Tharavad

Traditional Nair tharavad

Tharavad ("ancestral home", ) is a system of joint family practised by people in Kerala.

A typical Nair tharavad reproduced from Panikkar's article published in 1918. Capital and small letters represent females and males respectively. Supposing that the females A, B and C were dead and the oldest male memberkarnavan being d, if the male members t, k and others demanded partition, the property would be divided into three parts.

Overview

Tharavads are a type of large family or clan in Kerala, India. Nair tharavads have in the past, and most still do, own large estates and even temples and mansions built in the traditional Nair style. They follow the Marumakkathayam system of inheritance, thus Nairs belong to their mother's tharavad rather than to their father's one. This is a particular trait of Nairs. These tharavadus formed a focal point in Nair society, as most of the day to day dealings were associated with it in the past, however recently, they are less important than they were centuries ago. Tharavadu is a system of joint family practised by people in Kerala, south India, especially castes like Namboothris and Nairs. Marumakkathayam is a matrilinear system of inheritance that is unique to Nair Tharavads.

There are hundreds of Nair tharavads in Kerala. Although originally there were only 600 tharavads, one for each 'thara' - a sub-division of the land for administrative purposes.

The most remarkable thing about the Nairs is their style of pagoda-like temple architecture and house construction which are stylized beautifully.However, it must be stated that huge Tharavadu houses were built only by those families who could afford it. Others however, had miniature and less opulent versions of the same style.

Tharavadu names as a means of identity unlike the name of birth place is a peculiar system followed by nairs. However, this has been a major cause of rivalry amongst the nairs as tharavads were compared against one another based on wealth and fame.One example of this is the famous boat races held in Allapuzha where competing families would have their boats racing aginst one another in the backwaters.Of late many Tharavads are in a state of recession.

List of Nair Tharavads

North Kerala

Achikanath Chirakkara 

Adukkadukkam 

Akkaraveedu 

Angathil 

Azhikodan 

Athiadath Veettil 

Ayilyath 

Chammanchery 

Chandroth 

Chathamath Konath 

Chembakassery 

Chellaton 

Chembil Kakkittampara 

Chembil Veedu 

Chenicheri 

Cherath 

Cherrukunnath 

Cherukunnummil Karingari 

Cheruvazhcheri Meleppat Panhinangattu Nambiar 

Cheruvatta 

Cheviri 

Chittilangattu 

ChumaramKandathu 

Chundayil Kalam 

Edachana 

Edapaam Veedu 

Edathil 

Elamkotil 

Ellerinchitam 

Erumathadathil 

Erumbala 

Elevekkal Thaatratu Kooteri Madem 

Kadangot 

Kadinjippalli 

Kana 

Kaipurath 

Kallanmarthodi 

Kallingalthodiyil 

Kalyat Thazhathuveedu 

Kambaloor Kottayil 

Kambiyam Valappil 

Kambrath Valiya Veettil 

Kandoth 

Kakroppath 

Kallath 

Kalavalli also known as Velliyathra Padi (in Pandikkad) 

Kodiyath 

Kannambra Nair Earlier known also as Veettikatu Nair { near Thootha } 

Kothaneth 

Kozhummal 

Kappalli(Palat) 

Karal 

Kariyadan - Nambiar 

Kavalapara-Nair 

Kattayat Vadayathazathu 

Keenath 

Keezhisseri 

Kelnelloor Meledath 

Kezekkeettil 

Kodiyam Kottaram 

Kodoth 

Komath 

Kongaseery Nemmara 

Kongattil 

KonnamKandath 

Koodali Thazhathuveedu 

Kootteri Nambiar 

Katoor-NAMBIAR 

Kookal(Chenicheri kurup) 

Koothachipura 

Kulamthonti Paramaba 

Kuppadakkan 

Manikoth 

Muttathil,Kavilpad 

Pantarakkanti 

Parappil 

Padinjare Veedu, Kalliyassery 

Payyan 

Perianian 

Pongilat 

Pothera Veedu (Irinave, Kalliyassery) 

Ponmilerikoroth (PK) 

Puthussery - Neelenjeriki kiriyam (Naduvannor, Kozhikode Dt.) 

Thiyyathini(Kommeri, Kozhikode) 

Thiyyil Kizzakeveetil 

Vennarakkal (Kannur) 

Othayammadath (Nambiar), Cherukunnu. 

Pattathil( Nambiar ),Kurumathur 

Anikkunnath ,Kuttiattoor 

Cherootta 

Meloth-Nambiar 

Mavila-Nambiar 

Naduvan 

Neeliath Akathoot

Palakkad

Ambat - Chittur 

Anakkara Vadakkathu 

Ankarath Nallepilly ( Mannadi Nair / Neithyar ) 

Perincheri Kulapura 

Anavangot 

Aniyath - Peringottukurissi 

Chalapurathu - Karimpuzha 

Cheraparambath 

Cherungotil 

Chendrathil-Nellaya 

Chakkingal(3 different) 

Changirathe (Kollengode) 

Erat - Chittur 

Errat (Ayilur) 

Kadungoth 

Kanagath 

Kanhirampadam, Mannarkad 

Kappadath, Pallatheri 

Kayarat 

Kelamkumarath 

Kenath - Peringottukurissi 

Kizhepat (Ottapalam) 

Kolady 

Kongot 

Kottil 

Kulapura Vadasseri, Thenari,Elapully 

Kumaramkandath, Anchumurthi Mangalam, Alathur 

Kuzhalmannam Chathanath 

Kuzhalmannam Puthucode Chirayil Puthanveedu 

Kuzhalmannam Puthucode Chirayil Pazhayaveedu 

Kozhikunnath Pandaiyalakalam 

peringottukurssi

Kunnath - Vadavannur 

Kuzhiyile (Kollengode) 

Madassery -Tattamangalam 

Mallath - Kunissery 

Manambrakat 

Manakkampat_ Parli 

Manghat - Mannapra 

Manghat - Mundur 

Manghat - Nemmara 

Maneeram Kandath - Nemmara 

Mannil- Pallipuram 

Mannil - Pallathery 

Maridoorkalam-Kunissery 

maruthur 

Mathilakath Tharavadu - Manappullikavu 

Methil 

Muthalampet - Peruvemba 

Muttathil-Kavilpad 

Maniyl Valiya Koottala 

Mundarath, Elavanchery 

Nallepilly Variyath (Menon) 

Kappadath 

karuvada 

Karuthdath (Nair), Manisseri, Ottapalam 

Keezhepurath 

Nallepilly Chondath (Mannadiars) 

Parakkat - Tattamangalam 

Puthillath - Tattamangalam 

Nelleri 

Palayil (Pallavur) 

Palat - Ottappalam 

Pandalanghat 

Pathiyil 

Padinjare Thazhathu Veedu- Pulinelli, Kottai 

Puliyakot (Kunissery) 

Padiyath-Vaniamkulam 

Puliyassery (Vallikkode) 

Parayil (Vengodi) 

Rakkenchath 

Rakkanath - Tattamangalam 

Randadath - Tattamangalam 

Ravunniyedom 

Tachat - Chittur 

Uppath (Nair) - Kayliad, 

Telekkat - Chittur 

Thanatil, Puthiyankam 

Tharoor, Chitilenchery 

Thazhapara 

Theettakkanti 

Thekumpurath - Ottapalam 

Thalachalur 

Thozhukkatt 

Thottupurath(Menon)-Muduthala,Pattambi 

Thuvappeta Kizhakke Vazhayil- Kanhikulam 

Unnikotukalam, Palakad, Athipotta. (Chinnakuttyamma) 

Unikkat 

Variathody 

Vavullapathi 

Vellolli 

Vadassery Kalam (Kollengode) 

Vadasseri Kappalakalam 

Velloth -[Kavalapara] 

Vellekkate (Kollengode) 

Veluthakkal Tharavadu (Vandazhy) 

Veluthakkal Tharavadu (Cherukannambra) 

Madathil- Vadavannur 

Parakkal - Vadavannur 

Kalarikkal-Mankara 

Changarath 

Kolamkara-Chennangad-Kottayi 

Nair veedu -Pattancheri 

Achath -kollengode 

Kooriyat Valiyaveettil - Kizhayur, Pattambi 

Advakkad 

Rayirathil 

Puthenveedu-Peringottukurissi 

Tharavath-Peringottukurissi

Malappuram

Angathil - Karatoor 

Edasseri 

Olikkara Kolleri 

Puliyasseri - Vallikunnu 

Chenniveettil-(Kuttippuram) 

Valancherry Vellat 

Arikketh-Thozhanur 

Kozhikkottu -(Valiyakunnu) 

Uppath (Ottappalam) Thonour - Paruvassery 

Puliasseri Tharavadu (Puliyasseri is one of the richest and oldest Nair Tharavadus of Kerala)

Kallingalthodi - Perinthalmanna 

Meembattu 

Keezhedathu 

AkkaraVeedu 

Palliyil

Thrissur

Thalliyakattil(Mapranam)

Pallipurath Puttenveetil(Katoor)

Alakkapparambil-(ollur) 

Achat 

Ambadath(Viyyoor) 

Ambalaparambil 

Ayyappath (Chovannur- near Kunnamkulam) 

Chemboth-(mullurkkara) 

Ittamveetil 

Kachery 

Kaaruveettil 

Kalathil 

Kambiath Valappil, Oravankara 

Kandamparambath(Kodungalore) 

Kandrangath 

Kaprasseri 

Kalathur 

Karumathil 

Kavanappillil 

Konanath 

Kongattil(Thalikulam) 

Kooliyath 

Kunnathully 

Korappath Kalapurackal 

Kovilakathparambil 

Kuruppath 

Kuruvath 

Machingal 

Madakkavil 

Madathiparambil 

Madazhy 

Mallath 

Manakkalath 

Thalliyakattil - (Mapranam) 

Marath 

Maruthur 

Nambalattu - Olarikkara 

Moothedath 

Nedumpurathe Kalapurakkil -(Kodungulur) 

Padiyath 

Pallipurath Puttenveetil -(Katoor) 

Palissery 

Pallath 

Pattathil

Panhinangattu - Guruvayoor 

Panhinangattu - Thaliyil 

Paruvakkat Guruvayur 

Peedikaparambil (Kodungallur) 

Pulincheri Kayampilly 

Pullutupadathu (Kodungallur) 

Puthalathu 

Puzhankara 

Thattengat(Pullut,Kodungallur) 

Thekkoote 

Unniyattil 

Vaduthala - (Kodungallur & Nelluvai) 

Vadakke Ellath - Chazhoor 

Karamangattil

Mongatti

Varattil 

Vadakke Kunnath - Thriprayar 

Kizhakke Kunnath Thekke Kunnath 

Vadakke Kuruppath 

Vadake Menokil -(Annamanada) 

Vadumkootil-(avinissery) 

Valiyaveetil - Chemboothara 

Vellapillil 

Kadambanat 

Puthur 

Nellikkal

Ernakulam

Ambat 

Ambady 

Anthapilly(Karukutty) 

Ayinikkat 

Chengaat (Payapalli) 

Cheruparambath 

Edathalakaattil 

Elangikkamalil 

Kadalikadu 

Kandanat 

Kaniyasseri 

Karimpatta 

Kuthiravattahtu Panicker 

Kuttikkat 

Mamalakkat 

Mambilayil Valiya Veedu 

Mangalappilly 

Manikkiri 

Mundakyal 

Mulackiyil 

Mulakkappilly (Edappalli) 

Naduvani 

Nambath 

Nambilly (Thrikkakara-Kakkanadu) 

Neravath 

Padickal Puthen Veedu 

Paliam 

Panampilly 

Pandappillil 

Panikkacherry 

Parayath 

Payyappillil 

Perumittathu 

Poothampalli 

Pulpra Kuttikat - Sreemoolanagaram 

Thacheth (Elamkulam) 

Thottekkat 

Vadakke Kunnampilly 

Valanikattu (Marady,Muvattupuzha)

Varanat - Sreemoolanagaram 

Vembanat - Perumbavoor 

Vembalasherry 

Vilavath 

Vyloppilly (North) 

Vyloppilly (South)

Alappuzha

Adiyodi(Kiriyathu Nair)

Alancheril 

Chempakasseril 

Chakkanaatu 

Chanacham Veedu 

Chengazhavelil, Pallippad 

Erumakkattu, Haripad 

Kaithakad 

Kakakuzhiyil 

Kalathil, Pallipad 

Kannakath 

Karayil veedu(Pada Nair),Ambalapuzha 

Kolappillil,Ambalapuzha 

Kottaratil 

Kottareyat 

Kottackal,Mannar 

Koyickalethu, Mannar 

Kuzhivelil 

Manampurattu 

Manavelil,(Madampi Nairs),Cherthala 

Maravana PuthamMadom, cherthala 

Mathoor, Nedumudy 

Mullasseril Mannar 

Nallur Manazhaazhiyet 

Padiperreckal 

Palakkunnathu, Cherthala 

Praneyathu, Pallipad 

Poothampalli 

Puthekerimadom, Thalavady, Tiruvalla 

Poicad Ramankary 

pushpavilasom* 

Thiruvanasseril, Veeyapuram 

Vazhapalil 

Vadassery 

Koyickalethu, Pallipad

Ariunni, Panicker 

Illikulathu, Unnithan 

Kadappallil, Kurup 

Kaduvinal, Unnithan 

Kalladal, Pillai 

Kallottu, Karnavar 

Manchanamadom, nair 

Mulavelil Panicker (Thirumukham) 

Neduvantharayil, Kurup 

Neduvelil, Nair 

Viruthiyathu

Airoor 

Kavungumvilayil-Kurup-Chettikulamgara 

Nalayyath 

Nilackal 

Pempilethu Puthiya veedu 

Poovampallil 

Thayyil 

Marattethu 

Melootu 

Kaimoottil

Ayanuvelil 

Nilackal - Kurup 

Thayill 

Chennattu Madathil- Pillai, Muthukulam 

Cherukara, Muthukulam 

Illikkulam 

Kaithapuzha 

Komaricheth, Muthukulam 

Mevila, Muthukulam 

Thazhavana, Ramapuram

Pathanamthitta

Ayveli Madathil, Aruvappulam, Konni 

Kallara 

Kallareth 

Kavadasseril (Pullad) 

Kodanthi Thekkel 

Mattappallil 

Thottapuzha 

Venmelil, Aruvappulam,Konni 

Vilaikattu,Kaippattoor 

Mekkattu,Angadickal 

Kuzhikkattil

Edayirethu 

Kaleekal 

Kalluzhathil,Thattayil 

Koyickal 

Malayudethekethu 

Manthannathu 

Mundakkal 

Palathadathil 

Valachithara 

Vadakkeveedu

Trivandrum

Arumana Ammaveedu 

Chittalloor 

Elaman Madom

Dharmam veedu 

Karimpuvilakam 

Kottackal 

Kovilvila Veedu

Koyikal 

Menathi 

Meleveedu 

Panniarathala 

Pulivilaveedu

Rosscote 

Thiruvattur Ammaveedu 

Vadassery Ammaveedu 

Vailoor veedu 

Valiyamelay veedu 

Valiyaveetil 

Vartheth 

Vithura Chittar (Sankara Pilla family)

Kanyakumari

Nattalam -- Family where Devasahayam_Pillai has born 

Thalakulathu veedu -- Family where Veluthampi Dalava has born and brought up.

See also

• List of Nair Tharavads
• Nair
• Nambudiri