Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c7.2318

c7.2318

There were five councils called the Pañcamahāsabhās (the five great councils) to help the Cera Kings. It is stated that these councils were formed by the King Utiyan Cera of the Tṛkkaṇā fort. Besides these five councils there was an advisory Committee, of which, the priest of the King, the Chief Minister, Chief of the spies and the Chief Revenue officer (Kāviṭi) were members. For convenience of administration the country was divided into tarakkūṭṭas (groups of houses—villages) and Nāṭṭukkūṭṭas (Districts—group of villages). Taras (villages) were ruled by four elders (Kāraṇavas). Four villages formed a Nālpāḍu (group) of four. Four Nālpādus formed a Kazhaka (a division of the country with a chief temple within it) and four Kazhakas formed a Perumkazhaka (greater Kazhaka). Perumkazhaka was also known as Tṛkkala. The assembly hall of tṛkkūṭṭa is called Koṭṭil. This hall was erected generally beside the temple. The chief officer of the temple was the chairman of the tṛkkūṭṭa (assembly of the people). When a tṛkkūṭṭa is assembled, sixtyfour elders of the “taras”, the “accas” (officers) of Kazhakas, the sixtyfour Taṇḍāns and sixteen Nālpādies had to be present. The Nālpādies were the chiefs of four taras. The accas, who were the Presidents, had to come clad in variegated silk, with waist-band of long cloth and wearing a small sword (Churikā). Till recently the Kazhakas of Aṇḍallūr, Rāmpallya, Kurvantaṭṭa, Turutti etc., and so many Nālpādus and taras and the elders thereof had been retaining and enjoying titles and distinctions of rank.