Marangattupilly

History

Marangattupilly have a history of 1000 years, initially under the kingdom of Vadakkancoor. In Malayalam year 925, when the King [Marthanda Varma] defeated vadakkancoor Marangattupilly become part of Kingdom of Travancore. Marangattupilly also have its share in freedom fighting, with David MahaPilla, M. M. Kurian Mattathumanal, A.N. Sankaran Nair Anthanattu, P. R. Achuthan Edappattupadavil, T John Pulikkiyil, Gopalan Nair who were active in the State Congress.

Etymology

Marangattupilly stands for the "region of trees and forest". As Wikipedia itself uses, MARANGATTUPILLY is the correct and commonly used name of the place, instead of marangattupally.

Economy

It is a trading center of natural rubber and majority of people are engaged in rubber cultivation. The majority of the population belongs to Catholic community. St. Francis Assisi Church in Marangattupilly is a famous church and belongs to Pala diocese. Cheradi Bhagavati Temple is the famous Hindu worship place in this area. This Devi Temple is under Travancore Devaswom Board. Marangattupilly has a health center, a police station, a veterinary center, Lions Club and High School- St. Thomas H.S.[3], one cooperative bank (Marangattupally Service CoOperative Bank), and a branch of State Bank of Travancore(SBT), a telephone exchange, electrity board office, a petrol/diesel pump and few shops and a market. It belongs to Kaduthuruthy legislative constituency and Kottayam LS constituency.

Panchayath

Marangattupilly Gramapanchayath in Meenachil Thaluk, consists of Kurichithanam, Elackad (Part), Monipally(Part) revenue villages, with a Population of 21219 [4] and area of 37.58 square kilometres (14.51 sq mi) divided into 14 wards [5]. Established on 1953, this was initially called Elakkad Panchayath. This is a village which maintains peace and harmony among the people living here. The majority of the families in this village are middle class, mostly farmers, but in the recent times as agriculture has lost its value, a lot of people are going abroad, and this is one of the main reasons for the upliftment of this village.

St. Francis Church

Officiated on 1828, St. Francis church is now under Pala diocese. This fairly big parish have 653 families and 4320 parishners [6].

Cheradi Bhagavathi Temple

Cheradi Kavu is one of the important Hindu worship place in Marangattupilly, manages by Travancore Devaswom Board. Durga is the main Idol in this Devi Temple. Meena Pooram is the annual festival. Kumbhakudam, Kalam Karikkal, Para Eduppu, Pooram Idi etc. are the main "Vazhipadu". Deeparadhana with Thiruvaabharana Chaarthu is another speciality on the festival day. Recently the temple has been renovated in a great way.

St.Thomas Highschool

St. Thomas High School Established in 1951, under Pala corporate educational agency the educational arm of Pala diocis. This is an aided (government-funded) high school, with classes from 5th to 10th, and 325 students.

Andoor Mahadeva Temple

Sri Mahadeva Temple is also another Hindu worship place situated in Andoor, Kozhikombu. This is the onlly Shiva temple in the region. The temple is situated in Andoor kara in Maramgattupilly panchayath of Kottayam district. It is 200 meters south of’ Illickal Thazhe’ stop in Pala – Vaikom route.

It is a very rare gandharva temple as the ‘Prathishta’(Presiding deity) in the main ‘sreekovil ‘ (sanctum sanctorum ) is ‘Gandharva with Yakshi on his laps’.It is a very special feature of the temple and no other Gandharva temple have this .

Besides the presiding deity there are sub-deities such as ‘Bhagavathi’ facing west,and “sastha’ Rakshas’ and ‘Guru’ facing east.

The century’s old temple is believed to be built by the then local Nair lords of Pallattu family.The temple and its properties are preserved and maintained by four families of the ancient Pallattu family.A committee of devotees are also present and this committee looks after the day –to-day activities of the temple.

Usually the temple is opened for poojas in two days in a month(Malayalam era) i.e., the star day “Thiruvonam’ forThiruvona pooja and the end of every Malayalam month for ‘Samkranthi pooja’.

Legends

The ‘Samkranthi pooja’ has a very special significance as it is believed that a woman continuously attend and worship 12 samkranthi poojas she can get through the obstacles in getting married. Attending samkranthi pooja also helps to remove ‘Sani dosha’,’Sathru Dosha’ and the obstacles in education. The main poojas besides the usual poojas are:-

A ‘Sarpa kavu’ is also there near the premise of the temple.’Sarpa pooja’ is also performed in an auspicious occasion in between the Vishu Utsav and ‘Pathamudayam’. Devotees can offer poojas in this time to remove ‘Sarpa Dosha

St. Thomas LPS

Established in 1920, is aided school under Pala corporate educational agency.

Labour India

The head office of Labour India Publications, with an educational research and development center and publishing company, and its Gurukulam public school are operating from this small village. The managing director of Labour India Santhosh George Kulangara, is the first Indian space tourist and the host of Sancharam also belongs to this village.

Nearest towns

The nearest towns to Marangattupilly are Uzhavoor and Kuravilangad, and nearest villages are Kadaplamattom, vayala, mannackanad, kurichithanam and Andoor.

Village wards