The Paikada Family
History and Tradition
This family with its
present name originated at Kizhathadiyoor (Edappady)
in the parish of Bharananganam. According to
the oral tradition, it is an offshoot of a family that migrated to Kodungalloor (Mahadevarpatnam) from Tulunadu (the southern part of present Karnataka). It
is stated in the Kerala Historical Directory (Edited and published by Philip
George, Vidyarthimitram office, Changanacherry, 1949, page 362) that the
forefathers belonged to one of the 72 Brahmin families christened
by Apostle St. Thomas. They moved out to Mariyidom
near Cherpunkal about 10 centuries ago. There the family was known as Vengappally and Maruthoor
was one of its branches.
The
origin of the name Paikada
Ouseph Mathen (1734 – 1760) of the Maruthoor family married a girl from Mannarkath family at Kizhathadiyoor. His son, after the death of his father, settled down at Edappady in the property between two ‘poikas’ (rivulets). So his house was called ‘Poikida’ which means the place between two streams. Over the years ‘Poikida’ became Paikada by linguistic change. Paikeday is the anglicised form of the family name used by some of its members.
In detail
More than 2000 years back, in Tulunadu, which is the southern part of today’s Karnataka state, prevailed a tax called ‘Anamunnazhi’. This was collected towards maintenance of the government elephants. As a protest to this practice, some Konkan Brahmins axed the legs of government elephants and escaped from there towards south. These Konkan Brahmins include the forefathers of Paikada family.
As there were no private properties during those days and as it was easy to escape from punishment by migrating to other states, they kept moving towards south and used to perform puja in the temples on the way. After a period, they reached Mahadevar Pattanam (Kodungalloor) and they were among the 72 Brahmin families baptised by St. Thomas, as recorded in the Kerala Historical Directory. They still kept moving towards south and more than 1000 years back, reached Mariyidam, near Cherpunkal. This was before construction of Cherpunkal church. This family was one among the families with its own graveyard and functions like shrathm etc. were conducted in their graveyard. The forefathers were without longevity and they multiplied very slow.
The name of the original family in Mariyidam is Vengapally. Olical, Cherusherry, Ambatt, Tharappel, Kadiyankutty and Maruthoor are branches of this family.
Ouseph Mathan of Maruthoor family married from Mannarakath family at Kizhathadiyoor. When he died, his wife and all the three children were brought to Mannarakath. The name of the eldest son was Chandy. His younger brother died due to snakebite and sister was married to Oottukulam family.
Chandy on attaining maturity brought his share from Maruthoor and settled in a property at Kizhathadiyoor. He is the founder of Paikada family. His property at Kizhatadiyoor was in between two rivulets and it was called poikida, which means in between rivulets. Due to linguistic changes, the names Paikada and Paikeday/ Paikaday emerged from Poikida.
Though most of its units are in Kottayam and Idukki districts, this family in its two and a half centuries has spread to all the districts of Kerala, almost all states of India and to many countries like USA, Canada, Rome, Germany etc. Though agriculture is the basic interest of the family, today it has a sizable population of its members excelling in various other professions.
This website is hosted for free by  .
Get your own
Free Website now!
|