Kaviyoor

Demographics

(Note: These figures are based on statistics of Census Dept. The summary given by them is different: Literacy 98.27%, M 98.64%, F 97.96%)[2]

Demographics

Majority of the residents belong to the Hindu or Christian community. The total population is estimated to be about 16,852 people with a literacy rate of about 97%.

Local government

There are 14 wards in the Kaviyoor Grama Panchayat out of which a few are represented by women. The Panchayat office is near the Mahadeva temple which is adjacent to the Krishi Bhavan.

There is also a village office in Kaviyoor Near the K.N.M Govt. High School.

Transport

The nearest railway station is in Thiruvalla which is 5 km from here. It connects Thiruvalla with all the major cities in India. There are daily train Services to New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Howrah Kolkatta, Bangalore and Hyderabad.

Both the Trivandrum International Airport and Cochin International Airport are of equal distance from Kaviyoor. There are also plans to build an Airport in Aranmula, 12 km away.

Thottabhagam, the southern ward of the village, is a bus terminus. It lies on the Thiruvalla-Kumbazha state road and connects the village to major towns in the area. The Changanchery – Kaviyoor road terminates at Thottabhagom.

Nearby towns: Thiruvalla 5 km; Kozhencherry 8 km, Changancherry 12 km, Mallappaly 5 km

Etymology

The origin of the word 'Kaviyoor' has not yet been acceptably traced. An edict (951 C.E.) calls it Kaviyoor; another record (1551 C.E.)during the period of Brahmin supremacy, refers it to as in sanskritised form 'Kapiyoor'. Since Jainism reached Kerala through Karnataka, the Jains, after settling in what is now Kaviyoor and carving a cave out of a huge rock for stay and prayers, might have named the place Kaviyoor (Kavi=Cave, in old Kannada & Oor=Place). The claim that Kavi is Cave in old Kannada has not been examined by scholars. Some believe Kapiyoor became Kaviyoor over a period of time;(Kapi=Monkey,Oor=Place).Thus kapiyoor means place for monkeys.They attribute the name to the presence of the Lord Hanuman.

History

It was a part of Nanruzhai Nadu which had its capital in what is now Thrikkodithanam, 9 km west of Kaviyoor that covered Thiruvalla and Changanassery of central Travancore. Definitely, in the 12th century, C.E, as Nanruzhai Nadu fell apart, Kaviyoor became part of the kingdom of Thekkumkoor rajas who were believed to have ruled from five centres, the nearest being Puzhavathu, Changanacherry. Was it ever part of Vilakkili ( വിലക്കിലി) Namboothiris who ruled Thiruvalla? Thekkumkoor Rajas had apparently allowed Brahmins to rule the 'graamam' under his suzerainty. Kaviyoor was a prominent Brahmin village and they were considered superior to the Brahmins of Thiruvalla, another Brahmin village of repute. (Kaviyoor Brahmins never married Thiruvalla Brahmins till about 50–75 years ago). Vilakkili Namboothiris were the main priests of Kaviyoor at some point of time, esp. 1400–1600, C.E. That all the Namboothiris of Kaviyoor were close to both Thekkumkoor and Vilakkili is evident from the fact Marthanda Varma, the king of Travancore, barred them from taking part in Murajapam, the annual prayer ritual at Sree Padmanabha Temple, Trivandrum. The village Brahmins are all Yajurvedis. It is interesting to note that many Brahmins in Kottarakkara, Kalanjoor, Paipad, Vaypoor, Keezhvaypoor, Thrikkodithanam, Puthoor, Kavungumprayar, Kulathoor etc. are known as 'Kaviyoor Graamam' Brahmins.

Temples of Kaviyoor

Festivals

1.Thiruvutsavam of Mahadeva Temple: The annual fest commences from the day of Betelguese (Thiruvaathira, തിരുവാതിര ) in the Malayalam month of Dhanu (December–January) and ends on 10th day by Araattu Ezhunnellippu.'Utsavabali','Seva','Pallivetta' are the main functions during Thiruvutsavam.

2.Sivaratri-February/March->Vilakkezhunnellippu lighting of 8000 Diyas of temple by devotees of 5 Kara's(Desam).

3.(Sahasra Kalasam-Anointing the idol for 10 days with 100 pots of water; 1 gold pot,10 silver pot and remaining copper pots)

4. Hanumad Jayanthy, the birth anniversary of Lord Hanuman is also celebrated along with Thiruvutsavam (December–January. Aprocession with "Pushpa Ratham" (festooned chariot) is the main attraction. The "Ghoshayaathra"(rally) starts from Njaliyil Bhagavathi Temple.

5.Pantrandukalabham – August (Anointing with Sandal paste).

5.Ashtami Rohini: The birth anniversary celebrations of Lord Krishna at Sree Krishna Temple; Chingam (August–September)

Churches in Kaviyoor

The Christian community in Kaviyoor belong to the various Christian denominations like CSI, Marthoma, Orthodox, Catholic, Evangelical and Pentecostals.

Agriculture

Main agricultural produces are Rice, Coconut, Arecanut (Betel nut), Betel leaves, Black pepper, Rubber, Plantain, Banana, Sugarcane and Cassava (Tapioca). There is a National Fish Seed Farm located at the Polachira (the pond behind the Mahadeva temple) in Kaviyoor. The agricultural production is on the wane, primarily due to shortage labourers. The village, surprisingly, gets even its daily vegetable requirements from traders of nearby towns who arrange it from places as distant as Tamil Nadu.

Industries

Kaviyoor has a few small industrial units engaged in manufacture of plywood/veneer and rubber processing.