Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c8.336

c8.336

The place of this Māmāṅkam was at Tirunāvāya in Tirūr taluk. A Śiva temple of historic fame stands on the shores of the river Bhārata flowing through Tirūr taluk. There was an expansive sand beach on its shores, become famous by being the scene of many socio-political events. It was the venue of the mighty Nambūdiris of Malabar to discuss matters of socio-political importance. Every year on the full-moon day in the month of Māgha all the ruling chiefs of Kerala would assemble there and on a special dais there Sāmūtiri would sit with royal robes and a sword in his right hand presiding over the assembly. The sword was given to the Sāmūtiris by Ceramān Perumāl and was considered the symbol of undisputed sovereignty of Kerala. It was also a sanction to conduct the Māmāṅkam. The Sāmūtiris came prepared to give a fight if their authority was challenged by anybody. The ruling Sāmūtiri would send an invitation to all chiefs of Kerala. On either side of Sāmūtiri would sit the relatives and friends of Sāmūtiri. There would be an army of Nairs and Tiyyas ready outside and only after defeating them could anybody approach the dais of Sāmūtiri. The dais was called Nilapāṭṭutara.