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Pampady is a small town 16 kilometres east of Kottayam in Kerala, Southern India. It lies midway between the serene backwaters of Western Kerala and the misty mountains of Western Ghats. National highway 220 passing through the heart of pampady. It is well connected to Kottayam, Ponkunnam, Kanjirappally, Pallickkathodu, Puthuppally and Karukachal. ==History== Vennimala on the western boundary of Pampady was once the Capital of Thekkumkoor. ''Unnuneeli sandesam'' written in 14th century AD describes Vennimala and Thiruvanchiyoor in Thekkumkoor. In AD 1749 King Marthanda Varma of Venadu captured Thekkumkoor and thereafter it was portion of Travancore. After 1956, Pampady became part of Travancore-Cochin State. The old records, dating back to ME 352 (AD 1176), kept with Kaithamattom Illam in Velloor, throws light on the history of Pampady. There was human inhabitation here about 1000 years back. The Subramanya temple of the Illam was old even at that time. Up to middle of 16th Century, Pampady was under King of Thekkumkoor. Thalikotta was the capital of Thekkumkoor. Pampady was owned by Kothala Madom and later by Ambazhathunkal Kartha. Pampady had three portions-Velloor, Pampady and Thekkan Pampady. Velloor was owned by Kaithamattom Illam. The meaning of Pampady as per Malayalam Dictionary -"Sabdatharavaly" of Sreekandeswaram- is "Ananthasayanan". (The Land of Lord Vishnu). The area where there was a Sreekrishna Temple by Valiyamadom Potty was called Pampady according to one school of thought. The development of Pampady is closely connected to KK Road, which came into existence in AD 1038, as a graded road. Mr. Murphy- a far sighted Englishman and rubber planter should be remembered for extending this road to the high ranges during the 1st half of 20th century. Hundreds of labourers of backward classes from Puthuvelil, Kothala area lost their lives in this great task, especially the section between Peruvanthanam and Kuttikkanam. This road is now a national highway, from Quilon to Theni at Tamil Nadu. There was a wayside inn at the site of present Bus stand. Kolathettu family donated the site. Later a vegetable and a cattle market- the only one between Kambam- Tamil Nadu and Alleppey, were started in Pampady. Pallivathukkal (MDLP) School was started in AD1879. This was started by Cheriyamadathil Yacoob Kathanar. Madathil Aasaan (C.G. Raman Nair) and Thanathukara Keralan Nair were the Teachers. Alampally School was started in 1880 and this was followed by MGM High School, a Private Management institution offering quality English education. Pampady Govt Dispensary was started in 1924. A Public Library was started in 1929 by Gandhian Kuzhiyidathara Kunjappan (K.I. Jacob). K.G College was started in 1981 and Govt Engineering College in 1991. The college which was later renamed as Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Technology or RIT, Kottayam bought about major changes in the panchayat. Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Technology, named after the late Prime Minister Sri. Rajiv Gandhi, run by the Government of Kerala, started functioning in 1991. It has established a vast infrastructure and put together a team of dedicated teachers. The institution has thus attained a remarkable place as a technical training Institute.Government started this institution with a view of making it a center for post graduation and research studies. The college is affiliated to the Mahatma Gandhi University Kottayam, Kerala. It is believed that Lord Rama and Lakshmana during their period of exile visited this hillside. At that time numerous sages meditated in the caves of Vennimala. Upon the request of the sages Lakshmana killed many demons that were a threat and nuisance to the sages. Thus the place came to be called ‘Vijayadri’ in Sanskrit. The name means ‘hill of victory’ as Lakshmana won the battle with demons. Vijayadri in Malayalam became Vennimala. A detailed description of this place appears in the famous Malayalam work ‘Aitihyamala’ by Kottarathil Sankunni. The legend goes that Cheraman Perumal constructed this temple as per the direction of Kapila Maharshi. The place name was Iravipuram originally. The king who reached this place by canal route as per astronomical directions, was shown the idol in this hill by a hunter named Iravi. Later on, the temple came under the suzerainty of Thekkumkoor¹ kings who ruled this region. The temple is more than thousand years old as judged from the mrgamala in the namaskara mantapa, even though the present structures may be of later period. Even though the main idol is that of Lakshmana Perumal, Sri Rama is also present in the srikovil by conviction. Reinforcing this conviction, there are two bronze dhwajastambhas (flagmasts) in the front yard. Previously the temple was a Mahakshetra with five poojas and three sreebalis daily. Now, only three poojas are performed. Earlier there was a 28-day festival from Rohini in Makaram to Rohini in Kumbhom culminating in the Arattu. For the arattu, during the forward journey Lakshmana was in front followed by Sri Rama while for the return after the aratt Sri Rama used to come in front. All the 28 days were punctuated by Chakyar Koothu. The koothambalam is part of Valiambalam. Pothiyil Chakyars had the hereditory rights of performing Koothu in this temple. Only Ramayanam story used to be played here. Koothu for 16 days followed by Koodiyattom for 12 days was the routine. Vennimala Koothu has been an integral part of the cultural scene of Kerala for centuries. At present, the festival goes on for reduced duration of ten days. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Pampady」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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