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Chachunni Nair (Kannambra Yajamanan)

Born: 19th Century

Known for: Community leadership, heritage preservation, support for India’s freedom movement

Region: Manjapra, Palakkad, Kerala, India

Overview

Chachunni Nair, popularly known as Kannambra Yajamanan, was a respected feudal leader and visionary social figure from Manjapra, a picturesque village in Palakkad district, Kerala. He was known for his progressive thinking, community leadership, and his association with the Indian independence movement, despite holding an administrative position under the British regime.

Role in Society

Chachunni Nair served as a District Board Member during British rule, yet supported the freedom movement wholeheartedly. He used his family residence, the Kongot Tharavad (locally known as Pathayappura), as a safe house for freedom fighters, risking personal consequences for the collective cause of national liberation.

Locals approached him for conflict resolution and guidance, considering him a de facto judge and moral authority. With no formal judicial title, he was revered as a unifying patriarch of the village, offering fair judgment, counsel, and support to anyone in need.

Lifestyle and Personality

Nair led a disciplined spiritual life, marked by early morning prayers, daily reading, and hosting visitors with grace and generosity. His blend of literary interests, patriotism, and spiritual insight made him a role model for the youth of his time and also had religious associations with local temples.

Kongot Tharavad (Pathayappura)

Between 1915–1922, Chachunni Nair commissioned the construction of the Kongot

Tharavad, a grand family residence built on his wife’s ancestral property in Manjapra. The building seamlessly blended Kerala’s traditional architecture with British-influenced design aesthetics, through the expertise of an Indian engineer trained under the British Education System.

The mansion featured:

·        Ornate verandahs

·        Wooden latticed corridors

·        Shaded courtyards and gardens

Locally referred to as Pathayappura, the house later became a landmark in Manjapra. Though it eventually ceased to be a family residence due to urban migration.

Religious Stewardship and the Parasurama Legend

Chachunni Nair's lineage, the Kongot family, was historically entrusted with the caretaking of two major temples in Manjapra:

·        Dharmashastha Temple

·        Mahavishnu Temple

According to local legend, Sage Parasurama, while traveling through the skies, descended upon the forests of Manjapra and noticed a forest of bright yellow flowers while he had a bath in the river. He was enjoying the serene beauty of the sight and took a walk to the deep forest. there he came to see some local people working in the forest and came to know about blood oozing from a rock. Upon investigation, he discovered two divine idols beneath and subsequently consecrated the site, which became the sacred location of these temples.

The Kongot family served as hereditary trustees of these temples until recent decades.

Legacy and Lineage

After Chachunni Nair’s time, the property passed through the generations. The last registered heirs include Ammukkutty and her children, representing the continuation of this noble lineage. Today, the family’s senior-most living representative is Sri Gopalakrishnan, a retired editor from Mathrubhumi newspaper, who fondly remembers and honours the traditions of his ancestors.

Cultural Importance

Chachunni Nair is remembered not just as a person, but as an emblem of a bygone era—a synthesis of governance, moral integrity, spiritual commitment, and patriotism. His home, temples, and the surrounding village of Manjapra still carry the imprint of his vision and values.

See Also

·        Manjapra

·        Palakkad district

·        Parasurama

References

1.     Story.docx – Narrative summary of Chachunni Nair’s contributions and the temple

Legend.