Vellicode
Vellicode is a village located in Kanyakumari District of Tamil Nadu, India on National Highway 47 approximately 47 km south of Trivandrum [Nearest AirPort].
Vellicode
vellikodu | |
|---|---|
village (Semi Urban Village type) | |
  Vellicode Location in Tamil Nadu, India  Vellicode Vellicode (India) | |
| Coordinates: 8.273°N 77.280°E | |
| Country |  India |
| State | Tamil Nadu |
| District | Kanyakumari |
| Government | |
| • Type | Democratic |
| • Body | Kattathurai |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Tamil |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
| PIN | 629167 |
| Telephone code | 914651 |
| Vehicle registration | TN 74, TN75 |
| Nearest city | Marthandam |
| Literacy | 100% |
| Lok Sabha constituency | Kanyakumari |
| Assembly constituency | Padmanapuram |
| Civic agency | Kattathurai |
| Climate | Sub Tropical (Köppen) |
Vellicode is a scenic village which lies on the Trivandrum Kanyakumari Highway. It is one of the oldest inhibited places in the else while United States of Travancore which was annexed to India during Independence. Prior to formation of United Travancore during the 17 Century, the region was called "EDAI NADU" and were ruled by local chieftain. Today the inhabitant of this scenic village is 99% Catholic Christians and at the centre of the village stands a Majestic Catholic Church raised on a single piece of rock whose origin dates back to 1946.
History
The human inhabitants of Vellicode date back to the later stone age period. The earliest known grouping of the area is Idai Nadu. The region was ruled by tribal Villivan chieftains before being annexed by the Chera Dynasty during the 11th century as Kalkulam. The biggest family group occupying the village is the "ARRAPORAI Family". The earliest records with the Travancore Treasury shows that the Arraporai family held 246 Acres of land in the village and held the Jemmi right to vote. The Arraporai house which was adjusent to the current church had 33 families which lived inside the massive housing unit
Name
The ancient name of Vellicode was Sarva Vali Kode which means a place were all religions are followed. A church, said to have been built by St Thomas the Apostle is nearby. Also flanged to the south is the Bhagavathy Temple.
In 1738 an exponent of martial art "Adi Murai" named Mallan Asan of Arapurai family went to the palace grounds of Udaya Marthanda Varma and won many fights. So the king gave a silver chest armour and a silversword. He renamed his native village as Vellicode (Velli means Silver and code means cutlass).
Major family group
Nadar Catholic Family's, as it is known, history traces back its legacy to the 10th century. During those period the Pandya kingdom was ruled by Koon Pandian. He got converted to Hinduism from jainism. It's a custom in Hinduism to give a girl as offering to the priest who does the homam. Rajappa & Devappa who were working in the courts of pandya king were also requested to convert into Hinduism and give their sister as offering. The brothers never liked the idea, so they killed their sister and fled down south.
They reached the place called Sarva vali kode in Trivamcode state. Trivamcode had a Church constructed by St Thomas the disciple of Jesus. (Presently it is believed to be one of the oldest standing churches in the world). They converted themselves into Christians and settled down. For the next 1000 years (till today) the family got expanded and today in the place called Vellicode there are 800 families and all are staunch Roman Catholic. The best part is that the last eight generations are very much traceable and even all the families still hold the links together.