Powathikunnel Family

It is believed that St. Thomas reached Kerala in AD 52. He performed miracles among the Brahmins near Palayoor, Chavakkad, and many converted to Christianity — among them the renowned Pakalomattom, Sankarapuri, Kali, and Kalikavu families. St. Thomas entrusted the Pakalomattom family to serve as priests and Archdeacons of the new Christian community.

After ninety-three years, some of these families moved to Kodungallore, settling at the North Market (Vadakkeangadi). The Syrian Christians who arrived with Knaithomman settled at the South Market. The Pakalomattom Archdeacons continued to lead the Malankara Nasrani community, with their headquarters remaining at Kodungallore until AD 1559.

In time, many Pakalomattom families moved to Kuravilangadu, near Ettumannoore, where they joined families from Sankarapuri, Kali, and Kalikavu. Together, they constructed the Kuravilangadu Church. At Kuravilangadu, the families divided into two branches: Vadakkedam (Northerners) and Thekkedam (Southerners). The Thekkedathu families later moved to Athirampuzha for business, and the Powathikunnel family traces its origin from the Vadakkedathu branch that remained at Athirampuzha.

The Vadakkedathu families at Athirampuzha — Pootham, Makkii, Edam, Thadam, Vadakkedam, Mathankunnu — jointly constructed the Athirampuzha Church in AD 800, with principal funding from the ladies known as Thekkedathu Muthy and Kaipuzha Powathil Muthy. In AD 1030, the Thekkedathu family moved to Mannanom, three miles north of Adichira on the Kottayam–Ettumannoore road.

During AD 1800, a grave incident occurred at the Thekkedathu family home in Mannanom. Five brothers jointly killed a servant of the Vadakkumkoore King who had attempted to molest their sister. To escape the king's death penalty, all five brothers fled to the territory of the Thekkumkoore Ruler.

Each brother settled in a different place, founding the branches that survive today:

• One brother settled at Kottayam with a Vadakkedathu family member already running a coconut oil business at Palathunkal — now known as the Palathunkal Family.
• One brother, Itty Avirah, settled at Kattachira, near Kottayam — he is the ancestor of the Ulahannan line of the Mavelikara family.
• One brother settled at Thuruthy Rappuzha with the family name Ittithanathu — founding the Chalackkal, Kayyalakam, Erumachadom, and related families.
• One brother remained at Thuruthy itself, taking the family name Alanchery.
• The fifth brother moved to Changanachery and started a business — he is the direct ancestor of the Powathikunnel Mallappally family.

Mr. Varghese Vazhappallil, descended from the Changanachery brother of the Thekkedathu family, moved to Mallappally in AD 1719 at the personal invitation of the local ruler, Poovana Panicker. He was appointed as the Nasrani — responsible for refining the temple offerings such as milk and ghee according to Hindu custom — and also established a business at the Mallappally market.

The ruler gave him a residential place called Bhagavathikunnu. The name Powathikunnel is understood to have been derived from Bhagavathikunnel.

The Powathikunnel family flourished at Mallappally, and today more than 400 families are present at Mallappally and its surrounding areas. The main family branches of the Powathikunnel Kudumbayogam are: Powathikunnel, Palackkamannil, Payyampallil, Vattasseril, Thuruthyvallil, and Vazhayil.

The famous Orthodox Church Metropolitan H.H. Geevarghese Mar Deevannasios belonged to the Powathikunnel Vattasseril family — widely known as Vattasseril Thirumeni. The Powathikunnel Kudumbayogam published the family history book, including a second edition.

Varghese Vazhappallil is considered the first-generation forefather of the entire Powathikunnel family at Mallappally, Mavelikara, and Edathua.

Mr. Varghese (known as Mallappally Varghese), son of the third-generation Tommy Powathikunnel of Mallappally, moved to Mavelikara along with his four sons, taking the house name Powathikunnel. He brought with him his share of the family property proceeds. His wife was from the Kulathakkal family, Mavelikara, and his mother was Ms. Mariamma, sister of Palakkunnathu Malpan.

They arrived on a Sunday and, after attending church, searched for accommodation. They stayed for two days with Mr. Pilamoodan of Pilamoottil House, Nadakkavu, before moving to Nadupurackal House, Praikkara.

Mallappally Varghese purchased the Kambisseril property and the Pulinilkunnathil property, constructing a house at Kambisseril where his elder son Chacko's family also lived. He later purchased the Vettatheri paddy field at Karipuzha and a vast paddy field at Vellore, Puthiyakavu. He became a wealthy and influential man in Mavelikara. This settlement was established in AD 1806.

Itty Avirah — who settled at Kattachira — was the brother of Mr. Vazhappallil Varghese, the founder of the Powathikunnel–Palakkamannil families at Mallappally. This makes the two founding fathers of the Mavelikara family not merely associates, but members of the same family. Itty Avirah married from the Vellappallil family of Pallom. His descendant in the fourth generation, Mr. Ittyavirah Ulahannan, moved to a place near Mallappally. Mr. Ulahannan Ittyavirah, his son and the fifth generation, studied Kalari at the Powathikunnel Kalari School. Tall and well-built, he was selected as the bodyguard and translator to the Anglican Missionary Rev. J. Peet of the Church Mission Society, who came to Kerala in 1833 and died at Mavelikara in 1865.

Anglican Missionaries from the Church Mission Society had been conducting Biblical work with the Malankara Suriyani Church from Kottayam. After disagreements at the famous Mavelikara Sunnahadose, both parties separated. The CMS subsequently built their own churches and schools. When Rev. Peet moved to Mavelikara, Ulahannan Ittyavirah followed and served him for twenty-seven years as his Bodyguard, Translator, and Executive Officer.

Through his service, the construction of the CSI Church (originally CMS) at Mavelikara, the Bishop Hodges School, and several other church buildings were carried out. Rev. Peet built a house for Mr. Ittyavirah at the Thattassery Land. His close relationship with the missionary attracted enmity from some quarters, led by Rev. Tharyan of the CMS Church. After Rev. Peet's death, they attempted to drive Ittyavirah away from Mavelikara — but Powathikunnel family members from Mallappally, together with the sons of Mallappally Varghese, stood with him, and the opposition finally made peace in 1814.

Mr. Ulahannan Ittyavirah married Smt. Elikutty of Vallapurackal House, Kottayam. They had six sons and two daughters. He died at the age of 92 at Puthuparampil House, and both he and his wife were laid to rest at the CMS Church, Praikkara.

Mallappally Varghese of Powathikunnel House and Ulahannan Ittyavirah are together considered the founding fathers of the Mavelikara unit of the Powathikunnel Kudumbayogam. This family directory covers their descendants.

Our forefather Chitramezhuthu K. M. Varghese was the first person to systematically record the history of the Mavelikara Powathikunnel families, documenting nearly two hundred years of the family's life at Mavelikara.

His research extended to Palayoor village, Chavakkadu — tracing its history across more than 1,600 years — establishing the family's origins in the Pakalomattom Tharavadu of Palayoor among the earliest Christian converts of Kerala following the arrival of St. Thomas in AD 52.

He is rightly regarded as the First Historian of the Mavelikara Powathikunnel Families. Everything recorded here stands on the foundation he laid.

★ Visit His Legacy Page ★