Kolath

Kolath / Kolathu / Koleth family is an ancient Suriyani (Syrian) Christian family, based in Kozhencherry, in Pathanamthitta district in Kerala, India, spread all over the world. They are popularly known as Syrian Christians in view of the Syriac (classical form of Aramaic) liturgy used in church services since the early days of Christianity in India and not for any Syrian migration. They are also known as Nazaranis (followers of Jesus the Nazarene).

History

It is a very difficult task to delineate the Kolath family history of 2000 years as no effort so far has been undertaken in this direction. The Kerala tradition does not have a system of recording and handing over the details of historical incidents and records. Hence we have to depend on the church history, social history, oral tradition and legends handed down the generations to distill history out of them.

In the year AD 1342 an Arab historian visited Malabar in Kerala. According to him 12 rulers reigned in Malabar at that time. One of the powerful Kingdoms in Malabar was Kolathunadu ruled by King Kolathiri. During his reign his capital was at Karipath in Thaliparambu. Thereafter the capital was shifted to Ezhimala.

At Karippath, the Kolathiri had some dispute with the Brahmins ( Hindu Priestly class), and he shifted his operations to Ezhimala. Since Brahmins alone can do rituals and perform Poojas, he was left with no other option but to invite Brahmins from Tulunadu - a place well known for the cultural and fighting spirit of Kerala. Tulunadu is the birthplace of famous warriors like Aromal Chekavar, Unniarcha and so on.

As King Kolathiri was a powerful ruler, the Brahmins who disputed with him were left alone. Fearing vengeance from the King, all the Brahmins there left Kolathirinadu . They traveled further south and settled in Kodungallor. Kodumgallor was a port town that carried business with many other foreign countries. In fact St Thomas also landed in Kodungalloor on his Appostolic mission to India. Kodungallor was invaded by Cheraman Perumal who founded the Chera Dynasty. This Dynasty was a powerful one and the ruler was very pious and generous.

In AD 52, St. Thomas Apostle landed in Kodungallor. He converted many Brahmin families (Nampothiries) to Christianity. The Cheraman Permual who was ruling at that time, gave enough freedom to St. Thomas to propagate Christianity. St Thomas did may miracles there and the King himself was blessed with the arrival of St Thomas. This was the golden period of Chera Dynasty.

In AD 345 Knai Thomman - a Jewish businessman along with 400 men landed in Kodungalloor. Cheraman Perumal ruling at that time, gave them land and freedom to do business. They exported Pepper, Ginger, Cardamom and other spices to far away countries. Kodungallor flourished as the best business port in Kerala. The King gave special status and designations to Knai Thomman and his men.

In 1500 AD, a Portuguese ship while on its voyage to Goa landed in Kodungalloor. The Christians in Kodungalloor welcomed these Portuguese sailors and accorded them a warm reception. However the king feared that these sailors were spies and that they with the numerous Christian families therein will overthrow him. Hence the king took repressive measures on the Christians. Christian's fearing the wrath of the King fled from Kodungalloor and migrated to Kadumthurithy. But they could not cope with the Kadunthuruthy King and so they traveled further South. These Christian families on their way to the South were scattered with some families settling in Ramapuram, Kuravilangadu, etc. Some migrated further to the South. Among those families such as Pakalomattam, Kalikavu etc. Our forefathers, Mathai and Thoma also travelled South and landed in Kozhencherry. There Thoma settled at a place East of river Pampa and Mathai (the younger one ) settled on the West of the river (Nedumprayar). Since these brothers came from Kolathunadu, they were known as Kolath Kudumbam (family).

Mathai had one son who got married to a girl from Chambakulam . After Mathai's death, his son also came to an untimely end survived by his wife and a child As the wife and child were left alone, the wife's family took them to Chambakkulam.. There at Champakulam they had family connections with the Kurialassery family. However that was the last connection we had with that branch. Even though Mathai's property at Nedumprayar was sold, it is still known as 'Kolath purayidam'.

Thoma settled in the old road (Pazhaya Theruvu) However, due to water shortage, he sold that property to the "Pattars" (Brahmins ) and settled in Kattoor, North of Kozhencherry. He had a son named John. One day as John was going to Aranmula he passed through the "Old Street", and finding his ancestral land, asked the Pattars (Brahmin) to give him the land for a price. However the pattars did not sell that land. Thereafter John sold the property at Kattoor and went to Ullannor. However the locals there were not good people to mingle with. By that time he heard that Kozhencherry was going to be a settlement colony for some reputed families. Thereafter he returned to Kozhencherry, but could not buy his father's land from the Brahmins. However he purchased another property very near to his ancestral property in the name of his son Mammen Koruth. This property was known as Kuravakkala. There is a tradition that the womenfolk of the Hindu family - Meladathu, after conducting religious rituals used to do 'Kurava' (a special sound) by putting their fingers in to the mouth and creating that special sound. It is from this Mammen Koruth. The family tree begins with all its branches. Thus by tradition Kolath family is a Brahmin family hailing from Kolathunadu carrying Royal traditions with them. They are known for their nobility and piousness. They were good businessmen /administrators, advisers for the ruling families and is one of the established families in Central Travancore.

Kolath family had some royalty from the King of Pandalam . We do not know why the royalty was given to our family. However tradition says that when John went to Ullannor- which is within the Pandalam Kingdom, he must have given some special services to the King. The King in reciprocation of his services has granted him a Royalty, which was followed for a very long time. Thereafter no body took interest to collect the royalty from the King.

Thus tradition of Kolath family goes back to thousands of years and they are proud of the same. Kolath family is considered as one of the respected Aristocratic families of the Central Travancore.. Only very few families can boast of such a tradition in Central Travancore- Kerala.

The Three fathers:
*Thoma
*Yohannan (He got two daughters and one son named Mammen Koruth)
*Mammen Koruth

It is from Mammen Koruth all the Kolath Branches sprouted out.

The Kolath Kudumbayogam was functioning till 1940 under the Managing Committee formed from the 7th & 8th generation family members. Unfortunately till1972 there was a break . It resumed functioning in 1972-73 by the 8th generation fathers and by the Grace of the Almighty God it is going on in a blessed manner. It is engaged in various activities for the welfare of the members.

There is a written Constitution and a Managing Committee. The General Body meets once in a year on the 2nd Saturday in the month of May.

Family members have instituted Endowments in the name of their beloved ones. Interest received from these endowments are given to deserving family members for Education, Medical treatment, House Construction and Theological Studies. Over and above this, contributions are raised for helping in marriage of girls and house construction for the needy

St. Thomas Christian Tradition

St. Thomas, after Pentecost , did missionary work in Persia, North India, and Afghanistan. He visited Jerusalem at the death of Mother Mary, the mother of Jesus, and attended the Jerusalem Synod in A.D 50.

For there, he journeyed to Southern India and landed at the Chera capital port of Cranganore, also known as Moziris in Kerala. Later he traveled to a South East Indian shore and did missionary work there. In A.D. 72 ,he was martyred, at the port city of Mylapore, south of Chennai, in the old Madras city.

The living testimony of St. Thomas' mission in India is the presence of the St. Thomas Christians in Kerala, India. Their traditions ar stillalive and his tomb is not claimed by any other people in the world. The mortal remains of St. Thomas, wherever they are kept e.g. Edessa, Orthona etc certifies that they are brought from India. The tomb of St. Thomas is 1500 km away from Trichur in Chennai coast. The solemn celebrations of St. Thomas Day (Dukrana) on July 3, by Syrian Christians, even when Kerala is has severe storms, is a testimony of the St. Thomas' enduring connection of Kerala Christians.

St. Thomas came to Palayur in 52-54 A D . Palayur was one of the 64 Brahmin villages in South India. St. Thomas conversed with the Brahmin priests performing rituals (Pithirpuja) at "Thaliyakulam" before Palayur Shivashetram. He witnessed them throwing water upwards into air while performing rituals. St. Thomas asked why the water fell back to the ponds, if your gods received it? Thomas then claimed if he prayed in the presence of his living god, the water would stay in the air. The Brahmin priests resisted this because it was against natural laws, but they said they would take his advice, and follow the new path, if his prayer worked miracles. And so Thomas prayed and the water stayed in the air and the Brahmins immediately took baptism from St. Thomas himself.

The five families ordained as clergies were from the Brahmin families of Pakalomattom, Kalli, Sankarapuri, Kalikavu, and Kolath. It may be because they were already doing priestly activities.

St. Thomas also founded seven churches at the following places: Maliankara, Palayur, Kottakavu, Quilon, Niranom, Nilakkal, and Chayal. After several years of work in Malabar, the Apostle went to the Coromandel Coast (East Coast) where he was assassinated by irate Brahmins (or by a hunter) in 72 A.D. This tradition along with many others legends is found in ancient Christian songs (seventeenth century and later) like the Veeradian Pattu, Thomma Parvom, and Margom Kali Pattu. The Acts of St. Thomas, an apocryphal work by the Syrian Bardesan (220 A.D.) also mentions the missionary work and martyrdom of St. Thomas in India.

Were there Brahmins in Kerala in 1st century?

Kerala was known to Vedic Aryan's even in Rigvedic Period 5000 years ago. In the Sanskrit Sloka defining India starring "Uttaram Yat Samudrasya", the geographical boundaries were given in Rig Veda. In the Mahabharata war (dated at 1400 B.C. by Pagiter) Kerala Chief Participated by giving food to both sides. He is called "Perumchottudian" in the epic. The epic Mahabharata mentions the kings by the name "Pandyancha Cheralan". In Rig Vedic Nadi Suktam or sloka of rivers which name the rivers. "Imam me Ganga, Yamuna" etc. the river Kaveri is mentioned. Hence after knowing Kerala for three thousand years, the Brahmins never came to Kerala for three millenniums is an absurd theory.

The Buddhism and Jainism were very strong in Kerala, but that does not mean that Sanatana dharma, with its intellectual missionary vanguard, the Brahmins were absent in Brahminism, and were in essence Hindi reform movements. Hence to say that the reform movements were here, but the original Brahmins and Hinduism were not here, is quite absurd. Aryans and their Indian forefront the Brahmins were very good travelers. They started from the Bohoemian Plateau by 3000 B.C. By 2300 B.C.they traveled 2500kms and captured the Indus Valley, destroying Harappa and Mogenjodaro. Their western cousins reached Palestine as Hittiles and were fighting Eyptian Pharaoh Rameses II in the Battle of Kadesh in 1545 B.C. They traveled 2000 km in 1000 years. They reached Greece as Dorians and conquered Greek Dorians and conquered Greek Peninsula by 1250 B.C. They reached Rome and Italian Peninsula by 756 B.C. They overran Spain and Britain by 55 B.C. They took only 1000 years to overran the whole of Europe. From sind to the conquest of Gangetic basin they took less than 1000 years. Hence to argue that the Aryans will take more than 2500 years to reach Kerala, to say the least is foolishness. TheMooshika Vamsam Kavyam shows that the Haihayas reached Payyannur (North Kerala), in the 5th century B.C. Parasurama came at this time. The Parasurama legend shows the Aryanisation of western coat including Kerala. Hence the Brahmins reached Kerala in the 5th century B.C.

The confusion was created when the word Nampoothiri was used in the Palayur conversion story. Nampoothiri Brahmins are the Maratha Brahmins, who came as invaders to Kerala. Parasuramas rules in the Narmada Valley of Maharashtra. A Malwa king named Parasurama is supposed to have invaded Kerala and brought the Brahmins by force. "Illam" the word came from Marathi word "Illu" which means house. As they came by rowing in boats they were called Nayambu = Row, and Nayambu - Thiris. This coming of Maratha Brahmins to Kerala, may have happened in the 4th and 5th centuries and by 6th century they got the caste Name Nampoothiri. By 8th century Sankaracharya a Nampoothiri is seen carrying his Sankara Dig Viyayam throughout India.

In the Sanghakala works we come across Brahmins by name "Anthanar". The second century Sanghakala poet Kapilar was a Anthanar Brahmin. The anthanar is used even by Ramapurathu warrior in his Vanchipattu. Agsthya and Tholkapiyar B.C. IInd century to A.D. IInd century the precursors of Tamil literature were Brahmins. In B.C. second century itself the King Chandragupta Maurya resigned and came along with sanyasis and Brahmins to Sravana Belagola in South Karnataka and lived there. Another 150kms of travel and the Brahmins could reach Kerala. The Parasurama legend shows large scale migration of Brahmins to Kerala. Chanakya, the Black Brahmin Prime Minister of Chandragupta Maurya in B.C. 3rd century was a South country is Kollam. In the Panthrirukulam story Vararuchi, one of the Navaratnas of Vikramaditya (AD. 320-360) is shown as visiting Kerala. All this shows that Brahmins were only Pandits and not the ruling class. The early chaldean and mesopotomian languages also indicate Indian religion and the word used is Brahmin.

These are the Brahmins met by St. Thomas in Palayur. The epithet Nampoothiri was a later addition in the 16th century. Hence when we read Nampoothiri it may be understood as Brahmin or Anthanar.

Migration to Kozhencherry
Because of their new faith the four families were subjected to much hardship by Non-Christians, and consequently they had to move towards South by the end of the 2 nd century .Many believe that it happened in the 4th century AD some say exactly 337. A.D. Some histories are of the opinion that actually it is 337 K.E. ie., 824+337 = 1161AD. Thus they came to Kozhencherry, here they retained their original family names. As per govt. records, Survey 179 lakkam 519/8 No was possessed by Kolath.

The stories and legends connected with the construction of Kozhencherry ST Thomas Marthoma church are the result of later mix of history with some fertile imaginations. The miraculous intervention of St. Mary in the construction of the church is evident. The never drying well on the hill top is an evident testimony. According to tradition prevalent in Kozhencherry the church was founded in 354 A.D.

Branches of Kolath Family
*Koickamannil (Thottathil)
*Mullenkuzhiyil
*Muttithottathil
*Kanamoottil
*Kalluvettamkuzhiyil (Mundackalthottathil)
*Mullaserrimannil
*Tholoor
*Kolath Thaiveedu
*Tholoor Uzhathil
*Kolath Peedikayil
*Palamkuzhiyil
*Thengumthottathil
*Kidangalil
*Meledathu Thazhathethil (Inchikalayil)
*Vizhalil
*Kavanadathu

Famous family members
* Tom George Kolath, famous Hollywood-Bollywood-Malluwood movie producer. Some of his movies are Meerayude Dhukkam, Akale, Gandhi Park.
* George M. Kolath, President & CEO Kolath Hospitality Group, Albany, NY, USA
* George Mammen Kondoor, Pathanamthitta District Congress Committee General Secretary
* Tholoor TM Philip (Kunjumon), a prominent member of Syrian marthoma Church and church activist
* TC Alexander (Joy Thottathil), a leader
* Moni Achen, a popular priest of Syrian Marthoma Church
* Rev. Saji. P. Simon, a popular priest of Syrian Marthoma Church
* Joe Kolath, a socialworker and family activist

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