Tharakkal History

Unnikkanda Menon was appointed the Thalachennavar of Chunangad, commanding 10,000 soldiers. He later rose to oversee 14 Cherikkals (administrative divisions). His nephews, Ittunni Rama Menon and Sekhara Menon, followed in his footsteps, also serving as commanders. In 1649, the next generation, also named Unnikkanda Menon, became a Deshavazhi (local ruler) and was given special rights like travelling in a palanquin (called manjalil).  

The Tharakkal Tharavad’s loyalty was shown again in 1670, when Tharakkal Unniramamenon gave the Samuthiri a new ceremonial sword after the original was lost in a Dutch attack. 

From 1675 to 1755, the Tharakkal family reached its peak, governing nearly three-fourths of the Samuthiri’s kingdom. But around 1676, the family faced a crisis — there were no women left to continue the lineage.  To save the Tharavad, the Samuthiri arranged for an entire branch of the Kizhhoor Warriam family from Ponnani to be adopted into the Tharakkal Tharavad. 

One of them, Kizhhoor Eroma Menon, became a powerful and respected leader. The Samuthiri granted him four new powers not given to any other local ruler. Under his leadership, Ponnani came under Tharakkal control, and he even served as the Thalachennavar of Kozhikode Cherikkal. Eroma Menon also played a major role in organizing the 1683 Mamangam festival. His letters with the Samuthiri were preserved as ‘Tharakkal Rekhakal’. His grandson became Chunangad Thalachennavar in 1723, continuing the family’s prominence. 

The years from 1676 to 1762 are remembered as the “most glorious” time in Tharakkal history. But things changed in 1766. 

A weak Samuthiri, adopted from the Nileshwaram royal family, lost control of the kingdom. The Kochi and Travancore kingdoms teamed up to attack and regain lands from the Samuthiri, who was defeated and forced to retreat.  In this time of trouble, Eroma Menon was unfairly removed from power in Ponnani. When the Samuthiri asked him to stop a rebellion, Menon refused. This led to a serious falling-out. 

As the Samuthiri fled through Vandanthara, Eroma Menon and Unnikkandan Menon blocked his army, and one version says Menon even tried to shoot him. The aftermath was tragic. Eroma Menon was killed, and the Tharakkal ancestral home was destroyed using elephants. The women and children were sent to Ponnani’s Vairanallur palace. Later, Shankara Menon helped rescue them and led them into exile in Thiruvillamala, outside the Samuthiri’s rule. 

During this time, around 1765, Lakshmi Varasyar, an important ancestor of today’s family, was born. 

From 1800 to 1960, the Tharavad began to recover and rebuild. Lakshmi Varasyar and Eroma Menon returned to Cherukode in the early 1800s. The Samuthiri gave them temple lands and ‘pattubhoomi’ (leased land), especially the Koduvayoor Devaswom, which helped the family regain wealth and status. 

Since then, the Koduvayoor Bhagavathi temple has been worshipped as the source of prosperity for the Tharavad. 

The Tharakkal Tharavad has a long and proud history — filled with service, power, hardship, and revival. From leading armies to rebuilding from exile, they showed bravery, wisdom, and resilience. Even in their darkest times, our ancestors never gave up. 

The Tharakkal story is a shining example of how strong families protect their heritage and rise again, no matter what.

To understand more about the history of Tharakkal Warriem, please watch this video. This talk was given by Mr. T Krishnanunni (Senior Advocate, High Court of Kerala) at Tharakkal family get together held in 2015.