three most ancient Indian religious traditions still in existence, has very small presence (0.01%) in Kerala , in south India. According to
22420-517: The era of Malik Dinar , and they are among the oldest Masjid s in the Indian subcontinent . It is believed that Malik Dinar died at Thalangara in Kasaragod town. According to popular tradition, Islam was brought to Lakshadweep islands, situated just to the west of Malabar Coast , by Ubaidullah in 661 CE. His grave is believed to be located on the island of Andrott . A few Umayyad (661–750 AD) coins were discovered from Kothamangalam in
22610-723: The famous Cochin Synagogue in 1661. However, the Dutch were more tolerant and allowed the Jews to pursue their normal life and trade in Cochin. According to the testimony of the Dutch Jew, Moses Pereira De Paiva, in 1686 there were 10 synagogues and nearly 500 Jewish families in Cochin. Later Britishers too were tolerant. The Jews were protected. After the creation of the State of Israel in 1948, most Jews decided to emigrate to Israel. Most of
22800-436: The far north. The port at Kozhikode held the superior economic and political position in Kerala, while Kollam (Quilon), Kochi , and Kannur (Cannanore) were commercially confined to secondary roles. The Zamorin of Calicut was originally the ruler of Eranad , which was a minor principality located in the northern parts of present-day Malappuram district . The Zamorin allied with Arab and Chinese merchants and used most of
22990-636: The first state in India to receive rain from the Southwest monsoon. The distribution of pressure patterns is reversed in the Northeast monsoon, during this season the cold winds from North India pick up moisture from the Bay of Bengal and precipitate it on the east coast of peninsular India. In Kerala, the influence of the Northeast monsoon is seen in southern districts only. Kerala's rainfall averages 2,923 mm (115 in) annually. Some of Kerala's drier lowland regions average only 1,250 mm (49 in);
23180-458: The forests, sonokeling , Dalbergia latifolia , anjili , mullumurikku , Erythrina , and Cassia number among the more than 1,000 species of trees in Kerala. Other plants include bamboo , wild black pepper, wild cardamom , the calamus rattan palm, and aromatic vetiver grass, Vetiveria zizanioides . Indian elephant , Bengal tiger , Indian leopard , Nilgiri tahr , common palm civet , and grizzled giant squirrels are also found in
23370-1176: The forests. Reptiles include the king cobra , viper , python , and mugger crocodile . Kerala's birds include the Malabar trogon , the great hornbill , Kerala laughingthrush , darter and southern hill myna . In the lakes, wetlands, and waterways, fish such as Kadu , Red Line Torpedo Barb and choottachi ; orange chromide — Etroplus maculatus are found. Recently, a newly described tardigrade (water bears) species collected from Vadakara coast of Kerala named after Kerala State; Stygarctus keralensis . The state's 14 districts are distributed among six regions: North Malabar (far-north Kerala), South Malabar (north-central Kerala), Kochi (central Kerala), Northern Travancore (south-central Kerala), Central Travancore (southern Kerala) and Southern Travancore (far-south Kerala). The districts which serve as administrative regions for taxation purposes are further subdivided into 27 revenue subdivisions and 77 taluks , which have fiscal and administrative powers over settlements within their borders, including maintenance of local land records. Kerala's taluks are further sub-divided into 1,674 revenue villages. Since
23560-527: The formation of the other Indian Churches. Latin Catholics of Kerala has protracted over eleven centuries and the work of evangelization was revived by the western missionaries in the 13th century. Anglo-Indian Christian communities formed around this time as Europeans and natives intermarried. Protestantism took a stronghold in Kerala with missionary activity during British rule. Denominations among all Christians in Kerala The 2011 Indian census found
23750-618: The help of Garuda and the Tulu Brahmins , Cheraman Perumal brought the idol from the Netravathi River to Chakrapuram for installation. During the installation ceremony, the idol did not fit on the pedestal and the priests went outside. They heard celestial instruments being played and the chanting of vedic hymns from inside. They saw the idol installed in the right place, with blazing light and bananas in an Areca nut palm leaf in front of it. Durvasa and Vyasa came out of
23940-471: The highest status. The house was at risk of extinction because only an old woman and her younger son, Narayana Bhattathiri, lived there. Narayana married Sreedevi Antharjanam against the wishes of those who wanted his wealth by marrying their daughters to him. Sreedevi Antherjanam was illiterate; literacy was mandatory for Brahmins and women were well-versed in Sanskrit, and Antharjanam ignored their ridicule. The couple began fasting on Ekadashi (the 11th day of
24130-441: The idol freed him from his curses. When it was time for Garuda to return to Vaikuntha , he hid the idol in the bed of the Netravati River (in present-day Dakshina Kannada district, Karnataka ). The area around the jasmine forest became a human settlement thousands of years ago as a spiritual and educational center with great wealth and power. There were at least 3,000 Brahmin families, and those from Sankaramangalath House had
24320-400: The independence of India as well as the second-oldest Municipal Corporation of the state is at Kozhikode in the year 1962. There are six Municipal corporations in Kerala that govern Thiruvananthapuram , Kozhikode , Kochi , Kollam , Thrissur , and Kannur . The Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation is the largest corporation in Kerala while Kochi metropolitan area named Kochi UA
24510-490: The industrial sector include Cochin Shipyard , shipbuilding, oil refinery, software industry, coastal mineral industries, food processing, marine products processing, and Rubber based products. The primary sector of the state is mainly based upon cash crops . Kerala produces a significant amount of national output of the cash crops such as coconut , tea , coffee , pepper , natural rubber , cardamom , and cashew in India. The cultivation of food crops began to reduce since
24700-413: The king of Vijayanagara Empire. Later Kozhikode and Venad seem to have rebelled against their Vijayanagara overlords, but Deva Raya II quelled the rebellion. As the Vijayanagara power diminished over the next fifty years, the Zamorin of Kozhikode again rose to prominence in Kerala. He built a fort at Ponnani in 1498. The maritime spice trade monopoly in the Arabian Sea stayed with the Arabs during
24890-443: The lands of Kerala were recovered from the sea by the axe-wielding warrior sage Parashurama , the sixth avatar of Vishnu (hence, Kerala is also called Parashurama Kshetram 'The Land of Parashurama' in Hindu mythology). Parashurama threw his axe across the sea, and the water receded as far as it reached. According to the legendary account, this new area of land extended from Gokarna to Kanyakumari . The land which rose from sea
25080-406: The leadership of Kozhikode admirals known as Kunjali Marakkars , which compelled them to seek a treaty. The Kunjali Marakkars are credited with organising the first naval defence of the Indian coast. Thunchaththu Ezhuthachan , who is considered as the father of modern Malayalam literature , was born at Tirur ( Vettathunadu ) during Portuguese period. In 1571, the Portuguese were defeated by
25270-417: The legend as a source of history once generated much debate among South Indian historians. The legend was used by Kerala chiefdoms for the legitimation of their rule (most of the major chiefly houses in medieval Kerala traced its origin back to the legendary allocation by the Perumal). According to the legend, Rayar , the overlord of the Cheraman Perumal in a country east of the Ghats , invaded Kerala during
25460-429: The library of Al-Azhar University , Cairo . Tuhfatul Mujahideen also describes the history of Mappila Muslim community of Kerala as well as the general condition of Malabar Coast in the 16th century CE. With the end of Portuguese era, Arabs lost their monopoly of trade in Malabar Coast . By the mid-18th century the majority of the Muslims of Kerala became landless labourers, poor fishermen and petty traders, and
25650-436: The lifetimes.". Satyaki asked Krishna's permission to build a temple, and the celestial architect Vishvakarma built it in Dvaraka. The sage Vedavyasa installed the idol, and Durvasa taught the priests the worship protocol. During the end of Dvapara Yuga , Satyaki gave the idol to Garuda and asked him to keep it safe for the humans in the Kali Yuga . Garuda went to the island of Ramanaka and worshipped it there; worshipping
25840-550: The lowest positive population growth rate in India, 3.44%; the highest Human Development Index (HDI), 0.784 in 2018 (0.712 in 2015); the highest literacy rate, 96.2% in the 2018 literacy survey conducted by the National Statistical Office, India; the highest life expectancy, 77.3 years; and the highest sex ratio , 1,084 women per 1,000 men. Kerala is the least impoverished state in India according to NITI Aayog 's Sustainable Development Goals dashboard and Reserve Bank of India 's Handbook of Statistics on Indian Economy . Kerala
26030-434: The major Jain temple in medieval Kerala (from c. 9th century AD). The so-called "Rules of the Tirukkunavay Temple" provided model and precedent for all other Jain temples of Kerala. A number of images of Mahavira, Padmavati, and Parsvanatha have been recovered from Kerala. Some of the Jain temples in Kerala were taken over by the Hindus at a later stage. The temple images are worshiped as Hindu gods and considered as part of
26220-408: The major trading centres in the Indian subcontinent where traders from different parts of the world could be seen. The king Deva Raya II (1424–1446) of the Vijayanagara Empire conquered the entirety of present-day state of Kerala in the 15th century. He defeated the Zamorin of Kozhikode, as well as the ruler of Kollam around 1443. Fernão Nunes says that the Zamorin had to pay tribute to
26410-420: The month), which is auspicious for Vishnu. Antharjanam abstained from food and sleep, and made her servant and her son, Mukundan, do likewise. Bhattathiri died, and Antherjanam was widowed. A devotee of Vishnu, she was troubled because she could not read a panchangam (astrological calendar) to recognize Ekadshi and her illiteracy would be further ridiculed. Antherjanam learned the Ekadashi day, and she placed
26600-1108: The most notable temples are: Ananthapura Lake Temple , Angadipuram Thirumandhamkunnu Temple , Alathiyoor Hanuman Temple , Bhayankavu Bhagavathi Temple , Kadampuzha Devi Temple , Keraladeshpuram Temple , Panniyur Sri Varahamurthy Temple , Sukapuram Dakshinamoorthy Temple , Thirunavaya Navamukunda Temple , Triprangode Siva Temple , Tali Shiva Temple , Trikkandiyur Siva Temple , Thrissur Vadakkunnathan Temple , Guruvayur Temple , Thriprayar Temple , Lokanarkavu Temple , Thirunelli Temple , Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple , Thiruvananthapuram Padmanabhaswamy Temple , Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple , Chottanikkara Temple , Chengannur Mahadeva Temple , Parassinikadavu Muthappan Temple , Chettikulangara Devi Temple , Mannarasala Temple , Chakkulathukavu Temple , Thiruvalla Sreevallabha Temple , Kaviyoor Mahadevar Temple , Parumala Panayannarkavu Temple , Sree Poornathrayesa Temple , Kodungallur Bhagavathy Temple , Trikkur Mahadeva Temple , Manalarkavu Devi Temple and Rajarajeshwara Temple . Temples in Kerala follow elaborate rituals and traditionally only priests from
26790-503: The mountains of the eastern Idukki district receive more than 5,000 mm (197 in) of orographic precipitation : the highest in the state. In eastern Kerala, a drier tropical wet and dry climate prevails. During the summer, the state is prone to gale-force winds, storm surges, cyclone-related torrential downpours, occasional droughts, and rises in sea level. The mean daily temperature ranges from 19.8 °C to 36.7 °C. Mean annual temperatures range from 25.0 to 27.5 °C in
26980-407: The north and northeast, Tamil Nadu to the east and south, and the Lakshadweep Sea to the west. With 33 million inhabitants as per the 2011 census , Kerala is the 13th-largest Indian state by population . It is divided into 14 districts with the capital being Thiruvananthapuram . Malayalam is the most widely spoken language and is also the official language of the state. The Chera dynasty
27170-400: The ocean of milk; the infant Krishna with the universe in his mouth; and Vamana , who asked for three long strides of land from the asura king Mahabali . At Sreevallabha Temple, Vishnu is worshipped in his cosmic, original and transcendental form ( purusha ). In the sanctum sanctorum, the top and bottom of the deity cannot be seen because purusha has no beginning or end. Clothing
27360-436: The oldest of the 18 Puranas , uses the Malaya Mountains as the setting for the story of Matsya , the first incarnation of Vishnu, and Manu , the first man and the king of the region. Poovar is often identified with biblical Ophir region, known for its wealth. The legend of Cheraman Perumals is the medieval tradition associated with the Cheraman Perumals (literally the Chera kings ) of Kerala. The validity of
27550-433: The origin of Kerala are Hindu in nature. Kerala produced several saints and movements. Adi Shankara was a religious philosopher who contributed to Hinduism and propagated the philosophy of Advaita . Hindus represent the biggest religious group in all districts except Malappuram , where they are outnumbered by Muslims. Various tribal people in Kerala have retained the religious beliefs of their ancestors. In comparison with
27740-399: The permission to "die, and kill, and seize"). A substantial portion of Kerala including the western coastal lowlands and the plains of the midland may have been under the sea in ancient times. Marine fossils have been found in an area near Changanassery , thus supporting the hypothesis. Pre-historical archaeological findings include dolmens of the Neolithic era in the Marayur area of
27930-444: The port commissioner, were held by Muslims . The port commissioner, the Shah Bandar , represented commercial interests of the Muslim merchants. In his account, Ibn Battutah mentions Shah Bandars in Calicut as well as Quilon (Ibrahim Shah Bandar and Muhammed Shah Bandar). The Ali Rajas of Arakkal kingdom , based at Kannur , ruled the Lakshadweep Islands. Arabs had the monopoly of trade in Malabar Coast and Indian Ocean until
28120-423: The port of Muziris , but its southern tip was in the kingdom of Pandyas , which had a trading port sometimes identified in ancient Western sources as Nelcynda (or Neacyndi ) in Quilon . Tyndis was a major centre of trade, next only to Muziris , between the Cheras and the Roman Empire . The lesser known Ays and Mushikas kingdoms lay to the south and north of the Chera regions, respectively. Pliny
28310-410: The power of Shiva and Vishnu are the same, Shiva advised him to worship Vishnu. Directed by Durvasa, Khandakarnan reached the jasmine forest. He bathed in the Jalavanthy pond, and the holy water cleansed him of his wrongdoings. Khandakarnan threw away his Shaiva earrings, and got a pair of Vaishnava earrings so he could only hear the name of Vishnu. During the Dvapara Yuga , Vishnu appeared to him and he
28500-414: The present " Mar Thoma Suriyani Nasrani " or Saint Thomas Syrian Christians . According to traditional accounts, on the onset of an invasion Thomas is believed to have left northwest India traveled by vessel to the Malabar Coast , possibly visiting southeast Arabia and Socotra en route, and landing at the former flourishing port of Muziris (modern-day North Paravur and Kodungalloor ). Evidence such as
28690-441: The reputed Dr. Kobad Mogaseb, who was the first medical doctor from Kozhikode who graduated from London, as well as Kaikose Rudreshan who funded the Basel Evangelical Mission Parsi High School, Thalassery . Various groups classified as tribes in Kerala still dominate various remote and hilly areas of Kerala. They have retained various rituals and practices of their ancestors despite influences of mainstream religions. Dinkoism in
28880-455: The rest of India, Kerala experiences relatively little sectarianism . Hinduism is the most widely professed faith and the oldest religion in Kerala. According to 2011 Census of India figures, 54.7% of Kerala's residents are Hindus. Hindus represent the biggest religious group in all districts except Malappuram . The legends regarding the origin of Kerala are Hindu in nature. Kerala produced several saints and movements. Adi Shankara
29070-423: The rise of Travancore to pre-eminence in Kerala. The Kochi ruler sued for peace with Anizham Thirunal and the northern and north-central parts of Kerala ( Malabar District ), along with Fort Kochi , Tangasseri , and Anchuthengu in southern Kerala, came under direct British rule until India became independent . Travancore became the dominant state in Kerala by defeating the powerful Zamorin of Kozhikode in
29260-430: The role of pollution neutralizers i.e., if a lower caste person hand over a substance to a Nasrani and if he in turn gives it to an upper caste, say for example Brahmin, then there would be no pollution for that Brahmin. The arrival of Europeans in the 15th century and discontent with Portuguese interference in religious matters fomented schism into Catholic and Orthodox communities. Further schism and rearrangements led to
29450-416: The royal gift of rights and privileges to the Jewish Chief of Anjuvannam Joseph Rabban . Later in the 16th century many Jews from Portugal and Spain settled in Cochin. These Jews were called white Jews as opposed to the native black Jews . The Portuguese did not look favorably on the Jews. They destroyed the Jewish settlement in kodungallur and sacked the Jewish town in Cochin and partially destroyed
29640-402: The rule of the last Perumal. To drive back the invading forces the Perumal summoned the militia of his chieftains (like Udaya Varman Kolathiri , Manichchan , and Vikkiran of Eranad ). The Cheraman Perumal was assured by the Eradis (chief of Eranad) that they would take a fort established by the Rayar . The battle lasted for three days and the Rayar eventually evacuated his fort (and it
29830-442: The rulers of Mysore and were made a part of the larger Kingdom of Mysore . His son and successor, Tipu Sultan , launched campaigns against the expanding British East India Company , resulting in two of the four Anglo-Mysore Wars . Tipu ultimately ceded the Malabar District and South Kanara to the company in the 1790s as a result of the Third Anglo-Mysore War and the subsequent Treaty of Seringapatam ; both were annexed to
30020-404: The sanctum-sanctorum and disappeared on the eastern bank of the Jalavanthy. Sreevallabha Temple had been built by Uliyannoor Perumthachan , and the temple wall and flagstaff were completed in one day in 57 BC. After a woman received salvation in the shrine, women were more attracted to the temple. A woman who was enchanted by the handsome idol entered the sanctum sanctorum to marry Vishnu, and
30210-427: The sea to address the Millennium Conference on Integration on Science and Consciousness in Britain, violating temple customs. The chief priest should be 50 years old and married. Every three years, priests can be changed. Devotees should never use sacred ash ( vibhuti ) inside the temple wall. Four clockwise circumambulations ( Parikramas ) are advised in the temple: one outside and three inside. Enter through
30400-447: The seas between Ormus and the Malabar Coast and south to Ceylon . They established a trading centre at Tangasseri in Quilon during 1502 as per the invitation of the then Queen of Quilon to start spices trade from there. The ruler of the Kingdom of Tanur , who was a vassal to the Zamorin of Calicut , sided with the Portuguese, against his overlord at Kozhikode. As a result, the Kingdom of Tanur ( Vettathunadu ) became one of
30590-549: The shares from Union tax pool) amounted to ₹ 674 billion (US$ 8.1 billion) in 2020–21; up from ₹ 557 billion (US$ 6.7 billion) in 2019–20. Its non-tax revenues (excluding the shares from Union tax pool) of the Government of Kerala reached ₹ 146 billion (US$ 1.7 billion) in 2020–2021. However, Kerala's high ratio of taxation to GSDP has not alleviated chronic budget deficits and unsustainable levels of government debt, which have impacted social services. A record total of 223 hartals were observed in 2006, resulting in
30780-416: The state government allocates around 40% of the state plan outlay to local governments. Kerala was declared the first digital state of India in 2016 and, according to the India Corruption Survey 2019 by Transparency International , is considered the least corrupt state in India. The Public Affairs Index-2020 designated Kerala as the best-governed state in India. Kerala hosts two major political alliances:
30970-481: The state look for other reliable sources of income, instead of relying on remittances to finance its expenditure. As of March 2002, Kerala's banking sector comprised 3341 local branches: each branch served 10,000 people, lower than the national average of 16,000; the state has the third-highest bank penetration among Indian states. On 1 October 2011, Kerala became the first state in the country to have at least one banking facility in every village. Unemployment in 2007
31160-407: The state of Kerala under the States Reorganisation Act . A Communist -led government under E. M. S. Namboodiripad resulted from the first elections for the new Kerala Legislative Assembly in 1957 . It was one of the earliest elected Communist governments anywhere. His government implemented land and educational reforms which in turn, reduced income inequality in the state. The state
31350-400: The state to mobilise funds for infrastructure development from outside the state revenue, aiming at overall infrastructure development of the state. In November 2015, the Ministry of Urban Development selected seven cities of Kerala for a comprehensive development program known as the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT). A package of ₹ 2.5 million (US$ 30,000)
31540-458: The temple from Pathillathil Pottimar. Built on the Manimala River , the temple covers 8.5 acres – the largest area of any Travancore temple. It is surrounded by a 12-foot-tall, 566-foot-long, 4.5-foot-thick red-granite walls with a two-story gopuram (entrance tower) on each side. The wall was built in 57 BC. Outside the east wall, a 1.5-acre pond has a copper flagstaff on its south bank. A platform for performing Kathakali
31730-471: The temple, and the Sanskrit poet Daṇḍin mentioned it in his works. Malayalam's earliest prose is the Thiruvalla inscriptions, dating to the first half of the 12th century CE, which was obtained from the temple in 1915. The 13th-century Unnuneeli Sandesam highlighted the temple. It had 15 major priests and 180 subordinate priests. The temple acquired wealth, and served food in golden banana leaves. In 1752-1753, Marthanda Varma of Travancore captured
31920-436: The temple. In the sanctum, worship Sreevallabha, Lakshmi, Bhudevi , Varaha and Dakshinamurthy through the eastern door and Sudarshana Chakra through the western door. The temple observes two major festivals. One, for ten days, is celebrated in the month of kumbham in the Malayalam calendar (February–March). Uthra Sreebali, the temple's largest festival, is celebrated in the Malayalam month of minam (March–April). It
32110-402: The term Kerala . From the time of Cosmas Indicopleustes (6th century CE) itself, the Arab sailors used to call Kerala as Male . The first element of the name, however, is attested already in the Topography written by Cosmas Indicopleustes . This mentions a pepper emporium called Male , which clearly gave its name to Malabar ('the country of Male'). The name Male is thought to come from
32300-407: The wealth from Kozhikode to develop his military power. Kozhikode became the most powerful kingdom in the Malayalam speaking region during the Middle Ages . At the peak of their reign, the Zamorins of Kozhikode ruled over a region from Kollam ( Quilon ) in the south to Panthalayini Kollam ( Koyilandy ) in the north. Ibn Battuta (1342–1347), who visited the city of Kozhikode six times, gives
32490-555: The west and Western Ghats mountain ranges to the east. The state's coastline extends for 595 kilometres (370 mi), and around 1.1 million people in the state are dependent on the fishery industry, which contributes 3% to the state's income. Named as one of the ten paradises of the world by National Geographic Traveler , Kerala is one of the prominent tourist destinations of India, with coconut-lined sandy beaches , backwaters , hill stations , Ayurvedic tourism and tropical greenery as its major attractions. The word Kerala
32680-433: The word Malabar comes from a combination of the Dravidian word Mala (hill) and the Persian / Arabic word Barr (country/continent). According to the Sangam classic Purananuru , the Chera king Senkuttuvan conquered the lands between Kanyakumari and the Himalayas . Lacking worthy enemies, he besieged the sea by throwing his spear into it. According to the 17th-century Hindu mythology work Keralolpathi ,
32870-445: Was partitioned in 1947 into India and Pakistan , Travancore and Kochi , part of the Union of India were merged on 1 July 1949 to form Travancore-Cochin . On 1 November 1956, the taluk of Kasargod in the South Kanara district of Madras, the Malabar district of Madras (excluding the islands of Lakshadweep ), and Travancore-Cochin, without four southern taluks and Sengottai taluk (which joined Tamil Nadu), merged to form
33060-435: Was a religious philosopher who contributed to Hinduism and propagated the philosophy of Advaita . He was instrumental in establishing four mathas at Sringeri , Dwarka , Puri and Jyotirmath . Melpathur Narayana Bhattathiri was another religious figure who composed Narayaniyam , a collection of verses in praise of the Hindu God Krishna . Various practises of Hinduism are unique to Kerala. Worship of Shiva and Vishnu
33250-451: Was also affected by the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami , and in 2018 received the worst flooding in nearly a century. In 2024, Kerala experienced its worst landslides in history. With around 120–140 rainy days per year, Kerala has a wet and maritime tropical climate influenced by the seasonal heavy rains of the southwest summer monsoon and northeast winter monsoon . Around 65% of the rainfall occurs from June to August corresponding to
33440-433: Was alternatively called Malabar in the foreign trade circles . Earlier, the term Malabar had also been used to denote Tulu Nadu and Kanyakumari which lie contiguous to Kerala on the southwestern coast of India, in addition to the modern state of Kerala. The people of Malabar were known as Malabars . Until the arrival of the East India Company , the term Malabar was used as a general name for Kerala, along with
33630-405: Was appointed as Viceroy of Portuguese India in 1505, his headquarters was established at Fort Kochi ( Fort Emmanuel ) rather than in Kozhikode. During his reign, the Portuguese managed to dominate relations with Kochi and established a few fortresses on the Malabar Coast. However, the Portuguese suffered setbacks from attacks by Zamorin forces in South Malabar ; especially from naval attacks under
33820-482: Was astonished at not feeling the presence of the deity. As he reached the outer enclosure, he saw a young Brahmin man watching the dance and recognised him as Vishnu. Vishnu disappeared into the temple, saying that Swamiyar disturbed his enjoyment of his favourite dance. Thereafter, Kathakali was performed regularly in the temple. The Vaishnavite saint Nammalvar had visited the temple in the evening and fell asleep. He dreamed that Vishnu appeared as Padmanabha, sleeping in
34010-399: Was built in 1650 by Shivappa Nayaka of Keladi . The Portuguese were ousted by the Dutch East India Company , who during the conflicts between the Kozhikode and the Kochi , gained control of the trade. The arrival of British on Malabar Coast can be traced back to the year 1615, when a group under the leadership of Captain William Keeling arrived at Kozhikode, using three ships. It
34200-483: Was declared for each of the cities to develop service level improvement plan (SLIP), a plan for better functioning of the local urban bodies in the cities of Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Alappuzha, Kochi, Thrissur, Kozhikode, and Palakkad. The Grand Kerala Shopping Festival (GKSF) was started in 2007, covering more than 3000 outlets across the nine cities of Kerala with huge tax discounts, VAT refunds and huge array of prizes. Lulu International Mall at Thiruvananthapuram
34390-411: Was established by Kulasekhara Varman , which ruled over a territory comprising the whole of modern Kerala and a smaller part of modern Tamil Nadu. During the early part of the Kulasekara period, the southern region from Nagercoil to Thiruvalla was ruled by Ay kings , who lost their power in the 10th century, making the region a part of the Kulasekara empire. Under Kulasekhara rule, Kerala witnessed
34580-434: Was estimated at 9.4%; chronic issues are underemployment , low employability of youth, and a low female labour participation rate of only 13.5%, as was the practice of Nokku kooli , "wages for looking on". By 1999–2000, the rural and urban poverty rates dropped to 10.0% and 9.6%, respectively. The state's budget of 2020–2021 was ₹ 1.15 lakh crore (US$ 14 billion). The state government's tax revenues (excluding
34770-494: Was filled with salt and unsuitable for habitation; so Parashurama invoked the Snake King Vasuki , who spat holy poison and converted the soil into fertile lush green land. Out of respect, Vasuki and all snakes were appointed as protectors and guardians of the land. P. T. Srinivasa Iyengar theorised, that Senguttuvan may have been inspired by the Parashurama legendary account, which was brought by early Aryan settlers. Another much earlier Puranic character associated with Kerala
34960-453: Was fond of eating young human flesh. A yakshini reached the western road to the village, attacking everyone who came in her way. Many people left Mallikavanam, which was restricted to visitors. The aged Antharjanam could not leave, and it became difficult to find a Brahmin boy to continue her religious duties. She wept in front of her Vishnu idol, asking to maintain the custom that she had been following for many years. A young Brahmin boy with
35150-417: Was in these ships that Sir Thomas Roe went to visit Jahangir , the fourth Mughal emperor , as British envoy . In 1664, the municipality of Fort Kochi was established by Dutch Malabar , making it the first municipality in the Indian subcontinent , which got dissolved when the Dutch authority got weaker in the 18th century. The Dutch in turn were weakened by constant battles with Marthanda Varma of
35340-406: Was liberated. Soon after the construction of Dvaraka , Sagara gave many precious things (including the Sreevallabhan idol) to Krishna. Krishna gave it to his friend, Satyaki , saying: "There is nothing better in the world for the worship of Vishnu than Sreevallabhan's idol. Worshipping Vishnu directly and worshipping this idol is considered the same. It has the power to wash away the sins of all
35530-445: Was nearly 16% of the US$ 71 billion remittances to the country. In 2015, NRI deposits in Kerala have soared to over ₹ 1 lakh crore (US$ 12 billion), amounting to one-sixth of all the money deposited in NRI accounts, which comes to about ₹ 7 lakh crore (US$ 84 billion). Malappuram district has the highest proportion of emigrant households in state. A study commissioned by the Kerala State Planning Board , suggested that
35720-405: Was rebuilt by Queen Cherumthevi in 59 BC. It was a spiritual and educational centre by 1100 CE, and had a Vedic school with about 1,500 students and 150 teachers. The Vedas , Vedanta , Tarka Shastra , Mimamsa , jyotisha , ayurveda , and Kalaripayattu were taught. The temple had an ayurvedic hospital with facilities to treat 100 patients at a time. Nammalvar and Thirumangai Alvar praised
35910-413: Was seized by the Perumal's troops). Then the last Cheraman Perumal divided Kerala or Chera kingdom among his chieftains and disappeared mysteriously. The Kerala people never more heard any tidings of him. The Eradis of Nediyiruppu , who later came to be known as the Zamorins of Kozhikode , who were left out in cold during allocation of the land, was granted the Cheraman Perumal 's sword (with
36100-401: Was the first prominent kingdom based in Kerala. The Ay kingdom in the deep south and the Ezhimala kingdom in the north formed the other kingdoms in the early years of the Common Era (CE). The region had been a prominent spice exporter since 3000 BCE . The region's prominence in trade was noted in the works of Pliny as well as the Periplus around 100 CE . In the 15th century,
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