Mannanar
The Mannanar () were a Thiyya dynasty of Malabar, there was the well known ruler, in the present-day Kannur and Kasaragod districts of India.The Mannanar of the ruins of whose palace can still be seen at the foot of the Ghats borders of Coorg. The Mannanar palace in Eruvesi to the North West of Taliparamba was called as Anju Aramana. The head of the Mannanar family had royal emblems and could move about in manchal (palanquin) and take with him retainers wearing swords and shield. They had more than 200 armed soldiers. He has special rank and privileges , and has the title of Mannanar or machchiyar. A Mannanars stani (dignitary or holder of title) Muthedath Aramanakkal family had the authority to decide disputes within the caste and Jurisdiction was invoked on appeal. Muthedath Aramanakal "Kunhi kelappaan Mannanar" and "krishnan Vazhunnavar" had land holding in the eastern hilly tracts of Chirakkal Thaluk and is noted to have given refuge. Etymology. He is referred to as Mannanar (Mannan Means = King ar = honorific plural suffix), also (mannan) meaning "king" and "ar", which pluralises it. That word derivered from King Kingdom. History. In the Malayalam mannan means king and 'ar ' pluralises the name for adding respectability to it. Mannanar dynasty had thrived for several centuries in Eruvasi, north east of Thaliparampa in North Kerala. He was called ruler of the five places and he had five palaces Moothedath Aramana, Elayidath Aramana, Puthan Araman, Puthiyidath Aramana and Mundaya Aramana. He also had royal establishments, such as fortress, palace, assembly hall, performance theatre and living mansion. Armed with swords and shields, 200 Nairs Soldiers had to escort him. His assumption to the throne was by the performance of the ritual Aryittuvazhcha (offer of rice to gods as an auspicious item indicating prosperity ) as in the case of the Zamorin. His personal residence (living mansion) had adorned the name mannanar kotta or the king's fort. The last of the Mannanars, Kunjikelappan died in 1901-1902 AD. His wife respectably called Ammachiyàr (revered mother) and two of his children were alive in the thirties. The Mannanar who followed matriarchal system as a means of his survival, used to dine at the palace of the Chirakkal raja on important occasions when for him food had to be served on tender plantain leaf named pattila (silken leaf) and for other princes on plantain leaf softened  over the fire. When the palaces of other rajas in Kerala are called Kovilakams or Kottarams, only Mannanar's is called Aramana, the mansion of the king (aracha (king) + mana (king's court). For these reasons and for many other, Kampil Ananthan believes that he was the oldest ruler of Kerala. After the overlordship of the Nampootiri was established, it was the social responsibility of the Mannanar to give protection to either as his wife or as his sister to the Nampootiri woman ex-communicated from her family for offences like infidelity, loss of chastity and violation of the  rules of pollution. His palaces and mansions have broken down due to neglect in the absence of successors. The entire land and other properties of the Mannanar are managed by the Chirakkal raja in the capacity of their trustee. Mannanar was allowed to survive through the darkness and ferocity of caste in the 18th and 19th centuries because his survival was a necessity of the Nampootiri. The socially ostracised Nampootiri women obtained all royal facilities for a cozy living and did not lose their convivial status below that of their protector which in fact was the original status of all , not excluding the Nampootiri, the Kshatriya, the Samanta and the Nair before their conversion. The Mannanar as required by the Brahmins, changed over from patriarchal to matriarchal system and he thus, had fallen in line with other non-Brahmin communities. Smarthavicharam. Mannanar provide a comfortable home for Nambudiri women who were thrown out of caste, and thus in the ordinary course of events doomed to every misery and degradation to be found in life. On being outcast, the funeral ceremonies of Nambutiri women were performed by her own people, and she became dead to them. She went to the Mannanar . And her birth ceremonies were performed, so that she might being life anew in a state of purity. If, on arrival, she entered by left door, she was his wife. If, by the front door, his sister. It is said that. When their chief, Mannanar of the Aramana. Is destitute of heirs, the Thiyyas of Kolathunadu go in processing to the kurumattur Nambutiri (chief of the peringallur Brahmins) and demand a Brahman virgin to be adopted as sister of Mannanar, who follow Marumakkathayam rule of succession. This demand, it is said, used to be granted by the Nambutiries assembling at  a meeting. And selecting a maiden to be given to the Thiyyas. Customs. The well-known Mannanar belonged to the Varakat illam (Varaka Thiyyar). The Varaka Thiyyar or Varakat illam Mannanar were further allowed to wear gold jewels on the neck, to don silken cloth, to fasten a sword round the waist, and to carry a shield. Th sword was made of thin pliable steel, and worn round the like belt, the point being fastened to the hilt through a small hole near the point.