In My Perspective

I was born in a traditional Nair tharavad (ancestral family) of Kerala, where Marumakkathayam (matriarchy) was practiced in those days. Though by the time I was born marumakkathayam was slowly giving way to makkathayam I have to describe for the coming generations “what is Marumakkathayam” . Marumakkathayam was a system where property rights vested with women. Every family would have a unique name, and all the members from the oldest men down to the great grand son or daughter living in the tharavad would be known by this family name. The lineage is always through female members. Perhaps this was the only society that looked upon girls with respect and ardently prayed to have their offspring to be females. The eldest male member of the family would administer the property.   He was the patriarch known as Karanavar. In our case,the elder brother of my grandmother was the Karanavar. Unlike makkathayam (patriarchial   line of succession) that exists today, maruma...

Frogs in the pond  (About Sarpakavu in Kerala) When I was a boy of 5-6 years, we all lived in our Tharavad (ancestral home), an old Nalukettu hatched by coconut leaves.  We had about 2.5 acres of land with five sarpakavu (Abode of Snakes) around our house. The Sarpakavu was a traditional sacred place mostly found in the traditional homes in Kerala, South India. These sarpakavu were inhabited by snakes, and the kavu had several idols of naga rajas(king of snakes), Nagayakshi, Mani nagam etc. The sarpakavu was situated in a small jungle almost circular in shape. Various kinds of trees, hedges, shrubs and medicinal plants grew there, but no trees from the place were ever felled down, nor were any plant cut with any metal. Ceremonial rituals were performed every year and every day oil lamps were lighted to propitiate the snake gods. Adjoining every sarpakavu there were Sarpakulams (ponds for the snakes).  Thus there were five ponds adjoining five sarpakavu. Other tha...